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what is groton school? FOUNDED IN 1884,
Groton School is a coeducational boarding
school for students in grades eight through twelve, located in a picturesque New England town forty-five miles northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. Groton is its people—students who find joy in learning and the faculty who challenge and nurture them. The school is blessed with substantial resources and a heritage of producing graduates who have made significant contributions to the United States and the world. The school’s founder, Endicott Peabody, continued to be an influence on Groton’s most prominent alumnus, Franklin Roosevelt, throughout FDR’s presidency. Today, faculty continue to guide and inspire students, even after graduation. 1
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what ar e the students lik e? KIND, THOUGHTFUL , CURIOUS, AND EAGER TO LEARN!
Part of
the reason Groton graduates are so successful is because we look for students who will treat each other well and who will bring out that instinct in others. Inclusion is a core value and an ingredient vital to Groton’s success. Including talented students from a wide variety of backgrounds broadens our perspectives and insights, enlivens our community, and better prepares our graduates for the opportunities and challenges ahead. 2
While Groton students come from many different regions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds, they are bonded by striking similarities and, through friendships, learn about each other and the world. They challenge themselves and persevere, and they value the community that they build together. Most graduates remember Groton as the place where they made their closest friends in life.
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what is it lik e to live at groton? GROTON IS NOT A SCHOOL YOU “GROW INTO”
over the
course of years. It fits from the start. It will not feel too big when you are young or too familiar when you are older. At Groton you “grow into” new and appropriate challenges and opportunities every year. This is true throughout the school, but it is particularly evident in residential life. As a younger student, you live in dormitories with students from your grade or, as we say, your form. In Second and Third Forms (grades eight and nine), your days are highly structured with uniform bedtimes and required study halls that build good habits for the years ahead. The structure loosens each year, and in your final year, you will play a role in running the school. Every senior at Groton serves as a “prefect.” At the end of every night, members of each dormitory gather for “check-in.” When you see how dormmates tell stories and joke around, you’ll know why we think of Groton as a family. Students treat their dormmates as they would treat brothers and sisters. They know and understand each other. The dorm is a warm, relaxed atmosphere. It’s a home. 5
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will i get to k now older students? YOU MAY GET TO KNOW OLDER STUDENTS
through clubs,
athletics, arts programs, and perhaps some classes, but you definitely will get to know them in the dorm. All Sixth Formers (seniors) serve as prefects and help resident faculty members run dormitories. Young students look up to their prefects as they would older siblings. These Sixth Formers are role models for the leader each student will
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become. When you serve as a prefect during your final year at Groton, you will have the chance to learn about your own leadership style. The prefect system creates a healthy cycle of student life in which Sixth Formers aspire to help younger students as their own prefects helped them. You can expect to learn meaning ful lessons from older students, and be inspired by them, at Groton.
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why do you call the ca mpus “the circle”? FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED,
the renowned landscape
architect who designed Groton, chose to place the school’s buildings around a circle, on a plateau overlooking fields and woodlands that stretch to the Nashua River. Today, we refer to our campus as “the Circle,” in part because of the vast expanse of lawn at its center but also because the shape has become an apt metaphor for the Groton experience. 8
A CIRCLE IS WHOLE.
Groton students are well
rounded, not specialists. Students learn to engage, to debate, to confront some of the toughest questions facing our society. Groton students are thinkers, but they are far more. They work closely with faculty to develop personal interests. Groton students leave the Circle confident, well informed, and equipped to make a difference. A CIRCLE IS INCLUSIVE.
The Groton Circle is open
literally (toward the northwest) and figuratively— to a diverse population. But diversity is only part of the overarching goal. Groton is inclusive— every student belongs. People with very different backgrounds and interests become the closest of friends at Groton. A CIRCLE IS CONTINUOUS.
Lessons learned here stay
with you. Alumni return to the Circle and speak of the power of their Groton education, as well as the doors that other Groton graduates help them open. Groton’s Circle provides a firm foundation for whatever your future holds. 9
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who leads groton school? TEMBA MAQUBELA
began his tenure as the
eighth headmaster of Groton School in 2013. A native of South Africa, Mr. Maqubela is an accomplished and inspiring educator who still finds time to teach organic chemistry at Groton. A school leader who truly knows everyone on campus, Mr. Maqubela stresses the importance of making a Groton education accessible to anyone who is qualified to attend. He and his wife, English teacher Vuyelwa Maqubela, open their home to Groton students every Thursday night. You will know them, and they will know you.
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what is groton’s gr eatest str ength? HOW COMFORTABLE STUDENTS FEEL HERE.
The innovative
programs at top schools like Groton are impressive, but Groton also remembers that a residential school’s most important function is to be a home away from home, a place that buoys students as much as it challenges them. Groton’s founder believed that the best model for a school is the family. Acquiring knowledge is critical and satisfying at any age. But when you’re a teenager, it is especially important to learn how to work well with others and how to identify and develop your own personal talents and interests. At Groton, you cannot avoid interacting with mentors—adults and peers—who will help you discover who you are. You will develop close friendships with people who are like you and with people who are nothing like you. Groton’s sense of family sets the school apart. 13
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do groton students have fun? DOES A ZEBRA HAVE STRIPES?
Fun is part of
the routine at Groton through scheduled events such as Spring Fling, St. Mark’s Day, and Parlor at the Headmaster’s House. But it is also spontaneous. Once a term, the famous “green jacket” announces Surprise Holiday, classes are suspended for the day, and students climb aboard buses for a day in Cambridge or Boston. There’s more—hikes up Mt. Monadnock, formals, laser tag, costume competitions during Spirit Week, Red Sox games, dorm feeds, skiing and sledding, even studying Latin with Dr. Reyes! The school offers lots of activities, but your friends really provide the fun.
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what ar e the teacher s lik e? INSPIRING. SKILLED. ENGAGING AND ENGAGED.
Just ask our graduates—they stay in touch with their teachers and even seek their advice for years after they leave Groton. Not only do Groton’s teachers know their material and craft, they also know their students. You will know our faculty members in multiple roles—as teacher, dormitory head, coach, director, and advisor. One of the great advantages of a school our size is that you will learn from, and feel comfortable with, so many teachers—even those you do not have in class! Many Groton teachers could pursue careers in higher education, but they are committed to working with adolescents. 17
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how is groton differ ent from a public school? THERE ARE MANY GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
but few can offer
classes with only eleven students. Few can offer the access to teachers that you will find at Groton. Few can offer the varied opportunities. Groton’s atmosphere is charged by students who are eager to learn. Students are talented in many ways, and the 18
smaller size of our school allows every student to participate in athletics, service, theater, music, and clubs. At a school that attracts students from around the world and offers financial aid to nearly half of them, you may meet a much more diverse group of friends than you would in many public high schools. 19
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how is groton differ ent from other top boar ding schools? GROTON OFFERS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS— the
intimacy
of a small school and the resources and programs of a much larger institution. A small school offers the opportunity to know more people well—including your headmaster, whose home you will visit frequently! Through knowing more people well, you have a better chance of understanding yourself. Our expansive programs and resources open opportunity to even our youngest students, who often step up to challenges on the stage, field, and in the classroom. Groton’s Global Education program gives students the chance to study and travel abroad and often provides financial support for those trips. If you have an academic interest that you cannot pursue through the established curriculum, you can develop a one-on-one tutorial course with a teacher. The prefect year, the chance to study two languages, and opportunities created through the Groton alumni network are also distinguishing features of a Groton education. Our size is our strength. 22
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if i’m not r eligious, will i fit in at a school with chapel services? DOES GROTON REQUIRE CHAPEL?
Yes.
Is it what you think it is? Probably not. Four mornings a week, Groton School—a school founded in the Episcopal tradition—starts the day in St. John’s Chapel. The chaplain opens with a blessing, followed by a brief religious reading—it might be Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, or from any other spiritual tradition. The main event follows: a chapel talk, usually delivered by a Sixth Former, but sometimes by a visitor, teacher, or another member of the community. Chapel talks can be profound or fun, revealing or entertaining; through them, we realize just how individual our stories are. Listening to a chapel talk gives us all a chance to slow down and reflect together as a community. Graduates often mention how much they miss starting the day in Chapel.
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does groton have special tr aditions? YES . . . DAILY.
You won’t be walking around in robes at
Groton, but in some sense you might feel like you are living at Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. The tradition of the whole community listening to a chapel talk enriches each morning. Roll Call, the morning meeting run by the Sixth Form, follows chapel and is always good for a laugh or two. Mid-morning, the school takes a break and teachers—yes, the scholars of our classrooms—hand out apples and milk and cookies to students. Open mic nights regularly display 26
the school’s talents. The school’s birthday is celebrated every October with birthday cake and a rousing rendition of “Blue Bottles.” Students show their zebra spirit during the week leading up to games against our longtime rival, St. Mark’s. Handshaking is a huge tradition: every night ends with dormitories gathering for check-in and handshaking, and the school year ends with graduates shaking hands and bidding farewell to every student and teacher at the school. Groton students love their traditions! 27
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at groton, ca n i continue to develop a talent on which i’ve focused for a long time? GROTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN FULL OF STUDENTS WHOSE TALENTS MAKE YOU STOP AND GASP.
Today, many
students with advanced talents— particularly athletes—participate in programs seemingly at odds with residential schools that encourage well-rounded development. Groton recognizes the value of such outside programs, such as club teams, and at the same time asks students to engage as fully as possible in the life of the school. Groton students with special talents develop their skills both on campus and in outside programs, but they also make the extra effort to fulfill their commitment to the community. Groton helps students with this balancing act.
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ca n my fa mily affor d groton? YES, THANKS TO
the GRoton Affordability and INclusion
initiative, known as GRAIN. GRAIN is a commitment by Headmaster Temba Maqubela and the Board of Trustees to contain tuition and ensure that the school never turns away a candidate for financial reasons. Thanks to GRAIN, under-represented minorities increased by nearly 50 percent over eight years, and full-pay applicants are now admitted at the same rate as those who seek aid. What does GRAIN mean to you? It means that you should not assume you will not qualify for financial aid. Groton understands that families are saving for college and may have more than one child in an independent school. It also recognizes that many professionals and others who could afford Groton a few decades ago may find full tuition prohibitive today. The school makes a special effort to attract students who belong to what we once called the “talented missing middle”—they are no longer missing at Groton. Ask about aid. Groton’s financial aid grants typically are more generous and reach a wider range of incomes than the grants that colleges offer. GRAIN broke Groton’s fundraising records, and GRAIN 2.0 continues ensuring access to all while limiting tuition increases.
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how has groton cha nged over the year s? GROTON’S DEEP-SEATED VALUES
haven’t
changed much. But formal determination to build a more inclusive school has made Groton better. Twenty percent of faculty members are people of color; trustees of color and women on the board have doubled over the last decade; and the student body is more racially and economically diverse. But that is not enough. Inclusion, the school’s #1 priority, means that everyone truly feels they belong. Groton, a recognized leader in inclusion, realizes the work will never be complete.
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will groton cha nge me? YOU WILL STILL BE YOU,
but we will help you
strengthen your habits, deepen and broaden your interests, and sharpen your skills. You will learn about your style of leadership and determine which areas you want to explore in the years ahead. Groton strives to meet the particular needs of each student. If you change, it will be through gaining confidence. 35
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what is the measur e of success at groton? AT PRIZE DAY
(what Groton calls its
graduation), we hope you can answer “yes” to most of these questions . . . • Are you confident that you can meet the challenges ahead of you? • Are you resilient in the face of setbacks? • Have you developed good work habits, perseverance, and the initiative to turn ideas into action? • Do you believe in the importance of kindness? • Do you value serving the needs of others? If so, Groton has served you well.
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is groton r ight for me? WE CAN’T ANSWER THAT ONE—BUT YOU CAN.
Come visit the
Circle soon—talk to our students, teachers, and coaches. Our publications and website provide a sense of life at Groton, but your best sense of our school will come through a visit to campus. We want to meet you!
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how do i apply?
THE GROTON APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
Begin the
application process by completing our inquiry form at www.groton.org/inquiry. We look forward to learning about you and to helping you learn about Groton.
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282 FARMERS ROW
• P.O. BOX 991
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01450 978-448-7510
• WWW.GROTON.ORG
FOLLOW @GROTONSCHOOL