I have been informed that the Blackwater Ski Area has been homologated. If that doesn't mean much to you, read on....
The school calendar is anchored by Labor Day; (Registration is always the Tuesday that follows.) This year, Labor Day is the latest it can be, so our start is late. The bustle on campus--particularly in Maxwell Savage Hall's rotunda and Faculty Room--is a giveaway that we're gearing up. Here are Mike and Karl huddling in front of Patti's desk.
Faculty are pouring back from vacations. Gregor returned from Nebraska with a miniature schnauzer named Lord Tennyson, who is winning hearts fast.
Our librarians, Judy and Marie, are pouring over rosters of books, making selections for purchase.
New faculty are being oriented to Proctor's complex set of systems and procedures. Once again, the number of new teachers--six--is manageable. Low faculty turnover is a great sign of institutional health, not only because it suggests job satisfaction, but it yields stability to the community over time. Institutional memory creates a culture that is knowable and--for new teachers--learnable. Swayze shares a laugh with excited newbies.
And as I stated above, Proctor is not a simple place; our systems and expectations are highly defined. So the team moves from place to place, meeting with those responsible for various services: health, information retrieval, technology, student life, advising, etc. Director of Residential Life Drew Donaldson has a moment with Melanie Maness between meetings.
Off to the next appointment!
Some preparation is physical. For example, trails at the top of the ski area have been widened, enabling the race course to be lengthened, with the start near the summit. This brings the Burden Trail into compliance with USSA and FIS regulations. This process--complying with established criteria to qualify for official competitions is called homologation. So, there you have it: our ski hill has been homologated! Here, they're removing granite ledge nicknamed "the waterfall."
The job required detonation of plenty of dynamite!
Now, that's how to prepare for a school year!
Postscript: Not pictured at right is former drama teacher/admission assistant Eva Mansell, who returns to teach with Derek at Proctor in Spain!
