I walked to school from Highfield Road, and later from Charlcote Place, with assistance from my father at the busy crossroads. He then boarded the trolley for town.

 

At the entrance to Calvert, the first sight was of Mr. Brown at the top of the staircase. Shaking his hand every morning was a treat for me, not only because my parents and the Browns were good friends, but because he was the leader. He set the tone: be friendly, be happy, but do as you are told and enjoy learning.

 

Our teachers were all very professional. They expected their students to listen to directions and to carry them out—to memorize so that you learned your grammar rules, arithmetic tables, and dates, because in so doing, you gained the confidence to ask questions in class and also to speak from the assembly stage.

 

These were the war years when families moved around to accommodate fathers assigned to army and naval bases or overseas. A few children came into Calvert then, not accustomed to its discipline and expectations. Our teachers always took an interest in those students, cheering their unexpected successes. We learned a lot about patience and acceptance.

 

As John Waters ’58 said in his interview, Calvert prepared him for the rest of his life. So it has for all of us. But we also had fun! For example, on Field Day, after the high hump and long jump and regular races were over, there was the best race of all! Those of us who were not fleet of foot ran in the “Fatty Race!” Eight to ten competed to the cheering and laughter of all the students, coaches, and parents! As strict as Calvert was, it had a wonderful sense of humor.

 

During our class reunions—40^th, 50^th, and 65^th, we never failed to have a Fatty Race photograph taken. Four of us have remained plump and four of us have become lean as sticks.

 

Two of our children, Aurelia Bolton Peterson ’73 and Charles SG Bolton ’78 joined me in a family gift to the Continuing the Tradition Campaign in 2004, underwriting classroom 7-1. To be honest, I thought we had done our share, however, no institution has meant more to me than Calvert. Its stress on integrity and discipline then and now is amazing, and unfortunately very rare, in most schools today. Calvert’s strong leadership through the years has convinced me, once again, to support its future by contributing to the Building on Strength Campaign as a member of the Hillyer Society.