Different moments throughout the year provide opportunities to reflect on who we are as a community. Ironically, it is usually during the busiest seasons that these moments occur. This weekend was packed with activities on campus, and it was through these varied interactions with students, alumni, and parents that we were all reminded of who we are as a school.
The weekend began with an alumni basketball game where fifteen alumni returned to connect with current students, coaches, and of course Proctor basketball's biggest fans: Edna and Lida. Lida Beaudoin will be retiring this summer after 31 years at Proctor, and our basketball alums shared a special moment with her prior to the game.
Immediately following the basketball game was the Spring Term Art show in Slocomb Hall and the Wilkins Meeting House. As is the case every term, the quality of craftsmanship present in our students' work is remarkable, as is the talent and patience of our arts faculty who help facilitate the creative process with our students.
Later Friday evening, Proctor's theater department showed Urinetown, a fantastically bizarre musical as filled with satire as it was with meaningful social commentary. Once again, the talent on stage (and backstage) was breathtaking. As one faculty member shared, "I was consistently moved to tears throughout the show." This was the same for everyone in the audience as the entire cast embraced their characters with unfettered confidence resulting in a brilliant show. Read more about the show here!
Saturday was just as busy with morning classes followed by Lakes Region championships for tennis teams and the varsity softball team. While the Hornets did not bring home any Lakes Region banners this spring, our teams collective effort, sportsmanship, and commitment to the spirit of the game itself were a great reminder to all of us why we play sports.
Saturday night saw another performance of Urinetown before Sunday's festivities began with the 4th Annual On Your Mark 5K race that drew more than 220 participants this year. Thank you to Kelly Griffin-Brown for organizing the event, and to all the students, faculty, staff, and families that took part in the day, especially to Bryan Thomas and his family! Congratulations, Bryan, on finishing your first 5K!! (Read more about Bryan's story here.)
Lacrosse, softball, and tennis alumni games followed the 5K race and preceeded Proctor's Spring Fling. Thank you to all of our alums for turning out to make the day so much fun!
The weekend ended with Proctor's vocal ensemble performance in the Stone Chapel. It was during this culminating performance of the busiest weekend of the year that many of us were able to reflect on who we are as a school.
Proctor does so many things well, it can sometimes be a challenge to articulate who we are as a school based on the programs we offer. And to define ourselves based on programs would be a mistake. When you have the opportunity to experience a weekend like this one, you are reminded that it is our students and their experiences that define us. Yes, various programs offered the highlights of the weekend, but it is the individual and collective growth illustrated throughout the weekend that underscores who we desire to be as a community. We want to empower students to share their talents, discover new passions, and step out of their comfort zones on a regular basis. The programs we offer are simply the medium through which this transformation takes place.
Thank you to each of our students (and alumni) for embracing Proctor's educational model wholeheartedly and for surprising us each and every day with your talent.
