Orderly chaos, a rainy autumn day.

The students come in, parents in tow or sometimes the other way around. Wet from the rain outside, finding their name tags.

Tabor Academy welcomed its incoming freshman class and prepared to start the school year with 520 students in total. 20 states and 19 countries are represented by the private school's student body.

Families packed into the Wickenden Chapel, anxious but excited. Inside the chapel, the headmaster formally welcomed them and student advisors were made available.

"We have a saying that no matter what the weather, today is a great day to be a Seawolf," said Tabor Headmaster Jay Stroud, referencing Tabor's athletic teams, to an assembly of new freshmen and their families. "As of this moment you are officially Tabor students and so you have a whole new hat to put on."

While the weather was somber, Stroud's words were not as he implored the students to take on new challenges, new risks and to embrace change.

"The years between 14 and 18 are years of enormous change," Stroud said. "One thing I hear from our graduates is how many doors this place opened for them."

As the new students are welcomed, the international students are holding an assembly of their own. A rundown of Tabor's policies on speaking English, community service and the extracurricular activities available. Everything from photography to rowing is offered and, according to Stroud, there are more classes than someone could take "in three lifetimes."

Incoming sophmore Jelena Petereit, of Germany, was just glad to be at Tabor.

"I love it here," she said.

Petereit's global partner, a student guide for new international students, had been showing her the area for a few days.

"She stayed with me for a few days before the dorms opened," said Holly Francis, of Marion and Petereit's global partner. "I'm supposed to show her around, make her comfortable. I think I'm succeeding."

"Our international students add a huge dimension to Tabor," said Alexandra Tolischus, Associate Director of Admissions.

Whether new or returning, American or international, students know that this also Stroud's last year as headmaster.

"I'm trying to make it the same as every other year," Stroud said, with a smile. "It's nobody's last year except mine."