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Summer Travel: Quint Clarke, affectionately known as “Q”, has taken students to such far off places as Rwanda, Vietnam and Beijing. One of the oft heard questions each year is: “Where will Q. go next summer? I want to travel with him!” (Click here for Q’s Summer ’07 travel diary.) Other faculty members have also taken students on trips abroad. A small sample of such ventures includes Spanish trips to Ecuador with Don Morley (click here to see Don’s travel blog & photos) and Costa Rica (click here for Spain in Summer ’08), and Chinese immersion trips (click here for the Summer ’07 highlights) to Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. (Note that Spring Break also allows for travel to Germany, as well as Art History trips to Greece, London, Paris, Florence and Rome, and Marine Science trips to the Turks and Caicos Islands.)

Society of Skeptics: War heroes, Authors, Entrepreneurs, Actors, Politicians and More. “Skeptics” is held every Tuesday night, and is the longest continuously running high school lecture series in the country. Some of the more popular recent speakers have been CNN’s Lou Dobbs, Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, and ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser.

The Headmasters’ Societies Competition: GO BREED! GO KELLEY! HOWARD RULES! SHARPE IS THE BEST! All Blair students and faculty are divided into four teams named after four former headmasters, and the entire Blair community competes in a week of after-school intramural games ranging from inner tube water polo to an egg toss, to a Talent Show finale. Teams compete for the famous Hardwick trophy and bragging rights for a year. Let the games begin!

The Kampmanns: Where else can you produce and edit a video and take a course on Screenwriting with teachers who have produced and written major Hollywood features? The Kampmanns have been Blair faculty members since 1998 and are proud parents of 3 Blair graduates. Come learn from this dynamic duo!

Cereal Night: A few times a week, the senior prefects gather in the dining hall around 11pm to enjoy a late night bowl of cereal together. It’s an opportunity for seniors to talk about their mutual experiences with the younger kids in their dorms, relax and enjoy a few laughs before heading to bed.

Great Electives: In addition to the typical course offerings and Advanced Placement options, Blair students often find their true passion in one of the many exciting Elective courses offered at Blair. The selection includes: Asian Studies, Biotechnology, Marine Science, Aeronautical Engineering, 20th Century Leadership, and Graphic Design. Also, each senior completes a Public Speaking course in the spring of their senior year, and the annual Public Speaking Contest is one of the most anticipated events of the spring semester.

Lou’s Pizza: The Gourmet Tomato Pie Company (a three minute walk from campus) rivals any New York City pizza parlor. Lou is one of Blair’s biggest fans and loves to talk with kids at his shop. He comes up to campus to deliver pizzas on Friday nights.

The Outdoor Theatre: Drama Teacher Craig Evans (who taught Ethan Hawke) built the outdoor amphitheatre with his own hands over the course of three years, and it has become a popular venue for outdoor classes, and of course, the Spring Play.

Games “Under the Lights:” This fall Blair finished its new all-weather turf field. Ringed with lights and a brand new grandstand, the field serves as a nighttime venue for countless Blair athletic contests. On Friday or Saturday evenings, Blair teams compete “under the lights” in front of roaring Blair fans!

The Senior Challenge: Blair seniors are encouraged during the latter part of their senior year to “take a risk, cross the street, and engage the world.” Seniors are able to design a personal “challenge” which may include an internship or community service project. Other examples include composing and presenting a chapel speech, producing a video, participating in an Eagle Scout Service Project and organizing a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Friday School Meeting: School Meetings, held on Mondays and Fridays, are an opportunity for the community to come together for announcements or to celebrate artistic, athletic, or academic successes over the course of a week. Friday School Meeting is run by the Senior Class Council and we never know what to expect, but the Seniors never disappoint. Skits, videos, or one of our very own student bands, The Tracks or The Bonsai Blues Band, are a typical offering.

The Food: The options are endless … Nacho Bar, Make Your Own Caesar Salad Bar, Grilled Cheese Station, Chicken Ranch Wraps, Chili in Bread Bowls, Make Your Own Sundaes, “Eggs to Order” or the formal dinner favorite … Chicken Parmesan. Blair’s Dining Service not only dishes up fabulous meals, but gets to know the kids quite well, and is truly a part of the community.

Blue Crew: Got spirit? Join the Blue Crew, deck yourself out in Blair colors, and cheer on the Bucs in your favorite athletic contests. Blue Crew always rocks the campus and takes school spirit to another level!

The Grease Slide: The Grease Slide is just one example of the countless activities offered by the Blair Weekend Activities Program. For many years, the Grease Slide has been the most popular event of the Super Sunday events held the first weekend at Blair. An all-school cook-out with Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball begins in the late afternoon, and is followed by the Hypnotist, which always promises to offer gut-wrenching laughs.

Peddie Day: Blair vs. Peddie is the longest rivalry in New Jersey, and the sports contests on Peddie Day are the most anticipated of the season. Leading up to the games, the school comes together on Friday evening for a pep rally, team skits and the legendary Bonfire. Peddie Day is Blair tradition at its best.

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