Dear Blair family,
The spring is always among the busiest seasons at Blair, as well as an incredibly special time for our students to get outside and enjoy all that our beautiful campus has to offer—from cheering on our athletic teams and spending time together on Hardwick lawn to exploring the Siegel Property or hanging out on dorm patios and porches, it is wonderful to see our community in action and engaged with one another as we begin to look toward the end of the school year.
The spring semester is punctuated by quintessential traditions such as our sophomore and senior speech contests, Day of Service, Gratitude Chapel, Blairstock and the BALSU block party, just to name a few. Our community also continues to learn about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month through a series of student-led sessions. It has been terrific to see students crafting robust programs and sharing information on Asian history, cultures and lived experiences with our community.
Last month, our college office celebrated with our seniors as they reached the May 1 decision deadline; additionally, in late April, we welcomed to campus admission deans from Elon University, Grinnell College, Lehigh University, Middlebury College, Penn State University and Rice University in their role as members of “Blair Bridges,” our new college advisory board. The brainchild of Dean of College Counseling Niki Applebaum ’01, this group includes eight colleges partnering with us to guide our college-counseling efforts, educate our families and help us stay abreast of trends in higher education. As always, our students made a great impression upon our visitors, and the program provided a terrific opportunity for relationship building and learning more about the topics on the minds of those in higher education as we seek to best prepare Blair students for the next chapter of their educational journeys.
As you can see, it has been a busy season on the hilltop, and I hope you will enjoy the snapshot in this eBulletin of the exciting activities and events that have taken place over the last few months.
As always, I thank you for your support and partnership and look forward to seeing you in person soon. Should your travels take you to Blairstown, I hope you will join the fun and festivities for Alumni Weekend on June 9-11, 2023, as we celebrate our 175th anniversary and publicly announce All In, the largest capital campaign in School history.
Cheers,
A Love of Learning Is at the Heart of Blair’s J-term
At 8:50 a.m., a modern-day Paul McCartney took to the stage to sing his rendition of The Beatles’ classic “Hey Jude.”
At 10 a.m., a class of George Ella Lyon-inspired poets shared personal versions of the self-reflective poem “Where I’m From,” while a room of scientists presented research on the world’s largest chemical disasters across campus.
No one skipped a beat at 11 a.m. as philanthropists theorized how to make the world a better place while potential doctors outlined the importance of the first immortal human cell line known as “HeLa” and the way in which they were unknowingly obtained from Henrietta Lacks.
If you aren’t tired yet, know that the day was only half over. After a celebration of food created by students in courses like “Why Vegan?” and “You Are Where You Eat,” the community gathered in the Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration for a gallery walk of poster presentations, photo projects, bat houses and so much more.
Last week’s J-term presentation day was filled with a flurry of excitement from students and faculty eager to share the culmination of their efforts and the community willing to take part in as many presentations as possible. From family table conversations of sustainability with local farmers to ways to disconnect to connect, the number of experiences students had to share from a week’s worth of intensive coursework was endless.
“At the end of the term, we’re hoping students have enjoyed the experience and are proud to share what they’ve learned,” language department chair and J-term coordinator Joyce Lang said. “The beauty of J-term is that by explaining their knowledge to others and applying it through sharing, students deepen their understanding.”
The subject matter in all 37 J-term offerings varied greatly, affording students the opportunity to focus on one of their passions or explore topics entirely different from their normal schedule. Dean of Academics Nathan Molteni has long advocated for this approach to learning:
“While J-term is just a week of what we do, it is also a key reminder to our students of the inherent value of learning as its own pursuit, freed from some of the structural trappings of a normal school experience,” Mr. Molteni said. “I’m a strong believer that the curiosity we hope to spark right now pays dividends for students across all other learning experiences for the year.”
Another advantage of J-term is that, in designing classes, faculty aren’t limited to their typical areas of study, so the opportunities to get to know and work with teachers and students that one might not have otherwise creates new relationships. Students also have the chance to work with classmates outside their grade, introducing an interesting dynamic to classroom discussions, according to prefect Ellie Walker ’23, who took part in the “Trial of the Century: The People vs. O.J. Simpson” course alongside her prefectee, Kennedy Henry ’25.
Outside the classroom, this was a momentous year for the J-term program as relaxing COVID-19 restrictions allowed for more travel. Students embarked on day and overnight trips to places like New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., to enhance their course teachings and connect with Blair alumni and friends. Visits to the Pentagon, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority training facility, Broadway shows and multiple museums brought learning to life and engaged students in real-world applications.
“When students get to choose what they want to discover and explore, we find out what truly matters to them,” Mrs. Lang said of the curiosity-filled week. Getting to know students well is at the heart of Blair, and the addition of the J-term program has only driven that mission home further.
2023 J-term Course Offerings
- Bats & Their Homes: Why & How to Build an Effective Bat House
- Bread—The Great Human Unifier: Its Origins, History & Cultural Impact
- Business Plans for Changing the World
- Can I Be of Service?
- Conscientious Carpentry: Building by Hand to Better Understand Buying Online
- Current Events Forum in Washington, D.C.
- Development: Mirrors & Mentors
- Digital Detox
- Diplomacy & Human Nature
- Exploring Personal Identity Through Creative Writing
- The Frida Kahlo Experience
- Game-Changers: Connecting to Our Food
- Historical Personalities Who Altered the Course of Mathematics
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
- Incarceration Nation: A Critical Look at the U.S. Prison System
- Inside the Mind of Man’s Best Friend
- International Sports in Society
- Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? Create a Graphic Novel & Find Out
- Keep Calm & Guard On
- Making Horror
- Memory
- Modeling Global Changes Through Coding
- New York City: The Greatest City on Earth!
- Passion + Empathy + Design = A Better World
- Philanthropy: Love of Mankind
- Race & Sociology of “The Wire”
- Radical Art
- Risky Business
- Say What Needs to Be Said: Crafting Effective Presentations for the Blair Community & Beyond
- School of Rock
- The Science of Happiness
- Street Photography
- Trial of the Century: The People vs. O.J. Simpson
- When Chemistry Kills: Poison & Environmental Disaster
- Why Vegan? Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
- You Are Where You Eat
- You’ll Know It When You Sense It
Project Ally Event Helps Blair Students Find Balance
Project Ally was created by Mia Leddy ’23 and Allie Roecker ’23 to destigmatize mental health and make it a conversation at Blair, with the support of the School’s counseling department. They hosted an event on campus in April, where Dr. Kathleen C. Wawrzyniak Webb ’95 discussed how to find balance and prioritize your well-being.
International Weekend Celebrates the Global Community at Blair
For more than two decades, the School’s International Celebration has helped us bring the best of the world to Blair for our students and position our graduates to bring the best of Blair to the world. An overarching theme of respect for culture and community is the focus of the event, and although the format has changed throughout the years, the foundation is still the same. Students and faculty came together to honor the beloved tradition and celebrate the many cultures that enrich Blair.
Blair Community Learns Together at a Series of Seminars Honoring Black History Month
“Blair is at our best when we come together as a community and lift one another up,” Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Evan Thomas said.
The hilltop was a shining example of that mantra in early February as the School gathered as one for the annual Black History Month Seminars, a series of discussions led by students to provide the community with experiences that acknowledge the richness and importance of Black stories. In an all-School Meeting to kick off the event, Head of School Peter G. Curran encouraged everyone to “explore rich conversations and spirited dialogue throughout the day.”
In their sessions, students presented and led small-group discussions with their peers, sharing their research about subject areas of their choosing. Much like Blair’s J-term courses earlier this year, the opportunity for students to become the teachers promoted a stronger understanding of the subject matter for the presenters. Mr. Thomas noted that students furthered their learning during the day by being able to select the spaces they attended, picking sessions that resonated with them or topics that piqued their curiosity.
“I was happy to see an uptick in presenters this year and the representation of the students speaking,” Mr. Thomas said. “It felt like the community event we hoped it would be.”
Inside the classrooms, students were encouraged to share their thoughts and ask questions during the presentations. In “Exploring Hip-Hop & Politics” led by Zac Baker ’23, Carnegie Johnson ’23 and Ian Imegwu ’23, students analyzed selections of hip-hop music in small groups and then shared with the room, igniting back-and-forth conversations about artists’ meaning and impact, lending to more meaningful discussions about the ability to separate the art from the artist.
“My hope with this class was for students to understand there’s more to hip-hop than the stereotypes,” Zac said. “I wanted to shine a light on conscious hip-hop and highlight the good and memorable, political and meaningful work.”
Stereotypes were a common theme in many seminars, including “Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation” led by Nour Hassan ’24 and Petra Taylor ’24. To start a meaningful dialogue about the differences, Nour and Petra shared a video prompt with the class that ended with the question, “What would America be like if we loved Black people as much as Black culture?” The room broke into groups to discuss the meanings of appreciation and appropriation and where we see it in our daily lives.
“I think a course like this is helpful because we were able to reach out to 30 or so members of our community who will hopefully go on to make more welcoming and safer environments for others,” Nour said. “It’s something I think extends beyond Black History Month.”
This year’s Black History Month Seminar event was different from last year, with added faculty and staff workshops throughout the day. While teachers still sat in on their students’ seminars/presentations, additional time was carved out for faculty-led workshops in areas like “Intervening for Inclusivity,” “Culturally Responsive Teaching” and “‘Just Like Me’: A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Implicit Bias.” The morning kicked off with faculty-and-staff sessions encouraging thoughtful reflection and open dialogue among peers, a theme that carried on throughout the day.
“It’s important that adults model—that we do this together ourselves, learning from our peers just as the students are,” Mr. Thomas said. “It’s something I am most excited for this year, and it couldn’t happen without the adults who stepped up to run workshops, along with the faculty who supported students in crafting their own.”
After the seminars, students had optional time to gather and debrief from the conversations and subject matter of the day in groups of their choosing. At family-style dinner, discussions continued with talking points provided at the tables to work into the natural flow of the evening, concluding with a Society of Skeptics talk by Alan Brown ’98, who shared how we can all live healthier, more mindful lives.
“Lean into ways we can recognize Black experiences from the past, while connecting to the lived experiences of today,” Mr. Thomas said. “This is the beginning of conversations that will hopefully extend well beyond Black History Month.”
Society of Skeptics: Engaging Speakers Enlighten Community on Variety of Topics This Winter & Spring
Once again this year, Blair’s Society of Skeptics lecture series provided a unique and exciting forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues. Speakers visited campus to discuss topics from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas, and students were eager to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view. Follow the links below to learn more about the speakers who visited campus in recent months.
Orchestra & Singers Share Blair Music on the International Stage
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blair Academy Symphony Orchestra and Singers set sail on a European performance and cultural tour March 2 to 11. With stops in London, Cambridge and Paris, the performers took in the sights and sounds of Europe, including tours, museums and shows. At each location, Blair students shared their music at public performances in historical venues open to Blair families and alumni.
Blair Celebrates Momentous Athletic Seasons
As the new season’s sports began training during spring break, Blair recognized all the remarkable achievements our athletes have accomplished so far this year. Displaying excellence across many fields, Bucs posted winning seasons and broke school records.
Ella Gaitan ’24 and Milaw Clause ’24 compete for USA Field Hockey
Ella Gaitan ’24 and Milaw Clause ’24 competed for the USA U18 Junior National Women’s Field Hockey team. During their European tour, they traveled to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. As nationally ranked field hockey players, both of these Blair stars played well through international competition representing the United States.
Highlights from the 2023 Headmasters’ Societies Games
The 20th anniversary of Blair Academy’s Headmasters’ Societies Games culminated with a spectacular talent show that saw Team Howard take this year’s crown.
In the video below, video specialist CJ Palanca offers a few highlights of the week that had students, faculty and staff engaging in all manner of high jinx for the School’s annual tradition, from facing off in “dragging boats” and flag football to mixing it up at the spelling bee and brain games.
‘Something Rotten!’ Lands on the Blair Stage
During three performances in February, audiences were invited to step back in time in the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts, DuBois Theatre with the Blair Academy Players’ musical production of Something Rotten!
“It’s the ‘Year of the Bard,’” veteran theatre teacher and director Craig Evans explained. “The three plays this year work together so nicely with the hilarious theme, ‘Shakespeare has writer’s block!’” The Blair Academy Players commenced with Shakespeare in Love in the fall, and after this winter’s musical, an outdoor production of Love’s Labour’s Lost concluded Blair’s 175th year in the spring. “The musical was our first choice,” Mr. Evans explained. “It drove the theme for the rest of the productions.”
Set in the 1590s, Something Rotten! is the story of two brothers, Nick (David Sacks ’23) and Nigel (Chris Couri ’24) Bottom, attempting to make a splash in theatre behind the shadow of the famous playwright, William Shakespeare (Michael Diaco ’23).
Annual Student Exhibition Showcases Blair’s Fine Artists
The culmination of a year’s worth of work for Blair’s AP Portfolio art students was on full display at the spring student art exhibit in the Romano Gallery this May. Students and faculty gathered among pottery, paintings and photographs to discuss the pieces on display and celebrate the fine arts at Blair. Photography teacher Tyson Trish captured the evening in the visual essay below that celebrates one of the beloved spring traditions on the hilltop as the year comes to a close.
Romano Gallery: Winter & Spring Exhibits
Again this year, Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts’ Romano Gallery displayed the work of not only Blair students, but also professional artists from varying media. As is tradition, each visiting artist hosted an opening reception for students to meet with the artist and ask questions about their work and art-making process.
Follow the links below to learn more about each artist.
‘Oh, What a Day!’ for Blair’s Annual Day of Giving
For 1,848 minutes, in observance of Blair’s founding in 1848, faithful supporters of the School contributed to the annual Blair Fund, making a record-breaking 872 gifts. In total, the group effort effectively raised $496,317 for one of the School’s most important fundraising initiatives, providing day-to-day support for many aspects of Blair, including: academics; athletics; arts; campus life; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB); and scholarships.
Grandparents’ Day Warms the Heart of the Blair Community
The hilltop was flooded with love as Blair Academy welcomed grandparents near and far to campus for the annual Grandparents’ Day event. Students cherished the opportunity to share special moments with their loved ones, welcoming them into the community they have built at the School and sharing a glimpse of their everyday lives.
With abundant opportunities to learn and grow—in class, across campus, in the community and in the world at large—and with caring teachers who mentor and guide, Blair students gain the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Your investment in the Blair Fund provides immediate impact and improves the experience of every student and faculty member on the hilltop. Please give to the Blair Fund today.
Questions? Contact Emma Barnes O'Neill, Director of Annual Giving, at (908) 362-2045 or barnee@blair.edu.
Credits:
Douglas Benedict & Tyson Trish