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Tour of Traditions: Form I Welcomed into Belmont Hill History

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Tour of Traditions: Form I Welcomed into Belmont Hill History
Tour of Traditions: Form I Welcomed into Belmont Hill History
As the seasons shifted to fall, and the boys settled into campus life, the Form I students took part in the annual Tour of Traditions, a physical tour of campus landmarks that seeks to capture the intangible culture that has shaped Belmont Hill for over 100 years.
 
At each stop across campus, faculty members joined to convey not only the history being commemorated by each landmark, but their own personal reflections of the people the landmarks commemorate. Director of the Upper School Don Bradley spoke to the symbols honoring military service, and Director of Community and Diversity Caleb Collins ’93 shared the story behind the student-led initiatives that sparked the creation of the “You Matter” flag in the Jordan Athletic Center. Greg Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School, imparted the wisdom within the sextant that boys wear on their ties and athletic uniforms.
 
Mr. Schneider also gathered the group at the bench installed in 2022 as a place for reflection. The bench replaced a bell that had previously resided on campus, and the final stop on the Tour of Traditions was a field trip to the Robbins House in Concord to see the bell and learn more of its history and complicated intersection with the Belmont Hill community.
 
“My hope for the boys is that they realize that they are joining a special community. I don't use the word ‘special’ often. I save it for the people who have truly earned it,” said Math Teacher Al Murphy ’98, who served as one of the tour’s speakers. “This school is special because of the people who came before us. Today allows the boys to learn who those people are, and how we can carry on their legacies, helping to continue to make this a special place.”
 
Mr. Murphy joined the tour at the G. Clifford Goodband, Jr. bench which overlooks the athletic fields and honors the legendary former director of the Upper School, science teacher, and soccer coach. Mr. Murphy credits Mr. Goodband as the reason he came to Belmont Hill, first as a student and then as a faculty member. To this day, he thinks often of the example Mr. Goodband set.
 
“Mr. Goodband taught all of us to work hard and take care of each other,” Mr. Murphy shared. “It did not matter who you were, Mr. Goodband could connect with you and make you feel like this was your school. He connected with every faculty member, staff member, or student.”
 
That enduring ambition to foster a sense of connection within every community member is a foundational goal of the Tour of Traditions. At one of the stops, Woodworking Teacher Steve Kaplan ’83 introduced the panel carving tradition that the first formers will experience as seniors. While Mr. Kaplan explained the history of this hallowed Belmont Hill rite of passage, he encouraged the first formers to look forward to when they will have the chance to carve their own legacy.
 
The tour then, is less a history lesson than it is a personal invitation welcoming the Form I boys as the newest members of the expansive and inspirational Belmont Hill community.  Just as the panels will leave a lasting representation of each student on the campus, the tour is confirmation that the boys are already an intrinsic part of the School’s culture with the opportunity before them to add their own pages to the special story of Belmont Hill.
 

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