News Archive
Measuring Change
I grew up spending time in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York. The mountains are almost like family to me, and that area more than any other is what I think of as home. Mountain climbing in the Adirondacks is hard. Some of the hikes are very long, and typically you are in the…
There’s Nothing Like a Book
Head of School Sarah Pelmas One of the most reliable characteristics of a Winsor student is that they love the library. In fact, it’s not only Winsor students, and it’s not limited to our beautiful Virginia Wing Library. The Winsor community is full of people who adore libraries—for the possibilities, for the undiscovered worlds available…
The Season of Celebrations The Winsor School
Head of School Sarah Pelmas “Winsor loves a good celebration, and April kicks off our season of celebrations in earnest. We have already celebrated Ring Day, Prom, Party with a Purpose, the yearbook dedication, the Class VI banner presentation to the seniors, the Class V party for the seniors’ last day of classes, and of…
Unintended Consequences
Head of School Sarah Pelmas At my dinner table the other night, we were talking about ecological unintended consequences, and in particular about tropical coral reefs. Scientists have observed that tropical coral reefs near islands with sea birds living on them grow more rapidly and recover more quickly from bleaching events than coral reefs near…
Spotlighting Transformation
Head of School Sarah Pelmas I have never been much of an actor. When I was in high school, the one play in which I was cast had me as part of the Greek chorus, wearing a toga and exclaiming tragically from atop a box painted black, while the lead actors battled fate. Ultimately, several…
Always Trying
Head of School Sarah Pelmas I am thoughtful about what I keep near me when I work. I do not have a bulletin board near my desk, so there is little space for pictures or quotations. I try to keep delightful objects in meaningful rotation, and the poem currently in view is “Warbler,” by the…
The Importance of Being Present
Head of School Sarah Pelmas On December 20, the New York Times printed an interview with cellist (and Winsor past parent) Yo-Yo Ma, which ends with this comment: “For me as a musician, I try to be aware of where I am. As a performer, my job is to make the listener the most important person in the…