It has been a whirlwind of activity this September at Northwood School. Before the students even arrived, faculty and staff hustled to prepare dorm rooms, classrooms, and common areas – ensuring they were clean and welcoming for the 175 students from sixteen different countries and nineteen different states. Our new Headmaster, Mike Maher, who started in July, brought a lot of new ideas with him; Students and families noticed the first of these with the reinvented registration process. It is fitting that a big, welcoming tent was installled on the McKenzie field for registration day. Northwood will now welcome students at the beginning of the year in a similar way as we send off our graduates at the end of the year.
Once registration and orientation finished up, it was right to work. Classes were in full swing on Labor Day and fall sports started that afternoon. The first few weeks at a new place can be challenging, but new students relied on faculty advisors and returning student leaders to help them get over the initial pangs of homesickness. By mid-September, everyone had settled into a rhythm and felt more at home then they had ever thought they would.
Although hockey has not officially started on campus, the girls’ hockey program has already begun some essential team building. Informally, our players find friends they naturally gravitate to, who most often than not are teammates. They study together, eat meals together, and have fun on the weekends in town. Physical testing day is also another avenue for team building. Only teammates can understand the pressure and pain of this day, and the experience always builds camaraderie. This year’s physical testing day saw some old familiar faces leading the way, but some new faces also proved their metal, too. Kylie led the 1.5 mile run with a time of 9:52, which is fast but still not her personal best. Sara killed the 300 yard shuttles with 1:05 on the first and a 1:08 on the second. Sara also had a personal best on the push-ups with 40, but newcomer Madison G. whipped out 50 military style push-ups to take that crown. Madison also holds the record for pull-ups with 6. Coach Lucy has taken over our pre-season conditioning program, and her high expectations will certainly lead to even better results down the road.
On the second weekend at Northwood, the Donatello and Richie family invited the entire team to their camp on Upper Saranac Lake. It was a beautiful late summer day and the girls enjoyed boating, swimming, and tubing. After the day at the lake, many of the girls headed right over to the Olympic Oval, where Relay for Life was being hosted. It’s evident how thoughtful this group is when they spend their free time volunteering or attending charity events.
Although the summer weather is lingering on, the cold nights are a signal that fall is here. Hockey season officially starts the Monday after Parents’ Weekend. This year, we’re excited to be fielding two teams; it is the start of a new Northwood Girls’ Hockey Program. The additional coaching staff, Coach Lucy and Coach Nemec will bring their own specilization and passion to the game. It will certainly be a year full of great experiences and great hockey.
Northwood School Girls Hockey 
