The Picador Issue #1, November 2025
A Fall Reflection By: Sarah McAdam ’26 As we start to inch closer to winter, let’s take some time to look back on the 2025 fall season at Holderness. We kicked things off in September with tennyball nights and the annual Ragnar Race. We cheered on runners who traded sleep for miles to support various causes. It was a fantastic way to start the new year as we filled our campus with energy and enthusiasm. An academic highlight came during our All-School Summer Read assembly. After spending the summer reading “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Jastrebsky, who shared her knowledge about cephalopods with us. She connected Remarkably Bright Creatures to real life and reminded us about how extraordinary human-animal connection can be (and maybe also hug a cephalopod if given the chance). There was no better way to appreciate our outdoors than spending time at outdoor chapel. Starting the chapel season off strong was our Top 4's talk about starting the Holderness theme of “buying in”, a message that’s been echoed across campus, whether it’s drove dodgeball, joining a new club, or sitting with someone new at lunch.
Thursday, 6 November 2025
Mr. Flynn also shared his words with the community, as he emphasized the importance of being more than just the sport you play. That really hit home for a lot of us. Whether we’re athletes, artists, scholars, or somewhere in between, it’s easy to let one part of our identity take over. But he reminded us that growth happens when we buy into all aspects of our community, not just our teams or talents. And just when the routine of the fall started to feel busy and chaotic, Head’s Day arrived. On the morning of Mr.Ford’s 70th birthday (October 7th), and we all headed to breakfast with no idea what would happen next. When Fordo and Lydia Watts 28' rang the bell, it was a genuine Head’s Day surprise, and sometimes the best moments on campus are the ones that surprise us. As we start to wrap up this fall season and start to look ahead to Proctor Day and winter schedule, let’s remember what makes this place feel like home: Keep saying hi on the paths, even if you don’t know someone, put our phones away in Weld, and continue to buy in, together. 1