First Link, the new program where parents of current Deerfield students volunteer to reach out to families of incoming students, strives to connect parents both to one another and to the Deerfield community at large. First Link is for parents what the Green Key is for students: a source of information to help ensure a smooth transition to Deerfield. According to Pat Gimbel, Dean of Admissions, “It had become apparent that such a program would be enormously helpful, particularly for families who had not previously been a part of a boarding school community, or who were coming to Deerfield from outside the Northeast.” 

In its inaugural year, the program got off to a great start. “Families found First Link useful and beneficial,” says Mike Solberg, P ’12, who coordinated the program last year. “They appreciated the fact that First Link was a parent-led initiative, and that parents were not obligated but volunteers who had eagerly chosen to embrace new families with a warm welcome.”

First Link parents fielded a wide variety of questions. A parent from Los Angeles asked what type of clothing would be needed to survive a New England winter. One family wanted ideas on what to do for a child’s birthday. Some needed help using DANet.  Others wanted to know what stores were nearby. There were, of course, many questions about communication with their children, such as when would be the best times to call, or whether they were the only one whose child was not responding to calls, texts or emails!

First Link volunteers also provide information that incoming families might not think to ask, from the benefits of bed risers to getting reservations for Parents Fall Weekend.

Transportation issues are usually a new family’s main concern, particularly for those whose children are coming from across the country or for that matter another country altogether. For that reason, Pat Gimbel, who matches incoming families to their First Link, makes it a priority to pair families who are geographically close to one another.  Proximity allows linked families to coordinate their children’s flights and car pool to and from airports. One parent volunteer (who was driving his child to Deerfield from the mid-west) carted a new student’s belongings to school!

Geographical pairings also provide for the possibility of summer get-togethers. Two families in Alaska were “introduced” through the First Link program. It is, of course, not possible for all linked families to live in the same state, much less the same town. In some cases, families are assigned to one another because their children share the same interests, the idea being that the families will eventually have the opportunity to meet on the sidelines of a game or while watching a performance.  First Link volunteers also have the chance to meet “their” incoming families during move-in day or at one of the parent weekends.

Penny Ashford, who is coordinating this year’s First Link program, urges parents of current students to volunteer. “Last year we had approximately 95 volunteers to pair up with 150 incoming families,” says Ashford. “We would love to increase the number of volunteers to more closely reflect the number of families that are new to Deerfield.”  Volunteers who served last year have signed up again. Solberg noted that “people making the calls appreciate the ‘link’ as much as the incoming family. It is a way to feel like you are making a difference, providing a service to an incoming family and giving back to Deerfield.”

If you would be willing to help serve as a family’s First Link to the Deerfield community, please contact Penny Ashford at pmashford@comcast.net.

Teachers encourage our children to “finish up strong,” but spring term is also the time for envisioning new challenges. While our seniors decide among college acceptances, Deerfield’s course selection process affords our juniors, sophomores, and freshmen the opportunity to have a say in the mix of courses they take next fall. I met with Academic Dean Peter Warsaw on the eve of spring break to discuss how the course selection process works and the role we parents can play in it. 

Q. What is the time table for course selection this spring?

A. The deadline for 2012-13 course registration is April 16. The chairs and I meet with each grade level right after spring break: rising seniors on March 27, and rising sophomores and juniors on March 29.  That gives students time to meet with their advisors and to consult with their parents and classroom teachers before submitting selections.

Q. That sounds very straightforward. Are the students’ course selections a done deal in mid April?

A. No. During the summer, department chairs do the final vetting of courses based upon students’ past records, recently recorded end-of-year grades, and formal written comments, as well as informal discussions. Placement is easy if all data are aligned, but if there is an anomaly, chairs go back to teachers for more information. Chairs have the final say in course placement.

Q. OK, that is a little surprising especially if a student gets positive feedback from a current teacher about a course selection.

A. It is important to know that the current teacher is at most another advisor, not the vetter. Let’s say a sophomore goes to her current History teacher and asks, “Should I take Honors U.S. History?” and the teacher encourages her to apply. That exchange is no guarantee that the student will be placed in the honors course. The chair sees the big picture–the entire grade level–and follows a multi-point rubric to make placement decisions.

Q. Let’s talk about honors and advanced placement (AP) courses. How many should a child take in a given year?

A. There are myths about how many AP examinations Deerfield students take.  Many students think you need seven or eight by the time you graduate. In fact, across their entire Deerfield careers, four or five AP exams is the norm for our students. And not all APs must be taken by the end of junior year, though junior year is an important one for AP courses.

Q. What are the most popular AP exams?

A. Junior English—with well over 100 AP Literature candidates each year—and Honors U.S. History traditionally generate the most AP candidates. This year, AP Biology saw a surge in enrollment: we had 92 juniors out of a class of roughly 180 enrolled in AP Biology last fall, though that number is now in the mid 70s as students have chosen to drop down due to the rigor of the course.

Q. So a junior can take the U.S. History or English AP exam in the spring without having taken an AP course?

A. Yes. While we have AP courses in math, science, and art, we do not have any in the humanities. However, as evidenced by English III and U.S. History, many of our humanities courses prepare students for AP exams. About two-thirds of the junior class will take the AP English Literature exam, with almost that number taking the U.S. History exam, and recent experience shows that they will average over 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. The point, of course, is that even though we do not designate those courses as AP, they do a solid job of preparing most students for the AP, should they wish to take it.

Q. So how does a student come up with the right mix of courses for a given year?

A. In my end-of-winter term letter to parents, I write that we want our students to be in the most rigorous courses in which they can be successful, which we define as healthy, happy, and productive.

Q. As the mother of a junior girl, that goal sounds lofty but not realistic. Isn’t Deerfield a high stress place?

A. This junior class has exhibited legendary levels of stress, especially the girls.  If I may generalize for a moment, boys tend to stop studying when they recognize they are no longer effective. Girls often keep going and their studying can become counterproductive. I recently spoke with a three-year junior girl who as a freshman and sophomore had struggled academically, but who just submitted easily her best term yet, raising her average over six points.  I asked her how she did it and she replied, “I’m not stressing out.”  As a freshman and sophomore, she would finish a paper and then worry that it wasn’t good enough. As a result, she would spend another hour or two trying—but ultimately failing—to make it better. This year she resolved simply to do her best on the work as assigned and be content with the results. As soon as she stopped worrying about her grades, her average went way up.

Q. What can we parents do to help our children select the right balance of courses?

A. We want course selection to be a student-driven process with input from advisors, teachers, and parents. My winter letter has links to the resources necessary in the decision process:  graduation requirements; course catalog; departmental course maps; sample programs; and a four-year planning worksheet. Parents have found the departmental course maps particularly helpful. While it is important to be informed about these academic requirements and choices, I believe that parents should be listeners and guiders. Parents can help their children align abilities with aspirations and balance the rigor of their overall academic schedules with other commitments (athletics, arts, leadership positions, proctorships, and extra-curricular interests).

Q. What should a parent do if his or her child is not placed in a requested AP or honors course?

A. Parents need to trust the judgment of department chairs. Chairs do an amazingly good job of placement. Yes, a parent may know his or her child better than Deerfield does, but chairs and teachers have seen tens of thousands of adolescents pass through their classrooms. This gives us a broader, deeper perspective. Chairs understand the rigor of Deerfield courses and the various pathways through its curriculum. In short, chairs see so much more “data” and it gives them special insight in placing each child in the appropriate course.

Q. Finally, what if next year my child finds her AP course to be too demanding?

A. If a child feels overwhelmed in any course, she should share those feelings with her teacher. Sometimes the teacher’s advice will be to “hang in there,” and sometimes the advice will be to drop down a level. The student’s advisor can also help—at least serving as a sounding board—but the most important step is for the student to go to the teacher.

Q. Thank you, Peter. We appreciate your insights.

Find out more about Peter Warsaw and review the discussion he had with Julie Alexandre last fall about academics at Deerfield.

Left to right: Peter Warsaw, Diana Kocot, Sheila Loveland, Vita Thiel, Peter Nilsson

Peter Warsaw
Academic Dean, Fine Arts Teacher

Lydia Hemphill
Associate Academic Dean and Registrar, Visual Arts Teacher (On sabbatical 2011/2012 school year)

Peter Nilsson
Assistant Academic Dean, Study Skills Coordinator, English Teacher

Vita Thiel
Testing Coordinator, NCAA Coordinator, Assistant Registrar

Laura Harcourt
Administrative Assistant

Diana Kocot
Interim Registrar for the 2011/2012 school year

The Academic Dean’s Office is located on the second floor of the Main School Building next to College Counseling.  You can contact them at (413) 774-1470 or academics@deerfield.edu

1. April Showers Bring May Flowers: Nowhere is this aphorism more evident than at Deerfield in the spring. And with the ubiquitous rain comes mud, lots of it. Be prepared and make sure your student has appropriate footwear for the season—rain boots for girls and an extra pair of sneakers or boat shoes for the boys. Many a pair of leather shoes have died a dilapidated death circumnavigating the deep Deerfield spring puddles. 

2. Spring Fever: After the dark winter term of internment, warmer weather and light-filled days find students longing for everything spring brings with it—the good and the, shall we say, distracting. Besides the influence of pheromones flying around, there are other factors in play. For seniors, this may mean wanting to spend more leisure time with friends who soon will be going their separate ways. It is perhaps the most challenging for juniors who need to stay focused on this very important semester. And for underclassmen, the river and fields beckon. But there is still work to be done, so a gentle reminder is perhaps in order that outdoor time is a welcome and wonderful thing but needs to be held in balance with normal school responsibilities.

3. The Pressure Gauge: And to counter the giddiness of spring fever are the surmounting pressures for upperclassmen. Not only are there high stress levels for the upcoming standardized tests (AP exam weeks commencing May 7, SATs on May 5 and June 2, ACT on April 14), there are the proctor (for rising seniors) and peer counselor (rising juniors) selection processes, and last, but certainly not least, the housing lottery (see “The How and Why of the Housing Lottery” in this issue of The Link). Any words of encouragement to lighten the load during this time period ripe for drama are always welcome! Also, any student planning on taking the SAT at Deerfield on June 2—the day after the last final exam—must notify the Dean of Students Office as soon as possible and be packed up and ready to leave right after the test.

4. Prepping for Senior Prom: Traditionally the most significant dance of the year, expect calls from your daughters and sons regarding purchasing or renting special attire for the occasion. Coming up on May 19, each senior may invite a date, from any grade or even outside Deerfield, with tuxedos and corsages required. If your daughter does not already have a dress, remind her not to wait until the last minute—the entire country is shopping for similar events and popular sizes disappear quickly. Traditionally, senior girls wear long dresses and the new shopping trend for this occasion is sites such as Rent the Runway. Formalwear for the young gentlemen can be rented locally at The Bridal Barn (413-774-2691). Also of note is the Class of 2013 prom on April 21, which is open to all juniors—with no dates, corsages, or tuxedos required. Any student concerned about the expenses associated with the dances can confidentially contact the Dean of Students Office for financial assistance.

5. Packing, Shipping, and Summer Storage: It is amazing how much students accumulate during the course of the year. Without proper planning it can be a rude awakening on move-out day. If you are traveling to Parents Spring Weekend by car, plan to bring home some winter clothing or books that are no longer needed to lighten the load later. And if you do not live within driving distance, be sure to have a conversation with your student about shipping their belongings home well before the time is nigh. The Shipping and Receiving Department on campus can help with domestic packages, and there is also the post office in Deerfield and the UPS store in Greenfield. For returning students, who have furniture or large items to store, please note that there is very limited storage available on campus so your child should not necessarily plan on this option. An email from the Dean of Students Office will be forthcoming in the spring outlining moving out and storage details. In the meantime, the two recommended local storage companies are Boomerang and Sitterly.

6. Making the Most of Parents Spring Weekend: In addition to attending classes, you will probably want to make appointments with your child’s advisor for a final check-in before the end of the year. You would have been contacted regarding any glaring issues or wonderful commendations, but it’s always helpful to have a quick summary before the long summer break to make sure expectations and course selections are in line for the fall. Junior parents will want to meet with their child’s college advisor—look for an upcoming email to schedule appointments through Pick-a-Time. The buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner gatherings in the Dining Hall are a great opportunity to get to know your child’s classmates and their families—look for class signs (2012, 2013, etc.) set up there to help you find your way. This is also a good time to include a student whose parents could not be on campus for the weekend. For some spring treats consider a trip to Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, which is walking distance from campus and an ideal spot for bringing home a little something for younger siblings or sitters, or a new Deerfield tee or cap from the bookstore.

7. The Changing of the Guard: With the graduation of the current seniors, the junior class will now be moving up into the coveted place of distinction, culminating with the Stepping Up Bonfire the evening after graduation. It is a time of pride and excitement. And of course with this comes responsibility. While the college advisors have emphasized this, it can never hurt to gently remind your juniors that they are going to have a very busy autumn term. With the importance of first semester grades and the time consuming process of applications and final standardized tests, whatever progress can be made on their college essays and tours over the summer will lessen both the time commitment and pressure come fall.

8. Seniors: The (very) Long Goodbye: Most Deerfield seniors are loathe to say a final farewell to fellow classmates and try to prolong the process as far into the summer as possible. Be prepared for a seemingly endless string of parties and get-togethers post-graduation. While celebrations are inevitable and certainly well deserved, it’s important to monitor plans closely. Parents can provide a united front outlining expectations and setting fair boundaries without putting a damper on the festivities. No longer under the auspices of the Academy, graduates are now official matriculates of their respective colleges, who more than ever, are concerned with questionable activities during this period. Students should be aware that disreputable behavior could have significant consequences for not only do they risk their college acceptances but their actions affect Deerfield’s reputation and the value of the diploma they have just earned.

9. Thank You, Thank You: Deerfield is not just a place of academic excellence but one where the development of the entire child is considered. It is about community and the importance of achievement within a setting of kind and thoughtful behavior. In our age of technological advancement it is easy to forget the timeless art of the handwritten note, but it is a much-appreciated gesture. With overcrowded email inboxes, a snail mail communiqué stands out. Following college visits and interviews, receipt of graduation gifts, as well as after any summer invitations your students might receive, a short missive will stand them in good stead. And let’s not forget acknowledging any special teachers and staff who have been particularly meaningful. The bookstore sells charming Deerfield note cards. A package of those with a book of stamps is a terrific year-end purchase to start the summer off right!

10. See You in September: For those with students returning in the fall or coming for the first time, it’s never too early to think about accommodations for Parents Fall Weekend, which commences Friday, October 12. As most of you know, we compete with other local schools for precious few spots; a list of area hotels is available on the Deerfield website. The Academy calendar now lists events up to three years ahead, subject of course to occasional changes. We suggest bookmarking the calendar to make scheduling visits and transportation a breeze!

Springtime at Deerfield inspires the students to begin looking forward: to that first trip to the river on a sunny afternoon, to wins on the lacrosse field and the final dance performance, to graduation day for seniors and for everybody else … EEK … THE HOUSING PROCESS!

Parents will no doubt hear a great deal about this from their children in the coming weeks, so, with the help of Dean of Students Toby Emerson, we thought it would be helpful to give all of you a full description of the process. 

Most, but not all, students choose to sign up with a housing partner.  All housing partners are guaranteed that they will be together. During the third week in May each student goes to the Dean’s Office to fill out a Housing Form and selects two numbered tiles, with the lowest number being recorded on the Housing Form as that student’s housing lottery number.  Students complete the Housing Form with the name of their housing partner and a list of their top choices for dormitories and corridors. The form also allows students to include a list of other students with whom they would like to live.

During the last week of May, the deans begin the hard work of assigning students housing. Beginning with rising seniors, the deans work in ascending order through the lottery numbers and dormitory/corridor requests until all students have been assigned.  (An exception is made for students who were forced into doubles this year and thus have requested “compensation” in the form of either first choice in the lottery or an additional housing partner.)

BUT … that is not all there is to it!  While the lottery system described above provides a “framework,” in practice the process has evolved into what the Dean’s Office calls a “hybrid.” The deans strongly consider the lottery framework but remain mindful of avoiding the kind of homogeneity on hallways that has occurred in the past when the process was guided strictly by either student requests or the chance of the lottery system. The process also espouses the Academy’s mission, which includes exposing students to new friends with new perspectives.  Students might feel some temporary angst if a friend ends up in a different dorm or corridor, however it quickly passes with the expansion of their friend group. And there is no better place for this to happen than in the dorms. According to Toby Emerson, the deans “strive to create corridors that mirror the diversity we have at Deerfield Academy.”

The process continues through the summer as the deans assign new students to their dorms and accommodate any last-minute changes. The housing assignments will be published in August.

There will always be a few grumbles and not every student will get his or her dream room or nirvana corridor.  That being said, Mr. Emerson reported that the deans “felt pretty good about” how the system worked last year.  In anticipation of this article, he asked one of his classes what they thought of last year’s process and the response of the students was “best we could do given the need to create diverse halls.”

Again, you will be hearing quite a bit from your children over the coming weeks as they plan for their new “home away from home” next year. The Dean’s Office makes every effort to satisfy the needs of all students as well as those of the Academy.

Just over a year ago, the Deerfield Parents Network (DPN) was born. It sprang from a desire to connect and engage parents more formally in the Deerfield community. The hope was that the effort would make parents feel more connected to the school and to each other. Given the vast distances and limited direct interaction amongst parents, the DPN is putting a great emphasis on creating a “virtual” community. In the past year, the work of the DPN has become increasingly visible, and you will see “green shoots” to prove it over the coming Parents Spring Weekend. The DPN will be co-sponsoring formal events and opportunities for informal interaction, which are outlined in detail below. In addition, DPN committee members will be identified by a green DPN ribbon affixed to their nametags. Feel free to stop any one of them and ask a question, provide a suggestion, or simply chat. Highlights for the weekend include: 

Coffee, Refreshments and Conversation

Join fellow members of the DPN for coffee and refreshments in the Caswell Library in the Main School Building on Friday, May 4, from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., and again on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m to 11 a.m. in the Koch Center. Come grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast pastry. Your visit will be educational, even if you don’t look through a book off one of the shelves. The library will be ringed with “Did You Know…” posters highlighting important Deerfield history, trivia, and provocative information for parents to discuss and enjoy. There will also be opportunities to get involved and sign up for DPN-sponsored programs, such as First Link, where existing parents take responsibility for reaching out to a new student’s family prior to their arrival and provide advice that only a current Deerfield parent can.  DPN Executive and Steering Committee members will be on hand to welcome you at both events. (For those not able to attend, the “Did You Know…” information will appear in the next issue of the The Link and will be available on the Deerfield website.) Please contact us at kellypasciucco@aol.com or nedphyl@aol.com with any thoughts, questions or interest in volunteering).

Parent-to-Parent Panel on “Stress: Real or Perceived”

On Saturday, May 5, at 9:00 a.m., DA and the DPN are sponsoring a panel on the role of stress in a competitive and intense environment. The panel is being presented by school counselors Sheila Fritz-Ellis P’13 and Stuart Bicknell P’93. Panelists will share observations, implications, and tools that can inform us on how our children deal with this important issue and how we, as parents, interact with them about it. The panel will take place in the Garonzik Auditorium in the Koch Center.

Finally, one of the first initiatives of the DPN was to create an opportunity for new Deerfield families and their First Link guides to connect over Parents Fall Weekend. We sponsored the planting of 1,797 flower bulbs (Deerfield was founded in 1797). In October, parents young and old and from many different places grabbed shovels and bulbs and went to work all around campus. We believe that most of the bulbs were planted right side up, but we are certain that the discussions among those parents and the informal bonds that were created will strengthen the Deerfield community and the sense of connectedness that those parents will feel. An added benefit is that we should all be able to see the “green shoots” of those efforts (hopefully) as we wander around campus in May. See you then!

(Check out the full schedule for Parents Spring Weekend from May 4-6.)

No. It’s a simple word—and one of the first we learn. As parents, we know the frustration—the anguish—of toddlers who exercise a single-word vocabulary assiduously. In their terrible twos, our children used “no” to set boundaries, express preferences, and demand rights. All fair. We were proud, then amused, then frustrated: they were stonewalling, ignoring us, and being unreasonable.

Flash forward a decade. Today, we parents use “no” to help our risk-taking kids choose a steadier path, to communicate our values, and to protect our families from harm. But sometimes our kids don’t see it that way: they hear us stonewalling, ignoring them, and being unreasonable. Sound familiar? 

Just as our toddlers learned new ways—and new words—for expressing their desires, we too must stretch our communications abilities with our now grown children. Assistant Dean of Students Amie Creagh has a phrase that captures this concept well: she calls it “exercising your ‘no’ muscle.”

Mrs. Creagh’s metaphor is apt and extensible: the more we exercise, the easier it gets. The more flexibility we gain in expressing “no,” then the more options we have for doing so. Like a football player in peak shape, the skills we practice—and the muscles we build—allow us to pass or rush, sneak or scramble (and, occasionally, punt!).

We can all get better at saying “no.”  Here are some guidelines we keep in mind at Deerfield:

• Make sure “actions match rhetoric”—which is an educator’s way of cautioning against the dangers of “do what I say, not what I do.”
• When saying “no,” provide alternatives and discuss why they might be better choices.
• Learn to articulate different degrees of “no.” Sometimes a “no” is not a “no”. . . instead it’s a “Yes, but. . .” Use the opportunity to clarify your expectations—and the consequences of falling short.
• Recognizing that there’s no such thing as trust without risk, make sure you’re modeling the values you want to see in your children. If you want them to trust your judgment when you say “no,” then it’s important to trust them in other arenas: you get what you give.

There’s no denying that “no” is one of the most important lessons we ever learn, but “no” is not the goal. “No” is merely a tool—a method for focusing our desires and resources, a word for emphasizing what’s important to us—distancing us from dangers and distractions along the way. “No” is the first boundary we set for our children, and, as they grow to adulthood, it becomes a boundary that they learn to set for themselves.

With today’s trends of casual connections and easy answers, it comes as no surprise that “no” is more important than ever. Yet let’s not forget the lessons we’ve learned from our toddlers: “no” can end or obfuscate an important lesson. “No” can frustrate and alienate. Exercising our skill in saying “no” is energy well spent.

Early this year, many parents received an email from the Deerfield Inn, not, as they hoped, confirming their room reservations for Parents or Commencement Weekends (which, by the way, they had persevered in obtaining years ago) but, sadly, cancelling them. “Now that the renovations have begun in earnest, it is clear that we will not be operational in May and are therefore releasing all May reservations,” wrote Marci White. Hearts sank, not only because of the missed opportunity to stay in the comfy, floral rooms and to congregate with other Deerfield parents in the Tavern, but also out of concern for the daunting task still ahead for the Inn. It has been closed since late last August, when severe rains from Hurricane Irene caused the Deerfield River to burst its banks, flooding campus and Historic Deerfield. The muddy, debris-filled water was six feet deep in the Inn’s basement and over the beds in the first floor rooms of the Carriage House annex. Everything in those rooms, including some valuable pieces of furniture, had to be thrown out. “We are starting from scratch,” explains Jane Howard, who with her husband, Karl Sabo, manages the Inn.  While other places in Historic Deerfield, including the museum and three other buildings, recovered from the awful mess, the Inn’s progress has been hampered by “surprises and discoveries,” according to Howard. “The ruined sheetrock comes down and all that is there is the original foundation.”

For those new parents who haven’t had the chance to enjoy the Deerfield Inn, it is located less than a block north of the Main School Building, just on the other side of the Brick Church, and feels like an extension of campus.  Built in 1884, the Deerfield Inn has a charming front porch, 24 guest rooms, a large dining room, tavern, and living room, all individually decorated with traditional antiques, bright wallpaper, and floral curtains. It is in many ways a home away from home: a quiet retreat to meet with your student for a family meal, a special celebration, or a genial gathering spot after Academy events.  Its absence this year as a destination has been palpable. “Parents Weekend just wasn’t the same without being able to get together at the Inn,” notes Sidney “Skip” Evans ’73 P’10,’12. “It’s just a nice place to get to visit with your child’s friends and their parents.” Jenny Anderson P’10,’12,’14, adds that she and her husband Rick ’72, “never realized how much the Inn meant to us in terms of the convenience it provided for a ‘home style’ meal with our children after a Wednesday game. We also miss it for its ‘classic New England ambiance’ and for impromptu gatherings with other parents.” For Philip Zea, President of Historic Deerfield, which owns and operates the Deerfield Inn, the lack of revenue is “not good.”  With the Inn shuttered, the whole community is impacted. “We are realizing just how much the Inn animates the street. Without it, it is harder for people to fall in love with Historic Deerfield.”

With work now well underway at the Inn, the news is exciting. “We were already planning to do a major renovation,” explains Zea. “So, in a way, this is a good thing.” Howard says she and Sabo also “keep thinking of all the positives. It is better to be code compliant, we have planned an accessible guest room for the Carriage House, and when else would we have made the time to repaint all the corridors?” They have also taken this opportunity to rethink the Inn’s dining experience−from ambiance to local ingredients−with an upgraded kitchen. “We plan to have a smaller fine-dining area and a larger tavern, with a bigger bar and fireplaces, a pizza oven, local beers, and new wine program.” This is all very good news for Deerfield parents: “The Tavern has always been a gathering space, now it just won’t be as crowded,” she says. And, there’s good news for our kids as well: “We are expanding the take-out service, such as burgers and the many other menu items the students love.”

“When it opens, it’s going to be fabulous,” says Zea, who estimates that “the Carriage House should be ready in May but the main building probably won’t be full-throttle until October.” So, soon enough visitors will once again step inside the historic Deerfield Inn and experience what Howard describes as “more of what was a success and what people really loved about the Inn.”

To book a reservation, call 413-774-5587 or email frontdesk@deerfieldinn.com.

For updates on the renovation, “friend” the Deerfield Inn on Facebook.

Our fourth child’s final year at Deerfield is on the horizon this spring with Parents Weekend in May. I’m struck not only by how much she has learned through her experiences at Deerfield, but also by how much we as parents have learned from the cumulative experiences of her and her predecessor siblings.  You name it and we’ve seen it: a bad injury during ski season, a kid focused on socializing at the expense of sleep, a teacher and a student not on the same page, urgent entreaties from them (in vain!) about senior parties, and realizing what winter in Deerfield can really be like (and this year wasn’t it). We could write a book. 

In a nutshell, that “book”–authored by current and past parents in the very ink of their experiences–is what the Deerfield Parents Network (DPN) is all about.  The DPN’s signature initiative is the First Link, a program coordinated by the Admissions Office that offers a point of contact to every incoming family with the family of a current or recent Deerfield student. The value of that contact is not only practical in providing a context on questions (“How do you get to know the advisor?” or “How much homework is there really?”) but also in sending a broader message that Deerfield is a welcoming community that extends well beyond the bounds of a lovely campus. (For more on the program, see “First Link Starts the Chain” in this issue).

Another service the DPN provides is The Link, a thrice-annual publication that runs through the workings of the school and offers advice on ways to get information or help regarding common challenges faced by parents and students. The Deerfield community has dealt with great success and genuine tragedy over the years with grace, dignity, and caring. In turn, it is likely that there is almost nothing those brick walls haven’t seen in the more than 200 years since Deerfield’s founding. Learning from those experiences, and providing a searchable database of issues facing students and parents alike, is an ongoing goal of The Link.

The DPN has also looked for ways to have a positive impact on the community, including public service initiatives. Last year it coordinated a daffodil planting program on campus to add a bit of spring color. Future plans include assisting the student-led initiatives of a clothing drive and food donations during Parents Weekend to benefit the surrounding communities.

The Steering Committee of the DPN has about 30 parents, and all of our activities are closely coordinated with (and supported by) Dr. Curtis and the Board of Trustees. We’d love to have you involved in any way. Do you have a suggestion, but aren’t sure where to go with it?  Would you like to be part of the First Link effort? Is there an article you’d like to research and write for the benefit of other parents? Would you like to be involved with the community service initiatives? The Deerfield Parents Network is a great way to expand your involvement with Deerfield. Please contact our Community Outreach Chair Kelly Pasciucco, our Communications Chair Kate Upson, or me. You can also email DPN@Deerfield.edu. We urge you to seek us out over Parents Spring Weekend at the DPN coffee and refreshments table in the Caswell Library, or at any of the other parent gatherings throughout the weekend.

Now it’s back to the dorm for a preliminary round of year-end packing, another panicked dialogue on summer plans, and a review of logistics for upcoming college visits.  I’m sensing another Link article is in there somewhere…