Few moments in life will match the excitement of being eight years old and diving into the imaginary world of Hogwarts alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione. As I read The Sorting Hat chapter aloud to my son last night, I thought about what it would be like if we tried to categorize each student into a dorm or group based on their personality, ambitions, and character upon their arrival at Proctor. How would that classification define their Proctor experience? Would it enhance or detract from their journey through high school? Do we subconsciously do this at Proctor? 

The breadth and depth of Proctor’s curriculum appeals to a wide variety of our students. When thinking of high school athletics, it is common to think of sports such as basketball, football and soccer, but kayaking usually would not be the first to come to mind. Since the mid-1970s, Proctor has boasted a strong kayaking team full of athletes committed to spending time on the water no matter how cold the April temperatures may be.

I had been in Segovia for two and a half weeks. Although Segovia is unique with its own culture and people, I was so excited to explore a new city, like Sevilla and Cadiz. Sevilla and Cadiz are located in the southern area of Spain with gorgeous sunny weather and about 60-70 degrees each day. Cadíz, is in the southwestern portion of the Andalucía region, not far from where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Last evening I watched the late innings of a baseball game against St. Paul’s School. It was a tight one, the score see-sawing back and forth. We’re up, they’re up, then we’re catching up.  The sun cut shadow from trees to the west, the outfield was a deep green, the chatter of the benches (and some rowdy fans from Carr House) peppered the evening. I could lean against the white fence near the right field foul pole, my favorite spot on a perfect evening. I could lean against that fence on evenings like that - baseball, no bugs, no wind, warm enough for just a light fleece - for hours.

Proctor's baseball program seeks to teach athletes the fundamentals of the game regardless of their level of play when they first put on a Hornet jersey. Every player has the opportunity to develop their skills and move to competing at the varsity level by the end of their Proctor career. For the past thirteen years, head varsity coach Mark Tremblay has worked to overcome the obstacles of spring weather in New Hampshire through focusing on fundamental skills and developing a deep appreciation for the game of baseball. 

Life is unpredictable in this world, but everyone does what they need to do to keep moving forward. Andrea was leader this week and she took it upon herself to make breakfast for everyone - every morning.

Known as the school on skis throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Proctor’s commitment to snow sports has never been more prominent than it is today. Across all on-snow programs, the quality of coaching, access to a privately owned and operated training/race venue, and flexibility of support within Proctor’s academic curriculum has opened doors to experiences past generations of Proctor students could only dream of having at their fingertips. 

It’s a good time of year to re-read the Robert Frost poem Two Tramps In Mud Time. You know the one. The narrator splitting wood in his yard, the blocks of straight grained beech falling “spinterless as a cloven rock.” The tramps walk by, not too long from having spent time in a logger’s camp, having slept who knows where, and they squint and measure the man by the way he wields the axe. You know the poem.

Proctor’s Varsity Softball team has battled cold temperatures, persistent snow, and plenty of rain this spring, but are finally in action. After graduating two seniors off of last year's Lakes Region Championship team, the remaining pieces are back and a some new talent has made this squad an immediate contender for a repeat title. Wednesday’s convincing 8-2 win over league rival, and perennial power, Tilton School, made a statement in the league that the Hornets are back. We caught up with coaches and players for this week’s team spotlight.  

The first half of the Spring Term has flown by, and we are thrilled to welcome families to campus this weekend to discuss student growth, share future direction for Proctor Academy, and celebrate the hard work that has gone into the school year thus far. Read on for all the details, schedules, and links you need to make the most of Spring Family Weekend 2019! 

During the admissions process, we encourage each Proctor student to design his or her own path; to choose courses and experiences that will spark a lifelong love affair with learning. One of the most significant joys of working at Proctor is staying in touch with alumni across the country who are living our motto: Live to Learn, Learn to Live. Meredith (Donaldson) Amenkhienan '02 never thought she would own and operate her own boutique store in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but the Vermont native is now a successful entrepreneur and owner of Forty Winks. Read about Meredith's journey below.  

From the language, to the food, to the architecture, Vienna was vastly different from our normal stomping grounds of Aix-en-Provence. 

The adventure of a lifetime continues for Proctor's Mountain Classroom spring group, as the ten students and two instructors explore the American Southwest and begin their journey back to New Hampshire. Asher '19 shares this week's blog post on the group's exploration of Capitol Reef National Park. 

Proctor’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team has long competed at a high level, alumni competing on NCAA Division 1 and 3 teams across the country. Each and every year the team looks to improve each player on the roster and prepare them for the tough competition that is to come.  Having graduated some valuable senior team leaders last year, this year’s squad is excited to introduce some new young players to the team. With a competitive schedule ahead of them, these girls work hard every day in preparation for the challenges that come their way. With a group of girls of mixed ages and grades, the team moves into the start of their 2019 season ready to go to battle.

Over the past few months, prospective families have navigated the admissions process at a number of independent schools. While each stage of the admissions process sparks important questions, the most difficult decision for each prospective student occurs during these last days before we ask families to submit contracts for the 2019-2020 school year.

This week in Vauvenargues/Aix zoomed by quicker than a frequent rider of Provence’s public bus system could warble out a “merci, au revoir”, whilst flinging themselves off the bus and out onto the street.

Proctor Academy's Mountain Classroom program enters their fourth week of exploring, learning, and living in the American Southwest. Madeline '20 shares this week's blog post from Escalante, Utah. Enjoy her words below and learn more about Proctor's Mountain Classroom Program HERE. 

Proctor Boys Lacrosse has multiple athletes who will soon be off to play at a collegiate level, but for now, their focus is to come together as a team and leave their mark on the competitive Lakes Region League. Last year, Proctor Boys Lacrosse said goodbye to not only eleven seniors, but their head coach as well. This year, with a brand new coach and some new additions to the team, they are committed to working tirelessly to pursue their full potential as a team.

Over the past couple of weeks several students received their second “major” violation, resulting in dismissal from school. It’s been disruptive. Disruptive for the students, their families, and the community. Students who have been dismissed find themselves on the outside of Proctor looking in, and for many it is a particularly clarifying moment: invulnerability dissipates, self reflection kicks in, relationships are reassessed. Students who are dismissed can access a process that allows them to “appeal” the decision, to request that the door to the community be reopened one last time. Not all request an appeal, but most do. Is it too lenient to let students request what is essentially a third chance?

We live in fast-forward, running from one activity to the next, checking email and notifications on our phone constantly. Immersed in ourselves, our own needs, we often slip into the unfortunate pattern of comparing our own life to those around us, asking “what if” questions rather than embracing “what is”. Revisit Days help us lift out of this self-absorbed pattern as we reflect on who we are within the the context of our lives at Proctor and the imperfection that surrounds us. We become ultra-focused on the moment, a beautiful gift of self-reflection and authenticity we are rarely granted in this fast paced, image conscious world society has created.

The first day we arrived, we were driving up this beautiful hill and when we saw an apricot colored house at the end of the road. Dave did not hesitate to play a joke on us and say that the house belonged to two grumpy old people that we should be careful not to anger.