September 12, 2020

Dear Alumni and Friends of MCI,

I begin by sharing with you the first three weeks of school as narrated by Tom Bertrand, class of 1990, and Dean of Student Life.

All of our boarding students arrived safely, on time, and healthy. We have students from over twenty different countries, including Montenegro and Argentina for the first time. As planned, we had each student quarantined in their single room for three days before having them tested for COVID-19. On Friday (28th of August), the test results came back all negative, and students moved into their permanent rooms with their roommates. For activities, open gyms occurred in the evenings, and our Prefects led campus tours and a scavenger hunt for new students to learn the campus. We concluded the week with an ice cream social hosted by our Head of School and his family at Manson House on Sunday.

In the first week of September, faculty and staff training, student mentor training, and Prefect leadership training occurred simultaneously with our orientation activities. We have developed a peer mentoring program for this year and have over 30 returning students participating as mentors for new students. On the new student days, the peer mentors met with their mentor groups and helped them through the day. This relationship will be ongoing throughout the year.

On Friday (4th of September), we had a movie night on campus in Parks Gym, complete with snacks and drinks. On Saturday, students played lawn games on front campus, listened to music, played volleyball, and made "tie-dyed" masks. On Sunday, we did our main orientation event for all boarding students at Camp Fairhaven in Brooks, ME (you can view the video here). Students were broken up into groups and played archery tag, went on a hike, participated in team building activities on a ropes course, and enjoyed swimming and boating in the cool Maine lake on a hot day. The sun was shining ALMOST as brightly as the smiles on the students' faces. It was a fantastic outing; one that will provide the foundation for the culture of community that we are always striving for in the dorms.

This week (8th of September), we began the regular class schedule and what will become our daily routine. We continue to make adjustments and provide the necessary accommodations re: COVID-19, so that students can learn and live safely and productively on campus. The anticipation of the opening of school is now behind us, and our students are ready to take on all that this great school with history and tradition has to offer. GO HUSKIES!!!

As you can read, faculty, staff, and students are thrilled to be back on campus. We had most of our faculty working throughout the summer to design, to improve, and to learn the best way to offer a hybrid education until we get the green light to go all hands on deck. My hope is that once a vaccine becomes readily available, we will be able to get to that point. Please visit our real-time website for the most up to date information and images, www.mci-school.org. We also use social media to keep everyone updated about "what's happening" on campus as well as provide you with monthly updates like this.

Finally, I am excited to share with you the news of our application to the JROTC programs through the Air Force or Navy – which branch is still to be determined. Colonel Wyly will be volunteering to teach the course, and we will be posting some opportunities for directed gifts that we need to start up. Our focus will be on aviation as we launched our aviation program with the University of Maine last year (students can earn a private pilot's license now before graduation should they choose this path).

As always, I hope you stay in touch with us here at MCI. Please feel free to stop by my office for a cup of coffee and/or lunch (if you pick the right time). You are part of a legacy that began in 1866 – a legacy that is truly unique and special – a legacy we teach to our current generation of students. Your input, your contributions, and your support are always welcome and most appreciated.

All the Best,

Christopher M. McDonald

Head of School