Dear Bancroft Friends:

It’s that wonderful time of year when we notice how much our children’s skills have grown and developed over the course of the school year. Academically, artistically, athletically—the difference between September and May is striking. Their work throughout the year has prepared them for ever-greater challenges, and they have shown in some pretty special ways that they are up to it.

We saw it in the performances of the fifth grade play, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The students were clearly invested and engaged in the show. It was a thoroughly collaborative activity, directed by adults, but carried out by students using their own skill sets to provide something of value to our community.

We also saw it in the Middle School Diversity Day, which came about when a group of students, inspired by a similar event, said to each other, “Hey, this is cool. We care about this. We want to make something happen here.” And because this is Bancroft, they got the encouragement, support, and adult guidance they needed to realize their plan. In the end, they did the hard work and made the day happen in a way that was right for them, and it benefited all of us.

And we are also seeing it in flood of awards and honors our students have been receiving for their work in science, art, math, writing, music, speech, robotics, and more. We’re very proud of all the accolades they’re earning, just as we’re proud of the smaller, more personal victories students have made in overcoming challenges, conquering fears, and rising above obstacles.

Part of education is providing opportunities for empowering experiences that stretch our students’ minds and abilities. In reality, it’s not awards but actions, meaningful contributions, that help elevate young voices and their impact on the world. Each time our students use their strengths and knowledge to entertain, inform, find solutions, or help us think about the world in new ways, they are advancing goodness and strengthening their influence on the world. That’s a pretty big thing.

Best,


Trey Cassidy
Head of School

In This Issue:

Parents–did you know that 77% of faculty and staff at Bancroft have made a gift to the Bancroft Fund this year?

Let's show our amazing faculty that we support them! We’re almost there, Bancroft! June 30 is the deadline to support the 2014-2015 Bancroft Fund. These dollars are so very important to filling the gap between tuition and the costs of running the School. Every gift makes a difference. 41% of parents have made a gift – please join us and make your gift today!

Every gift counts. Please give today!

Student Gallery

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8 Projects, 8 Awards at MA State Science Fair 2015

MS Diversity Day Opens Minds and Hearts

After months of planning, the MS Diversity Committee — Aidan C., Androniqi D., Eli Z., Page C., and Tyler P, along with their faculty adviser Lyssa Steponaitis, hosted the first-ever MS Diversity Day on April 29th. Every MS student participated in 2-3 diversity workshops, representing diversity of culture, lifestyle, health & wellness, recreation, and more, led by Bancroft faculty, US students, special guests, the school counselor and nurse, and even Mr. O’Driscoll, the Head of Middle School. In the afternoon, the students headed out to local non-profit organizations in the Worcester area for the final MS Community Service Day of the year. It was a very special, very Bancroft kind of day! Click on the photo above to enjoy a SLIDESHOW. 

Go Bulldogs! Spring Sports Slideshow

The spring sports season is well underway with baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, crew, and track competitions filling our schedule. We've already put some big Bulldog wins under our belts and there's potential for lots more. Visit the Athletics section of the website for team schedules and results. Click on the photo above to enjoy a SLIDESHOW of some recent sporting events. 

2015 Cum Laude Society Inductions

Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society honors superior scholastic achievement at secondary institutions (similar to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at the university level.) We are pleased to present the newest Cum Laude Society members from Bancroft’s Upper School, who were inducted in a formal ceremony held on April 22, 2015 (those who were inducted as juniors in 2014 are indicated by an asterisk (*): 

Front row, L-R:  Juliann D. ’15; Katherine E.* ’15; Rachel W.* ’15; Margaret S.* ’15; Katrina L.* ’15; Iris L. ’16; Hannah Z.* ’15; Katherine B. ’16; Guest Speaker: Nate Erskine ’06.  Back row, L-R:  Kieran S. ’16; Sander D. ’15; Noah K. ’16; William D. ’15; Jordan P. ’16; Sheel S.* ’15; Zehra K. ’15; Carly W. ’15. Also in attendance were many faculty and administrators who were, themselves, inducted as high school students.

LS Art Show Puts Creativity on Display

The annual Lower School Art Show, hosted and presented by LS art teacher Mary Edwards, opened on April 23rd to rave reviews. Students proudly showed off their creations, as parents, faculty, and special guests enjoyed the impressive array of paintings, sketches, sculptures, ceramic pieces, and other objects of beauty that their children had worked on throughout the year. 

Alumni Gather for 33rd Annual Reunion Weekend

Bancroft’s annual reunion weekend took place on May 1-2, 2015, with more than 100 alumni coming back to reconnect with their former teachers and classmates. Starting with a cocktail reception in the MPR on Friday evening, the weekend progressed to a family cookout on Saturday afternoon, and the dinner-dance and alumni awards presentations that night. Coordinated by Director of Alumni Relations Lynn St. Germain and the Advancement team, the weekend gave everyone, faculty, families, and former students — whether they graduated in 1955 or 2010 — a chance to recall the happy years spent at Bancroft School. Click on the photo above to enjoy a SLIDESHOW. 

5th Grade Performs “Jack and the Beanstalk”

Cool beans! Our fifth grade students to put on an amazing performance of the timeless fable, "Jack and the Beanstalk," at the end of April. As Mrs. Datta said, “The traveling minstrels, very mean (hilarious!) landlords, beautiful fairies, castle servants, Jack and his mother, Buttercup (sassy) cow, and the Queen, entertained us with beautiful songs and filled us with laughter. What a great show! Bravo!” Click on the photo above to enjoy a SLIDESHOW. 

Robodogs at VEX Robotics World Championships

After months of collaborative efforts and successes in local and regional competitions, Bancroft’s US Robotics Teams capped off their season with three of the four teams competing at the VEX World Championships in Louisville, KY, in mid-April. Accompanied by coach and mentor Elisa Heinricher (2014 VEX Robotics Coach of the Year), and chaperones Emily Bearse (teacher) and Angela Cheng Cimini (parent), the Robodogs represented the very best of Bancroft School. Matt C., Thomas C., Anqi S. and Alex M. served as Student Ambassadors, mentoring newbies, helping guests, and interpreting for non-English speakers.

In the end, the Robodogs won some and lost some (they all won their final rounds) and  came home proud and exhausted! Robodogs, we salute you!

5 MS Students Perform in Central District Junior Festival

Five young musical performers proudly represented Bancroft in the 2015 Central District Junior Festival Concert at Blackstone-Millville Regional High School on May 2. After auditioning, being selected, and completing a grueling rehearsal schedule, Androniqi D. and Jason C. performed in the orchestra, and Annaleigh B., Abby M., and Chloe S. performed in the chorus. Sponsored by the Mass. Music Educators Association (MMEA), the annual festival features some of the finest student musicians in the region.

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Tsang Poetry and Robbins Prose
Prize Winners

— by Jordan Papula ’16, reprinted with permission from Unleashed, A Bancroft US student publication.

Each year, Upper School students submit creative, original pieces of work in hopes of winning either the Tsang Poetry Prize or Robbins Prose Prize. Receiving either of the two prizes is an honor coveted by many students at Bancroft, and it distinguishes some of the most talented writers in the school. In 2015, the selection committee reviewed a considerable number of submissions for both prizes. Winning the Tsang Poetry Prize was Katie B., whose poem “Blue-Black” impressed judges with both its style and content. Kieran S.’s excerpt from his short sci-fi story “Ash on the Wind” stood out for its strong characterization and storytelling and earned him the Robbins Prose Prize. Both winners were announced and had excerpts of their works read at assembly several weeks ago, but below are both works in their entirety for everyone to enjoy. On behalf of Unleashed [and Shorelines], congratulations to Katie and Kieran! 

Robbins Prose Prize Winner – “Ash on the Wind” by Kieran S.

Tsang Poetry Prize Winner – “Blue-Black” by Katie B.

Bancroft Writers Stun Judges

— by Jordan Papula’ 16, reprinted with permission from Unleashed, A Bancroft US student publication.

Bancroft continues to churn out incredible writers. Most recently, freshman Phillip O. won first place and sophomore Ali V. won second place in the critical essay category of the Central Mass Writing Collaborative Writing Contest! Ali (a regular writer here at Unleashed) wrote an essay discussing the issue of gender roles in Shakespeare’s famed play Macbeth, and Phillip crafted an interesting essay discussing the importance of hospitality as seen in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. Both will be recognized and receive cash prizes at the winner’s party later this month, an event that you can read more about in subsequent issues of the Worcester Telegram–stay tuned! Below are both of the winning essays, and once again, congratulations to Phillip and Ali! — by Jordan Papula’16, reprinted with permission from Unleashed, A Bancroft US student publication.

Macbeth: A Game of Gender Roles – Ali V.

The Importance of Hospitality – Phillip O.

3 US Students Honored in State Speech Tournament

Six members of the Bancroft Speech Team qualified for the State Speech Tournament in mid-April, and three brought home awards! Kieran S. won 4th in Poetry Reading, Vjola J. earned Honorable Mention in Dramatic Performance, and Karan M. was the Top Novice in Extemporaneous Speaking! Congrats to all of the student orators, and to their coaches Chris & Pam Sheldon!

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LS Dancers Heat Up the Stage

Here’s a fun video, guaranteed to make you smile, of the Pre-K, K, and Grade 1 students performing the dance routines they’ve been practicing in phys ed class with teacher Carol Ryan. They definitely have all the right moves!

Big Win for Anqi S. at AMC Art Show

Congrats to junior Anqi S., who won 2nd Prize in Painting at the recent Anna Maria College Juried High School Art Show. Her painting, "Nest," done as part of her AP Studio Portfolio, also was named Best of Show-Second Runner Up and earned Anqi a $5,000 Scholarship to AMC!

Seeking Host Families for 2015-16

Give your family a uniquely enriching experience by hosting one of our international students from China for the 2015-16 school year! To learn more, contact Christian B. Gal, Director of International Admission, or Robin Silverman, Director of our Upper School International Program. Both are experienced Bancroft faculty, and both are hosting an international student this year! They’ll be happy to answer your questions and put you in touch with our partners at EduBoston, the organization that arranges placements and liaises with the students, their families at home, and their host families.

US English Class Mails Letters to Voice Opinions

The juniors in Mrs. Fortier's English III class have been using the age-old tool of letter writing to practice what they've learned about synthesizing information and arguing a point. Hand-addressed and mailed to people outside of our community—the judge in the Marathon case, the director of undergrad admission at Yale, and President George W. Bush, to name a few—the letters are a great vehicle for students to formulate and voice their opinions. For example, in a letter to the Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, one student wrote, “… I believe [religious beliefs] cannot be relevant to the discussion. There should be no mention of religion while making decisions about the federal law, for I believe wholly in the separation of church and state.” Pleased with her students’ efforts, Mrs. Fortier feels the project helped them learn how to be passionate while nuanced — and how to format a business letter!

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