Members of the Williston Northampton School community gathered on Friday, September 6, 2024, for the school’s 184th Convocation ceremony—our official start-of-school programming.
Gathered on the Main Quad in front of the Reed Campus Center, students and faculty members heard from Head of School Robert W. Hill III, class of 2025 President Isabel Baxter-Paris, and keynote speaker Christina Djossa ’10—an award-winning producer and operations leader at the New York Times podcast division.
“Like the many hues of fall foliage that will transform this campus as they do every October, no two years are the same, and each class will take on its own character as the trimester unfolds,” said Hill during his opening remarks. “If the opening days are any indication, the Class of 2025, all 139 strong, is ready to lead by example with unmatched energy, talent, and enthusiasm. Shout out to you seniors, 2025!”
Baxter-Paris used her remarks to commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Northampton School for Girls, recalling the school’s history and its founders, Dorothy Bement and Sarah Whitaker. Weaving in the founders’ philanthropic efforts into a larger narrative about the class of 2025’s mission, Baxter-Paris encouraged everyone listening to be the best community member they can be.
“This school year, I challenge all of you to channel the spirit of Sarah Whitaker and Dorothy Bement,” Baxter-Paris proclaimed, “balance the pursuit of excellence with kindness and engagement in our school community. What will our impact be on one another? On the world that lies ahead of us?”
In addition to formally starting the academic year, the Convocation ceremony also honored four faculty members for their service to the school. The Dennis H. Grubbs Faculty Chair, established in 1999 by trustees and friends of the school in honor of Denny Grubbs’ final year as Headmaster, was awarded to Mimi King, a longtime educator and math teacher who started at Williston in 1986.
The Hagedorn Family Faculty Chair, established in 2006 by Robert Hagedorn ’76 and his wife, Meladi (parents of Gregory ’06), was awarded to Kathryn Hill, a math and Latin teacher at Williston.
The Northampton School for Girls Instructorship, established in 1999 by alumnae of the Northampton school for Girls, was given to Jessica Rohan, an English teacher.
And for 25 years of service to Williston, a special 25-year-chair was awarded to Sarah Sawyer, an English teacher, former English Chair, and director of the school’s Writers’ Workshop series.
Djossa, when it was her turn to take the lectern, reminded students in the audience that it was OK to be on a journey right now—a journey in education, in life, and in finding how it all ties together.
“So, while you’re figuring that out, my first piece of advice is: find your safe space at Williston,” Djossa said. “And by ‘safe space,’ I don’t mean a literal place, though that can be part of it. It’s more about finding something that makes you feel like you can breathe easy, like you didn’t even realize you were holding your breath before.”
Djossa described her safe places—the dance studio, conversations with Robin in the dining hall before fajita night, listening to music in Memorial Hall—and the comfort it provided her. Once she started feeling more comfortable in her own skin, Djossa saw the doors start opening around her.
“When you start figuring out what’s authentic for you, you can start chasing the things that light you up, that make you feel alive,” she said. “You’ll naturally start gravitating toward opportunities that are perfect for you. And that’s what’s going to make your life amazing.”
Along with the speeches, the school also rang the Angelus—a holdover tradition from NSFG—to mark the formal start of the year. Convocation concluded with the assembled crowd singing the Alma Mater, before the class of 2025 headed down to the Birch Dining Commons for their first class dinner of the year.
See pictures from Convocation here. Watch the full ceremony here, Baxter-Paris’s speech here, and Djossa’s here.