The Buzz

Proctor's health and wellness initiatives connect the six pillars of lifestyle medicine with our longstanding commitment to neuroscience-informed learning. We are boldly integrating these complementary approaches at a critical time when students face unprecedented challenges, particularly regarding their complex relationship with technology.

Mountain Classroom students transition from Joshua Tree's desert to California's foggy coast, experiencing dramatic environmental contrasts while exploring marine ecology at Monterey Bay. Claire '26 recounts their adaptation to coastal conditions -- from frigid ocean swims to weatherproofing tents against persistent rain -- as they prepare for backpacking through the region's diverse ecosystems.

Niko '25 shares reflections from the group's first excursion to Vienna, capturing the Austrian capital's sensory delights, elegant beauty, and artistic jewels.

Through vivid sensory descriptions -- the taste of homemade tortilla, sounds of distant church bells, and the feel of cobblestones beneath their feet -- Proctor Academy students offer us a glimpse into their daily lives in Segovia, Spain. Their words capture the essence of this ancient city where history and modern culture are strikingly juxtaposed.

Proctor's Mountain Classroom program has kicked off its spring term in Joshua Tree, where Anna '26 describes the group quickly adapting to expedition life while building community. Students have embraced rock climbing challenges that develop communication and trust, offering just a glimpse of their upcoming journey.

We embrace the imperfection that will inevitably come with Accepted Students Day and recognize that the conversations that need to happen will only occur if we carve out time for them.

Our “Neuroteach” faculty Professional Learning Community study group is exploring whether current homework practices align with the neuroscience of how the adolescent brain learn best, recognizing that dull, frustrating, or excessive homework can impair learning and impact sleep. Assignments that create opportunities for reflection, discussion, and collaboration, effective effort, intrigue and engagement, curiosity and play, and integrate the arts, however, can be an invaluable part of the learning process.

Living alongside program directors Dave and Jen Fleming, eight Proctor Academy students are creating their own "artist colony" in Aix-en-Provence, France. Creating art and exploring their surroundings blends seamlessly with art history class and literature discussions at a local café and evenings filled with shared meals and music. Read more as Georgia '25 reflects on their first week together!

During this year's Proctor Project Period, students engaged in 35 diverse projects from bridge construction at Elbow Pond to business pitches before "Shark Tank" investors, dog sledding in Maine, and electric guitar building. This intensive week serves as a microcosm of Proctor's educational philosophy, where embracing a "beginner's mind," challenge, and learning from mistakes enables students to discover both new abilities and unexpected dimensions of themselves.