Form I Families Mark the Start of their Belmont Hill Journeys

As students settled into the routines and rhythms of the new school year, Belmont Hill welcomed Form I boys and their parents for a special morning at the Hamilton Chapel. After taking family photos together, the boys were granted special seating privileges: up in the front pews typically reserved for seniors. 

Families were joined by Joe LaLiberte ‘14, the Form I head advisor and assistant varsity football coach who was back on campus this week after getting married over the weekend. Mr. LaLiberte drew on his own experiences as a Form I student and Belmont Hill faculty member to offer wisdom to the boys and parents alike here as they begin their journeys at the School.  

“I remember feeling anxious as a young first former in a sea of the Belmont Hill student body at games and in the halls,” Mr. LaLiberte recalled, “but everyone was once in your shoes. Be your true, authentic self. Be kind and help others, and people will gravitate towards you. Remember that here, you belong.”

That scope of the Belmont Hill community might seem intimidating at first, but Mr. LaLiberte encouraged everyone to embrace that aspect of school life. “Lean into the community. The more you put in, the more you will get out. Lean into the community and they will warmly welcome you in.”

Much of the welcome process comes down to the School’s faculty who build relationships with the boys through all aspects of their time on campus. “No student goes unnoticed,” Mr. LaLiberte noted. “I felt that level of care as a student years ago, and I am honored that I can continue this tradition as a part of the faculty today. We go the extra mile – enthusiastically handling a full teaching and coaching load, gracefully enjoying the in-between moments with boys in the halls, engaging every chance we can to build relationships and imbue knowledge in our students. We care. The boys notice, they grow, and I am lucky to be a part of that.”

Even with the faculty’s support, the unfamiliarity that comes with changing schools can be overwhelming for families. Mr. LaLiberte spoke to the value of taking the experience one day at a time. “Parents and boys alike – trust the process, grow a little every day, provide space to fail and learn from that failure. The rest will take care of itself.”

The boys will return to the Chapel with their parents as sixth formers to bookend this event. New photos will be taken and the families will have the opportunity to celebrate their boys’ experiences as graduating Belmont Hill students. That might seem far off in the distance, but as Mr. LaLiberte reminded them, the best way to get there is one day at a time.