Hornet's Nest | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | November 2, 2018

HORNET’S NEST Proctor Academy | November 2, 2018| Vol. 4 | Issue 2

Photo: Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

What Makes Hitting the JUUL So Cool: How Will Proctor Respond?

By: TJ Beaver ’20

Proctor is one of many communities to be hit by the JUUL vaporizer epidemic. How will the FDA and Proctor administration influence the risky choices students make?

Over the past year JUULing has become a huge fad for young Americans. It delivers harmful substances along with nicotine. The FDA is calling it a nationwide epidemic and according to Men’s Health magazine, JUUL fluid contains harmful metals that put users at risk of lung diseases or cancer. Recently the FDA has gone after JUUL Labs due to greatly increased under age use. The FDA has given JUUL sixty days to figure out how to make their product less accessible to kids under 18.

How does this affect the Proctor community? Are we living in that same health epidemic due to increased JUUL use? The short answer is yes, we are a community

struggling with this problem. Over the past year it has been the job of the Proctor administration to help steer kids down a healthier path. Dean of Students Drew Donaldson has reported a rise in students getting in trouble due to their JUULing habits. He hopes the increased punishment will help kids realize that it is not worth the risk. The current punishment for being caught JUULing is a Minor Violation along with a health response, a school administered drug test to learn more about the student’s use. However, it seems students don’t stop an activity due to risks of getting caught.

When two students who use nicotine were asked if they know about the health risks they replied, “Yeah we know, It doesn’t matter, it feels good.” They explained they know it hurts them due to trouble breathing and throat pain, but they feel the risk is

worth it. As the government cracks down on JUULing, Drew feels that Proctor will be able to do very little. A multimillion dollar company like JUUL will find a way to keep their product on the market. He feels that there is very little the FDA can do to change what’s happening. Drew has charged himself with taming “the beast” as he called it.

Proctor’s approach focuses on not treating JUULing in only a disciplinary way, but also as a health problem. Proctor gives its students the opportunity to come forward to a coach, dorm parent, advisor, or the health center and ask for help to break their addiction with minimal consequences and aid as opposed to a Minor Violation. Assistant Head of School Karin Clough observed, “At this point it’s just sad how many kids are addicted and how easy it is to JUUL in the Wise, bathrooms, [on

campus], etc. ... I feel that we need to do a better job of publicly campaigning to show students the health effects.”

Karin and Drew both see this epidemic as a problem that can only be resolved by time and education. For students, JUULs are easily purchased (mail or convenience stores) and even easier to get when you know 18 year old seniors. The administration is aware of this and knows that increased punishment only makes kids smarter about how and when they JUUL. The course of action by the school is to

promote a healthy living lifestyle. Karin recalled when she was in high school, it was normal to smoke. “It took years for schools to really get kids to understand the health risks.”

you spend four years here and you never get caught, but ten years later you develop lung disease. Do you really want to have to explain to your family that you might die due to a stupid addiction you had in high school?

As a student I want everyone who is reading this to really question their choices. If you had adults, friends, teachers, and coaches surrounding you telling you to not to smoke a cigarette, what would you do? We are all in high school and life is full of fun, but for most things you think you get away with, there is always a consequence. Maybe

Things that seem to make sense now will never make sense when your frontal lobe is fully developed. If you want to take the risk, that’s fine, it’s your life, but if you are JUULing and value your body, you can go to the Health Center. Get the help you need and live your best life without an addiction. Be happy.

Hailey Lapointe: Changing Perceptions By: Ellie Richardson ’19

About 2,000 miles away from home and having never stepped on campus before registration day, Hailey LaPointe began a new journey as Proctor’s only current Native American student a year ago. Hailey is changing people’s perspectives about boarding school back on the reservation as well as inspiring the Proctor community to learn more about Lakota culture.

Hailey is from Mission, South Dakota, a town on the Rosebud Reservation. Having experienced how beautiful South Dakota is this past summer on the service trip, I can attest that Rosebud’s sunsets are made beautiful by the culture and people that surrounded the eager group of Proctor students I was a part of.

On a Sunday afternoon in Fowler House at the beginning of fall term, Hailey smiles and speaks of her first three months at Proctor in contrast to her old high school. “All I could think about was how different everything and everyone [at Proctor] was, nobody looked like me, nobody talked like me, and I felt like nobody could have possibly lived the same life that I did. Everything was completely different.” After speaking with a girl who worked with our summer service group as a horse handler on a ranch, I learned how rare it is for a student from Rosebud to go away to a boarding school in the Northeast.

Boarding school is a controversial topic in the Lakota culture because just a couple of generations ago, many indigenous people were forced to go to boarding school against their will in an attempt to strip them of their cultural beliefs and practices. Hailey reveals, “Boarding schools aren’t appealing or common for indigenous students. Back when genocide against my people was at its peak, it was… a place we never wanted to get near because we were afraid of what would happen to us. People thought me going to boarding school was a scary thing, but that’s not the case because I’m getting a better education and amazing new experiences. I changed their [Rosebud] views on it and gave boarding school a better name to the people back at home. As far as I know, I’m the only person from my reservation who attends boarding school.”

Out of all of the boarding schools Hailey could choose from, she chose Proctor, and

so far it has exceeded her expectations. Hailey is here in part because Proctor has nurtured a connection with the Rosebud Reservation for decades and recently has been trying to rekindle that relationship. About thirty teachers have traveled to Rosebud in the past few summers for professional development.

For two years now Proctor students have been lucky enough to visit Rosebud on a Hailey Lapointe ’19 community service trip that has changed their perspective on native cultures in America.

Proctor recently held an Indigenous People’s Day celebration that has heightened our community’s awareness of Native American issues.

When speaking of her pride toward her Lakota culture, Hailey reveals, “I think it [the new Indigenous People’s Day] definitely shows strength in my people. We took over Columbus Day and made it our own day, which is very powerful. Columbus shouldn’t be the one celebrated.

He only wanted to conquer our land and enslave my people. That is no hero in my eyes.”

In recent years, more and more cities across America are adopting Indigenous People’s Day and finding innovative ways to learn about the first people of the U.S. Hailey speaks of how her old school celebrates the day back home, “We do celebrate it back in South Dakota, but it’s mostly just on the reservations. The rest of South Dakota doesn’t seem to care.”

Hailey has continued to share her culture with students and faculty members at Proctor. Speaking at the Proctor tipi set up next to Slocumb Hall for Indigenous People’s Day, she spoke of what it was like to grow up in a world believing that most Americans did not value her culture. She is so grateful for how accepting and encouraging the Proctor community has been. Hailey holds a wealth of knowledge that she is willing to share. Get to know her. Hear her story. This summer, take advantage of the opportunity to go visit Rosebud and learn about a culture that you know nothing about in a place where you don’t know anyone.

More Than Meets the Eye: A Look at Diane Hersey

says that her course can help sustain farmers and their land all year round using WWII era processes!

If you haven’t had chance to meet Diane Hersey who works in the Dining Hall, I’d encourage you to do so. Diane is heavily invested in more than just her job at Proctor. She also owns her own business with an aim to educate people about history and the world of organic farming.

Diane does admit it’s been tough managing both of her jobs. She says, “Yes, it’s hard for me to teach… they [her adult students] like morning classes because they’re busy.” This conflicts with Diane’s current reality. “I’m putting that [teaching] on the shelf. I’m concentrating on working five days a week at Proctor.”

Diane built a house in Andover on her family’s farmland. She uses it at times to teach classes to the public. Diane’s specialty is organic farming and living, focused on methods developed in the 1930s. She

On top of all this Diane also finds the time to pursue writing in her free time, mainly short stories. Much of her work revolves around her grandmother, Hazel.

She writes fictional short stories (which

By: Jesse Aguilar ’19

are historically accurate) about her growing up as a girl decades ago.

Diane has a lot going on, yet she often takes the time to put a smile on someone’s face. If you see her in the Dining Hall, feel free so say hello or give her a hand!

Diane Hersey

Commotion on Fieldhouse Lane By: Henry Bechok ’19

Every day construction equipment flows past us. Since last year we’ve had a steady stream of heavy machinery in and out of campus. The Farrell Fieldhouse is home to the Proctor Academy basketball courts, weight room, locker rooms, athletic training room and the athletic equipment room, and it is getting a brand new look.

Most recently, the fieldhouse finished the first and second phases of the renovation process. The third phase, the front of the fieldhouse (the space that was formerly used as the Cannon Dining Hall) is nearing completion now. It will include an open lobby, athletic offices, a second and third floor with classroom spaces, as well as two wellness classrooms and possibly a robotics/makerspace on the third floor. Upon completing the third phase, there is hope to start working on the fourth and final phase which includes locker rooms, laundry, and athletic equipment rooms on the west side of the building.

The school started funding this four phase project in 2016. Work continued through summer 2017 and the first phase, a completely renovated and redesigned gym, was completed in the fall of 2017, followed by a fitness and new athletic training rooms in January 2018. Phase 3 has been going on for a little less than a year and the goal is to have it completed for this years winter term.

Proctor Academy Athletic Director Gregor Makechnie has been a central figure in the changes.

“I am very excited about the new locker room space for female athletes and coaches. For many years, our locker room facilities have been inadequate. I am also excited about the spacious lobby that will offer a welcoming entrance to the Field House, a social gathering space for athletes and parents following competitions, and a comfortable space for community members to relax prior to, and following, athletic practice. Beyond athletics, the renovation includes seven new classrooms and additional meeting spaces for the English, Social Science and Wellness departments.”

The field house was constructed in the 1960’s and has served

the Proctor community in many ways. A transition of this magnitude brings with it challenges beyond just fundraising. Gregor shared some of the hardships the renovation has caused. “The athletic department has shown incredible patience and flexibility.

Much of our athletic equipment has been temporarily housed in construction trailers. Coaches have had to do without changing spaces (locker rooms for athletes have been out of service as well).

But, these are short-term sacrifices. Although inconvenient, they have not dampened excitement about the renovation efforts. In the winter, we will enjoy an amazing new space.” This new campus hub will benefit each and every member of the Proctor and Andover communities who stop by to appreciate what happens when an old building is creatively renovated.

The Future of the Vocal Program By: Logan Dunne ’19

Proctor Academy is undergoing a sudden shift in the performing arts program. With the departure of the former Choral Director, the school has had to hire someone new. His name is Dre[a] Williams. He is a very talented and qualified individual who is central to the changes.

Dre’s focus is to teach a cappella rather than the more traditional and classical approach of years past. The challenge that the school was trying to overcome were the lack of numbers in the vocal class. The hope is that Dre overseeing this change would entice more students to join the class.

Chair of the Arts Department, Bill Wightman, shared the goal for bringing Dre to Proctor was to help the program grow. One challenge is that Dre has only signed on to be here for this term.

If he signs up to be here longer than that’ll work. If not, we will have to find someone else to take over and rebuild the program again. I hope that he is able to stay for the sake of the program and the kids who are going to have invested an entire term singing with him.

Bill explained that there are different wellness seminar classes that students are mandated to take while they are attending Proctor.

For instance, if a student is in Learning Skills and taking a world language, and the school decides wellness seminars are mandatory classes, it may complicate scheduling.

I later asked Bill about his steps to try and increase the number of students in all performing arts programs. He has been trying to get a mandatory performing arts credit. He understands that the performing arts may give some students anxiety, but he believes that performing can help some students overcome this stress.

Brian’s New Barbeque Beginnings By: Anna Hollenbaugh ’19

Brian MacKenzie (after two years of running the Wise) is opening a restaurant in Andover. He is hoping to create a place for the community to gather and fill up on great food inspired by his southern roots. Maybe your advisory has a new destination!

The site of Brian’s new restaurant

Brian has studied at The Culinary Institute of America, worked at a Virginia country inn, managed a restaurant in Colorado, worked in the student center at Proctor for the last two years, and his next stop is opening a new restaurant in the old Belletetes building. Brian has worn

This got me thinking back to my freshman year and a classmate who was with me in Vocal Ensemble. The first day of class Rob, Proctor’s former vocal teacher, asked this nervous student if she could sing a note. During this first term when asked if she could sing, she sometimes cried and stormed off to the bathroom due to her stress. Though this was her first attempt at singing, by the end of the year she was able to break through the struggles of having eyes on her and she was able to sing a beautiful solo in front of an audience in the Chapel. I’m not saying that the only way that you can battle and beat anxiety is by participating in a performing arts class, but I hope Proctor finds a way to continue nurturing a healthy Vocal Program.

many hats in the cooking industry: he has been a chef, manager, and dishwasher.

The new establishment is on 4 Mill Road in Andover, right on Route 4. Renovations are still in progress. Brian chuckled and reported, “We were hoping to have it done in July of last summer, it is supposed to be done this week, so it will probably be done in January! Why do I do this, I don’t know! I am a glutton for punishment.”

Brian’s new restaurant is building on his southern love of barbeque. He hopes what will make his restaurant stand out is a warm, casual atmosphere. There might be a couple televisions on the walls, but watching sports is not the main focus. Brian wants people to come together and talk in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

There will be a bar and a take-out counter where people can grab prepared salads and foods for a quick, delicious meal. Brian’s main goal is to create a place where the community can gather and connect with each other. Currently, 4 Mill Road is the name of the restaurant, but Brian and his team are still searching for the perfect name. So, keep a eye on the site for a new place to eat in the start of winter!

Anna interviewing Brian

Student Investors Wanted At Innovation Night By: Anders Klinkenberg ’20

Do you know how to solve some of the world’s problems? Are you interested in seeing what your fellow students feel passionate about changing? Innovation Night is an event to show and promote Proctor’s student work that applies to real life situations.

Students find an issue or topic that they feel passionate about and explore possibilities of solving the problem or growing an idea. As Gregor Makechnie, one of the faculty behind innovation night observed, “It is valuable for students to share their

work with an audience outside of the classroom. The prospect of a public audience for their work makes the work more authentic, more meaningful. Students receive valuable feedback and, following Innovation Night, have the opportunity to incorporate feedback to improve the quality of their work.” Having the opportunity to improve as suggested by people who are not involved in the creation of the work brings it to another whole level because of the opposing or differing views that others have.

In Gregor’s Social Entrepreneurship class, his students are working on double bottom line business models. These students are not only exploring financial profit within their projects, but also the social impact of the idea, which can be over-

looked in some cases by the economic aspect. Along with Gregor’s class, expected participants are AP Environmental Science, Robotics, Honors US History, and art classes present.

Student feedback and having an audience is what drives this night. “It was a great opportunity to display what I learned in Social Entrepreneurship, and it counted as our final project!” said Ellie Richardson, a participant of last year. She does wish that she was able to plan better for how fast the night went by. Andrew Rusis said that he learned a great deal from listening to other student topics.

What You Can Learn From Boat Building By: Scotty Lively ’19

Boat Building has been a tradition at Proctor for more than 80 years. The roots of this tradition goes back to the Proctor students who would build boats to race in regattas all over New England.

Although we no longer have the sailing team, students can still learn lifelong skills from building a boat.

I have always been interested in hands on projects, I work at a bike shop as the head mechanic, I have built a bike frame completely from scratch, and now I’m taking the Kinetic Metal sculpture class. Last year I took boat building. I had taken woodshop in middle school and learned the basics of woodworking, and I have also taken on some bigger projects like building a deck, but I have never worked on anything that requires the accuracy and skill that boat building does.

Gregor talked of the benefits of student participation in Innovation Night and he wishes that there would be more interest within the student body. It is a good opportunity for all students to learn something new and invest ‘money’ into the project that they feel is the best.

Innovation Night runs from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the 8th of November at the Wise Center. All students, faculty, and townspeople who are interested are encouraged to come and interact with the student presenters.

The boat I built was a 16 foot canoe, called the Sassafras. It took nine months to build and I am happy with the final outcome.

Building a boat taught me so much, I learned pretty quickly that I had to work hard to finish it and it wasn’t going to build itself. I spent countless night going in to the boat shop to get more work done. The hour long classes we have are not nearly long enough to finish a boat in one school year.

I figured out that if something was too hard there was probably a better way or better tool. People have been building boats for thousands of years and someone else probably ran into the same problem long before I did and made a better tool for the job. The last big thing I took away from the build is to keep your workspace clean. It is much easier to work if you don’t have tools all over the place getting in your way.

I would truthfully tell anyone to try to build a boat, It isn’t really that hard it just takes time, patience, and motivation. You could take as long as you want or rush through it, build by yourself, or work with people. The reason I like building things is the feeling you get when you’re using something you made. After putting time and effort into a project for such a long time, the feeling of success and accomplishment is like no other.

Kyle’s thoughts on Advisory Kyle Connolly is my advisor and here is his take on an important part of Proctor.

I get to know them more, their day to day routine and see who they are outside of their academic life. I get to see them struggle and succeed, see them work through obstacles and overcome them. I see them grow into young adults, which I think really amazing. It’s like a mother and father seeing their kid being challenged, struggle and then succeed.

What is the main goal of advisory?

Kyle responded, “I think the main goal of advisory is to support my advisees; I need to push them towards their limit because I want them to be challenged. Creating relationships in advisory helps the student feel positive and know that they are supported. With that support my advisees keep moving forward. Like the three hundred spartans lining up behind each other, each of them supporting the man in front of them, making sure they don’t fall.”

What makes an advisory successful?

The relationships between student and advisor and vice versa. The relationships that are made enable students to feel like they can speak freely and just feel comfortable. With the connections, advisory seems like a small family. When students feel comfortable and understand that their advisor is someone who has their back and supports them, then the real work can happen. That means, we can really address what is happening in their lives and brainstorm solutions to problems, celebrate success, and plan for the future. But before any of that happens the relationship between advisor and advisee and the relationship among the advisees needs to be established and trusted. That trust is the key to growing as an individual and as a group.

By: Ryan Methven ’19

What are the benefits for the faculty who have advisees?

I get to be in contact with more students.

Do you think that Advisory is a reason why the bond between students and faculty is so strong?

I think it is one of the main reasons but I also think it’s built in the community itself. We dedicate endless amounts of time to build that relationship so the advisor is a part of the advisee’s life and the advisee is part of the advisor’s life.

Incredibly, Ryan resembles Kyle at the Halloween Dance

I have been Kyle’s advisee for all four years, he has been a big part of my Proctor experience, he and I have become good friends and I won’t forget him when I leave.

The Uncertain Future of Proctor Football By: Eric Nemirovsky ’19

There is no doubt that football is changing all over America, but how is it changing at Proctor? Helmet technology has come a long way from leather hats of the 1950s. Some helmets even claim to be concussion proof, but continued research into head injuries is forcing the sport to change. The NFL and the league Proctor plays in have made targeting and head to head contact significant penalties. These rules are not enough to quell the fears of parents with prospective football playing children, and it seems as though football at Proctor is endangered.

I have played Proctor football for four years. Every year our numbers have decreased, in large part because the media has scared parents with talk of CTE. With roughly fifty percent of this year’s team on course to graduate in the spring, our program is in danger. There may be truth to what the media reports, but they neglect to mention the value of football.

Four year linebacker Ben Warren observed, “All of our coaches have wisdom to give, but I connected most with coach Dave (Fleming). He gives it to you straight. He will call you out if you’re not performing to your highest ability and he commends you for hard work. I had a desire to play well for Coach Dave even when he didn’t say anything.”

I came into pre-season sports camp my freshman year knowing only the five people who had been in my orientation group. However, during football camp, I would join fellow football teammates for meals, and by the end of pre-season I had thirty brothers to make a new school feel welcoming. Our coaches teach us how to be good athletes but more importantly, they teach us how to be good people. I bring the dedication and perseverance that I have learned on the field into all aspects of my life.

Four year starting quarterback Henry Bechok noted, “I would be very disappointed if the football program ended. I have enjoyed my four years on the team, but I am also looking forward to watching the team as my brother (Grey Bechok, a Proctor football alumnus) has, for years to come. He comes to games, gets weekly updates from Coach Casey, and even serves as an assistant coach on occasion. I would be very sad to miss out on that experience.”

College Counseling Update with Michele Koenig By: Mikel Timm ’19

I met with Michele Koenig to talk about what’s been going on lately in the Proctor Academy world of College Counseling.

Have there been any recurring trends in what the students are doing this year?

Although it is to early to provide any trends from our class this year, one trend from past graduating classes is how a handful of students that are off in their first year at college will call home to Proctor, and talk about how they think they have chosen the wrong school. Michele thinks the reason for that is because they feel very different in college than the way they felt at Proctor, and they did not have time to find support in their favor.

When that happens, Michele told me that she almost always will ask the students to give the school more time, and they get into the groove in their new school, the majority of students who called and felt unsettled about their new school end up staying there instead of transferring.

Michele talked about the trend of students often coming into college counseling in the fall and wanting to do an Early Decision (ED) Application, but the problem is that Michele wants the students to only apply ED if they are in love with the college and know that they would love to end up there, if not then they should not be applying ED. (Early Decision is a binding)

What is the biggest problem Proctor students have with the college counseling process?

Proctor College Counseling works with a diverse group of students, and because of that, students have variety of needs.

Michele said, “The college application process is part of the educational journey.” and when a student engages with the process, they have the opportunity to learn more about themselves and grow as a person, but an important part of that is letting the students work on their own, while we guide their progress and encourage their growth.

While parents are part of the student’s support team, they can impede the process if they drift towards doing the work for the student. That takes away from the learning experience of applying to college.

On the other side of things, Michele mentioned how “Colleges are pretty savvy” in that context, Michele continued to say, “They can see when something is not au-

The New Wise

By: Samantha Parkman ’19 The Wise has always been a place of community where you can go to have a more open and social setting and also enjoy some amazing food. The Wise kitchen makes it so people who maybe don’t like the dinner in the dining hall that day can go to the Wise and enjoy food such as a grilled cheese, quesadilla, shake, smoothie, etc. Our new Wise manager this year is Jeff Hudkins and he is ready to cook up some new ideas and changes to our after hours food.

As a worker at the Wise, I was curious about Jeff’s plans and the changes and goals he had in mind. Jeff said, “I want a better selection of food items that can also be used with the equipment we have in the kitchen. I also want a menu the students will embrace and food that is less dependent on animal-based products. An ex-

thentic.” When a student does the work themselves rather than having their hand held the entire time, it not only shows maturity but also lets the college know that they are a hard-working student and that they are ready for the next step of their education.

Overall how do you feel about the current seniors progress so far?

Michele felt confident that this year’s Proctor Academy senior class is doing well, and is staying on track with the college process. The number of students who have already chosen their school, and are basically done with most of the process is consistent with past years, but there are also many students who are not there yet.

The way Michele put it, “Proctor college counseling likes to meet students where they are, and help them reach their final goal from there.”

This class does have a population that needs to get moving on their applications.

Michele made sure to mention, “I don’t believe that there are lazy students” and Michele explained how the students who are moving slower than others usually have a reason, whether it be because the student is worried or unsure. No matter where the student lies in their college process, Michele and the rest of the college counseling team stay positive and guide them to where they need to be rather than judging them or leaving them on their own.

ample of this would be our clean smoothie.” Jeff clarified this is a smoothie without milk and yogurt. He went on to say, “Reducing our diet of these products is the biggest thing you can do to help planet Earth.”

Jeff will not be getting rid of every animal-based product and is currently adding food to the menu such as pizza and is getting rid of items that are not as popular or do not work well with the equipment we have such as fries, chicken ten-

Sam cooking on Project Period

ders, and mozzarella sticks. I then asked why he came to work at Proctor and he smiled and said, “After retiring eight years ago, I wanted to go back to work. Proctor is the perfect fit for me at this time.” One of Jeff’s previous jobs was running the food service operation at Canobie Lake Park.

Jeff is driven and really wants to make the Wise something big.

From knowing his future plans, I was curious about his life outside of the Wise. Jeff explained, “I live on a small farm in the village of New London and keep myself busy with my two chil-

dren, Roxie and Magnum, who are ages eight and ten. I also own a mid-sized law firm with my wife and I manage seven law offices throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.”

Zina, a worker at the Wise, commented, “Well, I think this change is for the better, but I do know some students that would say otherwise. The Wise has changed dramatically since my first year. The food though, is what I think is the most drastic.” Zina adds, “The Wise is moving towards a healthier, brighter future, as cheesy as that sounds, but it’s true. And I like it.”

A New Approach to Orientation Day By: Rob Gillis ’19

Full of laughter, excitement, and the occasional serious conversation, orientation day at Proctor Academy symbolizes the unofficial start to the term. Full of nervous excitement, students start the day by crowding the meeting house eagerly awaiting to kick off the school year. After spending time in advisory groups, students and faculty make their way to the turf fields.

“Playfair” is the activity we’re told. No one knows what to expect.

The hour-long activity started with an introductory ‘human aisle’ which every member of the community walked through while classmates cheered. Smaller groups were created by birth month, and name games were followed by a highly competitive session of rock, paper, scissors. After Playfair director, Newton, concluded the activity, students dispersed with mixed reactions.

New student Nate Hazen’21 stated, “I enjoyed the all-school activity because on wilderness orientation I was only with a small group of kids and during Playfair, I got to meet many faculty members, returning students, and other new students.” Nate went on to add, “I enjoyed having an orientation day because it was a nice way to ease into the school year.”

But when it came to the opinion from returning students, there were very different views. David Kossman, a three-year junior, stated he did not enjoy the activity. “ When I first heard about it, before the activity started, it seemed like a good idea to have an all school activity since they rarely happen. The start of it was good as it

got us connected by forcing us to meet new people, but honestly, it started to get out of hand towards the end. When we broke into small groups, I was paired with other returning students I was friends with previously which made it hard to focus.”

Why was Playfair brought in for the start of the year? Karin Clough, Assistant Head of School, mentioned, “For about three or four years now we’ve been doing an on-campus orientation day in addition to Wilderness Orientation. We used to have a bigger focus on advisory and small group activities, but most recently, we decided to adjust the schedule to incorporate an all-school activity in the afternoon. Erica Wheeler had done an activity called Playfair during her time at Colby Sawyer College, and she liked the way the activity was able to manage a large group of people.

The faculty voted, and it was history from there.”

As Director of Student Activities, Erica spoke to the activity’s effectiveness. “It was amazing that faculty participated as that

doesn’t happen at many other schools. As for its future at Proctor, I don’t see it being an annual event here. It would get old quickly, but most likely [could happen] every three or four years.”

As for the effectiveness of Playfair, it may not have accomplished its goal in creating new campus friendships for all. With the Proctor community already so tight-knit, it was hard to get everyone to actively engage in a program designed for a group of people with no prior connection. Pros and cons aside, students and faculty enjoyed their time outside, made some memories, and maybe even shared a few germs!