Parent Update: January 2012

It's time to trumpet a new year on campus—with fresh energy, a change in academic routines, and, on behalf of NMH's nordic and alpine ski teams, big wishes for SNOW!

But first, a brief look back: December, as always, was a month of celebration at NMH. The school got into the holiday spirit with Christmas Vespers, the White Gift Service, and holiday jazz. Students hit the books for exam period with an eye toward a much-deserved break.

The mood was particularly celebratory on Dec. 19, when the NMH Board of Trustees announced the appointment of a new head of school: Peter Fayroian. Fayroian, who currently heads Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was selected after a lengthy search process that included trustees, faculty members, staff, alumni, parents, and current students.

“We could not be more excited about what Peter’s leadership will mean for the future of NMH,” said NMH board chair Mark Chardack '73.

Read more about Fayroian and the search process.

Campus News

"Magnificat" Christmas Vespers

In a tradition stretching back more than 100 years, Memorial Chapel filled with candlelight, poinsettias, and song for Christmas Vespers on December 4. Students gave a second performance on Dec. 16 at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City.

Fifteen musicians and 110 singers performed in the annual service, which featured a section of Antonio Vivaldi’s "Gloria," as well as music by Giuseppe Sammartini, Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D," and a selection from "The Nutcracker" by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Corey Atkins, Katherine Lindeman, Andrew Palmer, August Rulewich, and Emma Flynt, all seniors, performed solos.

The NMH Singers performed a version of the "Magnificat" by Estonian composer Arvo Part. The companion piece, sung by the Select Women's Ensemble, was composed by Canadian Christine Donkin and combines medieval and modern elements. Choral Director Sheila Heffernon said she was "particularly jazzed" about the two different versions of the "Magnificat." "The students loved working on these pieces and were very excited about performing them," she said.

Watch a video of Vespers here.

NMH Helps Protect National Scenic Trail

NMH has helped protect a section of New England’s National Scenic Trail by selling 117 acres of land to the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust as part of the Metacomet-Monadnock Forest Legacy Project.

Situated along a ridgeline known as the Bald Hills, which includes the popular hiking destination of Crag Mountain, the protected land runs east toward the Warwick town line. Located across from the Northfield Town Forest, the 117-acre parcel includes part of Northfield’s Great Swamp and several unnamed tributary brooks that feed it.

Mount Grace plans to transfer the property to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in 2012, when it will be added to the Northfield State Forest. The land gives access to the Northfield State Forest and the Great Swamp from the West, according to David Graham Wolf, Mount Grace's conservation director.

"We have a truly awe-inspiring wetland system and wilderness there," Wolf said. "The property is part of a nearly 8,000-acre roadless area, making it a very significant biodiversity hot spot for our region. This is a big win for land conservation in Massachusetts."

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is a regional land trust that serves 23 towns in Franklin and Worcester counties and is supported by memberships and private, state and federal grants. It protects significant natural, agricultural, and scenic areas and encourages land stewardship in north-central and Western Massachusetts. In 25 years, through collaborations and partnerships, Mount Grace has protected 25,000 acres.

Parents Support Annual Fund

Eight parents came to campus in early December to make telephone calls on behalf of the NMH Annual Fund. The school thanks Laurie Atwater P '12; Peggy Farabaugh P '11, '13; Sarah Hoffman '78 P '15; Rob Lasch P '12; Julian and Riezl Madison P '13; Cheryl Rulewich P '12; and Robin Yankow P '13. These volunteers received gifts and pledges from 58 parents.

Look for information on NMH's next phonathon in February.

Kudos

College Counseling Update

According to the college counseling office, more than 70 percent of the class of 2012 applied to colleges and universities using an early notification process—nearly 350 applications from more than 170 students.

Students used the strategy of applying early decision, which is binding upon acceptance, as well as applying early action, which is not binding and simply gives an early notification of the decision. Students were accepted to Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, Wesleyan, Haverford, Wisconsin, Loyola, and numerous other schools. We congratulate them!

Most colleges report a significant increase in their early applicant pool, with Miami of Ohio reporting a 98 percent increase in early applicants and University of Chicago reporting a 38 percent increase. While many NMH seniors and post-graduates have received good news, there has been disappointment as well. The college counselors have all of those students ready with "Plan B" already in place.

Cast of "The Tempest"

The following students have been cast in "The Tempest." The show will run March 29–31 at the Rhodes Arts Center.

Alonzo, King of Naples: Wei-Hung ("Willie") Cheng ‘12

Ferdinand, Prince of Naples: Robert Scherer ‘13

Sebastian, his brother: Ben Wheeler ‘13

Antonio, brother to Prospero: Cam Woods ‘12

Gonzala, an honest counselor: Leah Schwartz ‘13

Adrian, a lord: Alec Shea ‘14

Francisco, a lord: Ryder Moriarty ‘13

Trinculo, a jester: Zephram Carroll ‘15

Stephano, a drunken butler: Charlie White ‘13

Prospero, rightful Duke of Milan: Wylie Earp ‘12

Miranda, daughter to Prospero: Annie Garret-Larsen ‘13

Ariel: Oona Kilcommons ‘12, Emma Herrmann ‘14, Isabel Bennet ‘13

Caliban: Edward Yankow ‘13

Boatswain: Daniel Packard ‘14

Spirits, nymphs, reapers: Jess Goodman ‘13, Bea Dowdy ‘15, Jillian Kane ‘13, Duong Doan ‘15, Julia Conway ‘15, Vinnesha Flynn ‘14, Samira Haddad ‘14

Assistant Director: Madi Van Dam ‘13

Stage Manager: Noa Solomon-Auger ‘15

Cast of "Eurydice"

The following students were cast in the upcoming production of "Eurydice." The show will run Feb. 9 and 10 on the Rhodes Arts Center stage.

Suki White ‘14

Cordelia Dewdney ‘12

Jessica Marlor ‘12

Lily Kane ‘12

Phoebe Burton ‘14

Cora Sloan ‘13

Kyra Toomre ‘12

Adam Arsenault ‘12

Hannah Levin ‘15

Molly Hogsett ‘13

Caroline Lim ‘13

Isobelle Lotocki ‘15

Lexi Wang ‘14

Rachael Francklyn ‘13

Quick Links

NMH Panel of Experts

The process of selecting an independent school is a challenging one, and NMH experts offer advice on how to begin, what questions to ask, and how to find the best match.

It’s a safe bet that college is probably on your mind already, even while you investigate boarding schools. In "The College Process," Peter Jenkins, director of NMH's college counseling office, offers pointers.

Carrie Healy is NMH’s resident expert in understanding the use of technology in the admissions process. She weighs in on the topic of "Making New Friends at Boarding School."

Athletic Director Tom Pratt explains how to find a school that will take a student to the next level of play in “Boarding School Goal: Being a Collegiate Athlete.”

Events and Notices

NMH Today Events in California

Join Head of School Charles A. Tierney III; his wife, Gina Onushco; and other NMH community members in San Francisco and Los Angeles for conversations about today's NMH. The events also will honor Mark Chardack '73, chair of the NMH Board of Trustees, for his 18 years of service. Participants will have the chance to hear from Bill Shea '72, the board's chair-elect who also led the head of school search committee. Shea begins his term as board chair after Commencement in May.

To register for either of the "NMH Today" events—Thursday Jan. 26, in San Francisco or Sunday, Jan. 29, in Los Angeles—click here.

Calendar

January-February

Parents are welcome to attend all NMH events. Check our web calendar to keep up with what's happening at NMH.

Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 21: International Carnival

Jan. 21-22: Diversity Summit

Jan. 22: Da Camera Singers Concert, RAC, 3 pm

Jan. 23: Red Cross blood drive, Grandin, 11 am–4 pm

Jan. 27: A Cappella Festival, RAC, 8 pm

Jan. 28: Dwight Night

Jan 29: Founder’s Day Program, Memorial Chapel, 4 pm

Feb. 3: Student Recital, RAC, 7:30 pm

Feb. 3-4: Family Days

Feb. 4-7: Long Weekend

Feb. 7: Students return to campus by by 7:30 pm

Parent Update: January 2012

Parent Update: January 2012

THINK/LIVE

NMH BY THE NUMBERS

Sunday, 30th September