From The Ridge - The McCallie Blog

Duncan Moore '16 is the first senior in 13 years to be named Valedictorian of his class and also receive the Grayson Medal, the highest award the school offers, honoring the student who most singularly represents the ideals and qualities sought in a McCallie Man. Mr. Moore will attend Yale University in the fall. The transcript of his address at Commencement is below.

This year, about a week before school started, all the Pressly RAs came to campus to prepare for the incoming class of freshman. Half of each day was spent in constructive activities, learning how to approach messy rooms, smelly laundry, and unruly 15-year-olds.

Read More

Topics: Campus Life, caving, commencement, First Person, friendship, graduation, leadership, relationships, The Runway Perspective (Seniors), spelunking, Upper School Life, valedictorian, valedictory address

Banner Brock '16, recipient of the Walker Casey Award, delivered the devotional at the Baccalaureate service for the graduating Class of 2016. Mr. Brock will attend Clemson University in the fall. The transcript of his talk is below.

During my time at McCallie, I have grown physically, spiritually, and mentally. I have matured, learned a lot, and really enjoyed myself. We all have. Our years together have flown by, as if everything is moving in fast motion. After all this time of nonstop activity, tonight we all have the opportunity to slow down, to stop for a moment and reflect.

Read More

Topics: baccalaureate, class of 2016, faith, First Person, friendship, guidance, mccallie, mentors, relationships, The Runway Perspective (Seniors), Upper School Life

By Headmaster Lee Burns '87

Locked in a vault in Atlanta is the secret formula for Coca-Cola. Kentucky Fried Chicken likewise has its secret recipe of eleven herbs and spices to give their chicken its distinct flavor. From Apple’s code for its operating system to Google’s search algorithm, successful companies have carefully-guarded, proprietary information, processes and products that account for much of their success. In short, they each have a secret formula or recipe.

What’s McCallie’s secret recipe?

Read More

Topics: boys, faculty, First Person, mission, priorities, relationships, Posts from the Ridge, rules, O Captain! My Captain!, teachers, values

In March, Michael Lebovitz '82 graciously accepted the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award from McCallie School. The award is the highest honor the school can bestow upon one of its alumni, and only one award per year is given. After thanking the school, his family and friends, he offered the following thoughts.

I want to talk about three things as it relates to my experiences at McCallie: relationships and experiences, ego, and giving.

Relationships & Experiences

I believe most things in life revolve around relationships and experiences, and I know I learned the importance of relationships and experiences from my time at McCallie. The relationships that each of us established with our classmates and teachers endure to this day, and some of the experiences we will never forget (and some shouldn't be repeated).

First day at McCallie, September, 1976. I was a 13-year-old "pygmy" — what we inappropriately called seventh-graders back then — and in first period I had Coach Day. Can you imagine Coach Day’s teaching today? Wow, that would be interesting. Sort of like some of our Presidential candidates today – say everything you can that is NOT politically correct!

Read More

Topics: alumni, Alumni News, wisdom, experience, friendship, generosity, gratitude, relationships, Posts from the Ridge, trustees