Layout 2 - Manlius Pebble Hill School

2010-11 Annual Report v5_Layout 2 1/16/12 4:17 PM Page 4A TRADITION OF GIVINGA Baxter Story...I started working at MPH almostexactly 11 years ago. It was Decemberand winter break was right around thecorner. Karen Spear was touring mearound the campus and Baxter wasone of the first faces to greet me. Hislarger than life presence seemed to fillthe Knox Farmhouse.Baxter: “Well, Tina. Welcome aboardMPH. Good to have you. Itrust Karen is giving you agood tour?”Me:“Thank you Baxter. Yes, she isand I am very excited to behere.”Baxter: “Good, good. Karen, makesure you take her to the LowerSchool Holiday play. She needsto get the ‘ethos’ of the place.”His comment stuck with me, althoughI wasn’t sure really what he meant.Why would Baxter send me to watch aLower School play on my first day?Later that morning, as I stood withmy new colleagues listening to theentire student body belt out the lyricsto “The 12 Days of Christmas,” I gotit. All at once the intimidation aboutstarting a new job seemed to meltaway as I marveled at the MPH spiritI was witnessing and I had my “a-ha”moment… this is what Baxter meant.I smiled as I realized what Baxter haddone and how he was able to read meso well. Even though we’d only meet afew times before, he knew thatsending me to see such a spiritedperformance would have me “hookedon MPH.”Over the years, I witnessed countlessother examples of Baxter makingsimilar connections. He was a greatjudge of character whose interactionswith people came right from his heart.Whether it was boosting a student’sconfidence, giving a faculty member asounding board, or making time tochat with the countless visitors whopopped into his office, Baxter metpeople where they were, and he did soin such a heartfelt way.I still miss his daily phone calls askingif we “got any gifts in.” Receivingmonetary support for MPH delightedhim, as he saw it as a validation of hisSixth grade collage of Baxter Ballwork. I just know he’d be tickled byhow much support has poured intohis fund. He was passionate aboutcompleting The Bradley McNeil ’93Learning Commons and saw it asthe crown jewel in his MPHaccomplishments.With your continued help, we will“Build it for Baxter” and his legacywill continue to stimulate “the life ofthe mind” for generations to come.Thank you.Tina MorganDirector of Development4 |