Where have I been??!!

The winter is flying by and more than one person has asked what I have been doing or where I have been. I know that I have been remiss in writing notes in this blog as often as I would like! But what does my calendar say that I have been doing?

• In recent weeks, I have had lots of discussions with students about weekly grade slips, almost all of which are going well, and a few conversations with students about academic honesty, which is a couple more than I would like.
• I have met with almost every faculty member to discuss performance, expectations and contracts for next year, and thoughts about their professional development. While these discussions can sometimes be tough, they are also incredibly gratifying because I constantly am reminded of the great abilities and passion of our faculty and their commitment to providing an exceptional Winchendon education.
  
• I have also had visited with a number of schools and educators both on our campus and in locations as far west as Denver. It is a pleasure to get out there and tell the Winchendon story, and people are excited to hear about all that is going on here on campus.
• Each week, we have been having a good time bringing a dorm group to Homewood for ice cream and Marily's chocolate sauce and brownies. Last week, I got some important advice from the girls of Merrell 2 as to the ghosts who inhabit Homewood and other spots on campus!!
• I have seen and heard about a series of well-played athletic contests which have included wins over Canterbury, Marionapolis, Worcester Academy, New Hampton, Pomfret, North Smithfield and Tilton.
• I have interviewed some terrific prospective students for next year from as nearby as Massachusetts and Rhode Island and as far away as Beijing.
• We are already hard at work getting ready for next September with meetings on all kinds of things ranging from the curriculum to technology. We are also continue to work on the planned upgrades for Ford Hall, the athletic facilities, additional technology and the fine and performing arts programs.
• We are gearing up our Self-Study and Strategic Planning process. If you have an interest in participating, please let me know. There will be much more discussion of this initiative in the coming months.

And these are just some of the things that keep the days showing red for booked on my Google calendar. The days at Winchendon are very full for all, and my calendar is no exception. There are always the unplanned things as well, the sick or injured student, the accidental bump to a vehicle or the failed furnace and a host of other issues and opportunities that crop of each day. In addition to the work, the learning and the discussions that challenge us, we find lots of time to laugh as well. It is an exciting time to be at the Winch!