'20 in Review

A year to remember,
with a historic ending.

See selected highlights of the academic year, from Opening Assembly to Closing Assembly.

SEPTEMBER 6

Opening Assembly

Principal Bill Rawson ’71; P’08 urges students to “engage our differences” as Exeter’s 239th school year begins.

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SEPTEMBER 26

Academy Life Day

Exonians enjoy the annual break from classes and the chance to bond with dorm mates through activities that include scavenger hunts, craft projects and visits to apple orchards and beaches.

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OCTOBER 23

Two Exonian presidential hopefuls

The Bulletin interviews Tom Steyer ’75 and Andrew Yang ’92, both contenders for the Democratic nomination.

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OCTOBER 25

D. Michael Shafer ’71 receives the John and Elizabeth Phillips Award

Professor, foster parent and grassroots community organizer is honored for his nobility of character and useful service to humankind.

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NOVEMBER 9

E/A Games

Exeter enjoys many traditions, but few match the history and passion of an Exeter-Andover fall sports showdown.

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NOVEMBER 9

'The Nutcracker in Candyland'

The fall dance concert, an original retelling of the classic with choreography by students and faculty, transports audiences.

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NOVEMBER 13

Girls Volleyball wraps up perfect season

Big Red caps historic season with a spotless 20-0 record and a New England Class A title.

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DECEMBER 13

Faculty Follies

The surprise assembly of the year when “faculty make fools of themselves and bring joy to students” brought just that: loads of laughs.

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JANUARY 15

Lamont Poet Jericho Brown

Author of “The Tradition,” a 2019 National Book Award Finalist, energizes the Exeter community.

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JANUARY 20

MLK Day

Exonians honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with programming titled “Changing the Narrative,” keynoted by Ibram X. Kendi, author of “How to Be an Antiracist.”

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FEBRUARY 6

Grainger Observatory adds powerful new telescope

Astronomy program takes a giant leap with the opening of a telescope capable of capturing the faint light of objects billions of light years away.

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FEBRUARY 11

Students vote in New Hampshire primary

For most Exeter students old enough to vote, this showdown offered the first opportunity to exercise their political choice.

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FEBRUARY 21

'The Secret Garden'

A smashing and sold-out musical, based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, takes viewers from India to the Yorkshire Moors.

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FEBRUARY 27

50th anniversary of the vote in favor of coeducation

“We have made a tremendous step forward,” wrote Ira Fink ’71, then managing editor of The Exonian, to herald the unanimous decision of the Trustees.

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MARCH 6

Exonians smash sports records

Exeter athletes spent the winter proving the adage that records are made to be broken.

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MARCH 18

COVID-19 outbreak closes campus for spring term

Students receive Principal Rawson’s video announcing that campus will close for the entire spring term and teaching will continue with a remote learning model.

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MARCH 19

Students respond to the closing of campus

“Heartbroken.” “I’m going to miss my home.” These were just two of the messages posted on social media by students as they reflect on the news.

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MARCH 25

Mr. Aaronian tells students via video, 'We got this!'

We will meet the challenges ahead as we always do, says Exeter’s longest tenured faculty member, "by supporting one another, learning from one another, listening to one another, being patient with one another and loving one another."

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APRIL 8

Exonians connect with pop-up social accounts

Students and faculty take to social media to reach out and connect through drawing, cooking, performing, even dog podcasting.

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APRIL 20

Senior meditation adapts to virtual programming

This revered staple of spring term and an important connection for the entire Exeter community goes virtual starting in late April.

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MAY 6

Historic first virtual assembly

Principal Rawson delivers remarks from the stage of an empty Assembly Hall, saying, "Exeter lives within each of us and forms around us, no matter the distance between us."

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JUNE 3

Closing Assembly

Students call for all Exonians to take action against racism. “For all the Black members of our community that are watching — we see you, we hear you and we support you.”

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