Middle School “Speechies” and Coach Debbie Simon Earn National Recognition
Speaking, storytelling and bringing to life poetry and prose paid off for the Middle School’s Speech Team, as it was recognized as one of the top-five Teams of Excellence at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah. The students used their skills in public address, limited preparation and interpretation to succeed in a variety of events over the course of the tournament. Six students placed as finalists during the tournament, meaning they were among the top six in the nation in their events, while several others earned recognition in the semi- and...
Read MoreJohn Avlon ’91 Kicks Off Seminar Day 2016
What Happens When Centrists Are Marginalized? “If you’re tempted to disengage from politics as a result of this surrealist campaign, don’t,” students heard from John Avlon ’91, editor in chief of The Daily Beast and a CNN political analyst. Ceding political debate to “hyper-partisans” is partly to blame for the highly polarized state of Congress and political campaigns right now, he explained. John launched Seminar Day 2016 as the Sally Bowles ’56 Keynote Speaker. John has long advocated for the power and importance of political centrism, a level of discourse that has before...
Read MoreMilton Sailors Set Their Bar and Meet It
From the shore, sailing looks effortless. Handsome boats glide across the water. Milton sailors, however, testify to the mental and physical challenges. “I describe sailing as trying to do sit-ups while going through little hills and playing chess—all with one arm tied behind your back,” says Peter Baron ’17. Sailing team coach Patrick Broome says, “Sailing is intellectual. On the water, you need to figure out where the wind is coming from, what the tide is doing, where your team is, what the other team is doing, and where you need to be. As for the physical demands, a non-athlete...
Read MoreFrom Fifty to One: We’ll Take It a Day at a Time
After 42 years at Milton—24 of those years living in Robbins House—lots of adjustments loom ahead. One of these adjustments may not occur to most people as they think about retiring: Erica and I are going from living our everyday lives with at least fifty people to living with just one person: to living with each other. Fifty personal styles and fifty voices; fifty sets of needs and fifty senses of humor, or lack thereof; fifty cases of fatigue and fifty levels of energy; fifty fans of brownies and fifty pairs of willing ears. We’ve never had trouble coming up with things to talk about,...
Read MoreErica Banderob
Erica Banderob Math Department and Robbins House Head Member of the Faculty, 1978–2016 Ricky came to work at Milton in 1978. John Banderob was working here already, and as former faculty member Donald Duncan recalls, “Ricky got the job, and it didn’t take very long before John realized that a treasure was teaching across the street.” However, Ricky is much more than the other half of the indomitable Banderob team. She stands up for what is just and fair, often looking at a situation from the student perspective. In fact, it is hard to imagine the School without Ricky here to ask...
Read MoreJohn Banderob
John Banderob Math Department and Robbins House Head Member of the Faculty, 1974–2016 Dare to be true, nothing can need a lie; A fault which needs it most, grows two thereby. John Banderob embodies our institutional memory, and we’ve relied on his honesty and stories in our daily work. I’ve been privileged to witness John empowering students to be truthful in Discipline Committee meetings. John teaches students respect by being respectful, and to listen by listening. In and out of the DC, students and adults pay attention when he speaks. In the classroom, John often quotes “If all...
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