Today we mourn the passing of Honorary Trustee and past parent, Mark Cangiano, who was a part of a family that has made Proctor’s heartbeat for seventy years. Mark’s more than thirty-five years of service as a member of the Board of Trustees, his sister, Brenda Godwin’s twenty-six years of service as a teacher at Proctor, and their father’s 41 years of service as a board member represent an extraordinary commitment to Proctor Academy.
“I was quite shy as a kid and used to gaze out the window and daydream quite a bit. In third grade, my teacher told me told me, ‘Quit staring out the window, because when you grow up, no one will pay you to sit there and just look out the window’. I guess I showed her!”
On April 11, 1977 one of Proctor’s most iconic buildings was destroyed by a fire. The entire community stood and watched as the center of campus was ravaged by flames. Not only was Cary House the residence of four faculty families and thirty-six students, but it also housed the school’s kitchen and dining hall. Read this old Chuck’s Corner for more details about the fire and its impact on Proctor.
The Profile of a Proctor Graduate describes the traits we hope each graduate possesses as they leave Proctor and move into other communities. In order to take these characteristics with them, students must first be exposed to how they are put into action here. Today was a day driven by core values as the effort of students, faculty, and staff allowed Proctor to serve as the host to the 2nd Annual Rail Trail Rally.
Each year certain weekends on the calendar jump out. We look forward to them with anticipation. This weekend is one of them. Starting Thursday afternoon with Ocean Classroom’s departure, the Proctor community will embark on a 48 hour celebration of all that makes Proctor such a special community.
Last week an interesting article was published in Forbes magazine about the disruption occurring in the independent school world. Michael Horn discussed the challenges facing many schools as tuition prices rise faster than wages and technology and charter schools introduce new approaches to learning. At Proctor, we feel these disruptions all around us, and while we are cognizant of how we must adapt to an ever-changing landscape, we are as confident as ever in our educational model.
Life for teenagers can be complicated, scary, and filled with questions. Events in the news over the summer brought to light just how complicated residential life can be at a boarding school. We recognize this. We also recognize sexual and domestic assault and dating violence is not just a ‘boy’ issue. Nor is not just a ‘girl’ issue or a faculty/staff issue. It is an ‘us’ issue. If we do not actively work to shape school culture, it will shape us.
That’s what last night was about as we launched the Proctor Sisters Program.
While new students trek through the White Mountains on Wilderness Orientation, 130 student athletes take part in Proctor's annual pre-season sports camp. Five days of double or triple sessions provide a tremendous opportunity to develop skills, work on tactics, and improve fitness before official tryouts begin next week.
