Falls Music Center was bustling with students as Raynard Kington, Head of School (HOS), held the first “Head of School Munch” of the Spring Term. The event marked a continuation of the new initiative that was started during Winter Term.
Alex Lin ’28 attended the munch because she wanted an opportunity to interact with her peers outside of the regular class schedule while sharing a snack. She enjoyed the munch because she was able to see her friends who aren’t in her cluster or classes.
“[The HOS munch] was really nice…There were a lot of faculty there. I had a small chat with Dr. Kington as well, which was pretty cool. I don’t know if this is a response to the editorial [The Phillipian] did, but Dr. Kington and the rest, especially with the fireside chats and everything, are definitely making more of an effort to interact and engage with student life,” said Lin.
Gabriele De Carlo ’26 was one student who attended the munch. He noted how as Andover enters Spring Term and the weather continues to improve, Andover should take advantage of its outdoor spaces for school-wide events.
“[HOS munches] are very different in terms of bringing together the entirety of the community. They allow people to interact with each other beyond the bounds of clusters… I think even moving these events, like this Head of School Munch outside, and including some lawn games, would be a great way to have the community interact more and enjoy the nice weather,” said De Carlo.
While many students seemed to enjoy the HOS Munch, others still appreciate the tight-knit environment of cluster munches. Jasjit Hargun ’27 shared his thoughts on how the HOS munches compare to the standard cluster munches.
“I do enjoy it, but I think I enjoy cluster munches more because there’s less noise and smaller communities. You get to talk to people more and feel like part of the group. Here you’re just kind of in a sea of people,” said Hargun.
He continued, “I think that location is one thing. Here in Falls, there’s just mainly one room where people go. A couple of people go upstairs, a couple of people go into the sides, but it’s pretty much just a mosh pit in the middle for the most part.”
Despite preferring the standard cluster munches, Hargun did praise the HOS Munches. He highlighted how they benefit students by providing them a time to unwind and interact with others.
“[HOS munches] definitely do help. First, just with de-stress. I’m using this as a homework break. Second, even though I said they do it less than cluster munches, they still help build a sense of community. And they’re just a good place to get together, meet your friends, maybe meet some new people,” said Hargun.
