More than 1,000 parents arrived in Wallingford on October 16-18 for this year's Parents Weekend program. Parent-teacher conferences continue to be an important part of the weekend for both parents and faculty. Nearly two dozen alumni and alumnae in the arts have agreed to the join the newly formed Choate Rosemary Hall Arts Alumni Advisory Board. Philanthropist and supporter of the arts Paul Mellon '25 has agreed to be the Honorary Chair. After a five-year absence from campus, during which time he directed the Ward Arts Center at the St. Paul's schools in Baltimore, Paul Tines returned this July as Director of the Paul Mellon Arts Center.
Tines has a well-earned reputation for staging bold and adventurous productions.
Members of the arts advisory board will offer suggestions for strengthening the arts programs at Choate. PEC members were given a sheet that briefly reviewed the major school rules and codes and the range of responses that are applied when rules are broken. Many at that meeting thought the sheet of rules and consequences would be helpful for all parents to have in hand and to discuss with their children. Dean of Students Elinor Abbe sent these to all parents in time for conversations with their children during Thanksgiving break. The Maestro and Philip Ventre, who directs both the WSO and the Choate instrumental program, hope to initiate a cultural exchange for student musicians.