The Traditions We Left Behind
Elizabeth Girian '20 and Caroline Wilcox '20
March 2, 2018
Filed under Features
When thinking of Groton, the traditions that come to mind include Roll Call, Parlor, Chapel, and surprise holiday. These are the constants in our Groton careers – but what were the traditions before our time? How have Groton traditions changed over the decades? For one, there were chapel talks given from ...
Greece to the Ganges: 2018 Global Education Trips
March 2, 2018
Filed under Features
This year, the Global Education program will run trips to India, Greece, China, and Tanzania. The majority of travel opportunities will happen this spring break, with Tanzania being the only summer trip. From March 4 to March 19, faculty members Tom Lamont and Monika Andersson will lead...
A History of Groton’s Model UN Club
March 2, 2018
Filed under Features
This year, on January 25, twelve students departed for a three-day conference in Boston, to attend the Harvard Model United Nations Conference. Since its founding in 1986, this event annually attracts students from regions as far away as South America and Africa. The conference, run entirely by current Harvard...
The Social Significance of Cabaret
March 2, 2018
Filed under Features
This winter, Groton’s theater program will be producing Cabaret. The show follows Sally Bowles (Lily Cratsley ‘19), an ignorant expatriate, on her quest for fame in the tawdry Kit Kat Klub as well as her relationship with Cliff Bradshaw (Christian Carson ‘18), a visiting American novelist. Mea...
Breaking the Other Barrier: Students with English as a Second Language
March 2, 2018
Filed under Features
For many students, the transition to Groton and boarding school life is uniquely challenging. New friends, teachers, subjects, and surroundings on the Circle are daunting, even to the most outgoing student. Some students have yet another variable to juggle: language. Approximately eight percent of the student b...
The Return of the Lower School Play
January 19, 2018
Filed under Features
The Lower School play is based on the book “Just So Stories” by Rudyard Kipling. The show will be directed by Nicole Harris, stage managed by Rose Gil ‘18 and musically directed by Lilias Kim ‘19. Ms. Harris first started working at Groton through the dance program with her non-profit Monkey Hous...
Music to Micro-Turbines: Winter FSAs
January 19, 2018
Filed under Features
This winter students are pursuing Faculty Sponsored Activities (FSAs) in a variety of areas. Music FSAs are as popular as ever, but students are also committing to art, science, and humanities activities as well. Candilla Park: Classical Piano Candilla Park ‘18, who is well-kn...
Getting to Know Ed
January 19, 2018
Filed under Campus Life, Features, Showcase
Does the name Ed Wetterwald ring a bell? For many students, he is the mysterious man behind the weekly menu emails. However, what most of us aren’t familiar with are the aspects of this Groton chef outside of Groton. Oftentimes in the Groton bubble, we forget about the others around us, only getting ...
What Happens to Teacher Evaluations?
January 19, 2018
Filed under Features
Teacher evaluations seem to play very small roles in students’ lives. We get the pieces of paper with a couple of generic questions about the course we took, we scribble down some answers, turn them in, and forget about them. But what happens after we hand in the evaluations? Who looks at them? Ar...
Changing Places: Experiences on Exchange
October 26, 2017
Filed under Features, Showcase
Even putting aside this year’s new students, Groton has seen some new faces – and accents – around the Circle. Groton has hosted four exchange students this term: Simon Oates, Freya Coull and Scarlett Watkins from England; and Charlie Yates from Bishops College in Africa. In turn, Andrew Porter ...
Inside Ten to Twelve
October 26, 2017
Filed under Features
While students are still acclimating to the new school year, something else lingers in seniors’ minds: when does 10-12 start? Every year this privilege is highly anticipated, evidenced by the excited screams of seniors heard on the first night of 10-12. In many ways, 10-12 embodies what it means to...
How to Get into Groton
October 26, 2017
Filed under Features
March 10 holds a special place in the minds of many prospective students: it is the day on which the School releases admission decisions. Envelopes arrive, and the online portal opens. The endless pages of questions, hours spent writing essays, and standardized tests have led up to this moment. To an ou...
Groton Games, Finally Explained
October 6, 2017
Filed under Features
On the first Sunday of the school year, new and returning students participated in an afternoon of games on the Circle. Every dorm on campus showed enthusiasm and dorm spirit as they tried to beat other dorms in kickball and a Hunger Games-modeled competition. Similar in scope to Spring Fling, the traditio...
Staying Connected: Groton’s Social Media
October 6, 2017
Filed under Features
Likes. Comments. Shares. We mention these words daily, if not hourly. Technology use is expected for the average Groton student. From getting assignments on MyGroton to posting about Dorm Olympics on our Snapchat stories, captioning “Beat St. Marks!” under Instagram posts or checking Facebook for ...
Inside the Wellness Center
October 6, 2017
Filed under Features
This year marks the formal opening of the Wellness Center. Inside the suite are fluffy cushions for relaxing, board games, meditation pillows, yoga mats, and prayer books, courtesy of Chaplain Christopher Whiteman. In addition, students may use “decompression rooms” to chat with peer counselors, e...
Meet Your Form Leadership
September 11, 2017
Filed under Features, Showcase
While the deans, headmaster and other administrators hold much decision-making power around campus, students from every form have a chance to make their voices heard through their elected student leaders. The Circle Voice has talked with all of them. Malik Gaye and Elechi Egwuekwe ’18 are this year’s sen...
A Survival Guide to Groton
September 11, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
Welcome new and returning students to the Circle! For those unaccustomed to life at Groton School, this is a survival guide to help you familiarize yourself with your new home, traditions unique to Groton, popular places to eat, and things to do. Cutting the Circle: Don’t At Groton, our li...
The Next Step: Senior Gap Years
June 2, 2017
Filed under Features
With the end of the year approaching, sixth formers begin preparing for the next chapter of their lives beyond the Circle. For many, this means attending college following summer break, but for others this means taking a year off from school to pursue other interests, seeking to gain a unique view o...
Word on the Circle
June 2, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
“My favorite memory this term has been delivering my chapel talk. Being able to openly reflect on my life experiences in that pulpit felt simply surreal. Even the process of writing it and preparing for its delivery was incredibly fulfilling. I cried as I typed out its final sentences.” – Mike Ad...
Afternoon Fun: Spring FSA’s
May 11, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features, Showcase
This term, the FSA, or Faculty Sponsored Activity, program is as popular as ever, allowing students to pursue an activity they are interested in as their afternoon activity. These FSAs span a wide array of activities, including: Horseback Riding: This term, Sandra Redjali ’19 is doing a horseback riding FSA with ...
Spring has sprung!
May 11, 2017
Filed under Features, Showcase
As winter term has come to an end, students and faculty members are looking forward to the spring. After months of cold and snow, they yearn for warmer weather, Spikeball, and sunny afternoons on the Circle. Many highly-anticipated events also take place during the last term of the school year. ...
Seniors reflect on their time at Groton
May 11, 2017
Filed under Features, Showcase
ELYSSA WOLF What is the most valuable lesson that Groton has taught you? I think that Groton has taught me how to prioritize. You learn to choose whether you want to spend the night watching movies, running around campus with your friends, or writing a paper. Sometimes you choose the work, somet...
IMPACT impacts Sixth Form
May 11, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
IMPACT, spelt in capital letters but not an acronym, is a self defense and situational awareness course. Many Sixth Formers oppose having to go through this school-required process, popularly known as “model mugging.” Until going to the event, many view IMPACT as a waste of precious spring time, ...
Our top formal proposals
Annie Colloredo-Mansfeld, Assistant Features Editor
January 27, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
The best Winter Formal proposals of all time comprise of a list of four courageous individuals. While there is nothing wrong with the subtle ask during conference, a grandiose performance at Roll Call or check-in is sure to garner the respect and admiration of your peers. #4: Tilly Brooks ‘19 Proposal to Mik...
Students, faculty celebrate diversity on first Cultural Day
Eunice Cho '20, Reporter
January 27, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
On this coming Saturday, January 28th, the first Groton Cultural Day will be held in the Forum. In previous years, Groton hosted the Chinese New Year festival, where Ms. Jin put a whole evening together in the Forum with a themed dinner and various activities, including dance performances and games. Fa...
Mark your calendars: Upcoming SAC events
Layne McKeown, Reporter
January 27, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
JANUARY 28TH Date Night Taxi, 3v3 Basketball Tourney, Groton Cultural Night Once again, the Date Night Taxi will be available this weekend. New to SAC this year, the taxi will take you, your friends, or that special someone out for good food and good times. By emailing the “taxi drivers” the siz...
Brrr… Cool Winter Tutorials!
Rohan Varkey '18, Reporter
January 27, 2017
Filed under Campus Life, Features
As students get older at Groton, their options for courses get larger. Students can save some of their graduation requirements for later years, take electives, or take more courses in areas they are interested in. In Sixth Form, students are allowed to apply for a tutorial, which allows them to do ch...
Boys’ Dorms Pop the Question
Gus Vrattos '19, Reporter
October 21, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
As Groton swings into full gear in the month of October, dorm proposals, a particularly fascinating tradition of Groton, have already taken place. Together, brother/sister dorms share feeds, communal check-ins and fun activities. While typically a boy’s dorm proposes to girl’s dorm, dorm proposals...
“NOT” just a history teacher
Min Shin '18, Assistant Features Editor
October 21, 2016
Filed under Features
He has toured around the country. His records have sold all over the world. He has also taught you the story of the thirteen colonies. History teacher Mr. Lamont reminisces about his previous career in music, its ups and downs, and the places he has played with the bands he has been a part of. “I...
Fab-Lab-ulous: Groton’s own engineering hub
Rohan Varkey '18, Assistant Features Editor
October 21, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
Often while walking through the Forum, people will see the Fab Lab, a space filled with mysterious machines and seemingly incomprehensible projects. Despite the great resources the Fab Lab holds, not many students besides those in Engineering tutorials and classes know exactly what engineering at Groton...
Best bites around Groton
Annie Colloredo-Mansfeld ‘18, Assistant Features Editor
October 21, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
With Parents’ Weekend here and St. Mark’s Day soon approaching, students and parents are faced with the annual opportunity of eating off campus. Eating food other than that of the dining hall is always one of the most exciting prospects of Parents’ Weekend, and there are are plenty of restaurants...
Word On The Circle
October 7, 2016
Filed under Features
Finn Lynch '19 “Leading one of the faculty dogs up to my classroom to illustrate Phoenician sacrifice. It was following me up to my classroom, and it was quite a rotund animal. And it sort of just plopped itself down, and I thought I could illustrate Phoenician sacrifice.” - Dr. Reyes F...
Alumna of the Issue: Ellen Boiselle ‘85
October 7, 2016
Filed under Alumni Features, Features
Ellen Boiselle graduated from Groton in 1985. After leaving the circle, she attended Yale where she majored in English. Throughout college, she was never sure what she would choose as a career path, but found that she had always had a fascination with psychology. However, toward the end of her time at...
ALICE in Groton
October 7, 2016
Filed under Features, School History and Policy, Showcase
If there is ever a threat on campus, what should we do? Do we lockdown? Do we run? Do we counter? On September 15th, Detective Rachel Mead answered these questions, presenting a new, government-recommended lockdown protocol that Groton will be adopting. Whereas the previous lockdown-only procedures...
More than a room
October 7, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
Here at Groton, dorms mostly contain the same type of rooms: normal, non-prefect singles, doubles, and triples that have the same amount of space and a similar setup. However, there are some rooms that break this mold. These rooms can have more space, an interesting setup, or a distinguishing feature...
Guide to “Surprise” Holiday
Min Shin '18, Assistant Features Editor
September 13, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
As students and faculty return to the Circle after a long, well-spent summer vacation, there is no doubt that everyone is longing for the same day: Surprise Holiday. For those of you who are not aware, once a term the Deans and the Headmaster give students and faculty a day off to relax or head into...
MasterChef: Groton Faculty Edition
Annie Colloredo-Mansfeld '18, Assistant Features Editor
September 13, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
From dorm feeds to advisory dinners to class time rewards, teachers cook snacks for students throughout the school year. But a few teachers go above and beyond with regard to the quantity and quality of their meals. These delicious treats comprise this list. Mrs. LeRoy’s Monkey Bread Mrs. LeRoy is v...
A History of Senior Shenanigans
June 5, 2016
Filed under Campus Life, Features
Pranks. Pranks. Pranks. What to do without pranks? A Groton without pranks is like a rainforest without rain, a peanut-butter and jelly without the jelly. Recently, graduates who returned to the Circle began conversations asking, "So, what kind of pranks are you kids up to nowadays?" Groton has a lon...
From Soul Sauce to Seoul
Zizi Kendall '17, Online Editor
June 5, 2016
Filed under Alumni Features, Features, Showcase
There is one question that plagues us all from the ages of five to twenty five: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" For most little kids the answer happens to be an astronaut, ballerina, or rock star. While these career paths rarely pan out, things have gone according to plan in the most unexpect...
From Boarding School to Baywatch
May 13, 2016
Filed under Alumni Features, Features
Not many Grotonians know that along with FDR ‘00 and Candace Nelson ‘91, one of Groton’s better-known alumni is Alexandra Paul, one of the stars of the original “Baywatch” series. Born in New York, Paul arrived at Groton as a Third Former and graduated in ‘81. Although she would later...