Dear Blair family,

As I sit down in my office to write this letter, it is a crisp winter’s day and Meerwarth Courtyard has a tranquil feeling as we close out the first semester. There has been terrific energy across campus; although the Blair schedule is jam-packed with programming and festivities, it has been invigorating to see the incredible enthusiasm of our community on display in the final months of the calendar year.

Among the aspects of my job that I enjoy the most is knowing our students and supporting them to become the best versions of themselves. Everything we do is centered on best equpping our students with the knowledge, skills and emotional intelligence to thrive in life at and beyond Blair. We are intentional about making our School a home away from home, where students feel a deep sense of community not only with their classmates, but also with adults who are deeply invested in their growth, well-being and success. As we continue to celebrate the launch of the All In campaign at events across the country, we are also more deliberate than ever about strengthening Blair ties with alums, parents, grandparents and friends. Certainly, our plans to break ground on a new Center for Health and Well-Being this spring underscore our commitment to graduating academically prepared, well-adjusted students who have the tools to successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities of higher education and professional life.

As a boarding school graduate myself, I know firsthand how transformative this feeling of family can be to adolescents who are soaking in everything they can possibly learn during a formative time. The connections you make as a teen are very different from your experiences in college. That’s why I continue to marvel at how many Blair alums share inspiring stories of how close they have stayed to their boarding-school friends and mentors. Friendships forged here are in a category of their own, difficult to compare to other relationships, as evidenced by the many major life celebrations featuring fellow Bucs in the Class Notes section of the Bulletin.

As I reflect on Blair’s “special sauce,” my mind goes to my day-to-day interactions in the Head of School office. It is hard not to think about all that has happened in this historic nook of Locke Hall since Blair’s founding, and I deeply appreciate the stories our alums and parents have shared that allow me to envision the students and leaders who came before me. Today, I am purposeful about making my office inviting and welcoming for all. The foyer is often filled with students and teachers catching up, grabbing coffee or a snack, and greeting my yellow Lab, Bowdoin, on their way to class.

Of course, the adults in our community embrace the opportunity to high-five students and enjoy moments of connection, but I also realize that it is not always us they are coming to see. Bowdoin, like many Head of School dogs before her—JIB, Charlie and Boswell, just to name a few—is close friends with many on campus and, often, students take her on a walk, tiring her out with a roll in the leaves and ensuring she is eager to return to Locke Hall. These moments reflect the depth of our bonds at Blair, where students feel not only part of the extended Blair family, but also part of our faculty members’ lives. These bonds extend far beyond high school, and our graduates stay connected to us for many years to come.

As we wish you and your families happiness and health in 2024, I look forward to welcoming you back to Blair in the year ahead. There is so much happening across campus in the coming months—J-term, the winter ball, athletic competitions, the musical (Footloose), and fine arts exhibitions—so, if your travels take you to Blairstown, please stop by my office for a cup of coffee, to meet Bowdoin and, if time allows, sit down and share your Blair stories with me.

Cheers,

Disconnect to Connect with Social Awakening Founder & CEO Max Stossel

Disconnect to connect. The phrase seems counterintuitive, but according to founder and CEO of Social Awakening, Max Stossel, it’s a strategy that will lead to happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. During an all-School presentation in September, Mr. Stossel spoke to Blair students about the effect technology—social media, in particular—has on their lives, typically without anyone even noticing. His visit came a few weeks into a new academic year in which Blair has put an updated cellphone policy in place to teach healthy phone habits and cultivate even more in-person connection across our community.

“My hope is that Mr. Stossel’s visit will help our students make positive meaning from what we are asking them to do,” Associate Head of School Ryan M. Pagotto ’97 said. The new policy of “away for the day” means that cellphones are not to be seen in hallways or academic buildings; in classrooms without permission from a teacher; in community gathering spaces; or on the pathways, roads or courtyards throughout campus during the academic day. “My hope is not only that he will help students reflect individually on their own interactions with their phones and social media, but also reflect on their role as community members and how phones can pull them away from the very cool people around them and the beauty of this hilltop.”

During his presentation, Mr. Stossel acknowledged the importance of technology and the “magical” power of having the world at your fingertips. “But ask yourself this,” he prompted the crowd, “am I using technology or is technology using me?” A onetime industry insider, Mr. Stossel began his career running social media and marketing many of the social media structures discussed in the presentation. He explained the gamification these companies are having on their users’ social lives, likening the addiction of scrolling feeds for acceptance and pleasure to gambling on a slot machine. “These companies are not on the same team as us,” Mr. Stossel warned the audience. “They sink into our actual relationships in ways we wouldn’t opt in to if we knew.”

After his presentation, Mr. Stossel met with a smaller group of campus student leaders—along with Mr. Pagotto—to talk about social media and how the new policy is working. Most students agreed that the policy has reduced screen time and they aren’t missing their phones during the day, but the evenings and weekends are times when it is harder to stay off their devices. Together, the group brainstormed how they can acknowledge the difficulties and work together to promote healthier use and lifestyles for the community. “Being a human being means learning how to deal with hard things,” Mr. Stossel said, “and having a judgment-free space where you can recognize it’s hard and talk about these difficult things will help.”

At the center of everything we do at Blair, we prioritize the health and well-being of our community. Our students cannot reach their full potential if they can’t cope with the stress, anxiety and the pressure of living in the fast-paced and demanding world beyond Blair. As we seek to graduate students who are prepared for success in life, we hope that the discussions prompted by leaders like Mr. Stossel will help them engage in-person with the world around them and understand the appropriate use of cellphones and other devices.

They Promised Her the Moon Premieres

On April 9, 1959, NASA announced that seven Americans had been selected to fly a mission into space. Nicknamed the Mercury Seven, the group included John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Alan Shepherd and four other men who went on to define our perceptions of astronauts. But they weren’t the only ones. Thirteen women joined them, undergoing the same intensive battery of physical and psychological tests. One female aviator, Jerrie Cobb, surpassed her male colleagues on those fitness tests, finishing each of them first. She even held the 1959 world records for nonstop long-distance flight and the 1959 world light-plane speed record, but Jerrie Cobb was never afforded the opportunity to fly into space.

Written by Laurel Ollstein, They Promised Her the Moon unearths the true story of this courageous female pioneer and her struggle against the barriers that kept her grounded.

The play took center stage in the Wean Theatre as the Blair Academy Players presented their first performance of the year. This production also marked the 30th year that veteran English teachers Craig Evans and Kaye Evans have directed a theatrical production at Blair.

For Mr. Evans, with a wealth of experience as a theatre director, set designer and playwright, this particular piece held a special place in his heart. The recommendation to stage this play came from a Blair alum, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics’ Director of Drama Adam Sampieri ’99, and Mr. Evans believes it is a story worth telling. “It’s still fun to tell good stories, and this is one of the best stories we’ve done.” Rarely do plays closely follow true events and They Promised Her the Moon tackles an important narrative in American history. It serves as a reminder, Mr. Evans says, “That we’ve come so far, and in some ways, still have so far to go.”