THE Vol. 97, No. 2
Hearth
Eaglebrook School, Deerfield, MA 01342
January 30, 2026
Winter Carnival By Chris Jeong ’26
The first-ever Winter Carnival at Eaglebrook opened in 1925, one hundred and one years ago. It allowed parents and relatives to see the progress their children were making academically, athletically, and holistically in their most formative years. Parents got to see their first glances of the campus, especially the ski hill, where a ski jump competition was held almost every year. Surprisingly, Eaglebrook’s Winter Carnival is one of the oldest forms of a New England carnival held in the winter. Only Dartmouth College’s Winter Carnival is older, making Eaglebrook’s the secondoldest of its kind. 101 years later, in 2026, Winter Carnival is still the joyous and informative celebration for Eaglebrook students, fully engaged in the winter spirit. Winter Carnival will officially kick off on January 30th, 2026. The day will begin with a Morning Assembly from the Student Council’s vice president, Marcus Fraser ’26. Last year, TK Lee ’25 talked to the community about the meaning of success and what success has meant for his family. Eaglebrook is more than excited to hear what Marcus has to say to the community at large. After Assembly, students will move into classes with their parents and relatives. Although much shorter than regular classes, students will have the opportunity to showcase what they have learned so far and to share the uniquely Eaglebrook learning experience with their families. After lunch at Gibbs Dining Hall, the music department, including the Band, Jazz Band, and Chorus will host a performance for all guests in the Assembly Area. After all the members of the audience have exited, the real fun begins. Each dorm competes on the Halsted Flats for the Winter Carnival Cup. From a threelegged race to a Klondike race, students will have the chance to compete in various activities and games. Last year, we had to move the location of the Winter Carnival Games to Gates Quad due to unfavorable conditions. We are more than eager to compete for the Cup in the admittedly more hilly Halsted Flats. The evening ends in seriousness and peace, however. The evening of the 30th will mark the start of the Secondary School Application Process for our Fifth Formers, who will be beginning their journey in the Assembly Area for a meeting
with Mr. Fay and Ms. Martyn. The Evening of the Arts will soon follow, with highlighted performances from the music department and the theater department, presenting the Winter Play. The Evening of the Arts at Winter Carnival excites me the most; it is when the whole school, both students and parents, gets together to enjoy a night of good music and theater. What a treat! On the 31st, Parent Teacher Conferences will be held for most of the morning. Then, athletic events will commence for most of the evening, with games and practices for all students. What is also exciting about Saturday afternoon is that our famous Easton Ski Hill will be open to everyone: students, guests, and even alumni. After all athletic commitments have ended, students will be allowed to depart the campus with their families. Winter Carnival is officially over! Winter Carnival may end on January 31st, but students will be more than energized with the winter spirit once they return to campus on February 2nd.
Varsity Hockey’s Europe Trip By Lawson Pollard ’26
The Varsity hockey team was fortunate enough to experience a trip to Finland and Sweden. The team endured an eight-hour flight, the first hefty flight for some on the team. After a long day of travel, we hit the ice almost immediately the next day, skating with some of the best coaches in all of Finland. We were definitely tired, but excited to be on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation playing hockey.
Day four arrived, and we embarked on a bus tour around Helsinki, taking in the old Olympic Stadium and numerous tourist attractions. Although the sightseeing was superb, we were all looking forward to the afternoon when we visited the sauna. This is one of the boys’ favorite parts of the trip. After about 15 minutes in the blazing space, we would jump into the freezing Baltic Sea, with temperatures reaching midtwenties. The next day came, and we were ready to play. The other team surprised us as soon as we walked into the rink. The techno music blaring out of their locker room sounded like your heart was about to jump out of your chest with how many beats there were. However, that was only a scare factor; the boys rallied, and even fourth-former Jack Avila ’28 netted his first goal for the Varsity team, winning the game 13-1.
After the game, our team developed a strong addiction to the game Pokémon Go, even sharing the app with some of the locals. While still addicted to the game, we headed to the island fortress. This had a deep history; three countries took ownership of the land over the span of 200 years. Wrapping up the tour, we boarded a cruise ship to cross the sea from Finland to Sweden, completing the second half of the trip. It was from the moment we were on the boat that we knew there was nothing for us kids to do, but coaches, Winslow ’07, Bourdon, and Weichselbaumer ’16, had a good time (this was on New Year’s).
After the long ride over, the boys got on the bus, and there was a ton of snow outside. On the way to the Vasa Museum, the bus in front of us got stuck, and we were at a standstill for 30 minutes until Coach Winslow ’07 instructed us to walk to the museum. But it was surely worth it; that ship was amazing. It’s the oldest recovered ship that had fallen into the sea. Even though the team didn’t win the games in Sweden, we certainly learned more about ourselves and how we can improve. I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of the team to everyone who made this trip possible, including parents, coaches, authorities, and all others involved. The team looks to stay strong and carry the bond and level of play we had in Europe to the games ahead.
Last Candlelighting at Gibbs By Kevin Hong ’26
On the night of December 17th, Eaglebrook School held the last Candlelighting in Gibbs Dining Hall. For over fifty years, Gibbs has been the main dining space on campus, where students and faculty gather for daily meals. This final Candlelighting was the last time the tradition took place in Gibbs before the transition to the new dining hall. Candlelighting is one of Eaglebrook’s oldest traditions. It began with Headmaster Mr. Thurston Chase, Mr. Andrew Chase ’73’s great-grandfather, at his church in the Berkshires, and was then brought to Eaglebrook. The event has been a time for reflection and gathering. The ceremony was first held outdoors, then moved indoors, and has taken place in Gibbs Dining Hall for many years.
The evening followed the familiar rhythm of Candlelighting, but the setting gave it new meaning. After a holiday music concert featuring the String Orchestra, Band, Chorus, Ad Libs, and student soloists, the community gathered in Gibbs for a special Candlelighting celebration. Student groups sang carols, with World Language singers performing in French, Spanish, Latin, and Chinese; faculty members also joined in the singing. Though these elements reflected long-standing tradition, this year they carried added weight as the final Candlelighting held in Gibbs Dining Hall.
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