As snow fell on the Circle, the energy inside the Campbell Center was electrifying. The Paul Taylor Dance Company (Taylor 2) took to the stage of the Asen Family Theater to bring Paul Taylor's muscular and vibrant choreography to life. Six dancers from the acclaimed company comprise Taylor 2, and they travel across the United States and overseas to bring Taylor's work to a wider audience in small venues.

The performance in the Asen Theater enthralled the assembled Groton School community, which included staff and many faculty children who seized the opportunity to view the company. The dancers performed four pieces: Airs, Esplanade, Duet From Roses, and Polaris, using combinations of different dancers. continued

Club Swim Team Takes to the Pool
Splash! This winter term 13 Groton students dove into the pool to swim competitively for the Nashoba Aquatic Club, a member of the Metro Winter Swimming League including club teams from around the Boston area. Sixth former Amy Francisco, an avid swimmer on a local summer club team, had long desired to bring a swim team to Groton School. This year the stars aligned and, along with faculty member Kate Matwychuk, she inspired sufficient interest among the student community to offer a club team to Groton students. Club status is important, for it allows second and third form students to participate, as FSAs (faculty sponsored activities) are reserved exclusively for Upper School students.

The team provides an alternative competitive outlet for those students who do not have a winter sport expertise. Like with squash, an athlete can achieve interscholastic success swimming competitively beginning as a teenager, something that is nearly impossible in ice hockey or basketball. Thus the Groton School swim club enabled student athletes who are not varsity or even junior varsity material in other winter sports to pursue a competitive winter schedule. Most of the students who signed up did so without any prior swim team experience, including Michael Hotz '10 and Sander Scott '10. continued

A View from the Pulpit: Brian Fidler, Chaplain
There are so many things I could write concerning the life of the School in St. John's Chapel!

Do I write about that institution known as the "Chapel Talk" in which students and faculty embrace the privilege and responsibility of speaking from their hearts and minds four mornings each week? Or do I underscore the continuity of Sunday worship in the Episcopal tradition since the founding of Groton School? Do I speak to the richness and breadth of our music, integrally woven into the fabric of all that we do in St. John's Chapel throughout each week, or celebrate the fact that students of diverse faiths are embracing ways to explore and enrich their spiritual lives according to their own traditions? There is so much I could say about each of these things.

But for this inaugural update, I would like to write about a moment of grace that occurred this past fall that, for me, underscores why the nurturing of the spiritual life is so important at Groton School. Four of my sixth form students were participating with me in an Ethics course entitled Service-Learning and American Society, combining traditional classroom work (reading, discussion, writing) with weekly service, reflecting on that experience through journal-writing. continued

Kristen Midon's Team in Training Success
One hallmark of a Groton graduate is perseverance, and, when coupled with a Grotonian's dedication to service the combination is unstoppable. On January 13 Kristen Midon '01 and her formmate Christina Zaroulis embraced these qualities when they completed the Disney World Marathon. Both women are avid runners and saw the Disney Marathon as a chance to celebrate a friendship that was forged around the Circle, and to join forces to benefit cancer research.

Kristen, whose goal was to beat her race time from the Nashville Country Music Marathon, joined Team in Training not only to help her prepare, but as importantly to raise money on behalf of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The cause is near to her heart as Kristen’s sister, Stephanie Midon '03, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the spring of 2007. continued

Chip MacDonald '86 on Center Ice
A Groton Zebra makes it to center ice, in stripes no less! Chip McDonald '86 was selected as one of four referees for the fabled "Beanpot Championship" at the Boston Garden February 11. Refereeing the Beanpot is a family tradition as Chip's grandfather, Bill Stewart, Jr., refereed the first Beanpot Championship in 1952 and took the ice, for the Championships, 12 more times in his career. Chip was selected from a referee pool of 100 ECAC and Hockey East officials. continued