Parent Newsletter: September 2007

DEAR BLAIR PARENTS and FAMILIES,
   Greetings from our student-filled campus and a warm welcome to new parents! What a terrific opening we've had! There is a heightened sense of excitement on campus this fall with our new outdoor facilities and the upcoming dedication of the football field.
    We are delighted to have your sons and daughters back with us for our 160th year! Already in our third week of classes, the campus is home to 441 students, 257 boys and 184 girls, 337 boarders and 104 day students. Your sons and daughters represent 23 states (including DC and Puerto Rico) and 22 countries, and 114 have Blair alumni relatives. For opening of school pictures taken by Jean Perlee P’09, Velma Lubliner, Rob Merrifield and Candy Low, go to:
http://www.blair.edu/News_Events/2007_2008/news_ev_160th_year.shtm
http://www.blair.edu/News_Events/2007_2008/news_ev_moving_in07.shtm
http://www.blair.edu/News_Events/2007_2008/news_ev_2011_retreat.shtm

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION on the WEB SITE
If you are looking for a faculty/staff phone number or an e-mail address on the Web site, go to the Parent Home page. Go to the bottom link (Blair Phone & E-mail Directory) and click “Click here” to log on. Type the user name “parent” and password “parent” to log on. Contact Velma Lubliner at lubliv@blair.edu or ext. 5634 if you have any questions.

SUMMER OUTDOOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS NEAR COMPLETION
Blair has been busy this summer with numerous construction projects including a new turf football field, stadium seating and outdoor lighting for the new tennis courts and football field, an all-weather track, three irrigated playing fields and a new perimeter road. To view more pictures click here.

BLAIR ROOM GETS A FACE-LIFT
Blair recently received a special gift—the renovation and redecoration of the Blair Room. Jeff Haines (father of Brittany Haines ’05) and Eric Stessl (father of Kara ’09) provided all of the expertise and labor for this project. Jeff, interior designer and owner of Butler’s of Far Hills in NJ, and Eric, president of Stessl & Neugebauer, designed, rebuilt and reupholstered all of the furniture in the room. We believe that the last time the Blair Room was redecorated was when Selena Howard oversaw the project more than 30 years ago. Thank you Eric and Yvonne Stessl and Jeff and Patty Haines!

ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE, BLAIR HOMECOMING and DEDICATION of FOOTBALL FIELD
Mark your calendar for Saturday, OCTOBER 6, for a full day of events. Blair will host its annual fall Admissions Open House for prospective students starting at 8:30 am in Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts.
    Click here for more information and come watch the Blair Bucs football team take on Mercersburg on Blair’s new turf field under the LIGHTS at 7:00 pm! A dedication of the new field will take place just prior to kick-off. Halftime ceremony will honor former football coach Steve Kuk (Blair 1942-1960).

PARENTS’ WEEKEND APPROACHING FAST
I hope your calendar is marked for Parents’ Weekend: Friday, October 19-20. You should have received your invitation in the mail. To view the weekend activities or register on line, go to http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_par_weekend.shtm. Parents often ask when is the best time to arrive and leave. If your schedule permits, I encourage you to arrive Friday afternoon and stay through Saturday’s football game. Please consider making hotel reservations well in advance! Contact information for hotels and restaurants can be found at: http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_par_weekend_acc.shtm (hotels) and http://www.blair.edu/Campus_Contact/cam_area_info.shtm (restaurants).

FYI...Blairstown eateries are usually packed on the Friday of Parents’ Weekend, so be prepared to wait or you may choose to eat on campus. This way you can make it to the Parent/Faculty receptions on time.

Should I Come to Parents’ Weekend?
Many international families ask if they need to return for Parents’ Weekend. Jean Clark P’09, who volunteered to send welcome e-mails to international families, recently answered this question. “I think it is important to for you to come to Parents’ Weekend –if you can. The overwhelming majority of parents do come, and this is the best opportunity all year to attend your son’s classes. This experience will give you a good idea of how he is dealing with the challenges of his classes and you can also meet his teachers with no awkwardness. For boys, who are not usually frequent communicators, this can give you valuable insight into his life at Blair. It will also be a good opportunity to meet the other parents of boarding students because on the day you registered your son only international and day parents were on campus.”

NEW CAMPUS DOG POLICY
Because of a recent incident, we are discouraging bringing dogs on campus. But if you do, please know that all visiting dogs must be on a leash and picked up after.

SENDING A PACKAGE?
If you are sending a package to your student, use the following address:
(Your Student’s Name)
Blair Academy
2 Park Street
Blairstown, NJ 07825

SCHOOL MEETINGS
School meetings take place on Mondays and Fridays; the Monday morning meeting is run by the administration, and the Friday morning meeting is run by the senior council. Since they are community meetings, all are invited to speak. Friday, September 22’s meeting was a good example of a typical school meeting. It began with live music from faculty members, Marty Schmalenberg and Craig Evans, with Kenny Shin ’08 on guitar; Dylan Evans ’08 on drums; Matt Gallira ’08 on sax and Christine Evans ’08 on vocals. Announcements were made by faculty, coaches and students. Mr. Hardwick made a special announcement that there may be a helicopter hovering over campus sometime soon because a movie company will be shooting a scene from the sequel “The Incredible Hulk.” The movie scheduled to open in the fall of 2008 will star Edward Norton and Liv Tyler (stay tuned to the Blair Web site for more details). The grand finale was Chrissy Devenny ’08 performing a hip hop dance to the tunes of Lil’ Mama.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS and UNDERCLASS/SENIOR PHOTOS
Thank you… to all the parents who helped welcome fellow parents to the School, those who came to the Parent Volunteer Group (PVG) meeting and lunch, and the many parents who helped with underclass photography and stuffing of envelopes. Photos were taken of underclass students during the week of September 17-20 during lunch. Please note that students were not required to get their pictures taken. Proofs will be sent directly to you from photographer, Jim Rimi, before Thanksgiving. If you have a question, call Jim directly at 908-689-2021. For photos of the meeting and parent volunteers helping, click on:
http://www.blair.edu/Parents/par_volunteers.shtm
http://www.blair.edu/Parents/Par_news_archives/par_news_portraits.shtm

SENIOR PORTRAITS are being taken outside of Locke Hall by Justin Baiter Photography during the months of September and October. Please make sure your senior has his or her outfits ready. If you have any questions, contact Candy Low at ext. 5609.

SOCIETY OF SKEPTICS
One of the School’s and community’s treasures is Blair’s Skeptics Series held on Tuesday evenings. All parents are always welcome to join students, faculty, and other visitors. Lectures begin at 7:00 pm in Cowan Auditorium/Bogle Hall or in DuBois Theatre (check the Blair Web site for last-minute changes). This year’s Skeptics opened with a powerful talk from William Keegan, author of Closure. He discussed the World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery efforts. He was brought to us by Brian and Joann Graupe, parents of Tim ’09. For this fall’s schedule, go to http://www.blair.edu/events/ev_skeptics.shtm.

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
This year’s wonderful array of cultural events can be found at:
http://www.blair.edu/events/ev_performing_arts.shtm
http://www.blair.edu/events/ev_exhibits.shtm

BLAIR PARENT LISA FEDON DISPLAYS HER ARTWORK IN ROMANO GALLERY
Please take the time to see “Inner Thoughts” work by Lisa Fedon, mother of Lamar Duffy ’08. Her unique sculpture is made from mixed metals. The show runs September 10-October 6 in the Romano Gallery, Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts, Monday-Saturday from 10:00 am-4:00 pm.

Look for Vivien Collens’, parent of Rachel ’09 and Stephanie ’05, art show in the Romano Gallery March 24-April 26.

BLAIR BAKERY SPECIALTIES
Wondering how to help your child celebrate his/her birthday or other special occasion, even though you may be miles away? Go to http://www1.blair.edu/Parents/par_bakery_specialties.shtm. Our own Catering Services Department will bake a cake or cookies or send your student a special care package. Your child will be very popular in the dorm when he/she shares his/her delicious treats with friends.

CROP WALK
Blair’s community service program will sponsor a three-mile CROP walk on campus on Sunday, October 14, at 1:00 pm. CROP Hunger Walks are “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty” – communities walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world, raising awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting. Parents are encouraged to participate! Please contact Kaye Evans at evansk@blair.edu or 908-362-6121, ext. 5688 if you would like to participate.

PARENTS NEEDED TO HELP MAKE COSTUMES
Anyone interested in making costumes for the plays or helping with the theatre program this year should contact Craig Evans, director of performing arts, at ext. 5682 or evansc@blair.edu.

All my best,
Sue Habermann P’02, ’04, ’07
Director of Parent Relations

Let us know if you have any e-mail address changes by contacting lists@blair.edu.