multipurpose athletic and recreational facility would be the next turning point for the <strong>Academy</strong>. <strong>Brewster</strong>’s First Gymnasium With most of the concerns over GIs resolved, attention focused on physical education facilities. Two rooms in the basement of the main building and a makeshift outdoor basketball/tennis court area, usable only in fall and spring, could not meet the school’s growing needs. Pressure on the board to act on plans for a <strong>Brewster</strong> recreational center and museum grew. After a tremendous fund-raising effort on the part of the board, town, and student body, the long-anticipated construction of a new gymnasium/ recreational building became a reality in 1954. The new Rogers Gymnasium not only enhanced the athletic program, it freed up space in other buildings for art and more academic programs. The growth of music, dramatics and choral work, and a vocational training program seemed to explode. The new building further strengthened the bond between the <strong>Academy</strong> and town. School spirit soared and within two years the school won the New England championship in basketball and women’s basketball began. Enrollment was high but another turning point lurked on the horizon. Gaining Independence In the early 1960s, with increased enrollment, <strong>Brewster</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> faced the challenge of becoming a public school or returning to its roots as a college preparatory boarding school. On opening day in 1960, 332 students, including 88 boarding students, arrived. This brought enrollment of the average class size from 15 to 25 or 30, which was cause for alarm. By 1963 enrollment was 366 and overcrowding was critical. After considerable deliberation, the idea of serving as a regional high school was rejected by the board of trustees. In 1964 when Kingswood Regional High School opened its doors one mile up the street, <strong>Brewster</strong>’s opening day enrollment dropped to 132: 96 boarding students and 36 day students. To increase boarding enrollment, the board decided to build a new dormitory, Sargent Hall, and seek greater numbers of postgraduates, as the very survival of <strong>Brewster</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> was at stake. To continue John <strong>Brewster</strong>’s vision and commitment, the school would have to pursue a new direction, a new beginning. It was one of the most difficult challenges the school has ever faced, and the <strong>Academy</strong> encountered great obstacles along the way. It would be many years before enrollment would begin to increase as families began to see the value of <strong>Brewster</strong>’s independent education. Looking for Leadership To reestablish itself as an independent college preparatory boarding school, the trustees realized the leader of the <strong>Academy</strong> must be someone with boarding school experience and wisdom in order to develop the infrastructure of academic, athletic, and personal standards needed for a competitive college preparatory school. The first two headmasters, Wilfred Paro and C. Richard Vaughan, brought such experience and successively laid the foundation for the future. Instituting customs and traditions presented a major challenge, as did modifying the school program to more effectively meet the needs of students. Even with expanded athletics, a new direction in delivering curriculum, and the acquisition of Bearce Hall, enrollment and the ever-present need for more effective fund raising continued to be major challenges for many years and even threatened, again, the existence of the school during the late sixties and early seventies. The Kenison Library opened in the Wilson Center in 1995 A major step in overcoming this threat was taken in 1974 when the board of trustees appointed the youngest headmaster in the history of the school – teacher and former dean, David M. Smith. As headmaster, Smith immediately faced a shortfall of almost half the annual budget, and 90 percent of the school’s line of credit had been expended. Enrollment was below expectations, the Admission Office demanded new leadership and direction, faculty morale was low, and the physical plant needed a comprehensive facelift. Smith led the <strong>Academy</strong> through three decades of continuous improvements in school facilities, in the depth and breadth of the faculty, in the talent and diversity of the student body, in financial stability, and ultimately in development of the <strong>Brewster</strong> Model curriculum. With the <strong>Brewster</strong> Model firmly and successfully in place, Smith’s successor Head of School Dr. Michael E. Cooper would evolve and expand program components to ensure that <strong>Brewster</strong> students are prepared for the challenges of the 21 st century. These initiatives included teaching the habits of mind, character education, project-based learning, and introducing a school-wide emotional literacy program. These initiatives responded to the challenges of teaching and learning in the 21 st century, not only in the academic program but in every facet of school operations. With its forward-looking, innovative mindset, <strong>Brewster</strong> remains at the forefront of secondary education, a position that provides a solid foundation for the <strong>Academy</strong>’s response to the continuing challenges of our rapidly changing world. Note: Read more about these turning points and the full history of the <strong>Academy</strong> in The <strong>Brewster</strong> Story: A Definitive History of <strong>Brewster</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> available in the Campus Store, local stores, and at https://www.brewsteracademy.org/thebrewsterstory 48 <strong><strong>Brewster</strong>Connections</strong> – Spring 2012
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ALUMNI PARTICIPATION CHALLENGE What if you could give <strong>Brewster</strong> $100,000? You can! Alumni support is at the heart of every great school. Last year, 8 percent of alumni made a gift to <strong>Brewster</strong>. A group of alumni and parents believes we can do better, and they feel so strongly about it that they have issued a challenge to double alumni participation this year. If at least 600 alumni make a gift to <strong>Brewster</strong> this year, a group of challenge donors will contribute $100,000 to the Annual Fund. These donors are sending a simple but powerful message – your participation matters. Make your gift online today at www.brewsteracademy.org/Strength-In-Numbers-Challenge or call 603.569.7485
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