A Place to Belong is brought to you by Shady Hill’s Advancement Office, Marketing and Communications Office, and the Alumni Board. Now, more than ever, we are committed to sharing news that reminds us all how vibrant and innovative Shady Hill continues to be, while forever embracing the mission and values you hold so dear.
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Words of Wisdom for Our New Graduates | |
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Despite the gloomy forecast on June 9, a warm sun emerged just in time for the Class of 2023's graduation ceremony. In true Shady Hill fashion, the ritual contained a mix of solemnity, celebration and gratitude.
The Class of 2023 enjoyed a new element in their graduation ceremony: encouraging remarks from a young alum who can still remember being in their shoes, excited but also nervous about making the transition from eighth grade to high school.
The inaugural speaker under this new program was Ali Eshghi '13, whose short talk offered the perfect blend of humor and humility, empathy and encouragement. The eighth graders, their families, and the assembled faculty and staff were all wowed by Ali's remarks, which can be read here. What a way to kick off the Class of '23's alumni journey!
To view graduation photos, click here.
Alumni: did a guest speaker (that is, someone other than a teacher or administrator) address your Shady Hill graduation? Please let us know, at [email protected]
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Three longtime faculty members packed up their classrooms for the last time this month: Betsy Leahy and John Segar for retirement and Josh Horwitz to branch out into Admissions work at another school.
John arrived at Shady Hill as a first-grader in the fall of 1963 and stayed through ninth grade, a member of the Class of 1972. In the fall of 1991 he returned as Shop Teacher, later serving as a Gradehead, and then back to Shop Teacher, over 32 years.
Betsy first arrived at Shady Hill as an Apprentice in the TTC Class of 1983. In the fall of 1985 she returned as a lower school teacher. This year concludes her 38-year stretch as a Shady Hill Gradehead.
Josh joined the TTC as an Apprentice in 1996-97, returning in 2000 to teach Grade V, a role he has held for 23 years.
Faculty and staff celebrated Betsy, John and Josh at year-end, and messages from alumni, parents and PALS have flowed in, as well, noting their collective 93 years of Shady Hill teaching, plus two apprentice years, John’s nine student years, the many years all of them spent as Shady Hill parents, and the countless other roles they’ve filled — too numerous to mention. To say they will be missed is an understatement of vast proportions.
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At Shady Hill, May Day is a part of our DNA. The tradition of a full school celebration on the Green around the Maypole, is grounded in community spirit and joy. From beginners through eighth graders, every student gets to showcase their special class performance, rooted in their grade’s curriculum, in front of their families and friends.
This year's May Day was no exception! From the second the beginners walked onto the Green and put their flowers around the Maypole to the moment they handed them to their eighth grade buddies at the end, it was a beautiful and emotional ceremony.
View May Day photos here and check out the full recording here.
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The 2023 Shady Hill Magazine will be landing in mailboxes soon!
Can't wait? Read it online here.
Have you moved? Please keep Shady Hill updated, using this form. We love to stay connected, wherever your paths may take you!
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Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony |  | |
Over the course of the current school year, Shady Hill has mounted a fundraising campaign among current families, recent families, and employees to fund a renovation of the lower school playgrounds that serve our youngest grades.
The section of the playground encircled by the Kindergarten and Beginners buildings will be dedicated to our student Biko Mangcu, who died a year ago in a tragic drowning accident, on Memorial Day 2022.
In a ceremonial groundbreaking on June 7, Mark Stanek said, "Here we are, a year after losing Biko, and a day before what would have been his sixth birthday, about to get started on the playground that serves as one way, among others, for us to keep his name and memory and presence with us here at Shady Hill. We will never get over his loss, but coming together around a positive, constructive playground renovation became another way we could express not only our sadness but also our solidarity."
Biko's mother Sipho Mangcu offered heartfelt remarks, and his sister Hluma '22 wielded a shovel during the groundbeaking moment and, together with her mom, released butterflies to symbolize Biko's spirt.
The new playground is expected to be fully in place in time for the start of school in the fall.
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On April 19, Ali Gass '91 treated Shady Hillers living in and around San Francisco to an inspiring evening at the Institute for Contemporary Art, a new museum of which she is founding director. The event, in San Francisco's up-and-coming Dogpatch neighborhood, drew alumni from across the decades, parents of alumni (aka "PALS"), and former teachers who have relocated to the Bay Area, along with Shady Hill Head of School Mark Stanek and Alumni Relations Director Betsy Ginsberg. All appreciated the chance to visit the new ICA-SF, which is attracting tremendous media "buzz" for its cutting-edge exhibits and its commitment to social justice. There was a clamoring for making this an annual event; stay tuned! | | |
On April 28, Elanna Allen Lazar '92 hosted a gathering at her NYC home for members of her own class and others from the 80's and 90's. Mark Stanek traveled down from campus for the event, along with Alumni Office representative Devon Wilson-Hill, math teacher Suzanne Locke, and (last but certainly not least!) retiring teacher Betsy Leahy, who had taught the Class of '92 cohort during her TTC apprenticeship year. In a charming touch, Elanna had arranged for her son's piano teacher to lead a sing-along of favorite Shady Hill songs. | | |
The Class of 2019 gathered on campus for their High School Graduation Party, on June 14. Parents, teachers and Class of 2019 members who were in attendance enjoyed a chance to catch up with one another. | | |
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Successful
Alumni Art Show
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After our pandemic hiatus, the Shady Hill Art Show returned to campus March 20-24 and was a huge hit! An opening reception took place March 22, where community members came together to celebrate the wonderful artwork from alumni, faculty, and past faculty.
Click here for more Art Show photos.
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Shady Hill
Black Alumni Event
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Join us for a day at the beach - we'll pack the picnic!
Martha's Vineyard
August 12, 2023
9:30AM group ferry to Oak Bluffs
Enjoy reconnecting with friends and faculty. Lunch and fun provided by Shady Hill.
RSVP here.
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The 2022-23 school year is over and the budget year is quickly coming to a close. Please join in before the June 30th deadline, to support the joyful, magical mission-driven learning Shady Hill has delivered all year. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful and make Shady Hill stronger!
Please make your gift here today!
| Changemakers in Action Newsletter | |
Shady Hill's Equity Office has launched a new communication initiative to highlight some of the diversity, equity, and inclusion work happening around the School and within our community.
The Changemakers in Action newsletter is released on a bi-monthly basis.
Check out the latest issues and learn more about Shady Hill's social justice work here
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In the world of admission and financial aid, Shady Hill has had a strong several years. For the second year in a row, we have seen the benefits of the changes made by the Financial Aid Taskforce and implemented by the Financial Aid Committee. Awards now take into account the high cost of living in Massachusetts. In this year’s admission season, ten out of twelve newly accepted families who received financial aid awards chose to send their children to Shady Hill this fall. This represents a stronger result than in the past and a boost to our socioeconomic diversity.
Another diversity goal of the school has been to increase enrollment of students of color. The upcoming school year will see 46% of the student body identifying as BIPOC (students of color), up from 36% four years ago. We are proud of the School’s progress on this front; a more diverse student body creates a richer learning environment for all.
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Jean Menapace 1948-2023
We are sad to report the passing of retired math teacher Jean Menapace, who taught at Shady Hill from 1973-2004. Besides being a devoted and creative teacher over her three-plus decades at Shady Hill, she was also beloved for painstakingly ironing all the ribbons for the Maypole each spring.
Ms. Menapace's full obituary can be read here. Plans for a summer memorial service in Cambridge are in the works. Email [email protected] for notification once the family has confirmed the date and time.
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Are you following the Shady Hill Alumni Spotlight series on social media? We welcome nominations! Whether their work relates to social justice, environmental activism, or any other pressing issue, email your suggestions to [email protected] or submit your nominations here.
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If you would prefer not to receive future issues, please email [email protected] to unsubscribe. If you use the Constant Contact unsubscribe link below you will be opting out of all future communications including invitations to events and important School announcements. If you learn of someone we are not reaching, who would appreciate being added to the subscription list, please forward this to them and have them email us at [email protected].
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