TaborTalk Blog

By Richard Roller, Assistant Head of School
Dick Duffy will retire this spring after 46 years on the Tabor faculty. A member of the Tabor Class of 1956, “Duff” returned to his school by the sea in the fall of 1969. A stalwart member of the history department, Duff introduced the Advanced Placement Economics course to Tabor along with teaching both U.S. History and a popular elective entitled America in Vietnam.

This summer, Tabor marine science faculty members Jennifer Albright and Kimberly Ulmer, set out to foster some new relationships and learn from local scientists about how to ensure the success of our fledgling oyster farm, as well as ways to integrate the farm into two new marine science courses at Tabor in physical and chemical oceanography.

For the Veterans Day Chapel Program this year, on November 11, faculty member Nate Meleo ’95, a military veteran himself, would like to recognize the military contributions of Tabor alumni throughout the generations by featuring reflections, thoughts, and stories about their time in service and the meaning of Veteran’s Day. To do this, Nate needs your help! If you are a TA alumni military veteran and would like to participate in this project, simply email Nate both a photograph of yourself in uniform (if you have one) and whatever thoughts or story you would like shared during the chapel program. Nate will then work with current TA students to create and deliver the program, made up entirely of your own words, for the TA community to reflect on and celebrate.

Eileen Neville Marceau joined the Tabor Academy faculty July 1 as Dean of Studies. Mrs. Marceau completed her position in June at Charlotte Country Day School as their Upper School Director of Studies, a role she had held for the past six years.

As we welcome new faculty, and get ready to open school with the start of our Opening of School Faculty Meetings today, I thought I would share some of the interesting work Chris McEnroe (at right) is bringing to Tabor through his interest in digital media.

It’s always nice to be able to help someone who has helped you. It may not be in equal measures, but you do what you can do. Tonight, Tabor faculty worked with our friends at Gifts to Give to figure out a way we could give a little something back to them for all they have done for us. We enjoyed the second annual fundraiser for Gifts to Give, held in Hoyt Hall at Tabor. It was a night of music featuring a local talent Tommy Booth, along with two faculty musicians: our Head of School John Quirk, and math teacher and hockey coach Gerry Dineen. I understand it was organized in part by Tabor house parents Eric and Nicole Long.

Mr. Cobbold was our Baccalaureate Speaker for Commencement this year. He gave a wonderful speech which I think you will enjoy for its historic references to Tabor, as well as for its very astute differentiation between training and education and the perils of trading one for another. As always, Mr. Cobbold has his eyes on the prize. Enjoy his speech here.

At the beginning of school each year, we have the opportunity to hear from faculty who were awarded sabbaticals or significant professional development opportunities. There were three such presentations this year from Kevin Arnfield, Rick DaSilva '89, and Mark Howland.

Rick DaSilva '89, history faculty and frequent leader of Tabor trips to China and Thailand, is preparing for a four-week study tour in Japan. Rick will be joining eleven other world history educators from across the United States for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (FHGPA) 2013 study tour to Japan, sponsored by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA) national coordinating site at the Program for Teaching East Asia (TEA), University of Colorado Boulder.

Sabbaticals allows faculty to break from the Tabor routine and return with new ideas and experiences.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pJA6MF3yYQ?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Sounds like Location, Location, Location for Real Estate! Well the three P's are key to a smooth start in the school business. With our new faculty up to speed after three full days of orientation, today we welcome the full faculty back from summer to get ready for the opening of school.

We start out with coffee, of course! A grand reunion after a summer apart begins our year together. We meet outside the chapel, mix and mingle, and then head into chapel for a more formal start to our year. The start always includes gratitude, inspiration and organization.

This chapel is unique as it is the only time of the year when we gather there without students. We are the students this time. We gain inspiration from our leader, new Head of School, John Quirk, and from each other as we hear of the accomplishments of our fellow teachers during their summer study opportunities. Typically, over 50% of our faculty will engage in some type of Tabor sponsored summer study every year. This is a dedicated group! We also always take time to thank the many people who remain at Tabor all summer to keep things All-A-Taut-O around here. It is a great community moment, one that deserves the reverence the chapel provides.

Then....on to four days of meetings to discuss everything under the sun. But mostly, how to best educate our 502 charges who begin arriving this week, and to make this year the best ever!

It feels great to be part of such a wonderful mission.