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Our Head of School Dr. John Austin refuses to comment on or even publicly acknowledge many critical and era-defining events such as the war in Ukraine or the Israel-Palestine conflict. This is mainly due to his belief of “Principled Neutrality,” which he developed in “Educators Should Practice Principled Neutrality.” Dr. Austin writes that educators should […]

We hear the line “your grades don’t define you” all the time. From parents to teachers and administration, many people are beginning to indulge in the use of this phrase. Despite what seems like such an uplifting statement, the actual idea of not judging someone by their grades has been overlooked. Time and time again, […]

As one voice for the student body, we feel compelled to address a growing concern within the Deerfield community: the need for greater accountability and transparency in the administration. In an era where bureaucracy often overshadows the voices of those it serves, it is imperative that institutions, especially educational ones such as Deerfield, prioritize the […]

MLK Day gave me hope. Even as our group entered the breakout room, we were fiercely debating whether hate speech should be legal. “Only if flawed logics are exposed can it be rooted out.” “But what if some believe it and do bad things?” This polemic impetus drove the conversation as we dealt across topics […]

Witch hunt. Institutional assassination. Political scheme. These words are apt to describe the journey behind the resignation of former Harvard President Claudine Gay. The recent Congressional hearings have exposed the ugliness of higher education. From robotic, overlawyered words that prevented presidents such as Liz Magill from condemning the call for genocide, to the constant deflection […]

Dear Reader,  On a recent mid-January evening, the weather suddenly turned cold following a particularly warm winter. The snow, though it was exciting the first time around, turned gray and the wind bit at all who dared to embark on a trek outside, even if it was just to the library. Rumors, like milk splashed […]

On January 14, the Deerfield Men of Color Alliance (DMOC) and the Entrepreneurship Club organized a three hour long session as in an introduction to entrepreneurship through a lecture with Professor Max Miller. Professor Miller who is the associate Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship and director of Entrepreneurship Studies at Washington & Jefferson College. He is also athe college friend of Sscience tTeacher Mr. Perry, and reached out to Mr. Perry and leaders of DMOC and Entrepreneurship Cclub to make this event possible. In the ever-changing dynamic between global and domestic economies and the competition that drives economies forward, the study of entrepreneurship at a young age has become even more crucial as the United States economy has become even more competitive and run by large-cap companies such as the Magnificent 7 and other Fortune 500 sector leaders. Because of this, getting an education in entrepreneurship as early as possible has also become important to give individuals advantages over others. And although the access to these opportunities are limited, according to Professor Millers, events “such as the lecture [he gave] are great for high schoolers to gain exposure and crucial knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship.” Another way Professor Miller said to help gain an entrepreneurial mindset is just performing well in school and receiving proper “education and opportunities.” Although Professor Miller started off in law school, which is where he got to know Mr. Perry, the fundamentals of entrepreneurship were already in his tool case simply because of the importance stress he always placed on education. The habits that students acquire by being efficient, productive, and having a fantastic work ethic will later give them an edge against other entrepreneurs later in their career. Entrepreneurs deal with “all kinds of challenges, at every moment” said Professor Miller and by taking up the challenge of becoming an entrepreneur, you are committing yourself to a life of no guarantee. There is no consistent income, no confirmed future stability, and no constant drive to push entrepreneurs to keep on continuing on their journey. The lows will be hurtful, but staying dedicated to achieve something bigger than yourself is what makes the “appeal of entrepreneurship and being an entrepreneur worth it.” Lastly, Professor Miller centered his talk around the biggest asset an entrepreneur can have in order to achieve success, which is immersion. Being an entrepreneur, especially a novice entrepreneur, like which are most high school, college, and graduate students, there is much that one doesn’t know about the economy, about how receptive the market will be for their service or product, if it will truly be a winner or a bust. And without a survivor’s bias, sadly most entrepreneurs never achieve what they were truly working towards, because of a lack of experience, innovation, and other market factors. Or simply many times they are just unlucky. As an entrepreneur there are always many factors stacked against you, some of which you can’t avoid, but many that you actually can. And the best way to avoid those factors is by immersing yourself in your respective sector. Professor Miller explains that “through immersion” you get to know a lot more about sector leaders, their alpha, what it takes to break into the market and be successful, and how to model your own business for it to attract consumers. And although “immersion is at many times, difficult and stressful,”, Professor Miller stresses that immersion is truly “the best thing an entrepreneur can experience” on their way to success. Overall, the lecture that Professor Miller gave was considered a huge success, and the twenty plus people who attended attended on their own volition because they care about knowing what it takes to be an entrepreneur in today’s economic climate. Mr. Perry and Mr. Miller also enjoyed it, and Mr. Miller hopes for more opportunities like this to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Days of glory are not only confined to the halls and fields of Western Massachusetts. In the desert, there is another school that has sit-down meals, accountability points, and blazers and ties. While there may be differences as a result of cultural and regional factors, there are several parallels between Deerfield Academy and King’s Academy in terms of student life and institutional structure. The connection between these two schools has provided countless opportunities for education, travel, and global connection, through exchange programs and faculty interrelationships. While Deerfield provided a blueprint for King’s Academy, the school has flourished into its own unique institution, blending American education with a Jordanian environment. His Majesty King Abdullah II ’80 founded King’s Academy in Madaba, Jordan to mirror the Deerfield experience with a focus on the relationship between students and teachers. He was inspired not to copy the institution, but to create something in the spirit of it with the hope that time and experience would grant it the same level of prestigiousness that guided some of his most developmental years. From his experience at King’s Academy, Deerfield History Teacher John Leistler said, “The obvious genesis is that the King of Jordan so loved his experience at Deerfield in the class of 1980, that when he became King, he wanted a school similar.” At King’s Academy, there are references to Deerfield customs all throughout the institution. The Kaziyeh, King’s version of the Greer, also sells dorm necessities like toothpaste, mini fridges, and comforters, as well as ready-made meals and drinks. Additionally, their form of Accountability Points (APs) are called Missed Obligation Points (MOPs) which share the same disciplinary system. However, one of the most important customs King Abdullah II appreciated from Deerfield and brought to King’s was the sit-down meal program. In Jordan, students have the same opportunities to connect with peers from varying grades, dorms, teams, etc. In the Hess Family Dining Hall, round tables encourage conversation and students take turns waiting tables. Before each meal, grace is said by two students in both Arabic and English before students conclude the prayer with applause. Abdullah Ali ’25 arrived at Deerfield last September for an exchange trimester from King’s Academy. He later decided to transfer permanently. Ali explained that when he first arrived, he remembered the prayer ritual at sit-down meals like muscle memory. “I would start clapping and everyone would look at me weird,” he said. That is one of the most special things about the bond between both schools: the ability to be similar, while also being different. King’s Academy interprets some of our oldest traditions, twisting aspects of their culture within them. The cordial relationship between Deerfield and King’s has allowed many possibilities of travel and experience abroad for both students and teachers. Head of School John Austin previously served as headmaster of King’s Academy. Some Deerfield teachers have also taught there, including History and Social Science Teacher John Leistler, Language Teacher Lina Al Samawi, and Philosophy and Religion Teacher Jan Flaska. Mr. Leistler moved to Madaba, Jordan with no prior knowledge of the region to begin his career teaching at King’s Academy. He was eager to watch the pendulum swing and hear stories he had never heard before. It only took him a year to feel energized, inspired, and integrated with the culture and he still recounts the moment he noticed that shift. He was speaking with a Jordanian secretary about television shows they had watched as children in the 1970’s. As it turned out, Mr. Leistler and his colleague had watched the same show growing up: The Walton’s. Coming to understand that there were more similarities than differences, Mr. Leistler said, “In a very strange way, I found a parallel that I would never have thought and seen.” Ali, who is one of Mr. Leistler’s advisees, discussed his experience moving between cultures. At King’s Academy, Ali was surrounded by the comfort of his home culture. Moving countries, learning how to live on his own, and joining a community in which no one knew him, he was fearful and unaware of what was to come. Nevertheless, the similarities between Deerfield and King’s Academy aided his integration into a completely different cultural environment. Ali attributed his successful assimilation specifically to faculty interrelations. “That connection kind of helped me feel more at home and more comfortable here,” he said. Juan Del Valle ’25 spent his first term this year abroad in Jordan. He reflected on his time away as an extraordinary experience in which he quickly fell into a routine with friends, academics, and athletics. He credits the swiftness of this transition to the cultural fusion of both academies. As soon as he was settled, Del Valle felt as if he was right back in the valley, saying, “Once I got into my rhythm… it was as if I was at Deerfield.”

In November of 2023, the Deerfield athletic grounds team undertook a renovation of Frontier Regional School’s Valition and Jack Zabek baseball and softball fields. Originally planned to be done this past summer, severe flooding on campus pushed back the renovation until Fall Term. The fields were overused due to seasonal changes and extensive use over the summer. Over time, the dirt along the edges of the field spills over, creating obstacles for games. Such uneven surfaces could cause ball hops (when the ball hits the grass and kicks up into the air) and unsafe conditions for athletes. To improve the playability and safety of the fields, the Deerfield team of twelve completely leveled and regraded the infield, and improved the bull-pen area and the batting tunnel of the softball and baseball fields. Utilizing high-tech laser grater blades, the team meticulously cut four inches of grass back from the in-field, replacing it with 5000 square feet of rolls of sod along the edge of the base path. Frontier’s superintendent and athletic director reached out for help from Deerfield to rehabilitate the fields last summer. After carefully considering whether the team had the capacity and time to provide support, Director of Operation Jeff Galli and Assistant Director of Facilities Brett Gawenter approved the operation. Additionally, the team personally wanted to help, as many members have familial connections with Frontier. Mr. Gewanter’s twin sons played Varsity Baseball at Frontier eight years ago. Groundsperson Ivy Palmer’s son, Rosco, will be a senior playing baseball at Frontier. The baseball coach at Frontier will also be Athletic Grounds Supervisor Chip Williams’ son’s physical education teacher Mr. Williams said, “Just to know that the kids down there will have a really nice field to play on, it’s why we try to provide the best fields we can.” The recent renovation was not the first project Deerfield has helped Frontier with. Around six years ago, the athletic grounds team also built four dugouts, two on each field, for Frontier. Every year, they periodically returned for small maintenance and to extend their knowledge for other projects. Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy said that Frontier and Deerfield “have always had a collaborative relationship.” He added, “Over different periods of time, they’ve donated their time and energy.” Deerfield has also helped other past community efforts, including supporting the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts by sending students over to volunteer. The school has funded the replacement of the roof at Deerfield Elementary School and donated a portion of the funding for the school resource officer at Frontier. Mr. Sheehy said that, when deciding which projects to support, Deerfield tries to “tie it back to what are things that impact our community or the ways in which our community uses or as a part of resources within the larger community.” Looking toward the future, Deerfield envisions deepening its collaborative relationship with Frontier, aiming to extend financial support for community initiatives on a case-by-case basis.

As the last pockets of indistinguishable chatter dwindle with the flow of 600 students filing out of the dining hall, a silent lull encases the room. Dean of Ethical and Spiritual Life Jan Flaska takes a seat—the Open Table commences. The hall is soon filled again with voices. After each Sunday sit down, teachers and students alike gather to engage in an informal round-table discussion in the heart of Deerfield’s campus: the Dining Hall. Open Table leaders conjoin two tables to create space for members of the community that have chosen to attend that week’s discussion. After the success of the first unofficial discussion, which focused on the Gaza-Israel conflict, Mr. Flaska aimed to formalize the meetings. “We were like…let’s call this something, and let’s do it somewhere,” he said. Consequently, he coined the term “Open Table.” Subsequent discussion topics included immigration and ableism, and the upcoming discussion which will take place after Long Winter Weekend will be about moderation—from substance use to social media. As an independent and open environment for civic discourse, the Open Table stands in contrast to other settings where similar discussions occur—such as in the classroom or at compulsory events—because the Open Table is something that people choose to attend. “We always want to invite spaces for good conversations, but the open table is different from events like MLK day, which are mandated,” Mr. Flaska said. “These discussions are something you can opt into, you can ignore, you can just listen in, or you can talk in. You can stay for 2 minutes or stay for the duration, there are no pressures intended,” he added. In this low-pressure environment, Mr. Flaska’s vision is clear: to nurture a space that is comfortable, respectful, and informal for the hard, but important, conversations. Reagan Warren ’27, a student host and leader to an Open Table discussion, shared her view of the Open Table not only as a discussion space, but also as a community space. Reflecting on the opportunities it provides, she talked about how it gave her a setting to discuss the frequently glossed-over topic: ableism. In search of a platform to have these hard conversations, she found the Open Table particularly suitable. “It was a very comfortable and relaxed setting, unburdened by expectations or fear of judgment,” she said. “The round table discussion just brought a sense of community and willingness to listen that you don’t see in settings where people may not be as interested in or engaged with the material,” she added. Warren took the initiative to propose the topic to Mr. Flaska, who “said yes almost immediately,” Warren shared. With the support of the Student Life Office, Mr. Flaska constructed a platform for overlooked topics and meaningful dialogues. Ellie Maeda ’27 reflected on these discussions, expressing that her experience at the Open Table was educational and enlightening. For the majority of the conversation, she opted to be a listener. After her first experience, she “came out of that with more knowledge, understanding, and empathy,” she said, highlighting the effectiveness of hearing real-life stories or fresh first-person perspectives in boosting understanding and engagement. She said, “I feel like we are all better off having this knowledge and greater awareness—we are now better equipped to be more inclusive and open-minded.” Maeda and Warren’s takeaways illuminate the high impact and importance of this unique space, which reflect the motivations behind Mr. Flaska’s Open Table concept. Mr. Flaska attributed his inspiration to a New York Times article titled “The Discourse Is Toxic. Universities Can Help” by Amaney Jamal and Keren Yarhi-Milo, deans at Princeton and Columbia. In light of the conflict in Israel and Palestine, Jamal and Yarhi-Milo emphasize that “universities should state hard truths and clarify critical issues” because of the vital role educational institutes play in shaping important conversations. In response to recent headlines about the resignation or dismissal of many college presidents due to their failure in hosting difficult conversations, Mr. Flaska reflected, “The Open Table emerged as a result of our seeing a lot of conversations that went wrong, elsewhere, and we wanted to get ahead of it and try to create a space where conversations can go right…where students who know very little or know a lot, have convictions or are indifferent, could come together and speak about a topic that is important to somebody.”

Deerfield Academy’s Alpine Skiing Team has a strong record of success, having won the league title 17 times alongside the NEPSAC championship. However, skiers at Deerfield sometimes find themselves without one of the aspects most crucial to their sport: snow.  Deerfield skiers often benefit from their location, being one of the Northernmost schools in the […]

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