Head's Welcome
Everyone learns. Everyone plays. Everyone
matters.
Here along the river, in the shadow of the northern Berkshires,
exists the most unique and joyous school I have ever seen. I
am thrilled to be joining this community myself after more than two
decades in secondary and college classrooms. With an academic
rigor that rivals any other school, there is also no more nurturing
place for a young scholar to cultivate habits of critical thinking,
learn to appreciate excellence, and develop the will to pursue it.
As an Academy parent explained to me, “This is an
‘everybody’s got your back’ school."
What is a classical education?
The Academy program is focused on balance. The classical
tradition was based on just such a model, where balance applies to
areas of inquiry, artistic and athletic pursuits, and a sense of
responsibility for the community. Our explorations of the
humanities demand that students learn not to merely study history,
but become historians. They understand ancient and
contemporary cultures from across the globe through their
literature, artistic expression, and an appreciation for their
societal values.
The study of Latin, as a discipline for the mind and as a basis for
expanded linguistic knowledge, is central to our language offerings
and brings modern languages into balance with ancient languages and
cultures. These are the very cultures that are
reflected in our own democracy, the relevance of which is
experienced daily by Academy students. After mastering
Euclid’s theorems that defined geometry, our scholars move on
to explore the calculus of Leibniz and Newton. Using the tools of
the mathematician, their scientific curiosity leads them to
engage with the beauty of biology, the clarity of chemistry, and
the formulas of physics, often using our unique location as a
classroom.
Our area is rich with professional artists. My predecessor saw in
this an extraordinary opportunity. Drawing on area artists and
Academy faculty, our unique Studio Block program places Academy
students shoulder to shoulder with a wide range of remarkable and
talented people. Twice a week, a host of musicians, artisans,
sculptors, writers, and actors visit our campus to instruct and
inspire our students, in atelier-styled mentoring classes. In
turn, the students inspire each other to push their artistic
boundaries, or find new ways to express themselves. The
Academy’s commitment to the balance of a classical education
means that everyone learns, in an environment that
nurtures curiosity across the disciplines.
Athletics are integral to the balance.
The mind is stretched at The Academy each day, in balance with
physical pursuits. A variety of competitive and non-competitive
athletic options push students to develop healthy lifestyles.
Athletics provide an opportunity for students to balance their
intellectual efforts with physical challenges. At The
Academy, character, sportsmanship and your best effort matter most.
One artistically-inclined Academy graduate surprised me by saying,
“Whatever you do, don’t ever eliminate athletic
requirements. I’m so glad I was a part of those teams.”
There are no cuts at The Academy. Everyone plays.
Outcomes
I recently read that American students can expect to change careers
an average of seven times between the ages of 22 and 45. Only a
balanced education will prepare today’s students for that
challenge. Our graduates have gone on to a remarkable
array of successful and productive lives. This balance is also
admired by collegeswho value The Academy’s well rounded
graduates.
The Unique Community
When I first began to explore The Academy a member of the
search committee said, “As an educational consultant, I have
been on more school campuses than I can count. None are as
joyous as The Academy”. I later asked an experienced teacher,
who earlier in her career had left The Academy to teach at a larger
and more well-known independent school, “What made you come
back?” Her reply: “Here at The Academy, we walk the
talk.” She was referring to many of the cultural intangibles
evident in this unique community, among them the Honor Code.The
Honor Code is central to Academy life. As a reflection
of the democratic underpinnings of the school community, it was
written by students in the earliest years and has worked ever
since. In a stunning ceremony each September, every student and
every adult signs this contract to uphold values of integrity,
honesty, civility, and respect in all aspects of school life. This
signed copy of the Honor Code hangs on the wall which greets us
each day. The chair of our accrediting body, during a visit to the
school in 2011 complimented this practice. He said, “I
have seen many Honor Codes in schools, but this is the only one
that really works.”
Respect and Community Service
The original founders believed not only in the importance of mutual
respect between adults and students in a school environment, but
they created a program that relies on the sense of responsibility
it engenders. It links our seniors in their leadership roles
through the whole student body, all the way to our seventh graders.
Multi age teams, responsible for chores and community service, are
carefully organized at the start of the year. Whether the task is
serving a meal for members of the community in need, or tidying the
school at the end of each day, team members across the grades
support each other in doing the work, together with faculty and
staff.
Small by Design
My decision to come here was easy once I saw what differentiates
this school from all others. The school is small enough so that
each adult here knows not only every student’s name, but also
understands specifically what it is that makes each one a cherished
part of our community. Everyone matters.
Twice a year, the entire faculty dedicates a full day to a
discussion that covers each student’s academic and social
progress. Weekly, faculty members meet by grade level to do
the same, sharing observations and planning for support and
challenges as needed. Frequent and close contact between
parents and teachers characterizes the partnership between families
and The Academy. Parents meet for 15-minute conferences with
each teacher, two times a year, for intimate and in depth
discussions. I've never seen a school like The Academy, and
I'd suggest your experience will be similar. Please visit and
see for yourself. I'll be here to welcome you and learn your
name. If you join us, we'll work together to help
you "Find your voice, and speak your mind."
--Mark Efinger, Head of School
Make Summer a Special Time!
Are You Liable?
