Long-Weekend Logistics
Following winter Family Days, the long weekend officially begins Saturday, Feb. 2, as soon as your student’s athletic, arts, and workjob commitments are complete. Students and families who have no Saturday obligations may leave on Friday after meeting all commitments. There are no classes on Monday or Tuesday. Boarding students are expected to return to campus between 2 and 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Classes resume on Wednesday, Feb. 6. This is considered a homework-free weekend with no homework due on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Return charter bus service from Boston and New York (but not from the airports) is available on Feb. 5. Students (not parents) are asked to complete an online form before Jan. 30 to sign up for the charter bus. If your student’s charter bus plans change, please email Tracey Rogers or call the charter bus line at 413-498-3203. Note that, except for extenuating circumstances, families are responsible for charter bus fees if trips are canceled after Jan. 31.
 
Students, whether staying on or leaving campus, will be asked to complete an online travel form by midnight on Wednesday, Jan. 30, indicating their plans. If your student is not going to be with you off campus, you must contact your student’s dorm head to grant permission for their travel plans. If your student’s plans change during the weekend (later departure, earlier return), parents must notify the duty dean.

The dorms will remain open during the long weekend, and activities are planned for students remaining on campus. 

Charlie's Challenge Has Been Issued
Dear NMH parents,
 
I am starting the new year full of determination. As head of school until June 30, 2019, I want to harness the collective energy of the NMH community and strengthen our commitment to NMH’s exceptional educational mission. I’m sure you’ll agree that our 655 students deserve nothing less.
 
I am asking all NMH families, employees, and members of the Class of 2019 to join me in supporting the NMH Fund. And I truly mean all. It doesn’t matter if you give $1 or $100,000; I cannot emphasize that enough. The goal is to achieve full participation by the end of the school year in May.
 
When I launched this idea in the fall, my colleagues dubbed it “Charlie’s Challenge.” Although I am not one for cute monikers, this is indeed a challenge. I know you — we — are up to it. After nearly 20 years as an NMH employee and seven as an NMH parent, I’ve seen this community do extraordinary things.
 
As head, it is my job to look out for the academic and social well-being of every one of our students. But I am part of a team, and you are part of it too. Your gift to the NMH Parents Fund provides important resources that enable faculty, coaches, advisors, and the entire NMH community to support students. Let’s step up to this challenge together. Let’s continue building upon NMH’s remarkable mission. And let’s give Head of School Designate Brian Hargrove a clear and welcoming message: NMH families are all in.
 
Thank you so much for joining me.

Warm regards,

Charles A. Tierney III P’16, ’19, ’20
Head of School
Join Charlie’s Challenge today!
 
What is NMH Summer Session All About?
What is so special about NMH Summer Session? Students come to NMH from around the world with a variety of accomplishments in mind. Some students hope to gain an “edge” on college prep, while others immerse themselves in rigorous academics for the very first time. These personal goals can be met while keeping each student’s Summer School experience personalized.

The College Prep Program, for students entering grades 10 through 12, is unique in that it allows them to study one subject intensively. Many of these courses complete a full year’s study, and possibly earn credit, in just five weeks. For example, students can take a full-credit math, science, or history course and jump to the next level in the following academic year. This is a great opportunity to advance in a subject area. 
​
Is there ​a younger student in your household ​dreaming of the day they can attend NMH? This summer could be it! The Rising Scholars Program offers non-credit courses for students entering grades seven through nine. 

Two English for Speakers of Other Languages programs — for students in grades 7 through 9 and 10 through 12 — include levels ranging from beginning to advanced.

As during the school year, Summer Session students can attend as boarders or day students. In addition to the strong academic focus, students have daily sports, and a full student activities program is offered during their free time.

NMH Summer Session runs from June 29 to Aug. 3. ​For complete information and the online application and instructions, please visit the Summer Session web page or call the office at 413-498-3290. Financial aid is also available. The deadline to complete applications is Feb. 15. 

Please contact the Summer Session office with questions and for more details.

Global Perspective, Experiential Education
It is a busy time for NMH’s Global Engagement Office and Center for Learning Through Action as they offer an international feast, expose students to a range of hands-on experiences, and welcome speakers to campus. Here’s more of what the next few weeks have in store.

International Carnival
The Global Engagement Office will host this year's International Carnival food festival on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall. For this much-anticipated annual event, student affinity groups will cook delectable main dishes and desserts from their home countries.
 
Learning Through Action Summit
The Center for Learning Through Action will host the second annual Learning Through Action Summit on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 4 pm in Blake Student Center. The event aims to engage students in a range of hands-on activities, and to provide them with opportunities to reflect, share, present, and learn about experiences with workjob, community service, travel, leadership, and other forms of active engagement on and off campus, domestically and abroad. While this summit is required for ninth-grade students, all students are invited to participate. Students have 24 different sessions to choose from, facilitated by students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Upper-level students may be particularly interested in attending the alumni-led sessions, which will focus on exploring life after NMH.
 
Cybersecurity Speaker
On Feb. 11, Deborah Housen-Couriel ’77 will return to campus as part of the Wantman Family State of the World Speaker Series. She will deliver a presentation entitled, “Global Cybersecurity Today: The What, Why, How, and Who.” The event will be held in the Rhodes Room from 6:45 to 7:45 pm, and is open to the public.

---

Announcements

New health center requirement: The NMH health and wellness center now requires all students to use the same physical exam form. When you are notified that your student’s physical has expired, please ask your doctor to fill out this form.

Final yearbook order opportunity: This is the last chance for families to purchase a yearbook, a permanent reminder of your student’s time at NMH that is likely to have great nostalgia value in years to come. Members of the Class of 2019 receive a free copy. To purchase, visit yearbookordercenter.com and enter school code 4557. Orders are due Jan. 28.

Martin Luther King Jr. week: To celebrate and reflect on the life of Martin Luther King Jr., NMH has a full week of events. You can also view images and a video from Monday’s kick-off, including a powerful performance by Drake Hunt ’20 and the NMH Stage Band.

Talking baseball in January: Months before opening day, fans and major-league professionals gather at NMH for the annual Dick Peller Hot Stove Night, a baseball roundtable. On Jan. 25 at 6:30 pm, Buster Olney ’82 (ESPN, NMH Athletics Hall of Fame) hosts a panel of baseball insiders. The event is named for longtime NMH teacher and coach Dick Peller P’97, ’98, who is now retired. Hot stove night will be livestreamed.
 
Winter Family Days, Feb. 1–2, are quickly approaching. If you have not registered or signed up for teacher conferences, please do so immediately. Event registration ends today, Jan. 24, and conferences must be scheduled by Sunday, Jan. 27. Please join us for the parent reception at 5 pm on Friday, Feb. 1, at Ford Cottage.

Planning for 2019–20: The school calendar has been set for the next academic year. Please add these important dates to your calendar, and plan ahead.

Winter wellness: With a recent snowstorm, limited daylight, and temperatures that dip below zero, some students need a little extra boost. Read what the health center offers to maintain winter wellness.

Re-enrollment starts soon: Re-enrollment for the 2019–20 academic year will take place Feb. 12–March 1. Watch for an email from Head of School Charlie Tierney P’16, ’19, ’20 containing the instructions you’ll need to enroll your student for next year. 

Ice skating under the stars: Over the weekend, NMH students took full advantage of winter in New England as they enjoyed night skating on a deeply frozen Shadow Lake. See photos here.

Athletes of the week: Congratulations to our most recent honorees, Elijah Edwards ’20 (JV basketball), Breese Burlingame ’22 (hockey), Nils Skaane ’20 (alpine skiing), and Taylor Hough ’21 (swimming). Find out why each was selected.

New images of NMH students: There are new photo/video galleries on the NMH Flickr site, daily posts on NMH Social, and a new student-produced video series, “NMH This Week.” You might spot your student in any of these; enjoy the search.

Students present in scholar series: On Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 7 pm, the Schauffler Scholar Series returns to the library. Although the series usually showcases faculty research, this event will feature independent study projects by Mona Zhang ’19 and Ethan Ho ’19. Watch the livestream.

Spend a semester in South Africa: Applications are open for the sophomore interdisciplinary travel program in South Africa; they are due by March 25. Please contact Jensi Rovang with questions.

---

Upcoming Events

1/25 Percussion Showcase
1/25–2/24 Faculty art show
1/25 NMH Dick Peller Hot Stove Night
1/26 International Carnival
1/27 Learning Through Action Summit 
1/28 Admission Class Visit Day
2/1–2/2 Winter Family Days
2/2–2/5 Long weekend
2/6 Classes resume
2/9 ACT
2/9 Dwight Night dance