May 2019 Newsletter

Dear Bancroft Friends,

We've reached that time of year when we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. All across campus you can see demonstrations of many weeks, and in some cases many months, of hard work by our students and faculty. It is fitting that the colorful flowers you can now see outside the McDonough Building were planted by Lower School students back in November. Sometimes, the process teaches patience.

Many of our activities this month are designed to be shared with others across the community. The 5th grade just wrapped up production of their fantastic play, We Are Monsters. If you didn't get to see it, check out some of the photos on our Facebook page. The Middle and Upper School art shows are now on display on the 2nd floor of the McDonough Building and in the Upper School building. I highly encourage you to come see these impressive displays showcasing our students' talents. Outside on our athletic fields and courts, teams are gearing up for the home stretch, including softball who earlier this week qualified for the Eastern Independent League playoffs with a come from behind 3-2 win over Portsmouth Abbey. This is a month filled with Bancroft pride and celebrations.  

On Monday evening, students who participated in our global studies journey to Liberia will reunite with Q. Karmue '01 and his non-profit Save More Kids to reflect on the trip and discuss how to strengthen the partnership going forward. As we celebrate our great work in the final weeks of the school year, it is encouraging to know that Bancroft students are always striving to achieve even more for themselves and their communities both home and abroad.

I will be traveling to Wuhan, China next week to present at an education conference and meet with some of our families.  Our reputation as a leading educational community is recognized locally and internationally and I am proud to share stories of our students and faculty wherever I go. I trust that as you read this month's newsletter you will discover stories that you want to share with the world as well.

I look forward to seeing you on campus over the next month,

Trey Cassidy
Head of School

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY CONVOCATION 2019

Bancroft School is proud to welcome the following students into the Cum Laude Society:

From the class of 2019:

Samuel Bond, Andy Bowman, Milo Chase, Hallie Kamosky, Carlo Mannina.

 

From the class of 2020: 

Aryan Chaudhary, Kaya Dorogi, Truc "Julia" Nguyen, Jialiang "William" Zhou

 

On the evening of April 23rd, 2019, Bancroft's Upper School held its annual Cum Laude Society Convocation, inducting five seniors and four juniors who exemplify the Society motto: Areté, Diké, Timé (Excellence, Justice, Honor). With proud parents and guardians looking on, the new inductees became part of a distinguished Society that was founded in 1906 to recognize academic achievement and superior scholarship among students attending secondary schools of the highest academic quality.

 

These students join the 2018 class that includes seniors Esther Boone, Ruhi Patil, Emma Sullivan, and Weiyi "Adelaide" Zheng.

 

Head of Upper School Lisa Baker remarked on the students' broad range of talents and acknowledged the tremendous effort it took to earn top marks in advanced classes and achieve such a high level of success.

 

The guest speaker this year was Ned Brose '13, who was inducted into the Society in his junior year at Bancroft. A 2017 graduate of Columbia University, Ned encouraged the Society members to use the education and opportunities they received at Bancroft to "relentlessly push for change and hold onto your values in everything you do."

Congratulations to our inductees! 

 

Congratulations to our new inductees! WATCH VIDEO ABOVE.

ALUMNI REUNION 2019

Over 100 alumni and many teachers visited campus this past weekend for REUNION 2019! Special guests included award recipients, Phoebe Barnard '79 and Alycia Piontkowski Eldridge '99, who were presented their awards by former teachers, Winslow Myers and Joan Carlson. Imagine, 40 and 20 years later, having a former teacher not only remember you, but want to celebrate with you – Bancroft is indeed a special place! Read about our 2019 Award Recipients here. WATCH VIDEO ABOVE.

EARTH DAY

Bancroft students celebrated Earth Day on April 23rd by cleaning up local trails and parks along with indoor and outdoor plantings. Sponsored by our Environmental Club, Upper School activities included neighborhood clean-up, tree pruning and raking at the YMCA on Shore Drive. Further away, they provided trail maintenance at Bovenzi Woods and Nick's Woods. The Middle and Lower Schoolers participated in indoor and outdoor gardening, campus clean up, and planting. There was also Earth Day themed stories read to the 1st graders by the Upper School students. Watch the video above to see them in action as students made a difference for the benefit of our planet! WATCH VIDEO ABOVE.

LOWER SCHOOL FLOWER EXTRAVAGANZA

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SLIDE SHOW

You might think you're in Holland if you came to campus and saw all the beautiful tulips planted by the Lower School students. On a crisp November morning in 2018, students lovingly planted a variety of tulip bulbs on campus. Teachers provided tools and instruction on how to dig a 8" deep hole in the ground and drop in their bulbs. Spring is here and the students are so excited to see the fruits of their labor in full color!

 

This project came full-circle when the 6th graders in Mrs. Kennedy's science class were able to take a scientific look at the tulips during class this week. The students practiced identifying female (stigma, style, and ovary) and male (anther, filament, and pollen) parts of the flowers as they carefully dissected tulips that were past prime. The students said that they would never look at a flower the same again! 

LOWER SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SLIDE SHOW

Lower School students and their families enjoyed viewing the colorful art at the LS Art Exhibit at the May 2nd opening. LS Art teacher, Mary Edwards said: "It was so fun to see how proud the students were of their varied creations." She explained that students chose famous artists and historians as their inspirations and the show greatly reflected the sequential learning that happens in the art room. Beginning with young students creating beautiful watercolors to the older grades painting landscapes and Pop Art with acrylic paint. There were wire sculptures inspired by artist Alexander Calder and clay creations by the likes of multimedia artist Red Grooms. The Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings showed the students experimentation with blending paint colors, and fun Picasso style large scale portraits adorned the walls. 

 A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SLIDE SHOW

Members of the Middle School came together on Friday, April 26th to celebrate their annual Diversity Day with cultural expressions of everything from dancing, to art, to food, to sports. Groups rotated throughout the day to different rooms where they could try traditional Indian Dancing, wheelchair basketball, and French Beignet making. Other subjects showcased include Slam Poetry, Oriental Calligraphy, and Astrophysics, just to name a few! 

SHORELINER JOINS THE FLEET!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

On Sunday, May 5th, Bancroft Crew celebrated the newest racing shell to join their fleet as the team christened 'Shoreliner' at the Donohue Rowing Center on Lake Quinsigamond. Joined by alumni of the inaugural Bancroft Varsity crew and current team members, Head of School Trey Cassidy and Head Varsity Coach Randolph Ceballo welcomed 'Shoreliner' to the fleet with brief remarks and the ceremonial pour of champagne over her bow. Check out the sights and sounds from the celebration in the video.

NOT TO BE MISSED!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPRING CRAFT FAIR

Buy raffle tickets for $10 (2 tickets) through $50 (10 tickets).

 

The winning Ticket will receive 10% to 50% of the raised funds, based on the dollar amount donated.
 

LEARN MORE HERE & ENTER RAFFLE

IMPORTANT DATES  •  MAY THROUGH JUNE

Shorelines is produced by the Marketing and Communications Office at Bancroft. If you have questions or story ideas please contact kcinquanta@bancroftschool.org.

Bancroft School

110 Shore Drive • Worcester, MA 01605 • (508) 853-2640