June (2014)
6/29/2014
All Good Things
6/23/2014
Penultimate Post
6/15/2014
Envisioning Greatness
6/2/2014
The Proctor Difference
May (2014)
5/1/2014
Ties That Bind
April (2014)
4/11/2014
Cary House Remembered
March (2014)
3/25/2014
George's Gift
3/14/2014
Pick Yourself
February (2014)
2/23/2014
Letter from Mike: On Being Remarkable
2/9/2014
Trustees and Volunteers
December (2013)
12/27/2013
Holiday Card
12/4/2013
Good Causes
12/2/2013
Frozen Assets
November (2013)
11/16/2013
Sally B.
11/10/2013
End Game
11/6/2013
Have Fun, Learn, and Work Hard
11/2/2013
Seasons of Change
October (2013)
10/29/2013
Process of Affirmation
10/6/2013
The Notion of Stewardship
September (2013)
9/21/2013
Self Study
Fall Family Weekend
10/17/2004

With the exception of Commencement, Fall Family Weekend brings the largest crowd of the school year to campus. The business at hand includes a Parent Association meeting, parent/teacher conferences Friday evening and Sunday morning, a meeting with the Head, and an assortment of fun activities (Thursday's golf tournament, Saturday's Toys For Tots Funwalk, athletic contests, etc.) At the Q & A with Steve Wilkins Saturday morning, he expounded on the beliefs that will endure the transition to a new Head; values that ensure the perpetuation of momentum. We believe, for example, in granting enormous power and responsibility to individuals (students and teachers); in the ability of all individuals to accomplish things that exceed all expectations; that there are multiple ways to learn anything; experiential teaching and learning are superior; that support enables greater--not lesser--academic challenge; in non-adversarial relationships between adolescents and adults.

In his last year as Head of School, Steve is reminding all constituents of the factors that comprise Proctor's genetic code. In sum, it comes down to building systems around student success. Our experience is that this is best achieved not through highly centralized decision-making, but by spreading responsibilty around. Ultimately, when teachers take more responsibility, it is the student who seizes it.

Proctor's Parent Association (PAPA) rocks. Instead of identifying problems for the school to solve (the traditional parent association function) these folks get to work and make things happen: welcoming new parents, volunteering to staff on-campus hospitality (they even stocked the Faculty Room with pizza and sodas during Friday evening's long conference period) and treating students to special fun breaks during exam periods. Below, Director of Development Jay Goulart describes the school's annual giving program, which exceeded $1,000,000 in 2003-04.

This money is the difference between tuition revenues and the operating budget. It must be raised, as Jay suggested, "...as long as we're making widgets that cost $5, and are charging $4." He went on to introduce our capital wish list: doubling endowment, the renovation of the Stone Chapel into the Music Department, extensive renovation of Maxwell Savage Hall, athletic upgrades and a new dormitory.
PAPA volunteers staffing the reception buffet in the Morris Lobby before the meeting with Steve.
PAPA Chair Laurie Coursin points out the value of the Green Book to new parents.
Parents listening as Larry Ballin describes opportunities for parent volunteerism.
Parent/teacher conferences are the heart of the weekend. Chemistry teacher Ian Hamlet shares a laugh with a student and parent.
Patty Pond with the parents of one of her geometry students.
Marines set the pace for the annual Toys For Tots Funwalk.
Jenny has some encouragement for her parents as they start the Toys For Tots Funwalk.
One of the highlights of Saturday afternoon's action: varsity girls soccer upsets Holderness 1-0.
The Sutton's labs do their part in girls' varsity soccer's victory.
PAPA's work is everywhere.