The initial meeting of the year combines faculty and all staff for a general welcome, review of employee policies and recognition of those employed for five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five and thirty years. The size of the crowd means that we meet in the theater. One of the annual highlights is a video on blood-borne pathogens that features plenty of enactments of bloody noses, splattered sinks and walls, people misusing paper cutters, etc.



That accomplished, faculty convene in the stone chapel.




The faculty has very little turn-over--year to year--which translates into institutional memory and stability. This is important, because Proctor is a complicated place, with literally hundreds of specific roles that must be executed to standards that are held high. Just consider what we'll accomplish in the next two weeks: transition for international students, Wilderness Orientation prep, Registration Day (which is huge), Wilderness Orientation for new students aspiring to varsity teams, sports camps, Wilderness Orientation for approximately 100 other new students, and the start of school on campus. The good news is that we seem to know how to do what we're expected to do. 



Several exciting new opportunities have been presented. We are talking about establishing new educational programs at a place with a long history with Proctor: Hurricane Island, Maine. We're close to finalizing plans for the region's largest rooftop photovoltaic installation on the south side of the Wilkins Meeting House. All faculty have been issued iPads, and are training in anticipation of school-wide implementation next year. The community is entering a year of focused, purposeful introspection as part of the re-accreditation process.

Below, Jen and Brooks share an iPhone moment.





A few student leaders and faculty children enjoyed a welcoming dinner under the tent.



The annual Day Family Picnic was held Wednesday evening under the tents in front of Cannon Dining Hall. The following pix are from this, the first of so many events powered by Parent Association volunteers!






Sorry for the wide angle stretch, guys..... Just getting used to a new camera!