A spirited group of alumni hockey players spanning four decades returned to the ice at Pratt Rink on Sunday, January 11 for the annual alumni hockey game. The game featured a family line comprised of Rob Tittmann ’79, Edward Tittmann ’86 and Jon Luke Tittmann ’14. The players proved they still have plenty of offensive skill, as the odd year squad, led by game organizer P.T. Vineburgh ’97,  edged their even year counterparts 9-8.  

In his recent Chapel talk, senior Miles Petrie discussed the “winter blues”: the tendency for energy to wane in the winter months and for monotony to set in to otherwise dynamic routines.  Describing Middlesex as a gold mine, Miles offered the advice to dig for gold in all that one does at the school.  Below are excerpts from his Chapel, beginning with his opening quote from Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities.

“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.”

Don’t undervalue the things that you do here at Middlesex.  Enjoy your work, have some fun with solving that math problem, get a little crazy with your ideas in English.  Find your passions and experience your passions to the hilt.  I’m sometimes asked, what do you enjoy about theatre, Miles?  Under hot stage lights with sweat trickling down my face, I am at home.  There I encounter this inexplicable, wondrous duality of comfort and belonging, alongside an adrenalin that makes me fully alive, alert, and on edge.  When I’m highly tuned into my character and my castmates, I’m in my element.  

The next question often thrown my way: “Miles, what about running? Moving your legs for hours? That sounds like death.” For me, a rapid heart rate and dripping sweat means improvement.  The smell of rustic pine and feeling of damp socks means unforgettable adventures in Estabrook. Doing mile hill repeats on a rainy day means friendship and being part of a phenomenal, dedicated, and close-knit team.

If we’re talking gold mines, Middlesex is the motherlode.  There is so much for us to get out of this place. But we’re not going to get any gold if we keep skimming the surface. We need to go digging. I can’t just see theatre as pretending and I can’t just see running as simply moving legs.  I have to dig deeper to find out what my passions really mean to me and then take joy in what those passions have to offer me.  

And we have to make that step ourselves. Happiness is a choice.  The biggest source of gold for me at Middlesex has doubtlessly been taking joy in the relationships I have formed in my time here.  And the best way to enjoy these relationships to the fullest is to take time to appreciate and show gratitude them.    

Middlesex is a pretty incredible place.  I feel honored to be a part of this community of fun, kind, and impressive individuals.

“That bright shining world is just waiting to start. No anger or badness, just laughter and gladness, if only you follow your heart.” - from Urinetown: The Musical (performed by the Middlesex Theatre department in 2013)

At Middlesex, our Community Life program is about teaching and ensuring healthy living in our community.  At regular assemblies and meetings designed to stimulate open conversation, we address a range of topics and issues.  This week's topic was inclusivity.  Students and faculty met in combined advising groups to share their stories - for four minutes each.  The premise behind the exercise is that when we are comfortable telling our stories, it is easier to be our true selves and therefore to be true to who we are and who we want to be.  As many discovered, four minutes is a long time to speak.  In the exercise, listening was just as important as speaking; participants were encouraged to be fully present in their listening and to be aware of their own assumptions about the person speaking.  

After the exercise was over, the groups discussed such questions as: Did anything surprise you about what you heard? Did you find that some of your assumptions about the speaker did not hold true?  Do you feel that you are able to be your “real self” at Middlesex?  What can each of us do to ensure that this community is one where everyone is comfortable telling his/her true story?  As a community, we seek to be the very best version of ourselves day in and day out.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day, music faculty member Marcus Rabb recounted these musical moments closely linked to the civil rights movement:

1.  "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - written by James Weldon Johnson to honor Booker T. Washington, it was first performed as a poem in 1900 before being set to music by John Rosamon Johnson, James's brother.

2.  "Strange Fruit" - sung by Bille Holiday in 1939, "Strange Fruit" is a poem by Abel Meeropol protesting racism and lynching.

3.  Opera singer Marian Anderson sings at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 at the urging of Eleanor Roosevelt after Anderson was denied the opportunity to sing in front of an integrated audience by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

4. "Fables of Faubus" - released in 1959 by Charles Mingus in protest of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who sent the National Guard to prevent the integration of Little Rock High School.

5.  In 1961, Ray Charles refused to perform to a segregated crowd in his home state of Georgia.  

6.  "Alabama" - written by John Coltrane in 1963 in response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing by the Klu Klux Klan that killed four African-American girls.

7.  "A Change is Gonna Come" - released in 1964 by Sam Cooke, it became an anthem for the American civil rights movement.

8.  "Mississippi Goddam" - also released in 1964, this song became another civil rights movement anthem, written and performed by Nina Simone.

9.  In 1968, singer Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark touch on television, angering sponsors.

10  Also in 1968, James Brown performs in Boston after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and walked around Boston neighborhoods urging against rioting.

11.  Stevie Wonder campaigns to declare Dr. King's birthday a holiday, singing "Happy Birthday to ya" in 1981.  The holiday was signed into law by Ronald Reagan in 1983.  

On the evening of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Middlesex community explored and celebrated Dr. King’s legacy through presentations given by several faculty members, each of whom was guided by the question: How does MLK’s message still animate and inspire your work today? Individually and collectively, their responses highlighted not only the significance of Dr. King’s work for civil rights and social justice but also the compelling power and beauty of his words, which were quoted throughout the program.

As the School’s director of community and multicultural development, Carmelo Larose spoke about Dr. King’s legacy as a private citizen who worked to bring about positive change. In his eloquent “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he encouraged all people to care about and participate in causes of social justice, writing, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

In turn, five faculty members spoke about Dr. King’s influence on their lives and/or areas of study. For Tasheana Dukuly, English teacher and coordinator of multicultural student outreach, Dr. King “inspired who I am and what I do” in her career as an educator who hopes to ensure equal opportunities for all students. Drawn to Dr. King’s nonviolent approach of “meeting physical force with soul force,” Visual arts teacher Megan Morrison ’09 shared several examples of “art protest,” such as a wall of graffiti created in the 2011 Egyptian revolution and, more recently, peace posters printed in St. Louis after the shooting death of Michael Brown.

Director of Spiritual and Ethical Education Cabell King reflected on Dr. King’s calling as a religious thinker, a preacher who said that civil rights were simply “part of my ministry” and who believed that all people were obligated to stand against injustice and inequality. Acting on that belief in fighting inequality, history teacher and soccer coach Ken Risley shared past experiences of recruiting young players in Zimbabwe, where he found soccer to be a bridge that could improve educational opportunities for students with fewer alternatives.

Considering the struggle for civil rights from his perspective as a music teacher, Marcus Rabb selected ten songs or musical events that represented important moments in the 20^th century, from the 1900 hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has often been called the “Black National Anthem”; to Charlie Mingus’ 1959 jazz piece, “Fables of Faubus”; to Stevie Wonder’s 1981 composition, “Happy Birthday,” written to promote the creation of an official holiday honoring Dr. King.

As Mr. Rabb aptly summed up, Dr. King’s message was one “of love and hope.” To that end, Mr. Rabb encouraged everyone to look at how they treat other people. “Love yourself,” he concluded, adding, “Don’t let people marginalize you, and don’t do that to others.”

Alumni Weekend 2015

May 8th & 9th

Friday May 8

3:00 – 5:30pm  Afternoon Welcome & Refreshments

Eliot Hall

3:00 – 5:30pm  “It’s Personal” ~ Oral history recordings ~

Warburg Library

6:00 - 6:30pm  Middlesex Musical Performance

Memorial Chapel in Lambert Hall

6:30pm  50th Reunion Dinner

Head’s House

6:30pm  Old Guard Dinner

Dining Hall

 Reunion Class Dinners

Various times and locations

Saturday, May 9

8:00 – 9:30am  Breakfast

Dining Hall, Ware Hall

8:00 – 10:30am  Registration

Reception Area, Ware Hall

8:30 – 12:00pm  “It’s Personal” ~ Oral history recordings ~

Warburg Library

9:00am  Alumni Memorial Chapel Service

Memorial Chapel in Lambert Hall

10:15am  Alumni Assembly

Wood Theatre

Presentation of the Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. ‘20

Distinguished Alumni Award    

11:30am  Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Front steps of Eliot Hall

2015 Inductees:   

N. Samuel Vokey ‘81

Victoria E. Scott ‘00

Eric A. Kester ‘04

Mollie J. Mattuchio‘04

12:30pm  Reunion Luncheon, Afternoon Registration

Reunion Tent, Acorn Fields

1:30 – 5:00pm  “It’s Personal” ~ Oral history recordings ~

Warburg Library

2:00 – 5:00pm  Athletic Contests

2:30pm  Campus Tours

Eliot Hall – “shine only” event

2:30 – 4:00pm  Family Fun  ~ Children’s Crafts & Activities ~

Circle, front of Ware Hall

2:30 – 4:30pm  Middlesex Mementos & Memorabilia

Warburg Library

2:30 – 5:00pm  Alumni Art Show

Wood Theatre Gallery

4:00 – 5:30pm  Afternoon Jazz & Former Faculty Tea

Bancroft Courtyard

5:00 – 5:30pm  5th and 10th Reunion Reception  

Reunion Tent, Acorn Fields **

5:00 – 5:30pm  Mindfulness Gathering

Chapel

5:00 – 9:30pm Childcare

The Children’s Meetinghouse: age infant – 5 years

Landry Center: age 6 – 12 years

5:30 – 9:30pm   Reunion Reception & Dinner

Reunion Tent, Acorn Fields **

** Complimentary beer and wine is available at the Reunion Tent beginning

 at 5:00pm on Saturday.  With the exception of the Reunion Tent, alcohol is

prohibited anywhere on campus.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Registration opens in March 2015.

Check back here for updates about Middlesex School's schedule.

* Classes cancelled Wednesday 1/28 *

* All practices cancelled Monday 1/26 & Tuesday 1/27; Games cancelled Wednesday 1/28*

1/26/15 

With the impending blizzard, expected to begin Monday night, Middlesex has cancelled all classes for Wednesday, January 28.  Students do not need to return from semester break until Wednesday evening by 8:30pm.  The first day of the new semester will be Thursday, January 29.  Administrative offices will be closed beginning at 3pm today and will re-open on Wednesday at noon. Parents of boarding students who have further questions should contact their Heads of House directly. For students who are on campus, we are well-equipped to manage the weather and anticipate no problems.  We will staff on-campus activities, run a regular meal schedule, and keep the students safe and comfortable.  We have the benefit of an outstanding Facilities team that will keep us safe and mobile, and a Health Center that will be fully staffed.  We also have the benefit of a generator that will provide power to Ware Hall and other campus facilities.

On the first day of semester break, Arts Division Head Tom Kane and six Middlesex students spent the day at Concord's 80 Thoreau, helping serve at their annual charity brunch to raise money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. The students supported the 80 Thoreau staff, who were donating their time for the day, by checking coats, waiting and bussing tables, and working the dishwasher to help the restaurant raise over $6,500.  The Food Bank estimates that each dollar raised provides for three individual meals, putting the day's results at close to 20,000 meals.  It wasn't all work... after service, the MX volunteers were treated to an awesome brunch cooked by 80 Thoreau’s head chef, Carolyn Johnson.

pictured:  Vincent Vela (Co-owner) Caroline Daley ‘16, William Fletcher ‘16, Rock Hoffman ‘16, Ian Calhoun MX ’02 (Co-owner), Tom Kane, Zoe Kane ‘18, Valerie Chen ’18, Emily Li ‘18

With the beginning of the second semester in sight on Friday, January 23, Middlesex juniors gathered for an evening chapel to initiate thinking about their senior year and, especially, the leadership roles that will be theirs in a matter of months.  Along with Cabell King, the School’s director of spiritual and ethical education, the class was joined by an engaging guest speaker, the Reverend John H. Finley IV.

Eminently qualified to address the topic of leadership and social responsibility, Mr. Finley is the co-founder and head of Epiphany School, a tuition-free, independent middle school for children of economically disadvantaged families from Boston neighborhoods. Since establishing Epiphany in 1997, Mr. Finley has helped launch 19 similar schools across the country.  In his vocation as an Episcopal priest, he serves the parish of St. Mary’s in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and is also affiliated with the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill.

As a graduate of Groton School, Mr. Finley told the juniors that he felt as though he had “been where you are,” and in the years since his Harvard graduation, he has found work that is both greatly needed and highly rewarding. Because at-risk students’ test scores start to decline in the fourth and fifth grades in the Boston area, it was clear to him that an intensive middle school program might make a difference in the long-term success of those children. To that end, Epiphany’s school day is long – from 6:00 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. – and includes classes, sports, three meals, and homework support during an academic year spanning 11 months.

In addition, Mr. Finley said that Epiphany works closely with students’ families to gain their trust and to make education a shared endeavor. Given the small enrollment of 90 students (chosen by lottery), he affirmed, “We know each other well and are committed to each other.” Even after students graduate, Epiphany continues to help its alumni with securing summer jobs, SAT preparation, and, later, full-time employment. At least 70 percent of Epiphany graduates finish college in four years; 85 percent graduate in six years.

Adhering to Epiphany’s policy of never expelling a student can be a challenge, Mr. Finley acknowledged. But after nearly 20 years on the job, he affirmed, “I love what I do. It’s not just about lifting up kids; it’s about lifting yourself up. I have learned a lot about myself. It can be really hard not to give up on a kid; but, all kids want to have a good day, and you have to figure out how to make that happen.”

With his characteristic optimism and warmth, Mr. Finley urged the juniors to “find work for others,” adding, “You guys really are amazing, bright, and talented. You can be in any position. I encourage you to be liberal and generous with what you have. Figure out how you can serve others – it is most rewarding.”

Born in England and raised in Sweden, Ashok Pillai was educated at Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan. Following graduation, he earned a B.A. in computer science with honors in mathematics at Williams College, where he was elected to Sigma Xi. He joined the Middlesex faculty in 2007.

You have a very interesting background.  How do you think these experiences have shaped you?

I have grown accustomed to adapting to circumstances as they arise. The public school system in Sweden versus international schools like the one I attended in Japan are drastically different. I grew up being bilingual. In Sweden, I learned in Swedish at school and only spoke Swedish with my friends, and then I came home and spoke only English with my parents. Swedish culture paradoxically is very laid back yet extremely organized, and having grown up in that environment for fourteen years I think I have acquired some of those traits. When I moved to Japan I was now in an even more organized culture, but I was at the disadvantage that I didn't understand what people were saying around me (or what was written on signs). So in order to get around and explore this new environment I came to rely upon my many Japanese-speaking friends. I think up until that point I had been so confident (to the point of being arrogant) in my own abilities to master everything and conquer the world, that this was a humbling experience. I now don't hesitate to ask for help from my friends, colleagues, or students - in fact given how busy we are here at Middlesex, I'm not sure how I'd manage everything otherwise. 

I would also like to think my international experiences have made me more tolerant and understanding of differences in background and culture. I attended very small public schools in Sweden (learning in Swedish) where I was one of only two students that were not your typical fair-skinned, blonde, and blue-eyed Swedes. In Japan I attended an international school, making friends with students from Japan, Korea, USA, UK, Germany, France, Holland, Israel, India, China, Canada, and Australia just to name a few. Being exposed to so many nationalities is probably why I was heavily involved with the International Club at Williams when I came stateside.

You joined Middlesex in 2007 as a math and computer science teacher.  The computer science department has grown tremendously in recent years.  What do you think fuels the interest from students?

I think there are a number of factors here. Since I took over as head of the department in 2009, I have actively recruited a more diverse but competent group of Middlesex students to enroll in my courses. The AP Computer Science courses are unique at our school in that they consist of students from all four grades. Additionally, I think there is a strong push to have students exposed to programming both at the National level and internationally, as it is being recognized as valuable skill that intersects a number of professions and is not simply limited to "code-monkeys" that type away at their computers all day long. We had a very successful "Hour of Code" event on campus in December 2013 where over 75% of the student body (as well as several faculty members including our Head of School) participated and were exposed to the fundamental computer science principles in less than an hour. This past fall enrollment in the AP Computer science course increased by over 100% and we had to create an extra session to accommodate everyone. I also think that overall students have a positive experience in the class and encourage their friends to consider it as well. Several of them continue on to the advanced courses and/or pursue Computer Science degrees in college.

What do you enjoy about teaching?  What brought you to teaching in the first place?  

I somewhat stumbled into the profession, and although at first I was not convinced teaching would be my life-long career, I realized quickly that this is what I enjoy the most. My path actually began as a Teaching Assistant in college. Interacting with students one-on-one and feeling like I was actually making a difference when they were able to understand a concept better is what ultimately brings me joy in this job. There is also a level of excitement about the fact that even though I have a lesson planned, I still don't know what will actually happen when I get to class. There is no monotony of a nine-to-five job when you work at a boarding school! Teaching at a school like MX is great because you form real relationships with your students as you are bound to interact with them outside of the classroom as well. 

You recently became the head coach of Girls' Varsity Volleyball, which just completed its first season as a varsity team.  How was that experience for you?

It's been great! We had a very successful first season where we were able to already establish ourselves as competitive team both in the ISL and in the New England prep school league. With only one player graduating this year, we are very optimistic about our potential and future growth. The experience as a whole was a whirlwind. As this was our first year, there was so much to do, but I had terrific support from our Athletic Department, my fellow head coaches of other sports, our captain Rose-Marie Fuchs ‘15, and most of all from my assistant coach Ruth Baldwin. I learned so much about myself as a coach and I am excited to get back on the court next year to continue to build upon the foundation we established. Luckily, I have the opportunity to coach a local club volleyball team from December through May so I can continue to develop as a coach and continue to work with a sport I love. 

You're an avid futbol fan.  What is your favorite team?

Liverpool FC - a fantastic club with a terrific history. I grew up watching them every weekend in Sweden, and have followed them actively ever since. In fact, when I got my dog last year I named him "Shankly" after the most famous Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly.

There will be no classes on Monday, February 2nd.

Administrative offices will be closed.  There may be late afternoon games, practices, and a speaker.  Check back for updates.

There will be no classes or activities on campus on Monday, February 9th.

All administrative offices are closed.

On Friday evening, One Act plays showcased the work of seven student directors and thirty-four actors from all classes.  Check out photos from the performances!