October 2020 Newsletter

Dear Bancroft Friends,

 

The joy of seeing students in their creative Halloween costumes put an exclamation point on a month of creativity in the classroom. Within our walls and beyond them, the Bancroft community continues to inspire. See, for example, the brand-new 'Art Corner' section of this newsletter — an exploration rooted in the amazing pieces our students have been creating.

 

Kindergarteners had a very special Zoom visitor last week. Beth Short from the Smithsonian Institution joined Mason Hendershott's science class to share her new book about what animals need to eat and drink to survive. I could almost hear the screams of excitement from my office when Mason showed them a jar of live caterpillars at the end of the call. 

 

Our Middle School students are walking a little funny — very intentionally. Current Middle Schoolers are playing a drama game first created by the Class of 2022 and played every year since. I love the notion of the community working together across grades and years. Be sure to check out the video to see some joy and laughter. 

And in the Upper School, AP Language and Composition students are thinking outside the traditional essay to create relevant, audience-driven work. English Teacher Martha Fortier had students stage a letter-writing positional campaign arguing their points to a variety of recipients, from family and friends to Governor Baker. Learning the nuance of tailoring a message to an audience along the way, students in the course have also been writing book reviews that have been featured in a local bookshop — one owned by none other than Jo Truesdell, beloved former Bancroft kindergarten teacher and current board member. As you may know, Jo recently opened the TidePool BookShop in Worcester. That's the kind of full-circle moment that makes the Bancroft community so exceptional.

 

The sense of wonder and optimism we see in our students is thanks in large part to the support you have provided to them — and to us. We will continue to lean on the teamwork of this community as fall turns to winter. Thank you for your support.

 

Best,

Trey

Trey Cassidy
Head of School

BRINGING THE MUSEUM TO BANCROFT

When you can't go to the museum, what's the next best thing? Bringing the museum to you! 

Beth Short from the Smithsonian Institution joined a Zoom with the Kindergarten class last week to share her new book, What's On The Menu? With help from Mason Hendershott, lower school science teacher, the students learned all about what types of food animals need in order to survive. 

Using caterpillars as an example, the students learned about doing research and collecting evidence to learn how to care for the insects. 

After an exciting 30 minutes filled with many thoughtful, scientific questions from the Kindergarteners, Hendershott shared one final surprise — a jar full of caterpillars he has in his classroom, waiting to be taken care of!

WALK THIS WAY

Talk about a long-running show!

 

A few years ago, Lower and Middle School drama teacher Rachel Wagner asked students to help her create a theatre game loosely inspired by a classic Monty Python skit. Fast-forward to now, and middle schoolers are still playing "Ministry of Silly Walks Entourage," first created by members of the Class of 2022.

 

The source material was the Python skit Ministry of Silly Walks, which students combined with elements of the game Entourage (hence the mashed-up title). The game rules: Each person creates a silly walk and then challenges someone else to a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Whoever wins the round becomes the leader and the other follows behind and mirrors their silly walk. Ultimately two massive groups challenge each other with the winner leading a victory silly walk with everyone following along and mimicking behind them.  

 

Wagner keeps the game in rotation because "it involves a nice mix of competition and cooperation, encourages playfulness, and is affirming to others' creativity. It's amazing how quickly students are able to enter into the spirit of play and are willing to be "silly" when everyone else is doing it And, it's just cool that Bancroft kids created it." Encore, encore.

ADVENTURES IN AP ENGLISH

In Martha Fortier's AP Language and Composition class, students are considering, and reconsidering, the idea of 'audience'. "I have found that when the audience is authentic, it raises the students' game," said Fortier.

 

When teaching the concept of posing an argument, Fortier had students skip the essay and instead write a letter that considered a question. "Some wrote to Governor Baker, some wrote to President Trump, some wrote to their 10-year-old sister. They kept asking 'what's the right way,' and I was able to say, 'Who's your audience?' The importance of writing letters is that the audience is authentic, and they got to choose their audience."

 

Students considered a different audience—and medium—when reading the short story collection Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. "I had them write book reviews in first person," Fortier said. "After building traditional skills in freshmen and sophomore years, it was time for a shake-up. Students were like, 'What? It's wrong.' And I said, let's go with it. I wanted them to experiment with saying something analytical in a little more relaxed voice."

 

To give the book reviews an authentic audience, Fortier reached out to Jo Truesdell, beloved former Bancroft kindergarten teacher and current board member, who just opened the TidePool BookShop in Worcester. Truesdell offered to publish some student reviews on her Instagram account or website or print it next to the book on the shelf. "Students loved the opportunity to have an authentic audience and to be published," said Fortier.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

All Hallows Eve may have looked a little different this year on Shore Drive, but campus was still buzzing like always with fun, creativity, and energy. Check out some of the excitement from this year's Halloween celebrations!

ART CORNER

We're adding the Art Corner to Shorelines to highlight some of the amazing student work coming out of Bancroft art classes. Enjoy!

Valerie S. '22 (Studio 4)

"Val's first piece is a watercolor on paper astronaut made during the class chosen theme of "Noise and Silence," says William Chambers, Upper School Art Teacher and Head of the Art Department.

 

"Her second piece is a digital drawing made with Procreate on an iPad. Her theme for this was puzzles and mazes, and she was thinking about that in terms of the journey of life and death."

Sam B. '21 (Advanced Visual Portfolio)

"Sam's piece is an animation that was made on the class theme of hope and was a first for Sam, who is an advanced animator, in terms of using laundry as the main subject of his animation," says Chambers.

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

Bancroft School

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