Dear Bancroft Friends:

I was thrilled to see so many of you at the grand opening of our new field house last week. I will never forget the feeling as the Middle School band played and our 400 guests flooded in to test the turf and track, marvel at the expansive playing fields, and take in the breathtaking view of Indian Lake. 

This bold new venue will serve our students and staff in so many ways. As Director of Athletics Tracy Jones said at the ribbon cutting, it will enable the entire community "…to be physically active throughout the year in all manner of pursuits, both recreational and competitive, regardless of the weather." It's already happening — indoor recess, PE classes, sports teams — even the ski team got in there to practice when they couldn't get on the mountain.

"In our constantly changing School it is important to build a strong, thriving community…," said Student Council President Jacob Freedman '17. He described the field house as a place that will allow us "to continue to diversify and expand… [to become] a place of learning for more than just our students." It is yet another way Bancroft can connect with its Worcester neighbors.

I join our Board of Trustees President David Cyganski in offering our deepest thanks to the Fletcher, Loring, and Stoddard families for their early support of our recent campus updates, and to the many trustees, contractors, staff, and faculty whose hard work helped us reach this latest milestone and open the field house doors.

Finally, I would like to thank and congratulate my friend and fellow cycling enthusiast Lydia Barter on her retirement this month — parent to Stan '94 and Andrew '96 and a hard-working staff member for two-plus decades, Lydia has been a valued part of the Bancroft community for 30 years.

Best wishes to you and your family. Enjoy the upcoming break.

Trey Cassidy

Head of School

P.S. Please join us for our next community gathering, the Worcester City Scholars 20th Anniversary celebration, Saturday, January 28, 5:30 – 7:30 pm on campus. Read about it in the Fall Bancroft Bulletin.  Reserve your tickets HERE.  

As always, the final days before our winter break presented a whirlwind of opportunities for students to play and perform before an appreciative audience of friends, family, and faculty. Click the button below to enjoy a slideshow of highlights of the Charlie A. Pep Rally and Basketball Tournament (named after our own Mr. Aleksiewicz, who brought three generations of his family to cheer on the Bulldogs!); our annual Community Pasta Dinner sponsored by the Advancement Team; the poignant Upper School Drama, The Laramie Project; and the LS, MS, and US Winter Concerts!