Cushing Academy Afternoon Programming Catalog

CUSHING ACADEMY

Afternoon Programming 2026-27

Updated March 25, 2026

Mission Statement Cushing Academy exists for students and develops curious, creative, and confident learners and leaders.

Portrait of a Graduate The Portrait of a Graduate details and supports Cushing’s mission to educate the mind, shape the character, nurture the creativity, and foster the wellbeing of each student. As a lens through which we examine ourselves and our work, this portrait guides and informs all aspects of school life.

A Cushing graduate learns, lives, and leads by these ideals: In my Personal Journey, I:

• • • • • •

Strive to be self-aware, self-disciplined, and self-controlled.

Take initiative, adapt, and persevere.

Live with optimism, passion, a sense of humor, and humility.

Make informed choices for a healthy, balanced life.

Advocate for myself.

Pursue excellence in all areas of my life.

In my Community Journey, I:

• • • • •

Respect, support, and show gratitude.

Value, engage fully in, and contribute to the diversity of my communities.

Collaborate with others.

Understand social systems.

Serve others as an active citizen.

In my Intellectual Journey, I:

• • • •

Think critically, creatively, and reflectively.

Listen and communicate actively, thoughtfully, and effectively.

Take risks and grow through challenges.

Approach lifelong learning with openness and curiosity.

In my Ethical Journey, I:

• • • •

Act with empathy and compassion.

Act with integrity.

Act with personal and social responsibility.

Act with courage on behalf of others and myself.

Afternoon Programming Cushing Academy’s afternoon programming gives students a chance to explore their interests, stay fit and active, and tap into curiousity and teamwork through a variety of opportunities in the arts, athletics, and other activities.

Students are enrolled in three afternoon options, one for each afternoon term: Fall Season September 7 - November 14, 2026 Winter Season November 16 - February 27, 2027 Spring Season March 1 - May 22, 2027 Sign-ups happen prior to each season. Students signing up for competitive athletics or performances will participate in tryouts the first week of each season, and will then be placed on a team or in a role.

Programming is generally held in the afternoon from Monday through Friday. Students participating in competitive athletics will have additional obligations on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when interscholastic home and away games are scheduled, and some other performance and team-based activities may also have additional obligations as needed.

Afternoon options are subject to change based on interest and availability. If you have questions about the offerings, please contact: Mr. Brian P. Krauss P’27 Director of Athletics briankrauss@cushing.org Cushing Academy 39 School Street Ashburnham, MA 01430 Tel: (978) 827-7044

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Athletics Participation Requirement All students are required to participate in at least one season of athletics each year. Students may meet the athletics participation requirement by participating on any level sports team, instructional or recreational team, musical theatre (with a stage role), figure skating, ropes course, pickleball, robotics, or dance at least one season per year.

Afternoon activities that meet the athletics participation requirement are indicated with the

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Visual + Performing Arts Requirement All students are required to participate in at least one term of a visual or performing arts each year. You may meet this requirement by enrolling in an academic class or an afternoon activity.

Afternoon activities that meet the visual and performing arts requirement are indicated by the

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icons.

Cushing Academy is a unique educational setting whose faculty, staff, and facilities nurture the optimal growth of students with a range of talents, abilities, and interests. Our communityoriented environment is supportive and diverse, promoting and valuing intellectual challenges and emphasizing the arts, athletics, and cultural competence.

Cushing Vision Statement

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2026-27 Afternoon Programming Competitive Athletics

Fall Season

Winter Season

Spring Season

Cross Country Boys’ Varsity Girls’ Varsity

Alpine Skiing Boys’ Varsity Girls’ Varsity

Baseball Boys’ Varsity | JV

Field Hockey Girls’ Varsity

Basketball Boys’ Prep | Varsity | Thirds Girls’ Varsity | JV

Soccer Boys’ Varsity | JV | Thirds Girls’ Varsity | JV Volleyball Girls’ Varsity | JV

Ice Hockey Boys’ Varsity | Varsity B | JV Girls’ Varsity | Varsity B

Golf Boys’ Varsity | JV Girls’ Varsity | JV Lacrosse Boys’ Varsity | JV Girls’ Varsity | JV Softball Girls’ Varsity Tennis Boys’ Varsity | JV Girls’ Varsity | JV Track Boys’ Varsity Girls’ Varsity

Instructional Athletics

Additional Athletics Offerings

Pickleball

Rec Skiing/Snowboarding

Instructional Hockey

Instructional Tennis

Intramural Volleyball

Basketball Skills

Spring Soccer

Outdoor Adventure + Ropes

Figure Skating

Team Managers

Team Managers

Team Managers

Cross Training

Strength + Conditioning*

Strength + Conditioning*

Strength + Conditioning*

Health + Wellness*

Health + Wellness*

Art Portfolio

Art Portfolio

Art Portfolio

Ceramics

Fused + Stained Glass

Metalsmithing

Darkroom Photography

Fiber Arts

Darkroom Photography

Fall Theatre

Musical Theatre

Spring Theatre

Health + Wellness*

Visual Arts

Performing Arts

Music Portfolio

Dance

Dance

Other

Patchwork (Literary Magazine)

Patchwork (Literary Magazine)

Yearbook

Yearbook

Robotics

Robotics

Competitive Esports

Intro to Esports

* In the fall , these offerings are for Juniors, Seniors, and Post-Graduates only.

Upperclass students have priority in these options in the winter and spring.

Red vs. Blue (Esports)

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Team Managers Most teams are looking for team managers.

Managers are expected to attend all practices, home games, and away games. Responsibilities may include operating the scoreboard, managing the scorebook and shot clock, carrying equipment, etc. Please contact coaches directly if you are interested in being a team manager.

This activity will include Saturday commitments.

Being a team manager does not meet the athletics participation requirement.

Athletics Competitive Athletics Cushing Academy’s athletics program features 39 teams in 13 different sports. There are competitive teams for every level of athlete to enjoy and gain the life lessons that can be acquired through competitive sports.

All varsity, junior varsity, and thirds-level teams participate in weekday practice and interschoolastic play, including home and away games on Saturdays.

Team Placement

Each competitive sport at Cushing offers different levels of play, all focused on sportsmanship, player development, and growth. There are tryouts for all sports teams at the beginning of each season.

Prep and varsity teams feature accomplished athletes who are looking to compete against top-tier competition. JV teams feature solid athletes who are often new to the sport or have limited experience and are hoping to improve their game. Thirds-level teams feature athletes who are often learning the sport for the first time and are beginners. At the conclusion of tryouts, students will be placed on the appropriate team based on skill level.

Student-athletes are expected to attend all practices as well as home and away games, including Saturdays.

Athletic Program Heads Cross Country Field Hockey Boys’ Soccer Girls’ Soccer Volleyball

Riley Moore rimoore@cushing.org Courtney Lavin P’28 courtneylavin@cushing.org Casey Ftorek caftorek@cushing.org Katie Cobb katiecobb@cushing.org Courtney Leclerc courtneyleclerc@cushing.org

Alpine Skiing Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Basketball Boys’ Ice Hockey Girls’ Ice Hockey

Valerik Roumi James Cormier Mollee Malboeuf ’19 Dan Fontas ’98, P’27 Brandy Fisher-Bailey P’28, ’29

Baseball Golf Boys’ Lacrosse Girls’ Lacrosse Softball Tennis Track + Field

Ryan Suchanek P’29 rsuchanek@cushing.org Kurt Kublbeck P’16 kkublbeck@cushing.org David Pearson dapearson@cushing.org Shannon Murray shmurray@cushing.org Aaron Santos ’05 aasantos@cushing.org Tom Lowry tomlowry@cushing.org Riley Moore rimoore@cushing.org

valerikroumi@cushing.org jacormier@cushing.org molleemalboeuf@cushing.org dafontas@cushing.org brandyfisherbailey@cushing.org

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Instructional Athletics In addition to competitive athletics, Cushing offers instructional athletics for students who would like to learn a new sport.

Instructional athletics are Monday through Friday only, and do not participate in interscholastic competitions — though they do count toward your athletic participation requirement.

Basketball Skills Interested in taking your game to the next level? If so, join Coach on the hardwood this Fall! Basketball Skills is for players of all levels.

Offered fall season.

Instructional Tennis Interested in learning how to play tennis?

Instructional Tennis is fun, engaging, and for beginners only. Required equipment: tennis racket and sneakers.

Offered fall season.

Outdoor Adventures + Ropes Outdoor Adventure is an opportunity to use Cushing’s low and high ropes course in activities that combine team building, outdoor games, and leadership skills. Students navigate the low and high ropes course , taking part in the fun activities on the ground and in the air.

Students learn to belay, including group belay, and work to support one another across the various elements. This is a challenge by choice activity. While not everyone needs to climb to the highest point, they still will be involved in various ways throughout the activity.

Offered fall season.

Recreational Pickleball Pickleball is a fun game that is played on a badminton-size court, combining many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

It is played with paddles and a ball similar to a wiffle ball but slightly smaller in size.

Beginners are welcome!

Offered fall season.

Figure Skating Figure skating is an opportunity to hit the ice for your afternoon activity. Whether you are a novice skater looking to try out something new or a veteran skater planning a new routine, this offering is for you.

Offered spring season.

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Recreational Skiing/Snowboarding Recreational Skiing/Snowboarding is an opportunity to hit the slopes for your afternoon activity. Cushing students head to Wachusett Mountain five days a week.

Whether you are a novice skier looking to take lessons or a boarder looking to test your skill, this offering is for athletes of all levels. Please note that this activity is capped at 50 students and there are associated fees. Information will be provided to families prior to the winter season.

Offered winter season.

Spring Soccer Interested in taking your soccer skills to the next level? If so, Spring Soccer is the spot for you! Spring Soccer is fun, engaging, and for players of all levels. There are no interscholastic games scheduled.

Offered spring season.

Instructional Hockey Interested in jumping the boards and learning the great game of hockey? If so, Instructional Hockey might be right for you! Instructional Hockey is for beginners only and will introduce participants to all aspects of hockey. From hockey stops to slapshots, you will certainly have the opportunity to grow your skills.

Required equipment: hockey skates.

Offered spring season.

Intramural Volleyball Intramural volleyball is a co-ed afternoon volleyball option for players of all levels interested in working on their volleyball skills in a fun and engaging environment. There are no interscholastic games scheduled.

Offered spring season.

Additional Athletic Offerings In addition to instructional and competitive athletics, Cushing also offers athletic training options throughout the year. Please note, these offerings do not count towards your athletic participation requirement.

Cross Training Cross training will be a strength and conditioning based class with the intention of promoting wellness and preparing you for the winter season. We will hit on a wide variety of conditioning and strength building classes including; weight training, circuit training, running, yoga, and bike sprinting.

Offered fall season.

Health + Wellness and Strength + Conditioning options are only available to Juniors, Seniors, and Postgraduate students in the fall. Upperclass students have priority for these options in the winter and spring.

Health + Wellness* The health and wellness program is designed to improve the strength, conditioning, agility, and flexibility of out-of-season athletes, and also educates novice participants on the advantages of proper nutrition, weight lifting, cardiovascular exercise and proper stretching.

Offered fall, winter, and spring seasons.

Strength + Conditioning* Would you benefit from getting faster, stronger, quicker, or more explosive for your sport? Do you wish you were less injury prone? Strength + Conditioning helps Cushing students fill in the gaps of their physical skill sets so they are better prepared to thrive at the next level. We achieve this through custom programming and expert coaching, working together with you to provide lasting benefits from your time in this class.

Offered fall, winter, and spring seasons.

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Darkroom Photography No digital here... This is your introduction to the art of ANALOG photography! Learn more about: >● The technical and aesthetic aspects of photography. > How to make photos people will notice. > How to use a 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera in Manual mode. > How to develop black and white film by hand, using a chemical process. >● How to make beautiful black and white prints in a traditional film darkroom.

Cameras, film, and paper are provided by Cushing.

Offered fall and spring seasons.

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Visual Arts Many of our visual art activities are variations on year-long courses, and offer students an opportunity to explore the visual arts in the afternoon activity block, or supplement their visual arts participation requirement.

Art Portfolio This activity is designed to support the serious and invested art student who has already engaged in art courses either here at Cushing or elsewhere. Each student receives individual support as they work toward creating a larger body of work in their desired medium.

Students need departmental approval (from Ms. Eschenbach, jeeschenb@cushing.org) as this is an upper-level experience that requires a self-driven approach to individual creativity.

(Note: If you are taking this as part of the Advanced Art Portfolio class, contact the instructor prior to signing up.)

Offered fall, winter, and spring seasons.

Ceramics Students will explore a variety of techniques in working with clay including slab rolling, extruding, coil building, sculpting, and wheel throwing. We will create functional items such as plates, mugs, bowls, vases, and luminaries.

We will also explore abstract manifestations of ceramic art as the term progresses. Students also learn glazing and firing techniques. M-F Offered fall season.

Fused + Stained Glass In this introductory course, students learn the processes of both fused and stained glass, including glass cutting, grinding, kiln fusing, slumping and draping, copper foiling, and soldering. Project choices range from building stained glass suncatchers and panels, to fused glass jewelry, ornaments, dishes, and bowls. As students’ skills develop, they are encouraged to explore a variety of techniques and create their own unique designs.

Offered winter season.

Metalsmithing In this introductory course, students develop the skills necessary for working with metals.

Students will learn techniques for cutting, shaping, soldering, and finishing their artwork as they create jewelry pieces in copper and silver. Stone setting, wire working, texturing, and various other topics are explored. As their skill base becomes more refined, students move to more self-directed projects with an eye toward developing creativity and promoting independent problem solving.

Offered spring season.

Fiber Arts This course will explore the foundation of fiber crafts while embracing sustainability in this dynamic activity. Students will engage with the world of textiles, mastering essential skills in machine sewing, hand sewing, knitting, and more. What makes this course unique is its emphasis on creativity through the use of recycled materials, fostering an ecoconscious approach to crafting. This activity is a hands-on exploration of both natural and synthetic materials. Some of our projects will be wool hats and mittens from recycled sweaters, fleece animals, knitted scarves, and more, based on student interest.

Offered winter season.

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Musical Theatre The winter musical will hold auditions the first week of winter season. There are several possibilities for the show, depending on the number of people who audition. If you are auditioning, you will be expected to participate in a dance audition and a separate vocal audition (no longer than two minutes in length.) You may be called back for an improvisational acting audition. Auditions are private, and call backs are a possibility. Participation in the winter musical also functions as an athletic requirement because of all the physicality required. If you’d like to work on the technical crew, you need to provide a genuine interest in the art form, as positions are limited.

Applicants should be interested in the performing arts and willing to work on stage or off. Note: to qualify for your athletic participation requirement, you will need to be cast in a role on stage.

Offered winter season.

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Performing Arts Cushing students enjoy more than a dozen performing arts events each year. In addition to courses and activities, there are options for private instruction in voice, instrumental music, and dance. Contact department chair Julia Ohm for more details (johm@ cushing.org).

Dance Afternoon dance is open to everyone no matter your level. During classes, we start with strengthening your body with stretching/ flexibility exercises. Time is allotted for creating and learning choreography. The activity term will end with performances in our fall or spring dance showcase. Students are the focus and will showcase original work from other choreographers and work from class.

Offered fall and spring seasons.

Music Portfolio Music Portfolio is an opportunity to pursue a creative project either individually or in a group. Examples of previously approved projects include composition, songwriting, music production, audition or solo recital preparation, and creation of a pop/rock band or classical ensemble. Participants must be sufficiently musically proficient to be able to work relatively independently for at least 1-1/4 hours each afternoon. A culminating performance or documentation of work is required. Interested students must submit a proposal to Mr. Hindle, Director of Music (dhindle@cushing.org) on or before the first day of the fall season.

Offered fall season.

Theatrical Production There are separate fall and spring productions for Cushing Theatre, and auditions for each performance will be held the first week of each season. The fall production is directed

by Ms. Ohm and the spring production is an original work, heavy in student participation and agency. There are possibilities for each show, depending on the number of people who audition and the production needs. If you are auditioning, you will be expected to bring in a monologue from any play (no longer than two minutes in length.) This does not have to be memorized, but of course it’s better if it is. Auditions are private, and call backs are a possibility. If you’d like to work on the technical crew, you need to provide a genuine interest in the art form, as positions are limited. Applicants should be interested in learning about the performing arts and willing to work on stage or off.

Offered fall and spring seasons.

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Other Activities Cushing offers additional afternoon opportunities for students to learn teamwork and develop creative thinking skills — be it on the staff of campus publications, in the field of esports, or on the pitch with Vex robotics.

Patchwork: Literary Magazine Students in this afternoon activity are leaders in publicizing, editing, designing, and publishing Cushing Academy’s award-winning literary and arts magazine, Patchwork, now in its fourth year since it was revived. Students create and administer writing contests, evaluate and edit submissions, and work to sequence, layout, and publish the spring publication. Throughout these activities, they work with Mr. Hunt to foster the literary and artistic creativity of their fellow Penguins, and they also have ample opportunities to write for the magazine themselves.

Offered fall and winter seasons.

Yearbook Participants will be part of the team to create the 2027 yearbook. There will be opportunities to practice graphic design, photography, copywriting, and editing. Spaces are limited and prior approval is required. Please contact Mrs. Stone (bstone@cushing.org) prior to signing up.

Offered fall and winter seasons.

Competitive Esports Cushing’s primary competitive esports program focuses on organized league play and high-level team development. Students compete in the PlayVS high school esports league while building advanced skills in communication, leadership, strategy, and coordinated gameplay. Structured practices, match reviews, and team preparation emphasize disciplined play, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Players learn to analyze opponents, refine strategies, and perform under competitive pressure while representing the school in a formal esports environment.

Offered fall season.

Intro to Esports A developmental program designed for students who want to strengthen esports fundamentals without formal league competition. Participants practice teamwork, communication, strategy, and game awareness through structured scrimmages and guided sessions. Many students use this season to continue building skills from the fall competitive program while preparing for future team participation.

Offered winter season.

Red vs. Blue (Esports) A relaxed team-based gaming program focused on collaboration, quick thinking, and friendly competition. Students rotate teams and leadership roles while playing a variety of games that encourage communication, adaptability, and strategic thinking. The emphasis is on teamwork, experimentation, and fun, while still reinforcing core esports skills in a less-structured environment.

Offered spring season.

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Robotics VEX Robotics Team and Farmbot Whether you want to compete on our VEX Robotics Team in local or regional competitions, code and build a robot, or use our Farmbot — robotics is for you! We welcome those with no experience in coding, programming, and building, as well as those with extensive experience. Come and join us to try your hand at becoming an essential member of our VEX Robotics Team or capitalize on our new Farmbot, which integrates agricultural science, biochemistry, and research in robotics.

Offered fall and winter seasons.

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Cushing Academy exists for students and develops curious, creative, and confident learners and leaders.