As Fall Family Weekend drew to a close, our campus transformed – at first gradually and then swiftly – from a landscape bustling with activity to a place of calm, allowing us the opportunity to reflect on the 48 hours from Thursday through Saturday afternoon. From hiking to the cabin in the Proctor Woodlands to being captivated by instrumental, vocal, and theatrical performances, engaged by lessons in classrooms, and inspired by the tenacity and camaraderie of student-athletes on athletic fields, visiting families observed their student’s Proctor experience, from the individual to the collective.
Culture is one of the most challenging aspects of a school, as it is difficult to communicate to an outside audience, and sustaining culture and community requires ongoing, deliberate effort. Community events like Fall Family Weekend serve as one of these opportunities. To fully understand what faculty and staff often call “the Proctor magic,” it must be felt and experienced firsthand. The informal check-ins between students and advisors on the path to the dining commons, the clarifying questions asked of teachers after class with a promise to continue the conversation during extra help, the proud sharing of a sketch in studio art with a loved one, and the supportive applause for a field hockey or soccer team on the lighted turf, regardless of the outcome.
This past weekend provided family members a glimpse into a campus and community alive with energy, activity, and connection. Dean of Faculty Lori Patriacca ‘01 eloquently captured the essence of Fall Family Weekend 2024 in a recent email sent to faculty and staff.
“On Friday morning, parents and guardians crowded into classrooms - to dance while learning Spanish vocabulary with Ale, to attempt to solve a math riddle posed by Kristen, and to light things on fire with Ian in the Chemistry lab. The second song during assembly could not have more perfectly captured the waves of emotions we have all been riding over the last few months - reflective, serious, sad, energized, filled with hope - a reminder not to let fear close us off to the potential joy surrounding us. Raz brought our attention from the turf to the trees. In the Meeting House, Steve reminded us that we are in it Together. The scene rehearsal of the fall play reminded us what it looks like to be brave and bold.” ~ Lori Patriacca ‘01, Dean of Faculty
These snapshots of academics and student life set the stage for one of the most powerful aspects of Fall Family Weekend: parent, teacher, and student conferences. For parents and guardians, entrusting their students to our care is an act of profound bravery. Naturally, they yearn to understand what happens between drop-offs and pick-ups or during the stretches between school breaks and bonus weekends. More important than understanding every aspect of their student’s daily and weekly schedule, however, is building and strengthening relationships with the adults who guide and support their student at Proctor. Parents have distinct hopes and dreams for their children. Ultimately, they want them to be happy and safe, challenged and supported, form strong peer relationships, and engage inside and outside of the classroom. If parents have confidence in their student’s team of adults – from the dining hall staff and housekeepers to teachers, coaches, and advisors – they can rest assured they will be pushed to be the best versions of themselves and will grow and flourish.
Conferences with advisors, learning specialists, and classroom teachers often transcend traditional academic discussions about grades and test scores. Instead, they delve much deeper into each student's unique journey through adolescence, discussing their social growth, strategies for managing the complexities of dorm life, navigating group dynamics, and how to best approach academic challenges. We share moments of kindness we have witnessed and how each student contributes to our community, making others feel seen and valued. We discuss opportunities for growth and improvement and consider longer-term goals and future aspirations.
Even in the context of challenging conversations, we want our students to know that they are on a continuum of growth, an ongoing process of development, and, most importantly, that they are enough. As adults, we recognize all community members' intrinsic worth and value as we challenge and support each other within the context of community. As Raz Rasweiler highlighted during all-school assembly, we must also remember to give both ourselves and our students grace.
As we move into the second half of the fall term, we carry with us the renewed energy of our extended community – not just those who live and go to school and work on our campus, but also parents, guardians, grandparents, and extended family members. We felt it in the applause after assembly announcements and performances, in their presence in classrooms and studios, and in their support on the sidelines of athletic competitions. These moments of connection remind us of the strength of the Proctor community. We recognize that “juntos somos más,” together we are more.
Check out more photos from Fall Family Weekend Here!
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