Publications & News

Even though Blair’s fall athletes did not compete interscholastically this year, they dedicated time and effort to their teams and continued to strive to become the best they could be in their respective sports. In order to give special recognition to the seniors who helped lead their teammates through the challenges of the fall, Blair’s athletic department created a video highlighting each athlete with a photo taken by photography teacher Tyson Trish and student photographers during the fall athletic media days.

Every week, the Society of Skeptics lecture series offers Blair community members the opportunity to learn from a fascinating speaker. Sometimes, however, the hour-long presentation and Q & A leave the audience wanting to know even more. To help shed additional light on guests and issues, four enterprising students have founded The Academy Talk Show, a podcast of one-on-one interviews that bring listeners deeper into Skeptics speakers’ lives and work.

Amid preparations for Thanksgiving break, Blair community members took time to express heartfelt thanks to Head of School Chris Fortunato for his dedication to the Blair family and for all he has accomplished during his seven-plus years at the School. Mr. Fortunato will end his Blair tenure at the end of December and return with his family to their New England roots next year, when he will become Head of School at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts.

A major part of committing to a college is taking a campus tour and experiencing the atmosphere of college life. Although the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed opportunities for this in-person right of passage, it has opened the door for seniors to conduct their college search in a new way: through virtual visits.

Blair’s annual fall showcase of musical talent took place on November 20 when more than 70 student instrumentalists and vocalists performed in the virtual Fall Concert. Featuring four instrumental ensembles, the Singers and numerous small vocal groups, the online event was a celebration of the performing arts department’s determination to keep making music amid challenging circumstances and to share some joy with audience members around the world.

Interscholastic competition entered a new realm at Blair in 2020 with the launch of the School’s first-ever esports club. As part of a national high school esports league, more than 25 Bucs will compete in online games such as Counter Strike, Super Smash Brothers, Valorant and more for national championships and potential college scholarships. 

Passaic County prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes joined the Society of Skeptics virtually on November 17 to discuss “Pathways to Success.” Ms. Valdes is the chief law enforcement officer for the northern New Jersey county that is home to half a million residents and encompasses more than a dozen municipalities, including the cities of Paterson, Clifton and Passaic.

Compelled by the global movement for improving and protecting Black lives and in response to community feedback, the Blair Academy Inclusivity Committee, at work since its inception four years ago, has a renewed sense of urgency to continue building on the School’s existing foundation of ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion work. In building a foundation for active and radical kindness that engages with the realities around us, as a School, we knew we had work to do. 

Peddie Week 2020 is well underway! Activities and competitions have taken place throughout the week in the lead-up to Saturday, November 7, when the Buccaneer athletic teams will take on the arch-rival Falcons in a series of livestreamed events. The winning school will earn the 2020 Cup at the conclusion of Saturday’s contests. 

Blair community members who wanted to dive deep into the U.S. presidential race this fall came together online every Friday evening for the 2020 Election Seminar. Hosted by Head of School Chris Fortunato, the virtual sessions featured commentary from Blair’s scholar-in-residence, Harvard Kennedy School professor Timothy Patrick McCarthy, PhD, and insight from numerous guest speakers. Students, faculty and staff members logged on to discuss and debate a different topic each week.