A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E - Colby-Sawyer College

The new Windy Hill School, seen here in concept drawings by Ingrid Banwell of Banwell Architects, is optimally located on campus and will be conveniently accessible
from Main Street. It will also be as aesthetically pleasing as it will be functional, featuring “smart” classrooms, a seminar room, classrooms with built-in kitchens, and
computer work areas, as well as unobtrusive observation rooms for faculty, students and parents.
The ground-breaking celebrated the long-awaited construction
of a new school that will unite Windy Hill’s programs—
now housed in the basements of two residence halls—in one
beautiful building with more space, better facilities and more
convenient access. In May 2008, a family that wishes to remain
anonymous put the college on the path to meeting its goal,
offering the $1 million Windy Hill Challenge toward the cost
of the proposed $2 million school.
“The family told us they appreciated the excellent teaching
and learning taking place at the Windy Hill School and that
they understood the constraints of its space and location,” a
hard-hatted President Galligan told those assembled for the
ground-breaking ceremony. “They wanted to make it possible
for the college to create a home for Windy Hill specifically
designed to support Early Childhood Education. Although we
continue to work on raising funds to meet the challenge, we
have made excellent progress so far. Based on that success, our
Board of Trustees voted to begin the construction to bring the
Windy Hill dream to fruition.”
In his remarks at the groundbreaking, President Galligan (center right) said, “Most particularly we tip our hat today to our
friend and colleague, Janet Bliss (center left), the director of the Windy Hill School for 31 years.”
26 COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Anne Winton Black
’73, ’75 expressed gratitude for the exceptional generosity
which continues to shape Colby-Sawyer’s future. “The Windy
Hill School has for many years been a signature program at
Colby-Sawyer College, and today we celebrate the beginning
of a wonderful new chapter in its distinguished history. The
love of learning is being cultivated in our Windy Hill School
students and protected by the faculty and college students who
inspire the children in their care,” she said. “Our donors have
given selflessly of their resources to make possible a beautiful
new building. Let them, and all who pass through the Windy
Hill School, find a place that cherishes the child, celebrates the
teacher, and gives generations of college students the finest of
academic experiences.”
The dream of a new Windy Hill school had been fostered,
nurtured and advanced by many people. “Most particularly, we
tip our hat today to our friend and colleague, Janet Bliss, the
director of the Windy Hill School for 31 years,” said President
Galligan. “And we also tip our hat to all the Windy Hill teachers
and to our colleagues in
Social Sciences and Education.
Finally, there is deeply felt gratitude
to the family whose challenge
made today possible and
to the many other friends of
the college whose greatly appreciated
contributions brought
this long-awaited project to this
moment.”
The Windy Hill teachers
then signaled to the hard-hatted
youngsters that it was time to
dig their small shovels into the
irresistible piles of dirt before
them. The wild, dirt-flinging
rumpus began, inspiring giggles
among the children and
onlookers alike. The youngest
students had, perhaps unknow-
ingly, staked their claim to a
new school of their own.