For the past eleven weeks, we have operated in our own sphere, working incredibly hard to do our best work in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in the studio. Focused on our individual work, individual needs, deadlines, demands. Periodically, we come together for community moments, but too often it seems these moments center around tragedy: processing the loss of a loved one, supporting each other through unthinkable violence, discussing the hard truths around inequality in our lives. As we walk through this final week of classes of the Fall Term, our focus shifts to coming together as a community to celebrate all the good that surrounds us.

Walking down Ward Lane late yesterday afternoon, the cold wind ripping down from Ragged with the clouds scattering bits of rain and snow, I approached the baseball field. Green tarps, water pooling on them, had been pulled over the mound and home plate, the red dirt of the  base paths had been raked smooth by Garry George, the dugout benches had long been carted away to other fields. The single ball I found, a leftover seed from the past season, won’t spin out of a hand until next spring. I took it all in and thought about the Nor’easter predicted for this weekend that could bring snow to the mountains and bury the field. Proctor’s baseball season barely ripples through the community consciousness, but thankfully the game is still being played on the national stage.

On any given day, we ask our students to manage a remarkable amount of independence. They are expected to monitor sleep hygiene, get to class on time, choose to engage with or lead clubs, eat a balanced diet, complete homework assignments, attend extra help, not to mention prepare for competition and performances each afternoon. The life of a boarding school student is complex, which is why Proctor has launched a performance initiative that seeks to identify ways to support our students’ optimal performance in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in their daily lives.

Whether it is the evolution of off-campus programs (read more about Proctor in China here) or the addition of new athletic programs like crew or track and field, Proctor’s institutional willingness to remain dynamic in how we pursue the constancy of our mission is notable. Within this context, Proctor is excited to share the further evolution of its alpine ski program through a new partnership with coaches Peter Anderson and Parker Spear to launch the Proctor Gap FIS Program for ten athletes this year.

Each fall, as the majority of new students take part in Wilderness Orientation (read more here), Proctor's Athletic Department hosts Sports Camp for seven fall sports: football, field hockey, girls' and boys' soccer, cross country, crew, and mountain biking. While each team approaches the preseason camp slightly differently, the benefits for all athletes and coaches are universal as skill development, fitness, and shared experiences establish a foundation for the season ahead. 

Each year, roughly 20% of Proctor graduates go on to compete at the collegiate level in their respective sports. Given the small class size of the Class of 2018, the list of student-athletes pursuing their athletic career at the next level is impressive! Be sure to follow these athletes as their post-Proctor athletic careers unfold in the coming years.

Proctor Academy inducted its second Athletic Hall of Fame class at Alumni Reunion 2018. Congratulations to each of this year's inductees, and thank you to all those who were able to attend the induction ceremony Saturday evening. Read more about the inductees below, and be sure to submit your nominations for next year's class HERE!

We enter each spring athletic season optimistic warm temperatures will melt the snow and maybe, just maybe THIS year will be different than the rest in terms of weather events. As the season concludes this weekend with Lakes Region tournaments, green grass and temperatures in the high 70s almost make us forget about those April snow storms that buried both fields and our ephemeral moments of optimism. Through bad weather and the onslaught of late May black flies, the Hornets buzzed to victories, including a Lakes Region Softball and regular season Golf championships, all while representing our school and our community incredibly well.