FALL GREETINGS FROM MR. MAC

Fall is a special time at Taft, a time that Mr. Mac never tires of. Click here or directly on the image to view his message.

LASTING LEGACIES THROUGH

ALUMNI GIVING:

SERVICE TRAVEL ACROSS THE GLOBE

While building a community committed to “non ut sibi” principles is Horace Dutton Taft’s great and lasting legacy, supporting students as they embrace and live it across the globe has become, in part, the legacy of three alumni: Meg Page ’74, Robert Keyes Poole ’50, and William W. Hatfield ’32. Each year, grants in their names support summer service and travel experiences for Taft students.

STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY: THE ONGOING WORK OF DEI

In photo: Taft's Affinity Fair, groups clockwise from left: Mosaic, Shades, Somos Taft, Pan-Asian Affinity Group

The school year kicked off with several new initiatives, including a week-one BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) reception and an Affinity Fair. Both events were part of our continuing work to help students feel that they belong and are part of the Taft community -- and to encourage friendships across different groups. The Affinity Fair was an opportunity for Tafties to learn (and share) about the affinity groups and spaces available at Taft, and to more fully understand what they bring to our community, how they create opportunities for allyship, and how students sharing various identifiers can effectively connect. ⁠Affinity groups hosting tables at the event included Somos, Taft’s LatinX affinity group; Mosaic, a Black and Latinx female affinity group; Shades, the Black and Latinx male affinity group; and members of Taft’s Pan Asian affinity group.

In September, Head of School Willy MacMullen '78 and Board Chair Grant Porter '69 updated the community on all of Taft's DEI work. You can read their update letter below.

TAFT ON THE ROAD

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS PETER FREW '75

AND CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER LAWRENCE CRIMMINS VISIT ASIA

Taft Director of Admissions Peter Frew ’75 and Chief Advancement Officer Lawrence Crimmins are heading to Asia, and looking forward to connecting with Taft alumni and families.

Register here for the October 23 event in Mumbai, India

Hosted by Mahesh and Sheila Balsekar P'04 

Register here for the November 2 event in Singapore

Hosted by Hyder Ahmad P'19,'20,'23 

Details to follow for the events in Bangkok and Seoul.

SAVE THE DATE:

UPCOMING EVENTS 

CAMPUS NEWS

ACADEMICS LIE AT THE HEART OF A

TAFT SCHOOL EDUCATION

We like to say that learning takes place in every corner of our campus, from classrooms and dorm rooms to playing fields and art studios. And it does. Teaching and learning continues to evolve at Taft, with learning taking place in new and unique spaces using state-of-the-art technology, and focused on globally relevant and emerging fields. It is also increasingly hands-on, and site-specific. We invite you to watch students and faculty at work in three learning spaces.

MORNING MEETING:

A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

After their son, Charlie ’18, died by suicide, Billy ’82 and Shelly Himmelrich founded The Charlie Fund. Launched in 2021, the Fund shares a legacy of kindness, love, and openness, while honoring Charlie by creating and growing spaces, programming, and resources that help build connections and break down the stigma around mental health. The Charlie Fund recently brought Poppy Jamie, author and founder of the multi-faceted Happy Not Perfect brand, to campus for a Morning Meeting talk.

In photo: Billy Himmelrich '82, Poppy Jamie, Shelly Himmelrich

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

IT'S A NEW DAY AT TAFT

If you graduated from Taft in the past 25 years, you surely remember Community Service Day, that crisp October day when 700+ members of the Taft community fanned out across the region to rake, paint, mentor, teach, sort, chop, stack, and clean to support area organizations and nonprofits. Times are changing, and now every day can be a service day at Taft. Click directly on the image below to hear about Taft's new approach to Community Service from Baba Frew and Kevin Danaher.

Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret;

Not to be served, but to serve.

Co-head Mons Bridget Brockelman and Matthew Vogelstein

Your annual giving makes a Taft education possible.

Gifts of every size allow Taft to exceed the ordinary.

Together, we can make this a banner year!

Please support the Taft Fund today.