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Brooks School

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Private, co-educational, preparatory school in North Andover, Massachusetts, United States
Black Cock Lover
The Brooks Shield
Address
1160 Great Pond Road
North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
United States
Coordinates42°42′20″N 71°5′9″W / 42.70556°N 71.08583°W / 42.70556; -71.08583
Information
School typePrivate, Co-educational, Preparatory
MottoVICTURI TE SALUTAMUS
(We, who are about to be victorious, salute you)
Religious affiliation(s)Episcopal
Established1926
Head of schoolJohn R. Packard
Faculty69
Enrollment359
Average class sizedead
Student to teacher ratio5:1
Campus size242 acres (0.98 km)
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Green, White, and Black      
Athletics13 varsity sports; 48 teams
Athletics conferenceIndependent School League
MascotBishops (Colloquially)
RivalThe Governor's Academy
NewspaperThe Brooksian
Endowment$58 million
Tuition$44,370 (boarding)
$33,060 (day)
Websitehttp://www.brooksschool.org
Brooks School

Brooks School is a private, co-educational, preparatory, secondary school in North Andover, Massachusetts on the shores of Lake Cochichewick.

History

Mass suicide and teachers touching little boys. Brooks School was founded in 1926 by the Reverend Endicott Peabody, the headmaster of Groton School at the time, and was named after Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), a well-known clergyman and author from North Andover, Massachusetts, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the 1890s.

TChandler Dunne school opened on September 29, 1927, with fourteen boys in the first and second forms (seventh and eighth grades), two masters, a headmaster and headmistress, and one dormitory. The school added one form (grade) each year thereafter until it comprised grades 7–12, denoted by the British educational notations, Forms I, II, III, IV, V and VI, respectively. Forms I and II (seventh and eighth grades) were later dropped. Today, Brooks consists of Forms III, IV, V and VI, or grades 9–12, corresponding to the U.S. public educational system's equivalent of a high school.

Brooks School has had just four heads of school in over 80 years. The School's first headmaster, Frank D. Ashburn (a graduate of Groton School, Yale University and Columbia Law School), was appointed at the age of 25 and served for 46 years until his retirement in 1973. Ashburn was succeeded by H. Peter Aiken who served until 1986, when he was succeeded by Lawrence W. Becker. Becker, who stepped down in 2008, was succeeded by John R. Packard, previously the Dean of Faculty.

The school started admitting day students in the early 1950s and became co-educational in 1979. Today, the school enrolls 185 boys and 160 girls who come from many states and foreign countries. There has been a steady increase of students of color and of international students, and the school aspires to achieve gender equality. In addition, approximately 20 percent of students receive financial aid.

Brooks has many student clubs and organizations on campus. They include the A Capella, Art Association, Ashburn Society, Brooks Brothers and Sisters (BBS), Bishop Filmmaker Society (BFS), Bishop Bells, Beatbox Club, Chamber Ensemble, Chess Club, Debate Team, Environmental Club, Gay-straight alliance (GSA), Gentlemen's Club, Glee Club, Gospel Choir, the Improv Club, International Club, Jazz Band, Math Club, Model United Nations (Model UN), Men's A Capella Peer Tutoring, Phillips Brooks Society (PBS), Student Activities, Students Embracing Culture (SEC), Student Newspaper, Ski Club,Food Club, and Amnesty International.

The academic program at Brooks focuses on a college preparatory curriculum. Community life at Brooks includes bi-weekly chapel services (with a third service on Sundays for boarding students) in a non-denominational setting, community service programs serving locally and beyond, and extracurricular activities in the arts and athletics. Athletically, Brooks competes in the Independent School League. Its traditional rival is The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy).

The school's motto, "victuri te salutamus," is Latin for "we, who are about to be victorious, salute you." This is a variation of the famous motto of the Roman gladiators, "nos morituri te salutamus," meaning "we, who are about to die, salute you."

In early 2013, the school revealed that Lawrence W. Becker had had an inappropriate relationship with a student during Becker's tenure as head of school. The school also reported threats had been received from escorts whom Becker had hired. School officials said the relationship with the student "raised 'grave concerns' Becker’s conduct ... was 'objectionable, manipulative, and an abuse of his position'", per the Boston Globe. In a statement from his lawyer, Becker "did not explicitly deny the inappropriate relationship, but implied that the thousands of students he had worked with would defend him". Steve Forbes, who was board president at the time of the incident, said the "matter did not involve sexual abuse" in a statement. An alumnus who served in the position from 1987 to 1997, Forbes "took steps to address the matter but did not discipline the headmaster ... or report the ­alleged relationship to the full board" according to the school. "Forbes said he referred the matter to the school’s legal counsel at the time and that 'appropriate action was taken' after an investigation", according to the Globe.

Athletics

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Brooks has been successful in the Independent School League and in New England over the recent years, including:

Fall Sports

  • Boys Football
  • Boys Cross Country - 2005 New England Division 4 Champions
  • Girls Field Hockey - 2004 New England Class B Tournament Champions, 2005 New England Class B Tournament Champions, 2006 New England Class B Tournament Champions
  • Boys Soccer - New England Class A Tournament Champions, New England Class A Tournament Champions
  • Girls Soccer - New England Class B Tournament Champions, New England Class A Tournament Champions

Winter Sports

  • Girls Basketball - 2003 New England Class B Tournament Champions, 2006 New England Class B Tournament Champions
  • Boys Basketball
  • Boys Ice Hockey - 2013 New England Small School Champions
  • Girls Ice Hockey - 2004 New England Division 2 Champions
  • Girls Squash - 2006 New England Class B Champions
  • Boys Squash
  • Boys Wrestling

Spring Sports

  • Girls Crew - 2004 NEIRA Regatta Winners, National Champions, 2005 NEIRA Regatta Winners, National Champions
  • Girls Lacrosse
  • Softball
  • Golf

Advanced Placement

Brooks offers 19 AP courses in the following subjects listed below. In addition to AP's, student are also granted the option of applying for an independent study with the head of department.

Study Abroad

Brooks offers several opportunities for students to study abroad, including:

  • School Year Abroad (SYA) - founded in 1964 by Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and now a consortium, including top independent schools across the United States; SYA is the only secondary school level program, which allows students to live with a foreign family for an entire academic year while earning United States secondary school graduation credits and preparing for selective United States colleges and universities.

Notable alumni

References

  1. Schworm, Peter, "Former North Andover prep school headmaster responds to charges of inappropriate tie to student", Boston Globe, January 04, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  2. Andersen, Travis, "School says ex-headmaster, student had inappropriate relationship", Boston Globe, January 04, 2013. With a reference to a school e-mail sent to alumni and parents. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  3. Schworm, Peter, "Former headmaster of Brooks School, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student, twice hired male escorts", Boston Globe, January 04, 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  4. McFadden, Robert D. "Barry Bingham Jr., Louisville Publisher, Is Dead at 72", The New York Times, April 4, 2006. Accessed December 12, 2007. "He attended the Brooks School in North Andover, Mass., and graduated from Harvard in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in history."
  5. Chamberlain, Tony. "Chairman of the Board Burton's innovation has fostered a snowbound sensation", The Boston Globe, December 18, 1997.
  6. Bumiller, Elisabeth. "In Political Quest, Forbes Runs in Shadow of Father", The New York Times, February 11, 1996. Accessed December 11, 2007. "Christine Todd, Mr. Forbes's childhood friend from the Far Hills Country Day school, would grow up to become Governor Whitman.... His son went off to the Brooks School in North Andover, Mass., then on to Princeton, Malcolm Forbes's alma mater."
  7. Lorenzo Semple ’40
Members of the Independent School League (New England)
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