According to Choirmaster Michael Smith, the earliest known appearance of the carol was in a Swedish song collection Piae Cantiones, published in 1582. This incredibly influential collection, which was widely circulated throughout Europe, also presented the tune used for "Good King Wenceslas" and "Gaudeamus igitur," a tune and text combination which appeared in the Groton School Sing-Song Book circa 1926. "Personent hodie" may actually be a parody of a much older Latin hymn, "Intonent hodie voces ecclesiae" going back to at least 1360. In fact, one of the stated purposes of the Swedish Lutheran Piae Cantiones was to "protestantize" many older Catholic texts, and there is a certain playful quality in many of the songs, making them appropriate for student usage. continued


Listen to "Personent hodie" as performed by the Choir and congregation at the 2006 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

                Read an English translation of the carol.

Alex Klein — Making an Impact
An avid actor, debate team officer, and skier, Sixth Former Alex Klein has experienced some not so typical vacations in the past year. These vacations, inspired and supported by Alex's family, most especially his father, encouraged Alex to consider how he might make a positive impact on the world, even at a relatively young age.

Last March, Alex had the opportunity to immerse himself in a vastly different culture when he journeyed to Mozambique, Africa, to work with the VillageReach organization. For 10 days, his world full of plentiful food, video games, and computers was supplanted by an environment where electricity is a rarity, where people walk five to 10 miles to receive medical care, and where clean water is scarce. continued

A Passion for Art
Sixth Former Josephine Ho has been drawing since she first learned how to hold a pencil. Her early attempts were typical toddler offerings, full of color and motion rather than focused on technique. In second grade, Jo recalls her introduction to formal training in drawing, and in third grade she won first place in an international contest for aspiring artists with her work, an abstract oil-based pastel of a woman's vanity display. The recognition confirmed for Jo that she had found a passion. continued

To see a selection of Josephine's work,
please view the slideshow.

From the Desk of Hale Smith, CFO
Endicott Peabody founded Groton School in 1884 with a unique vision: a church school where faculty and students live and work together in a family setting. Groton has always been a family affair where the institution's focus is on its students and their intellectual, physical, and moral well-being. As in all family settings, Groton has always needed to balance its expenditures against its available resources.

The family analogy only partially explains Groton because it is also a business, albeit one motivated by mission rather than by profit. The mission was and remains to equip its students for the "active work of life." Unlike successful for-profit organizations, Groton's business model has depended upon the generosity of past and current donors to sustain it. continued

Sharing Holiday Warmth
Groton students have an assignment over the holidays — to return to School with a gently used or new article of outdoor gear. With several worthy causes to support, the Groton community has the opportunity to share the warmth of the holidays by donating a coat, vest, hat, or a pair of gloves to those in need.

Coats for Kids, a community service project that distributes winter coats to children in the greater Boston area, is sponsored by Anton's Cleaners. Although new to Groton this year, this highly successful venture is in its 13th year and seeks to collect 60,000 winter coats. Prior to vacation, Austin Anton '10 enthusiastically encouraged faculty, staff, and his fellow students to fill up the drop-off bin located in one of the Dining Hall coat rooms with a spare or outgrown coat to help the effort that ends in mid-January. continued

Now Pitching for Groton...Ian Gracey
On December 8, more than 35 parents joined Rick Commons and Ian Gracey, Groton's new Director of Admission and baseball coach, for a roundtable discussion on new initiatives in admissions at the School. The event is one of several roundtables sponsored by the Parents Association this year.

Ian described ways that Groton can capitalize on its small size and be even more personal in the admissions process. By giving prospective families an opportunity to talk with parent volunteers and with students and faculty who can speak to their interests, the School can effectively convey the strengths of the Groton experience. continued

The Bells of St. John's Chapel
Groton School is exceedingly fortunate to have in the tower of St. John's Chapel one of the finest peals of bells in the United States and, indeed, in the entire world. Bands of ringers regularly come to the Circle from all over the United States, and from as far away as the United Kingdom, to ring these bells. In October, an English band from the Diocese of Oxford successfully completed a three and a half hour continuous peal of Cambridge Surprise Royal. Last May, Greg Russell '77 with ringers from Church of the Advent and Old North Church in Boston organized a reunion bell ringing opportunity. Alumni from many forms returned to the tower and, once again, filled the Circle with joyous music. continued

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