President’s Message |

Bridget Irish, M.B.A., S.P.H.R.

We are only halfway through the school year, but have already accomplished so much! We have welcomed 19 new families to Cotting School so far , bringing enrollment to its highest level in decades.

While introducing so many new students and staff members to our community at once presented a new challenge, we are thrilled with the spirit and curiosity they have brought to the school. It’s given us the opportunity to evaluate how we onboard, communicate and think creatively about service delivery and schedules. This feedback and reflection helps us serve students, families and staff better.

With so many new faces, it was a treat to kick off the year at the Cotting PTO’s Fall Family BBQ . Reinforcing our partnership with the PTO has enabled us to collaborate with parent volunteers on new events, like Trunk-or-Treat, and make perennial favorites like the BBQ and the Holiday Marketplace even better. Working together has been energizing!

In October, we were delighted to have Rep. Michelle Ciccolo of Lexington join us as honorary host of our State Legislators’ Day. Several board and staff members joined me in thanking state legislators for their overwhelming support of C. 766 schools throughout the pandemic. We spoke about ongoing challenges in education and, most importantly, showed them the impact they have made in the lives of our students.

Late fall and winter always means the return of the Falcons’ basketball season. Once again, we kicked off the season against a deep and talented alumni team. It’s a wonderful morning of basketball because we can cheer each and every athlete. The season brings back other friends, like the Nobles Girls Varsity Team in the annual friendship game, that Covid kept from us for a few years. This year also featured a rematch with the Erland Construction team.

Renovations in both the Campus Center and school building have been completed and are fabulous, thanks to our friends at Erland! If you have not yet seen our new and refreshed facilities, consider this your invitation to visit our campus. From our most serious academic endeavors to our biggest social events, these spaces continue to exceed expectations and spark imaginations. We remain grateful to the donor community that made these enhancements possible.

Despite so many exciting things happening, our students stay focused and are working hard. A new slate of senior class officers has been elected, vocational training at job sites both on and off campus is in full swing and students across all levels are practicing self-determination skills alongside all other academic disciplines. Their determination inspires us to finish the year strong.

Welcome New Trustee

After several years of volunteer service, John Connelly was unanimously elected to the Cotting School Board of Trustees in December. A partner at the law firm Hinckley-Allen, he specializes in construction, real estate and business law. John developed an interest in Cotting through his friendship with an alumni family. We look forward to benefiting from his expertise and commitment to our mission. Welcome John!

Meet CFO Andrea Szekely-Hill

Please extend a warm welcome to our new CFO, Andrea Szekely-Hill. She began her career at Deloitte after earning a bachelor’s in accounting at Villanova University and is a CPA in Massachusetts. Over the past decade, she has worked as a finance leader in the biotech industry. Inspired by the Cotting community, especially its dedicated staff, she is thrilled to be working for an organization that lives and breathes its mission on a daily basis.

Tune into Cotting Conversations: Establishing Healthy Boundaries on 2/14/23 at 3:15 p.m.

Learn more: bit.ly/CCBoundaries

Save the Date

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

Cotting School-Massachusetts Historical Society Partnership

Wednesday, March 15 6:30-8 p.m.

Mass Historical has graciously agreed to be the archivists for Cotting’s rich educational history. Come celebrate this partnership with us and view a display of records and images from our 130-year history.

Play it Forward Fundraiser (featuring Falcon Trivia)

Thursday, April 13, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled, adults-only evening while supporting Cotting’s after school and athletics programs. Play trivia, take your chances on exciting raffles and silent auction items and give our candlepin bowling alley a try!

Appreciation Corner