The Buzz

Another four inches of snow fell last night. Temperatures are once again going to dip below zero the next two nights. Winter continues, but we will not let it keep us down here at Proctor! Take a journey through a winter day in images with us! 

February 9th marked the first day of our much anticipated solos. Our journey consisted of a four day and three night experience spent alone in a confined section of the Cascabel Hermitage in the San Pedro River watershed of Arizona. The Cascabel Conservation Association is the caretaker and protector of this land, preserving it to provide hermitage for a meditative retreat to the anyone who wants. These solos can last from two days up to 60 days. The land there is under significant threat from development and the reflections and testimonies of past Mountain Classroom students are important in justifying the conservation easements.

“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre.

Proctor's Technology Integration Specialist interviewed veteran science teacher Sue Houston as a case study in technology integration at Proctor. Adam shared his interview for his blog's podcast in this post. Listen to the full podcast HERE! 

I am not a musician. I played the requisite songs on the recorder and fumbled through the finger moves at ten, took drum lessons at thirteen, and failed miserably at both. I don’t sing, not even marginally well, but have taken enough lessons to appreciate the gifts of those who do. I grew up listening to the piano, and even today my mother, with a little brush up, has nearly eighty classical pieces within grasp. When I was growing up she practiced with the discipline of a concert pianist, so notes were always adrift in the house. I can’t quite muster my way through “Chopsticks.” Never could.

Proctor's theater department has worked hard all term to prepare the winter play, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. With a cast of seventeen students and an additional eleven students working on costumes, props, set building and lighting, director Jen Summers has worked wonders staging a magnificent, and truly powerful show.

While the origins of St. Valentine’s Day date back to the 5th century, the celebration in our society today focuses on our connection to others. As carnations and candy-grams are sold by student leadership and the dance team during lunches this week, we are reminded of the excitement, and intense vulnerability, felt as Valentine's Day approaches on Saturday. I promise this blog will get back to our educational mission at Proctor quickly, so bear with me.