BrewsterConnections - Brewster Academy

A Message from the Head of School
As I write this, the days are becoming longer and brighter, but we are still
wrapped in winter here in Wolfeboro. Winter in Wolfeboro, as it is in most of
the northeast, is one of those times when we hunker down to wait out the arctic
blasts for signs of spring and a rebirth of what the earth has to offer. For those
of us living on the big lake, hunkering down against the blast of the cold north
wind is like trying to insulate an old house, no matter how much you bundle
up and brace yourself, somewhere, somehow, the cold will find its way through
those protective layers. But even though that cold seeps its way inside, things
are still warm and cozy on the inside, and that certainly is true of the halls of
the “Ac,” not only because of the layers of clothing we don, but mostly from the
camaraderie and warm feelings we gain from one another. Winter is also a time
for contemplation, planning, and renewing of thoughts, especially for those of
us in education. We use this time of year to begin looking ahead at a new school
year and to new beginnings. And this winter has been no exception.
One of those new beginnings is taking stock from the fact that we have been
granted re-accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and
Dr. Michael E. Cooper, Head of School
Colleges, our decennial review of programs, services, and activities at the Academy.
You can read more about the review later in these pages (21-23), but let me
briefly summarize that it was an affirming process for everyone as we were given wonderful feedback about how we
go about our daily affairs and how we are educating young people. To have validation that what we are attempting to
accomplish as a school is, indeed, recognized by outside reviewers and from our own self-study, is energizing and offers
us motivation to continue to strive toward excellence in everything that we do.
Another new beginning is the brand concept that we will be unveiling over the coming months. In a recent Wall Street
Journal article (December 12, 2006) titled “How to Keep Your School from Being Brand X,” the author sums up the
importance of brand by quoting the dean of Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business, “… the customer’s risk is
high because you can’t test drive multiple schools and you can’t change your mind once you make your purchasing
decision. That makes brand extremely important as a trust mark that helps reduce the customer’s risk.” We have taken
that sentiment to heart as we have been developing our brand concept. The preliminary feedback that we have received
confirms that we have developed an exciting and compelling message. Please look for it over the next few months.
Finally, it became abundantly clear to me in the fall, through independent reading and travel, how global we are
becoming. A trip to Asia confirmed for me that, not only has the world shrunk on one level, but also on another, just how
large it can feel. That largeness transcends physical size and really points to the magnitude of the population in different
parts of the world and what that means for our educational system here in the United States. While a topic for future
pages of Connections, it certainly requires our time and attention as we plan for our future, and in fact, has become a
compelling theme as we move forward.
These are challenging and exciting times, and I want you to know that we are giving our full attention to what they
mean for the future of the Academy. The state of the school is good, but like any enterprise, could be better. We continue
our quest to move from good to great and hope you share in the excitement that we feel. We intend to continue to reach
out to you over the coming months and to learn more about your thoughts and ideas for the future Brewster Academy.
For The School,
Michael E. Cooper, Ph.D.
BrewsterConnections • Spring 2007