Head of School’s Message

A Message From The Head of School

Dear Bancroft Friends,

If our community proved one thing when our school shifted to a remote platform this past March, it was the strength in our collective resilience. I witnessed firsthand our incredible teachers shift and rewrite curriculum while learning to teach through a computer seemingly instantly. I witnessed students thinking creatively to maintain a sense of community, camaraderie, and school spirit while staying engaged. I witnessed parents balance their professional lives and responsibilities while simultaneously helping their students at home. And I witnessed alumni reach out in droves to ask how they could help. The Bancroft community did what you would expect when facing adversity; leaned on each other and pushed forward.

As we returned to campus this fall, we faced other challenges. New COVID-19 protocols and procedures have temporarily changed a few of the trademark events around school. A ban on large gatherings, social distancing, and mask-wearing are not what any of us signed up for. But I am so incredibly proud of how our students, teachers, staff, and parents have made the most of the opportunity to be on campus, learning together in classrooms and spending lots of time in outdoor activities. Active and engaged learning is happening everyday, and our faculty and students are finding ways to stay true to our mission and values even from 6 feet apart.

While nothing is certain as we head into 2021, one thing we feel confident in is our bright future. Our strategic plan BluePrint 125 was designed by our community, for our community and lays out an exciting set of priorities that will carry us forward as we approach our 125th anniversary in 2025. I invite you to read more about the plan in this edition of the Bulletin and to visit our website to see the final digital version. We will need your involvement to achieve our goals and hope you will continue to take an active role.

I hope the holiday season is a happy and safe one for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Trey Cassidy Head of School

Pam Sheldon (center) is the latest recipient of the Carpe Diem award, Bancroft’s top teaching honor.

SEIZE THE DAY—AND THE YEAR

While 2020 has shut down many traditional Bancroft events, it did not stop our incredible faculty from teaching. It also did not stop the annual recognition of that exceptional teaching. Pam Sheldon, Upper School science and health teacher, is the latest recipient of the Carpe Diem award, Bancroft’s most prestigious teaching honor. Typically, the award winner is announced in an all-school assembly at the end of the academic year. Given that nothing is typical about 2020, Sheldon’s award was formally announced on a Zoom call with Upper School faculty and students this past May. “To have it happen in front of my students, and to see their reactions and their comments in the chat, that meant more to me than anything because they're the reason we do this job,” Sheldon said. “To see them just be so happy and say things like, ‘That's my advisor,’ it was huge.” There was the initial shock—and then there was the additional surprise of seeing some familiar faces on the Zoom call, too. “I heard my dad's voice be like, ‘Go, Pammy,’” said Sheldon. “I come from a family of educators, and so to feel like I'm carrying on that family tradition of trying to do it well to impact the next generation means a lot.” The Carpe Diem Award winner is selected by a committee comprised of past recipients and the Head of School and honors a faculty member who excels in service to Bancroft and the community, builds a classroom atmosphere distinguished by excellence and creativity, seeks to expand his, her, or their curriculum and pedagogy, and shows exceptional peer leadership. In addition to Sheldon’s roles as teacher, assembly coordinator, speech team coach, and advisor, she helps coordinate the Upper School Awards program, Cum Laude selection process, Upper School Musical, and is a faculty advisor to the student organization GSA. She is also the first to volunteer for things like the annual faculty lip sync, and goes all-out with costumes for Spirit Week and Halloween. In announcing Sheldon as the winner of this year’s award, Head of School Trey Cassidy said, “Throughout the years, she has always put the students at the center of her professional circle, whether it was organizing events, dealing with discipline, teaching in her own classroom, or catching up in the hallways. It is fitting that we present this award in front of the students, because you are the reason she does this work.” Now that she’s had a few months to reflect on the award, Sheldon feels humbled. “The first thing that strikes you is there are so many amazing teachers at Bancroft. When I look at all these amazing people, who taught my own children going through here, I know the level of impact they had. To feel like I'm even in the vicinity of that group is amazing.”