Avon has recently concluded its first "Intersession," a week in which we suspend the normal academic program, and students and faculty devote their attention to only one of thirty non-traditional courses. My own offering was called "Exploring AOF History," and the idea was that students would delve deeply into a particular aspect of school history and create something that might help the school celebrate its centennial. Not surprisingly, the boys chose to investigate the history of sports at Avon. They got to explore the archives, they interviewed two Avon headmasters and several coaches, and they learned about Avon's traditions in polo, fencing, and jiu jitsu. They also discovered this photograph.
We had a lot of fun discussing what the story of this picture might be, but we learned the truth in conversation with Peter Evans and George Trautman. It seems it was part of a mid-seventies effort to drum up school spirit. Some of the boys recruited girls they knew to serve as cheerleaders and create an enthusiastic atmosphere at games. It was a short-lived experiment, but perhaps it worked. Could it have led directly to the
Avon Army?
