To the community:

With the arrival of Prize Day, we find ourselves amid a strange mix of emotions: the relief of finishing our twelve-page Reunion Weekend issue, the pride of watching next year’s editors take over, and the nostalgia of writing our last piece for The Circle Voice. Just a year ago, we published our first issue with an unusually fast deadline, scrambling to complete a months-long process within two weeks. Yet, despite the challenges of crash-coursing InDesign layout and adjusting to new leadership roles, our team successfully completed the first paper on time. This dedication, passion, and initiative among the CV staff would remain evident throughout the year, driving us in our efforts to produce a great publication across seven sections, eight issues, and one common mission: to work for change.

Though both of us joined the Circle Voice for varied reasons, we have come to share a common love of telling stories and using the CV as a vehicle for discourse. I, Alisa, joining the newspaper in Second Form, strove to maximize the CV’s capacity as a voice of change in our school, using the paper to reexamine our school’s ideological echo chambers and social media activism. And I, Eric, saw it as an opportunity to share meaningful societal critiques, covering topics from cryptocurrency manipulation to voting rights legislation.

Through our years of interviewing, writing, discussing, and editing, we have learned from those working above and under us to see the stories hiding in every corner of our diverse and eccentric community. Because of the CV, we have been lucky enough to hear the origin stories of both of our wonderful “Bagel ladies,” Suki and Adri, learned the recipe for Dining Hall tofu, and explored the underground archives.

This year, we added a new section, Commentary, as an experiment to extend the CV’s mission of fostering dialogue beyond the scope of our school community. We implemented two new initiatives, a layout guide and managing staff, to streamline the CV’s publication and return to our pre-pandemic production output. Throughout the year, we have also introduced fresh article formats, such as faculty child spotlights, recipes, crosswords, and even an entire satire issue.

Of course, this year would not have been quite as meaningful or even possible without the work of our editorial staff––the CV community. You have put the soul in our newspaper and contributed to making the CV a true vessel for student voices. We couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, hilarious team to share eight to ten pizza party/layout sessions or chaotic all-school open meetings with.

To Ella and Chloe: we are especially proud of your selection as Editors. You both possess the dignity, poise, and devotion needed to continue the CV’s important work as the voice of our school.

And to our younger writers: your optimism and determination is what keeps, and has always kept, the CV fresh and flourishing. We hope you never become discouraged from writing and continue to be courageous in voicing any ideas you have about our school and society.

Thank you to our readers within Groton’s student, faculty, parent, and alumni population. Seeing each of you in the Library or Forum flipping through the CV validates the hours we pour into each issue and demonstrates just how critical the CV is in connecting our community.

The CV has been the most important facet of our time at Groton. It has helped us appreciate the lesser-heard stories on campus, question the norms of our school, and understand the needs of our student body. We can’t imagine a Groton experience without the CV.

It has been a true honor working for you all.

All the best,

Alisa and Eric