Spring is finally in full swing. We recently had the hottest May day in Massachusetts in 10 years, reaching a high of 95 degrees! What does that mean for our Upper School (US) community? It means: Go outside, have fun, embrace adventure and most importantly, stop being so serious.
First, we would like to congratulate the US on its high engagement in outdoor activities this spring. I think we can thank one new trend in particular for this increase in participation: the dreaded, Instagram-involved, 1980s flashback — hacky sack.
Walk outside on a nice day or sit in the Commons, and I guarantee you will see a group of students standing in a circle, each taking a turn trying to impress one another with a new trick. Who would have thought a knitted ball filled with beads would finally get them off their phones? But The Vanguard is here for it! It keeps the US community outside, away from screens, talking to one another and enjoying the sun. Not to mention, it has even brought the US national recognition after the Buck Sack team was nationally ranked on Instagram. Thanks, Buck Sack.
Beyond hacky sack, you might see spikeball games or the new volleyball net set up next to the baseball field. During advisories or lunch, multiple rounds of spikeball are constantly being played. Students fully engage in games, shifting the typical US competitive spirit away from grades and toward spikeball bets.
We are genuinely pleased with students’ participation in outdoor games, which do more than just pull our community away from their phones and into the sunshine. Most importantly, they bring out our free spirit. We all know the rigor, stress and competition of this school, but when we step outside, we become kids again. We are here to remind you that it is okay to take a break and go outside; working nonstop is not always beneficial.
As spring comes to a close and summer approaches, remember to relax. Step outside, go to the beach, play hacky sack or spikeball, and get off your phones! Become a kid again.
