First Word by D. Scott Wiggins, head of school A View from the Top A “summit view” is far different from a “climbing view”. That morning assembly, with its visible illustrations, spoke Instead of watching each careful step, the eyes are raised to directly to themes I’ve outlined for the Lawrence community the horizon. The view is broad, exhilarating, and empowering. this year: Our students are our first priority. Pride and There comes an awareness of confidence, strength, and respect guide our actions. Communication brings ability. It is definitely worth the climb! understanding. Those were some of my thoughts as I stood on Monadnock’s The following are just a sampling of the myriad ways in summit in early September, taking in the vast, cloudless vista which these three themes are being expressed around campus. before me. I recalled the story of some early LA students who hired a horse and buggy and headed out to climb Mt. Putting Students First Wachusett. That was in the 1870s, and it was no doubt a The obvious purpose of a school is the well-being and simple lark for them that day. But thus began a hallowed progress of its students. Every day, in any number of ways, tradition for Lawrence Academy – launching the school year Lawrence shows its dedication to this purpose. The midterm by climbing to a View. The horse and buggy have faded into meetings are a good example. These are held among small history, and the destination later became Mt. Monadnock; groups of teachers, coaches, and dorm parents when a but the symbolism of the mountain top remains. The climb student is struggling academically. The group examines ways to a vast, exhilarating view gives Mountain Day its powerful to be supportive and to lead to more success in the classroom. significance for every member of the Lawrence Academy family. Another innovative example of this is the process we are Just before our 400 students, faculty, and staff boarded the developing for enabling faculty to use students’ actual busses for this year’s Mountain Day, Dr. Michael Fowlin, academic products (not just their GPA) as a means of an actor and psychologist, had held us transfixed for an hour evaluating both curriculum and pedagogy. as he deftly acted out a number of scenarios. These proved We are also aiming to insure that the everyday needs of to be vivid experiences to which virtually everyone in our students are being met in many small ways. The library group could relate in some way – experiences involving atmosphere is quiet and supportive of serious, contemplative intolerance, bigotry, exclusivity. The message was as study. Faculty members connect with students during dramatic, broad, and clear as the view I was now taking advisory each morning to learn if there are issues that in from the top of the mountain: teachers or coaches need to be aware of. Even the dining “Don’t do what’s expected,” was the theme, “Do what’s hall is being well-stocked throughout the day with needed. Take care of each other. Don’t underestimate the healthy snacks! power of a smile.” ACADEMY JOURNAL / FALL 2010 1 First Word, continued Pride and Respect Additionally, we now have an Online Daily Schedule, which allows for nearly real-time adjustments to the academic Fostering a sense of pride and respect within any community schedule, ensuring that classes meet as many times as possible is crucial to a happy and productive atmosphere. These during each trimester. This new system of communicating qualities play an important role on our campus. Cum Laude the schedule through the use of technology has resulted in the students, for example, designed a new Academic Awards addition of the equivalent of a week of classes to the trimester. assembly this year. It now features a series of lunches in MacNeil lounge, held close in time to the assembly, for Speaking of communicating electronically, Lawrence sends a Honors and High Honors students, hosted by Cum Laude weekly email to all parents, informing them of upcoming students. At the assembly, faculty and students have an events and activities. As part of each E-Notification, there opportunity to make speeches regarding their thoughts are links back to various pages of our website to help about academic excellence. parents access information they may need and to keep them informed about campus activities. Our student proctors and peer counselors provide other shining examples of pride and leadership. At the beginning It is clear that our three main themes are already gaining of each academic year, student proctors work extremely hard traction in all areas of campus life. to establish an atmosphere of respect and pride in each of our ten dorms. Each proctor designs bulletin boards that The Summit View creatively address this issue. They encourage their peers to Over the course of time, every community has its share of take ownership of their living space and the school grounds. exhilarating ‘mountain-top’ moments as well as demanding The opportunity for our students to act as mentors and to ‘valley moments.’ Both underscore the importance of a learn from one another is powerful and effective. strong community with shared values and expectations. I In early September, our peer counselors and proctors play a look at each year as a new opportunity to build upon and key role in our annual trip to Windsor Mountain Camp in strengthen the successes and virtues of our LA community. New Hampshire. This two-day orientation experience allows Standing on the summit of Mt. Monadnock this fall, I our new students to get acquainted with each other and to watched as hundreds of our students triumphantly ascended gain a sense of belonging to LA prior to the beginning of the last few yards of steep rock to join me. Along the way, classes. The caliber of the leadership provided by our student groups of hikers had formed, not based necessarily on leaders and the selfless efforts they put forth for the benefit pre-established friendships, but on a compatible climbing of the newest members of our community is impressive pace. Here was more symbolism for an educator – learning and inspiring. proceeding at an appropriate pace, in company with others, with encouragement and incentive to surmount difficulties. Communication The challenging two-mile rocky trail allowed for the Effective communication is the lifeblood of a school discovery of common interests, an appreciation of talents, community. Ongoing questions about what constitutes and an acceptance of differences. As the groups climbed, good, effectual communication drives the agenda of regular the mountain terrain brought about new victories, new faculty meetings each Tuesday morning and twice a month friendships, new views of the dynamic community that is on Tuesday nights. These regular meetings allow us to stay Lawrence Academy. connected as a group and to address any academic or We are indeed starting the year with a “summit view!” quality-of-life issues. They allow us to be informed, to ask questions, and to find solutions. My personal project is to visit every classroom, to experience, first hand, our talented faculty at work. We have a broad, deep pool of innovative talent among our faculty members. They are committed to the highest standards of excellence. Kellie Scholefield ’11, I look forward to witnessing the magic they work in our Scott Wiggins, and students’ lives! Lucie Levine ’11 atop Mt. Monadnock The implementation of the new Directors’ Group is another example of how we are better communicating as a faculty and staff. The Directors’ Group meets weekly to discuss scheduling and special events that impact every student. The upcoming week’s events are then published electronically for both students and faculty. ACADEMY JOURNAL / FALL 2010 2 Making Connections with Asia by Robinson C. Moore, assistant head of school That year, there were no mainland Chinese students at LA. In the spring of 2010, Assistant Head of School Rob In fact, no students from mainland China had enrolled at Moore and Head of School Scott Wiggins made a Lawrence Academy since 10 had arrived as part of an long-overdue trip to China with several objectives in indemnity program in 1909 following the Boxer Rebellion mind: to meet with the parents of current students, to (see “The Year of the Rooster,” by Paul Husted ’64 on reconnect with alumni, to reach out to new families page 17). This year, however, we have six students from interested in attending Lawrence Academy, and to mainland China, and we receive hundreds of applications meet with several important donors. from that country each year. The ambitious 12-day trip was a success on all fronts Because the school had still not made a trip to China to and along the way Rob Moore kept a detailed travel meet with families, Head of School Scott Wiggins and log. The following are excerpts from his daily notes. I boarded a flight bound for Beijing on March 2, 2010. To read the entirety of Mr. Moore’s observations and I was aware of the importance of this first expedition of musings, visit: www.lacademy.edu/chinatrip. outreach to the mainland. We had ahead of us 18 hours on a plane, followed by 12 busy days visiting LA parents, alumni, and parents of alumni in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, In 2000, our graduation speaker was William C. Bartholomay, and Hong Kong. the grandfather of graduating senior Bryan Duffy ’00, his sister Taylor Duffy ’01, and brother Trey Duffy ’04. In his I also had a personal interest in this trip. I have always speech, Mr.