The Buzz

I’m a planner; always have been, and despite the constant encouragement of colleagues to embrace spontaneity, probably always will be. I like to know ahead of time what is on the day’s agenda (and may or may not have a compulsion to lay my clothes out for the following day each night before falling asleep). It’s, as chemistry teacher Ian Hamlet says, “Just how my operating system works.” As such, Sunday evenings are spent looking at the week ahead and planning what Proctor narratives will emerge given scheduled events. Off-campus program blogs, Mike’s Notes, Team Spotlights, guest posts by faculty or staff all laid out in a nice orderly fashion so our team can see what gaps may exist as we try to help share the Proctor story with others.

Vaping. It’s in the news and it’s something we have been paying attention to at Proctor.  Although the technology has been around for longer, the mass production and marketing of Juuls and other “smokeless” devices has  started to significantly impact campuses over the last couple of years. It’s not a good development. We started noticing a higher presence of these devices last year, and then a further shift this year. Our experience mirrors what is being reported in the NYT article on April 2nd: ‘I Can’t Stop’: Schools Struggle With  Vaping Explosion. It’s a bit like trying to contend with an invasive species in your garden. Weed it out, chop it back, and it just keeps popping up.

The temperamental weather of this past week has called into question our expectations for seasonal predictability, and with Mother Nature's authority in mind, the snow, sleet, and rain held off for a few hours to allow us to make the most of Proctor's annual observance of Earth Day. Each year, students and faculty allocate a full academic day to exploring diverse and creative ways to interact with and greater appreciate the natural world around us.

Proctor in Costa Rica offers sophomores an opportunity to study abroad at The Cloud Forest  School in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Living with host families, continuing their regular sophomore courses, while immersing themselves in Costa Rica culture and Spanish language. Read a mid-term update from David '20, Tommy '20, Lila '20, and Emily '20 below!

With more than a half dozen alumni competing at the collegiate level, Proctor’s girls’ varsity lacrosse program has consistently produced athletes who understand the physical and mental components of the game. During a spring season that has seen more practice days with snow than sun, that mental fortitude has been incredibly important. Coming off three straight losses, the girls look to rebound today when they host Hebron Academy at 4:30 PM on Farrell Field.

Proctor Academy's European Art Classroom met up with Proctor en Segovia last week. Check out photos, video, and reflections from their visit to Seville as Sarah '18 shares a window into their journey. 

Proctor Academy's Mountain Classroom ventured north from the Grand Canyon to Moab, Utah where lessons in permaculture lay the foundation for the remainder of the term's exploration of food sources and agriculture. Read more from Sage '18 and Sophie '18! 

As we celebrate National Poetry Month here in the States, Proctor Academy's European Art Classroom reflects on week three studying abroad in France in poem. Enjoy this piece from Rhyanne '18!