Concord Academy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Concord Academy is an independent college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12 located in Concord, Massachusetts. Founded in 1922, the school enrolls 365 boarding and day students from 10 countries and 23 states. Concord Academy's mascot is the Chameleon and the school's motto is "Learning for Learning's Sake."

[edit] History

Concord Academy was founded on Main Street in Concord, MA, in September 1922. It was initially an all-girls school. The first head of school was Elsie Garland Hobson. Classes in the early years were small; the class of 1924 numbered only three students. 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 college preparatory schools. Currently the Head of School is Jacob A. Dresden, who was appointed in July, 2000.

[edit] Traditions

Concord Academy has a number of distinctive school traditions, most importantly Chapels 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 is scheduled for fifteen 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 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.
• Matt Taibbi - Columnist for Rolling Stone.
• 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 - 2002 National Book Award-Winning author of The Three Junes.
• Drew Gilpin Faust - 28th President of Harvard University.
• Nate Borofsky - member of the Brooklyn-based folk-rock group Girlyman.
• Hilary B. Price - creator of the syndicated comic strip Rhymes with Orange.
• Larry Goldings - jazz pianist, organist, and composer & 2006 Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Album Individual or Group for the album, "Trio Beyond - Saudades."
• Claudia Gonson and Sam Davol - members of the indie band the Magnetic Fields.
• Anita Lo - Chef/Owner of acclaimed New York restaurant Anissa.
• Matthew L. Nicholson - Renown Classics engineer and elite New York prep school Latin instructor.
• Ed Droste - Singer and songwriter for the successful Brooklyn-based indie band, Grizzly Bear (band)
• Evgenia Peretz - Editor at Vanity Fair

[edit] Trivia

• A previous school named Concord Academy existed between 1822 and 1863, which Henry David Thoreau attended in 1823, and later helped re-establish and teach at the school in 1838.

[edit] External links

• Concord Academy's Website