What’s Happening at Milton?

Welcome Home, Dr. Alixe Callen ’88

On July 1, we welcomed Dr. Alixe Callen ’88 home to Centre St. as Milton Academy’s 13th head of school. A Milton alumna committed to the pursuit of excellence and innovation, Dr. Callen brings to our community a lifelong love of teaching, a wealth of experience in independent and public school leadership, and a deep appreciation and support for Milton Academy. She is the first Milton graduate to lead the school in generations and our first-ever female graduate head of school. Celebrations began early as Alixe was on campus for her 35th Reunion in June, and faculty and staff enjoyed a welcome lunch with Alixe last week. We look forward to continuing the celebrations throughout the fall and are thrilled to be starting this new chapter in our school’s history.

Convocation

Sharing messages celebrating strength in supportive communities, this year’s Convocation speakers challenged Milton students to “Dare to be true” to one another and the world at large. Convocation marks the beginning of the academic year for the Upper School. Students heard remarks from Head of School Dr. Alixe Callen ’88, Director of Restorative Practices Suzanne DeBuhr, co-Head Monitors Katherine Risden ’24 and Chris Amodeo ’24, and Principal Dr. Monica Benton Palmer P ’28.

Latinx and Hispanic Heritage K–12 Event

In September, to celebrate Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month, Milton welcomed speaker Maysa Akbar, Ph.D, ABPP, who is the author of “Urban Trauma: A Legacy of Racism” and the founder and CEO of the Integrated Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary psychotherapy practice in New Haven, Connecticut, which focuses on at-risk urban children, adults, and families. During this K-12 assembly, the Milton community also enjoyed music from a local Afro-Latin-Caribbean band, Ten Tumbao, and a dynamic dance performance by Ritmo, an Upper School Latinx dance group.

Unearthing a Time Capsule

A time capsule, buried on November 14, 1998, to recognize Milton Academy’s bicentennial year, lay beneath the dirt near the Athletic and Convocation Center for the past 25 years. This month, Steve Zannino, Milton Academy’s associate director of grounds and event planning, and Geordie Dunnington, a member of the Physical Education Department faculty, who were there at its placement, brought it to the surface again. Students and faculty at the time enclosed letters and photos, VHS tapes, school publications, mix tapes, and more to commemorate Milton’s 200th year.

Milton-Nobles Day

We were thrilled to host Milton-Nobles Day back on Centre Street this fall! Celebrations kicked off with an exciting pep rally on Thursday, November 9, with the entire K–12 Milton community. Then, on Saturday, November 11, we welcomed alumni, families, and friends to campus to cheer on the Mustangs! Game highlights included 1st Boys’ Soccer and 1st Volleyball finishing the regular season as Independent School League champs! A special shout-out to all of our alumni who participated in the men’s alumni soccer games (both were Milton wins!). For all of the games’ scores, click here. To view photos from the day, click here.

A Teacher First

Alixe Callen ’88 can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be a teacher. “Literally back to kindergarten, I knew that I would spend my life as an educator,” Callen said in an interview shortly after becoming Milton Academy’s 13th head of school. “As my life unfolded, I always knew deep inside that is what I would do.” Read more.

Call for Class Notes

Getting together with Milton friends over Thanksgiving week? We love to see Milton meetups! Reunion-year alum Jeff Marr ’04 returned to campus in October during Mustangs Care Month to speak to students about the importance of giving back. Class of 2004 classmates Josh Krieger, Elizabeth “Liz” (Berylson) Katz, and Ilana (Sclar) Krieger (LtR in photo) all came to the assembly to show their support for Jeff. Share your reunions and get-togethers with us by submitting a class note at https://forms.gle/woy3jPTNBngLQ3cRA. The deadline to be included in the spring 2024 edition of Milton Magazine is Friday, December 1.

How to Succeed in Hollywood (While Really Trying)

“It’s funny to say that a hashtag changed my life. But it’s true. A hashtag really did change my life,” says the Los Angeles-based screenwriter William Yu ’09. Yu made some waves in the Twitter world in 2016 when he launched an awareness campaign using the hashtag #StarringJohnCho. “It was a time when a lot of fraught conversations were taking place about Asian representation [or the lack thereof] in the entertainment industry,” he says. Read more.

Volunteer Opportunity: Affinity Space Co-Facilitators

Step forward and lead with us! Milton Academy alumni affinity spaces represent a mosaic of identities, including gender, ability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, and race, and we’re seeking alumni volunteers to serve as co-facilitators to guide their conversations. As a co-facilitator, you will serve as the liaison between Milton Academy and space participants. Milton provides co-facilitators with training and support, as well as administrative assistance. For more information or to express interest, please complete this form.

The Art and Science of Group Work

Group work. Its mere mention is enough to prompt dread in even the most dedicated students and anxiety dreams for those long out of school. Entire Buzzfeed posts are devoted to bemoaning group assignments, and memes regularly circulate about group members who take on all the work or ride others’ coattails to improve grades. Adults compare collective job tasks to the nightmarish group projects of their academic pasts. The consensus about group projects is that, well, they stink. Read more.

Boston Alumni and Parents Reception

On the evening of October 12, we welcomed generous donors, alumni, and parents into the newly renovated Wigglesworth Hall, home of the William C. Cox Library. Trustee Yeng Butler ’92 P ’25 ’33 captured the essence of the night, remarking that it was not just a milestone for unveiling the new Cox Library, but also a heartfelt gathering where Milton’s extended family came together to warmly welcome our new Head of School Dr. Alixe Callen ’88. This unforgettable celebration was filled with genuine connections across generations and shared excitement for Milton’s future. To view photos from the event, click here.

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