Holderness has a very unique leadership voting style. For over fifty years, the entire Holderness community has rated each rising junior and senior on four different categories These categories are dependability, initiative, fairness, and empathy Based on each person’s ratings, they get elected leadership positions for the following year
Most schools let students nominate themselves or get nominated by others for a role, then make speeches or address the school in some way before the final vote At Holderness, no one makes a campaign or a speech; they are purely voted for on their character
This process works at Holderness because of the number of leaders elected each year
From job leaders who become the face of the job program and work to provide for the school in Weld and beyond. And Senior leaders who lead the dorms that they are placed in. There are numerous leadership positions at Holderness that this process helps fill
By voting on each person ' s character, different people and personalities shine through The quiet and humble leader can sometimes get overlooked when making speeches, but can be chosen on a ballot that awards good character The night of the leadership chapel is filled with excitement Before going in, only a small group of faculty knew who the leaders for next year would be.
The top four from the previous year get handed an envelope and learn the next year ' s top four with the rest of the school When everyone learns who the elected leaders are together, rather than via email or being told beforehand, it brings the community together. It evokes many emotions, both positive and negative.
The system ultimately awards leadership to those with good character Just because you are great at a sport or the smartest kid in your grade doesn’t mean you are a better leader than the next person It connects to Holderness’ vision: creating people that the world needs most The leadership system at Holderness creates leaders who foster community through their initiative, dependability, fairness, and empathy.
NOAH KAS S ELS ’2 7
CHAR LOTTE HOFFMAN ’2 7
The 2026 election cycle may seem far away for some people, but for many young students, this will be one of the first chances to directly influence the future of the country The 2026 United States elections will determine control of Congress, shape major policy decisions, and reflect what younger generations actually care about. That includes Gen-Z, who are one of the fastestgrowing groups of voters in the United States. In recent years, younger voters have started to play a much bigger role in elections In both 2018 and 2022, turnout among voters 18-29 was significantly higher than in previous decades. While older generations still have higher voter turnout overall, the gap is shrinking This matters because young voters tend to prioritize different topics like climate change, student debt, mental health, and social justice. As a result, politicians are paying closer attention to what younger people think and how likely they are to show up on Election Day.
It's important to remember that it's never too early or too late to start researching candidates and issues. Even if you can’t vote yet, the first step is to learn how to find reliable information. Government websites and official candidate pages can also provide insight into platforms and priorities, while reputable news organizations help explain the broader context of each election Taking the time to research from multiple sources can help you form your own opinions rather than relying on what you see in a single post or video.
Ultimately, the influence of young voters depends on whether they choose to participate. While one vote might not seem like much, millions of young people making that same decision can shift the outcome of an election As the 2026 elections approach, the question isn’t just what issues matter most; it’s whether young voters will turn their opinions into action
SARAH MCADAM ’26
Our 2025–2026 school year has officially come to an end, and before everyone heads into summer, it’s worth taking a moment to look back on a year filled with traditions and memorable moments. The fall started off strong with various fun Drove events, tennyball, and an exciting season of fall athletics that brought energy to campus right away The Granite finally returned to us on Proctor Day after waiting four years, bringing back a piece of school tradition that many students had never experienced before As the calendar turned to winter, and our class days got a bit shorter, campus traditions quickly took over. Santa made his annual appearance during Christmas dinner, and the faculty kids pageant was once again a favorite event of the season. January and February felt like one long snowstorm, bringing some of the coldest temperatures and snowiest weeks we have seen in years. January 24th marked the coldest day of the winter with a low of -24degress F No matter how many layers people wore, it somehow still felt freezing every single day. Winter Carnival helped break up the long stretch of snow and cold, with events including lip sync performances and trivia night giving students a chance to compete outside of the classroom and athletic fields. Day of Giving brought another huge accomplishment for the community, raising $874,213 from 1,457 donors Winter athletics had another successful season, with teams bringing home multiple Lakes Region titles including boys hockey, girls Nordic, and varsity alpine skiing Students also focused on important conversations surrounding mental health throughout the year, with four different speakers visiting campus to discuss the importance of mental health and wellness.
Special Programs rolled around and despite only one rainy day, one broken arm, and one cut-open finger, Outback was also another major success for our junior class Seniors headed off on their March Experiences that took them all over the world. They participated in opportunities ranging from volunteering and interacting with kangaroos to backpacking through Asia and learning about food production in Italy A group of seven students traveled to Poland over spring break to support children and assist Common Man for Ukraine. Throughout the entire year, students also worked to support important causes, raising money for organizations including Common Man for Ukraine, the Sarah Strong Foundation, and Morgan’s Message.
Students spent lots of time in the White Mountains this year with multiple trips up Mount Washington and overnight stays in Carter Notch Hut and High Cabin At the same time, Mr Durnan inspired what was likely one of the biggest years for student reading in recent memory, with 32 book proposals submitted throughout the winter and spring Back on campus after break, hackey sack quickly became one of the biggest trends of the spring, with “Holdy Sack” becoming highly ranked on social media. The arts were also a major part of the spring season, with around 60 students participating in the spring musical, The Wedding Singer. Now things are winding down, our rising junior and seniors stepping into their leadership roles and ours seniors are becoming fully invested in senior assassin. Looking back, the 2025–2026 school year was packed with memorable moments, of athletic wins, performances, and traditions that kept campus busy all year long It was a year that brought plenty of stories, challenges, and unforgettable moments to campus And as Fordo says, it’s always a great day to be a Bull.
NEXT YEAR’S EDITORS
CHAR LOTTE, VT
Charlotte’s favorite Holderness tradition is Out Back return and her favorite meal in Weld is taco bowls. She has one black labrador, Stella. Her favorite class she’s taken at Holderness has been AHOW with Sheppe. On campus, she loves spending time playing on the tennis courts with friends and her favorite team to support is Girls JV Hockey (superstars)!
NOAHKASSELS
M I R ROR LAKE, N H
Noah’s favorite Holderness tradition is Drove Tenney Ball and his favorite meal in Weld is also taco bowls. He has a golden doddle, Rio. His favorite class he’s taken at Holderness has been AHOW with Mrs.Guzman. On campus, he loves playing and watching games at the low turf. He also loves any opportunity to play any games during open turf whether that be soccer, spikeball, and more. When Noah isn’t on the field himself, he loves to support our Boys Varsity Hockey team!
MR.FELICE’S SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURES CLASS
TEGAN GREGORY ’27 HITTING A HOME
SPRING SIGNING DAY
TES S ECKHART ’28
The ground, the bushes, the trees, everything is encrusted in a white, snowy freeze It’s January 18th, and we’re making our way up Brook Fisher Trails on Nordic skis Roscoe leads the pack, his thick black fur just barely visible beneath the thick layer of fresh white powder on top. He lies in the snow, tongue panting, tail wagging, waiting for us to catch up to him. It is the dead of winter, and the woods are serene We are surrounded by utter silence, except for the curshtttt curshtttt sound of our old skis, kicking up the mountain We're surrounded by white abyss as we climb and climb until we reach the ridge, where the trees are covered in white frost, like they’re frozen in time
Below us is the most beautiful view of Squam Lake
On these skis, I am the happiest person alive. I get to be outside in beautiful New England, with some of my closest friends, doing the sport that I love the most Nothing beats this And that is where I come to the topic of this essay: the fact that Summer is way overrated.
Yes, of course, summer has its perks: no homework, you can eat whatever you like, and be outside as much as your heart desires…. But there’s no snow. NO SNOW!!!
In summer, there’s no comfort food No hot chocolate. No wood fires in the fireplace, with the scent of smoke emanating through the house. No layering a million fuzzy blankets onto your bed until you can finally thaw out your core.
WRITING SAMPLE FOR PLACEMENT INTO AP COMP
Instead, in summer, you ' re constantly sweating. Humidity seeps into everything, leaving a wet and sticky trace Anytime you try to exercise or step outside, you ' re immediately drenched in sweat, and you’re constantly having to change your clothes!!
Yes, there are things to like about summer, for instance, ice-cold lemonade and sweet, delicious ice cream And you can go swimming in the ocean and splash in the waves without getting frostbite But the feeling you get from summer is different from that of winter. Summer is easy
It’s a relief from the other hectic months. It is the in-between of your year In summer, you don’t really change. You don’t grow.
In summer, time slows down, and you relax But it doesn’t allow you to truly grow as a human After all, when we approach summer, we expect rest and ease, and not necessarily overcoming challenges while struggling a little along the way.
ONTO NEXT PAGE
“Spr ingfest is overrated and should have more events.”
-Anonymous
“Last block free is better than first block free.”
-Jack Welby
’26
CONTINUATION OF OVERRATED: SUMMER TES S ECKHART ’28
Alas, it’s the challenges that winter brings that make you grow. Winter is what brings this different person to the summer that follows. When people think of winter, they imagine the cold, death, and sadness. But winter isn’t just a type of weather; it’s a feeling
“Cottage cheese is an
extremely underrated part of the salad bar.” -Anonymous
“Inter vis is too often.”
-Anonymous
“Chuggy carr ies BV L.”
-Anonymous
“Chocolate Chip cookies are the least desirable of all the cookies.”
-Mrs.Guzman
“Winter is cooler than summer.”
-Mr.Durnan
“Freshman/sophomore Tenney Ball is better than prom.”
-Anonymous
Winter is the feeling of cold that is so stark and bitter, it chills you to the bone. Winter is a time of being present and reflecting on yourself In winter, you seek warmth and comfort, while cherishing love and peace
Winter makes you appreciate everything 15 times more than you would in summer.
Summer is easy
Summer is for people who want to let life saunter by But in winter, you have to grab each day by the hand and tackle it head-on. Life is longer in winter. Life is harder, too. But life is more rewarding
In winter, you’re forced to dive headfirst into everything you do; each numbing walk from class to class, each freezing and grueling race.
But in the end, you feel satisfied; content. Every race you finish, every building you successfully enter from walking on the cold, exposed paths, is worth it
What I’m trying to convey is that you need winter for summer to be fun, for you to enjoy that break. Winter is actually what leads to those happy, summer feelings. Because in winter, you learn to appreciate everything more Like the warmth of your bed, the love of your friends… the beloved campus dogs!
In summer, you live faster, but in winter, you live harder.
So you can see why Summer is way too overrated, and winter is by far the superior choice. Summer is created through winter. Through long Nordic skis with Roscoe and friends, out in the cold, quiet wilderness of NH.
THE NEW HOLD ROPETOW
CADEN S CH N ITMAN ’28
On March 17, 2026; The Tramway Board of New Hampshire voted to certify the “Holderness School Fiber Rope Tow”! Last May, I had a vision to build a ski lift of some kind next to the airbag/ski jump facility. The purpose was so skiers and riders could use energy towards progressing and skill building on rails and jumps, instead of using energy to hike back up after a run. I later got approval to build this and worked hard during the summer to design and then have this unit come to life
After starting this project at the beginning of July, I had no idea what I had just got myself into. I will say that I completely underestimated the amount of work, time, and engineering that this project took. I look back on my work and experience building this, knowing that I have learned a lot of new skills and lessons The most important things that I have learned from this project are that good things take a lot of time, and you have to trust and lean on the people around you who support you
From July to August 25’ I constructed the top and bottom terminals, (What I thought was the bulk of the project). I later loaded them on a trailer to take to Holderness It then sat at Holderness for a couple weeks until I had time to position the top and bottom terminals and splice the haul rope. By the end of September I learned that I would have to meet many of the ANSI - B.77.1 requirements for safety
This was a bit of a shock to me because I had to get so many things up to code in order for the tow to be certified to run From September through March I worked on installing new systems such as an emergency stop system with a safety gate and towers for the return rope, and many more little things After all required elements were completed, I attended an annual meeting with the New Hampshire Tramway Board. The Board voted to approve and certify the tow I had planned for the tow to be able to operate this past season but there were many things that needed to be done Overall, this was a really fun project which involved some setbacks, but without those setbacks I would not have gotten this done.
Thank you to Mr Drummond, Mr Stepp, Coach Pete, Coach Sobel, and Mr. Girard for your input and guidance
I am thrilled to have a lift served ski park on campus I am excited and relieved to say that the system will be ready for the upcoming 26/27 ski season
THANKYOUCLASSOF2026
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ORLASHILLINGFORD
We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading the 4th edition of the 2025-2026 Picador. Huge thanks to everybody who contributed throughout the year. We’re super excited to see what Noah and Charlotte have planned for next year!
