HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL

BlairBULLETIN

WELCOME FROM THE HISTORY OF FROM HILLTOP HEAD OF SCHOOL BLAIR ACADEMY TO HOME P. 0 3 P. 0 4 P. 1 8 On Exhibit

“Observed Fictions” by Kathleen Hall January 5 to 30, 2016, in The Romano Gallery IN THIS ISSUE: HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2016

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 04 02: Carly Leifken ‘16

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

03: Welcome to Blair

FACULTY PROFILE

08: Meet Jay Gnanadoss

ACADEMICS

10: Economics: A Valuable Course of Study

History of the Academy ARTS Learn about Blair Academy’s history, leadership and continued commitment 12: Calendar of the Arts to providing students with exceptional educational opportunities. 2015-2016

ATHLETICS

15: NYC Golf Workshop

16: New Varsity Football Coach

06 Blair @ a Glance 18 From Hilltop to Home Our monthly parent e-newsletter This overview will better is one way Blair partners acquaint you with our unique with parents in supporting learning community. students and offering guidance throughout the academic year.

21 Read Our Viewbook Our viewbook conveys the vibrancy of the Blair experience to prospective students and their families.

A STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

CARLY LEIFKEN ’16

Volume LXXV, No. 3 Holiday Special 2016 Staff ATTENTION: Send address changes to Blair Academy PUBLISHED: HEAD OF SCHOOL: Bulletin, P.O. Box 600, Blairstown, NJ 07825 January, March, Chris Fortunato June & October COMMUNICATIONS STAFF NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY Suzy Logan ’99, Editor-in-Chief & POLICY: PUBLICATION NUMBER: Director of Communications Blair Academy does not discriminate on USPS 057-760 the basis of sex, age, creed, race, color or Joanne Miceli, Senior Editor & Assistant national and ethnic origin in the adminis- Director of Communications PUBLISHER: tration of its education policies, admissions, Blair Academy Melissa Collins ’09, Photo Editor & scholarships, loans or other school-ad- Blairstown, New Jersey 07825 Communications Manager ministered programs. Each Blair student is Heather Sprague, Communications afforded the rights, privileges and social, As the Blair community celebrates Assistant academic and athletic opportunities that the start of a new year, this special are generally accorded or made available CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: issue of the Blair Bulletin looks back to students of the School. at fall 2015 and ahead to the many Melissa Collins ’09 exciting events planned for spring Suzy Logan ’99 DESIGN BY: Joanne Miceli 2016 semester. David O’Neill CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Douglas Benedict Melissa Collins ’09 Carly Leifken ’16

02 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

From the Head of School

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Blair Academy.

I invite you to explore our website and learn more about Blair’s dynamic and diverse community. Since I first stepped foot onto Blair’s spectacular hilltop campus, I have fallen in love with the School and everything that makes it truly exceptional. Blair offers a rich and challenging curriculum, world-class programs for athletes and artists of all abilities, and an array of meaningful leadership, travel and service opportunities. However, what truly distinguishes a Blair education are the special and caring relationships between faculty and students that come from our commitment to knowing our students. Those relationships form the cornerstones of our superior academic preparation and make the Blair experience so personally enriching. They set Blair apart as a leader in education and inspired my decision to join this extraordinary community.

Truly knowing our students offers them a unique and competitive advantage, not just in preparation for college, but for a lifetime of achievement. Together as a faculty and in partnership with students and parents, we take an individualized approach to teaching and learning. We invest in discovering and understanding our students’ talents, interests and personalities. We achieve this in part through a multi-tiered approach to academic advising, our commitment to engaging students every evening in their dorms and meeting throughout the year as an entire faculty to review every student’s progress and development. We are thus able to thoughtfully connect each of our students to the learning opportunities best suited to challenge and inspire them, develop their characters and stretch their abilities.

Even though my journey at Blair is just beginning, I have already experienced the warmth and authenticity of the Blair community and witnessed, in action, The Seven Principles That Define a Blair Education. I have seen these principles beautifully articulated in a graduating senior’s moving chapel talk about the importance of humility in becoming a true leader. I have seen them come vividly to life in the pictures and stories of our students’ public service initiatives from Delaware to Haiti to Kenya. Most impressively, I have already seen so many instances of how these values and ideals are woven deeply into the daily experience whether in the classroom, on athletic fields, on stage or in the dormitories.

At Blair, we create foundations of trust and connections that empower our students to step outside their comfort zones to achieve things they thought were not possible, while becoming confident with who they truly are. This is the Blair advantage. As an educator and a parent, I can think of no greater purpose or outcome. I enthusiastically invite you to visit Blair’s campus and meet the students and faculty who fill our community every day with a love of learning, integrity, friendship and the remarkable Blair spirit.

Warmest regards,

Christopher Fortunato Head of School

BLAIR BULLETIN 03 The History of Blair Academy

Blair Academy was founded in 1848 by three members character. During Mr. Fortunato’s tenure, the School has of the Blairstown community: John Insley Blair, wealthy introduced several forward-thinking leadership education merchant and railroad entrepreneur; the Reverend John and service initiatives, including The Blair Leadership A. Reilly, minister of The First Presbyterian Church; and Stories Project and global engagement program. Mr. John Bunnell, a local carriage maker. It was intended as a day school offering a classical education for the benefit Mr. Fortunato’s work has been built upon the solid of the people of Blairstown and the immediate vicinity. foundation established by the School’s leaders who preceded The Old Academy, which still stands on the hill on the him. John I. Blair was the School’s principal benefactor right after you pass through the front gates of campus, for a half-century, and his gifts of land and money made is the original School building and continues to be used the Academy’s growth possible, specifically through as a faculty residence. Within two years, students were the construction of Locke, East and Insley Halls. Mr. attracted to Blair from beyond Blairstown because of its Blair’s son, DeWitt Clinton Blair, more than duplicated high academic and personal standards, and a boarding his father’s generosity, financing the construction of house was established in what is now Insley Hall. Clinton Hall and the gymnasium, and providing funds for campus improvement and expansion. Other members Today, under the leadership of Chris Fortunato, JD, of the Blair family continued to support the School in MSW, our 16th Head of School, Blair continues to admit later years, but none remain connected to Blair today. students from across the United States and around the world, offering them a superior college preparatory education The original gifts of John I. Blair were made by deeds amid a rich, vibrant community life. Under Mr. Fortunato’s of trust providing for the control and management of leadership, Blair has continued to invest strategically in the School, and many of those deeds continue to govern relationship-based learning with the goal of empowering Blair’s operation. From its founding, Blair has always students to become persons of great accomplishment and been closely associated with the Presbyterian Church and,

04 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL HISTORY OF THE ACADEMICSACADEMY specifically, The Presbytery of Newton, which continues to James R. Kelley, former associate and dean of freshmen support the School with scholarship funds and other gifts. at Brown University, was elected the 14th Headmaster Blair Academy exists today as a “church-related” school, by the Board of Trustees in 1976. Enrollment grew a term which is intended to acknowledge its religious and the endowment increased six-fold during Mr. legacy at the same time that it disallows the kind of control Kelley’s 13 years as Headmaster. The physical plant to which parochial or diocesan schools are subject. also expanded with the addition of six new faculty residences, Marcial Field (1984) and Bogle Hall (1989). From its founding in 1848 until 1915, the School was co-educational. For reasons that remain lost in Thomas Chandler Hardwick III, Blair’s 15th Headmaster, history, the Board of Trustees voted to make the was appointed in 1989 after spending years at the Taft School entirely male in 1915. However, in 1970, Blair School as an English teacher, dean of the senior class and again returned to educating young women. director of the summer school. During Mr. Hardwick’s tenure, Blair’s endowment continued to grow and a campus During the first 50 years of the School’s existence, there master architectural plan was completed, leading to the were eight Headmasters. Since 1898, three Headmasters construction of Tracy Hall (1993), Armstrong-Hipkins have served a total of 70 years: John Sharpe, Headmaster Center for the Arts (1997), Annie Hall (1999), Hardwick from 1898 to 1927, acquired additional land for the campus Hall (2009) and Blair Commons (2009). The 1990s and and built West Hall, the old gymnasium and Sharpe House. 2000s also saw many renovations take place across campus: Charles Breed guided the School from 1927 until 1946 Memorial Hall became Timken Library (1998), the Romano and, in spite of the Great Depression and World War II, Dining Hall was remodeled (2000) and Insley Hall expanded strengthened the School’s reputation as one of the leading (2001). The School’s state-of-the-art athletic facilities opened independent boarding schools in the mid-Atlantic states. in 2009, followed by the pedestrian campus in 2010.

Since Mr. Fortunato joined the faculty in 2013, having spent his career in New England working with students at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Providence College and the Newton Community Service Center, facilities improvements at Blair have continued: In response to the School’s strategic plan, major upgrades were made to the campus’s main entrances, including the construction of a new maintenance facility near the golf course. Two new dormitories overlooking Blair Lake (Kathryn and Lakeside Halls) opened at the start of the 2015-2016 school year, following three years of design and construction.

In 2016, East and Davies Halls were demolished, and construction of the multidisciplinary Center for Innovation and Collaboration (CIC) commenced in During the 22-year tenure (1954-1976) of James M. their footprint. Upon completion at the start of the Howard, Mason and Freeman Halls were constructed; there 2017-2018 school year, this new academic building will were two major additions to the gymnasium (the basketball house Blair’s fine arts and technology departments and court in 1960 and Wallace Pool in 1974); new faculty homes serve as a community-wide learning hub, with highly were built; and the endowment increased in size. One of configurable spaces designed to inspire creativity, promote the most significant changes that came about under Mr. innovative thinking and foster collaborative learning.■ Howard’s leadership was the return to co-education in 1970.

BLAIR BULLETIN 05 BLAIR ACADEMY @ a glance 2015-2016

06 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL BLAIR Founded n ACADEMY @ a glance 2015-2016

BLAIR BULLETIN 07 FACULTYACADEMICS PROFILE

ENGINEER & EDUCATOR: MEET MATHEMATICS TEACHER JAY GNANADOSS

When Jay Gnanadoss joined Blair’s faculty in 2015, he brought a world of professional experience with him: Not only had he taught, coached, advised and dorm-parented students for 29 years at Woodberry Forest School, but he had begun his career as an engineer in India’s merchant marine, traveling the seven seas aboard a multi-purpose cargo ship. In his current roles as a mathematics teacher, dorm staff member in Lakeside Hall and advisor to Blair’s after-school maker space activity, Mr. Gnanadoss brings all of his experience to bear, and this, combined with his enjoyment of getting to know his students and colleagues— not to mention his love of “tinkering”—has made for a very positive year as he has settled into his new Blairstown home.

fascinated with finding out how things operated and always The Call of the Sea tried to fix whatever gadget or appliance happened to be Born and raised in India, Mr. Gnanadoss knew as he broken. Attending the Indian merchant marine academy for approached high school graduation that he wanted to combine college, then, was a fitting choice, and upon his graduation, he two things in his future career: his love of the sea and his became an engineer for an international shipping company. enjoyment of working with his hands. He had gained an appreciation for the world’s oceans at an early age as his father, an employee of India’s fisheries ministry, would often Ship to Shore take his family on fishing trawler excursions. Working with After three years of work aboard ship—and traveling to his hands came naturally—as a boy, Mr. Gnanadoss was exciting ports in Europe, Africa and the U.S.—Mr. Gnanadoss

08 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL FACULTYACADEMICS PROFILE

rotated to a shore-based position to study for higher-level engineering exams. At his parents’ suggestion, he decided ‘This Is It’ to return to school full-time, and he came to the U.S., where he earned a BTech in mechanical engineering at the As he visited Blair’s campus last spring and spoke to Rochester Institute of Technology and an MS in petroleum administrators, faculty and students, Mr. Gnanadoss felt engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. His plan for the an “overwhelming sense of yes”—if he was going to move, next stage of his career was to continue to travel and work in this would be the school. “I could tell that Blair was a a hands-on capacity as a petroleum engineer in the Middle student-centered, happy place, where the sense of family East—however, while studying at Pitt, he became a graduate and extended community was real,” he said. “The move has teaching assistant and discovered a love for teaching. worked out beautifully, and I am thankful to be here.”

“Life turned a bit here,” Mr. Gnanadoss remarked Since the start of the school year, Mr. Gnanadoss has served with a smile. He thought he’d teach for a while, then on the Lakeside Hall dorm staff and taught two sections each proceed with his engineering career in the Middle East. of pre-calculus and introduction to calculus honors. He loves It didn’t quite work out that way. What began as a two- his time in the classroom, where he has the opportunity to year contract to teach mathematics at the all-boys, plant ideas and see them blossom. “I really enjoy seeing kids college preparatory Woodberry Forest School in Virginia get excited about learning and the interaction and camaraderie became a fulfilling 29-year boarding school career— that develop in class,” he said. “There’s a great deal of give and Woodberry Forest became a part of his life. and take as kids get to know me and I get to know them.”

His role as after-school maker space advisor is also one that he is enjoying—no surprise there, given his lifelong Father, Teacher, penchant for working with his hands. “My role in the maker space is to support and guide students in their Coach & More individual projects,” he said. This includes helping freshman through senior “makers” flesh out design ideas (like how In his nearly three decades at Woodberry Forest, Mr. to create a piano-playing robot or build a model of a Gnanadoss enjoyed his many faculty roles: He taught pagoda), assisting them in learning design and 3D-printer computer science and all levels of mathematics, coached software, training them on safe usage of power tools and soccer and squash, directed the community service program much more. Although he misses his afternoons spent on and international forum, and served as a dorm master. He the soccer fields, his work in the maker space has been got married, and he and his wife raised their two sons at a “good experience” that has allowed him to share his Woodberry. “Woodberry was good for me and for our boys,” engineering skill and joy in creating with his students. Mr. Gnanadoss said. “Having moved often as a child, I liked being settled in a wonderful community as our boys grew up.” When he’s not teaching—or tinkering—Mr. Gnanadoss When his sons graduated and headed to college, likes to travel (the United Kingdom is a favorite destination), though, Mr. Gnanadoss began to consider a move to a read, take long walks and hikes, keep up with technology different school for a different educational experience. “I and spend time in the kitchen, cooking for friends. “I’m loved Woodberry—my colleagues and students were an enjoying the process of settling in at Blair,” he said. “It’s been important part of my life, but I knew if I was ever going positive, exciting and challenging all at the same time. I’m to move, this would be the time,” he reflected. He started looking forward to getting to know my colleagues, students to look—casually, at first—for a school that might offer and the Blair culture even better as the months roll out.” the community, collegiality and sense of purpose he had ■ found at Woodberry. And then he got the call from Blair.

BLAIR BULLETIN 09 ECONOMICS AT BLAIR: AN INVALUABLE COURSE OF STUDY ACADEMICS

Economics courses are perennially popular electives at This year, Mr. Moore’s AP classes are working with Blair; this year is no exception, with nearly 60 juniors and Grain Audio, a Pennsylvania audio technology company, seniors studying the subject at the honors and AP levels. to learn firsthand about the complexities of starting a History teacher Martin Miller, PhD, who has taught business. Students meet periodically with Grain’s CEO economics since he joined Blair’s faculty in 1980, attributes and head of engineering to delve into topics such as this high level of interest in part to students’ perception raising capital, production methods and marketing; that it will lead to a career in business or finance. However, during class discussions, Mr. Moore ties broader economic Dr. Miller observed that knowledge of market forces and concepts to the real-life challenges Grain is facing. how they influence world events is invaluable no matter what field of study or career Blair graduates pursue. A highlight of Mr. Facciani’s AP class is the development of marketing plans: Students work in groups to come up The School currently offers two full-year economics with a product or service, write a marketing plan and present electives: “Economics Honors: History and Theory” and AP it to their peers. The class votes for the one they believe microeconomics. Dr. Miller teaches the honors-level course, will be most successful—in recent years, plans for a “fast which he describes as an overview of the history of economic oven” that could bake bread in record time, a dormitory thought and its application to historic and current events. vending machine company and a taco truck that would Students learn about economic philosophy by studying the be parked in the nearby Dale’s Market parking lot and “great thinkers,” including Adam Smith, David Ricardo, moved to campus as needed have been the winners. Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes and critics of Keynes, then begin to view national and world events through an “economic lens.” The course culminates in a 12-page research “This course melds philosophy, politics paper on a student-generated topic of economic import. and economics and deeply complements students’ junior-year study of U.S. “We analyze the complexities and economic consequences history. It’s a good base for business of a wide range of issues, from the Treaty of Versailles or any field of social science.” and the Great Depression to current healthcare and - Martin Miller, PhD Federal Reserve policies,” Dr. Miller said “This course melds philosophy, politics and economics and deeply complements students’ junior-year study of U.S. history. Senior Trang Duong ’16 comes from a family with “a long It’s a good base for business or any field of social science.” tradition in economics,” and Mr. Facciani’s AP class is her first foray into the subject. She feels that the course, which Faculty members James Moore and David Facciani teach she describes as more lecture-based than other courses she has AP microeconomics, which, of course, is geared toward the taken at Blair, is preparing her well for academic experiences concepts covered on the spring AP exam. Opportunity cost, she’ll encounter in college, and noted that class discussions supply and demand, elasticity, cost curves, market structures, are “interesting and thoughtful with a variety of opinions.” game theory, factor markets, externalities and the role of government in the economy are all considered as students gain Mr. Facciani echoed Dr. Miller’s assessment of economics an understanding of the dynamics surrounding consumers’ courses at Blair as the foundation for future study. “Economics and producers’ decisions. While honors economics is not a is to business as biology is to medicine—it is the theory prerequisite for taking the AP course, seniors who have Dr. underlying a great deal of ‘real life’ material,” he said. “It’s Miller’s class under their belts not only have an understanding also a very interesting, practical way of looking at decision- of how to work the problems on the exam, but, according to making that many of our students appreciate. For years, Blair Mr. Moore, they have “an ingrained sense of what economic students have been told to ‘make good choices.’ The study of models can tell us about how people, firms and countries economics helps us analyze how to make good choices and choose to employ their resources of labor, land and capital.” how to weigh the pros and cons of decision possibilities.” ■

BLAIR BULLETIN 11 ARTS

Blair Calendar of the Arts for 2015-2016

theatre www.blair.edu/theatre

THE WIZARD OF OZ February 11, 12 & 13 at 7:30 p.m., DuBois Theatre, Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts by L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company, based upon the classical motion picture owned by Turner Entertainment Company and distributed in all media by Warner Brothers The Blair Academy Players take audiences “somewhere over the rainbow” in this stage adaptation of the beloved film. “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” as Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion take on the Wicked Witch of the West in their efforts to get back to Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. Click your ruby-red slippers together and repeat, “There’s no place like Blair; there’s no place like Blair...”

SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD May 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30 p.m., Wean Theatre, Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts by Ken Ludwig It’s 1934, and Shakespeare’s most famous fairies, Oberon and Puck, have magically materialized on the Warner Bros. Hollywood set of Max Reinhardt’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Instantly smitten by the glitz and glamour of show biz, the two are ushered onto the silver screen to play (who else?) themselves. With a little help from a feisty flower, blonde bombshells, movie moguls and arrogant “asses,” they are tossed into loopy love triangles, with raucous results. The mischievous magic of moviedom sparkles in this hilarious farce.

RED NOSES May 19, 20 & 21 at 7:30 p.m., Robert J. Evans Open Air Theatre by Peter Barnes This comedy about the plague is set during a tragic period in European history: the mid-1300s, at a time when the Black Death was rampant. Hearing a message from God is humble Father Flote, a Frenchman who believes that he and his touring band of red-nosed comics offer redemption through laughter. Among Flote’s eccentric band are a feared mercenary, a nun aspiring to be fallen, a mute who speaks through bells, a stuttering comic and a blind juggler.

12 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL ARTS

The Romano Gallery background art by Paul Deery www.blair.edu/romano-gallery

OBSERVED FICTIONS January 5 to 30; reception on January 7

Kathleen Hall’s paintings are situated between still life and landscape, the observed and the imagined. She works from setups constructed from found materials that she transforms into diorama-like worlds. The most recent work Kathleen Hall in this exhibition explores patterns and spatial devices inspired by miniatures and illuminated manuscripts.

ANNUAL BLAIR FACULTY ART SHOW February 2 to March 2; reception on February 4

At this annual exhibit, Blair faculty members will showcase their talents in a range of mediums. For detailed information about what will be shown, visit www.blair.edu/romano-gallery in early 2016.

SURFACE TENSION March 22 to April 23; reception on April 14

Julie Jankowski’s paintings, drawings and digital images are threaded with environmental queries and socio-political quandaries around literal points on the map, as a conceptual basis for exploring the world from vast distances. She references images from satellite photography and analytical data maps to illustrate the relationships between the engineered and natural worlds. Julie Jankowski Jankowski Julie

ANNUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION April 28 to May 24; reception on April 28

Displaying student work of all different mediums, this show celebrates the accomplishments, hard work and dedication of Blair’s talented fine artists.

BLAIR BULLETIN 13 ARTS

Blair Calendar of the Arts

music www.blair.edu/vocal-music & www.blair.edu/instrumental-music

SPRING CONCERT (vocal & instrumental musicians) April 28, 7:30 p.m., DuBois Theatre

THE ARTS @ a glance

WINTER 2015-2016 SPRING 2016

OBSERVED FICTIONS SURFACE TENSION January 5 to 30 March 22 to April 23

ANNUAL BLAIR FACULTY ART SHOW SPRING CONCERT February 2 to March 2 April 28, 7:30 p.m.

THE WIZARD OF OZ ANNUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION February 11, 12 & 13, 7:30 p.m. April 28 to May 24

ANNUAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL May 5, 7 p.m.

SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD May 12, 13 & 14, 7:30 p.m.

RED NOSES May 19, 20 & 21, 7:30 p.m.

VISIT WWW.BLAIR.EDU This calendar is subject to change; please check Blair’s website for the most up-to-date information available or call (908) 362-6121. The DuBois Theatre, Wean Theatre and Romano Gallery are housed within Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts on Blair Academy’s campus at 2 Park Street, Blairstown, New Jersey.

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14 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL ATHLETICS

Blair Golf Coach Connects with Prospective Families at NYC Workshop

Blair history teacher and boys’ golf coach Andrew Sykes traveled to Mosholu Park in the Bronx to participate in The First Tee of Metropolitan New York’s now annual Independent School Workshop. Founded in 2001, the First Tee program is designed to teach teenagers valuable life lessons and leadership skills through the game of golf.

As was the case last year, Coach Sykes spoke to several dozen families about not only Blair, but also about boarding schools as a whole. He was once again joined by Fred McIntosh, director of admission at Prep for Prep, an organization that connects students to exceptional educational opportunities.

“My job there was in part to sell Blair as a school, but also to demystify the entire independent and boarding school world to families who have “My job there was in part to sell Blair as never been exposed to it, but could potentially a school, but also to demystify the entire benefit greatly from the opportunities schools like independent and boarding school world to Blair have to offer,” explained Coach Sykes. families who have never been exposed to it, but could potentially benefit greatly from the In addition to talking about those opportunities, opportunities schools like Blair have to offer,” Coach Sykes walked the group through the admission - Blair history teacher and process and timeline for applying. “Some of the boys’ golf coach Andrew Sykes families have much younger kids, so for them, it is about planting a seed early,” he said. “At the same time, it has been great to see two families whom I first met at this event last year coming through the Blair admission office for the 2016-2017 cycle.”■

BLAIR BULLETIN 15 NEW VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH TO LEAD BUCS IN 2016-2017 ATHLETICS

Blair Academy will kick off the 2016-2017 football Noting that Blair football has a “storied history,” Coach season with a familiar face leading the varsity program: Saylor plans to honor the School’s gridiron traditions while Longtime assistant coach Jim Saylor has been named building a positive future for athletes, coaches and families. head football coach, succeeding Jim Stone, who will “Coach Stone has been a mentor and friend for the past leave Blair in May to become Director of Athletics eight years,” he said. “I am truly going to be saddened the at the Canterbury School in Connecticut. first time I step on the field without him, but will honor all past Blair coaches by following in their footsteps.” Over the last 25 years, Mr. Saylor has worked with middle- and high-school athletes on football fields across the United That Coach Saylor’s coaching philosophy centers on States, including at Fullerton High School in California, relationship building and care for individual players aligns at Pleasant Valley High School and Middle School in with Blair’s overarching mission: to provide students with Pennsylvania, and at Blair, where he has coached the offensive exceptional learning opportunities made more meaningful and defensive line since 2007 and track and field since 2008. by close relationships with faculty members and classmates.

“I have relished the opportunity of serving as a “I am very proud and excited to have Jim Saylor assume positive role model and mentor to Blair athletes,” said the mantle of Blair football program leadership,” said Head of Coach Saylor, who has worked at the State of New Jersey School Chris Fortunato. “He brings to this role a dedication Juvenile Justice Commission since 1993. “I am excited to exceptional care for students, well over a decade of coaching to continue helping Blair students grow into great men. expertise and achievement, and a long-standing love of and Wins and losses are quickly forgotten, but the bonds devotion to Blair and football. In Jim, we have a leader who among coaches and players last forever—and I am most will continue our program’s proud legacy, keeping character looking forward to creating those meaningful ties.” development, safety, personal growth, friendship and opportunities for the future at the heart of Blair football.”

For prospective families considering Blair, Coach Saylor “He brings to this role a dedication sums it up by saying: “You will not find a better place for to exceptional care for students, well student athletes than Blair. Nor will you find a football over a decade of coaching expertise program with a coach who cares more about his players. and achievement, and a long-standing Blair Academy is a great community where students grow love of and devotion to Blair and academically and athletically, and I look forward to helping football. In Jim, we have a leader our players become their best selves on and off the football who will continue our program’s field as head coach of the varsity program next year.” proud legacy, keeping character development, safety, personal growth, Taking over the varsity football program will friendship and opportunities for the deepen Coach Saylor’s ties to Blair, which date back future at the heart of Blair football.” to the 1940s when his grandfather, Howard ’42, and - Chris Forunato, Head of School grand-uncle Horace ’41 attended the School. His children, Tyler ’14 and Devyn ’16, have continued that tradition, something of which he is very proud. ■

BLAIR BULLETIN 17 Around THE ARCH

BLAIR ACADEMY From Hilltop to Home A monthly guide for parents of boarding school students December edition

This e-newsletter is sent to all Blair parents by Associate Head of School Ryan Pagotto. The goal of the monthly communication is to keep parents abreast of what’s happening in the Blair community and, hopefully, set their minds at ease during times of the year that can be challenging. These samples will give you an idea of the letters’ content and tone.

Dear Parents, stressful period in part because things are so compressed, we do try to punctuate It’s good to be back. Students returned from Thanksgiving break well-rested these two busy weeks with fun and spirited events like Dunkin Donuts and tree and ready to dive into a short two weeks before heading off again for the next decorating in the Head of School’s office, the annual Insley Hall caroling and vacation. tree decorating event, the “ugly-holiday-sweater” contest on Tuesday at family- style dinner and individual dorm bonding events. I am especially pleased to As you can imagine, this period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is share with you that one of our dorms—Mason Hall—has adopted a local family among the more intense academic periods of the school year. While we moved that is dealing with significant hardship and pain this holiday season. Other away from exams many years ago, teachers are assigning end-of-semester papers, dorms may follow suit with community service initiatives of their own, as has assessments and other project work. News is beginning to come from colleges been the case in past years. regarding early decision applications, so it is a generally high-stress time for all. After our students depart next weekend, faculty will work on final grades, I do not wish to undermine the stress any of our students feel, but as you well comments and advisor-letter writing, as well as dedicate two days to full faculty know as parents, stress is an inevitable part of life. What most of our students meetings, during which we will review every student. The need for focused don’t yet understand is that stress can be a useful tool if used properly and faculty time explains what may seem like an early departure for our students. controlled. Stress has served humans well since the beginning of time. It is stress They will return on the evening of Monday, January 4, rather than on the usual that gives us energy to deal with a threat placed in front of us, and it is stress that Sunday, to allow for a faculty in-service on Monday and due to the fact that heightens our awareness and makes our vision crisper in the face of challenges. A flights for students should be less costly on a Monday than on a Sunday. We like commonly accepted definition of stress, developed by Richard S. Lazarus, is that to help in this regard when we can. Please know, however, that we will have the it occurs when someone thinks that the demands on them “exceed the personal same number of class days as in previous years. and social resources that the individual is able to mobilize.” In becoming stressed, people must make two main judgments: First, they must feel threatened by the As the first half of the year comes to a close, I am overjoyed with the progress situation. Second, they must judge whether their capabilities and resources are our students have made since their early days at Blair. For many of our students, sufficient to meet the threat. How stressed someone feels depends on how much boarding school continues to be an adjustment, and many of our students have damage they think the situation can cause them, and how well their resources faced—or are presently facing—personal or familial challenges outside of Blair meet the demands of the situation. Perception is key to this, as situations are not that impact their lives at School. If we are not aware of an issue that might be stressful in their own right. Rather, it’s our interpretation of the situation that impacting your child’s experience here (e.g., a loss in the family, a job change, drives the level of stress we feel. If our students can learn that stress is in the eyes etc.), please do let us know. There will always be struggles, and we will always of the beholder, so to speak, they will have a better chance of sustaining their grapple with the challenges that teenagers face. However, it is through this self-confidence and thus managing the situation more effectively. struggle that relationships between adults and students, as well as students and students, tend to grow. As those relationships flourish, we are able to realize the We see an improvement in stress management over the course of a student’s full potential of our mission and the full potential of an individual student. time at School, and you can rest assured that we are helping students develop coping mechanisms in our roles as advisors, house parents, classroom teachers Best wishes for a joyful and restful holiday season! and coaches. You will receive a more complete picture of your child’s life at Blair over the holiday vacation by way of the first-semester grade report, the full comments from teachers and, of course, the advisor letter. While this is a

November edition

Dear Parents, coaches and the Senior Class Council; now, everyone gets a chance to catch their It always feels good to be on the other side of Peddie Day. The week leading breath and look ahead to the very short period before Thanksgiving followed by up to the big day, with all of its silliness and spirit, creates bonds of friendship only two weeks before the community departs for December vacation. throughout the student body like nothing else. Everyone is focused on a common While we did not bring the Kelley-Potter Cup home this year, there were a number of highlights during the festive week—and the day itself—including a cause—beating Peddie—and, through that cause, relationships and memories are born and solidified. It’s also an exhausting week, particularly for the faculty, terrific “mash up” by a cappella, superbly entertaining videos produced by our

18 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL Around THE ARCH

Senior Class Council, a great rendition of the Buccaneer battle cry, Pirates of the participation in the program. They may not go on to compete in the varsity line up, Caribbean, by the Blair Orchestra, breakout performances by a number of Mrs. but if your child is looking for an invigorating team experience that will get him Micki McMillan’s theatre students, outstanding overtime victories by varsity and into tip-top shape and build no small measure of self-discipline, wrestling is a great JV field hockey, the Big 3 trophy win by football and countless PRs by our cross choice. If your child seems unsure of which option to choose, please encourage him country runners. If you also heard about a brief (thank goodness!) display of hip- or her to seek the counsel of his or her advisor, housemaster, prefect or a member hop dancing by Mr. Pagotto, the rumor is true, and I can only hope that you merely of the dorm staff. heard about it and did not actually see the video evidence. Fortunately for me, We will soon ask students to stop by the student life office to inform us of their dancing is not usually part of Peddie Week, but what is an annual occurrence is transportation needs for the Thanksgiving holiday. They will need to complete the number of students who find a way to step outside of their comfort zones and, a vacation form for their housemaster as well, which includes all transportation December edition in some small way, make their mark in this community or connect with someone details. new. I hope you will hear more about the exciting week from your child over the Thanksgiving holiday. For those of you who will welcome your child home for the holiday, I offer a few thoughts to keep in mind: Your child has changed and grown a great deal As you know, two weeks ago, we used a Chapel slot to welcome Cindy over the course of the last few months. With these changes and the social pressures Pierce, a speaker who addressed the School community on the topics of healthy on students today, it should not come as a surprise that they find managing their relationships and sexual assault. She was almost universally well-received by our lives difficult from time to time. It is common for many teenagers to worry about students and faculty. Much of her success had to do with how attuned she was to their social status, their relevance, the absence of a passion, the presence of too the lives, thoughts and actions of teenagers, as well as her ability to add humor to a many passions and a host of other things. When you engage them in comfortable, subject few adolescents want to talk about with adults present. Besides the standard non-judgmental conversation, the things that are occupying their thoughts tend messages you would expect of a sex education professional, Cindy effectively helped to naturally come out. Your reaction to your child’s openness will impact your our students think about the notion of social courage, the importance of bystander future success in open dialogue with him or her. Your child may have faced difficult intervention as it relates to sexual assault, the critical element of consent and the choices over the course of the year thus far and the knowledge that you are a trusted pitfalls of inappropriate language. Our students de-briefed with faculty leaders in confidant should help offer the stability he or she seeks. This stability at home often small discussion groups separated by age and gender immediately following Cindy’s helps students navigate the choices they are faced with at School and even makes talk and, since then, the dialogue has continued in less formal ways through advisor them more comfortable extending themselves in ways they would never consider if conversations and discussions in the dormitories. There will rarely be a speaker or the strong foundation at home were absent. form of educational programming that is 100-percent effective, but Cindy came as close to that as any speaker we have invited to campus. Please feel free to engage your I hope you have found these updates, thoughts and occasional suggestions child in conversation on this topic, but don’t be surprised if they rush to change the helpful. Thank you once again for a wonderful start to the year, and my best wishes subject. You and I probably did when we were teenagers! to you for an enjoyable and restful Thanksgiving holiday. As we move into the winter term, your child must choose his or her sport or Sincerely, activity for the season. Many good options are offered, including the winter musical, winter track, swimming, basketball, squash and wrestling. Yes, I did say wrestling, and I am aware that our program has been ranked number one in the nation for the last 30 years or so. I mention it because many students have been well-served by their

October edition

Dear Parents, We are now into the second month of school with two community weekends During the next couple of weeks, students typically find that they are into and the “long” weekend under our belts, and it’s hard to believe we are approaching their routine and fully acclimated to their new life at Blair. But, as good as it may the mid-semester mark. Fall athletic teams have experienced a host of wins feel to be in a routine, two particular questions seem to matter most to many and losses (field hockey and boys’ soccer being the exceptions with undefeated adolescents—and occupy much of their thoughts: Do I fit in? and Who are my seasons!), actors are well into the process of learning their lines for the fall play, friends? We often see a resurgence of homesickness, some roommate issues and Ring Round the Moon, and every student now has an advisor! friend-group drama when anxiety is heightened due to mid-semester grades and simply the fact that the excitement and newness of the community has dissipated Some of you may have gotten wind over the last few weeks about the advisor- just a bit. Separation anxiety from parents, siblings or a family pet is frequently felt seeking process. You may have heard from your child that he or she has been by students in every grade and stress about the college application process is all too turned down several times by a faculty member. Alas, this is the imperfection common for seniors in October. In addition, anxiety about navigating the social in an otherwise strong advisor program: When you allow students to choose, waters of teenage life or the challenge of communicating in a second language they do not always get their first, second or even third choice! Nevertheless, we can be exhausting, which compounds feelings of homesickness and may cause continue to believe that allowing students to choose ultimately leads to a deeper smaller issues to rise to the surface. When we are aware of the issues, we work with November edition relationship with their advisor. Moreover, our students appreciate the opportunity students to help resolve them. We ensure that housemasters, advisors and prefects to take ownership of this important decision, and seniors annually urge “don’t (depending on the issue) are in the loop, and, if necessary, we refer students on to change the advisor program!” in their Senior Exit Interviews at the end of their our school counselor, who is an invaluable resource for students regardless of the Blair experience. While your child may not have gotten his or her first choice this adjustment issue. If you feel your child may be going through something of which time around, he or she will have the opportunity to choose again each year. That we are not aware, please let us know. said, I’m sure you will encourage your child to invest in this new relationship. In many cases, students discover that the person they’ve chosen emerges as the This is also a time when you should expect some negativity in your perfect advisor, and the relationship lasts for the duration of their Blair careers. conversations, and I would urge you to prepare yourself for a good deal of venting.

BLAIR BULLETIN 19 Around THE ARCH

October edition

Please remember to keep things in context for your child and remind him or her which new students fully realize that Blair is not summer camp; it is fun, but there of the good reasons he or she came to Blair in the first place and the opportunities are consequences for not doing one’s work to the best of one’s ability. Remain and experiences that lie ahead. All of our students came here for different reasons, positive in your debrief of grades with your child, and let him or her know that but the individuals who get the most out of Blair are the ones who get involved. setbacks are natural and normal. Encourage your child to keep trying hard and Urge your child to get out and support his or her peers in games on Wednesdays striving to do better. Most students understand the rules and regulations which and Saturdays, to sit next to a different person at family-style dinner and ask govern their life at Blair, but the larger question many are grappling with is how questions, to get out of his or her room and take part in whatever is happening on much work to put into their academics in order to see the improvement expected Saturday evening (and let me assure you that there is always a lot going on, despite of them. Rest assured we will be working with students in need of guidance, and what they might report!). Know that we will be singing the same chorus to them in most cases, we see improvement by semester’s close. and acting on our words as well. Please let us know how we can help, and be sure We look forward to seeing you in just a few short weeks on Parents’ Weekend; to make your child’s housemaster aware of any issues you think your child needs if you are able to attend, the program is a wonderful opportunity to see your child help with or if he or she simply needs a pat on the back. in action here at Blair. Parents’ Weekend will be immediately followed by the lead- You will receive grades along with a report from the academic monitor up to Peddie Day, which always promises to be a fun-filled, joyful, community- summarizing your child’s performance just before Parents’ Weekend on October spirited week, particularly if it culminates with our winning the Cup! 30 and 31. We call these grades “advisory grades” since they do not appear on a transcript and are in no way permanent. The mid-semester mark is a checkpoint Sincerely, for students that encourages more effort and better study habits—or validation that hard work is paying off, whichever the case may be. It is often the point at

September edition

Dear Parents, the resources on campus (advisor, housemaster, monitor, etc.) when he or she I trust this note finds you well. I am writing to you at the conclusion of our is having difficulty with something. By doing this, your student develops his first week of classes with the hope that you are getting mostly positive feedback or her skills in self-advocacy, begins to build relationships with adults in this from your child about his or her entry (or re-entry) into the Blair community. Of community and gains the self-esteem that comes from successfully navigating course, this presumes your child is actually communicating with you, which I one’s challenges. I speak from experience when I say that it is not easy for many know for many of you is not a given. parents to resist trying to solve their child’s problems or dispense advice and assume the role of listener. Let me assure you that it is in their best interest. Week 1 is undoubtedly an exhausting week for students regardless of their And you need not extricate yourself from this process by any stretch of the age or experience in boarding school. The feeling for them is akin to what you imagination; we look to you as partners in the cause of educating your child might experience on one of those bus tours during which a guide is pointing out during such pivotal years and hope you will communicate with us whenever you a variety of sights as you breeze by trying to make sense of it all. The sights are feel it would be helpful to do so. We will do the same. wonderful and exciting, but you can’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed. Which brings me to the purpose of this guide. My goal is to keep you abreast Our students have been drinking out of the proverbial fire hose since their of what’s happening in our busy and vibrant community and, hopefully, set your arrival last weekend. They have experienced two days of orientation followed by mind at ease during times of the year that can be challenging. We often learn from Convocation, absorbed life with a roommate or life with a long commute for parents that they do not hear from their child with as much frequency as they many of our day students, endured a series of “firsts” including first day of classes, desire, and while hearing from me is no replacement, it might fill the void just first School Meeting, first Chapel and first family-style dinner, and, oh, decided a bit. Boarding school, in my opinion, is a wonderful educational environment on a sport/activity to commit themselves to nearly every afternoon for the next 10 for adolescents. It is also wonderfully volatile and can offer a roller coaster of weeks. All of this is exciting, energizing and ultimately serves students well, but it emotions for parents and children. If my words can alleviate those emotions in is a lot. In the first week, particularly for new students, we’re focused on getting some small measure, it will have been worth my time. This monthly newsletter is them into the routine and getting used to the structure that has now become designed primarily for new boarding school parents. Veteran parents and parents part of their lives. For younger students, the prefects and older students are some of day students will hopefully find it illuminating and helpful, but the target of the best role models and mentors for adjustment to life at a new school. The audience, if you will, is parents for whom boarding school is uncharted territory. first week should be about the small victories: for example, finding all of one’s classes and then getting to those classes (and everywhere else) on time. While My aim is to write once a month throughout the school year, and I invite you few teachers or parents would advocate for “following the crowd,” this is a time to contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions related to my letters. when if you follow the crowd, you’re probably going to end up in the right place. I also invite you to reach out to me at any time on topics related to School or to your child. Thank you for sharing your son or daughter with us. We fully realize If you are a new Blair parent, you will soon discover that there is a rhythm the magnitude of trust you have placed in us and are most grateful. to school life punctuated by particularly stressful times and periods of reprieve. Your role, we hope, will be that of listener, validator and re-director. Listen to Yours in the Cause! their frustrations and comfort them, then help them understand they are in a process of transition, which can be difficult and uncomfortable at times. On the re-director piece, it is our hope that you will often re-direct your child to one of

20 HOLIDAY 2016 SPECIAL October edition

September edition

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