Headmaster's Blog

Omega visited me in my office today and shared a choral recitation of a Thanksgiving poem, so I thought I'd share it with you.  It will surely put you in a Thanksgiving mood.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Taft, Hotchkiss, and Andover were all well represented yesterday at Saint David's.  Brophy, '10 from Hotchkiss, Mark, '08, Danillo, '10, and Hugh, '08 all from Taft and Chris, '11, from Andover (second photo) all stopped by to catch up.  Attending boarding school comes with some advantages, one of which is often longer holidays at times like this.  The boys' schools are closed for Thanksgiving. Young Alumni Chapel and Dinner is tonight--a homecoming where high school aged alums attend Chapel and break bread with our 8th graders.  Over dinner, they will discuss the schools they are attending and share tips and pointers with the 8th grade boys who are right now going through the application and interview process.  Tomorrow is one of our school's longest standing traditions--The Odds and Evens Soccer Game.  Alums from the even years play the alums from odd years in a spirited game.  Typically, alums as far back as the early 70s and as recently as last ...

It's even closer to Thanksgiving!  I know, not because of the date, but because of our work at TCC.  Together with our 6th grade volunteers, we spent this past Tuesday night at Terence Cardinal Cooke nursing home serving residents and their families Thanksgiving Dinner. As always, the boys exercised their duties with enthusiasm, sensitivity and care--emblematic of "good men" in action. As the parent of a child with multiple disabilities, the statement at right by Cardinal Cooke resonated with me, so much so, that I had to snap a quick shot.  It hangs on the wall of the room we were working in. Attached are several photos of the night.  In them, we see the boys serving drinks, preparing food and sharing time with the residents.

This coming Saturday night at 6:30, Corby, '12 and his band, The Lead Heads will be performing at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village. Click on the link above for more information, including tickets.  If you like The Dead , The Lead Heads will be right up your alley.

Our morning began today with a Saint David's Ensemble open rehearsal in Hyman Hall at 7:45 AM.  Many weary eyed parents filled the hall and enjoyed the boys playing Reinhold Glière's The Russian Sailors' Dance from his 1927 The Red Poppy ballet. The dance was followed by a little Mozart and finally Henry Mancini's Pink Panther .  The boys were impressive given the fact that the seasoned core of the orchestra graduated last year.  This ensemble has been working together for just a few months. Below is a little slice of Mancini from the boys rehearsal today.

We visited alums at Browning on Remembrance/Veteran's Day.  Saint David's currently has four alums at Browning, DQ, '09, RH, '10, MD, '10, and BB, '11--a freshman, two sophomores, and a junior.  Since 1971 we have had 120 alums matriculate to Browning. Just last week, Browning opened their renovated lower gym.  It looks spectacular.  The boys were clearly proud of the changes.  The Saint David's alums all looked great--happy and comfortable in high school.  They are enjoying high school, felt very well prepared for the challenges presented, and thoroughly enjoy the flex and free periods--the greater independence.  In additon to meeting with the headmaster, Mike and I met with the US head and Admissions Director.

Recently in the Atlantic Monthly, I came across The World Was Never the Same: Events That Changed History by Harvard educated professor Rufus Fears, published by The Great Courses .  In his course, Fears presents the 36 events he believes changed the course of history. They are intriguing to contemplate:  The list follows: Hammurabi issues a code of law (1750 B.C.) Moses and monotheism (1220 B.C.) The Enlightenment of the Buddha (526 B.C.) Confucius instructs a nation (553-479 B.C.) Solon – democracy begins (594 B.C.) Marathon – democracy triumphant (490 B.C.) Hippocrates takes an oath (430 B.C.) Caesar crosses the Rubicon (49 B.C.) Jesus – the trial of a teacher (A.D. 36) Constantine I wins a battle (A.D. 312) Muhammad moves to Medina – the Hegira (A.D. 622) Bologna gets a university (1088) Dante sees Beatrice (1283) Black Death – pandemics and history (1348) Columbus finds a new world (1492) Michelangelo accepts a commission (1508) Erasmus – a book sets Europe ablaze ...