In the first all-school assembly of the winter term, we welcomed back 44 students who spent the fall trimester at Proctor in Spain, Proctor in France, Proctor in Costa Rica and Ocean Classroom.

The return of this crowd--15% of the on-campus population--adds great energy to social dynamics. They have experienced amazing things, and now must adjust back to campus life.

A great deal of hugging seems to help. Sean (left) and Bryn (center) are just back from 10 weeks at sea on Ocean Classroom. Willis, of course, has been here.

Everyone is dealing with adjustment issues, however, because--in our never-ending quest to find a schedule that meets all needs--we've launched into a wholly new one for the winter term.

It's a mind-boggling invention, featuring a distinct time pattern for each of the five days of the academic week, with some blocks running 50 minutes, 60 minutes, 70 minutes, 80 minutes and on Saturday, 90 minutes. Below, we see students--all of whom were away this fall--awaiting the start of an "out of sequence" (first trimester section) of algebra 2.

These students--all of whom were here this fall--are in the typical, second term of honors geometry.

The driver behind this schedule is precious afternoon daylight for snowsports. Now, skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes--or start the bus ride to Sunapee--after classes that end as early as 1:30 (Tuesdays and Fridays,) and 1:50 on Thursday. Here we see Serena and Christian stopping by the Student Activities Office after assembly.

Classes start at 8:00 AM in the winter, instead of 8:15, and assemblies meet less frequently. Study hall is pushed up a half hour earlier to encourage earlier bedtimes. Below, Haley helps Lizie--who just returned from Proctor in Spain--with a lollipop. (We already met Sean.)

We go into this winter schedule knowing that it is not ideal. Those returning from trimesters off-campus may take comfort knowing that they're not the only ones making a challenging adjustment!

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