The Compass | Fall 2022

Legacy A CURATED

By: Meghan Smith and Bryan Geary

On a beautiful summer evening this past August, Sara Thibeault ’23 was hard at work. Armed with facts and stories plucked from the school’s archives, the soon-to-be Tilton senior played host (along with Head of School Kate Saunders and the Tilton Historical Society) to nearly 300 people who came out to a public Book Fair at the Charles E. Tilton Mansion.

Visitors toured the storied house on the Hill with Thibeault as their guide, explored artifacts on display, and had the chance to take home books from the school’s collection. The event was a small taste of what is in store for the next chapter of the Mansion.

“We’re honoring the past and using that knowledge to forge ahead,” says Saunders. On the heels of landmark exterior renovations during the summer of 2021 — made possible thanks to support from the Masiello Family Foundation and the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) — Tilton received an additional capital gift from the Masiello Family Foundation to begin work on the interior of the Mansion. Through that gift, Saunders says, a summer work position was created for Thibeault. “To find a student who

loves history to be a part of this work is an incredible opportunity,” she continues. “Sara’s contributions will be vital as we continue to reimagine the use of this space.”

Tasked with pouring over the nearly two-centuries worth of archives held in the Mansion to both help organize and highlight stories from Tilton’s past, Thibeault’s work this summer not only informed her contributions to the Book Fair, it led her to a remarkable Legacy Project.

“My project is working on sharing this history,” Thibeault explains. “I want to tell the story of the school as a whole, but I’m also hoping to tell the story of the town, the people in it, our shared history, and make this available for the people.”

When it’s finished, her Legacy Project will be a self-designed and curated timeline of Tilton’s history. Thibeault’s work will go on permanent display within the Mansion, an ode to the past in the midst of new initiatives — including learning spaces for the social sciences and the arts — meant to bring the space into the future. As she works, her partnership with local experts has helped her navigate the daunting task of bringing the idea to life.

“I’m working with the Tilton Historical Society, which is something you don’t see often,” Thibeault explains. “Schools working with their archives and local historical societies doesn’t always happen, but this is really such a great group of people who have come together to preserve this history.”

While the timeline takes shape, Thibeault is enjoying the opportunity

to dive into the depths of the archives along the way. “There are some stories we’ll never fully know,” she muses. “We have little pieces of evidence, but we don’t have the person who could tell us everything. So we have to face the struggle of how we tell these stories when they are incomplete.”

Stories, she continues, like an old bit of text inside a book from a student in the Class of 1939. “We don’t know who it’s from, but inside of the book there’s a supposed letter that reads: ‘To A. Royal Curl / thank you for pitching me through a door / thank god for angry men.’”

Though it’s a story she’ll never completely unravel, it’s the type of pearl that makes all of this work so fun. Thibeault, who counts historical reenanctment among her many interests, knows that she has the

unique opportunity to explore the school and the Mansion in ways that few ever have.

“Ultimately,” she smiles, “this project is about leaving a legacy behind. So that’s what I am trying to do, to leave something behind, and create something for the community to enjoy after I graduate.”

“My project is working on sharing this history. I want to tell the story of the school as a whole, but I’m also hoping to tell the story of the town, the people in it, our shared history, and make this available for the people.”

—Sara Thibeault ’23

Opening Days

Tilton School officially kicked off its 177th academic year on Friday, September 2 with its annual Opening Days festivities. After moving into dorms and hugging family and friends goodbye, students made the traditional procession across campus for Convocation. Student government representatives proudly led the way while displaying their class year banners as community members lined their path to welcome and celebrate the start of another year on the Hill.

WORKING FORWellness

By: Bryan Geary

Most afternoons, you can find Nicholas Waring ’16 in the weight room of the Memorial Athletic and Recreation Center (MARC). Back home on the Hill six years after graduation, Waring is the school’s new (and first) Coordinator of Strength and Conditioning. He acts as a resource to students looking for a personalized training program, a coach for team strength and conditioning sessions, and an advocate for wellness as a staple of the culture at Tilton.

For Waring, this starts with access to the school’s training facilities. He worked with Director of Athletics Tara Brisson on a revised schedule that increased availability for in-season athletes, those working on off-season conditioning, and students who just want to exercise and be well. By facilitating this improved schedule,

Waring ultimately hopes students don’t have to choose between hitting the weights and playing another sport or simply trying something new.

“One of my biggest goals coming into this position was to provide the opportunity for students to participate in another sport or afternoon activity aside from what they consider to be their main sport,” says Waring.

In the past, he continues, the limited availability of the weight room led students to sign up for strength and conditioning as their afternoon activity. Students who consider a winter sport, for instance, to be their main sport may have chosen to focus on training instead of trying a fall or spring sport. Allowing students the freedom to choose both is a win for everyone, says Waring.

“I’m a firm believer in participating in more than one sport or activity,” he says. “It’s at the core of my approach to strength and wellness: the idea that specializing in movement or training should come later on. In the fitness industry it’s referred to as General Physical Preparedness. With this approach, students can develop a foundation of strength, conditioning, and proper movement that can then be tailored to any specific training program they may want or need later in life.”

With Waring’s hiring this fall, Tilton is the only Lakes Region school with a full-time staff member dedicated to strength and conditioning. This investment, according to Brisson, is about community as much as it is about athletics.

“Ultimately, what we wanted was to create a position that teaches our entire community about healthy habits,” says Brisson. For some, it might mean creating baseline skills and habits that take their game to the next level now, but last far beyond their playing days. For others, that may mean getting into the weight room for the first time and working with Waring on a personalized plan. “We didn’t hire Nick to just target our athletes. We wanted to show everyone that you don’t need to identify as an athlete to move your

body and take care of yourself in a way that will keep you healthy.”

In the big picture, this is about prioritizing fitness and wellness on an institutional level, and hiring Waring is just the beginning. Other current and future initiatives include the new Healthy Living component of the Student Experience Block and “Wellness Wings” — complete with fitness equipment and space for yoga and meditation — as part of the Knowles renovation.

“I hope students will learn that fitness and wellness can benefit everyone, whether you are an athlete or not,” he says. “Having the opportunity to come back and give students something that I wish I had when I was in their shoes is the reason that I’m here.”

“Having the opportunity to come back and give students something that I wish I had when I was in their shoes is the reason that I’m here.”

Nicholas Waring ’16 Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning

Santiago Camino de

Finish

Palas de Rei, breakfast at a historic bed and breakfast owned by 3 generations

Sarria – less than 70 miles to go

Portomarín and the 100km check point

During the summer of 2022, Tilton faculty members Julie Caldwell and Terri Smith took the trip of a lifetime to explore Spain's Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage that stretches the northern part of the country. For their journey, the duo walked 150 miles of the 200-mile Camino Frances, one of the most popular sections of the larger route. Made possible thanks to a grant from the Jeffries/Weiss ’61 Award for Excellence in Teaching, awarded to Caldwell in 2019, the journey was a chance to be immersed in culture, create art and connect with nature. Check out some highlights from their trip below and scan the QR code at the top of the page to hear from Caldwell and Smith about the impact of the experience! See more of their journey on Instagram @tiltontravels

Terri and Julie enjoying a sunrise over Rabanal del Camino

O’Cebreiro, Galicia – the highest point on the Camino

Julie cooling off in Triacastela after 13 miles of hiking

Scan to watch the video Start

Next Steps

Healthy Living

Student Experience REIMAGINING THE

By: Meghan Smith

Gathered outside in the new Alumni Amphitheatre on a brisk fall afternoon, 11th-grade students found moments of reflection under the guidance of faculty member Megan Killigrew. Together, the students learned about meditation and mindfulness as a component of Killigrew’s Healthy Living curriculum, one of the three arms of the new Student Experience Block. Designed over the summer and launched at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the program is a new spin on Grade Level Programming and remains a dedicated class period for students to explore and acquire key knowledge in real-world skills.

“The Student Experience Block is an opportunity to have more hands-on learning for topics not covered in the traditional classroom,” explains Eliza Smith, the pioneer behind the change. “This type of learning allows students to explore new ideas and areas about themselves in a safe space, with the freedom to fail.”

The new program contains three components, through which students will navigate each year they are at Tilton. Students will experience Healthy Living, Next Steps, and the familiar Grade Level Programming, each component bringing forward

vital skills for students to draw on in their futures.

Grade Level Programming centers around critical thinking, and honing in on age-appropriate skills including complex problem solving, outdoor education, public speaking, and professional networking. Healthy Living, led by Killigrew, allows students to learn how to make healthy decisions, whether that be through exercise, mindfulness, relationships, or social media. Next Steps, spearheaded by College Counseling Director Meredith Gadd, centers around planning for the future. This unit will evolve as students get closer to graduation, covering topics from interview skills, financial planning, community outreach, and college searches.

The power of this format lies in its ability to adapt as students’ needs change. As Smith explains, “We want students to utilize the idea of play; we just want them to try something new, give it their best effort, and see what comes from that.”

For a closer look at all three areas of the Student Experience Block, please scan the QR code at the top of the page!

Scan to Read More.

Teaching

TO LEARN

By: Meghan Smith

Starting high school is a daunting feat alone, and adding in the element of being away from home can have many new students feeling anxious about the change. As part of the experience for new 9th Graders, Tilton has deliberately crafted a space for new students to comfortably transition to the school, with enough support to last all four years.

The 9th Grade Seminar class helps students acclimate to the Tilton community and begin exploring skills and habits that can help them in and out of the classroom. While the seminar is led by experienced faculty members, it’s fellow students who, as Student Teaching Assistants (TAs) become the bridge between new 9th graders and Tilton faculty.

The opportunity to become a TA is offered to students in grades 10 through Post Graduate who are interested in being a mentor and leader for the incoming group. According to 9th Grade Seminar teacher Eliza Smith, the students who are drawn to this position are

ones who have experienced the program for themselves, and quickly saw the value in the topics covered.

“I chose to be a TA to push myself out of my comfort zone and try something completely new,” explains TA Alexa Gillis ’24. “I had just taken the class and felt so grateful for the skills I learned, and when I saw an opportunity to teach those skills as well as continue to grow them, I wanted to take it.”

Student TAs step into a teaching role on day one of the class, but quickly find how far their guidance may reach. The leadership skills learned during the class apply to their lives outside of the classroom as well. “A lot of our TAs will come to me and share how they’re using the techniques they learn in their position and applying them in their every day life,” Smith explains. “As proctors, team captains, or just general community members, they are utilizing the leadership skills they learn here in their lives, and that’s exactly what you hope they do.”

“As proctors, team captains, or just general community members, they are utilizing the leadership skills they learn here in their lives.”

Eliza Smith, 9th Grade Coordinator

SUPPORTING TODAY’S

Educators

By: Bryan Geary

Generations of Tilton students past and present often characterize their experience on the Hill with stories of faculty and staff members who made a difference. It’s a common thread that stretches from 1845 to 2022 and beyond. Last year’s record breaking Day of Giving in support of the school’s faculty and staff was evidence of the impact these individuals have had and continue to have on the Tilton community.

Paired with funding from generous donors, a new Professional Development Fund was established to care for and support teachers in new and exciting ways.

Making Mental Health a Priority

This August, Tilton began a partnership with nationally renowned speaker and mental health expert Lynn Lyons to offer an opportunity for faculty and staff to look inward.

“My focus is on how we prevent anxiety and manage our unpredictable world,” says Lyons. “I want the Tilton community to feel better emotionally equipped, and we’ve come up with a great plan to get there.”

Lyons, the author of The Anxiety Audit, has appeared on Good Morning America, National Public Radio, and numerous other outlets over the years to offer her insight on how to deal with a source of stress that is all too familiar to many. Thanks to the new fund, the

school was able to create a four part series with Lyons to examine mental health on campus. Part one offered faculty and staff a dedicated time to reflect on their own sources of anxiety and a variety of ways to cope with those stressors.

“Tilton has made a commitment to supporting the well-being of all members of the school community and I’m so pleased to be a part of it,” continues Lyons. “[Head of School] Kate [Saunders] and I agreed from the start that this was not to be a ‘one and done,’ but a series that would offer concrete skills for handling worry, stress, and relationships.”

The previous two school years were particularly challenging for educators at Tilton. Navigating the pandemic and hybrid learning had an isolating effect on many that altered the fabric of teaching and learning on campus. Teachers at Tilton dealt with increased stress and the feeling of burnout. Joseph Scala-Harbert, a World Languages faculty member and the faculty representative on Tilton’s Board of Trustees, says that Lyons’ presentation and the dedicated time to discuss these issues have helped the faculty feel connected heading into the new school year.

“This was something we needed — especially coming off of two really difficult years in the academic world,” continues Scala-Harbert. “My initial reaction was just a big thank you to the donors who made this possible. It is really appreciated and really valued.”

The insights shared by Lyons are helping Scala-Harbert navigate his third year as a faculty member and, particularly, helping him differentiate this academic year from his first two.

“The first two years were challenging, intense, and eye-opening,” he says.

“Coming into this year, I went into it thinking, ‘I’m going to use every single tool that is given to us and run with it.’” For Scala-Harbert, that now includes being intentional about managing his schedule and workload and not hesitating to ask for help from a colleague when it makes sense. “So far, I’d say I feel more settled, more consistent, and more confident,” he adds.

Investing in People and Program

The new Fund is also being utilized to provide increased and enhanced opportunities for growth on both a personal and programmatic level. New faculty member Connor Compton recently attended a workshop called “School Reimagined” hosted by Mount Vernon Ventures in Atlanta, Georgia. Compton, who has taken over the school’s Entrepreneurship class, says the focus on creative design thinking was especially applicable. “The big

“We place immense value on the safety and wellness of our students but to do that well, we also need to take care of ourselves.”

Joseph Scala-Harbert World Languages Faculty

takeaway was empowering students to use visual and design-based thinking in order to solve a problem. Then, rather than just turning a project in, taking it a step further to pitch it, and try to convince people that what they did has a purpose.”

Compton’s background as a Social Sciences teacher featured a lot of traditional history classes, or in his words: “Where’s my text? Where are my resources? What’s my vocab? How am I going to set up a structure and a routine?” And while that model is the best fit for some classes, Compton says it was eye-opening to see how elements of that approach played out in the first two weeks of this year’s Entrepreneurship class. “I decided to blow it all up,” he says with a smile. “When I’m teaching world history, there’s information, people, places, events that actually happened — there are lists you can go back to every single year. With this class, it’s really trying to empower a student to see the world from an entrepreneurial point of view; to develop their own entrepreneurial mindset, and to take feedback from

real entrepreneurs and apply it to solve problems.”

The timing of the opportunity at Mount Vernon was perfect for an educator who is new to the community and is looking to take a program that already exists to a different level. “I took away some concrete examples of how to improve my class and my teaching, but I also got to see how a school can reimagine their teaching and their curriculum,” he says. “To be able to bring that back and be encouraged to share that with our community was great. My colleagues asked about it, wanted to know what I saw when I was there, and then trusted my opinions on it.” ***

With these new initiatives, the hope is to build on the culture of wellness to support faculty and staff in meaningful ways that both bolster Tilton programs and care for the people who help make it possible. “We place immense value on the safety and wellness of our students,” says Scala-Harbert, “but to do that well, we also need to take care of ourselves.”

“The big takeaway was empowering students to use visual and design-based thinking in order to solve a problem.”

Connor Compton Social Sciences Faculty

Alumni Weekend

JUNE 23–24, 2023

Mark your calendars for this year’s Alumni Weekend on June 23 and 24! Last year we had a blast restarting traditions like School Meeting and the 50th Reunion Dinner while also kicking off some new experiences like the golf tournament and brewery tour. Be on the lookout for a Save the Date in the mail — info will be posted at the link to the right as it becomes available.

The Tilton Fund

YEAR END GIVING

The Tilton Fund is your opportunity to fuel teaching and learning on the Hill and ensure that we continue to provide a meaningful, impactful experience for generations to come. If you haven’t made your gift yet, doing so before the end of the calendar year is a great opportunity! Scan the QR code to support Tilton today — we accept Apple Pay, Venmo, and PayPal!

Alumni Newsletter

NEW THIS YEAR!

Keep an eye out for our new Alumni Newsletter launching soon! The first issue, coming this winter, will feature news from the alumni community, information about upcoming events, and much more. Want to be included? Send your updates — professional, personal, or just for fun — to us via the QR code or pdeveaux@tiltonschool.org!