Now in its 140th school year, Tabor Academy is starting off the school year with new students, new faculty, a new dormitory and new initiatives.

Before the official start of school, Tabor welcomed around 300 students for preseason athletics training as well as training for students who will help the 30 new international students settle in this year.

Classes officially began on Monday, including 150 new students and 10 new faculty members. Among them is the new Dean of Students Mel Bride who said she will work to contribute to Tabor’s goal of 24/7 inclusive learning/living community.

“Student leaders in the arts, athletics, community life, and student activities have planned a great year full of social, artistic, and intellectual activities for student engagement outside of the classroom and on the weekends,” she said.

Matsumura House, the school’s newly built dormitory, was also designed to enhance student interaction, with more open common areas than other facilities on campus.

On the academic front, a modified schedule will take effect this fall, including more teaching hours and more routine opportunities for faculty to meet and collaborate. Dean of Studies Eileen Neville Marceau said, “Increased departmental time will help facilitate ongoing curricular development and review, creating new opportunities to collaborate on interdisciplinary work and creative assessment strategies across the curriculum.”

Additionally, Tabor will implement the College & Work Readiness Assessment (CWRA) this fall, starting with the incoming class of 2019, in order to track students’ development of critical thinking skills during their years at Tabor. Data from the CWRA results will help the school in its efforts to develop and refine a more skills-centered curriculum.

Sustainability initiatives on campus continue to be a priority. Mike Sirianni, director of dining services, has completed the process to be certified as a Green Kitchen by adopting and maintaining sustainability practices. Additionally, an effort to reduce plastic water bottle trash on campus is underway with the installation of water bottle filling stations across campus. All students will also receive Nalgene water bottles this year.

A change everyone in the Marion community may notice is the installation of bleacher seating along the football field.

Director of Communications Kerry Saltonstall said, “I am hoping our new, more comfortable seating will encourage even more participation from townspeople to come out and cheer on our local teams. The project should be complete in time for Tabor’s first home game.”