NOVEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1 | |
JONATHAN HAIDT VISITS TAFT
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Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D., is a social psychologist at New York University's Stern School of Business and the author of numerous academic articles and books. His most recent work, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, was published earlier this year and was at the heart of his daylong visit to Taft. Haidt posits that we have overprotected our children in the real world and underprotected them online. The rise and proliferation of smartphones, social media, front-facing cameras, and high-speed internet have led to measurable and alarming changes in mental health for members of Gen Z.
Click directly on the image above to watch Haidt's all-school presentation from September 26 and click below to read more about his time at Taft and view his webinar with parents.
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HOW DO WE KNOW ANOTHER PERSON: A DISCUSSION WITH DAVID BROOKS | |
Taft's 2024 all-school summer read, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, laid groundwork for a year of community conversation and learning with the guiding question, "How do we know another person?" The book's author, David Brooks, visited Taft on October 14 to continue the discussion. In his storied career as a journalist, political and cultural commentator, author, and university professor, Brooks has traveled the globe. To see others in all their fullness requires the skills, Brooks contends, of an illuminator—one who practices the art of open and active listening, attention, curiosity, and generosity in their interactions and relationships. Click below to read more about Brooks' visit to Taft. | |
A PATH TO HARMONY:
CHLOE VALDARY'S THEORY OF ENCHANTMENT
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Writer and entrepreneur Chloé Valdary developed the Theory of Enchantment, an innovative framework for compassionate antiracism that combines social emotional learning (SEL), character development, and interpersonal growth as tools for leadership development in the boardroom and beyond. Her global clients have included high school and college students, government agencies, business teams, and more. She has also lectured at universities across America, including Harvard and Georgetown. Her work has been covered in Psychology Today Magazine, and her writings have appeared in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. During her Morning Meeting talk on October 29, Valdary began with the instruction to "treat people like human beings, not political abstractions," continuing the theme of what it means to be human and offering a pathway to more harmonious communities.
Click directly on the image above to watch Valdary's all-school presentation and click below to read more about her visit to Taft.
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ATTENTION WITH INTENTION: CONVOCATION 2024 | |
Over the summer, Head of School Peter Becker '95 spent two weeks at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming's Wind River Valley. "The most incredible thing about the two weeks was how focused and single-minded my classmates and I got to be for those 14 days," Becker told the Taft community during his 2024 Convocation address, "how easy it was to pay attention to one thing." Attention, Becker noted, is "arguably the most important capacity we have as humans. What we pay attention to is who and what we become."
"How can we be more deliberate, individually and as a school, about cultivating habits of attention that are life-giving and aligned with how we want to spend our lives?" Becker asked. Perhaps the answer lies in the Taft School motto: Not to be served but to serve. Watch the full Convocation address by clicking directly on the image above.
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Forward Together: Taft's Strategic Design Process
Our strategic planning process is focused on ensuring that Taft remains and continues to evolve as a place where students thrive, develop their unique talents, and build purpose at Taft and in the world. As we chart our path forward, we want to hear from you. Alumni are an essential part of our future, and we invite you to participate in this important conversation about the core values that define Taft.
To begin, you can learn more about the strategic planning process here. And please check your email for a survey designed to gather your insights and perspectives. If you did not receive an email, let us know at strategicdesign@taftschool.org. Your input will be invaluable as we work together to shape the future of our school. Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
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Stay in Touch with Taft
There are so many ways to stay connected to Taft! Keep up with the latest campus news and updates from fellow alumni by reading the Taft Bulletin, our award-winning magazine, filled with fascinating stories and extraordinary photos from around the world. You can access the current Bulletin and explore past issues online.
We'd love to hear from you—whether it’s a career update, life milestone, or any other news. Share your stories with the Taft community through your class secretary or the Bulletin's class notes editor. And don’t forget to check out upcoming events and other alumni resources on our alumni web page.
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Connect with Fellow Tafties on Taft Connect!
We invite you to join Taft Connect, our online community created especially to help keep Taft alumni connected to one another and to the school. Taft Connect allows you to find classmates, act as a mentor, or make new connections by location, college or university, career field, and more. Join nearly 2,000 Tafties on Taft Connect today!
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Non Ut Sibi in Action!
An essential part of our success, Taft’s alumni volunteer program is designed to forge connections among and between the classes and the school. Whether you want to serve as a mentor to a young alum, help with fundraising efforts, organize an event, or unite classmates as a class secretary, there are many ways to contribute. We thank you in advance and look forward to welcoming new volunteers!
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SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING EVENTS | |
Taft-Hotchkiss Young Alumni Gathering - Boston
November 7, 2024, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Classes of '11-'24 please join us at Clerys in Boston to celebrate Taft in support of Hotchkiss Day. Share your Big Red Pride with fellow rhinos!
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Taft-Hotchkiss Young Alumni Gathering - NYC
November 7, 2024, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Classes of '11-'24 please join us at the Grey Lady in NYC to celebrate Taft in support of Hotchkiss Day. Share your Big Red Pride with fellow rhinos!
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Taft-Hotchkiss Day & Young Alumni Challenge
Classes of '11-'24, get ready for our annual Young Alumni Taft Fund Participation Challenge—this year with lead-up events in Boston and NYC on November 7. Then join alumni, parents, and friends for lunch on Saturday, November 9, from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. under the tent at Red Rock Field and cheer for Big Red on the courts and on the fields!
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Taft Alumni Career Connections on Zoom
November 18, 2024, 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST
Join our first event of a career-oriented conversations series on Zoom with Padget Crossman Luetgerath '06 and Carroll Leatherman '98, two experienced executive recruiters in the finance sector. Padget and Carroll worked together in the New York office of the industry's largest recruitment firm. Whether you are new to the workforce, or are an experienced executive in finance, please join us for a conversation on how best to maximize your career.
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Music for a While
A signature program at Taft, Music for a While performances feature professional musicians from across the globe, as well as local musicians and Taft students. They represent all genres of music from folk and funk to chamber and chorale. All performances are free and open to the public; no tickets are required. Upcoming performances include Taft's 88th Service of Lessons and Carols on December 17, 2024, at Woodward Chapel, 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
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Chief Advancement Officer Lawrence Crimmins and Director of Enrollment Management Amanda Bohnsack will visit Asia in November, with stops in Seoul (11/8), Beijing (11/9), Shanghai (11/11), Shenzhen (11/12), Hong Kong (11/15), and Singapore (11/16). Alumni and Taft families are invited to join Crimmins and Bohnsack at evening receptions, where they will have the opportunity to connect and hear firsthand about the latest news from campus. Find additional information and register by clicking on the locations above or on the link below. | |
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Save the Date!
Mark your calendars and celebrate with us again next year:
May 9-10, 2025
Reunion gatherings for classes ending in 5 & 0
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Class of 2025 Cum Laude Induction Ceremony
Based on their academic records for both their middle and upper middle years, 17 members of the Class of 2025 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society in September. 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 below.
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Fall Play: Peter and the Starcatcher
Taft's fall play, Peter and the Starcatcher, brought the captivating prequel to the Peter Pan story to life on stage in Bingham during Family Weekend. With imaginative staging, talented student performances, and the hard work of the technical crew, the play explored the backstories of Peter Pan, Mrs. Darling, Tinkerbell, and Hook, offering a humorous and engaging take on these beloved characters.
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Taft's Math Team Continues to Shine
The 2024–25 school year kicked off with an honor and celebration for Taft’s Mathematics Team: They were presented with the hardware they earned in the 2023–24 New England Mathematics League (NEML) competition. For the third consecutive year, the team bested all of their regional competitors, which included perennially high-scoring teams from Hotchkiss and Kent.
The NEML competition field typically includes more than 120 teams and nearly 800 students. Taft’s overall score placed the team in the top 10% of finishers overall. Kevin Jin '25 and Michael Xu '25, were also recognized for their cumulative work across all six contests, which placed them among the top 6% of all competitors.
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Summer Journeys 2024
From studying clinical drug trials in Tanzania to analyzing soil samples in urban New York, Taft students embraced the possibilities of summer with extraordinary experiences that spanned global and local communities alike. Each of them has a remarkable story to share.
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In a Word, What Makes Taft Taft? | |
By supporting the Taft Fund, you ensure that all the things you love about Taft endure for the current generation of students and beyond. Your gift, no matter the size, is a powerful investment in the future of Tafties and the impact they will have on the world. Thank you for your support! | | | | |