Holderness News

The health and safety of Holderness School students is always our first priority. So when students return to our beautiful, 600-acre campus in New Hampshire’s White Mountains this fall, they’ll find significant changes to their usual daily routines, all to greatly reduce the risk of COVID-19. From wearing a mask in class to staggered mealtimes, these new measures will help us meet the realities of pandemic life - and provide new opportunities for growth. 

Holderness School’s environmental sustainability efforts are getting a major jolt this summer thanks to the construction of a 460-kilowatt, on-campus photovoltaic array.

Holderness School is pleased to announce that the science and math building currently under construction will be named The Davis Center in honor of Trustee Andrew Davis P'18 and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund. 

After a storied 36-year coaching career that produced countless elite skiers for Holderness School, Director of Eastern Alpine Craig Antonides ’77 is moving on to pursue new adventures. 

23 Holderness School student-athletes have committed to play competitive college athletics.  These students represent some of the top athletic talent in New Hampshire and New England and are testaments to Holderness School’s culture of academic and athletic excellence. 

A big part of what makes Holderness School so special are the teachers. This summer, we’re taking the time to get to know just a few of the amazing educators who call Holderness home. 

After a three-month hiatus, Holderness School is excited to once again offer on-campus tours for prospective students.

The works of art on the walls of this digital gallery were made by Holderness School students representing grades 9-12 in various photography and studio art classes throughout the 2019-2020 school year. 

Some of the images are an observation and illustration of the incredible complexity and significance of the time we live in; some pieces are commentary about pollution and climate change while other pieces are simply beautiful and pleasing to view. They all have merit and purpose.

 

The artwork also illustrates the interests and concerns of young artists figuring out their role in the world. Their work is sincere and candid and shows the depth of talent in the visual arts here at Holderness School. These students are extremely creative, intelligent, mature, and most of all, capable of creating insightful artwork with substance and significance.

Holderness School celebrated this year’s Prize Day in unique fashion.  While the school could not gather on Livermore Common to honor the academic successes and intellectual grit shown by our students, the community found creative ways to celebrate the achievements of our scholars.  Throughout the week, academic departments shared short, meaningful videos that recognized the work, growth, and accomplishments of our artists, historians, scientists, theologians, mathematicians, and linguists.  And, today, Holderness School came together virtually to honor several students who have made extraordinary contributions to the community.  

At Holderness School, Senior Thesis is the culminating academic experience that affords every student the opportunity to practice research and presentation skills with guidance from a class advisor and mentoring from adults with expertise within the student’s field of interest.  The Senior Thesis program is a bridge for seniors to move smoothly towards the college-level.  The project begins by asking a question that is of interest to the student.  Here are our 2020 seniors essential questions:

It feels like coronavirus and stay-at-home orders have changed virtually everything in life.  But one thing that hasn’t changed is the power of a good book.  We asked the community what they are reading to deal with a world that feels kind of upside down.

 

I must admit, I am writing this list of advice in part so someone will admonish me if I am not following it. It is hard to create new habits. Harder still to develop boundaries with technology when it is one of the few ways we can feel connected to each other during this time. When drafting advice for distance learning, I kept coming back to the health and wellness concerns and struggles I am having sitting in front of my computer right now. But health and wellness advice IS advice for distance learning. Also, as Brad Rotheberger succinctly put it, “school is not the most important thing right now, safety is.” 

This year, Earth Day is going digital. 

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people worldwide are observing the 50th anniversary of Earth Day from home – and the Holderness community is no exception. 

Holderness has a long and deep connection to the outdoors.  You don’t have to be outdoorsy to come to Holderness, but a Holderness education will undoubtedly involve the outdoors.  And now all you Bulls are stuck inside. So here are 5 tips and tons of links to free content to help you stay engaged while social distancing. Of course, if you’re missing campus, check in on the progress of our Math and Science Building or see what’s happening in downtown Plymouth. 

Holderness School will participate in a virtual 5K on April 10th to help unlock funds to fight COVID-19.

Winter is in full effect at Holderness School, and we are once again affirming our legacy of snowsports excellence in a variety of competitive disciplines.

Elections are kind of a big deal in New Hampshire.  The Granite State treasures its first-in-the-nation primary status just as much as it loves its pristine lakes and mountains.  It’s a privilege to catalyze any presidential race, and New Hampshire goes all out. Our roadsides are littered with campaign signs, our televisions are clogged with advertisements.  Stand outside long enough, and you’re bound to be greeted by an overzealous canvasser or candidate doing their best to convince you to mark their name on your ballot. 

Slalom gates, halfpipes, and terrain parks are where Holderness School athletes have traditionally excelled. But for an increasing number of Holderness athletes, the school’s new Big Mountain program is the future of competitive skiing and snowboarding.

Affirming Holderness School’s position as the premier snow sports school in the country and committing to the school’s multi-sport athletic philosophy, the New Hampshire boarding school recently received a transformational $6 million gift.  Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Holderness School is able to jumpstart fundraising initiatives that will better support world-class outdoor athletic facilities and impact every athletic team and snow sports discipline.

Surrounded by some of the best climbing spots on the East Coast, the Holderness School Rock Climbing Team is privileged to spend their afternoons exploring the cliffs of Rumney, New Hampshire.  Head Coach Erik Thatcher ‘08 pushes his climbers to set goals for themselves throughout the season in order to guide their growth.