Headmaster Philbrick’s Convocation Address 2026

"There is something special about gathering together at the beginning of a new school year. Convocation is an in-gathering of people for a specific purpose, and this year we have an especially good reason to celebrate: Jesse Remington High School turns 35!

We gather here at Candia Congregational Church to celebrate God’s goodness to our school and families and to put the ball on the field for the 2026–2027 school year. We cannot do everything this year, so we are choosing to pursue three things with focus: Academic Growth, Spiritual Formation, and Skill Development.

One of the ways we talk about growth is through something we all have - habits. Our habits, those small things we do over and over again, have a tremendous influence on who we become. This year we want to intentionally cultivate habits such as effective use of time, seeking opportunities, perseverance, a growth mindset, learning from failure, and collaboration. Perhaps one of the most important things the faculty can give students is the formation of good habits. 

Of course, sometimes developing a new habit means making room for it by letting something else go. Scripture talks about putting off the old and putting on the new. That is a good challenge for all of us, students, parents, and faculty alike. What might we need to set aside so that we can grow into something better?

As we celebrate 35 years of Jesse Remington, we also take the time to consider the inheritance we have received. Our theme verse for this year hinges on the idea of commending God’s work, provision and care from one generation to the next. For 35 years, students, families, faculty, and friends have helped shape this school. They have given us a commitment to active learning, whole-person development, trust-filled relationships, and the hard work of building something of lasting quality. This is an enviable position for us tonight, we have a lot to be thankful for!

But an inheritance is not simply something we receive. It is something we eventually pass on.

That makes the work of this year important. What will Jesse Remington look like in 2030, 2040, or 2061? The 2026 team is helping write that story now. We want to be an excellent school, not simply a school that maintains the status quo. That means being intentional, professional, proactive, innovative, and committed to the growth of the whole student.

The good news is that we all have a part to play. We cannot control everything that happens this year, but we can control our words, our choices, and our habits. Those are the things that shape the story we will eventually hand to the next generation.

I recently had a unique and illustrative experience: splitting granite using the ancient tools called “feathers and wedges.” When I was a boy, I watched my father do this, and now it was my turn. I patiently drilled the several holes in the big slab, and then put in the specific tools necessary to create the force that created the change. I started with a large, unusable slab of granite from the 19th century, and made three beautiful steps, ready to take their new form and function.  It took patience, skill, and work to reveal what was already there and turn it into something useful.

That feels much like the work of a school. What we are building at Jesse Remington does not happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and the faithful work of many people. We take what has been entrusted to us, build on the foundation laid by those who came before us, and seek to shape something beautiful and useful for God’s Kingdom. For 35 years, others have faithfully built the foundation we have today. Now it is our turn to build on it.

Happy 35th birthday, Jesse. Let’s see what God builds next."