Caitlin Clarke

As one chapter of a person's life comes to an end, it is inevitable that another begins, one marked by additional challenges, goals, and aspirations. In the case of our headmaster, Eric Widmer, the next chapter of his life will soon begin at King's Academy in Jordan.

King's Academy will be a coeducational boarding school modeled to a great extent on Deerfield Academy. The schedule, size, and atmosphere are all similar to Deerfield's and the curriculum, although slightly altered to account for the school's unique location, will be comparable to the standard American high school program.

The school will also embrace a positive attitude towards sports and a strong community service program. "I'm afraid there won't be a football team," said Mr. Widmer, but the school will still treat extracurricular activities with the same respect and energies they are at Deerfield.

The community service program at King's Academy will be one of its strongest components. In fact, one of Mr. Widmer's primary goals for the school is that it become a member of the Round Square organization.

"All the things that combine to make Deerfield strong will be taken into this school," said Mr. Widmer. All of these elements will then come together as King's Academy assumes its position as one of the only American-style boarding schools in the Middle East.

Mr. Widmer's involvement in the construction of the school has mainly been to convey the feeling of the Deerfield campus to the architects so that it can be successfully transplanted in Jordan. After several meetings the board of trustees approved the design and structure of the school. However, Mr. Widmer did make one significant request: to have a guest house built next to the headmaster's residence so that current and former members of the Deerfield community will be able to come and visit.

Mr. Widmer hopes to instill some of the programs and ideas that have been successful at this school into his development of King's Academy. "I'm well prepared in one sense," Mr. Widmer remarked, "Being at a school like Deerfield, you have a good sense of what things need to be done to reproduce a school of equal quality."

However, there is a significant difference between leading a school that has been established for two hundred years and building one, literally, from the ground up. In addition, the location of King's Academy will undoubtedly attract some attention that Deerfield has not experienced. "My most cherished goal," said Mr. Widmer, "is that during the time I am there, there is an Israeli-Jewish component to the student body."

King's Academy, as well as providing educational opportunity to hundreds of children, will also be known as an institution that truly gives peace a chance in the Middle East.

It is inspiring to think that thousands of miles away. there will be another place that holds the same values and traditions that are sought after in our community.