Dear Bancroft Friends:

Bancroft is a small school in a medium-sized city in Central Massachusetts, but our students are getting to know the people, languages, cultures, and traditions of the world. They are discovering that they can improve the lives of others, whether through local community engagement or global outreach, and make the world a better place for all. The promise of global citizenship is built into Bancroft’s mission, and is a key part of Vision 2016. We are very intentional in seeking opportunities for our students’ to better understand and experience the rich diversity of peoples that inhabit this planet of ours.

We have established a “global think tank” of Bancroft faculty, administrators, trustees, alumni, and parents to explore ideas for advancing our global initiatives. Some of the ideas they’ve generated are simple yet powerful — for example, using the term “world languages” rather than “foreign languages.” Others are more complicated and require careful curricular and logistical consideration. All stem from our commitment to bring the world to Bancroft, and to send Bancroft students out into the world.

Our international student program is flourishing, with 15 students from China in our Upper School, fully integrated into our program and community. US Head Roy Gillette is spending time in China, working with our partners from EduBoston to identify and recruit more top Chinese students to study with us throughout high school. Our PFA Cultural Series hosted an interactive dance performance by a group of young women from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Seven students from Spain joined us for a weeklong cultural exchange. US French teacher Flavien Collet arranged a French-Immersion Saturday, and Aaron Fuller’s MS Latin students sampled an Italian cheese buffet while studying ancient Italy. But the most prominent international merriment centered on the Chinese New Year. Mandarin teachers Fanfei Kong and Jun Chen, math teacher Simone Kang, and our students from China helped our whole community share in the experiences and traditions associated with this most-important of Chinese celebrations.

During spring break, we will send a group of Mandarin language students and faculty to China. MS Head Trevor O’Driscoll will join them as, in his words, “the only non-Mandarin speaking member of the group.” They will go to Shanghai and meet with faculty and students at our partner school, the Number 1 High School affiliated with Tongji University. We are excited to continue this valuable partnership, and anticipate welcoming a group of their students this summer for several weeks of study on our campus. In mid-February we also hosted a delegation of Spanish exchange students from Malaga, Spain, and they will return the favor this March.

These are exciting partnerships and incredible opportunities for our students to live and learn with others as we expand our capacity for understanding and international cooperation. 


Kung Hei Fat Choi (Happy Chinese New Year)!


Trey Cassidy
Head of School

In This Issue:

The World Comes to Bancroft

Bancroft Fund March Madness

Student-Athletes Score Huge Victories

Ski Team's NEPSAC
Championship Experience

MS Student Math Video Challenge

Speech Team Awards

Two Bancroft Students Win Awards

Gr. 5 Trip to Old Sturbridge Village

Pre-K–2 Pajama Day

Upcoming Important Dates

Bancroft Parent Volunteers Shine!

We'd like to thank our Bancroft Fund Class Captains for reaching out to their fellow parents and encouraging participation in the Bancroft Fund.

Pre-K: Peter Lukes & Andrea Chiaramonte
K: Andrew & Julie Salmon
Gr.1: Sheena Sharma '89
Gr. 2: Nil Shah
Gr. 3: Jim '83 & Isabel Condon
Gr. 4: Khurston Ellia-Epple '86
Gr. 5: Karen Malone
Gr. 6: Katy Sullivan
Gr. 7 & 8: Ellie Winthrop
Gr. 9: Meg Gallo
Gr. 10: Mike Cimini & Angela Cheng-Cimini
Gr. 11: Jayne Lampert & Maria Richmond
Gr. 12: Gigi Lewis

Every gift counts, please give today!

Student Gallery

The World Comes
to Bancroft

February was a particularly worldly month at Bancroft! Below, categorized by country, are summaries of the many globally inspired events, lessons, and celebrations that took place on campus.

CHINA: The US students recognized Chinese New Year at an assembly that included a traditional dance performance by several of our International Students from China. In Middle School, Mandarin teacher Jun Chen and her students practiced traditional paper-cutting, wrote red couplets with brushes, enjoyed typical Chinese New Year food, practiced skits and dance steps, and learned to sing a Happy New Year song in Chinese!

SPAIN: On February 17, seven exchange students and one teacher from Colegio San Estanislao de Kostka in Malaga, Spain, arrived at Bancroft to a warm—but very snowy—welcome. Their visit is part of Bancroft’s Cultural Exchange Program. In the second half of the exchange, Bancroft students will join their guests at their homes in Spain in March. As Assistant Headmaster Gary Mathieu, who manages the exchange program, says, “Living with a family, visiting another school, being immersed, if only briefly, in the life and culture of another country—these experiences enhance the students’ understanding of themselves and others as citizens of the world.”

INDONESIA: On February 22, as part of  Bancroft's PFA Cultural Series, US students enjoyed a rare U.S. appearance by Tari Aceh! Music and Dance. This group of young women from Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, performed and taught our students a few moves of their own. The performers' four-day Worcester residency was hosted by Arts Transcending Borders at  Holy Cross. Click photo above or here to WATCH A VIDEO from this performance.

FRANCE: C'est vrai! 14 students came to Bancroft on Saturday, February 21st to participate in French Immersion Day. Playing music, baking pies, and learning about French-speaking cultures, along with workshops  led by French-speaking professionals, kept the students immersed in and speaking French the entire time. The event was organized by French teacher Flavien Collet, who judged it a huge success and said, "We are certainly hoping to make it a yearly event!"

ITALY: Mr. Fuller found a delightfully "cheesy" way to teach his 7th grade Latin students! He held an Italian Cheese Tasting Party, during which the class analyzed the geography of classical Italy, learned basic vocabulary, and tasted a variety of Italian cheeses, including fontina, provolone, buffalo mozzarella, gorgonzola, mascarpone, and ricotta. A fun and delicious way to connect Latin to real life!

Join the March Madness on Campus!

We're thrilled to see that 39% of parents have already supported the Bancroft Fund. Have you? Once you do, you'll receive a one-of-a-kind Spike the Bulldog sticker, and Spike just may spot it and award you a prize on the spot. And, stay tuned... all donors (regardless of gift size) will be entered in a raffle for some amazing Bancroft gear for the whole family!

Student-Athletes Score Huge Victories

The winter sports season is winding down but the Bulldogs are still accomplishing great things! Wednesday’s All-School Blue-Out got everyone psyched for Round 1 of the NEPSAC Boys Varsity Basketball tournament, hosted at Bancroft that evening. The Blue-Out worked its magic, and the Bulldogs earned a 74-38 victory over Chauncy Hall-Chapel Hill. Sophomore Emmanuel B. — who scored his 1000th point on February 28th against Portsmouth Abbey— scored 20 points in the first half and made five assists and four steals. Matt Z. (13 points), Nathaniel L, (12), and John E. (11) also contributed for Bancroft. Bancroft plays in the next semifinals game on Saturday. (For details, visit the News section on the Bancroft website.)

But there’s more great basketball news! Bancroft senior Emma L. was selected for the second year in a row to play on the NEPSAC Class D/E East All-Star Team on March 8th at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT.

At the EIL Swim Championships last weekend, our 200 Medley Relay team (Thomas H., Tyler P., Noah K., Aryan C.) took 3rd place, and Christy M. took 6th in the 100 Freestyle and 8th in the 100 Butterfly.

Ski Team NEPSAC Championship Experience

US history teacher and ski coach Emily Bearse shared the Ski Team’s February 11 adventures at the NEPSAC Championship:

Hi All,
The varsity ski team arrived at Bancroft at the ungodly hour of 5:15 a.m. to head to Mount Sunapee. They spent all day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the hill and they did the Bulldogs proud! These athletes raced in difficult chilly conditions all day. We had some really proud moments: Abby placing 9th in GS and 10th in Slalom while smiling and having fun skiing! Allison had two great slalom runs (unfortunately course maintenance caused issues so she DSQ'd), Kaya skied great, placing top 20 in slalom—not too shabby for a 7th grader—and Eve and Alyssa both posted good runs! The Bulldog boys (Collin, David, Andrew, Jacob) had solid runs, and freshman Miles took his first and second Slalom runs (ever) in this NEPSAC event (with a huge smile, and a great attitude). Izzy and Reed were great support for the team and we appreciated their willingness to run coats to keep the team warm. We returned to Bancroft this evening at 8:30 p.m. What a long day! Thank you for your support — Coach Bearse

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Vote for Our MS Students' Math Videos by March 13th!

Some of our 7th and 8th grade math students have been participating in an innovative contest called the MathCounts Math Video Challenge. In teams of four, they made videos to show how to solve math problems they chose from the MathCounts handbook. “The Math Video Challenge pulls in skills from many disciplines," says MS math teacher Corina Palmer. "My students used their experiences from other classes — theater and art lessons, skits they’ve done in English or history, skills they’ve learned in the tech lab, creating storyboards, managing deadlines. It is a perfect example of project-based learning. To qualify for the next phase, we will need all the votes we can get!
"

PLEASE WATCH THESE VIDEOS & VOTE BY 5PM ON MARCH 13:

The Presidential Candidates' Dilemma 
by The Hippos

The Stolen Survey–Dilemmas of a Radio Station 
by Cheez-it 24

The Mystery of the Confusing Presidential Election Results 
by The  Algebraniacs



Speechies Grab Two More Awards

Julia H. and Michael B. Win Awards for Artistic Pursuits

On Thursday, February 12, 2015, John Monfredo of the Worcester Public School Committee and chair of "The City that Reads" Committee came to Bancroft School to present 6th grader Julia H. with a 1st place trophy and book in the 37th Annual  "Be Our Valentine" contest. Julia's winning design won in the Verse category. Her valentine reads: "For looking past my flaws and faults; for all the time you spend; for all the kind things that you do. Thank you, thank you, my best friend." Her entry was selected from among 600 statewide entrants.

Sophomore Michael B., whose photo titled Letná Park Summer Skateboarding (pictured here) won 2nd place in the “Action Packed” category at the third annual All-Massachusetts High School Photography Competition sponsored by the Photography Center of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Art Association. A gallery of all the winning works, including Michael's, is now viewable online here. 

5th Graders Time-Travel Back to Old
Sturbridge Village

On a field trip to Sturbridge Village on Feb. 26th, the 5th grade  walked through picturesque, snow- covered bridges and barns while learning about life in the early 1800s. The students used colonial recipes to bake cookies and dried apples and learned how to marble paper, make stencil art, and write with quill pens. In the education center, they  discovered an old  advertisement for a company named "Bancroft's Furniture Ware Rooms," displayed on the wall near an antique printing press. Later, they learned to operate the printing press to make their own prints. Ah, the good old days!

Watch the SLIDE SHOW HERE to see photos from their trip back in time!

Pre-K–2 Pajama Party was No Sleepy Affair!

What's better than snuggling up with a good book on a cold winter evening? Snuggling up with 35 friends, eating pizza, drinking hot chocolate, munching cookies, and reading some great stories, that's what!  On Friday, February 20th, LS students in Pre-K through Grade 2 were invited to come back to school to hear stories from LS librarian Lisa Leach. A lively song with exercises kept them moving between tales, and Mr. Cassidy joined the group for hot chocolate!

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Now Playing! US Musical

March 5, 6, 7, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee: Saturday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10.00 – Reserved Seating
Available at the front desk or at the door
Rated PG
(Artwork above by Chelsea S.)

New Winter Items in the Bookstore!
Now carrying Trail Heads Gloves, Fleece Headbands, New Hats and Jackets. Visit the campus bookstore soon for all of your Bancroft spiritwear! Visit the bookstore online here. 

NOTE to US Athletes:

We have a new online ordering system for Bulldogs Teamwear,
Click Here!

Bancroft Clothing & Yard Sale
A NEW PFA SPRING EVENT
April 9–11, 2015

DONATION DROP-OFF DATES

Every Monday until April 6, 2-4 p.m
Friday, February 20, 2-4 p.m.
Friday, March 13, 2-4 p.m.

Items can be dropped off at
Higgins Building,100 Shore Drive
(Building next to Bancroft Campus)

For More Information–Click Here

Upcoming Important Dates:

Spring Break – March 13, 2015–March 31, 2015
2:45 p.m. Dismissal and After School Care until 6:00 p.m. on March 13

Have a Happy & Safe Spring Break!

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