Surprise!
Anticipation hung over the Chapel Thursday morning as Assistant Head Katherine Bradley uncharacteristically walked to the pulpit during the closing hymn. She reached beneath the platform and—to everyone's delight—donned the traditional green jacket. Surprise!
The green jacket for years has signaled Surprise Holiday, the day once a term when students are given a day off classes and a chance to travel to Boston, Cambridge, or a nearby movie and mall.
Surprise Holiday evokes rabid speculation and leads some students to monitor the school calendar in an almost algorithmic attempt to guess the day of the surprise. Typically, the headmaster or a senior prefect shows up wearing the storied green blazer. For today's surprise, the headmaster gave the honor to Ms. Bradley, who is leaving Groton at the end of this year to lead Dana Hall School.
After the announcement in Chapel, students piled into the Schoolhouse for announcements and donuts, then headed to their chosen activities. Many will head off the Circle, while others will take the day to relax or catch up on campus.
After the announcement in Chapel, students piled into the Schoolhouse for announcements and donuts, then headed to their chosen activities. Many will head off the Circle, while others will take the day to relax or catch up on campus.
In late afternoon, as students return from their Surprise Holiday trips, they will settle back into their routines, and, before too long, will be trying to guess when spring Surprise Holiday might be.
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