Prize Day keynote speaker Richard Stengel shared that empowering observation with ninety-four graduates of the Form of 2021 and their guests, after relating a story about Nelson Mandela, whose outward calm at times belied an inner fear.
Mr. Stengel, who collaborated with Mr. Mandela on his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, once met with the former South African leader after he disembarked from a particularly harrowing plane flight, on a tiny plane with a broken propeller. Mr. Mandela had not appeared to flinch at news of a potentially dangerous landing, but once safely on the ground, admitted to Mr. Stengel that he had been terrified.
In fact, he had told Mr. Stengel of many times when he was afraid. "He was afraid when he ran away to Johannesburg. He was afraid when he first started studying at a university," said Mr. Stengel. "He was afraid when he went underground to launch the military wing of the ANC [African National Congress]. He was afraid when he was sentenced to prison. He was afraid that he was going to be assaulted." Continued
Second Formers capped an outdoors Baccalaureate with the Jerusalema Dance Challenge, popularized in South Africa. Their dance and English teacher? Mrs. Maqubela.
Groton's musical ensembles ended the year with a virtual spring concert. Enjoy!
Classics Scholars Earn Honors on National Exams in Latin, Greek
Groton’s young Classicists excelled once again this year on the National Latin Exam, with 84 percent of the 135 students who took the exam receiving honors. Continued
Did You Know? The Form of 2021 is not the first graduating form to miss younger students at Prize Day. In the spring of 1900 there was "a scourge of various minor diseases" that filled the infirmary to capacity and the First through Fourth Forms were sent home early, leaving only the Fifth Form to cheer on the Form of 1900 (FDR"s form).
Given the small group, the only speakers that year were the Rector and the Reverend Julius Atwood (later Bishop of Arizona), a close friend of the Peabodys.
Boaters were once worn at Groton on another celebratory day. What day was it?
a. First day of school
b. The School birthday c. Arbor Day d. Memorial Day
Submit your answer here. The first correct answer will receive a Groton t-shirt.
Last Issue's Answer Some guessed that The Willibald Gazette and The Daily Evening Treason were not student publications at some point, but they were! No one submitted the correct answer: D, the blandly named On the Circle was never a student publication at Groton.
The zebra is racing toward the finish, with the Groton Fund closing for the year on June 30. The Groton Fund, which includes the Parent Fund, supports every aspect of Groton, including faculty compensation, athletics, technology, and campus maintenance. Please support the 2020-21 Groton Fund.
