With a gorgeous late fall day on November 11, Williston’s Admission Office hosted the annual Open House to a capacity crowd of visitors. Aside from an occasional log jam as one tour bumped up against another, visitors to the school were given the same uninhibited access that so distinguishes our admissions process. From panels devoted to our unique Ninth Grade Program to a presentation by the College Counseling Office on the work they do to shepherd students through the intricacies of that rite of passage, Williston faculty members opened themselves up to our guests.

There was a definite buzz in the air as parents and their children learned about the exciting opportunities available through the Williston+ Program and our associations with the Five Colleges. If the upbeat conversations between teachers and visitors are an indication of the days’ success, then I hope we will see many of these faces on campus again next fall!

Storytelling often gets lost in education, said Greg Mortenson, whose compelling presence held over five hundred listeners spellbound at Williston yesterday. Demonstrating the importance of stories in his own life and in the work he does around the world, Mortenson offered a snapshot of his life through slides and memorable vignettes of those whose lives he has touched and who in turn have touched him.

The climber turned humanitarian and bestselling author of Three Cups of Tea spent time with Williston students before and after his lecture, moving comfortably among tables of students from both the Middle and Upper Schools during lunch. Our students could not help but be affected by his message of spreading world peace through education, one child at a time.

Following the presentation, Williston students worked throughout the community doing service projects ranging from helping at local church thrift shop to making toys for a childrens’ hospital. Greg Mortenson’s presence was a powerful and moving testament to the effect an individual can have on a global stage, begging the question: Which of our students will achieve similar success?

Those parents able to attend Williston’s Fall Family Weekend were not only treated to the marvelous work of our theater program—they also witnessed the return of the Francis-Kinne Cup to Williston as our teams bested Suffield Academy by a margin of 9 wins to 5 losses. As I watched the varsity football game with my Suffield counterpart, Charlie Cahn, I quipped that it was a nice way for me, as a new head of school, to be introduced to the good-natured rivalry that our two schools share in this annual event (for those who do not know, our two schools meet head-to-head in every sports contest during Fall Family Weekend, and the school with the greatest number of wins claims the cup).

But the highlight of the weekend for parents as well as faculty were the individual teacher meetings that hearken back to an earlier time in schools. Not only do parents have the chance to sit in with their children on any class in their child’s schedule, but Williston students sign up in advance of the weekend so that their parents have dedicated time with each teacher with whom they may wish to connect. If building communities in an age of social media and networking depends upon face-to-face interactions, then our Fall Family Weekend serves a pivotal function. Despite the fast pace and full schedule of the weekend, teachers enjoy hearing directly from parents about their children’s backgrounds and aspirations; our college counselors meet with the parents of seniors; and advisors complete the cycle by visiting with the parents of their advisees. How does this all happen? Well, to acknowledge the dedicated faculty with whom I work, I witnessed more than one conversation taking place on the sidelines of a game, or late into the afternoon, or even after dinner. Clearly, the value of building connections and relationships is alive and well at Williston.

When Trustee Warner Babcock ‘70 and his wife Trisha hosted a Williston Northampton gathering at the Greenwich Country Club on October 20, area parents and alumni representing Northampton School for Girls, Williston Academy, and The Williston Northampton School converged for a delightful reception. Current parents, whose children have been keeping them up-to-date on school happenings, and alumni and past parents eager to catch up on the many exciting things afoot found much in common to talk about.

As head of school attending my first such event, I was thrilled by the energy in the room, both for the place fondly remembered and the school as it stands now. More than that, I was struck by the powerful and positive memories that were shared of teachers and their transformative influence, and of friendships that have stood the test of time. I was more than happy to answer questions posed about future plans and current initiatives, and I am confident that those in attendance are a barometer of the good feelings and ongoing support for Williston that exist at large. Thanks again to the Babcocks for being such gracious hosts.

Attending my first Williston theater production with my family on the second night of the run made for a memorable evening. Williston has long enjoyed a reputation for having one of the very best drama programs among its peer schools, and seeing what our students achieved in The Importance of Being Earnest affirmed everything that has been said about this storied program. From the various technical elements and behind the scenes work to our students’ acting ability that was on full display, the performance was first-rate!

Having seen any number of high school plays (and, for that matter, professional productions) over the years, I have a fairly solid context upon which to base comparisons, and what I saw our students and faculty accomplish together was simply outstanding. On a micro level, the arts are alive and well at Williston. On a macro level, working in theater represents precisely the kind of collaborative learning that will best serve our students as they progress in their educational journey and enter the 21st century workforce.