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Heatwaves and another classic

            What an incredible week of heat on the Hilltop. I must say that as I struggled around campus having to wear sunscreen and a tie, I was so impressed by the positive attitude of teachers and students working through this surprising weather pattern. In particular, we know it can be intense in Fogg and in the Middle School, and yet every student I engaged about the topic was quick to smile and remind me we would not be complaining for long – extended summer was not all bad.

            In the news this week, we learned of the scandal involving Rick Pitino and quite likely a huge swath of college athletic programs. The issue has apparently become so large that the FBI is in the middle of the conversation. As a former collegiate athlete and coach, it is so discouraging to observe when athletics become so out of whack with the missions of educational institutions. As we enjoyed an amazing alumni weekend on our fields as a community, I was reminded just how lucky we are to augment our academic programs with the lessons our kids learn from competitive athletics. This past weekend brought some great highlights but also some disappointment to our teams, and it was inspiring to watch our coaches work through all of this with our players – once again focused on the learning and growth of young people.

             While it may be cliché to some, I continually admire the ways in which our students learn lessons of character through competition. Whether a Berwick student is simply filling an afternoon requirement or on a path to competing in college, I have no doubt that they learn valuable lessons about themselves and their peers. Just this past Wednesday, I found myself in Boston talking to three other Heads of School about the challenges and threats to the teacher/coach model at our independent schools. The demands on teaching and coaching have seemingly grown exponentially in the past decade, putting the entire model under a new level of strain. Yet I continue to believe in the fundamental power of students coming to know their teachers in multiple forums. Once again, the potential for character development is omnipresent in this model, reinforcing the power of relationships in the Berwick community.


            Just yesterday, our community came out once again to support athletics at an amazing Bulldog Classic golf tournament. Now in my eleventh year, I am in awe of the loyal group of people who come out every year to play and sponsor this important event. This year I was able to cobble together a team that certainly had something in common: fathers of third grade girls. We were pleased to notch a second place finish but were even more proud of a few of our victory dances after sinking unexpected putts. This also reminded me of one the best parts of athletic competition as well: good old-fashioned fun.

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