Flocking Together
When Andy Ward came to Milton in 1944, the Milton Academy Bird Club had been active for nearly 20 years. The thrill of observing songbirds, hawks, warblers and the shorebirds of New England strengthened friendships that Andy relies on 60 years later. Early encouragement from biology faculty member Pete Morrison drew the group together. He orchestrated weekend birding trips to Newburyport and other areas around Boston. “Bird-watching is widely accepted now, but during our time at Milton, birding was thought to be a little offbeat,” Andy says. Birders must have several things in common,...
Read MoreFriends Become the Mirror that Middle Schoolers Seek
Sorting out who you are takes time and effort. Nicci King has her finger on the pulse of Middle School life, and she knows her students well. Nicci is Milton’s Middle School counselor. She began at Milton in 2005, and she responds to the needs of students, parents and colleagues as they try to understand adolescent behavior. Nicci helped develop and co-teaches the 360° affective education class, a program that fosters empathy, respect and perseverance in our middle schoolers. It promotes the development of constructive communication, problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills. At the...
Read MoreHow we stay connected: A survey of students
Have you ever sent a text you regretted? Is a Facebook “friend” a true friend? The Milton Magazine, Milton Paper and Milton Measure put together a single survey of Upper School students about technology, social media and cell phone...
Read MoreAccording to My Friends
Students parse how friendship flows. Direct answers, to fundamental questions, from Class I–transitioning from Milton to college–and Class IV, working toward friendships that last. Here’s what they said. What is a friend? You can be quiet, relaxed and comfortable around a friend. A friend is trustworthy. Otherwise, you can’t be open. A friend makes you feel good about yourself, but doesn’t necessarily always tell you what you want to hear. You have fun with a friend; he makes you laugh, no matter what you’re doing together. A friend watches your back. Becoming a friend...
Read MoreA Fond Farewell Ann Carter 1917–2011
One of my—and Milton’s—oldest and best friends, Ann Carter, died in December in Hanover, New Hampshire. She was the wife of Ad Carter ’32, longtime faculty member and renowned mountaineer. Ann was in her 95th year, yet her death was surprising to those who knew her. She seemed ageless. Her parents lived to 100. I believe that Ann expected to reach or exceed that mark. In her Christmas letter to family and friends, she wrote of her marvelous, active summer at her family’s place on the Cape, surrounded by her offspring, swimming in Pleasant Bay and sailing her ancient catboat. More...
Read MoreCampus Walls Speak About History
Milton honors friends in many ways. Today’s students frequently find alumni clustered around photographs on a well-traveled hallway, locating an image that unlocks a trove of memories. Not only along hallways, but also in entryways or nooks, and showcased on walls that frame a key public space, Milton celebrates students, alumni, faculty and benefactors dating back to 1798. Many alumni in search of a memory enjoyed meeting Cathie Farrington, director of stewardship, who tended Milton’s collection with great care for many years before retiring in December 2011. Click here to view...
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