Parents’ Pride: Alumni and their children reflect on their Abbey experience by the Offices of Admission & Parent Relations

parents ’ pride

Alumni and their children reflect on their Abbey experience

By the Offices of Admission & Parent Relations

Portsmouth Abbey is a place where generations of students have come together to share in the experience of not just going to high school, but growing up. The bonds and memories created on this beautiful campus last a lifetime. While we all get to reminisce with classmates, several children of alumni enroll at Portsmouth Abbey each year and share this experience with their parents. We asked three current students and their alumni parent to tell us a little about their experiences at Portsmouth Abbey – how it was and how it is.

When asked to share their fondest memories of Portsmouth Abbey, these alumni parents and current students all reflected that the community is one of the most important aspects of the School. Charlene Mulcahy McKeating ’93 shared stories with her daughter Marina ’23 about being one of the first twenty-one girls enrolled in the School. They both experienced life in St. Mary’s House as a student, and Charlene recalls, “the memory that stands out the most is the lasting friendships and relationships that formed from living in a close-knit community.” Marina says that as she got older and began to experience the life of the School, these stories started to make more sense to her. One of Marina’s own favorite memories of her time here so far is from a Raven Cup event. Last year as a third former, she was part of the St. Mary’s team that won the broomball competition. Marina says, “Everyone is rooting for each other, but the competition during the event brings the whole dorm together.” Chris Abbate ’88 shared similar stories with his children Eloise ’20 and Michael ’23. According to Michael, the story that stands out the most is the one of the infamous “teddy bear bandit.” To Chris, it was important for his kids to realize that while “Portsmouth seems like such a serious, buttoned-up place – the students always find a way to make it fun.” Mi-

The Abbate family, from left, Michael ’23, Catherine, future raven Benedict, Chris ’88 and Eloise ’20

Marina McKeating ’23, front right, with the girls of St. Marys’ House at their Third Form Orientation in 2019

Three generations of the Howenstein family, from left, Bill ’52, Bo , now in the Class of 2024, and Bing ’87

chael decided to attend the Abbey because he wanted to spend his high school career learning and living with his friends. A memory that stands out to him from this year is being a member of the varsity football team. He says that despite the restrictions due to COVID protocols, being around a group of guys for a few hours each day at practice made everything else seem more normal. That sense of community is an important part of Michael’s experience, “the team wants to compete, but more importantly they want to be with each other and are there for one another.” Bo Howenstein ’24 and his father Bing ’87 share a similar appreciation for dorm life. According to Bo, the best part of this year so far is simply being with his friends in between classes, and especially on the weekends hanging out on the quad between St. Martin’s and St. Brigid’s – houses that did not exist when Bing attended.

Our alumni parents reflected on traditions or aspects of Portsmouth Abbey that remain in place today for their children to experience. All commented on the vibrant love of learning that continues here on campus. The academic rigor, appreciation for literature & history, and the balance between all facets of life are an important part of this experience. The monastery is still a part of the Abbey experience – as the monks continue to live and teach at the school. Students see how they have given their lives to something greater than themselves, which inspires our students to treat each other with respect. Likewise, the attention to character development is still an important facet of a Portsmouth Abbey education. Charlene remarked that this experience “allowed me to grow as an individual and have some independence, while still being held accountable.” As Bing noted, “I can plainly see that on Bo’s return home for Thanksgiving, he is developing into a formidable young man – much more mature than when he left. That says quite a lot to me; that the spirit and culture of the school that I remember is still very much alive and healthy.” All of this remains an important part of the shared experience between one generation and the next – coupled with the Holy Lawn and morning lunch!

Of course, much has changed on Cory’s Lane over the past 30 years. Academically, our Humanities program is now the cornerstone to a student’s Fourth Form year and the addition of the science center added a facility and technology to the campus that rivals any in New England. Numerous upgrades to art and athletic facilities and two new dorms on campus have, according to Charlene “made what I thought was an already beautiful campus absolutely stunning.” To our current students, where they live and learn is important but being able to share this formative experience that their mother or father had years before means even more to them. As Michael mentioned, this “makes both of them (his father and sister) happy that he can share the same experience.” Marina continues that since “we both have this aspect of life we can relate to, it makes me feel closer to my mom.” It may be a bit counterintuitive that boarding school brings families closer together, but the sense of pride parents feel when their son or daughter chooses to follow in their footsteps is real. This sense of pride is not reserved only for parents. As Bo put it, when he walks around campus “I envision my father and grandfather walking down the same paths years ago, and it’s so cool to think about how my dad experienced similar things.”

Many aspects of high school life have changed considerably over the years, and the opportunities we provide our students continue to improve. Portsmouth Abbey is steadfast in our commitment to helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. This growth is not solely based on individual accomplishments. As a community, we feel a strong sense of belonging that enables us to learn, solve problems, be self-confident, and feel empowered by being a part of something greater. Many generations of Ravens have contributed to and shared in our special community, all while carefully walking around the Holy Lawn.