Dear Bancroft Friends:

Thanksgiving is upon us, and I am thankful for all the talented, thoughtful people who share their gifts with our students. We've welcomed many distinguished guests lately, from award-winning authors and journalists to talented artists and craftspeople, all of whom have left a positive imprint on our children. Special visitors are an unforgettable part of the Bancroft experience.

But I admit to a deeper appreciation to all the people who are here every day.

Our faculty, staff, and coaches are mentors and champions for our students. Our students are there for each other and help to elevate the community for all of us. Navigating childhood and adolescence can be an exciting adventure when you are known and valued by an entire community of smart, caring, compassionate people. I am filled with gratitude and admiration for all who share their time, talent, and wisdom to strengthen this Bancroft community. 

You serve as role models and inspiration, using your influence to help our students find the beauty in our world as they "learn to embrace confidently and responsibly the moral and ethical challenges of being lifelong learners, teachers of others, and citizens of an increasingly complex global community."

Happy Thanksgiving,
Trey Cassidy

Head of School

The Speechies have been burning up the Saturday tournaments this fall, earning individual and team accolades as they face hundreds of competitors from dozens of high schools all over the state. Here are their impressive results so far:

YALE TOURNAMENT:  Tiana B - Semifinals in Program Oral Interpretation
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DIGHTON-REHOBOTH TOURNAMENT: Ailish M - 1st Place in Children's Literature; Chelsea S - 1st Place in Original Oratory; Lydia C - 3rd Place in Children's Literature; Colton C - 4th Place in Poetry Reading; Jonah S - 5th Place in Radio Broadcasting; Tiana B - 7th Place in Children's Literature. The Team placed 2nd out of 11 in Small School Sweepstakes

GRACIA BURKILL TOURNAMENT: Colton C - 2nd Place in Poetry Reading; ​Lydia C - 5th Place in Play Reading; Lydia C - 6th Place in Children's Literature. Also, Colton C, Lydia C, Karan M, and Chelsea S won awards for earning a rank of "1" in a round.

The annual Eighth Grade Play is a great example of project-based, collaborative learning that engages the students in all aspects of a theatrical production. After many weeks of rehearsals, set design and construction, lighting, costumes, and mask making (!) the eighth grade class treated our community to a brilliant comedy about the inner lives of animals — Born to be Wild by Bryan Starchman. 

"The best part," as Head of Middle School Trevor O'Driscoll said, "was the shared laughter that brought all of us, including every Bancroft student as well as parents, teachers, family, and friends, together."  We look forward to seeing these talented students playing their parts at Bancroft (on stage and off) for years to come!

When the eighth grade World Geography class learned about the Be Like Brit Foundation, a Worcester–based charity dedicated to the orphans of Haiti, they wanted to help. The foundation is named for Brit Gengel of Holden, a college student who was killed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Our students led a bake sale that raised $200 for Be Like Brit. They welcomed two guests from the foundation, who spoke about their work realizing Brit's dream of a home for the orphans. Today, 66 children are growing, learning, and thriving in an earthquake-proof orphanage (shaped like a B for Brit) in Grand Goâve, Haiti. After the students presented the check for $200, Bancroft handed over the keys to our two former team buses, which will be shipped to Haiti to provide much-needed transportation for the orphanage.