Reunion Weekend is now only 38 days away! Four days of events, monumental celebrations, and endless opportunities to reconnect. One of the good challenges of such a significant weekend is the number of options to choose from each day. Will you spend a morning with friends catching up or join a tour and a class? The choice is yours. To help with your planning, we continue our highlights of a few signature events.
Today, in part two of this blog series, we explore the Back to the Classroom series, an exciting renovation walking tour, and the beloved return of the co-ed softball game. We look forward to sharing more soon. Be sure to view the schedule, register, and reach out with any questions.
Back to the Classroom Series
Saturday, June 4, 10:30 – 11:30 am
- Project-Based Learning – Design a New Dorm
Led by Director of Global Programs Jonathan Schwab, come and learn about project-based learning, a teaching technique used by NHS faculty, which emphasizes voice, choice, and real-world connection to learning. As a student re-entering the classroom, you will be able to weigh different factors and priorities while planning and designing a hypothetical new dorm for Husky Nation.
- Children’s Story Hour at Gordon-Nash Library
Children’s Librarian Chris Hunewell is excited to host visiting NHS alumni children for a special story hour in the Children’s Room of the Gordon-Nash Library where she will also guide children through a fun, simple craft.
- Celebrating Women at New Hampton School
Visit a Pilalas Math and Science Center classroom and hear reflections from a diverse alumnae panel representing a multitude of decades and professions, as they explore the deep history of Women at New Hampton School. The panel includes Alice Norris ’72, Elizabeth Hassinger ’78, Amanda Beedy Morrison ’96, Alicia Burrows ’00, Halary Patch Leblanc ’01, Katharina Aumueller ’17, and former faculty member Katerina Farr-Williams P’18. Moderated by School Archivist and Library Director Jerrica Blackey P’19.
- African American Contributions to American Theater with Hershell Norwood ’66
Hershell Norwood graduated from Tufts University, where he majored in theater, and then earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Brandeis and an M.A. from Texas Tech, focusing on theater, playwriting, acting, and directing. He has taught those skills, as well as English, critical theory, and advertising and sales skills at a variety of universities and institutions. His acting career has comprised roles in theater, television, and film, and he is the author of two plays, Billie’s Blues, about the struggles of singer Billie Holiday, and Fell the Tallest Tree: Judgment of Paul Robeson.
Currently, Hershell is writing a book entitled, Quest: A Cultural Aesthetic Theory for Black Theatre, Harlem 1925-1941, which focuses on the highly influential Harlem Renaissance movement and what it can teach us about the black aesthetic.
Hershell’s book is a fascinating investigation of a topic that encompasses so many complex issues that we have grappled with for centuries. Please join Hershell as he leads what promises to be a stimulating discussion.
Co-ed Softball Game
Friday, June 3 at 1 pm
Softball Field
Bring your glove and join NHS Softball Coach Eileen Williams P’22, Carey Fusick Rodriguez ’95, and other softball enthusiasts for a rousing co-educational game! Carey and her family helped revitalize softball as a co-curricular sport in the mid-1990s when Carey was a student at New Hampton. Eileen is the wife of Head of School Joe Williams and proud mom of daughter Carter who graduates in May 2022 and heads off to Providence College next fall. She is also the Head Coach of Women’s Softball at Husky Nation and is excited to be in the throes of their current season.
Campus Tour of Latest NHS Renovations
Friday, June 3 at 4 pm and Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 pm
In the three years since NHS hosted an in-person Reunion, a number of capital projects have happened or are nearing completion. Make time to visit the school’s new Health and Wellness Center located on two levels in the Arts and Athletics Center, including a meditation and yoga studio. The Gordon-Nash Library was recently acquired by NHS and now offers a wealth of educational and literary resources for both the school community and New Hampton’s town residents. Work is nearing completion in Lane Hall, the last building in Academic Row to be completely renovated while maintaining its historic façade. The Academic Research Center, built in 1997, has undergone an interior facelift to house the Robert D. Kennedy Center for Innovation, Robotics Lab, and 3D printers. The College Counseling Office has relocated to a newly designed space on the first floor. New classrooms were also added to the third floor. A special tour of these new and renewed spaces is part of the Reunion Weekend schedule. Check it out!
