Annual Report for 2006/2007 - Manlius Pebble Hill School

from the president of the boardOnce upon a time, in Central New York, there were two independentschools, different in so many ways, yet also similar. One was an all malemilitary preparatory school, where young boys began the journey tobecoming “Old Boys.” For many, that journey was formative. It provided focus,direction, and resolve. For some, The Manlius School was transforming. Irresoluteand undisciplined adolescents learned, under the tutelage of teachers and coaches,that behavior, good or bad, has consequences. They learned lessons in the classroomand on the playing field. Even those who came only as one-year, post-graduatestudents, boys who were almost men, say their year at Manlius was enormouslyimportant to their lives.On Jamesville Road, there was the other and much smaller school. Pebble HillSchool was co-ed and graduated senior classes of 12 students. Its alumni, too, tell ofteachers and coaches who changed their lives. Pebble Hill students attended classesin a farmhouse and a barn, and, though they did not drill with rifles or stand formationin the snow, they emerged from their independent school experience confidentthat they were ready for the next stages of their lives.And then the world changed. These two wonderful schools decided tobecome one. That merger was hard — hard to bring about and, for many, hard toswallow. The parent schools’ differences were emphasized. Their similarities wereignored. The new school born of this merger was seen by many as illegitimate, asless than worthy.As I write this — my seventh and last annual report message to the MPHcommunity — I bellow from the rooftops that the naysayers were terribly wrong.Manlius Pebble Hill School does for its students precisely what its parent schoolsdid for theirs.Our students continue to benefit profoundly from talented, devoted teachersand coaches. Our scholars are our athletes and our performers and artists. Theyachieve great success, win glittering prizes, and are young men and women whomake us all proud to be part of the life of this incredible school.Indeed, we are “One heart, one voice, one school.” And we would not bewhere we are had all of you listed in this report not been so generous over the lastyear. Because of all of you — alumni of all three schools, trustees, parents of studentsand graduates, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends — our annual campaign wasa rousing success. Our capital campaign has already set a campaign record, and weare only half way to our $6,000,000 goal. Thank you for your past and, I trust,future financial support.It has been my privilege to report to you for seven years. As co-chair of thecapital campaign, you will be hearing from me again. We will achieve, evenexceed, our goal and will strengthen the School’s foundation, ensuring thatMPH will continue to thrive long after we have all left the scene.Peter Manolakos, PresidentBoard of Trustees2 M A N L I U S P E B B L E H I L L 0 6 / 0 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T