LA at a Glance

September 8

On the first day of classes of the 2022–2023 school year, the community gathered on the Quad for assembly and got to know the Senior Cabinet of CJ Schuster, Jinny Buranasombati, Ruona Ewhrudjakpor, and Tommy Whitlock

Mr. Wiercinski’s honors-level Terrorism, Extremism, and Radicalism class had the opportunity to hear from a special guest: retired New York firefighter and 9/11 first responder Kevin Hogan (parent of Lily ’26). He told the students his story and recalled memories from that fateful day.

September 21

The partnership between Groton Hill Music and Lawrence Academy officially began with the first group of Spartans taking music classes and joining various ensembles.

October 31

The last week of October marked the beginning of Spirit Week and Spoon Hunt. Members of Mr. Hawgood’s advisory took the opportunity to dress like Mr. Barker!

November 4

Each year, Lawrence Academy celebrates Founders’ Day, which is more than a birthday or anniversary celebration for the school; it celebrates community, the school’s motto, and those who allow LA’s “light to shine for all.” Congratulations to this year’s award recipients!

November 7

Ms. Majeski, Ms. Schulze, and Mr. Potter took a group of Spartans to the inaugural ISL Changemakers Conference, hosted by Milton Academy. Each ISL school chose six students, along with their athletic directors and diversity practitioners, to participate in workshops and affinity spaces.

LA’s holiday concert was filled with light and excitement. Music and dance performances, paired with a special holiday meal created by our dining hall staff, set the warm tone for the evening. The entire community then met on the Quad to form a literal circle of light — either with candles or phones — and joined together to sing “This Little Light

Mine.”

Dr. Nazanin Zadeh-Cummings ’07 returned to campus for our first “Live Action Leader – Alumni Series” talk and spoke to our Spartan Leaders about her journey after graduating from LA. Nazanin has lived in five different countries and has visited 50. A native of Westford, Mass., she now lives in Australia with her husband, where she is the associate director of research at the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership.

Students made their way to the Gray Building for LA’s annual Casino Night. Complete with blackjack, roulette, Texas Hold’em, speed bingo, and more, Spartans had the opportunity to gamble — with fake money — and win raffle prizes.

There was no lack of talent at LA’s fifth annual “Spartans Got Talent” show. Whether it was a stand-up routine, singing duets, group choreography, or a performance with light-up nunchucks, our students showed their stuff onstage.

In our second “Live Action Leader — Alumni Series” talk, several alumni returned to campus and spoke to our Spartan Leaders about life after LA. These former Spartans discussed college, finding their first job, and navigating the world post-Lawrence Academy. The students learned so much and got some great advice. Thank you to Nate Althoff ’18, Matt Baldino ’12, Adam Dutton ’18, McKenzie Melvin ’17, and Sam Rosenstein ’17 for making the trip back to the elm tree–shaded hillside and speaking to our students.

January 19

LA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office presented a special virtual event to the Lawrence Academy community. Dr. Trinidad Tellez P’23 (New Hampshire state representative, health equity strategist) and Alumna Trustee Taylor Selé ’02 (professional television and movie actor) discussed the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote: “What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love. And this is what we must see as we move on.”

International students traveled up to Ragged Mountain for their annual ski trip. This year, students had the option to share in the fun by bringing along a “plus one” from school.

February 1

Spartans participated (alongside students from Groton School) in Lawrence Academy’s ninth Rise Against Hunger mealpackaging event. With 36 total volunteers for the day, the meals-packaged total was 11,664, which brings the nine-year totals to just over 154,000 meals.

FBI Special Agent Courtney Pillsbury of the Boston Field Office visited campus and spoke to our Spartans (and the community) about her career and how forensics at the FBI operates.