Fall/Winter Bulletin 2023

Fall 2023

MAKING OUR VALUES VISIBLE

B OARD O F TRUSTE E S 2023–2024 Anne Elton PRESIDENT

Conor Shapiro VICE PRESIDENT

Kirsten Kester ’01 TREASURER

Sarah Khetani SECRETARY

Irene Todd GOVERNANCE CHAIR

Danielle Heard HEAD OF SCHOOL

Matt Boger Erica Cohen Michael Fay Elizabeth Garonzik ‘03 Lynne Goltra Kate Graham ‘98 Lindsey Gund Cheryl Kirkman Vince Lorusso Agnes Lubega Megan Pasquina ‘00 Lydia Napoli Alys Reynders Sophie Robart ‘09 Alice Flint, TRUSTEE EMERITUS W. Carl Kester, TRUSTEE EMERITUS John Moriarty, TRUSTEE EMERITUS Jason Robart, TRUSTEE EMERITUS

C ORE VALUE S INTEGRIT Y

We act with honesty, sound judgment, and strong character to build a culture of trust.

COLLABORATION

We build partnerships, foster teamwork, and encourage camaraderie.

INCLUSIVIT Y

We celebrate and affirm all aspects of individual identity and global diversity.

EMPATHY

We seek to understand the feelings of others, value multiple perspectives, build meaningful connections, and inspire ethical action.

RESILIENCE

We value persistence and pursue excellence through continuous learning and growth.

200 Strawberry Hill Road Concord, Massachusetts 01742 978.369.4591 nashobabrooks.org

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4 Danielle Heard Head of School Aubrey Bourgeois Director of Marketing and Communications

FALL BULLETIN 2023

C O N TE N T S

Quincey Katz Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

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From the Head of School

Jevan Jammal Director of Development

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Core Values: Commitment to Our Core

Amy Leahy Development Associate, Director of Annual Giving & Parent Engagement

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Innovations at the Invention Convention

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ReVision Tuition: A Bold Step in a Turbulent Time

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Lifelong Learning: Nashoba Educators In Summer Scholarship

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Athletics

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Cambridge Camping Association on Campus

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Community News

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Congratulations Graduates

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Class Notes

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Alumni Profiles

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Nashoba Brooks Networking Panel: Mentorship

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Future Educator: Maggie Van Dyne ‘15

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Summer Reading

Tandy Bryant Alumni Engagement Coordinator Stuart Beeby Photography Kirsta Davey Photography Krys Streeter Photography Joe Wallace Photography Nashoba Brooks School Archives

MIS SION Nashoba Brooks School educates children for a life of continuous learning, accomplishment, and leadership in a diverse and changing world. The School nurtures students’ growth and character, while fostering the development of each child’s personal excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts. © 2023 Nashoba Brooks School

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“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,' said the Greek statesman Pericles, 'but what is woven into the lives of others.' Your legacy is that which you teach.”

–James Kerr, Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life

MAKING OUR VALUES VISIBLE

The start of a new academic year provides the welcome opportunity to reflect on the events of the previous year as we embrace the possibilities ahead. 2022-2023 brought the much-anticipated return to a full schedule of in-person events, spirited athletic competitions, new levels of academic achievement, engagement with alumni, and celebrating our progress against our strategic directions. With this momentum behind us, we launch the new year with the theme of Making Our Values Visible—highlighting the mission, vision, and values that have fueled our work as we commit to building, learning, and growing together.

As we do each year, our community has selected books for every level that are connected to this theme. We invite you to join us in reading and engaging in dialogue inspired by Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life by James Kerr. Kerr highlights the foundations and the discipline that have been essential to the All Blacks' success. These elements are reflected clearly in Nashoba Brooks School’s mission-driven commitment to continuous improvement and studentfocused core values of inclusivity, integrity, empathy, resilience, and collaboration that drive everything we do. These are the qualities that we believe are critical to prepare students to learn at the broadest, deepest, and highest levels.

The concept of Legacy feels particularly poignant in this, year 10 of 10, in our strategic directions that fuel our commitment to creating Inspired Education through innovation, inclusivity, and impact. Many examples of the outcomes of this work are highlighted in the pages of this Bulletin.

With our strategic directions as our north star, we have strengthened programming, improved infrastructure to create flexibility, increased transportation, decreased tuition, invested in professional development, added additional sections to accommodate enrollment growth, demonstrated our ability to adapt and thrive during challenging times, celebrated personal excellence, and pursued continuous, challenging, joyful growth.

I invite you all to enjoy reading the features highlighted on the pages to follow, to visit us on campus, and to share your thoughts in our strategic planning process. I am awed and inspired by the critical, interconnected contributions that every member of this community makes to investing in our shared values and in the legacy we create together.

With gratitude,

Danielle Heard Head of School

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CORE VALUES: COMMITMENT TO OUR CORE From the very beginning, Nashoba Brooks School has been unapologetically driven by our mission, focused on our students, and committed to our core. If you asked teachers, students, parents, graduates, or visitors to our School, they would all say some version of the same thing, “you can feel it the moment you step in the door.” This palpable feeling that fuels a sense of curiosity, welcoming, belonging, exploration, confidence, commitment, and joyful learning is the essence of Nashoba Brooks School. And yet, it was not until the launch of our Strategic Directions in 2014 that we specifically articulated and defined the values that are at our core: integrity, collaboration, empathy, inclusivity, and resilience.

“Through the focus on innovation, inclusivity, and impact, the Strategic Directions have been a steady compass as Nashoba Brooks School navigated the challenges and opportunities in delivering inspired education over the last ten years,” current Board Chair Anne Elton remarks. Paired with those Strategic Directions, our Core Values have become a grounding force on our campus. They are posted in every classroom, discussed in new employee orientation, included in every grade level morning meeting, and incorporated into campaign speeches for student leadership positions.

Most importantly, our Core Values provide a framework for learning every day at Nashoba Brooks.

Moving from conceptual essence to concise articulation was not easy: there was no shortage of material and countless examples of what make Nashoba Brooks such a special place to learn and grow. “As we began to discuss the School’s future,” remarks Greg Pappas, a board member at the time, “it became clear that the community was able to clearly articulate our lived experience at

Nashoba Brooks.” The challenge was boiling this down to five words or less. Fortunately, we had the perfect team to accept this mission. Never one to shy away from a meaningful task, Hilary Steinert led this team with unfaltering optimism and determination befitting of a Nashoba Brooks School student.

Hilary and this group of strategic planning steering committee members got to work on finding the precise language to best express the essential underpinnings of a Nashoba Brooks education. “Our group didn't sit down and invent these values. We just spent the time to identify what Nashoba Brooks does and what it has always done. These core values are organic, and they emerged from the foundation of the School, and that’s why they continue to be strong and live on today.” Nearly 10 years since the core values were introduced and almost 95 years since our School was established, these concepts are at the heart of all that we do. “These core values are our bedrock and I look forward to building on these values as we help to envision and advance the next strategic imperatives for Nashoba Brooks,” Greg notes.

As we enter year ten of these Strategic Directions, we are eagerly preparing to see what the next chapter at Nashoba Brooks will bring. “Education is a dynamic endeavor - the landscape is ever evolving, as is the world we are preparing our students for,” Anne Elton reminds us. “The outcome of this year’s strategic directionsetting will recalibrate the tools we rely on to guide our aspirations, propel our efforts in continual improvement, and focus our investment of resources to deliver the finest program available for children in Preschool-Grade 3 and students who identify as girls in Grades 4-8.”

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To guide the creation of our Core Values, Hilary drew on her experience as a Nashoba Brooks parent to Lexie ‘17, Nicholas TG’09, and Max ‘TG10; Vice President and President of the Parents’ Association; Nashoba Brooks Trustee; leadership of the Schools brand identity initiative; and many years as a marketing professional to guide us in boiling down the spirit of Nashoba Brooks into only a few key words. Hilary notes, “I think it’s always been a belief that Nashoba Brooks is the best-kept secret around.

I’ve always felt really passionate about the School and about helping to craft the language with which we talk about it.” By including our Core Values as a critical component of our Strategic Directions, Nashoba Brooks has made an important commitment to making this secret more visible.

Hilary explains that the Nashoba Brooks experience was transformative for all of her children, even at

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such a young age because it was this environment where they developed their confidence, flexed muscles of resiliency, and learned to collaborate with classmates and teachers through consistent practice.

Most notably, Hilary saw her children develop a deep sense of confidence in their ability to self-advocate, ask hard questions, and pursue their curiosities about the world around them.

Hilary remains committed to Nashoba Brooks through service on the Board of Visitors and through philanthropic investment. She finds it fun and meaningful to give back to the place that was critical in her children’s development. Hilary pays it forward to make our School better for the generations to come.

Ms. Russell and Mr. Bryant with a Grade 4 Inventor

INNOVATIONS AT THE INVENTION CONVENTION The annual Invention Convention provides a hands-on opportunity for students to creatively solve a problem from conception to execution across multiple disciplines. It has also remained a highlight of the Grade 4 curriculum for students and educators alike as the program has matured and gained momentum since it began in the 2017-2018 school year. This program purposefully uses an integrated curriculum from a student’s day, including science, transliteracy, humanities, and writers’ workshop. “In our science and technology classes, we researched our topics, planned our ideas, and built our prototypes,” one Grade 4 student explains. “Then, in writers’ workshop, we put our research onto slide decks and even created a pretend business pitch.” Intentionally providing opportunities for integrated curriculum is a key aspect of a Nashoba Brooks education and encourages students to look at one problem or topic from multiple angles.

Last year, Nashoba Brooks participated in Invention Convention Worldwide hosted by the Henry Ford Institute. Invention Convention Worldwide is “a global K-12 invention education program that builds

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“You don’t have to be a genius, or an adult, to have great ideas.”

- Kim Russell students’ confidence in problem identification, problemsolving, and creativity.” This initiative utilizes a sevenstep invention process in order to teach young people the process through which they can solve problems with hands-on, real-world, project-based learning.

A newly structured curriculum, paired with the opportunity for students to advance beyond their classroom presentations, encouraged students to think beyond their Nashoba Brooks School community. “This is real-life experience that they are taking on,” Grade 4 Science Teacher Kim Russell says. “They are learning what the design process requires—the steps involved, the habits you need, and the skills to succeed. This is essentially a project that teaches kids how to be successful in life.” Director of Educational Technology and Innovation Hank Bryant continues, “We are trying to guide the students to see the needs of larger groups of individuals rather than identifying needs for their own singular lives, trying to push into a social justice lens or

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a cultural revolution lens, by asking ‘How can we think through more global, equity-based needs?’” One student remarked that this outlook, focusing on problems other people might face rather than narrowing in to ones in her own life, allowed her to be more creative in her thinking and made it easier to come up with unique ideas as solutions.

The lessons learned, habits built, and skills acquired that this project encapsulates will last for years to come.

“I know that overcoming challenges is a big part of life and this way of thinking will help prepare me for bigger challenges,” one Grade 4 student said. Another student remarked that this experience helped her see that there are problems everywhere and that she should keep her eyes open to ways she might solve them. “I really hope that students can see themselves as innovators and that they build confidence from this,” Ms. Russell concludes.

“They know they can share their ideas with their peers and also with a larger community. We want them to see that with every problem, there is a possible solution that can be created through innovation. And that all of the habits of an innovator can be used to formulate solutions to problems in our community and to make our world a better place. You don’t have to be a genius, or an adult, to have great ideas.”

REVISION TUITION: A BOLD STEP IN A TURBULENT TIME The 2023-2024 academic year marks the third and final year of tuition reduction under Nashoba Brooks School’s bold reVision Tuition initiative. Launched as part of the 2014-2024 Strategic Directions, this three-year plan reduced costs to families by an average of 5% each year and established Nashoba Brooks School as one of the first independent schools in New England to think innovatively about addressing the challenges of the traditional financial model.

We take pride in the steps we have taken to reflect the School's longstanding commitment to creating accessible, sustainable, and inspired education through the lens of innovation, inclusivity, and impact.

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The School’s choice to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community by making the School more accessible for families was not undertaken lightly. In November of 2019, with several years of independent school trend data, local demographic data, market research, and examples of major tuition adjustments from colleges and universities, Nashoba Brooks decided it was time to act. With a strong program, teachers recognized as leaders in the field, strong financial underpinnings including a healthy endowment, very little debt, a strongly mission-aligned community, successful creation of foundational infrastructure to support enrollment growth, and a board committed to innovation, Nashoba Brooks was able to initiate action from a position of strength. After 18 months of intensive analysis and discussion on the part of the board of trustees, reVision Tuition was launched as an investment in the future.

Of course, tuition revenue is just one piece of the independent school financial model puzzle. Like all tuition-driven independent schools, Nashoba Brooks relies on a combination of tuition and non-tuition revenue sources. Nashoba Brooks is fortunate to have a long and strong history of philanthropic investment in our School’s mission, program, teachers, and students.

This support continues to be an essential part of the financial model. In fact, families with currently enrolled students were so supportive of this new initiative that, they have provided more than $150,000 to The Annual 1 0 | NA SHOB A BROOK S S CH OOL BU LLE T I N

Fund specifically inspired by the wish to “make a difference with the difference,” by paying tuition at the rate it would have been without the implementation of the reVision Tution model. Additionally, partnerships, external programs, and facilities rentals provide valued connections with the local community as well as revenue for the School. Finally, the new tuition price point has made it possible for more families to be able to pay the full tuition rate, increasing the number of families who attend Nashoba Brooks School and ultimately, increasing the total number of enrolled students in both FY23 and FY24. The combination of resetting tuition, expanding non-tuition revenue sources, and increasing enrollment allows the School to keep tuition costs more in line with families’ resources and make the overall financial model more sustainable for future generations.

And, we know that value is about more than just cost.

Nashoba Brooks is also dedicated to investing wisely in sustainable infrastructure that supports and reflects the strength of our program as well as building and sustaining healthy sources of non-tuition revenue including co-curricular programs, partnerships, campus rentals, and philanthropy. Our Strategic Directions have guided our investments in creating Inspired Education through innovation, inclusivity, and impact. Through support for annual giving and The Campaign for Our Future, Nashoba Brooks has increased transportation, enhanced student programming, added new flex

classrooms, opened the Shilling STEAM Lab, reimagined the Denault Library Courtyard, and built the award winning Sureau Family Discovery Barn. Investments in employee compensation and professional development have supported individual and shared trainings in interdisciplinary curriculum development, reading, math, digital citizenship, research, social emotional learning, and more. Innovative partnerships have enabled Nashoba Brooks to increase access to services on campus including individualized speech and language support and occupational therapy.

This focus allowed us to increase value while reducing costs. Board Treasurer Kirsten Kester explains, “What set our plan apart from others was the level and depth of our commitment. This was not just a one-time adjustment, but a multi-year plan, and a larger strategic decision to execute our vision for our community. This was a choice to serve our community in the best way possible so that we could get the most out of our program and live our vision to the fullest.” Following three years of reVision Tuition, the average tuition for our upcoming 2023-2024 school year is approximately $9,500 less than it would have been if the School continued typical annual tuition

increases of approximately 3.5%, and roughly $10,000 less than other independent schools in the region. This new, lower tuition rate, combined with our ongoing commitment to financial assistance and the launch of the Grade 4 STEAM Scholarship in 2022, allows more families to envision themselves as a part of the Nashoba Brooks community.

ReVision Tuition is an investment in the overall strength Nashoba Brooks as well as the strength of our financial model. Head of School Danielle Heard explains, “As a school committed to providing excellent education, it is imperative that we maintain a diversity of perspectives and experiences within our community. When tuition growth consistently outpaces income growth, the pool of students and families who are able to access and afford a Nashoba Brooks School education becomes narrow in scope.” This structure broadens our reach, deepens the strength of our pool of applicants, and provides diversity of perspective that is essential to delivering excellence through inspired education.

Kindergarten students doing an apple printing activity last fall FALL 2023 | 11

LIFELONG LEARNING: NASHOBA EDUCATORS IN SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP Modeling continuous learning has always been an essential commitment in our mission. One way the School provides opportunities for this to take place is through our access to professional development opportunities such as the Grubb mini-sabbatical and the Employee Scholarship programs. This year, Drama Teacher Sherie Ouellet received the Grubb mini-sabbatical to support her summer studies of Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London, while Middle School Science Teacher Susan Lewis received the Employee Scholarship to study general and microscopic photography.

At the Globe Theater, the modern home of Shakespeare, Ms. Ouellet participated in the Teaching Shakespeare in Performance program. Entirely run by the teaching artists and performers, this experience not only fed her passion for teaching, but also directly enhances the curriculum she teaches. “I feel the best art educators embrace their own interest in creating and expressing their craft,” Ms. Ouellet says, “and, in doing so, it creates a domino effect in their classroom.” While attending this program, the Globe produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the same text which our Grade 6 students focus on at Nashoba Brooks.

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Back home, Ms. Lewis reminds us that unknown knowledge is all around if we take the time to look.

Focusing on developing her skills as a photographer, Ms. Lewis created her own course of study, utilizing online resources as well as in-person classes. These included an online course hosted by Michigan State University, a Masterclass program, a workshop with noted wildlife photographer Melissa Groo, along with several others.

Ms. Lewis hopes to create new avenues for the School such as incorporating a microscopic pond study into the science curriculum or creating an extracurricular club for birding and nature photography.

of our community. Year after year, these programs have allowed our educators to access new techniques, cuttingedge technologies, and professional connections that otherwise may not have had access to. These programs are written into the Nashoba Brooks budget each summer—funded through gifts to the Annual Fund and a generous endowed gift from the estate of Elizabeth Grubb, mother of Amanda Grubb-Krystofiak, Nashoba Country Day School '65—to encourage our teaching professionals to remain curious about their curriculum and inspired by their passions. We look forward to hearing from Ms. Ouellet and Ms. Lewis about their experiences and growth.

Both of these initiatives are part of Nashoba Brooks’s longstanding commitment to investing in our teachers and would not be possible without the ongoing support

Opposite: Ms. Ouellet at Shakespeare's Globe Above: Ms. Lewis' photo of Northern Gannetts FALL 2023 | 13

“Leadership is not a position to earn, but an inherent power to claim … It’s not the privilege of a few, but the right and responsibility of all.”

–- Abby Wambach, Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game

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ATHLETICS During each Nashoba Brooks School athletics season, girls dominate the fields. Every position on every team, every team captain, and the focus of every cheering fan is an athlete who is empowered to see herself as a bold leader, a resilient teammate, and a compassionate opponent. Membership on one of our athletic teams allows these young women to acquire, refine, and demonstrate leadership skills in a different area of their school experience.

With these current opportunities for our students, we are reminded that it was only 50 years ago that Title IX of the Educational Amendments was passed (most commonly known as simply, Title IX). This act of the federal government prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program and was followed by a considerable increase in the number of female students participating in organized sports. Prior to this statute, only 1 in 27 girls played sports. Now, nationally, 2 out of every 5 young women play an organized sport.

But at Nashoba Brooks, we are proud to say that 2 out of every 3 students participate on one of our teams.

“Whether a girl plays for fun or is driven to compete at the highest level, knowing that female athletes are finally being seen and valued by society has tremendous power and is inspiring for all,” Athletic Director Liz Conant remarks, citing professional accomplishments such as the US Women’s Soccer team’s recent win for equal pay with the Men’s team; the financial growth for the WNBA, NWSL, women’s tennis, and golf; and more for broadcast rights which sends a message to society that women’s sports are worth watching. “Representation matters,” Coach Conant reminds us, “and it is important that our girls can turn on the TV and see someone who looks like them playing their sport. Without the landmark ruling for Title IX, I firmly believe that far fewer of our students would benefit from the teamwork, leadership skills, and physical abilities that participating in school sports provides.”

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Varsity Field Hockey “The culture of the team really revolved around spirit, positive energy, and new experiences,” Coach McGuin says of the 2022 varsity field hockey team, “Our field hockey team prides itself on accountability and responsibility, and I think both of those characteristics create leadership within the group.” That spirit of resilience and drive to continue leading, and learning could be seen in full force as their 5-5 record concluded with a 4-game winning streak to close out the season.

While their strong finish to a hard-fought season is a clear indication that these players were determined to continue improving, it was the off-field encouragement and responsibility that provided the measure of a true winning season. Whether illustrated by team captains, Felicia C. and Emily C., holding their teammates to high standards of sportsmanship, or junior varsity players stepping up as subs in varsity games, or putting new skills to the test during high-stakes competitions, the varsity field hockey team demonstrated leadership at every level.

Even the fans got into the spirit of trying something new, as nearly 30 supporters showed up for the annual "players vs. parents" game. Decked out in the feather boas and cowgirl hats that their daughters so often wore before games, these adults demonstrated not only their commitment to their children but also to Nashoba Brooks' spirit and community.

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Junior Varsity Field Hockey Since the start of the 2022 junior varsity field hockey season marked the first time that many players had picked up a stick, it was important for athletes to learn the basics of the game. The team found their way to a 2-2-1 record by watching films of college field hockey games, by gaining experience in every position on the field, and bringing a willingness to learn new skills to each practice.

“One of the things we focused on was not being an expert in your position, but being able to play any position on the field; we wanted players to know every role and what it feels like to stand in that spot,” Coach Leahy noted. This broad knowledge of the game helped players recognize their capabilities and anticipate the players around them.

“When you are playing offense, you need to know how far up to come but also when to stop and let the defense take over. Or if a player was called up for a varsity game, they needed to know whatever position needed to be filled.”

The season of multi-faceted skill-building culminated during the final game, where all players demonstrated their leadership skills and their knowledge of the game by seamlessly communicating with each other on the field, telling others where they were, where the play was, and letting others know if they needed help or if they could offer help.

The junior varsity team ended that game the way they had each one prior: by running over to their goalie and celebrating as a whole team.

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Cross Country The 2022 Nashoba Brooks cross-country team was small but mighty. With only three runners, there may not have been a deep roster of runners, but there was a great opportunity to develop strong relationships as a team, advance ambitious personal goals, and develop a strong sense of pride in themselves. Coach Lucy Douglass noted, "even if the other team had 20 girls, our Nashoba Brooks team never got intimidated and always showed up ready to run their hardest.”

Team captains, Katie M. and Keira M., led with focus, dedication, and a positive attitude demonstrated through support for teammates, pep talks, and planning emails despite only having one other classmate on the roster.

While cross country is not necessarily considered a team sport, with each participant running individually, this small team created a culture where they each actively supported and encouraged the athlete running next to them. This collaborative spirit is one element that Coach Douglass credits when relaying that each team member shaved at least thirty seconds off of their personal records by the end of the season. In fact, Hazel M., the youngest member of the team, not only improved her time by approximately a minute and a half but also gained the strength to run longer distances with greater ease.

While faster paces and longer runs can benefit a team’s overall score, true success happens when students push themselves and their teammates beyond what they previously thought was possible, which these three Nashoba Brooks runners accomplished in strides.

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Soccer With 21 players on the roster, the soccer program combined to form one team that competed at the varsity level.

This year, 40% of the Nashoba Brooks soccer team were Grade 6 students, including several who hadn't played competitive soccer before. With this in mind, Coach Conant and Coach Bryant needed to cover the foundational skills and strategies of the game so everyone would have the basics they needed in order to compete. However, the team also boasted several experienced soccer players as well, including many of the eighth graders on the roster.

Therefore, each practice was a wide-ranging soccer lesson, covering the basics while also challenging the more experienced players.

“Just like in the classroom, you have to scaffold a season and what you teach them,” Coach Conant explains. “At the beginning of the season, we had a lot of teaching to do around the basic soccer skills: how to kick, how to pass, how to have accuracy. But in addition, we needed to plan for restarts and set pieces, more advanced topics." Coach Bryant concurred, stating that “at the beginning of the season, we knew there would be a lot to learn, so we set the goal of ‘improvement.’ We improved from the previous season, but also from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.”

With this focus in mind, the team’s 0-7-3 final record feels like it doesn’t tell the entire story. “There were so many small victories along the way and so many success stories this year,” noted Coach Conant. The team was exuberant when tying an opponent 1-1, after losing to that same team by a large margin the previous year. The offensive opportunities were another source of excitement, even though the squad didn’t score many goals this season, the ones that did find the back of the net were truly impressive. The hard work and effort of the entire defensive unit was another impressive storyline for the season. The defense was anchored by our goalie’s skill and fearlessness, as she recorded 20-25 saves a game. Overall, the soccer team came together as a group and showed massive improvement.

While we will miss our nine graduating eighth graders, we truly believe that the future of the soccer program is bright.

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Junior Varsity Basketball At the beginning of the Nashoba Brooks junior varsity basketball season, only one out of the eight players on the roster had ever played competitively before. What they lacked in experience, they made up for in an eagerness to compete and learn. As the season progressed, this team was able to grow from learning rules and strategies to claiming a winning 5-3 record.

Coach Conant notes that this evolution as a team was due in part to the spirit brought by team captains B. Burke and A. Porter. “They really stepped into their leadership roles and set a competitive, yet supportive, tone for the JV team” she notes, reflecting on the power that a positive mental attitude can provide, especially for a young team who are new to the game.

“There was so much growth to be proud of,” Coach Conant adds excitedly. “Our leading scorer had a seasonhigh 12-point game. Another player developed a ‘hot hand’ during one game and our collective team fed into her momentum. There were athletes who routinely scored points right when we really needed them, and others who reliably smothered opponents with defensive pressure.” When looking back on the season, starting at the first practice when many players had limited experience with the sport and spanning to their final hard-fought games, Coach Conant expresses her deep belief that “these athletes all have a very bright future.”

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Varsity Basketball The Bears varsity basketball team finished their season with 6 wins and 4 losses, along the way building a strong community and inspiring future basketball players here at Nashoba Brooks. Our team was led by tri-captains K. Johnston, S. Johnston, and R. MacClary, all of whom brought a deep knowledge of the sport to our program. These leaders joined a mostly Grade 8 squad who embodied our School values of integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, empathy, and resilience. We also had several Grade 6 players who gained valuable experience and will lead our team next year with the focus and joyful play they learned this season.

“The most impressive thing about this team was their ability to lock in and control the energy of the game,” noted Coach Flaherty. While this team played close games against all teams we competed against this season, they showed depth and resilience when the score was not in their favor. “There were moments when we were down, but you could never count this team out. They were a threat to score and all-in on defense whether they were up by 15 or down by 10,” continued Flaherty. “It was that tenacity and self-respect of each player that built our team culture. For these athletes, it was about more than just the score. It was about building the program and honoring the values of our School while in the uniform.”

While our program will dearly miss our graduated Grade 8 players, we cannot wait to hear about their continuing athletics journeys. They leave the program in great hands with our returning players, and memories of an awesome season that will stay with our whole community.

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Lacrosse In spring 2023, the lacrosse team was coached by Liz Conant and Megan McGuin and played a combined varsity and junior varsity schedule. The squad finished the season with an even record of 6 wins and 6 losses. The team of nineteen had one returning player from the previous year’s varsity and only eight players who joined with any game experience. The remaining ten players were new to the sport of lacrosse and eagerly learned the rules and the strategies as the season progressed. With fifteen players returning, the future of the lacrosse program looks bright!

Junior Varsity Tennis Junior varsity Tennis was led by coach Lucy Douglass and boasted eight players total. The team was relatively inexperienced but willing to learn and showed great resilience in their matches. As the spring wore on, matches were much more even and the squad finished with several wins. Coach Douglass is looking forward to having them all return to the courts next year and continue to develop their tennis skills!

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Track & Field Track & Field was led by head coach Patrick Sedney and assisted by Amy Leahy and Lyndsay Francisco. According to the coaches, spring 2023 was an amazing season with many tremendous individual and team accomplishments.

The overall win-loss record stood at 7-5-1, along with strong performances at the Hillside Jamboree and Fenn Relays. Some team highlights included coming within a few points of upsetting perennial powerhouse Fay, and after losing to Carroll early in the season, coming back and defeating them soundly in our second contest. Over the course of the season we saw great growth made by all of the athletes with everyone having at least one personal record and 43 personal records in total set for the team.

Varsity Tennis Varsity tennis was led by head coach Carol Timm and assistant coach Irene Yukash. The roster was a mix of players in Grades 6 through 8. The eighth graders provided match experience and leadership. The two sixth graders on the roster played number one and two singles all season, playing well despite competing against opponents often two or three years older. The tennis program has grown significantly over the past two years and the future is wide open.

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Cambridge Camping Association on Campus!

Nashoba Brooks was proud to host Cambridge Camping Association on our campus for six weeks of summer camp fun! This partnership gave 175 children from urban and under-resourced circumstances access to our entire 30-acre campus where they could stretch beyond their usual boundaries and develop their leadership potential. “Programs centered in children’s out-of-school time are such awesome and unique opportunities for growth and connection,” notes Sean Effel, the program’s Co-Executive Director. With access to the classrooms, playgrounds, and natural settings at Nashoba Brooks, campers were able to partake in art projects, physicalmovement programs, science activities, and more! One 24 | NA SHOB A BROOK S S CH OOL BU LLE T I N

highlight included an orienteering program in partnership with Navigation Games. Campers were challenged to navigate a custom course created on campus using a compass and a map to find their way. “Not all families can access the benefits of a day camp,” Mr. Effel reminds us, “and it makes us so grateful to have Nashoba Brooks School as a partner in providing these experiences.”

We are so pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Cambridge Camping Association and Navigation Games this summer, two organizations that share our commitment to creating inclusive and inspiring communities for children to learn and lead.

Concord Bookshop Day

Fall Weekend

COMMUNITY NEWS 2022 CONCORD BOOKSHOP DAY: A SMASHING SUCCESS Last year’s Concord Bookshop Day was one for the records! The rainy weather did not discourage our Nashoba Brooks community from coming out strong to support our school and a beloved local business. Thank you to Rebecca Pearson Lo who chaired the event and all of the parent volunteers who coordinated a wonderfully successful event.

We are extremely excited to announce that this year’s event raised nearly $1,000 for the School, and resulted in 83 books being purchased for classroom libraries (a 50% increase from the last time this event was hosted)!

These stories will not only make their way onto teachers’ bookshelves, but we know they will make their way into the hearts and minds of our students for years to come.

2023 Concord Bookshop Day will be held on October 28.

FAMILY FUN AT FALL WEEKEND! The Nashoba Brooks School campus was bursting with excitement Friday, November 4, through Sunday, November 6, as we celebrated our annual Fall Weekend.

The energy began on Friday with Spirit Day. The halls were graced by the likes of Woody from Toy Story and Lin-Manuel Miranda playing Alexander Hamilton when students and staff dressed as their favorite movie characters in anticipation of a community-wide Family Movie Night that evening. When dusk arrived, blankets

and chairs covered the Lower School recess field as families settled in for a screening of The Bad Guys.

On Saturday, an estimated 300 community members came out for an afternoon of vintage-inspired carnival games, treats, face painting, and connection at the Harvest Festival.

We were delighted to resume this annual gathering for our community! The excitement of the day was concluded with the highly-anticipated Grade 8 vs. employees flag football game. Coached by P.E. Teacher Lucy Douglass, the Grade 8 players fought fiercely against their teachers and mentors, with interceptions on both sides and several scoring drives.

Finally, the busy weekend concluded on Sunday morning with a successful Open House. Nearly 35 prospective families spoke with student ambassadors, teachers, and administrators about the many unique aspects of the Nashoba Brooks experience that make our community special. Guests were delighted by a visit from Brooks Bear and the melodic tunes of our World Music Ensemble.

In addition to creating a welcoming environment for our current and potential community, this weekend also provided the opportunity for us to make an impact on our broader community. Spearheaded by our Parents’ Association, community members filled the Nashoba Brooks van with a whopping 580 lbs. of donations for Open Table, an organization whose mission is to end hunger in our local community and provide healthy meals in ways that preserve the dignity and diversity of those served.

This special weekend would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of our entire community. Our deepest thanks go out to the Parents’ Association, all of the dedicated volunteers, and everyone who showed their support for Nashoba Brooks School.

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Belt it Out

A Hobby Fair display

GRADE 1 BELTS IT OUT!

installed, students were encouraged to engage with several of their classmates’ projects and reshare the sentences with conjugated third-person verbs.

This winter our community watched first graders ‘Belt It Out’!

This project combined social studies, art, technology, performance skills, and other areas to culminate in a memorable experience. Students created belts out of duct tape and attached hand-drawn items depicting important objects in their lives. Then, students showed off their creations during a fashion show in front of their classmates and our community members before sharing stories about their objects with the camera.

HANDS-ON SPANISH In the Lower School lobby, Preschool scholars built “Mi Comunidad” (My Community). Using small paperbags decorated with different shapes, each student created a different building they might add to this neighborhood.

Each of these buildings then received a QR code that, when scanned, plays a pre-recorded message about the different helper who works in that building. For example, if you were to scan “la escuela” (the school) you would hear a voice explain that “la maestra” (the teacher) works in that building.

Grade 4 student’s “Todo Sobre Mi” (All About Me) display encourages students to look inside themselves. This lesson encouraged students to share the spoken Spanish language by recording 6-7 first-person sentences and pair that audio clip to a corresponding QR code. Then, using the STEAM Lab’s laser printer, that QR code was etched into an acrylic panel along with an image of the student. This pairing allowed anyone who interacted with the display to see the student they were learning about and then hear a little about that student in their own words. For an added exercise once the full display was 26 | NA SHOB A BROOK S S CH OOL BU LLE T I N

Both of these projects were beautiful displays of student work, but also of the merging of technology and Spanish.

HOBBY FAIR/VARIETY SHOW After a few years of being hosted online, and a one-day delay due to snow, March 1 marked a triumphant return of the Nahsoba Brooks Hobby Fair and Variety Show. Students from from Kindergarten to Grade 8 prepared presentations highlighting their unique interests. There were exhibits showcasing students abilities to play drums, to hula hoop, to sing, to do karate, and so so much more gracing our stage! In the Wallace Dining Commons, students and educators alike set up displays explaining their hobbies such as creating replicas of historically accurate clothing, drawing different animals, or participating in competitive gymnastics. We are so proud of all of our extraordinary students who performed and presented.

Community hero portraits

C-SPAN awards presentation

GRADE 3 COMMUNITY HERO PROJECTS

GRADE 8 C-SPAN STUDENTCAM WINNERS

After weeks of hard work, Grade 3 students had the opportunity to present their Community Hero projects to their families and their interview subjects. Students were paired with employees around the School with whom they may not normally interact and tasked with learning all about these familiar faces. First, each student conducted and recorded an interview with their hero to learn about their role in the school and a little about them as an individual. Then, these notes were compiled into an essay to share their findings with the rest of the community.

In the art studio students crafted paper murals of their subjects to help others associate the stories with the right faces.

Last winter in Social Studies, Grade 8 students worked in collaborative groups to complete their submissions to the C-SPAN StudentCam national video documentary competition. StudentCam is an annual competition that encourages students to research and engage with issues that affect local and broader communities across the nation. This year’s competition theme was: “If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?”

This lesson allowed students to practice their interviewing, writing, and artistic skills and helped them create close relationships with members of the Nashoba Brooks community. In true Nashoba Brooks fashion, this integrated unit worked across the subjects of art, technology, pubic speaking, and writing for a memorable unit.

This project aligns well with our Core Values. Students must demonstrate resilience through completing in-depth research and filmmaking, collaboration through group work, and empathy as they expand their knowledge to incorporate diverse viewpoints and opinions aside from their own. We are incredibly proud of our entire Grade 8 class for their work throughout this process!

Two groups from Nashoba Brooks School received national recognition. Congratulations to Katie M. and Keira M. for receiving Honorable Mention with “The Social Overload,” and to Third Prize winners Felicia C., Coco S., and Ellie E. for their film “Not Me.” Both documentaries can be viewed on the C-SPAN website. Felicia, Ellie, and Coco were featured on GBH news, and a representative from C-SPAN visited campus to present both groups with their awards!

Student and hero pairings at the Grade 3 SoU FALL 2023 | 27

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Class

NOTES

ALEXANDRA DEEGAN ’77 moved to Germany after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a German major in 1985. While there, she witnessed the reunification of East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989.

Since returning to the United States in 1998, she found her calling at Ravensburger Toy Company as Director of Product Development and has mentored over 65 German interns at the company. She is grateful for all the wonderful teachers who made such an impactful difference in her life and gave her the courage to persevere!

Baby Ellie

Rachel Frenkil with Nashoba Brooks' classmates at her wedding

Top row: Kate (Howerton) Cherewatti, Rachel Frenkil, Marianna (Zak) Hill. Bottom row: Sarah Armitage, Elisabeth Denison, Nina Denison

RACHEL FRENKIL ’04 celebrated her marriage to Sam Belcher in Lenox, MA in June 2022. Best friends MARIANNA (ZAK) HILL ’04, SARAH ARMITAGE ’04, ELISABETH DENISON ’04, and KATE (HOWERTON) CHEREWATTI ’04 were her bridesmaids.

ELISABETH DENISON ‘04 and her husband, Faiz Bhanji, celebrated their marriage in the Berkshires in August 2022. In attendance were fellow classmates SARAH ARMITAGE ‘04, KATE (HOWERTON) CHEREWATTI ‘04, RACHEL FRENKIL ‘04, AND MARIANNA (ZAK) HILL ‘04, and Elisabeth’s sister, NINA DENISON ‘06.

KATE HOWERTON ’04 and her husband, Jack, welcomed their daughter, Ellie, on September 23, 2022. She is already enjoying her Nashoba Brooks logowear!

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Sara and Nina

NINA DENISON ‘06 and SARA GILLIS ‘06 got together last spring to celebrate Nina’s upcoming wedding. While celebrating, the pair decided it was a fitting time to finally open their time capsules created as second graders in Mr. Shaneyfelt’s class!

EMMA SATTERTHWAITE MURESIANU ‘09 visited Nashoba Brooks Grade 7 students in October 2022 to discuss her work as a resident at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as she pursues her goal of becoming a pediatrician. Emma shared about her path to study medicine, which began as a Nashoba Brooks student. Emma is focusing on helping young people advocate for themselves in the healthcare environment.

Emma Satterthwaite Muresianu and Saejal Chatter

SAEJAL CHATTER ’09 and EMMA SATTERTHWAITE MURESIANU ’09 reconnected in Cambridge in October 2022 and spent time reminiscing about their years at Nashoba Brooks.

Saejal and Emma met in fourth grade and have been best friends ever since–marking 18 years of friendship!

SOPHIE ROBART ‘09 moved to NYC in September 2020 when she began her job in the Trial Division of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Since she began, Sophie has become a felony Sex Crimes Assistant, meaning she picks up prearrest investigations and new arrests for sex-related offenses. Additionally, in August 2022, Sophie was appointed the Attorney-in-Charge of the Animal Cruelty Unit, where she supervises the prosecution of all misdemeanor and felony animal cruelty cases in Manhattan by approximately 40 self-selecting attorneys. Sophie works very closely with outside organizations and attends conferences and workshops surrounding animal law as well as the possible connections between cruelty to animals and crimes against humans. Although exceptionally busy and everyday bringing something different, Sophie loves the work she does.

PETER BLAU TG’10 graduated with honors from Miami University of Ohio where he earned his B.S. from the Farmer School of Business. He majored in

data analytics and minored in Sports Management.

Peter completed his fourth year as manager of the University’s basketball team and will continue pursuing his interest in sports and data as a fellow at the Fenn School working in the Athletic and Math Departments.

ANDREW BLAU TG’14 graduated with honors from Concord-Carlisle High School in June 2022.

During his time at CCHS, Andrew played on the varsity lacrosse team for three years and plans to play club lacrosse at Providence College this year.

MAGGIE VAN DYNE ’15 was accepted into Merrimack College's Master of Education Program, specifically into their K-8 Teacher Education Fellowship! For her Fellowship, Maggie has been placed at the Bancroft Elementary School in Andover, MA, and will begin there full-time as a Student Teacher at the end of August 2023. She will be working with students in their Special Education program and plans to receive her Master's in Teacher Education with a concentration in Moderate Disabilities K-8 in May 2024.

Amaya Benzaquin-Magill (bottom right, on drums)

AMAYA BENZAQUIN-MAGILL ‘17 performed with her band, The Kitchen, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in February 2023. Amaya also spent her summer as an intern at Nashoba Brooks, helping to coordinate our Summer Concert Series!

COURTNEY PAPPAS ‘17 completed her second year as an architecture student at the University of Miami and is loving it so far. She specifically enjoys the project-based nature of the program and how it allows her to be creative. This past summer, Courtney had a position as an intern for Albert, Righter & Tittmann (ART) Architects in Boston and was happy to spend some time closer to home.

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ELLIE BARTON ‘18 is currently at Lafayette College playing NCAA Division 1 Field Hockey and majoring in Psychology.

SOPHIA KNOBLOCK ‘18 committed to play NCAA Division 1 Women’s Lacrosse at Butler University, enrolling in the pharmacy doctoral track so she can earn her Ph.D. in 6 years!

MARNIE TODD ‘19 graduated from Deerfield Academy last spring. She has committed to play NCAA Division 3 Women’s Lacrosse at Dickinson College next year.

Lindsey Piper and Elise Sohn at a CCHS Field Hockey game

Addison Boger, Coach MCGuin, and Lilly Woodman Elise Sohn

ELISE SOHN ‘20 is a rising 12th grader at Concord-Carlisle High School and has verbally committed to Babson College to play field hockey for the class of 2028. In her senior year at CCHS, Elise will be a captain for the varsity field hockey team. In addition to her field hockey accomplishments, Elise was awarded the Concord Carlisle Community Chest’s 11th Grade Award, given by the Chest to students who have demonstrated initiative and commitment to a volunteer project within the area of human services.

Elise was presented with the award for her work with her ongoing charity, Grandletters.

‘22. Junior varsity members Lilly and Addison took the time to connect with and join the Nashoba Brooks team in cheering on the varsity players.

LINDSEY PIPER ‘19 graduated from ConcordCarlisle High School last spring and will join the Hamilton College field hockey roster this fall.

Last fall, Nashoba Brooks field hockey team took a trip to watch Concord-Carlisle High School take on Lincoln-Sudbury. While there, Coach Megan McGuin had an opportunity to reconnect with alumni LINDSEY PIPER ‘19, ELISE SOHN ‘20, ADDISON BOGER ‘20, and LILLY WOODMAN 32 | NA SHOB A BROOK S S CH OOL BU LLE T I N

Oliver playing defense for his hockey team

OLIVER WELLS TG’22 wrapped up 4th grade at the Mark Day School in California. He had a fantastic year featuring a class trip to Coloma, CA where he lived the life as a miner and may have even found a

TG’22 alumni for their own ice cream social after the first Friday of classes. It was wonderful to see this awesome class reconnect and excitedly reflect on the first couple days of their Grade 4 experiences. Many parents, new and old, were also able to stay and chat while students made great use of our Middle School Playground!

Grace with her horse, Sully, showing with the Dana Hall Equestrian team

few specks of gold! Oliver joined the 4th grade rock band and looks forward to many more jam sessions with his band, The Gremlins. Rounding out a wonderful year, Oliver’s club hockey team, the San Francisco Sabercats, won the NorCal Championships!

GRACE DESROCHERS ‘22 traveled to North Carolina with her Dana Hall teammates where they showed horses for two weeks at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. The team had a successful showing with every rider getting top of the ribbons!

Mae Rusconi '19, Maritere Mix, and Elizabeth Wolfram '19

CLASSES OF 2018-2022 YOUNG ALUMNI REUNION We welcomed over 30 young alumni back to campus for an evening of fun in November.

Representatives from the classes of 2018 through 2022 came together to reminisce and reconnect with their former classmates and teachers.

MARIEL STUTZ ‘22 finished her freshman year at Concord Academy. She made the varsity softball team last spring and played shortstop, outfield, and catcher. Mariel batted almost .500 for the team!

Third Grade Classes of 2019-2022 Young Alumni Reunion

TG’22 and Grade 4

TG’22 AND GRADE 4 ICE CREAM SOCIAL We joined together last year’s fourth graders and

THIRD GRADE CLASSES OF 2019-2022 YOUNG ALUMNI REUNION We were thrilled to see more than 60 attendees at our Grade 3 Classes of 2019-2022 Reunion! This group consisted of our Grade 3 graduates as well as our Grade 4-6 students. We played games in our gym spaces and had a delicious pizza dinner before heading into Tucker Auditorium to watch the Grades 3/7 Musical production of Honk! Jr.

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Attendees of the New York City Young Alumni Reunion

NEW YORK CITY ALUMNI REUNION Members of the Advancement Team had the opportunity to gather with some of our New York based alumni in February. A throwback slideshow inspired the alums to reflect back on their time as Nashoba Brooks students and what it meant to them. We took time to share about the value of Nashoba Brooks as we interpret it, which brought up conversations around our incredible community, talented teachers, and lasting friendships. Any opportunity to spend time with our alumni tends to be quite inspiring—and this trip was certainly no exception!

CAREY ‘19, HADLEY CAREY ‘20, MARNIE TODD ‘19, and HAZEL PATTON ‘22 at Deerfield Academy. February brought the opportunity to visit some of our St. Mark’s alumni, DIVI BHAIREDDY ‘21, DIYA BHAIREDDY ‘21, and MIA SOLOMON ‘21. Most recently, we traveled to Lawrence Academy to connect with CHELSEA FERNANDEZ ‘19, OLIVIA RISTAINO ‘19, SARAH GALLANT ‘20, ANNA GREGORY ‘20, ERIN SHEEHAN ‘20, ALANA GLEICHER ‘21, MOLLY SCHNEIDER ‘21, and HANNAH MOREAU ‘22. These visits provided space to reflect on Nashoba Brooks memories and share about the incredible things our alumni are up to as high school students. From taking on leadership roles to stepping into new extracurriculars and advocating for themselves with teachers and coaches, their stories reflect their willingness to use their voice and the preparedness to succeed wherever they may be. We cannot wait to visit more alumni on their campuses!

Share your news!

L-R: Alana Gleicher '21, Molly Schneider '21, Hannah Moreau '22, Chelsea Fernandez '19, Erin Sheehan '20, Anna Gregory '20, Olivia Ristaino '19, and Sarah Gallant '20.

SECONDARY SCHOOL CAMPUS VISITS Throughout the year, we visited several secondary school campuses to connect with our wonderful alumni. In the fall, we met with LINDSAY 3 4 | NA SHOB A BROOK S S C H OOL BU LLE T I N

Hey, alumni! Please share your news for the Class Notes section of the next issue of the Bulletin. Have you graduated or started a new job? Recently gotten engaged or married?

Have you added to your family? Traveled to exotic places? Made an impact in your local community? Have you gotten together with Nashoba Brooks friends? We want to know.

Drop us a line and be sure to share a photo!

Send your news or update your contact information by emailing alum@nashobabrooks.org.

Alumni

PROFILES SOPHIA KNOBLOCK recently completed her postgraduate year from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after graduating from Deerfield Academy. During her time at Deerfield Academy, Sophia enjoyed learning about classics as well as Ancient Greece—a topic that sparked her interest when she was a student at Nashoba Brooks School. When not working on her academic course load for her eight AP courses, Sophia enjoyed playing on the school's varsity lacrosse team and working in admissions. Sophia says that she enjoys working in admissions because she is able to “make such a big impact on how students and families view the school.” Sophia is looking forward to attending Butler University and playing division one lacrosse with their team. Sophia thanks her time at Nashoba Brooks School for preparing her well for high school and college. She recalls that her time spent at Nashoba working on self advocacy skills, professional language, study skills, and time management have helped her to succeed in high school and she knows it will continue to benefit her as she continues her journey to Butler in the fall.

ALLIE WINSTANLEY recently graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Sociology. During her time at Dartmouth, Allie interned at a venture capital firm called Visible Ventures which was founded by female entrepreneurs looking to invest in other womenrun startups. Allie says that her time at Nashoba Brooks School instilled her desire to support other women whether it be at work or on the soccer field. Allie played on the Dartmouth women's D1 soccer team and was named captain her senior year. She was also named First-Team All-Ivy League, Academic All-Ivy and AllRegion. Allie received the Dartmouth Athletics Kenneth Archibald Prize her senior year as well. When not on the field Allie participated in the Women in Business Club and Real Estate Club on campus. Allie says that “single-sex education in the Middle School at NBS gave me the confidence that I could tackle anything.”

She also thanks the small class sizes that helped her to find her voice at a young age and gave her the confidence to grow and learn. Allie will be continuing her education at Georgetown University where she will complete a one-year master’s degree in integrated marketing communications as well as playing on the women’s soccer team.

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NETWORKING PANEL: MENTORSHIP In early May, Nashoba Brooks had the opportunity to host a virtual panel discussion around the concept of mentorship. Recruiting panelists from our own community, we were able to dig into the relationship between mentor and mentee, how to begin, and how to nurture the relationship throughout one’s career.

The conversation bridged the gap between those just starting out in their careers to those who have served as mentors in multiple capacities.

How do I find a mentor?

Carolyn Brown ‘05: Find mentors in unexpected places (like her parents’ neighbor, Michael Fay).

Carolyn approaches it from the angle of, “You are great at this! I want to learn about how you see the world.”

Be open to new ideas. Take a humble pill! Learn from people younger than you. Go to someone who you admire.

Colby Schofield ‘10: Trial and error. The cold outreach is helpful! Focus on people you have a natural connection with. Relationships can mature over time.

Take a step back, reflect, take time to think. Who are the people I love working with? What can I do to develop relationships with them?

Jason Robart, Trustee Emeritus: Be clear on what you are looking for. Don’t just reaffirm existing perspectives, seek out people who will provide you with a different perspective (outside industry, etc.).

Find someone who will challenge you.

Megan Pasquina ‘00, Current Parent: Look for someone you have shared values with, and a connection with. Feedback will push you when trust 36 | NA SHOB A BROOK S S CH OOL BU LLE T I N

is there. Do the work! Reflect on what you really want from the mentorship and then take action and have faith.

Michael Fay, Current Parent: Take it seriously.

Right now, I am capitalizing on early connections I made years ago. Think about it as “who do I want to emulate?” I still reach out, 20 years later.

Once I have a mentor/mentee, how do I make the relationship work?

CB: Be thoughtful and clear about what you are asking for. Set your mentor up for the win so they know how they can help you. Be clear and direct. When this is in place, your mentor can challenge and champion you.

CS: Be vocal. Be receptive and do the work.

JR: Don’t expect answers, expect a lot of questions. My mentor asked me at an inflection point in my career, “What would a great day at work look like? What types of activities would you be doing?” It really made me reflect and be honest with myself. Your mentor can tell you things about yourself you don’t know.

MP: Mutual understanding. A mentor is not solving your problems. They are helping you develop a framework of goal setting and problem solving. You are still responsible. My first boss said “your job is to make me look good and my job is to make the company look good.” Mutually beneficial alliance.

MF: Take honest feedback and tough love. The relationship can become storied. Be humble.

FUTURE EDUCATOR: MAGGIE VAN DYNE ‘15 THE CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY at Nashoba Brooks is something Maggie Van Dyne ‘15 has returned to many times since she graduated. But it is also something she hopes to replicate and carry on into her own classrooms. Recently finishing her Bachelor of Education at Saint Edwards University in Austin, Texas, Maggie has supplemented her classroom lessons with real-life experiences by acting as a Nashoba Brooks Summer intern for two summers and working as a Grade 6 teaching assistant.

“As someone going into the education field, I think having a foundation of the Nashoba Brooks Core Values plays a huge part in how I teach my students and how I interact with my peers in my classes,” Maggie reflects. Student teaching during the height of the COVID pandemic, Maggie recognized the importance of centering two Core Values, resilience and empathy, in her practice. Encouraging her students to persevere when things got frustrating, viewing hard problems as learning opportunities, and creating a space where students could find connections and support, were essential to building connections with her students and colleagues.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Maggie credits Nashoba Brooks for helping her find her passion in the theater and arts. According to family lore, after Maggie’s first play rehearsal in Grade 4 she turned to her mother and announced, “I’m gonna need more stage time.” This inclusion of the arts in her regular

school day was something Maggie had not experienced in her former schools where these opportunities were only available to preregistered students after school.

“I think Nashoba Brooks really met me right where I was and pushed me to succeed,” Maggie reflects. “It was a great, caring community during my adolescent years that let me explore my character and my own intelligence. It also honored my failures and helped me grow through them,” she notes. This safe environment is what Maggie attributes with her ability to remain a lifelong learner. The ability to trust her instincts, recognize any shortcomings, and strive for daily improvement has shaped her into someone who routinely analyzes her practice, her lessons, and her work to identify places where she can continue to grow.

“Resilience, empathy, inclusivity…” Maggie recites the Core Values from memory, “before Nashoba Brooks, I had those inside me, but I didn't have the confidence to express them. I don’t think I would have believed I was able to succeed at a boarding school or move halfway across the country for college if I hadn’t started there.” Maggie will continue to bring this confidence to her next adventure, a Master's program at Merrimack College. “Beyond my college life, I know I will teach my students about these Core Values, but also continue to work on them myself.”

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OUR SUMMER READING LIST:

MAKING OUR VALUES VISIBLE One way that we are “Making our Values Visible” at Nashoba Brooks School is through the books in our classrooms, our library, and our reading lists. This year’s summer reading selections highlighted the importance of our Core Values in many different, age-appropriate, ways. In Snail Crossing, Grade 1 students will see how the snail is empathetic and inclusive with new friends. By reading Be A Good Ancestor, Grade 3 students will need to consider the importance of collaboration when thinking about how our actions will impact future generations. Grade 6 students will follow Marlene on her journey through Frizzy and thoughtfully consider what it means to be resilient. And Grade 8 students will tackle complex issues of integrity as they read We Are Not Free, a work of historical fiction about the mass incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. These works are carefully selected through collaborative discussions between our school librarians and classroom teachers and will provide ample opportunities for students to discuss their ideas about, interpretations of, and reactions to the stories. We believe that providing students with these diverse titles will provide them with examples of “Making Our Values Visible” in a way that will resonate with them throughout the entire school year.

Preschool: Petra During our preschool years, it is important to learn to be flexible. It helps children become creative problem solvers by looking for “out of the box” solutions in difficult situations and enables them to view challenges – big and small – as opportunities to learn and grow. We are very happy to add Petra to our book collection. Petra is a rock that makes the best of any situation.

Kindergarten: Very Good Hats Anything can be a hat! This book is a celebration of creativity, inclusivity and being yourself. As our children learn and develop, we encourage them to embrace these values and more each day.

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and growth is at the core of our curriculum. It is so exciting to see kindergarteners become experts in using their imaginations and expressing who they are!

Grade 1: Snail Crossing This book follows the main character through a short journey as he demonstrates some of core values that guide us here at Nashoba Brooks. Along his journey, the snail is empathetic and inclusive with new friends and shows resilience as he overcomes obstacles to reach his goal.

Grade 2: Nigel and the Moon This picture book explores the topics of insecurity and celebrating your family. This story reinforces the idea that everyone

is unique in their own way and our differences should be celebrated. Nigel and the Moon fits perfectly into our fall social studies unit on Friendship as Kindness, as the characters in this book practice empathy and inclusivity.

Grade 3: Be a Good Ancestor Addressing environmental issues, animal welfare, self-esteem and selfrespect, and the importance of community, students will learn the universal message that being a good ancestor to the world around you is important. We are excited to add this book to our collection as part of our Native People’s study. This fall Grade 3 students will engage in important conversations about how our actions can affect future generations.

Grade 4: Swim Team This graphic novel addresses topics such as overcoming self doubt, taking healthy risks, changing friendships, classism, and systemic racism. This enjoyable, heartfelt, and amusing story will engage students as they take the plunge into the middle school at Nashoba Brooks.

Grade 5: Wildoak Wildoak is a beautifully written story about a girl trying to save a snow leopard and an ancient forest. Along the way, this resilient main character, Maggie, finds her voice and learns how to use it for the good of her community. Fifth graders will learn from Maggie, as we, too, are learning to find our voice and to impact our community in positive ways.

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Grade 6: Frizzy This graphic novel explores family, identity, and the complicated idea of social constructs like beauty. It tells the story of Marlene, a young Dominican-American girl who is seeking to embrace her natural hair--often against the wishes of some important people in her life. Frizzy thoughtfully considers the Grade 6 curriculum's essential questions: What does it take to be resilient? What is the meaning of family?

Grade 7: Unsettled A middle grade novel in verse, Unsettled tackles contemporary topics (Islamophobia, immigration) and focuses on themes of standing up to injustice and fitting in, as the young protagonist attempts to adjust to her new surroundings.

When her family moves from Pakistan to Peachtree City, all Nurah wants is to blend in, yet she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah’s accent, floral-print kurtas, and tea-colored skin make her feel excluded, until she meets Stahr at swimming tryouts.

Grade 8: We Are Not Free Focusing on the themes of injustice, government sanctioned racism, dual identities, and the complexities of patriotism, We Are Not Free, by New York Times bestselling author Traci Chee, is the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, secondgeneration Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II. Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps. In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.

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