At Convocation, when Blair officially opened the school year, Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27 asked the community to lean into the opportunities to build connections on the hilltop. Mr. Curran explained that by suspending judgment and fostering curiosity through questions and conversation, we build the connections with peers and faculty that define Blair. With no time to waste, the evening commenced Blair’s first community weekend of the year. 

Setting the Tone for the Year
Saturday kicked off with the final orientation programming, focusing on Blair’s community standards of living and learning. Students worked with Dean of Faculty Life Leucretia Shaw on the Five Fundamentals of Blair, explored campus life scenarios with Associate Head of School Ryan M. Pagotto, and joined Dean of Students Andee Ryerson and Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Evan Thomas to set a positive tone for the year. Afterward, students departed for several local staples—Blairstown Dairy, Humpty Junior’s and more. The evening capped off with a grill and chill on the turf, ice-cream truck and neon dance party sponsored by the Junior Class Council.

The Return of Super Sunday
Super Sunday rounded out the weekend with an action-packed day. . Locke Hall claimed victory in the Kon-Tiki boat race, Mr. Curran braved several rounds in the dunk tank and the Soap Slide expanded to three lanes, ensuring shorter lines and more fun. After a picnic dinner, students soaked up the last of the late summer sun with pickup volleyball games, strengthening the bonds formed during these first few days on campus.

“As I walked home Sunday night, I couldn’t help but smile as students across all grade levels were still hanging out together in the Bowl,” Mr. Pagotto shared at School Meeting on Monday, with a quick video of the volleyball game. “That’s what these weekends and this community are all about.” 

Soccerfest Kicks off a Winning Weekend
After a steady week of classes saw Blair students and faculty settle into  familiar routines, a second Community Weekend offered a break from the academic rigor, reinforcing Mr. Curran’s Convocation message about the importance of building connections. On Saturday, students gathered for face painting before the “Blue Crew” stormed Hampshire Field for Soccerfest to support the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams against nearby Newton High School, expanding the camaraderie beyond Blair and into the local community. 

The girls’ varsity soccer team secured a 3-0 shutout against Newton, thanks to goals scored by Gianna Martic ’26, Sara Groseibl ’26 and Tessa Koelher ’26, while Anna Groseibl ’27 also added an assist. Defensively, it was another shutout victory led by Caroline Carr-Smith ’25 as goalkeeper.

The varsity boys’ soccer team also pulled off a win against Newton, defeating the Braves 1-0. Steven Groseibl ’26 broke the stalemate with a well-placed penalty kick in the first half, while goalkeeper Layton Glover ’26 made an impressive 12 saves, recording his first shutout of the season.

Sunday offered another chance to connect, as more than 150 students set off to New York City for the annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. It was a beautiful day to explore the food, culture and sights of the city. These early weekends are just the beginning of a year full of opportunities for Blair students and faculty to forge relationships, celebrate victories and grow together. With more Community Weekends ahead, the possibilities for connection and engagement are limitless.