This is Spring Family Weekend, and hundreds of parents and siblings are attending classes, assembly, a Parent Association meeting, parent/teacher conferences, special program workshops, meals and sporting events. Friday's weather was sunny and mild as the crowd convened on The Meetinghouse for assembly:

Proctor's dress code is very informal, which--logically--motivates students to dress up. Ben, an official spokesperson for Casual Fridays, explains what's going on to visitors.

After assembly, there were more classes to attend. Throughout the morning, the PAPA Hospitality Cart was stationed in front of Maxwell Savage as parent volunteers dispensed refreshments, muffins and words of comfort.

Friday afternoon featured the all-parent meeting back in the Norris Family Theater. Steve Wilkins guided us through a review of core educational principles that distinguish this school, and asked parents to identify "What defines Proctor?"

Their responses repeatedly touched on the honesty of the community, and teachers assuming the very best of students. These responses will be shared with in-coming Head Mike Henriques.

This weekend marked transition within the Steering Committee of the highly successful Proctor Academy Parent Association. Larry Ballin, who--along with wife Annie--is succeeding Laurie Coursin as Chair, introduced all of the ways that parents can volunteer and be a part of the school's success: calling programs, staffing hospitality carts, orchestrating food parties (called Brain Breaks) the Sunday before final exams.... (Again and again, he noted, it comes down to food!) Here's PAPA making the annual spring barbecue happen:

Following Saturday afternoon games played in cold rain, parents took students off for a couple of days. No classes Monday!

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