DECEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER | VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 | | |
DECEMBER GREETINGS FROM
PETER BECKER '95
| | Head of School Peter Becker '95 highlights December's campus activities and reflects on the importance of Taft’s Portrait of a Learner in shaping the student experience. Click the image above to watch his message and click here to read more about our Portrait of a Learner. | | |
THE 2025-26 SPEAKER SERIES:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?
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What does it mean to be human? It is an essential and existential question with multifaceted answers. Those answers may be broad, scientific, and rooted in anatomy, genetics, and other biological traits. They may be borne of cultural perspectives, or moral and spiritual beliefs and understandings. They may be philosophical and deeply personal, informed in part by individual and communal human experiences.
The 2025-26 Speaker Series encourages Taft students to consider what it means to be human from a range of perspectives. Speakers will help shape and guide conversations by sharing their unique insights and experiences. They will also tackle other questions this inquiry elicits: How do the ways we tell our stories shape (or deform) our humanity? How do we understand our humanity in a world of AI and other technological advances? What do our bodies tell us about our humanity? What does it mean to be human amidst physical, ethnic, intellectual, and social diversity? How do our different intellectual disciplines reflect our humanity?
The Speaker Series kicked off with celebrated author Daniel Nayeri, whose latest book, The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story, was named the 2025 National Book Award Winner for Young People’s Literature. Nayeri is also the author of Taft’s 2025 all-school summer reading selection, Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story).
Nayeri was in residence at Taft for several days, connecting with students and faculty, and sharing insights, experiences, and guidance. He led workshops on memoir writing with lower mid English students and a writing workshop with seniors to help them as they worked on their personal essays for college applications. He met with the editors of Taft’s student publications, signed books, joined students for a meal in the dining hall, and cooked Persian food with a few students and faculty members at the head of school’s home.
Read more about the ways in which Daniel Nayeri, Max Stossel, Pilobolus, Clint Smith, and Jennifer Breheny Wallace are helping the Taft community to explore these fascinating questions.
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Veterans Day Speaker Jimmy Putko '15, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Today, Jimmy Putko '15 is a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy. Wearing the uniform that made him feel "awkward" and disconnected at Cornell is now a source of great pride. It is, he says, not only a reminder of all those who have served before him, but a connection to them, as well. He considers serving in the Navy to be "the greatest privilege" of his life.
In his Veterans Day talk, Putko reflects on how his perspective on service has changed over the years and shares lessons he’s learned through the lens of the Taft School motto, Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret; Not to be served but to serve. Click on the link above to watch his inspiring Morning Meeting talk.
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Strategic Design Implementation
This fall and winter, more than 80 faculty members have been working in committees to shape the next phase of Education for Life, Taft's strategic design plan. These groups are exploring several core areas of school life—from the daily schedule and use of academic technology to graduation requirements and the student experience at each grade level. Their recommendations will inform the school's priorities in the months and years ahead.
Stay updated on the work in progress and what comes next on our strategic design web page.
| | | Kathleen Cleary Appointed as Chief Advancement Officer | | |
"We are thrilled to welcome Kathleen to the Taft community," said Peter Becker. "The depth and breadth of her advancement leadership experience—most recently as director of major gifts at Phillips Academy—reflect a deep understanding of the critical mission of advancement and a true passion for the transformative impact of philanthropy."
"Through her commitment to education and community, mission-driven leadership, and ability to cultivate relationships across global networks, Kathleen effectively develops and executes strategic, comprehensive, and collaborative plans for institutional growth," Becker added. "We are excited about what this means for Taft's future."
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Stay Connected with
The Papyrus Online
To bring you closer to campus life, The Taft Papyrus is now shared with alumni online, where you can read student reporting as soon as each issue is published. We hope you'll enjoy this direct, immediate view into the daily Taft experience. Click the button to the left for the current issue, and be sure to bookmark the page!
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Save the Date!
Mark your calendars and celebrate with us again next year:
May 8–9, 2026
Reunion gatherings for classes ending in
6 and 1
| | | Head of School Peter Becker '95, Director of Enrollment Amanda Bohnsack, and Senior Advisor, Philanthropy & Partnerships Lawrence Crimmins had a fantastic time in Asia, visiting with Taft alumni, families, and friends. Thank you to all the gracious hosts who made this a memorable journey and true celebration of our international community! From top left, receptions in Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo. | | SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING EVENTS | | Join us for Lessons & Carols from wherever you are. Alumni are invited to watch the livestream on Saturday, December 13, at either 6:00 or 8:00 p.m.—simply click the link below at your preferred time. | |
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Saturday, January 24: Alumni Coed Hockey Game
Join us for this annual event hosted in memory of Scott W. Richardson '82. The coed game starts in Odden Arena at 11:00 a.m. (warm up at 10:30 a.m.)
Stay for lunch after the games, then stick around to cheer on the Rhinos during their regular season matchups. See you on the ice!
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Celebrating Excellence: Cum Laude Society Inductees
Sixteen members of Taft’s Class of 2026 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society this fall, a national organization recognizing academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor. Founded in 1908, the Cum Laude Society is the national scholarship society in secondary schools, corresponding to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi in colleges and scientific schools. A maximum of 20% of the senior class may be elected into the membership in the Cum Laude Society. During the assembly, Taft's Ranking Scholars and students receiving recognition from the National Merit Scholarship program were also acknowledged.
Read more and watch the full Cum Laude Society induction ceremony by clicking below.
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Dr. Mirabi Earns Prestigious Prize
Taft mathematics teacher Dr. Mostafa Mirabi has been awarded the 2025 Christine Ladd-Franklin Logic Prize as coauthor of the paper, Forcing with Invariant Measures. The prize is presented every three years for groundbreaking work in mathematical logic and computer science.
"The paper grew out of a long-running collaboration with colleagues at Harvard, MIT, IPM, and Wesleyan," explains Dr. Mirabi. "We were interested in how ideas from logic and probability might come together to describe mathematical worlds that blend structure and randomness."
You can read more about their work by clicking below.
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TABS Honors Jeremy LaCasse
Assistant Head of School for Student Life Jeremy LaCasse has been named a 2025 Burch Ford Kaleidoscope Award for Excellence in Student & Residential Life honoree. The award is presented each year by The Association of Board Schools (TABS). TABS president Susan Baldridge announced the award—to a rousing ovation by the Taft community—during an all-school gathering on campus.
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A Dazzling Pippin on the Bingham Stage
By all accounts, Pippin was one of the most spectacular shows ever mounted at Taft. The student cast and crew, and faculty directors, choreographers, conductors, and more came together to produce a most extraordinary production. Click below to enjoy a full gallery of show photos by William Yang '26.
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Collegium Musicum and Dance Ensemble Performance
On Family Weekend, Collegium Musicum and the Dance Ensemble joined forces for a dynamic showcase of music and movement. Click above to watch the performance.
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Fall 2025 Season News
The fall 2025 season concluded with a spirited slate of Hotchkiss Day matchups. Taft emerged victorious in two of the five varsity contests, with one draw. Football (42–27) and boys’ soccer (3–0) were both victorious, girls’ soccer was a 1–1 draw, and field hockey (2–1) and volleyball (3–1) both battled hard but were both unfortunately defeated by the Bearcats. With their victory, boys’ soccer claimed a share of the Founders League title—the program’s third consecutive, and the fifth time in the past six seasons. Boys’ soccer went on to cap off an undefeated season as back-to-back NEPSAC Class A champions.
To explore these and other standout moments for all fall teams as well as the photo gallery for the 2025 D'Arco Cup game, please click on the links below. Go Big Red!
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Taft Boys' Soccer Team Store
Taft boys' varsity soccer claimed the NEPSAC Class A title for the second year in a row, and you can celebrate their achievement with exclusive championship gear. Featuring two stars above the Taft soccer logo, this limited-edition collection is available now through our pop-up online store. Don't miss out—the store closes on December 15, and orders will ship in three to four weeks after that date.
| | | Taft students and faculty travel far and wide every summer, to both learn about and make an impact on the world. Some work to make a difference closer to home. They all have remarkable stories to tell. | | |
Generosity is at the heart of leadership.
When you give to the Taft Fund, you strengthen a community grounded in service, empathy, and purpose. Together, we can empower Taft students to serve generously and lead with courage—on campus and beyond.
As the year draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the Taft community this year—your generosity strengthens Taft and supports every student, every day. Thank you!
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