Cotting Connection Summer 2025

Cotting Connection A tradition of innovation and excellence since 1893.

SUMMER 2025

This year’s award-winning float was designed and built by Upper School and Capstone students with the help of staff and faculty.

Cotting Shines at Lex250 Parade What’s Inside Lex250 Parade...........................................1 President’s Letter...................................... 2 New to the Nest......................................... 3 Carmichael Family Visit............................ 3 Save the Date............................................. 4

On Saturday, April 19, Cotting School proudly joined Lexington’s Patriots’ Day Parade. An annual event that honors the town’s history as the birthplace of liberty, this year marked the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. With over 2,700 marchers and performers spanning more than 125 parade units, the event drew thousands to Massachusetts Avenue for a day of music, history and community celebration.

This year’s parade was particularly special for the Cotting community. Thanks to the incredible creativity and dedication of our students—and behind-the-scenes support from our music, art and maintenance departments—Cotting’s float was awarded first prize in the youth division! Not only did it stand out for its design and craftsmanship, but also for the spirit and pride it represented.

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Cotting School 453 Concord Avenue Lexington, MA 02421

781–862–7323 info@cotting.org cotting.org

Rolling Admissions Contact Director of Admissions Elizabeth Russell at erussell@cotting.org for more information.

Lex250 Parade (continued) Led by Cotting Grand Marshall and Capstone student Lauren Boyd, many members of our staff marched alongside our students and their families, providing support and adding to the positive energy of the day. Cotting alumni, Trustees, fellow MAAPS school administrators and friends from near and far shared how impressed they were by the unity of our community, noting how many

Falcons they spotted in the parade and on the sidelines.

From colonial reenactors and marching bands to dancers and jugglers, Lexington’s 2025 Patriots’ Day Parade was a joyful celebration of history—and Cotting was honored to be part of it. We look forward to many more opportunities to show the world what our students can do when they soar together!

President’s Letter | Bridget Irish, M.B.A., S.P.H.R. Now that it’s summer, we can take a moment to reflect on what a busy and successful spring we had.

The Cotting community enjoyed gathering together to celebrate our students’ achievements and creativity at several key events.

This year’s Arts Showcase, put together by Music & Performing Arts Teacher Ms. McCarron and Visual Arts Teacher Mr. Ironfield, transformed our hallways into an awe-inspiring art gallery. Some highlights included a musical performance by students, an inspirational video featuring the artists at work on numerous projects throughout the year and hands-on activities for students to engage in at the event so they could show off their artistry “in the moment.”

At this year’s Project Bridges Employer Appreciation Breakfast, students had the opportunity to introduce their parents to the people they worked with at their job site over pastries and coffee. In addition to recognizing employer partners who have been with us for years (some even for decades!), we celebrated our newest connections.

The Transition Team continues to seek out potential new job sites in the community that align with the individual interests of our students.

Of course, we couldn’t have accomplished as much as we did this year without the support of our entire community, including those who contribute financially. Members of the Cotting School Board of Trustees and Advisory Council gathered with donors at the Founders Society Reception to thank them for their generosity and assistance. We also took

the opportunity to recognize Ron Nix, who volunteers as a job coach for Project Bridges, with the Cotting Community Partner Award.

In May, I traveled to Washington, D.C., with colleagues from the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS) to meet with members of Congress and the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). We shared our concerns about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Medicaid and workforce issues. It was an important opportunity to advocate for our students, schools and special education.

The school year culminated in a flurry of exciting events, such as prom, the parent social, our first-ever alumni formal and graduation. In a ceremony both moving and bittersweet, the Cotting community gathered to cheer on our nine graduating seniors as they processed in and took their seats onstage. While we will miss seeing them in the school’s hallways, we look forward to welcoming them back to campus as Cotting alumni in the near future.

(L to R) Board Chair Eliot Klein, Beth Gray-Nix, President Bridget Irish and Ron Nix

Welcome to the Nest!

A Fond Farewell

John Rizzo, CPA, Trustee

Meredith Close, M.D., Trustee

John Rizzo is a partner at CRR, LLC, located in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

He provides accounting and business consulting services to clients in manufacturing, gaming, entertainment, retail, construction and non-profit organizations, as well as all other industries. John was introduced to Cotting by Board President Eliot Klein and has been on the Audit Committee for several years.

Dr. Meredith Close is Director of the Down Syndrome Program and Attending Physician for the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

She served as Cotting School’s Medical Fellow in 2019 and is excited to return as a member of the Board.

Leah Thibodeau, M.Ed., CAGS, Education Director We would like to express our gratitude to Leah Thibodeau, who has served as Cotting’s Education Director since 2002. Throughout her 23 years here, she helped to improve our programs and make the IEP process a more positive experience for students and their families. We will miss her presence on campus and wish her well on her retirement!

Revisiting Their Cotting Roots While Cotting School has a rich past steeped in tradition, it’s the innovation and dedication of the people who work here that have made it so special. Throughout its 132-year-long history, Cotting has been led by seven esteemed individuals. We were recently honored by a special visit that allowed us to reminisce about the past, reconnect with the present and plan for the future.

On May 12, we were thrilled to welcome William “Bill” Carmichael, son of former Superintendent William Carmichael, who oversaw Cotting for thirty years. As an added bonus, Bill brought his grandson Thomas along to learn about his great-grandfather’s legacy.

During their visit, Bill and Thomas enjoyed a tour of the school and met with President Bridget Irish and other staff. Bill recounted many delightful stories about his father and what the Cotting community meant to his family. His excitement about being on campus and his passion for the important work that continues here today were palpable.

(L to R) Thomas Carmichael and Bill Carmichael stand on either side of a portrait of William Carmichael, Cotting School’s Superintendent from 1955 to 1985.

During their visit, it became apparent that while some things have changed, our belief in educating the “whole student” through a highly individualized curriculum focused on each student’s unique abilities and strengths has remained a constant. Today, staying true to Cotting’s long-standing mission, we continue to offer creative programs that put the needs of our students and their families first.

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Save the Date

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events taking place on campus.

Back to School Night October 8, 2025 Meet the leadership team, experience your child’s classroom and enjoy an information fair in the Cotting School gym.

Alumni Movie Night December 11, 2025 Alumni and Capstone students are invited to join us for a movie night in the Cotting School auditorium.

Play It Forward April 15, 2026 Join friends, families and community supporters for a night of fun and games to raise funds for Cotting School’s Falcon Athletics and After School Programs.

The gym was packed and the competition was fierce during the Falcon Trivia portion of last year’s Play It Forward event!