Westminster began the 2016-2017 academic year by welcoming 395 students to campus. The students represent 26 states and 23 countries, as well as many Connecticut towns and cities. They arrived for opening days’ activities that included orientation, meeting with their advisor, cookouts and an all-school team dance event.
The first assembly of the year Sept. 9 featured a welcome by Headmaster Bill Philip and an address by Head Prefect Adrian Enchill ’17, a boarding student from Pittsfield, Mass. Adrian shared advice with each form about what he has learned in his three years at Westminster.
His message to the Third Form was “be yourself.” He encouraged Third Formers to make their own paths and follow them. “To be ourselves and to not change for other people is especially important in your Third Form year,” he said. “Making your own path means taking advantage of new opportunities. If it is a new sport or auditioning for a play, the message stays the same: do what interests you.”
He asked the Fourth Form: “How can you make the most of every day here at Westminster?” His answer was “to live, love and laugh” every day. “These three things are key to balance in order to sustain a healthy academic record and lifestyle because even though Westminster can be enjoyable, it can also be very demanding,” he said.
He reminded the Fifth Form to stay focused. “When one loses focus, it becomes hard to persevere,” he said. “Know that setting your mind to anything can lead you to success is vital in school. However, do not be blinded by a simple letter grade or number your teacher gives you on an assignment because what is truly important is the wisdom and knowledge that you learn in the classroom.”
To his fellow Sixth Formers, he emphasized that it is their turn to lead the school and stressed the importance of everyone in the class helping to lead. “If it is helping a new student find their classes or having to be a leader yourself on the field or your corridor, I encourage you to do so, he said.” He closed by saying, “I look forward to being this year’s head prefect and hope we can all work to leave this school better than we found it.”
The Pin Ceremony for members of the Sixth Form followed on the lawn by Keyes House since the Sixth Form Lawn was not accessible because of construction of the dining hall. Alumni faculty and honorary faculty presented members of the Class of 2017 with a class pin or pendant designed by their form. Following this, all new students participated in the tradition of the Sign-in Ceremony in Andrews Memorial Chapel. They were greeted by Headmaster Philip and members of the prefect board, and signed their name in a new student book signifying their entrance to the school.