November 14, 2025

What a wonderful week at Brimmer! The Varsity Boys Soccer team played a hard game in cold weather in the league’s final playoff series on Wednesday, and the fan bus brought dozens of students over to cheer them on. Congratulations to the boys for a season well played. Then, last night the Upper School’s production of Radium Girls, set in the1910s and 1920s, revealed how thousands of women took jobs painting “glowing” numerals on watch and clock dials for military and civilian use, which resulted in personal illness. The women sued for damages, paving the way for new laws regarding workplace safety and workers' compensation. I hope you will consider seeing the play tonight at 7:00 pm! Our students did a magnificent job capturing the play’s sad but powerful message.

By now, I am sure you have read the letter announcing my decision to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year (20 months from now). While it never feels like a good time to share personal news, I think November offers us a reminder to pause and express our gratitude. If you have not read the announcement, I hope you will take a few moments to do so.

Lastly, although we are not offering our full Grandparents & Special Friends Day programming due to the ongoing construction of the Recreation & Wellness Center, families and guests are welcome to attend the MS/US Thanksgiving Assembly and/or the Lower School Fall Community Performance (details below). At the end of each performance, students will be dismissed for Thanksgiving break. I hope to see many of you there!

Judy Guild

Head of School 

Dear Upper School Families,  

If you have been around campus for an event during the school day, you may have noticed a crew of Brimmer photographers moving with purpose across campus. A few weeks ago, Ms. Williams-Krishnan’s photography students captured dynamic images during Board of Visitors Day—everything from close-up speaker shots to candid moments in the audience. And this week, you could find them documenting the Varsity Boys Soccer team’s pre-game rituals as the players geared up for their match at Mt. Ida (photo above was taken by Alice S). Their enthusiasm brought an extra spark to the sidelines. 

On another walkaround this week, I stepped into Dr. Ostergard’s Music Technology class, just in time to hear a burst of student creativity. Charlie B. shared a high-energy “Boss Level” track he composed for a video game he designed, and Veronica C. played an original piece that transformed a poem into a fully produced song. She even built the percussion section using sounds she recorded from kicking dirt! The excitement in the room was contagious. 

Across both classes, students were diving into authentic learning experiences, experimenting, designing, and producing work that is uniquely their own. These are the moments that showcase the best of the Upper School: students taking risks, expressing themselves, and discovering what they can create with the right tools, guidance, and imagination. 

In other Upper School news: 

• On November 20, the Middle and Upper School will come together for the Fall Athletics Assembly. The event will take place at 10 am in the theater and will also be livestreamed.
• Congratulations to the Cross Country team on wrapping up a strong fall season! The team competed at the New England NEPSTA meet last Saturday. 
• The Boys Soccer team hosted a NEPSAC Tournament game on Wednesday against MacDuffie. They played with heart and intensity, and even though their season ended with a narrow 1–0 loss, the team should be proud of their effort. 
• Bravo to the cast and crew of the US Play! Tonight is your last chance to see this amazing production! 
• Auditions for the Upper School Musical begin on Monday. Mr. Holman shared audition materials earlier this week, and we’re excited to see so many students preparing to take the stage. 
• Winter sports are officially on the horizon. Basketball tryouts start next week, and Curling begins right after Thanksgiving. 
• We are currently working on the assessment schedule for December. I hope to publish this to families before our Thanksgiving break. 

As we head into the final stretch before Thanksgiving, the energy on campus is unmistakable. Every day, our students show us what it means to Learn with Intention and Lead with Integrity—whether they’re behind a camera, composing original music, competing with grit, or stepping out of their comfort zone at auditions. Their creativity, perseverance, and willingness to collaborate reflect the core elements of our Mission and Guiding Principles, reminding us how powerful learning becomes when students take ownership of their growth. 

There is so much happening across the Upper School right now, and I can’t wait to see what our students take on next. 

Sincerely, 

Joshua Neudel

Head of Upper School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for the Grade 7 Indigenous Cultures of the Americas Exhibition. It was a wonderful showcase of student collaboration and the power of interdisciplinary learning. Their work from history, English, art, and science classes reflected strong research skills and creativity. These kinds of projects and exhibitions of learning are hallmarks of the Brimmer academic program, highlighting how our teachers design learning experiences that allow students to make connections across disciplines. 

Our eighth-grade students have been working hard to prepare for their upcoming Experimental Design Exhibition. They will present scientific research posters detailing the results of experiments they designed to test different brands of consumer products. The exhibition will take place on Friday, November 21, from 8:15–9:00 am. We hope you’ll join us to see their work and find out which products came out on top!  

On Thursday, November 20, the Middle and Upper School communities will come together for the Fall Athletics Assembly to honor the outstanding fall season. The event will take place at 10 am in the theater and will also be livestreamed.  

AISNE is hosting its annual Middle School DEIB Conference on Saturday, February 7 from 9 am - 3 pm at Regis College in Weston. This event is for any student in Grades 5-8 who is interested in topics of DEIB. The day will include a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and affinity spaces. This is a ticketed and chaperoned event, with Brimmer covering the cost of students who would like to attend. Please speak with your student about this conference. If you would like them to attend, please reach out directly to Director of DEIB Jessica Christian. She will handle registration for students who plan to attend. 

Finally, please note that the Thanksgiving Assembly will take place at 11:30 am on Monday, November 24, with dismissal for the Thanksgiving break immediately following at 12:30 pm. There will be no AP on this day. School will reopen on Monday, December 1. 

Matt Gallon

Head of Middle School

Dear Lower School Families,  

Our weekly SHARE Assembly remains one of my favorite moments of the week. There’s something truly special about seeing the entire Lower School come together to celebrate our community—and to watch the joy and pride on students’ faces as they receive a Gator.  

This week, our fifth graders took the stage to perform their Core Values Play. As the leaders of the Lower School, they did a remarkable job reminding us why Brimmer’s Core Values are at the heart of everything we do. Their performance was thoughtful, engaging, and a wonderful reflection of their growth and leadership. Last week, we were also treated to a special performance by a group from ArtBarn Community Theater, who presented their original short musical The Popularity Pandemic. The cast featured talented fifth and sixth-grade students from schools across the area—including our very own Grace Cowenhoven, who shone brightly on stage.  

Coming up, AISNE is hosting its annual Middle School DEIB Conference for students in Grades 5-8 on Saturday, February 7, from 9 am to 3 pm at Regis College in Weston. This event is open to any student in Grades 5-8 interested in DEIB topics. The day will feature a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and affinity spaces. It is a ticketed and chaperoned event, with Brimmer covering the cost for students who want to attend. Please discuss this conference with your 5th grade student. If they would like to attend, contact Director of DEIB Jessica Christian. She will handle student registration for those planning to attend.  

Lastly, it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just two weeks away! We are looking forward to the Lower School Fall Community Performance on Tuesday, November 25, at 9:50 am. Please note: although we are not offering our full Grandparents & Special Friends Day programming due to the ongoing construction of the Recreation & Wellness Center, families and guests are welcome to attend the performance. At the end of the performance, students will be dismissed for Thanksgiving break. I hope to see many of you there! 

UPCOMING EVENTS  

Tuesday, November 18: Grade 5 Math Drop-In, 8:15 am 

Thursday, November 20: 3-5 Jewish Student Affinity Meeting, 3:15-4:00 pm 

Tuesday, November 25: LS Fall Community Performance, 9:50 am (followed by Early Dismissal at 11:00 am) 

Wednesday, November 26 – Sunday, November 30: No School – Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 1: Registration opens for Winter Extended Day, Clubs, & 4/5 Sports  

Thursday, December 4: 3-5 Jewish Student Affinity Meeting, 3:15-4:00 pm 

Tuesday, December 9: Grade 3 Drop-In, 8:30 am 

Thursday, December 11: 3-5 Black & Asian Student Affinity Meetings, 3:15-4:00 pm 

Wednesday, December 17: Grade 4 Drop-In, 8:10 am 

Friday, December 19: Early Dismissal for Winter Break, 11:30 am   

Warmly,



Carl Coombs

Head of Lower School

Don't forget to join us on November 20 from 5:30 - 8 pm at EVEREVE in the Chestnut Hill Mall for a fun evening of shopping, sips, snacks, and style—all while supporting Brimmer! 15% of sales benefit the Brimmer Annual Fund. Come shop, mingle, and enjoy great company while giving back to our community.

Our Family PA Event will take place on December 3 from 4-5:30 pm. Please sign up HERE for FOOD ITEMS NEEDED. Families and students from all divisions are welcome to come together for this fun and meaningful community service activity. We will decorate and fill snack bags for food-insecure families in the community. This counts towards the Upper School community service requirement. 

Also, we are excited to announce the beloved Brimmer Cultural Festival, which will take place on February 5. Please see LINK for more details. 

Thank you for your continued engagement and support.

Daniela Aguel P '33, '35

Joe Panto P '25, '28, '33

Isabel Ortiz P '30, '32

brimmerparents@brimmer.org