Williston Northampton School - Log Yearbook (Easthampton, MA)

Page 21 text:

From the Headmaster During the fall of my own senior year in boarding school we had an undefeated football team. School spirit was a tangible thing then. We could see it every Saturday as the entire school, without rallies, UMAC, request from players, coaches, masters or even the Headmaster, eagerly crowded the bleachers to cheer loud and long. School spirit was a little different, but still tangible at Williams -- at a peak in any contest against Amherst. The same spirit was apparent in the atmosphere at South Kent School, where I was privileged to teach for seven years. Nobody would consider missing a school activity. Rather it was because of a respect for the intangibles, a pride and ap- preciation for what the headmaster and senior master, along with the school, from its difficult beginnings in a small farm house, had accomplished. In a different way, but nonetheless sincere, tangible, and real, school spirit is at Williston. Three boys of widely differing backgrounds and accomplishments are interviewed for the English Exchange Program, each one bespeaks his appreciation for his Williston opportunity in every word of the interview, Williston boys complain about the food, bells, masters, ringers,l, work, restrictions - and when away from Easthampton or at another school are the first to defend the Williston spirit of honesty, fair play, and decency. Masters give spirit too - generally finding that this is the atmosphere most conducive to getting on with the job. This explains in part the very low faculty turn- over. It also explains why many boys, who have not made the grade, beg for another chance, and failing that, re- apply the following year. lt explains the barrage of en- thusiastic letters from parents following the family week- ends , the Willistonian's quest for excellence. the majority of the faculty studying further in the summer, the flexi- bility of the trustees in taking debts in stride to make more facilities available for more boys and much else which constitutes a strong faith in boys, and, simply, that this is far from a perfect school, thank goodness, but it is one that is trying very hard. a fi L 'f - ,W -. fag fs 1, .K e fa 3 Q Q' ,Q ,Ja K K Tw! , ,gn 4,-as ' as ,jj .tg yum mt sq, . in . f ,fe ' at sb at .i I 5 59 X 10, 4 t 'i'5Ffe,Ew c . if ,M With pleasant words and a sincere smile, Mrs. Rabideau is a valuable member in her secretarial service to the Williston Community. 17