Concord Academy

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Concord Academy is an independent college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12 located in Concord, Massachusetts. Chartered in 1922, the school enrolls 364 boarding and day students from 9 countries and 25 states. Concord Academy's mascot is the Chameleon, the visual identifier is the Chapel Window, and the school's motto is "Learning for Learning's Sake."

Contents 1 History 2 Traditions 3 Mission Statement 4 Notable Alumnae/i 5 External link

[edit] History

Concord Academy was founded on Main Street in Concord, MA, in September 1922. It was initially an all-girl's school. The first head of school was Elsie Garland Hobson. Classes in the early years were small; the class of 1924 numbered only three girls. The school grew markedly in size and gained national prominence under the leadership of Elizabeth B. Hall.

The school became co-ed in 1971. Under the leadership of Thomas Wilcox (Headmaster 1981-2000) the school enhanced its academic reputation and is now regarded as one of the nation's top prep schools. Currently the Head of School is Jacob A. Dresden, who took the position in July, 2000.

[edit] Traditions

Concord Academy has a number of distinctive school traditions. Two of these are Chapel and Common Trust.

Three times a week, faculty, students, and administrators gather in the Elizabeth B. Hall chapel. At these meetings, a member of the senior class or the faculty delivers a talk to the entire group. While giving a chapel is not required, every senior has the option and the vast majority choose to do so. A chapel generally lasts fifteen to twenty minutes, and the speaker can talk about any subject he wants. Students typically play two pieces of music in their chapel: one before the talk begins and one at the chapel's conclusion. Sometimes an additional piece of music is played approximately halfway through the chapel.

Common Trust is the ethical code that all members of the CA community are expected to follow. Common Trust was designed as a substitute to the set of explicit, written rules that usually govern high school student behavior. Under this system it is understood that people will act honorably. For example, students leave their book bags and property lying around the school, rather than using lockers. Similarly, the rooms of boarding students do not have locks on them.

[edit] Mission Statement

"Concord Academy engages its students in a community animated by a love of learning, enriched by a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, and guided by a covenant of common trust.

Students and teachers work together as a community of learners dedicated to intellectual rigor and creative endeavor. In a caring and challenging atmosphere, students are sponsored to discover and develop talents as scholars, artists and athletes and are encouraged to find their voices.

The school is committed to embracing and broadening the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and talents of its people. This diversity fosters respect for others and genuine exchange of ideas.

Common trust challenges students to balance individual freedom with responsibility and service to a larger community. Such learning prepares students for lives as committed citizens."

[edit] Notable Alumnae/i

• Caroline Kennedy (born 1957) - The daughter and sponsor was the only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline.
• Queen Noor of Jordan (born 1951) - The fourth wife and widow of the late King Hussein of Jordan.
• Sebastian Junger (born 1962) - The author of The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea.
• Tom First - "Juice Guru", Co-Creator of Nantucket Nectars Beverage company. He is also known along with Tom Scott as Tom and Tom or The Juice Guys.
• Nina Rothschild Utne - Chair and CEO of Utne Reader.
• Susan Minot - Author of Monkeys, Evening, and Folly.
• Julia Glass - National Book Award-Winning author of Three Junes.

[edit] External link

• Concord Academy School Website