HORNET’S NEST Proctor Academy | October 8, 2019| Vol. 5 | Issue 1
Boardingware & Study Hall: Changes at Proctor However, not every student likes this study hall time. Boarding students believe it restricts their social life. Now, students don’t have nearly as much time after activities and dinner to go to the Wise, Pizza Chef, or just hang out. Several students have said that socializing with the 8 pm start time was hard enough, and students believe they can manage their own work and should be able to stay out till 8 PM. Boardingware has also been a controversial topic over the first few weeks of school. I asked dorm parents and surrogates, “Has Boardingware made your nights easier?” The responses were split pretty evenly. Personally I found that it is, in fact, easier. To leave campus for a weekend, I simply take two minutes to request a pass as opposed to getting the old “Gone From School” form and running around campus trying to get that last signature so I can turn it in on time. I’m sure many other students can relate to that.
By Jack Fedele
Overall, the community prefers the new systems. Boardingware seems to streamline the complicated process of leaving campus for a weekend or going off-campus with a day student. It makes students’ lives easier so they don’t have to run around getting signatures and turning the pass in late. Study hall seems to let students get their work done more quickly and helps them get to bed earlier, something most students needed.
Proctor students saw two changes in September with the addition of Boardingware and the earlier study hall time. Most students hated the thought of a 7:30 study hall and the new sign-in app; however, that’s not the same feeling after a few weeks of school. In a survey of faculty and students about these two changes, a Hornet’s Nest survey received forty-two responses. A majority like the earlier study hall, as most say it’s easier to get work done and go to sleep sooner. People in the survey were happy to have more time after study hall to socialize, as a majority of students believed half an hour after study hall was too brief before in-room time. Day students in the survey like the new study hall time because they can get home sooner. Previously, day students were leaving campus at 10 PM and driving home when they were really tired. From conversations with faculty, the general answer to why study hall was moved to 7:30 is to get students to finish their work earlier and go to sleep sooner. If students are less tired, they will do better in their classes.
Do New Proctor Students Feel Integrated Or Not? By Kaia Schmid As we start the new school year and we all try to adjust, I wondered, do new students feel integrated into the student body or do they feel separated from returning students at Proctor? While
tives and student government have been disorganized and they feel that one of their jobs is to identify some tasks and responsibilities so the title of Class Rep is not just for college apps or resumes. School Leader Vienna Marcus pointed out that the biggest change to this year’s class representatives is, “That one from each grade will be required, weekly, to attend Student Activities meetings. Student Activities Director Erica Wheeler’s job is not simple, and who better to help her more than the students who have been communicating with their entire class?” some students may be terrified with a new school, others absolutely love a new school, faces, and friends.
swers to this particular question differed, so I recognize that everyone’s experience is different.
I recently sent out a survey to each student at Proctor asking them to reflect on their experience as a new student. Forty-seven students gave positive and negative feedback indicating how integrated into the school they feel.
New students were then asked if it was hard to make friends with a returning student, and 72% of students said it is not hard to make friends. The highest percentage of the survey was the 97% of students who said that returning students were welcoming to them when they arrived.
When new students first arrive on campus to start the school year, they get sent on orientation with a small group of other new students. Fort-nine percent of the students said orientation helps them make new friends. One person ended up becoming roommates with a person from their orientation group. Proctor also has the Big Sister and Big Brother program which assigns new students a returning student to mentor them through their Proctor experience. 35% of students said the Big Sister and Brother program does not help integrate them into the school and only seventeen percent of students said it does; the others were somewhere in between (limits on participation in this program may be a factor). One student suggested that the idea of the program is good, it just needs to match students better. Returning students also play an enormous role in a new student’s experience. Do new students feel like returning students are welcoming? Or are they cliquey? 29% of survey responses said Proctor students were cliquey, 53% of students said they were welcoming, 6% of students said they were closed off, and 64% said Proctor students were “nice.” A lot of the an-
The last survey question asked new students if they feel integrated at Proctor. 70% said ‘yes.’ So the next time you see a new student at Proctor, start a conversation, because you could be the one that contributes to helping a new student feel more a part of our school.
School Leaders Plan Big Changes By Sean Slick Student Government at Proctor. What is it? What does it do? Who can be in it? As class elections happen and new students ponder student leadership, class representatives are a big factor in shaping our school year. Assistant School Leader Hitch Graham reported that in the past, class representa-
Hitch Graham and Vienna Marus
Vienna went on to say, “To me, student leadership at Proctor means that you are a student who wants to promote change on campus. As a class representative, student leader, dorm leader, day student leader, etc. you are capable of promoting change in a few ways. I think that students who find themselves in roles such as these are students who lead by example, who communicate effectively with their peers and faculty, and lastly, are students who feel strongly about the Proctor ‘magic.’” Alex Keskintepe, a sophomore elected as a class representative told me, “I just want to make the community a little more friendly. ” This ties in with Vienna’s notion of the Proctor “magic” which embodies our four core values of honesty, respect, compassion, and responsibility. Alex finished by stating he was running because, “I believe there are some things I can change around here in the sports and academic community.”
There are many ways on campus to get involved in student government if you feel like you want to be a part of student life but don’t want to be a Class Representative. The best way to get involved in student government is to contact Vienna and Hitch, go to their office hours, or go to the Class Rep meetings that are underway now.
Welcome Ray Summers By Nathan Hallenbeck
ny based out of Southborough, Massachusetts and also run 4Leaf Lacrosse.” What were some of your reasons for starting a lacrosse program? “I started 4Leaf Lacrosse because club lacrosse and club sports in general were a ‘money grab’ in many cases. In my opinion, it was bordering on extorting families by leveraging their children and college. The cost was astronomical and I wanted to leverage the sport to set an example and try to lead young men while giving families a solid program that would develop their young men and be honest about their abilities.”
Ben Bartoldus Returns
What do you like to do in your free time?
By Cooper Rice
“Fish, hunt, outdoor activities, and spend time with my family.”
Ben Bartoldus is a man of many interests. A former student at Proctor, he has returned as a social science teacher, coach, and more.
What are some challenges in your new roles at Proctor? “Trying to ensure balance with family and work while still trying to transition my other house and wife [who travels for work] in the southern part of the state.” Ray Summers is one of Proctor’s newly arrived faculty. With his military background and excellent coaching experience, he will help this school be the best it possibly can. Ray will be in Admissions, coaching football and lacrosse, and will be teaching Spanish during this year. What were your biggest reasons for choosing Proctor? “The biggest reason was probably around the culture and being able to have my family and kids be a part of it [Proctor].” What are you most excited for this upcoming school year? “The ability to work with student-athletes that have had a tough run through the last couple of years [changing coaches], and reset the lacrosse community at Proctor” Where did you live and what were you doing before Proctor? “I built a government technology compa-
What are some goals for the lacrosse team this year? “We are going to come together and be blue-collar grinders that set a great example for the greater Proctor community.” What is your favorite part about Proctor so far? “Being able to meet all kinds of new people and getting to know them and hear where they’re from and hear their different backgrounds and potentially being able to help them out.”
What were some highlights from your Proctor experience? “Honestly, the relationships I cultivated with faculty members. An example of that would be my relationship with Gregor, as it has withstood the test of time. Also, Scott Allenby - they both continue to be mentors in my life from a social and professional perspective, and a character perspective. I would continually check in with those two weekly before coming back to Proctor in this capacity. Proctor was the platform for the rest of my life as it planted the seeds to my future. From a social and academic perspective, I don’t think I would be the person I am today without the experiences I had at Proctor.” What brought you back to Proctor? “I went profession to profession for a while, but I always kind of yearned to be back in a community that is supportive and loving like Proctor. I always wanted to come back when the timing was right, when I felt comfortable professionally, not the super skinny and awkward student.” What were you doing prior to Proctor? “I was at Cardigan Mountain School. I taught in the social science department,
ran the cross country program, and directed the basketball program. Before my time at Cardigan Mountain School, I was a health mentor in behavioral health working to counteract medications and the rising death rates of behavioral health clients. I was also a basketball coach at New England College.”
Carr House, it was something that made sense and I want to be able to help the school in anyway possible. Kyle Connolly left some big shoes to fill and my hope is to try and build off the great work he did.”
What are your responsibilities at Proctor? “All of the teachers at Proctor wear many hats. I teach US and World History, coach rock climbing and am helping with the basketball program, I am a dorm surrogate in Summerfield, and also an advisor. I feel that the faculty members at Proctor teach and mentor beyond the classroom.” Ben told me in his free time he loves to read and he also loves playing his ukulele. Ben surfs the coastline of New Hampshire, trail runs, and enjoys conversations about spiritual philosophy. Ben’s reading interests run from from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu to Emerson’s Essay on Love. Ben knows how Proctor helped shape who he is today, and how grateful he is for having a Proctor experience. Now he’ll add Proctor faculty to his Proctor experiences.
Connor Tedesco Returns to Carr By Ryan Hayes Who is this 2014 graduate? His name is Connor Tedesco and he is the newest and youngest dorm parent on campus. Along with other roles, Tedesco is back in Carr House, a dorm he once lived in as a student himself. What made you want to become a dorm parent at Proctor? “Initially, I had no plans of being a dorm parent given my role here at Proctor. I knew I was expected to travel a lot for the Development Office and would not be able to commit to the roles and responsibilities of a dorm parent as well as do a quality job for the Development Office. However, when I was approached by Karl Methven to take over as dorm parent of
Describe your dorm experience and plans. “I lived here in one of the triples (Room 32) during my time at Proctor. Getting the chance to come back and see all the students who live here now is a very cool experience and things seem to have come full circle. My hope is that the values I have carried with me through life so far will help the current students living in Carr House in some way or another. I think ... the dorm itself has always been one that creates a bond between every student living in it. Whether you are a star athlete, number one in your class, the star showman in the theater, or somewhere in between, Carr House seems to bring everyone together in the long-standing fraternity and in reality, brings everyone together as one Carr House family.” Who are the faculty that you are working alongside that once taught you?
What was your experience at Proctor like? “I won’t lie, at first, I did not enjoy my experience at Proctor. Coming from four years of public high school, I was accustomed to more freedom and independence outside of class periods and sport activities. After I became accustomed to the lifestyle and saw the benefit to the structure, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I loved all the support that teachers provide to each student. I enjoyed the relationships you build with the faculty, staff, coaches, teammates, and housemates. I would say my friendships I developed with my teammates and more importantly my roommates in the dorm is something I cherish to this day and we all remain friends who hang out whenever possible. All in all, Proctor changed who I am and my life in a way I did not expect or think could happen.” What are some of your interests? “Some of my hobbies include playing hockey, baseball, golf, and softball. Pretty much anything that involves playing or watching a sport with friends peaks my interest. I also enjoy traveling as much as possible and watching college football in my free time.”
“I might not work closely with them dayto-day, but there are several members of the faculty who taught me during my time at Proctor. Scott Allenby is one who I do work closely with. He was my economics teacher in the spring of 2014 and now I work with Scott in the Development Office. Other faculty that once taught me include Mark Tremblay, Patty Pond, Adam Jones, Gregor Makechnie, Greg Allen, Megan Hardie, Mike Walsh, and Jim Cox. It was a little strange at first to consider these faculty members colleagues, because as a student, these individuals were authority figures. However, I now get to see a different side of their personality and it’s a lot of fun. What makes Proctor so special is that these faculty members treat each student with the same respect and genuine care that they do with co-workers. In the short time I have been working for Proctor, I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside my former teachers and funny enough I am still learning from them!” Connor Tedesco is a great addition to our Proctor community and I recommend stopping by Carr House to meet him if you haven’t done so already.
From the Forest to the Classroom: New Woodlands Manager Laura Ostrowsky By Jake Bicknell Laura Ostrowsky is a new face on the Proctor Academy campus and is stepping into an important position as Woodlands Manager. Laura is outside for classes and is prepared to maintain all of Proctor’s 2500 acres of woodlands. “Besides Forestry I’m also a musician, so I play a bunch of different instruments, I’ve played piano my whole life, and cello for a long time. I’m also a classical singer; I teach voice lessons.”
Laura (center) with new faculty
Laura fits this job perfectly as all her life she has been absolutely fascinated with the woods. She attended an outdoor-based school similar to Proctor called the Mountain School in Vermont and fell in love with the woods. As Karl Methven, Dean of Faculty said in assembly, “It is hard to find a person who fits the profile of a good woodlands manager and teacher for Proctor. When Laura’s file came up we knew it was a match and we needed her on our team.” What drew you to Proctor? “I was really excited about Proctor, from a lot of the things I learned about it early on! One of the big ones was Learning Skills. That was just so cool to me, it’s such an unusual program and such a unique feature of the school. I’ve been working as a writing tutor one-on-one for about six years, and have been working with a bunch of different learners, and really enjoy trying to figure out how to tailor my teaching to different kinds of learning styles.” What are your other interests besides forestry?
Laura has definitely excelled in creating an environment where kids with all learning styles can succeed. Senior Frazer Hillard observed, “Having a teacher that is so genuinely interested in what she’s teaching is really amazing. It makes Laura very easy to follow combined with her hands on and visual-based classes.” I’m also in Laura’s Conservation Ecology class this fall and I agree with what Frazer said, Laura really brings a different kind of energy to her classes. Her love of the forest really shows through in her teaching and students can tell she’s interested and well-educated in the subject. Classes are really involved and feel unplanned, but in a good way. We walk along in the woods and Laura seems to notice every little detail in a way I’ve never seen before.
Ben left Proctor to coach at a high school in Dayton, Ohio called Carroll High School. Ben is currently in his thirteenth season back at Proctor, and his eleventh as a head coach. With fifty total wins, he’s looking to add more victories after a good start to this season. I asked Ben about coming back to Proctor Academy. “I like to learn things, and here at Proctor Academy, every day I wake up and get to learn something new with great people here in this community.” I’ve heard from teammates and faculty members that Ben knows about the best food shops around here. So I asked about some great places to eat and he replied, “Ribshack, Jesse’s Steakhouse, and Buffalo Wild Wings.”
Coach Ben Is Back! By Darren Watson Proctor now has the best football coach in all of New Hampshire and Ohio! Ben Rulli has returned to fill a variety of roles at Proctor, and he is very good at giving life lessons and works hard to turn the football team into men. He always reminds us when we give up in football, it’s the same like giving up in life, and that neither one will help us succeed; we have to see the bigger picture.
Coach Ben
When he’s not busy with school work and coaching the football team in the fall and helping coach the lacrosse team in the spring, he likes to “Go watch other teams play - it doesn’t matter what sports. [I like to] support other teams.” He thinks supporting other teams is good to do because people come support the football and lacrosse teams.
I asked Ben how is he liking what he does in Communications and Development. He replied, “It’s awesome! I really enjoy the new role and learning a variety of new things. Interacting with so many new people everyday brings new ideas and challenges.” Then, I asked Ben what was his main reason for coming back. “It’s to learn about private school development, communication and marketing. Not to mention the amazing people in the Proctor community.”
This movie is amazing and it will smack you with surprises just like that clown did to me. It starts off joyous and quirky, then follows a painful awakening that serves to shock, entice and educate. It reveals that our perception of reality is warped by our wealth, and the far-reaching lengths that people can go to according to what they believe is right. This desire is what really draws out the film’s most horrifying and thrilling elements. It makes scenes explode with gripping terror as well as drive the empathetic characters. It premiered at the Cannes film festival where it won grand jury prize, the Palme d’Or award. It recently had its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival where it received high praise. It’s a worthwhile film to check out, and I also recommend bringing a heart rate monitor during your first screening; it yields fascinating results.
MOVIE REVIEW: A Few Words on a Flick
A three year senior wished someone had advised them that, “It’s okay to ask for help, don’t pretend you know what is going on if you don’t!” Talk to your peers, teachers, and advisors when you need a little help. Feel free to reach out to upperclassmen and meet new people who are most likely in the same boat as you. Senior Campbell Franz said that when she was a new freshman, she wished someone had advised her to “Try new things and don’t be afraid of the older students.” Every student has been in the position of being the new kid, it can be hard and scary but you end up making some of the best memories of your life. A four-year senior wrote, “My advice would still be to be open-minded. Try to become friends with everyone and try out different classes, sports, etc. If you do that you will find your people and you will find your place in the Proctor community very easily.” Proctor is a welcoming community when find your people.
By Tristan Auyang
Parasite An absolute gem of a thriller created by Bong Joon Ho, Parasite stars Lee SunKyun and Song Kang-Ho. The acclaimed Korean director Ho returns to the mystery/thriller genre since his smash hits “Memories of a Murder” and the western film “Snowpiercer.” So imagine walking into a surprise party in a lovely yard. Suddenly, a clown comes out and smacks you in the face. That’s pretty much this movie. You laugh afterward, but you cry a bit too.
that sounds really cool. Really embrace your time here and you’ll love it.” Taking advantage of the different opportunities that Proctor has to offer is a perfect way to meet new people.
New to Proctor? We’re Here to Help By Nadia Nevells Here at Proctor, we are always looking for ways to improve and make new students feel at home. What do returning students wish they had known when they were new? I sought some advice to first-year students in a survey. A second-year junior recommends that new kids, “Join clubs, go to polar swims, the owl watch, and any other opportunity that arises. Take a New London trip, drop your free block for a class
Two year senior Nate Chickering observed, “Take advantage of everything Proctor has to offer and live each day to the best because it goes by fast.” Take the classes you have been dreaming of. Proctor offers classes like Forensics, Boatbuilding, Problem Solving and courses with amazing teachers that many students have loved. On the weekends, activities like going to the river, hiking the ski hill, skating at the rink, and supporting our Proctor teams are times you won’t forget. From hiking the woods to walking the stage at graduation, you will make amazing memories, so get out there, have fun, ask for help, and make your mark.