Highlights from Fall Parents Weekend

Michelle Blayney
Nearly 400 parents joined their sons and daughters on Millbrook's campus for Fall Parents Weekend, October 11th and 12th! From community service and class visits to luncheons and athletic contests, the weekend activities allowed parents to experience a day in the life of their Millbrook student.

Parents came from across the country and from across the world to attend classes and meet with teachers beginning on Friday, October 11th. Some teachers planned hands-on activities in which parents were invited to participate; others asked parents to join in Q&A sessions at the end of classes. All classes provided the opportunity for parents to get a real and immediate sense of what Millbrook students are learning.

Parents also had the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom. Acting Headmaster Jon Downs '98 provided insight into Millbrook today during his State of the School Address, touching on the incredible support of our parents and alumni, our evolution to becoming the best high school in America, and the development of both our program and our physical plant, including plans for a new boys dorm, new athletic field house, and new alumni house. He shared his own perspective on the challenges of parenting and reminded parents that Millbrook is designed to be a place where teenagers are known and needed, a place where having a life of meaning and consequence is part of the antidote to teenage angst.

Millbrook alumnus, psychologist, and author Dr. Michael Thompson '65 was a featured speaker on Friday afternoon. He talked to parents about the idea of “the perfect parent” and how there is no such thing. He encouraged parents to trust the system that has helped so many through the process and commended them for putting their trust in Millbrook to help shape loving, moral, productive, and independent young adults. 
 
Dr. Thompson pivoted on Saturday morning to speak with student groups. With our IIIrd and IVth formers he focused on their transition to boarding school and offered constructive and thought-provoking strategies and ideas to cope with potential struggles. With Vth and VI form students he discussed the stress of the college process, adult expectations, and how to manage insecurities as they work toward their goals after Millbrook.

Mustang fans gathered at the athletic fields Saturday afternoon to cheer on Millbrook teams, including girls varsity soccer (who defeated Westover, 5-1) and football (who narrowly lost to Pomfret in the last seconds of the game, 20-22).  
 
Coming off of the excitement of the festivities, students joined their families over the extended weekend for some rest and relaxation. Look for photos from the weekend in our photo gallery and video of Mr. Downs' State of the School speech in our Millbrook in Motion archives.
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