The Proctor community is the best. Period. We know we may possess a bit of bias, but time and time again we are reminded of the strength of this community as we attempt to navigate the messy, painful reality of life. Tuesday afternoon was another powerful reminder of why we choose to live, work, and learn within the Proctor family.
The Buzz has quickly become our most visited page on our website welcoming over 60,000 visitors during 2015. Here are the top five blog posts based on number of views and engagement from our community. Enjoy this brief glance at 2015 and be sure read more posts on The Buzz!
At some point in December I start carrying it – no definitive date. I slip it, small and silver colored, in a vest pocket or the pocket of my canvas jacket. It jingles quietly, muffled, as though coming from a distance. It’s periodic, but I can count on its definitive sound when I shake out of my jacket and hang it on the walking stick in the corner of my office. A small bell.
The following press release was shared with us by ReVision Energy. ReVision has been crucial to Proctor's investment in renewable energy infrastructure on campus over the past three years. After our most recent installations, Proctor now offsets more than 25% of its energy consumption through solar production, and alternative energy supplies 100% of the school’s electric load.
During this season of giving thanks, we are incredibly thankful for the natural world that surrounds us. As you sit around the fireplace following your Thanksgiving meal and your family dog wanders over to lie next to you, remember the message Carl Safina shares in his most recent book Beyond Words: animals can think and feel.
Some endeavors provide immediate gratification. You put in the hard work and see immediate results. The arts is not one of those endeavors. Students spend an entire term refining their talents, exploring new techniques, trying different mediums. There is no right or wrong, just a constant opportunity to get better. The end of the term provides the community a window into this journey as student work is showcased at the art show and the dance team, jazz/rock ensemble, and vocal music ensemble perform.
Is it the friendships or the relationships that make for a healthy community?
This question came to me when I was on a run the other morning, an early one, when I paused at the western edge of the hayfield near the Nordic start area, the snow guns poking like fragile insect legs into grey morning. The sound of Route 11 traffic to the north and to my left pressed against the deeper quiet of Kearsarge slopes rolling south and to my right. I kept my eyes to the east, on the bright notch between Beech Hill and the ski hill where the sun would rise. I watched the mist sift over the field.
We know from the business world investing in a team is as important as investing in an idea. So how do we ensure our ‘team’ is as solid as our ‘idea’? No one will argue with the efficacy of our educational model of hands-on experiential learning infused through authentic relationships with teachers into classrooms both on- and off-campus. The success of Proctor’s educational model, however, is entirely contingent upon its successful implementation.
