“You would not believe how hard it’s coming down right now! We tried going up Lincoln Ave to downtown Central San Rafael, but the water was covering the top of this truck’s tires, and we couldn’t get by. It’s been raining like this for days.”

When Max Cobb ‘83 enrolled at the Carroll School as a 6th grader who had recently been diagnosed with dyslexia, he was barely reading at a 1st grade level. Little did he know that the arduous work during those early years at Carroll would unlock a series of experiences that would define the next forty years of his life, including connections made at Proctor Academy that would lead him to Dartmouth College and a career with US Biathlon. 

This week Proctor’s Admissions Team will welcome more than 45 families to campus for tours and interviews. Last week was a similar schedule, as was the week before. On Saturday we welcome more than 30 students from Prep at Pingree to campus to learn about boarding school and Proctor’s educational model. As each family or student tours campus, they see Proctor in action on any given day. They see students in motion: classes, assembly, lunch, afternoon program, extra help sessions, study hall, weekend activities. What they don’t see, however, is any preconceived notion they might have had of what a boarding school should look like based on their watching of Dead Poets Society. 

A prolonged stay in Mystic, Connecticut to wait out unfavorable weather patterns was made up for by a majestic trip down the East River through Manhattan. Check out updates from the past two weeks aboard schooner Harvey Gamage in this update from Ocean Classroom Fall ‘21! 

Proctor en Segovia continues their exploration of their “home” town as they cross the midway point in their term studying abroad in Spain. Read about a typical day in Segovia in the journal entries below by Louisa ‘22, Jessica ‘22, Katie ‘23, Andrew ‘23, Lagan ‘23, and Annika ‘23. 

Proctor’s Crew Team has grown from a fledgling sport at Proctor with a few interested students six years ago to a robust program and almost 40 rowers this fall. Under the leadership of Geoff and Beth Sahs, P’25 and captains Mason Guerster ‘22 and Johnny Mutkoski ‘22, Proctor’s boys’ and girls’ Crew Teams recently competed in the New Hampshire Championship Regatta in Pembroke, NH. Mason and Johnny share insights on their season to-date and the team’s hard work over the past two months in preparation for their regatta. Thank you to Erik Cole Johnson, P'20, '25 for the action shots in this post. 

Today’s offering for The Journey comes through the voices of John Around Him and Lori Patriaca ‘01, both of whom have served a critical role in helping our Proctor community connect with, understand, and become a part of the Lakota communities of South Dakota, continuing a legacy of connection first made by John’s father, John Around Him, and late faculty member George Emeny in the 1980s. John spent last week visiting classes, spending time with students and faculty, and immersing himself in all that is Proctor. Enjoy John and Lori’s offering below. 

The Proctor Mathematics Department has begun a transition from a textbook-based curriculum to one that is centered around rich tasks that all students can access (low floor, high ceiling). We believe that everyone can learn mathematics, and feel that transitioning from textbooks will help us further our vision of equitable learning.

For nearly 50 years, Proctor students have studied abroad with host families in Spain. The 2021 edition of Proctor en Segovia is off to a great start following a recent excursion to Andalucia and Cordoba. Read more from Sophie ‘23 and Katie ‘23 the group’s most recent blog post! 

Proctor’s girls’ varsity soccer team is a perennial power in the Lakes Region, but this year’s squad might be one of the deepest and strongest we have seen in quite some time. With a core of eleven seniors and a pool of talented younger players, the Hornets are off to a 6-2-1 record after falling to Holderness School on Saturday afternoon. Head Coach Kyle Connolly and senior captain and four year player Brynne Makechnie ‘22 shared insights into their team’s success in this week’s Team Spotlight. 

This week at Proctor marks the period of settling. Just as the leaves in their autumnal colors change and fall, so, too, does our affective model of education begin to shift, unfold, and deepen as a storyline in a novel does. Every school where I have worked has a rhythm all its own.

After a week of unexpected obstacles and quick pivots, Proctor Academy's Ocean Classroom program began their journey south with a high winds passage through the Cape Cod Canal as they sailed toward New Bedford, MA. Morale is high on board Harvey Gamage as students begin to fully appreciate and understand what it means to live and learn at sea. Read more from the past week on Ocean Classroom below.  

Each fall, the trails throughout the Proctor Woodlands are littered with acorns that threaten a rolled ankle even among the most nimble of hikers. As winter snows recede and spring temperatures catalyze the annual rebirth within the 2,500 acres of land Proctor calls home, some of these acorns will sprout and grow into saplings. 

As parents of young children, we were often reminded not to blink, reassured that while the days were long, the years were short. In the midst of sleepless nights, incessant changing of diapers, and tantruming toddlers, this advice fell on largely deaf ears. But now that our kids are older, well, we blinked. 

Proctor Academy's Ocean Classroom program enters their fourth week at sea aboard the schooner Harvey Gamage. As students engage in classes, begin to get headrig clearance, and learn the ins and outs of life at sea, the crew prepares to head out of the waters of coastal Maine and begin their journey south where warmer weather and new adventures await! Read more from the past week aboard Harvey Gamage below! 

With back to back home games to kick off the 2021 season, Proctor’s varsity football program has been front and center this fall. Opening wins over Portsmouth Abbey (31-7) and Canterbury School (19-17) have the Hornets off to a tremendous start to the season. Relying on veteran leadership and new talent, Head Coach Ben Rulli is optimistic about what this group of young people can do as they grow together both on and off the field. 

As educators, we engage daily in the unending balancing act of providing our students a sense of freedom and a sense of connection. While the pendulum of independence swings back and forth within a culture depending on the prevailing norms of the time, what we know at Proctor is that the adolescent brain biologically craves independence, and yet is only able to pursue that independence when surrounded by a nurturing community.