HORNET’S NEST Proctor Academy | February 9, 2024 | Vol. 9 | Issue 4 “Casino night was a big hit for the Proctor Community. It was amazing to see how much fun everyone had playing the casino games and gambling Proctor Bucks. I have never seen kids so enthusiastic about losing money, even though it was fake.” We all miss Zoie this term and I wondered how her absence affected their performance. Will commented, “Yeah, I think with Zoie gone it’s gonna be a little bit harder. Zoie is very very vocal about problems we have at the school and Rohan and I are the less outspoken so it’s definitely gonna be a little harder to try and keep up without her.” Rohan added, “While Zoie is off campus for this term, her absence will impact the culture of the student government, but it will also allow me and Will to explore new ideas and try out an alternative way of maintaining and improving the Proctor experience. I think that it will affect my performance, but in a positive way, as I now have the ability to implement my own voice through student government in a way that I believe will reach all members of the Proctor community.” What are your strategies for building a strong community? Rohan said, “During my past three years at Proctor, I quickly realized that Proctor has one of the strongest communities that I have ever been a part of. As a student leader, I hope to keep these connections strong…in the form of class vs. class competitions, fun Friday games, or other activities that we come up with.”
And Then There Were Two: Assistant School Leaders By Pearce Shultz
This term our two Assistant School Leaders Will Lunder and Rohan Goswami are a temporary duo instead of a trio while Zoie is studying in the west on Mountain Classroom. Both have clarified that more activities, indoors and outdoors, throughout the term are at the top of their priority list.
What is your midterm update on strengthening the community? Will commented, “I’d say as winter has finally started to hit, people are definitely starting to stay inside more and we’re trying to make more activities available to everybody. It’s a trying time with the cold because some days it’s 30° and some days it’s five below. We’re making an effort for more activities available to everyone indoors so they don’t have to be outside but we definitely want to do more stuff outdoors and we’re looking forward to ski hill night with the torchlight parade and all the fun activities there.”
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and some aren’t so obvious, so I asked them about their own this winter. Will is focusing on Friday assemblies. “Well, when I was first going up on stage, and it was very very scary … I wasn’t very confident with my jokes. I didn’t know what to say, it was very scripted, and then I never ended up following the script but that’s not the point - it was very, very scary. But this problem, it’s been resolved as time goes on.” Rohan spoke to his leadership style. “Some of my strengths are I am reliable, have great communication skills, and am approachable and open to ideas and suggestions from everyone including students and adults. One weakness that I have had for a long time is not stepping in when I know that my voice and opinions are valuable and will benefit the topic at hand greatly. However, as a student leader, I know that I was voted into this position for a reason, and I will strive to apply the power that I have to benefit this community.” I asked about casino night and Will noted, “Casino night was a hit. Rosanna did a fantastic job planning everything. We brought the outside dealers, the blackjack tables, craps tables, and roulette. It was a great time. I was hearing all night about one of the Carr house triples accumulated over 67,000 dollars. It was a jolly good time I’d say.” Rohan added,
Freestyle Skiing By Tallulah Stirratt
Although you compete individually, freestyle skiing is a team effort. Everyone is usually in the park giving and receiving tips on how to land new tricks and perfect tricks you already know. Plus, getting fresh air outside daily is extremely beneficial to mental health, especially in the winter when we all need it the most. Every time you get a new trick or come close to one, adrenaline runs
through your veins and improves your mood. Freestyle is also helpful for endurance and agility because you’re using different muscle groups to carve through the snow and hit rails and jumps. Freestyle skiing is a whole community of those who are striving to push their boundaries and learn new tricks and usually is super supportive and helpful for the evolution of your skill set. Earlier in the term, we filled out sheets on our short-term vs long-term goals for the rest of the season, this put into view how others’ perspectives are so different from mine. Lots of people wrote down specific tricks they wanted to get by the end of the season, while I wrote down that I wanted to learn to push my boundaries and not be scared of trying new things. Since that day, I have ridden with that in mind, and I’ve already improved significantly. Earlier this week my friend Stella Hamor ‘25 mentioned, “Freestyle is a total mind game, it depends on how far you’re willing to push yourself.” This is 100% true. I believe that this aspect of trusting yourself is extremely important for freestyle, but also life in general. Learning to push your boundaries will help you to build more confidence and it will also teach you to take every opportunity you get.
hard.” Relating to Cameron, I’m also thankful for the environment that every student and the staff create. We have people who want to be there and who want to get better. The leaders of the weight room cater to every need of every different type of athlete. Dean Miller and Gavin Moody are always making plans for specific athletes, whole team programs, and leading team lifts, which I’m looking forward to during the season. So far weight room has been a huge success in helping me meet the goals that I have set for myself and getting ready for the season ahead.
By Cole Frank
Winter weight room is currently what is driving my whole winter. I’ve committed to play lacrosse at Lehigh University starting in the fall, and the guys I play with will be much bigger. I hope to be ready with Dean Miller’s help with my workouts and recovery. My goal is to set new personal records in speed workouts and lifting weights as I progress through my training. On what makes a successful winter in the weight room, Dean advised, “Keep taking small steps of progress of over procrastination, they will add up and show in the end.” In this winter activity, we have a great opportunity to grow in a short time. Cameron Chambers is another student constantly in the weight room. “With the upcoming lacrosse season right around the corner, I’m just trying to take advantage of the time that I have to grow and get better. The environment we have in the gym makes it a lot easier to work
Jiva Puck By Tess Gatti
Girls JV hockey is a place where girls can come after classes and forget about their hard winter days. For many years ‘jiva puck’ was run by the one and only Karl Methven, and Jill Jones Grotnes has taken over as head coach. Jill has gracefully carried on Karl’s love for hockey to the team, bringing his traditions with her.
Boys Varsity Basketball By Chris Chol
In basketball, key skills like communication, teamwork, and sacrifice stand as crucial pillars for success. It’s all about players talking to each other, making sure everyone knows the plan, and working together smoothly. Teamwork is when everyone in the team collaborates, pooling their efforts for a common goal. It’s like a puzzle where every player is a piece, and when they fit together, the whole team functions better.
Winter Weight Room
On a basketball team at the high school level, there is a spectrum of quality of players. Some might be elite and developed and bound to continue basketball in college, and others might just be picking up a ball for the very first time. Regardless, each of those players has an essential role on the team. Ian Rosenshine said it best, “No matter if you’re the MVP or last man off the bench…each and every player has a crucial role in a team’s success.”
While the quest for individual progression and heightened skills is important, Coach Ben Bartoldus has the bigger picture in mind. He emphasizes that beyond the court, the game serves as a platform for young athletes to mature and evolve as individuals. It’s not solely about refining our dribbling ability or perfecting our shooting forms, but also about cultivating qualities essential to personal growth, such as resilience, sportsmanship, leadership, and perseverance. Ben’s guidance underscores the significance of basketball as a tool for shaping character and fostering maturity. Each practice session, every game, and each interaction on the court becomes an opportunity for these young men to not just elevate their basketball abilities but also to nurture qualities essential for success beyond the confines of the game. Coach Bartoldus upholds the idea that the development of these individuals into principled and resilient young men is really what high school basketball is about.
Jill has been decking out the locker room in photos as well as screaming “Good skate!” as we are all getting off the ice, successfully keeping the spirit. Jill also brings Karl’s sarcasm and even uses his practice plans. Last year when thirty girls wanted to play or learn hockey, Karl did not shy away from the large numbers. A goal Jill has for this program is “To continue to let everybody have a turn and play and skate and not make it eighteen players. That’s what Karl did for this program, everyone learned something new and I want to keep that going.” Girls start in December never having played hockey in their lives. By the end of the winter, some still can barely skate but they have improved and learned so much. After a long day of winter classes, I get on the ice with music blaring. Everyone is either excited or exhausted. Whichever way we are, Jill brings the biggest smiles to our faces. I love this team and sport so much for many reasons. Not having to think about anything going on in my life for an hour and just skating lets me burn off some steam. Junior Lily Krehbiel noted, “Jill and Kyle do a really good job coaching and keeping it light-hearted.” Seeing improvement in myself as well as in my friends is something very special. This is the same for many others. Jiva puck brings light and laughter to everyone who chooses to participate. For me, jiva puck has and will remain as my favorite afternoon activity at Proctor.
Best Liar?
2.
By Zack Cong
According to the 2023 article “This Is How Often People Lie in a Day” by Christian B. Miller in the magazine Scientific American, people usually lie at least once daily. (It’s time to turn to the person sitting next to you, stare them in the eye, and ask, “What have you lied about today?”) In the spirit of this melancholy winter, I’m doing something fun for The Hornet’s Nest. Welcome to “Two Truths and a Lie” edition. In this article, I asked some of the class deans to tell me two truths and a lie. These statements could range from personal achievements and funny anecdotes to little-known facts, and your job is to have fun guessing which statement is the lie. Here we go. First, we have Kyle Connolly, freshman class dean, advisor, girls’ varsity soccer head coach, history teacher, Mac House dorm parent, girls JV hockey coach, and color commentator on Proctor livestreams. 1.
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I grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan where the entire town engaged in a massive game of pond hockey every winter; the winning team won the coveted Saskapond Cup. I went on a 5-day hiking adventure in the Scottish Highlands that ended at Loch Ness, where I went on a boat ride in search of Nessy, the sea creature that lives there. I have two brothers - one older brother and a twin brother; my twin brother is four minutes older than me.
Fun facts about lying: According to Steven Zauderer, CEO of Cross River Therapy, according to research, about 60% of people 18 and older are incapable of having a conversation without lying once every ten minutes. On average, adults tell three lies every ten minutes.
3.
Fun fact: In a study of 11,000 lies told by 632 people over 91 days, 75% of them lied between 0 or 2 times per day. Most of the lies were trivial, such as lying about how well one’s day was going.
I’ve been skiing since childhood and had a thrilling heli-skiing adventure with my husband Justin for the first time in Revelstoke two years ago. It was exhilarating and an experience of a lifetime!
3.
I used to teach in the Learning Skills department. I taught Mountain Classroom when I started teaching at Proctor in 2000 with Annie.
Fun fact: Doctors are often victims of lying, where 13% of patients admit to lying when talking to their physicians.
Next, we have Megan Hardie, sophomore class dean, Freshman/Sophomore Seminar teacher, Dean of Student Wellness, student leadership mentor, and advisor. 1. 2. 3.
I was the first player to score 1000 points and have 1000 rebounds in basketball at my university. I speak 4 languages: English, Latin, Spanish, and French. I lived in 5 different dorms on campus as a dorm parent: Morton (the old dorm where Peabody is), Fowler, Mac, Farm, and Cortland.
Fun fact: 40% of lies are seen on resumes. (Be careful!) Next, we have Annie Mackenzie, junior class dean, Learning Skills teacher, Sally B dorm parent, and advisor.
2. 3.
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I hope you all enjoyed guessing the lies and learning some interesting facts about Proctor class deans and lying. Be sure to check out the answers on the last page in this issue of The Hornet’s Nest.
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The other freshman class dean is Ellie Sperry. At Proctor, she serves as one of the Sally B dorm parents, assistant girls’ varsity soccer coach, head JV girls’ lacrosse coach, English teacher, and advisor.
I found out I was allergic to shellfish through trial and error. I stopped eating shellfish completely when I was about 20 because I kept having horrible stomach pain whenever I ate it. I’m a faculty kid from Lawrence Academy. My mom is the English department head, and my dad is the Associate Head of School and teaches Spanish.
Down the road from Sally B, there is a dorm called Mac House. The full name is MacKenzie House. We are related to the MacKenzies of Mac House, and we didn’t know it until we moved here. I was present at six births - helping as a doula. While running Mountain Classroom in Baja, I hiked a volcano and watched a fin whale and calf swim in the sea in 1999.
Fun fact: Online, lies are most often seen on dating sites, where 90% of participants engage in untruthfulness. Last is Drew Donaldson, a 24-year faculty member at Proctor Academy, Dean of Student Engagement and Accountability, senior class dean, and cycling coach. 1.
As a Proctor student, I ran across the aqueduct in Segovia in 1991.
Is Proctor Really Green? By Isabella Guzmán
In September of 2023, Proctor was given the Green School Award by the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. What are we doing that makes us green and why are we considered an environmental school? The website Green Energy Times which covers environmental news wrote an article in 2016 titled, “Proctor Academy Continues To Blaze Sustainable Path.” The author, Hope O’Shaughnessy stated how Proctor Academy is dedicated to energy efficiency. The article quoted Scott Allenby, current Chief Strategy and Communications Officer, “The 1980s and 1990s saw the creation of environmental action student groups, on-campus greenhouses, a recycling program, and an intentional living community dormitory dedicated to environmental action.” I sat down with Rose Werner, the student leader of Proctor Environmental Action, a group powered by students. “PEA is a group of students that come together to discuss issues about the environment and what Proctor can do to be a greener campus. We also work on ideas to help educate and inform students and faculty on how to be green and what is happening to our environment.” She noted that the group encourages people and Proctor to reduce
their waste and recycle properly. She identified Proctor’s environmental goals as working towards minimizing our carbon footprint. Throughout the years Proctor has been working towards renewable energy and more efficient heating and lighting to help reduce our waste and CO2 into the environment. The school’s solar panels came in from Alan and Josh Norris’s project period in 2012. Then I asked Rose about her personal opinion about whether Proctor is a green school. “I feel that Proctor is a green school through the solar panels and the education about the environment students receive. Yet we as a community could strive more in making eco-friendly choices of waste and products we purchase, for example plastic packaging” I sat down in the dining hall with Alan McIntyre, Environmental Program Coordinator, and asked him: In what ways do we keep Proctor clean besides trash? “We do highway pickups and cleanups once a year, sometimes twice a year then we participate in town-wide cleanups in May around Earth Day as well. I think that students are learning how to be mindful of their messes, whether it’s their messes in their room or what they leave behind here in the dining room.”
Alan identified the goals for Proctor’s environmental health. “I have two major goals right now. One of them is …trying [to make Proctor] carbon neutral. … Now we have a date of when that is going to be achieved, which is 2038. I’m part of a strategic visioning team where we have an old master plan to reach that goal, a couple of the specifics of that is changing all lights to LED.” “The dining hall, right now, is all LED. But places like dormitories and a couple of facilities, such as classrooms like Shirley Hall, don’t have LED lights yet. if we convert to that, that will help a lot. So that’s two goals, environmental mission and then just energy efficiency across the board.”
Alan explained how Proctor compares to other independent schools in the northeast. “Well, we are all struggling in different areas for example, transportation is very challenging. However, schools like Holderness have found success with following the LEEDS standards for green buildings. They lead the area schools with that endeavor. Philips Exter and St. Paul lead in many ways due to having lots of funding to support their initiatives. White Mountain School leads in hands-on farming initiatives along with Putney.” Does Alan feel Proctor deserves to be called Green School? “I don’t. And the reason why I think that is, there are a lot of schools that claim to be green that do way more than what we do. This means they are already completely electrified, which is one of the things we’ll have to do to get to carbon neutrality, everything will have to be electric from gas stoves, to lighting and all that stuff. We haven’t done the basic lighting thing yet. We’ve done a couple of really great things, as we run off biomass instead of oil, but we also have oils in the back. Until we completely move away, I don’t think we’re a green school.” “There are other schools that do have all their buildings that are LEED certified because they have all this very clear evidence of their greenness. I think the best example is Choate. Very green. Their whole campus has done a lot of initiatives. They don’t have an electric fleet yet, meaning cars, because that’s not affordable for everybody yet. But they’ve done so much solarizing their campus and electrifying it that they’re way greener than us. Are we becoming green? Yes. Are we a green school? Not yet. Soon. More to go.”
A Big Change for The Ski Hill By Griffin Stewart
of Garry. However, many students and faculty have never even set foot on the hill, and I believe everyone should meet or know who Garry George is before he leaves. Garry has won countless ski racing awards as well as mountain operation awards for his amazing work at the hill. We sat down in the garage of the ski lodge while ski mobiles revved their engines and people came in and out. “What was the beginning of your time and career at Proctor?” “So, I lived in town. I went to school at Proctor and graduated and went on to [work] construction. My dad [and I] used to ski at Ragged. My dad was on the ski patrol, and then he was a manager. And [I] just grew up skiing there, racing there.” As we talk, hoses for the snowguns get hoisted into the air to dry for the next night of snowmaking, “Still, I kept ski racing. And then I had an opportunity to work in [Proctor] maintenance. And so I took that opportunity and then was able to, uh, fit right into the ski area ‘cause I was interested, and I did some coaching… so then I was kind of locked into the ski area and just stuck with that.” For years, Garry coached Proctor skiers. He explained, “... 17 years for varsity and the Eastern team. And then the ski area kept growing, getting a little busy. So then I just chose to not do the coaching and just do the ski area…[I] wanted to have a good ski area, so I just worked towards that, and all of a sudden … everything was starting to click.” Knowing Garry has worked at Proctor for over forty years, I asked what changed over time. “Oh, quite a lot… [the trails were] very narrow. No snowmaking, no lights. And then, great parents came forward and started picking away at things that they thought the kids would need. And so we just kept growing and improving … and that’s really what I enjoy with the job is to try each year to get something better.” Without Garry, many wonder who will take over. “I have a hard time grasping that I won’t have anything to do with the ski area… Steele [Henderson] will be the manager.” Steele has worked for Proctor and for Garry for a few years. He coached baseball in the past but lately has focused on working at the ski hill. Garry
Over time, the Proctor Ski Area has evolved from a small ski hill to a nationally ranked racing facility, and one man has helped make it happen: Garry George. After many years of hard work at the hill and on the campus at Proctor, Garry has finally decided to kick back and retire. Because this is his last year working for Proctor, I wanted to shine a light on Garry. If you have skied or just visited the Proctor Ski Hill there is a good chance you have either met or heard
Garry, his wife Lynn, and two grandkids
confirmed his faith in Steele, “I really want to make sure that these guys {Steele and the crew] have what they need and I believe they have the knowledge.” Garry knows this crew will carry the torch the way Garry did and make the skier’s experience the first priority, “It’s very, very key to meet people, talk to the people that are using the facility, and make sure that they get what they want. And it’s just nice to be able to see those people and make sure that they’re happy. Steele’s aware of it and is a good communication guy.” Garry is confident in the hill’s future. However, I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty hard to keep him away. Garry has done so much for this community from maintaining the campus grounds in the summer to building a nationally-ranked ski area. He has spent countless hours grooming through the night until the sun rises. Although Proctor is losing someone who lives for the sport and the school, Garry has left an amazing and lasting impact on Proctor and is leaving the ski hill in the best condition ever.
Transforming Math and Breaking the Stereotypes By Paige Lanouette
If a tour were to pass my Integrated Math Three class during a test, I think they would be shocked. Normally when taking a test you’re told to put your phone away, but in my class, we keep our phones out and use them.
Bill O’Brien
Before coming to Proctor I was enrolled in your typical Algebra 1 and geometry classes. When I first heard about the integrated math classes and the Integrated Math 3 class in which I was going to be placed, I was a little confused. I didn’t quite understand the point grading system, but it’s been one of the best grading systems I’ve had in any class. As math teacher Sarah Whitehead told me, “...Students are more in control of their grades and have far more ability to raise their grade through recovery work.” Bill O’Brien, the Math Department Chair, chimed in by saying “...students who come to Proctor are like ‘oh yea the grading is a little weird and it seems a little weird at first, but trust it’ because it actually is so much better than anything…that we hear about our friends
at other schools doing, or that we experienced in middle school, we experienced at our old high school”.
Lindsay Brown
Having experienced the different approaches to teaching Algebra 1, 2, and geometry concepts, I was intrigued by the thinking behind the classes, the grading, and the curriculum as a whole. I wanted to know not only why Proctor decided on this approach of the integrated system, but also what made it better than your traditional classes. Bill O’Brien informed me that a leading factor in switching courses was the transition from Algebra 1 to Geometry, to Algebra 2. “For us at Proctor… what we were finding was, a lot of the students were finding the geometry to be kind of an easy year,...but the algebra years… you [would] get slammed” He added that an advantage to the integrated system is that “It helps [students] see the connections a little better. ”Bill noted students are remembering more from their previous courses than they had seen in previous years. My own teacher Lindsay Brown also piqued my interest in how Proctors’ approach to math was different compared to other schools. She has always talked about making math “social,” which was my first time hearing someone approach math in that way. Not to mention her energy is always at the level as if she had just drank a whole pot of coffee.
around the table like clockwork. I asked her about some pros and cons of the larger extra help groups. From a student’s point of view, it seemed there were more drawbacks. “When extra help is well attended, more students view their peers as a resource. Just last night I explained a test question to a student and then they turned around and explained it to two more.” I was surprised a little by this answer, but looking back on it, it makes sense. Not only do you have your peers as a resource, but it also gets you engaged with other students making it social. Lindsay’s goal reflects the community here at Proctor. You always see people hanging out, talking together, and even studying together. It only makes sense that we’re social in every aspect of life, so why not apply the same concept to math?
Thinking longer about Lindsay’s words, I realized how the classrooms were set up to make things more “social.” At my previous school, we all sat at our own desks, only occasionally forming groups to do work. Meanwhile, here, the tables are always in groups and we’re always in different groups each class because of the “picker wheel.” The picker wheel divides up the whole class into new groups every class so we get to collaborate and work with different people. The picker wheel has been a helpful tool in helping classes run. So has being able to use our phones during tests and assessments. As crazy as it sounds, it’s true. A program called Desmos is what we use not only in class on our computers, but on our phones during tests. Desmos on the phone is an app and ‘test mode’ locks our phones so we can’t just close out the app and look up an answer. Even if we did leave the test mode, it would tell you your time. So if you finished your test and the time stamp didn’t add up, the teacher would know that you left the test app. Plus Desmos allows you to visually see a problem and to play around with it to find the right answer. Having been to Lindsay’s extra help on Tuesday nights, it’s always the busiest extra help I attend. There are always about twenty kids or more there to one Lindsay which is quite a big ratio. With this, it can be hard to pull Lindsay aside if you have a question when she’s going
Proctor Glue
By Tallulah Stirratt Proctor glue, a term used by many in the faculty body, rooted in connections and relationships, is what attracts people to our community. As many in the student and faculty body know, Proctor is interlinked with many people all around the world and is known to many for its strong social bonds. When I went on tours of other boarding schools around this region, I heard the same thing from each school over and over. “This school [Proctor] is very tight-knit and the student-faculty connections are so special,” but it wasn’t until I came to Proctor that I felt that to be true. Many people describe finding the right school as a feeling you just “come by,” this is ex-
actly how I felt my first time at Proctor solely because of how important relationships are for the wellbeing of the school. I sent out a survey to the entire student/faculty body and asked, “What do you think makes the Proctor community so tight-knit?” I got a lot of short answers like “Dorms” and “Sports” but also some that were longer and more insightful. One respondent noted, “I think not only that we call our teachers by their first names which makes interactions feel less strict and more free-flowing, but our students interact with each other in so many different ways. For example assembly, we have student announcements and some of them are just about it being someone’s birthday which I think creates this nice and welcoming environment and really showcases how people care for each other here.” Quite a few answers out of 61 stated that one of the biggest events that brings our school together is assembly, it’s a space where our community can band together and everyone can speak their mind. No matter how big or small the announcement may be, every person gets the same level of respect and attention. On the other hand, we can’t forget that at the end of the day Proctor is just a high school and friend groups/ cliques are inevitable, so what can we do to make Proctor different? Another response was, “We are incredibly tight-knit and yet outstandingly siloed. On one hand, so many go to everyone’s sports competition, have classes together, eat together, gym together, or live in the dorm together. On the other hand, social groups at this school seem to be incredibly rigid and sometimes not particularly inviting. One can see this in the dining hall - there is rarely any mixing of social groups or friend groups. So I think generally Proctor is a tight-knit community, but I also think that some of this comes from the sometimes forced connection from the adults in the community - I think there needs to be a more focused effort from everyone on campus to mix in with each other more to make more authentic connections.” This quote resonated with me because quite frankly it’s true. It’s hard to want to branch out because living in your group is comforting and fun, but you’ll never know who you’ll meet by branching out. Proctor glue depends on how each of us spend our time to form connections with peers and faculty.
Dean Miller: Student, Coach, Teacher By Cole Frank
In Dean Miller’s short time here at Proctor he has made quite an impact on student athletes in their day-to-day life. At just 23 years old, Dean has quite a lot on his plate by juggling grad Dean Miller school, a main role in our strength and conditioning program, and being a dorm surrogate in three different dorms. Dean grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and later decided to attend Colby Sawyer College where he would study exercise science while running track and field at the Division 3 level. Before graduating, he had made plans to keep studying and earn his master’s degree. Eventually, with connections
Critter Corner
by Lynne Bartlett and Conservation Ecology, February 2024 Conservation Ecology class has been hard at work identifying the size, shape, color patterns and songs of native winter birds. Inspired by Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, our class created a bird feeder array for observation. Our feeders are located directly in front of the Woodlands Building, behind MLS and Sally B dorms, for all to view and enjoy. A Wifi Camera faces the feeders so our class can observe without disturbing the insatiable birds. Some frequent fliers, or eaters, we see on the regular is the Chickadee. Ty Gwatkin studied this Massachusetts state bird, “Chickadees make their chickadee-dee-dee call using increasing numbers of dee notes when they are alarmed. Their appearance has differentiating colors with a black bib and beak, white cheeks, and a gray back.” Sean Hagood-Taylor’s bird is a Blue Jay, “My bird is straightforward to spot because it is medium-sized blue with small bands of black and white and has a loud, jeering call.” Sean’s bird arrives at our feeders and many smaller birds scatter. A common, large, black bird found around campus, especially near route 11 is the species Henry Lotter studied, the Raven. “A little fact about when you look at a male Raven next to a female Raven the female is almost always larger. Ravens are also larger than crows.” Spotted early in the morning outside of Peabody and Farmhouse dorms, was Marion Martin’s bird, the Cedar Waxwing. “My bird is medium size, pale grey, with a slightly yellow belly, their heads are pale orange with a black mask, and their tails have a bright yellow end. They have a high-pitched sighing whistle and only last about half a second.” Norah Carlson describes her bird, “The American Goldfinch is mostly yellow with black wings. They do have a patch of black on top of their head and patches of white on the wings and underparts. They have several calls but a common one goes po-ta-to-chip.” Flocks of birds that don’t seem to like our feeders can be seen perching on the rooflines of the Lovejoy Library, the Dining Common and the Farrell Field house. Ask Yamni White Hat about his bird with this description, “Gray stubby bird with a colorful neck and a low guttural sound. Can be seen all around campus.” Our class plans to participate and submit data in February’s Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by the Audubon Society. Have you seen any rare birds at your feeder this winter? Let us know! Photo Credit: Toni Whitelock
to Athletic Director Gregor Makechnie, Dean was offered a one-year position as a strength and conditioning coach. But that is not where his duties end. Graduate school is still the main time consumer in Dean’s life. If you ever happen to run into him during the day you will most likely find him deep in a textbook or typing away on an assignment. There is a benefit to these classes, however. Dean stated, “A lot of my classes have to do with building strength and conditioning programs as well as being able to coach in those programs. There are accessory classes such as sports psychology that help me as a young professional become more well-rounded in the field.” Struggles are still present in his full Proctor schedule. Dean says, “Time management is one of the main things. Between the three things that I am currently engaged in, I spend around 70-75 hours a week doing stuff related to one of those categories.” Coaching, surrogating, and being a student is much more than just a fulltime job. “At first glance looking at the work that I have for each week is almost like hanging from a four-foot ledge in that it looks like a lot, but once I get in the routine it is really nothing to worry about.” Dean noted that getting in the flow and following his schedule helps with the stress of the seemingly endless workload. Dean ran track all four years at Colby Sawyer, and was elected captain for two years. Having had this opportunity he knows what it takes to be a high-level athlete and this helps him relate with Dean Miller Proctor student-athletes who aspire to compete in their seasons here and at the next level. Dean observed that his biggest advantage is his “Ability to work one-on-one with athletes. When I was a captain my junior and senior year I was helping my fellow athletes with their form and analysis of sprinting which I think allows me to explain the breakdown of exercises very well.” Helping athletes and being a leader is nothing new to Dean. Taking what he has learned and is still learning from school, Dean has a great opportunity to help people in the world of athletics here at Proctor or wherever he decides to take his expertise.
efits of an art class at Proctor?
Paige Makechnie ’25 Jill Jones Grotnes
Proctor offers a range of art classes such as studio art, ceramics, and textiles. Along with learning or perfecting a new skill, these classes have amazing mental health benefits. Art teacher Jill Jones Grotnes states, “[Art class] is not stressful and you’re allowed to have all the freedom to do what you want to do.” I love taking arts at Proctor because the classes give me a space to relax and take a break from academics. In addition, art can stimulate the left side of your brain, improving organizational skills and productivity. There are many benefits to stimulating the left side of your brain including enhancing your mental and physical well-being. The author Lorena Castillo wrote in the report Must-Know Art Therapy Statistics in 2023, “It is also found that art therapy can help reduce anxiety, stress and depression by 73%.” Focusing on a project can take your mind off of stress. The Slocumb environment provides an inspiration that other areas on campus don’t have. Painting while the sunlight beams through the Slocumb windows brings a comforting warmth during these cold days.
Eiley Sowles ’25
By Tess Gatti
Although many students can get frustrated when their work does not come out exactly how they want it, teachers like Jill, Kate Austin, Corby Leith, and Molly Leith are always encouraging and helping create. Eiley Sowles ’25 uses art to de-stress and states, “Art helps me with expression, and any feeling of stress or sadness I have can be calmed by art.” Art teachers here push students to embrace art classes because of all the benefits available. If a student has never used the medium that is being worked with, teachers are supportive throughout the learning process.
Winters at Proctor are hard, long, and cold. Taking an art class helps keep parts of the winter darkness at bay. But what are the other ben-
The left side of your brain needs stimulation. Paige Makechnie ’25 says, “When I take art I am able to focus better after. It’s like a reset.”
Art Activating the Left Side of Your Brain
Will you activate your brain with art? See you in Slocumb!
Life and Death in the Greenhouse By Rex Rabil
As I walk into the greenhouse I see my pea plant, brown and withered; my sorrow is immeasurable. After all I had done to grow it from seed to bloom, was it just going to die? The pea life cycle is very short and the snap peas produced by that plant were delicious. The death couldn’t hurt my botany grade, but I sure do miss Peaterson the pea plant.
Greenhouses are important and are used in almost all research on plant life that involves agriculture. As a new addition to campus two years ago, the greenhouse has done a great job teaching many students the struggles and trials of growing and learning about plants. This year the greenhouse has been doing much better than the last, and Tina Nussbaum Wagler, the botany teacher and the keeper of the greenhouse, noted some differences. “The plants are definitely growing better this year as we have increased the diversity of plants in the greenhouse and also increased the humidity with the hydroponic garden tower.” Tina has been involved in the greenhouse since the start. “Greenhouses are a great addition to any school. That said, I think we are still figuring out how to most effectively utilize the greenhouse space, both with what we grow but also with how we integrate the use of the greenhouse into the curriculum. There are plans to
expand use to classes other than botany.” Botany is a class that many at Proctor don’t know about. It covers many topics including natural selection, selective breeding, plant biology, DNA, and a lot more. All these are the in-class topics, but botany isn’t only about the concepts, it’s also about plant husbandry. There are chances for real problem-solving and Tina explained, “Greenhouses are amazing yet also a constant puzzle, especially when you have so many different people tending to different types of plants. While we have some fungus gnats right now, I am hopeful that isn’t negatively affecting the student’s view of the class. Thankfully, they are mostly harmless in the big picture of possible greenhouse pests.”
mative religious/spiritual experiences for me in my life and I am confident they, although painful, helped me and continue to guide me in my life.”
According to the Pew Research Center’s article “Are Religious People Happier, Healthier?” “In the U.S.… 36% of the actively religious describe themselves as ‘very happy,’ compared with 25% of the inactively religious and 25% of the unaffiliated.” What religion can provide someone is a sense of belonging and a moral construct. A religious space provides people with the time and ability to practice their religion, but in a religious space, you are also given the capacity to simply be present with yourself. This is something that a lot of people who have suffered from the United States’ fast-paced lifestyle would reap benefits from; even community members here at Proctor.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows and flowering plants in the greenhouse, but the word is out and the class is now full with 12 students. Tina runs the greenhouse with grace and her expertise is due in part to extensive work in research greenhouses and a degree in Botany. From temperature management to watering the plants when the students are gone, Tina handles it all. If you’re one of the students who doesn’t know about this class, take a walk behind MLS and Sally B to look at the beauty of the greenhouse.
The American Dilemma? By Chris Chol
American culture is doomed. It’s hard to say what exactly is the root cause of the fast-paced distracted lifestyle that American society has adopted today, but the foundation of relationships is deteriorating and pulling Americans apart. It may not be the root cause, but the timeline of the decline of actively religious Americans and the trend towards a more socially distant society matches up pretty well. After the mid-1990’s, a 2019 Pew Research Center study shows that the United States culture began a shift away from being grounded in religion. This shift is also proven true when looking at statistics of religiously affiliated people by age demographic. The trend proves that younger generations in America are moving away from religion. Okay, Americans are getting less religious, so what? Well, studies show that there is a link between practicing religion and happiness.
Even with the generational decline in actively religious people, faith still holds value to the student population here at Proctor. Sophomore Emmanuel Fosu says, “My experience with religion, when I was younger, was very communal and helped shape my values as a man. Although I wouldn’t consider myself religious or belonging to a religion, I still hold those core values with me… Religion helped me love and that’s what Christianity is all about.”
Emmanuel, center
Religion has helped members of the Proctor community through various stages in life; so why does it feel like religion doesn’t have a place at Proctor? Yes, Proctor doesn’t stray away from learning about religion but has not created spaces for people to practice. Emmanuel continues, “I think religion definitely should have a place in Proctor. Does it right now? I don’t believe so. If a school like Proctor brings religion into its bubble it can transform the students and create connections and understanding not held before and on a deeper level than now; it could be another avenue for students to express themselves and to show love to the community. There will be those who don’t take part, but I believe that empowering students to voice their opinions even on matters not everyone agrees on is healthy and would help prepare Proctor students for real life.” Two things are obvious: religion has helped members of the Proctor community, and Proctor hasn’t encouraged their community members to be comfortable practicing their religion here. I know Proctor isn’t a religious school, but the stats don’t lie; and more importantly, the people don’t either. It is time to start promoting campus spaces for religious practice for the Proctor community.
Social science teacher of Comparative Religion class, varsity basketball coach, dorm parent, and advisor Ben Bartoldus says, “I think [religion] has broadened my perspectives on life.” In response to layered tragedies in his life, Ben has found religion to be his sanctity: “My mother would guide me spiritually, presenting a diverse collection of religious materials and pushing me to pray. Reflecting, those were for-
ANSWER KEY - CLASS DEAN “LIES”: Kyle #1 Ellie #1 Megan #2 Annie #1 Drew #3