About NMH Future

September E-news bulletin

As the school year begins, we resume sending our monthly planning news brief.

NORTHFIELD CAMPUS NEWS
The Northfield Stewardship Committee (NSC) of the board met on campus on July 16. Attendees, including 13 trustees, toured the campus and surrounding properties, heard a landscape history presentation by Karen Forslund Falb ’59, discussed the NSC history project proposal, and addressed local conservation issues. In addition, brokers LandVest and Bidwell Advisors reported that there have been over 50 responses to the mailing of a marketing brochure last spring, and that we have at least two serious prospects. Director of Northfield Campus Initiative Carol Lebo has conducted tours for dozens of potential users, almost all of whom are from the education field.

The NSC has hired the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) of West Springfield, Mass., to complete an architectural and landscape inventory of both campuses. PVPC will identify and document the geographic area, the cultural and natural resources, and their connection to the historic events, significant people, and activities that have contributed to the character of the school today. The project’s focus will be on the school’s architecture and its landscape. William R. Rhodes ’53, chair of the NMH Board of Trustees, has contributed $60,000 to the project. Karen Forslund Falb ’59, landscape historian, and Jean Reisman ’75, vice chair of the board, have each contributed an additional $10,000. The project coordinators plan to publish the results.

All alumni are invited to visit campus on September 9 and 10 for a special event, Celebrate Northfield. The highlight of the weekend is Opening Convocation, which will be held in the Auditorium. Many activities are planned in tribute of the Northfield campus. To learn more and register online, visit www.nmhschool.org/alumni.

FACILITIES PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
A dramatic transformation took place on the Mount Hermon campus over the summer in preparation for the opening of school, thanks to the efforts of the Office of Plant Facilities. The two new dormitories are complete and students have moved in; many other dorms were refreshed; renovation of Norton House is ongoing and will soon accommodate the admission office; administrative offices were reconfigured and spruced up; information technology relocated its servers; and the piggery fields are being converted into two regulation soccer fields. More details about the work will appear in the fall issue of NMH Magazine.

Master planning of the campus continues. Sasaki, the architectural firm that designed the new dormitories, is overseeing the landscape master plan, which includes traffic flow and parking, lighting, signage, and overall site coordination. The school continues to work with architects at CBT  to finalize the new arts center design.

EDUCATIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
A new academic schedule is in place for the fall term, and student schedules were prepared earlier than usual, thanks to state-of-the-art scheduling software that was implemented last year. Schedule features include more classroom time for students due to the elimination of busing, a third long block in the afternoon to improve scheduling options, and a Monday morning all-school meeting time to build community. These changes create a flexible yet more consistent and structured day-to-day experience for students.

History teacher and former academic dean Charlie Tierney has been appointed assistant head of school. Tierney will focus on transition planning and the school’s upcoming accreditation, along with co-directing the ninth-grade experience. The theme of this year’s student life curriculum, “connections: relationships, citizenship, stewardship,” builds off the momentum of the school’s transformation to a one-campus community.

Look for more information in upcoming communications about the guest speakers coming to campus. NMH alumni and parents are always welcome to attend these events.

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