HEAD’S LETTER

Head of School ROBERT W. HILL III P’15, ’19

Chief Advancement Officer ERIC YATES P’17, ’21

Director of Alumni Engagement STEVE HOYT ’95, P’25, ’25

Director of Communications ANN HALLOCK P’20, ’22

Design Director ARUNA GOLDSTEIN

Assistant Director of Communications DENNIS CROMMETT

Please send letters to the editor, class notes, obituaries, and changes of address to:

The Williston Northampton School Advancement Office 19 Payson Avenue Easthampton, MA 01027 email: info@williston.com online: williston.com/alumni/ connect

Nondiscrimination Statement: Williston admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, gender, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, gender, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other policies and programs.

Head of School Robert W. Hill III in the classroom this fall

Sometimes unexpected circumstances come with a bow tied around them. Such was the case when English teacher Josh Rilla and family welcomed a new baby last month, and I was able to help his department colleagues cover classes for two weeks. Happy to jump into a classroom of ninth graders as they tackled the quintessential high school text—The Catcher in the Rye—I found myself in both familiar and unfamiliar territory. It has been some time since I taught humanities, and while students have not changed during that hiatus, technology certainly has. Being responsible for day-to-day learning requires a different output of time, energy, and expertise.

Eager and engaged with Holden Caulfield’s angst-ridden journey of discovery, Mr. Rilla’s students were a daily reminder for me of the student experience that is at the center of everything we do. As someone who spends much of my time working with others to plan what is next for the school, having a chance to see students in action always affirms all the reasons why we continue to plan and innovate.

It’s a short leap from my experience teaching to the goals of our current Williston Builds campaign. Those peak learning experiences don’t just happen by accident. They require caring teachers and advisors, great facilities and programs, and a vibrant, inclusive community—all top priorities of our $70 million Williston Builds campaign. I want to thank the more than 5,000 of you who have already supported the campaign (see page 16); your involvement is having an immediate impact on students by providing everything from state-of-the-art new science labs to robust professional development for teachers. Your support, plus our new strategic planning process, will be critical in helping build Williston’s success in the future. The future is also the focus of this issue’s centerpiece story highlighting 50 exceptional alumnae who have and will continue to influence their industries and the world. Ranging from the class of 1973 to 2015, this group of trailblazers is beyond inspiring. I encourage you to read their advice, wisdom, and predictions starting on page 32.