Hornet's Nest | May 25, 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 8

HORNET’S NEST Proctor Academy | May 25, 2020| Vol. 5 | Issue 8

Congratulations Class of 2020!

Graduating Online: Proctor’s Ceremony

By Baxter Curry Many of us are asking the question, “How is graduation going to happen this year?” Assistant Head of School Karin Clough shared some insight into the plan for 2020’s commencement.

“Graduation will obviously be different because we will not all be together in the tent. That is sad for all of us, for sure. We will, however, have a Commencement live-streamed at 10:30 am on Saturday, May 30th. We have four student speakers, we have a graduation speaker, two musical performances, and we will read off all the names for the diplomas. All students, families, faculty and staff, and friends of Proctor can tune in and watch the show. I think it will be a nice morning, and we want to show our love and appreciation to this class.”

Anya Jewell

Anya Jewell is a four-year senior speaking at graduation. She and Will Railton were nominated by fellow seniors to speak along with

Valedictorian Amy Zhao, and Salutatorian Tommy Harrell.

Anya observed, “I’m absolutely devastated that graduation won’t be held in person this year. However, I have seen how the staff and faculty at Proctor care for my class and I am thankful for how thoughtfully they have handled such an unfortunate situation.”

Karin Clough at 2019 Commencement

The May 30th ceremony will be a mixture of live-stream of administrators and faculty in Alice’s Garden outside the Learning Center and pre-recorded speeches. Patty Pond will interview faculty beforehand who are passing by with tributes to the class of 2020, administrators will gather together to sit for the ceremony, and senior thank you videos will bring in the words and faces of the graduates. Prizes will be awarded, we’ll hear student music, and Academic Dean Derek Nussbaum-Wagler will read out the names of the entire class.

Not perfect, but as the banner reads, we’ll be TOGETHER.

Lakes Region Schools: Online Graduations

By Jack Fedele Every New England boarding school is handling the pandemic differently, and while walking across a stage probably won’t happen anywhere, schools are looking for the next best option.

Nearby prep schools New Hampton, Tilton, Brewster, Kimball Union and several others have looked for creative solutions, but most seem to have a similar plan in place with some sort of virtual commencement with their own individual pieces.

New Hampton has released the most detailed plan for their graduation on their website. It consists of four different dates and parts. Prior to graduation, they held an academic awards ceremony, and they held a virtual Baccalaureate, yearbook dedication, senior superlatives, and Class of 2020 slideshow. After their online commencement, they also plan to hold an in-person, on-campus celebration in late August barring a setback due to COVID-19.

The Tilton School noted on their website that they will hold a graduation ceremony through Zoom and their plans are typical. “We will host a virtual Commencement on May 23. We continue to work on plans, with members of the Senior Class, for an in-person celebration at some point in the future... We are saddened by this decision, but the health and safety of our entire community continue to be our top priority.”

Kimball Union Academy will participate in a livestream graduation ceremony on the 22nd of May: “While we are unable to hold an on-campus commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 at this time, KUA will hold virtual events to honor an important milestone in the lives of our seniors and recognize their many achievements.”

Brewster Academy will hold commencement virtually on May 23rd which looks familiar.

Their ceremony will include: “Remarks from Head of School,..., Valedictorian and Salutatorian Addresses, Graduation Awards Presentation, Graduate Roll Call, Slide Show Celebrating Seniors, and a Social Opportunity online for the graduated seniors.”

Schools are struggling to give graduating seniors the best event possible. Most schools, including Proctor, hope to plan a summer or fall celebration on campus, in person, for the class of 2020. We hope the Proctor seniors feel accomplished and recognized by gathering with as many family and friends as allowed!

Caroline Murphy Departing Proctor

By Sloane Wightman Caroline Murphy, a Proctor teacher, advisor, and coach, is moving on to her next adventure, teaching at the Derryfield School.

Caroline reflected, “I will miss Proctor immensely as this was the first teaching job of my career. I came to Proctor right out of college and my ‘fun fact’ is that I took the job without ever setting foot on campus. I think this ultimately displays how incredible the people are within this community.”

Caroline highlighted her role as an advisor. “My favorite part about Proctor is, of course, the students and the advisees that I take a ton of pride in. Caring for my crew is my favorite part of my job because I have no doubt that they are doing the right thing and setting a good example for others whether that is in class, on the field, in the dorms, or at the Wise. They know how to have fun while playing by the rules and that is a life skill that they will carry with them throughout their lives.”

Many Proctor students experience an ‘aha’ moment when things fall into place, and Caroline loved this. “One of my favorite moments occurs every so often around springtime when my freshmen have an epiphany moment. What occurs is that I typically have a student or two that really struggle in the fall putting the pieces together in my World History class. They are still new to the high school scene/ expectations and over the course of the year, they transform into ‘A’ students by the spring.

I will always remember one student who attended extra help and stated: ‘What was I doing in the fall? I wasn’t doing any of my work!

I’ve figured out the key to your class is that you just have to really do the work and everything makes so much more sense!’ I love these kinds of epiphanies.”

Proctor has shaped Caroline as a teacher. “I feel that I have gained confidence over the course of my Proctor career (six years). I had to decide what kind of teacher/ coach/advisor/ dorm parent I wanted to be when I started and I have always boiled it down to setting a high standard for integrity, respect, and responsibility. I think that boarding school is such an awesome opportunity to uncover your best self and I think part of the reason Proctor is so special is that the students are so open to taking on that challenge.”

We are a better school for her presence and we wish Caroline well!

education and I was lucky enough to be a Mountain Classroom Instructor for a number of years. Sue and I even got to lead two trips together and that was magical.”

In 1991, my father, Jeremy Stowe, was lucky enough to have studied on Mountain Classroom with Dougo and Sue as his instructors and has shared many stories of their transformational journey in the desert southwest.

Dougo also loved the commitment that the teachers at Proctor have to their students and said, “Any of you can come up with a long list of faculty who have gone out of their way to do something for you and they are doing that 24/7/365.”

Doug Houston Retires

By Hannah Stowe After being a part of the Proctor Academy family for 37 years, one of the school’s most beloved teachers is retiring. Dougo embodies all that Proctor stands for and he has filled many roles during his time at our school.

When he first arrived at Proctor, he was a math teacher, an assistant boys varsity hockey coach with Karl Methven, a dorm parent in Gulick and Thoreau Dorms, and an advisor. He and his wife Sue were previously Mountain Classroom instructors and he has coached lots of sports over the years, most notably kayaking and girls varsity hockey. In addition, he was an administrator and explained, “I moved into the role of Academic Dean for a few years before wanting to get back into the classroom. In the last two years I have gone part-time to ease my way out into my next phase.”

Dougo’s favorite memory in his time at Proctor was winning the NEPSAC championship with the Proctor Girls Varsity Hockey team. He recalled, “The championship game against Middlesex was a classic and the excitement of the girls and coaches was unbelievable.” Along with coaching, Dougo noted his adventures on Mountain Classroom “..brings a glow of happiness to me when I think back on those experiences.”

When asked what he thought made Proctor so special, he replied, “When I first came to Proctor it was for three major reasons. I spent quite a bit of time talking with students and their interest and engagement were amazing. It made me want to work with them. The other was the off-campus programs and Wilderness Orientation. Those fit right into my beliefs about

Why does he loves Proctor so much? “Community. Love. Caring. Acceptance. That’s the core of Proctor and it molds all of us. One of the side benefits of that is the students tend to like it here and in turn, they do their best. How many hours have I spent with students wanting extra help? How fulfilling is it to work with someone like that? It’s awesome.”

One thing is for sure, Dougo will not be bored in the years to come. He has many things planned for his retirement including, “Spending more time hiking, biking, meditating, building, reading and once we move beyond this COVID-19 time, I’d love to be able to travel, sea kayak and maybe even do a bit of backpacking.” Although he will not be with us on campus he says, “No matter where I am or what I’m doing I will always have thoughts and memories drifting through my mind of all you folks at Proctor.”

Junior de la Hoz Heads South By the Journalism Class Junior has spent this spring, now his last Proctor term, at his home in the Dominican Republic due to the pandemic. He shared some reflections on Proctor and his future plans.

What was a defining moment of your Proctor career?

“Every year and every moment were defining moments for me. My Proctor experience was something that has and will shape the rest of my career. I encountered lots of highs & lots of lows, from coaching the young ladies on the hardwood to being a dorm parent in Gannett. But I never let the highs get too high and the lows get too low. My Proctor career will definitely go into my ‘Experience Account.’”

What role at Proctor will you miss the most & why?

“Coaching girls varsity basketball I will miss the most; I found myself so embedded in this program and the young ladies I was able to mentor and help over the years! All of those moments with the program were memorable. But I WILL MISS My assistant coach Lindsay Brown the most. (I wish I could take her with me.)

She kept me together in one piece, I owe all my success at Proctor to that wonderful person. There’s nothing in this world I can do to pay her back for everything she & her family have done for me. She’s the sister I always wanted, Thank you!”

How have you changed during your time at Proctor?

“I have changed in so many ways without changing who I’m as an educator & as a person. Proctor truly changed the way I see the world. I learned how to be a professional. I became a better coach, friend, brother, husband & last but not least, I became a father!”

What are your plans for next year/the future?

“For the first time in 25 years I will be leaving New England and heading south.

I will be working at Dwight Englewood School in Englewood, NJ as an eighth grade Dean of Students. New Jersey is where my mother, brother and I first migrated to when we arrived In the United States. Ana, me and the boys will be twenty minutes away from Family. It’s bittersweet for me because I have never been more than 2 hours away from my young brother! But the future looks bright for us as a family and this is an opportunity I can’t pass up. We are very excited to be joining the D-E community this coming fall.”

Thank you Junior for your work in the classroom, with the Diversity Program, in basketball and baseball, and for all your contributions to our community.

College Or a Gap Year?

By Cooper Rice This confusing time in the world is making people who have always dreamed about attending college sit back and think about taking a gap year.

Four-year senior Teagan Reilly explained her plans for the 2020-2021 year. “My deciding factor will be due to the coronavirus. If I find out that I will be stuck behind a screen, I don’t really feel like rushing into college. I feel like a huge aspect of college is the social piece and I know I won’t get that from home. So if I don’t go I might as well work and make some money, and also travel and be a ski bum.”

to do next year but I would like to find an internship or a job that suits my interests and see how I like it. Which hopefully will allow me to find a good major in college.”

Jake and Teagan are taking similar paths but for different reasons. The pandemic and its uncertainty will have a huge impact on graduates deciding to attend college; Teagan and Jake and other Proctor graduates may have company.

Freshman to Senior: Lessons learned

By Birgit Preuss Four-year seniors change a lot during their time at Proctor, so I asked them for the advice they wish they heard as freshmen.

Along with their words, enjoy their 9th and 12th-grade photos.

Sarah Hearns “Make sure you don’t wait until senior spring to complete your Proctor bucket list. I was waiting to do polar swim until my senior spring and that got canceled :(“

Three-year senior Jake Bicknell knew he was possibly taking a gap year instead of going straight to college, “I chose to take a gap year because honestly, I’m not really sure what I want to pursue in life yet.

I think having some time to really figure out a path and have some real-world experiences will help me find my path. As of right now, I’m not sure what I am going Timmy Bechtold “I’d tell myself to grind on the soccer field and in the gym every day. I’d also tell myself to work hard when I need to and have fun when I can. Make the most of everything, because those 4 years will be over very quickly.”

Senior Lessons From a COVID Spring

By Michael Gilerman

Tori Braley “If I were to give myself advice from freshman year, I would tell myself to not worry and stress so much. Worries are only temporary. The stuff that you worry about now won’t matter in five years.”

Nikki Filias: “Late nights in Slocumb or lying on the turf with friends in the spring chatting, or staying the dining hall until 7:30, laughing with friends.”

This spring has hit many people with sadness, stress, and anxiety, but our seniors had to make the best of this situation.

Here are what some learned.

Hank Miller: “Jumping into the pond after my sophomore prom.”

Kaley Farmer, art enthusiast, and a fouryear senior:

Nadia Nevells “Be yourself and do the work you need to even if it seems like too much; it all pays off in the end if you just put in the effort.”

Senior Highlights

Blaine Hinds: “The countless memories from managing the GVH team.”

“I’ve learned that I work better when I am out of my own space and getting outside. This is a difficult time for everyone but I do think that you can absolutely get through this when you go outside, have your space for work and fun, and find time to relax.”

Ferdinando Benetton: “Playing football and making new friends.”

By Alex Hotz The end of our seniors’ time at Proctor has come to an odd end, but every senior has a favorite moment. Here are some from the class of 2020.

Jane Ellis: “One time sophomore year some of the older kids arranged a sleepover at Elbow Pond on a Saturday night and a bunch of my friends and I went. It was so fun to be off-campus, spending time in the Proctor wilderness.

We didn’t have our phones or anything and it was so nice to just hang out in the cold, roasting marshmallows.”

George Mennen: “The first ‘home’ race at Proctor’s ski hill. It was awesome to see the support from the community for the team.”

The 2020 graduating class did not get the last term they expected, but we all hope the best for the seniors. Good luck and keep making memories!

Cam Joslin, a community favorite, threesport varsity athlete, and four-year senior: “During the spring term, I have had to adjust to the new circumstances and adapt to change. [The spring] has taught me how to adapt and has shown me that you can change with anything thrown at you. Obviously all the seniors would have rather been at school, but we adjusted and made the most of the online classes and not being there. This situation only makes us stronger and we have all grown from it.

Another lesson I developed through these tough times is remaining positive. Finding positives will make you happy and will only help during these tough times. I have

done many activities and found joy with my family to keep me going.”

Blaine Hinds, a fouryear senior and an asset in the classroom: “This Spring, we’ve been forced to face more adversity than we ever thought we would have. Everything was turned upside down on us, and our community had to come together while being apart to be able to make it through. Our teachers have spent hours learning new technology and making all our assignments available online, a task not easy and unfamiliar to many. Students have had to adapt to a whole different style of learning, where it’s difficult to ask questions, and honestly a little difficult to keep our focus with the temptations of electronics. I’ve learned that even though we’re all apart, our community remains intact.”

Kara Baird, a four-year senior, and girls varsity hockey captain: “I’ve learned how important self-motivation is during this time. At first, it was hard to stay on a schedule when there is no schedule, but now I have it down. I’ve also learned how important Proctor is to me. I miss my friends, teachers, and Proctor a lot.”

Jake Cole, postgraduate: “I learned how to work alone and do a lot of self-teaching. The teachers do their best with what they can, yet I feel like I’ve done a lot of stuff on my own. I learned to organize my time a whole lot more along with finding who I truly am as a learner.”

Jane Ellis, a four-year senior, School Leader, and the most dependable person for a journalism interview: “I’ve learned that Proctor teachers and kids have such strong relationships. Especially in advisory, we don’t just talk about school work and that stuff, we talk about our home lives and what we’ve been doing. Advisors really care.”

Jonah McAloon, our favorite Canadian, and four-year senior: “Being at home and doing classes here in Canada I have learned to be much more self motivated. Being at home I’ve been able to complete projects I’ve been putting off and explore some of my hobbies. I’ve learned even more how supportive the Proctor community is, getting all of my stuff shipped back to Canada has been a pain but lots of Proctor faculty have helped me a lot in the process.”

Finally, Sean Slick, a four-year senior:

Ben Blanchard, a community treasure and four-year senior: “ I have learned that I can entertain myself a lot more than I thought. I do not always need friends to have fun.

While I do miss my friends I am able to enjoy myself without them. I have been doing things like running and a lot of hiking. It is nice to disconnect and focus on yourself. Enjoy what you have around you and make the most of this time.”

Ronan Walsh, a four-year senior: “I learned how important my friends are in my life. But I took this time to get closer with my family. My brother has been off at college so it was nice to have him back. I also learned how special Proctor is. All of the people that work here really want to see you succeed and especially during these tough times.”

“This term has allowed us to shine as a community, we have demonstrated immense resilience to everything that has tried to knock us. I have discovered that in times of challenge, struggle, and stress that this community goes through, we continually forge ahead driven by the principles that we value. This term has truly shown me the dedication and exceptional talent that is among the faculty and staff that work tirelessly to make our educational experience the best even while we are miles apart. We have proven we are not afraid to fall forward and embrace the unknown because we will succeed and be more prosperous than ever when we come out of this.”

COVID-19 has challenged people to really dig in and find new ways to relieve stress and find happiness. Luckily, our seniors have coped with this pandemic. They’ve done a great job of finding the best in an unfortunate situation. And for that, I have gained so much respect for them, and wish them all good luck with their future!