BANCROFTNEWS LEADERSHIP IN ACTION — 5TH GRADE One of the most exciting things about becoming a fifth grader at Bancroft is that you and your classmates become the leaders of the Lower School. With that role comes much responsibility. Starting on the first day of school when fifth graders are matched with first graders to help the newbies navigate the dining hall, balance their trays, and find their tables. To prepare the students for this important year, the Lower School designated the last week in September as Fifth Grade Leadership Week. Throughout the week, the students and their classroom teachers, Lisa Kunhardt and Betsy Rocha, joined in various activities focused on team-building, decisionmaking, and communication with instructors from the Kieve Leadership School of Maine. Collaborative skills came into play as the students picked vegetables at the Community Harvest Project, and set individual and group goals for the year. There is much in store for these students in the year to come— including an all-class stage production and a week at Camp Kieve—but armed with these leadership tools, we know they will rise to the challenge.
MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB — 7TH GRADE A two-night retreat in the mountains of New Hampshire is a powerful experience for Bancroft seventh graders starting off the new year. Being with classmates, away from home, builds trust and confidence that they carry back home. One of this year’s chaperones, Dominic Dipersia, shared some insights into the value of this rite of passage: “In many ways the experience, organized by a dedicated team of teachers, served as a microcosm for this school year. Teachers want their students to challenge themselves, both in and out of the classroom. The idea that they can climb a mountain on their second day of school should give them the confidence to get through any obstacle that comes their way…this year and beyond.” Visit www.bancroftschool.org/msblog to read more. 7