Groton School - Review #16

Groton is a true community. The campus is situated around a circle, and all students, from seniors to 8th graders, interact with one another throughout the school day. Students walk around the circle on the way to classes, back to their dorms, to meals, and to chapel. Nothing is really out of sight, and all grade levels see much of one another during the day.Class sizes are small, and the work is rigorous. However, teachers go out of their way to offer extra help, and to be a part of the community outside of class. If you want help, all you have to do is ask, and that help might come at an unexpected moment.

Groton taught me how to work in good times and bad. It was a haven for me during some fairly tempestuous times at home. I always felt supported by my teachers, and whenever I run into a classmate, I find myself with a big smile on my face.

Don't try to do too much from the get go. Find your footing, pay attention to your schoolwork, and accept help when it is offered. If teachers see that you are unwilling to accept help, they are less likely to offer it to you, and may focus on others.

I loved the feeling that I had when I walked around the campus. I felt home.

Work hard, and take advantage of the opportunities that you find. Get to know Temba.

There was a variety of classes to choose from, and while most classes were demanding, the discussions inside these classes were passionate, opinionated, thoughtful, and safe. Getting extra help was easy, if you took the time to look for it. Groton taught me how to work hard, and I experienced the rewards for hard work as well as the penalties for not giving my best effort. No matter what, my teachers supported me.

Everyone could find a sport to play. Coaches took a personal interest in your development, and every season, you felt like a part of a small family. Games were mostly competitive with other schools - we experienced victory and defeat, and our coaches made sure that we learned from both outcomes.

These programs were small when I was there, but since then Groton has spent money on better facilities, invested in talented faculty, and the Arts - specifically music and theater are fantastic. Again, the personal attention that teachers are able to give each student goes such a long way in developing whatever talent that the student is practicing.

There was always something to do. Whether a Saturday night dance, a trip to Boston, or community service - if students wanted to do something, they found a way to make it happen. The SAC - Student Activities Committee was active and always tried to do something new every month.

Dorms were small - with about 20 people in each place. Life usually centered around the common area - watching TV, playing ping pong, shooting the breeze. Late night "Pizza Feeds" were the best - pizza would be delivered after 11 PM check-in, and we'd watch Saturday Night Live and stay up far too late. Room setups were unique to each dorm, and you could room with who you wanted fairly easily.

The dining hall is a central part of campus and the food is now outstanding. In hindsight, the best part of the dining experience were the formal "Sit Down" dinners that we had a few times each month in the spring and fall. You interacted with people that you didn't know very well based on assigned seating.Cafeteria meals were fine - breakfast was well-stocked and non-mandatory.

Groton is near two towns, Groton and Ayer. You can walk or bike to Groton, but need a cab to get to Ayer. The towns are small, but have the necessities like pharmacies and grocery stores, as well as good restaurants for when parents and relatives visit.Lawrence Academy, a fellow boarding school, is located in Groton, and while students do not intermingle much, it's nice to have a neighbor so close.

Honestly I remember being friends with everyone. Of course there were some cliques, but you got to know everyone in a school of 350 kids, and you could always find a friend to hang out with.