Berkshire School Viewbook 2016 by Berkshire School

A Field Guide to Life Under the Mountain

Guided by our Mission:

Rooted in an inspiring natural setting, Berkshire School instills the highest standards of character and citizenship and a commitment to academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. Our community “Once we’re here, we’re all from the same place.” – Olivia, St. Ann, Jamaica

fosters diversity, a dedication to environmental stewardship, and an enduring love for learning.

Field Note: This book was made with reusable energy, using soy-based inks printed on recycled stocks.

Berkshire School admits students of any race, color, religious affiliation, national and ethnic origin and qualified handicapped students to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students. We do not discriminate in violation of any law or statute in the administration of our educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan program, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Your journey begins here. or School: F 8 Academics 34 Teachers, Mentors, Coaches 36 Independent Study Program 38 Pro Vita Winter Session 42 Academic Resources

Berkshire School A Field Guide

or Life: F 44 Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program 48 Sustainability 50 Athletics 56 Student Life 66 For Families 68 College Counseling 70 An Inspired Setting

Berkshire School A Field Guide

A Letter From Pieter Mulder Head of School

Pieter lives on campus with his wife, Lucia, a graduate of Yale University. Lucia is a writer for the School’s Advancement Office and serves as the All-School Read Committee Chair. They have two children, Phoebe, 12, and William, 9.

Experience // A native of Williamstown, Mass., Pieter Mulder earned his B.A. from Williams College in American studies with minors in architecture and environmental science, and his M.A.L.S. from Wesleyan University in mathematics with a concentration in creative writing. He has taught at The American School in Switzerland; Westminster School, where he also served as assistant dean of faculty; and the Met Center High School in Providence, R.I., an innovative Big Picture public high school funded by the Gates Foundation. He began his Berkshire career as the dean of academic affairs in 2005 and has served as a member of the senior administrative team since then. In 2010, he was appointed director of college counseling, overseeing a college counseling program in which the percentage of Berkshire graduates earning acceptances to the most selective colleges and universities increased to nearly 90%. He can often be found running the Appalachian Trail just above Berkshire’s campus and welcomes all students for a game of chess in his office.

It is my great privilege and honor to lead Berkshire School as we continue to advance our place among the country’s finest independent boarding schools. During my 11 years of service to Berkshire, the school has grown in transformational and lasting ways, with the quality of our students, faculty and programs never stronger, applications for admission exceeding 1,200 per year, and tremendous support from grateful graduates and parents demonstrating their overwhelming dedication to our community. Since coming to Berkshire in 2005, I have served as dean of academic affairs, math teacher, coach and advisor, and director of college counseling, before assuming my role as head of school. During this time, I have seen the school flourish. Our commitment to academic, artistic, and athletic excellence has led to record numbers in admissions, success and achievement in every corner of our campus, and nearly 90% of our graduates earning acceptances to the most selective colleges and universities in the country. The talent and dedication of our students has produced INTEL Science Talent Search semi-finalists, primary authorships on scholarly publications, Scholastic Art Award national medalists, New England Championship athletic teams, and inspiring theater and music performances throughout each year. As you will read in the following pages, Berkshire offers a rigorous, forward-thinking college preparatory curriculum, emphasizing both the critical skills required for success in the ever-changing world that our students are entering, and the content to ensure that they leave us with a broad base of knowledge in all disciplines. Our goal, however, is to ensure that every student has a unique learning experience that goes beyond what is offered at the core. Berkshire’s signature programs – Pro Vita, Advanced Math/Science Research, Advanced Humanities Research, the Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program, Independent Study and Aviation Science – are designed to expand minds and broaden horizons. It is beyond the core where students find their passions while distinguishing themselves in an increasingly competitive college process. Our talented, committed and engaged faculty inspire students to find these passions and to strive to reach their full potential every day. Our motto, Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus – “Learning-not just for school but for life” – implores us to make learning relevant, to provide opportunities for real-world experiences and to create programs that will inspire lifelong passions. I hope you will visit us under the Mountain to see firsthand the extraordinary opportunities available to our students and to meet the people that make up this diverse and vibrant community.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Pro Vita,

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Student-centered, Relevant Learning At the heart of Berkshire’s academic program is a rigorous and comprehensive college preparatory curriculum that fosters critical thinking, problem solving and intellectual curiosity across all disciplines. Built upon a strong foundation of core courses, the curriculum affords students the opportunity to explore an intellectual passion or nurture a new interest within the broad curricular offerings. Five academic courses are the standard full load for most students, though many opt to take additional electives. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue a subject to the most advanced level possible, which challenges them to apply concepts and skills at a higher level, and which for many means taking courses well beyond those required for graduation. All departments offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses that can help motivated and qualified students prepare for the College Board Advanced Placement exams. Berkshire’s location—at the base of Mount Everett—is an integral component of the curriculum and serves as the backdrop for many classes. The School’s proximity to nearby Hartford and Albany, as well as to leading colleges and universities, allows unique partnerships and programs.

ugh to produce “Work hard eno proud of something you’re do, it won’t go because if you y entire communit e h T . d e c ti no un visor, your notices—your ad academic dean e th , an e d rm fo ents.” and other stud – Matty, New

Canaan, CT

Berkshire is home to 60,000 honey bees, brought here by one student researching colony collapse disorder, a condition effecting the bee population and in turn the world’s agricultural crops and the global economy.

Black Rock Scholars // The Black Rock Scholars Program encourages students to participate in experiences, both inside and out of the classroom, that prepare them to be exemplary citizens of the global community. Black Rock Scholars engage in five core areas related to Berkshire’s mission: Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, Community Service and Philanthropy, Sense of Place and Global Awareness. Students complete a culminating project that they design and execute and lead an initiative that serves the local or global community.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

The Honor Code is the basis of es student life at Berkshire. It plac the ent stud in the hands of each duct responsibility for honorable con as a way of life. It is founded on

Our Core Values

Integrity

the principles that a student’s word is his or her bond and that d on each student’s conduct is base rs. courtesy and concern for othe

Respect

Perseverance

To be honest and accountable

To respect oneself and others,

To be steadfast and persistent

to oneself and to others, to trust

one’s place and surroundings,

in the face of challenge

and be trusted, to be disciplined

to consider intent and impact,

or obstacle, to rise above

and responsible, in all academic

and to act in ways that

mistakes and failures, and

pursuits and in all relationships.

demonstrate empathy and

to see things through to

understanding.

completion.

Curiosity To question, to explore, to discover, to learn about oneself and others, and to embrace new experiences, not just for school but for life.

Inclusion To understand and learn from differences, to welcome the open exchange of ideas, and to create safe and affirming communities that value every person.

Resilience To set a new direction in response to changing circumstances, to manage and adapt to adversity, and to bounce back and regain one’s footing with confidence and purpose.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

MATH

Advanced Math/Science Research (AMSR) The Advanced Math/Science Research course is one of a handful of such secondary school courses offered in the country. What sets Berkshire’s course apart is the program’s design: students intern with a professional scientist to conduct real-world research in world-class facilities. Students do actual scientific investigations in fields seldom open to high school students, in some of the top laboratories in the U.S. Students work intensely with their mentors, in a field of their choice, for four to eight hours each week. The course culminates with a critical review paper and a research paper, both in scientific format. Students then present the results to members of the Math and Science Departments and the Berkshire community. Students have collaborated with mentors at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering at University of Albany—SUNY, Wadsworth Medical Center, Albany Medical, Union, UMass Amherst, Bucknell, Williams and other institutions based on their research interests.

The mathematics curriculum is designed to help students appreciate the nature, beauty, and scope of mathematics and to understand its potential in dealing with the world’s increasing technological complexities. Critical thinking, collaboration and mathematical modeling are emphasized at all levels. Advanced sections of courses in the core curriculum include AP Calculus BC, Multivariable Calculus with Differential Equations, Linear Algebra and Advanced Math/Science Research. Each allows students to pursue excellence in the subject at the highest level.

First-rate Facilities // The LEED Gold certified Bellas/Dixon Math and Science Center opened in 2012 and provides state-of-the-art technology integrated into the teaching spaces, allowing faculty to seamlessly incorporate and model the use of technology in the curriculum. Students gain real hands-on experience in an authentic, first-rate research environment comparable to top research facilities in the country.

Onward and upward with math and science AMSR students have matriculated at these and other leading colleges and universities:

Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Northeastern, Princeton, Reed College, University of

Field Note: Over the past seven years, seven Advanced Math/ Science Research students were named Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) semifinalists, a distinction earned by only 300 students in the country each year. Renamed the Regeneron STS, it is the most prestigious science competition for pre-college students in the nation.

Pennsylvania, Stanford, Tufts and Yale

“The Schoo l encourages you to challenge yo urself as muc h as you want. N o one will te ll you that you can ’t do somet hing . The teache rs really wa nt you to succeed and will help yo u figure out how you can do that. ”

– Eliza, Arl

ington, VT

Berkshire School A Field Guide

“AMSR students learn the fundamentals of critical thinking and the scientific method in a safe environment with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, utilizing advanced techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence microscopy and Western Blotting. Research is tailored to the interests of each student, conducted at the graduate level and completely student driven.” – Dr. April Burch, Director of the Advanced Math/Science Research program

“I am thrilled to be working with a hig h school science research program like the one Berkshire School has developed. They are producing the scientific leaders of tomorrow.”

– Scott Tenebaum, Ph.D., College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University at Albany-SUNY

r on the Perfect // One Berkshire Bea t score Math Team received a perfec on the American Mathematics of only Competition 10 exam—one test 10 such scores out of 70,894 takers across the U.S.

SCIENCE

STEAM

The science curriculum teaches students the skills of logical and critical thinking, problem solving, research and clear communication, and prepares students to find patterns underlying collections of facts. Students learn how to use an array of instruments (both in and out of the laboratory), to collect and analyze data and to present their results in professional scientific formats. Upper-level courses include further exploration in biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science as well as electives, including Sustainability, Astronomy and Aviation Science.

Through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), students have the opportunity to be designers, creators, innovators, risk-takers and entrepreneurs. Offered during the afternoon program, students can identify and tackle authentic problems in context and design solution-based prototypes using interdisciplinary approaches bridging science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts.

Pack Your Waders // Chemistry students participate in an annual â&#x20AC;&#x153;mountain day,â&#x20AC;? testing water along

Makerspace // Our Makerspace is equipped with Arduino boards, electronics, 3-D printers, LEDs,

the Appalachian Trail that hikers may use for drinking. Students test different sections along the water

woodworking tools and much more. In collaboration, students can create, invent, tinker, explore, and

trail, observing how the ground water changes chemically as it travels from the mountain through the

discover through practical, hands-on experience with new technologies and innovative processes as

Sheffield valley and into the Housatonic River. Findings are compiled in a database to track year-to-

they design and build projects.

year comparisons, allowing for research by both students and scientists outside the community.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

“The students and teachers at Berkshire have the finest math/science facilities of any high school in the United States. If a student can dream it, we can help them do it.” – Kurt Schleunes, Math Department

Berkshire School A Field Guide

ENGLISH

The English curriculum emphasizes 21st century skills by building on traditional ones. It teaches students to read carefully and appreciatively and to write clearly and expressively, emphasizing critical thinking and problem solving throughout the curriculum. Paying attention to the traditional building blocks of communication while engaging students in Web research and interactive presentations prepares them for the varied demands of college and life. While reading both canonical and contemporary texts in a thoughtful manner, students develop a more informed and compassionate perspective toward the larger community, with special regard to issues of sustainability. The fundamental assumption is that by working with language, literature and ideas in a dynamic fashion, students develop their abilities not only to communicate but also to think and reason critically, making them more aware of the multiple aspects of communication in a complex world.

Advanced Humanities Research (AHR) This course is offered to students with a deep interest in the humanities—languages, literature, history, philosophy and the arts—who wish to build on the knowledge acquired in the traditional humanities curriculum. After an introductory course in contemporary cultural and critical theory, students utilize Berkshire’s resources to define and research a topic and question, and prepare a full-length literature review in which

The Play’s the Thing // As a rite of passage, every winter the entire Sixth Form stages a production

they summarize and critique the contemporary

of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, contemporary style. Each English class is assigned several scenes

scholarship relevant to their topic. Students also work

of the play, and students select a theme, with recent inspirations coming from The Godfather, Harry

with their instructor to find appropriate professionals

Potter and Batman. In well-choreographed chaos, the Prince of Denmark can be portrayed by 10 or

in their fields—mostly scholars, but also trade

more actors, while settings change faster than you can say “Elsinore!”

professionals, such as architects or filmmakers—to supervise and comment on their work. The year-long course culminates in a publicationquality paper, which the students present to members of the Berkshire community. When feasible, students make visits to archives, examine primary documents

We have built AHR for students to move beyond the Advanced Placement program and therefore in many ways approximate the experience of undergraduates in top liberal arts schools. Reading theory, juxtaposing critical discourse and embarking on truly original research of their own, AHR students work with exceptional independence to follow their academic passions into the world of pure scholarship.

firsthand, attend academic conferences and/or submit their work for publication consideration.

Field Note: The Dome is Berkshire’s journal of arts and literature. It is published twice a year (both

Berkshire School A Field Guide

online and in print) and includes fiction, poetry

CLICK HERE

and personal narrative, as well as multimedia,

Read the eDome online!

including photos, podcasts, videos and audio files.

www.berkshireschool.org/eDome

Berkshire School A Field Guide

s “There are so many unique opportunitie . for you to excel in real-world settings a Whether it be under the tutelage of ing professional research scientist, immers yourself in a passion during a Pro Vita our course, working with students from to partner schools abroad, or contributing ses, our commitment to sustainability in clas clubs, or inter-school competition.” –Clay Splawn, Dean of Academics

HISTORY

The goal of the history curriculum is to introduce students to the rich cultural variety of the human community, to acquaint them with the development of the major traditions underlying civilization and to provide them with an opportunity to read history in depth. Topics include the recent development of societies around the globe, as well as the organization and dynamics of social, economic, religious and political institutions that shape the world today. Students learn through multimedia presentations, which include the use of SMARTBoards and tablets that help to spark debate and discussions.

Field Note: Each year, the Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize is awarded to the best business plan for a financially feasible product, service, project or program that can also contribute to living in more sustainable communities. Berkshire students collaborate with professionals from the business and environmental worlds, as well as the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, before presenting their business plans to a panel of judges prominent in their field.

The Sound of Music // A new Music Center was completed in 2011 and features spacious classrooms and soundproof practice rooms as well as a comfortable (and highly popular) lounge area and a recording studio. In addition to the full Berkshire Chorus, students may join one of the singing groups on campus: Greensleeves (an all-male a cappella group), Ursa Minor (an all-female a cappella group) or the Advanced Chorus which is co-ed. Instrumental groups include the Jazz Band and the Chamber Ensemble. Performing arts concerts are held each semester, and the community looks

Building Bridges // Through a partnership with Bridges of Understanding, a nonpolitical

forward to the annual Jazz Café, Capriccio classical music concert, Cabaret Night and the Digital

organization devoted to fostering a better understanding between Americans and the Arab world,

Music Festival among other special performances.

students in the Islam, Christianity and Judaism and Modern Middle Eastern Politics courses have monthly video conferences with students at the Amman Baccalaureate School in Jordan and AMIDEAST in Tunisia.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

LANGUAGES

Partners Abroad Berkshire is committed to preparing students to be members of a global community and educating them about the challenges and opportunities they will face in the future. Berkshire has begun to establish partnerships with schools in Jordan and Malawi to provide opportunities for student and faculty exchanges, and continues its partnership with a school in Hagen, Germany, that participates in a yearly exchange program with Berkshire students during Pro Vita week.

“It is important for our students to learn as much as possible about different religions and cultures in order to better understand the global community in which they live. Talking with people of different faiths and cultures is the best way for our students to tear down stereotypes and some prevailing misconceptions.”

The Foreign Language Department prepares students to live in a fast-moving, global society. Berkshire not only provides the opportunity for a language student to become fluent but also focuses on developing cultural sensitivity by studying each language’s unique civilization. Modern languages are taught in the target language, and the Department encourages each student to participate in immersion outlets such as clubs, language-based trips and exchange programs. Berkshire offers Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish. To support students and help them achieve their academic goals, a range of materials are employed that include work in Berkshire’s state-of-the-art Language Lab, as well as French, Spanish and Chinese satellite TV broadcasts.

– Kevan Bowler, History Department Chair

Field Note: As part of their coursework in 21st Century Global Politics, students travel to the United Nations Headquarters in New York to study the interplay between global and national politics.

Trading Places // Berkshire’s partnership with the Jubilee School in Amman, Jordan, brought 12 students and two teachers to campus (and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) for 10 days. Berkshire reciprocated with its own trip to Jordan for 12 students the following year.

“Our language classe s are focusing on each student’s in dividual interests, helping them deve lop vocabulary and skills that answ er the question, ‘What can I use?’ instead of ‘What can I memor ize?’” – Anna Barter, Ph

.D., Language Depa rtm

Berkshire School A Field Guide

ent Chair

“It would be no small advantage if every college were thus located at the base of a mountain.” – Henry David Thoreau

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Living Deliberately // Henry David Thoreau made the observation at left in 1844, when visiting Williams College, also located in the Berkshires, at the base of Mount Greylock. At Berkshire, our location at the base of Mount Everett is no small advantage either. The Mountain and surrounding areas provide a living laboratory for courses related not just to the environment but to all disciplines. In 2005, students and faculty built a replica of Thoreau’s cabin on Walden Pond in the woods behind Berkshire Hall. Here, an English class meets near it for some inspiration.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

THE ARTS

Berkshire offers a broad selection of visual and performing arts courses, including studio art, ceramics, photography, filmmaking, digital art, music, dance and theater. Introductory to advanced options are available, allowing students to explore new mediums or cultivate an existing talent. In the visual arts, students may study a particular medium in depth or sample several courses across the curriculum. While a strong technical foundation is stressed, equal emphasis is placed upon creative self-expression and developing the artist’s unique voice. The studio experience is at the core of these explorations and is enhanced through study of the history of the fine arts in relation to students’ works. Advanced studies include a strong emphasis on critical and creative thinking, as well as portfolio preparation.

Artists’ Accolades // In the past three years, Berkshire students have received 69 Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards for excellence in studio art, ceramics, photography and digital art.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

In the performing arts, courses offer students the opportunity to explore a variety of disciplines through both active participation in group ensembles and classroom study. Courses of study are available for every level of student, from the beginner to the most advanced artist, in dance, theater and music. The programs emphasize technical proficiency, collaboration, creative expression and stage presence, with the opportunity to perform in a variety of concerts, recitals and performances throughout the year. Berkshire offers an eclectic variety of dance styles, including Modern, Contemporary International, Hip Hop, Popping and Locking, Ballet and Jazz and more. Students can explore dance as a powerful tool for expression, creativity and discussion and take part in the creative process of putting on three performances per year.

The Sound of Music // A new music center was completed in 2011 and features spacious classrooms and soundproof practice rooms, as well as a comfortable (and highly popular) lounge area and recording studio. In addition to the full Berkshire Chorus, students may join one of the singing groups on campus: Greensleeves (boys’ a cappella), Ursa Minor (girls’ a cappella) or the Advanced Chorus, which is co-ed. Instrumental groups include the Jazz Band and the Chamber Ensemble. Performing arts concerts are held each semester, and the community looks forward to the annual Jazz Café, Capriccio classical music concert, Cabaret Night and the Digital Music Festival, among other special performances.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

“ The expectations and standards are high. I’m continually impressed with the level of ownership each student takes in the productions. This is the reverb of full participation.”

Break a Leg // Two plays and one musical are presented each year, and theater students often perform to packed houses of faculty, students, family, friends and members of the local community. Recent theater productions include Urinetown: The Musical, The Crucible, Grease, Into The Woods, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Anything Goes and In the Heights. The actors are passionate about each production and blog about their behind-the-scenes experiences— from set creation to strike. www.berkshireschool.org/theater

– Jesse Howard, Director of Theater

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Teachers, Coaches, Mentors Faculty members choose the boarding school life and make a commitment to furthering the education of students inside and outside of the classroom. More than 80% of Berkshire faculty members live in campus housing. Beyond teaching, each faculty member coaches a sport, serves as an advisor, helps with clubs and activities and often takes on other supervisory roles, which means students interact with faculty multiple times each day in a variety of contexts. The frequent interaction between students and faculty and the close-knit community are hallmarks of the school. Faculty want to help students succeed, and students are driven to seek out faculty to make that possible. It is because of this cooperative relationship that students develop strong relationships with faculty which often extend beyond their years at Berkshire. No student is anonymous at Berkshire. Everyone knows everyone—from faculty and staff to new students and graduating seniors. Community dinners take place twice a week in the fall and once a week in the spring, allowing every student and every faculty member to meet one another by rotating table pairings every two weeks. Students from all classes sit together with faculty and staff, and experience firsthand the value of Berkshire’s strong sense of community.

you and “Teachers can relate to rough the there’s no way to fall th routine cracks. They see your u at every day; they see yo r life.” breakfast. You are thei 34

Berkshire School A Field Guide

hamas

– Kienan, Nassau, Ba

Learning for Life // Like the students, faculty members are encouraged to embrace the School motto. Berkshire is committed to supporting the faculty’s professional development with opportunities to further their careers and enrich their teaching. Faculty members are involved with graduate and other studies at Dartmouth, UCLA, Northeastern, and Bread Loaf School of English at Oxford. Summer travel brings faculty to conferences on technology, scientific research, language, the arts and various Maker Faires across the country.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Independent Study Berkshire students may work with a faculty mentor to design a course that allows them to pursue an academic interest beyond the core courses and electives offered in the regular curriculum, and which mirrors the academic rigors of college. Independent study courses may be designed for one semester or for the entire year, with the option to combine academic work on campus with shadowing area professionals or volunteer internships at local organizations. Students—primarily in Fifth and Sixth Forms—present written proposals to a panel of faculty members for approval, meet with mentors weekly and are assessed through written materials, critiques, projects or compositions. Each independent study culminates in a final presentation before the school community.

Field Note: Carrie Babigian ’16 wrote a one-act play, “Closing Time,” which she produced and directed to an overflow audience and rave reviews. In her study, she examined how playwriting communicates narratives differently than prose, her prior main creative focus.

Seeing Stars // Sam Cabot ’13 had been interested in astronomy since childhood, and was impressed and thrilled to find the Dixon Observatory on Berkshire’s campus. He volunteered in the observatory and then took on an independent study which involved creating an inventory of resources, managing the repair and reassembly of equipment, publicizing the Dixon Observatory as a school and local community resource, and creating photographs and technical instructions. Using Berkshire’s state-of-the-art equipment, Sam gave community presentations to schools and retirement groups—a comprehensive experience that led to his decision to study astrophysics and cosmology in college.

2016 Independent Study Projects Sustainability in Berkshire’s Surrounding Areas

Epidemiology: The Zika Virus

Four-Variable Predictive Modeling

Cystic Fibrosis & Pharmaceutical Efficacy

Aquaponics at Berkshire

Holistic Health

Portrait Photography

The Art of Translation: English vs.

Financial Crisis ’08: Causes and After Effects in the U.S. & China

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Modern Mandarin

“The Independent Study program captures Berkshire’s mission to inspire a love of learning in its students. When we have a curious student, we feed that curiosity as much as possible, and this program is the perfect way to do that.” – Linda Bellizzi, Director of Independent Study

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Pro Vita Winter Session For one week every winter, Berkshire students take a break from the traditional curriculum to participate in two unique, intensive courses of their choosing, taught by Berkshire faculty, parents, alumni and friends. Following the school motto, Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus (Learning—not just for school but for life), the weeklong courses allow students to uncover new talents and discover lifelong pursuits. More than 80 courses are offered each year and have included Entrepreneurial Studies, the Art of DJ’ing, Chaos Theory, Fine Furniture Making, Designing Android Apps and Intellectual Property Law, to name a few. Guest speakers have included National Geographic adventure photographer Tommy Schultz, international marketing consultant Sheila Roche who launched the (RED) AIDS organization, social entrepreneur Alvaro Rodriguez ’85, and comedian Gary Vider ’02 of America’s Got Talent fame.

Where will Pro Vita take you next year? Explore the world outside of Berkshire during annual Pro Vita excursions. The 2017 offerings are:

Iceland: Creating Sustainable Communities Arizona: the Navajo Nation Island School: Marine Ecology in the Bahamas Seattle: All the World’s a Stage: Discovering the Seattle Stage Scene Minnesota: Dogsledding and Leadership Adventures Spain: A Walk Along the Camino de Santiago

Up, Up and Away // As part of Pro Vita week, the Aviation Science course goes to Florida for flight training. “Flying gives the kids a tremendous sense of accomplishment and makes them better decision makers. They realize that flying is the ultimate freedom and the ultimate responsibility at the same time. And then they start applying that principle to the rest of their lives.” – Michael Lee, Aviation Science instructor and father of three Berkshire graduates

Berkshire School A Field Guide

class periods, “With over 80 classes, 2 e opportunities and 14 visiting teachers, th oose boldly. are limitless. Take risks; ch in one day, you This is a week where, all as a juror in a can learn the ukulele, act ld a flashlight recent murder case, and bui the same day!” out of an Altoids box. All in a –Bebe Bullock ’86, Pro Vit

Director

Berkshire School A Field Guide

The experience encourages students to engage with ideas in an open-ended environment, to have fun, to make something , to dig deeper and to leave Berkshire with a better sense of self.

Point/Counterpoint // Led by alumnus Bob Witkowski â&#x20AC;&#x2122;66, students stirred it up on the airwaves of WBSL Radio 91.7 FM during the Political Talk Radio course.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Academic Resources: Stay on Course

Geier Library The Geier Library supports the School mission by teaching students the skills necessary to thrive in today’s complex, interconnected world and by developing a collection of print and digital resources that support the academic goals of the

Berkshire recognizes that students require different study environments and different methods of learning, and provides a number of opportunities, as well as additional support for that effort. Faculty are available for extra help beyond the academic day to work with boarding and day students in one-on-one or small group environments. Study halls allow for quiet study six nights a week, in dorms, academic spaces and the library. More structured options are available through the Kenefick Center for Learning, Virtual High School and the Writing Center. The Writing Center The Writing Center offers students individual

The Barbara Kenefick Center for Learning The Kenefick Center for Learning (KCL) is

assistance with their writing and the opportunity

named in honor of Barbara Kenefick, who

to utilize a space exclusively dedicated to writers

founded Berkshire’s Academic Support Program

and writing.

in 1992. The goal of the KCL is to assist students

In the Writing Center, students can work on all

who are able to meet Berkshire’s rigorous

aspects of the craft, from fine-tuning grammar

academic standards but may need additional

and sentence strucTure to developing an evidence-

attention in order to develop the learning

based argument and writing persuasively.

competencies that the curriculum demands. The

Both students and faculty serve as consultants

entire community. It’s a warm, welcoming destination -- a space for academic studies, relaxation and leisure reading. Our professional librarian and library Virtual High School Virtual High School places students in the

technical services staff offer individualized support for projects or research assignments.

alternative learning environments that they will

Our collection includes exceptional online

encounter in college and beyond, teaching them

resources, up-to-date print fiction, nonfiction

to advocate for themselves, work independently

and reference books, magazines, newspapers,

and manage their time and learning. It also offers

journals and DVDs.

classes not offered on campus, thereby expanding

There are over a dozen Macs with a wide

students’ curricular opportunities. Recent

range of software applications, a networked

courses include Computer Science, Anatomy and

printer/copier, noise-cancelling headphones and

Physiology, Peacemaking in Politics and Genes

graphing calculators for in-library use as well as

and Disease.

iPads, laptops Kindles available to borrow.

KCL is fully integrated into the academic life of

and are eager to provide assistance with class

the School and offers services such as basic study

assignments, college application essays and other

and time-management skills, subject-specific

writing projects. Writing Center consultants assist

tutoring and assistance with skills necessary

students in any step of the process, while allowing

for college success. In addition, the KCL provides

them to develop their own voices as they learn the

help to all members of the Berkshire community

most effective way to communicate through the

in identifying and assisting students who have

written word.

different learning styles.

“We encourage our students to see writing as a form of thinking—not just a way to communicate already formed ideas, but as a vehicle of intellectual discovery; a way to come to new thoughts about this or that subject that one might never have had before. This makes the act of writing feel alive and necessary, and not merely like a tool for communication.” - Bernie Rhie, Ph.D., English Department

Berkshire School A Field Guide

College Counseling: Beyond Berkshire The College Office at Berkshire has a tremendous track record for finding colleges and universities that best match each student’s talents, interests and aspirations. The school takes even greater pride in students’ academic success, leadership and community contributions once they get to college. Berkshire provides a level of service and expertise in the college process far surpassing schools of similar size. Students are encouraged to meet with college counselors at any time for guidance, but the formal process begins during the winter of fifth-form year, when college counselors begin to meet with students on a regular basis to identify each student’s talents and interests and to develop an initial list of colleges to explore. Naviance’s Family Connection is an essential online resource which students, parents and college counselors all access to research, organize and help direct the college process.

Fifth formers begin visiting colleges and universities during March vacation, and the balance of the fifth-form year is devoted to refining each student’s college list, preparing for the first round of standardized testing and planning the sixth-form course of study. The summer is spent visiting additional colleges, beginning the application process and writing the college essay. In the fall of the sixth-form year, students complete their standardized testing and finalize their applications. Berkshire’s college counselors oversee the application process throughout the fall, meeting weekly with each sixth former to ensure that applications are thoroughly reviewed and submitted

ahead of deadlines. The college process at Berkshire is rooted in an effective partnership between each student, his or her parents and the college counselor.

Members of the Classes of 2015 and 2016 enrolled at these and other leading colleges and universities: Arizona State University * Bard College * Bates College * Baylor University * Bentley University * Boston University * Bowdoin College * Bucknell University * Carnegie Mellon University * Case Western Reserve University * Colby College * Colgate University * College of Charleston * University of Colorado at Boulder * Colorado College * Columbia University * Connecticut College * Dartmouth College * Davidson College * Denison University * University of Denver * Dickinson College * Duke University * University of Edinburgh (UK) * Elon University * Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University * Georgetown University * Gettysburg College * Hamilton College • Hobart and William Smith Colleges * College of the Holy Cross * Juniata College * Kenyon College * Lafayette College * Lehigh University * Marist College * University of Michigan – Ann Arbor * Middlebury College * NYU – Shanghai * Northeastern University * University of Notre Dame * Oberlin College * Occidental College * United States Military

Field Note: Each college counselor works with no more than 25-35 students, giving Berkshire’s students a distinct competitive edge in the college process. • Nearly 90% of the Class of 2016 earned acceptances to Barron’s Profile of American Colleges’ “Most Competitive” and “Highly Competitive” colleges and universities. • 94% of all ED admits for the Class of ’16 were at Tier 1 or Tier 2 schools, up from 92% for 2015. • The Class of 2016 saw admit rates of 75% and 66% at schools including Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Georgetown and Washington University in St. Louis.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Academy * University of Pennsylvania * University of Redlands * University of Richmond * Sewanee: The University of the South * Skidmore College * St. Andrews University (UK) * St. Lawrence University * Southern Methodist University * Stanford University * Stevens Institute of Technology * Syracuse University * Trinity College * Tulane University * Tufts University * Union College * United States Naval Academy * University of Vermont * Wake Forest University * Washington University in St. Louis * Wesleyan University * Williams College * Yale University

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Fall

Winter

Spring

Rock Climbing, Canoeing,

Nordic and Backcountry

Mountain & Road Biking, Trail

Trail Building, Backcountry

Skiing

Building, Backcountry Skills

Skills

Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program Berkshire School boasts an asset no other college preparatory school can claim: Mount Everett, the second highest mountain in Massachusetts. Berkshire celebrates the mountain it lies beneath with the Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program (RKMP), named after a 1985 alumnus who died in 1992 while climbing Mount Foraker in Alaska. The RKMP encourages students to interact with natural resources and fosters an interdependency between the campus and its natural surroundings. More specifically, the RKMP uses Berkshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural resources to promote academic growth, to challenge athletically, to teach leadership, to develop character and to foster environmental responsibility. RKMP faculty offer afternoon alternatives to traditional team pursuits, as well as a Beyond the Mountain program through which they guide students on domestic and international wilderness trips. The program also promotes a healthy group dynamic among sports teams who use the low and high initiatives of the school ropes course. The RKMP provides both leadership and financial support in the campus-wide commitment to environmental stewardship. Through these many activities, students gain greater insight into themselves and the world around them, and learn to develop as individuals within the natural environment.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Clubs

Trips

Fly Fishing

Rock Climbing

Hiking

Hiking and canoeing off-campus excursions will be

Maple Syrup Corporation

offered in the fall and spring.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

“Rock climbing has definitely opened up a whole new hobby for me. I wasn’t so outdoorsy when I came to Berkshire, but being on the mountain has made me more adventurous.” – Thomas, Mystic, CT

Knowing the Ropes // Ber kshire’s ropes course is used for orienta tion, leadership training and team buildin g exercises.

From Thailand to the A.T. // On a recent RKMP summer excursion, students experienced rock climbing on ocean cliffs in Thailand and studied the historical and cultural past of the Cambodian people. But you don’t have to go abroad to test your limits or experience the great outdoors: Berkshire has 25 miles of hiking trails that access the Appalachian Trail and an Adirondack lean-to (built by students, faculty and staff) for RKMP-sponsored overnights on the Mountain. Berkshire School A Field Guide

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Awards and Grants

Sustainability: Berkshire Green Berkshire School’s commitment to environmental stewardship harkens back to the school’s founding practices in 1907, when a respect for natural resources was exercised by all. Today, Berkshire is a leader among independent schools in advancing the principles of sustainability, with a culture of conservation and environmental responsibility ingrained across campus and throughout all programs. Berkshire uses a conceptual model to present sustainability as the pursuit of three interrelated objectives: environmental integrity, economic justice and social equity. The school’s sustainability plan addresses short- and long-range objectives that include education (both internal and external), energy conservation, creating a sustainable food system, protecting and maintaining the natural campus environment and reducing waste streams on campus with the goal of a “net-zero”-waste campus through responsible procurement strategies and use of resources. The most noteworthy aspect of Berkshire’s greening is that it’s the students who are leading most sustainability initiatives. Students in the Sustainability class have been the drivers—and the facilitators—of nearly all new sustainability programs on campus. They conduct background research, perform risk analysis, develop proposals and present their findings and ideas to the committee. Their latest initiative: the eight-acre, two-megawatt solar field with 8,332 photovoltaic solar panels—one of the largest solar fields of any school or college in New England. In the summer of 2016, Berkshire made a significant long-term financial commitment to a new solar field in Bolton, Mass. With this further commitment to renewable energy, the School has dedicated 60-65% of its annual energy budget to solar power. 100% of our energy needs continue to be covered by renewable sources. Students are also in charge of day-to-day sustainability operations on campus, including recycling, composting, source reduction (decreasing the amount of materials or energy used during the manufacturing or distribution of products and packages) and data collection. From creating and presenting new ideas to detailing each sustainability initiative’s proposed benefits, the hands-on learning encompasses real-world problem solving and positions Berkshire School to be a leader in science and technology education.

tric Vehicle Investment 2015 Massachusetts Elec an electric car Program Grant Recipient for initiative led charging station, a studentbon School by the U.S. 2013 Named a Green Rib e of just 64 Department of Education (On ion) inct schools to receive this dist owments Institute 2011 The Sustainable End t reen Challenge, participan Billion Dollar G ary ond sec only (Berkshire School was the .) ntry cou the in t school participan utiful Recycle Bowl, 2011 Keep America Bea Massachusetts champion Community Garden 2010 DoSomething.org t pien reci nt, Gra n Association (SCA) 2010 Student Conservatio test, Biodiesel, finalist Con ool Sch r Green You Community Foundation 2010 Berkshire Taconic s Fund Grant, recipient ture Green Your Pas Increase Your Green 2009 DoSomething.org Competition, winner e winner Green Cup Challenge, 1st Plac 2008

“In the highly competitive world of New England prep schools, the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., is definitely No. 1 at solar.” – The Huffington Post

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS) // Berkshire School uses the STARS system, the most thoroughly vetted and extensively tested self-reporting framework for colleges and universities, to measure sustainability performance. Berkshire was the first secondary school in the country to adopt this campus tracking system, and earned a STARS silver rating. Berkshire has also been instrumental in helping peer schools adopt the STARS system, and formed a sustainability collaborative with Andover, St. Paul’s School, and Northfield Mount Hermon, which earned a STARS bronze rating.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Go Bears! Berkshire athletics strive to foster students’ leadership skills, self-confidence and commitment to others. The physical and mental challenges provided in the team context promote character development and collaboration, inspiring participants to lead productive and active lives. Teams are led by coaches and staff with expertise in teaching technical skill and the ability to motivate and relate to student-athletes. Coaches inspire individual athletes and teams to constantly improve, to work hard and to be disciplined in the fundamental aspects of their sports, while also building healthy, fun and supportive team environments. All Berkshire teams compete on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Berkshire offers lower teams in most sports to allow students of all levels to participate. Students often discover new interests and talents by trying a sport they’ve never played before. Berkshire’s location in the southwest corner of the state allows students to play Choate, Hotchkiss, Taft, Loomis, Deerfield, Salisbury, Kent, Avon and Westminster, among others.

Court Order // Berkshire is excited to unveil its brand new squash facility and renovated gymnasium, opening in the fall of 2016. With new courts for basketball and volleyball, a newly renovated dance studio, new locker room facilities and 10 bright and airy new squash courts, our Bears will have a shiny new den for the 16-17 season.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Colors: Green & Gray Mascot: Bears Conference: New England Prep School Athletic Council Berkshire School A Field Guide

With 17 sports and 49 athletic team options, there’s a sport for every student.

Fall:

Winter:

Spring:

Cross Country, Field Hockey,

Alpine Skiing, Basketball,

Baseball, Crew, Golf, Lacrosse,

Football, Soccer, Volleyball

Freestyle Skiing, Hockey,

Softball, Tennis, Track & Field

Squash

The “Jack” // The state-of-the-art Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center features two ice hockey rinks, a community fitness center, 14 locker rooms and a full athletic training suite.

Beyond the campus, athletes participating in alpine skiing, golf and crew travel to nearby venues, including Ski Butternut, Wyantenuck Golf Course and Lake Wononpakook in Lakeville, Conn., for crew.

Not to mention a mountain of facilities for Berkshire athletes:

14 locker rooms • 12 tennis courts • 10 squash courts • 3 basketball courts • 3 volleyball courts • 2 ice hockey rinks • 2 turf fields • 4-lane 400-meter track • Stadium field with lights • Soccer pitch • Baseball and softball fields • Community fitness center • Full athletic training suite • Dance studio •Climbing wall

Berkshire School A Field Guide

ilt a “Berkshire teams have bu while long tradition of winning , amwork instilling the values of te ill and sportsmanship that w long remain with our athletes me after they leave their ho under the Mountain.” – Dan Driscoll, Director

Follow us! // For more information on all our teams, go to www.berkshir eschool.org/athletics and don’t forget to follow @Berksh ireBears on Twitter for up-to-the-m inut e news and highlights as they happen. #GoBear s!

of Athletics

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Student Life

Berkshire is a close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone on campus and relationships are meaningfulâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this is what students cite most often as their favorite part of being at Berkshire. Students are invested in their relationships with each other and the adults in the community, and they work hard to build a community that is competitive and compassionate, confident and humble, purposeful and spontaneous. Students teach one another the value of working hard and deliberately and the role leadership plays in creating an outstanding academic and social environment. Like all schools, Berkshire has deep-rooted traditions that help define the Berkshire experience, including Mountain Day, Winter Carnival and Senior Skip Day. But what is unique about Berkshire is that students do not simply uphold traditions and show up to events; instead, they build tradition and new programs, and as a result they are involved, invested and connected.

Home Away from Home // Berkshire has 10 dorms, ranging in size and feel. Various configurations exist, with no more than two students per room. Dorms are organized by â&#x20AC;&#x153;vertical housing,â&#x20AC;? which means that every dorm has students from each grade, allowing upperclassmen to serve as role models. It also means that new students are quickly integrated into the community. Faculty apartments adjoin each hall and two senior prefects provide leadership in everything from monitoring study hall and sustainability efforts to serving as mentors and organizing Winter Carnival events.

Holi Moly! // In 2014 a student introduced Berkshire to its first-ever Holi celebration, also known as the festival of colors, an ancient Hindu religious festival celebrated at the approach of the vernal equinox. Since then, it has become an annual tradition and a key component of WeWeek, a studentrun celebration of diversity and inclusion on campus.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

During weekends, students can n head into nearby Great Barringto to see a movie, go shopping or check out the local restaurants.

LeRhonda the Great // LeRhonda Greats is Berkshire’s Dean of Diversity and Inclusion. Part of her role is to work with student speakers who volunteer to lead weekly all-school meetings and help them tell their own stories. She helps us see each other’s differences and appreciate each other’s strengths. “It’s also my job to make sure that all of us are part of the process of understanding and belonging,” she said, “Of living together at this great school.”

Numerous opportunities exist outside of the academic schedule, allowing for a balanced Berkshire experience with activities and events designed to bring the student body together. Activities have included talent shows, jazz cafés, dances, hypnotists, Cabaret Night, “The Apprentice” annual digital art challenge, Capriccio classical music concerts, Coffee Houses, Trivia Night, Poetry Out Loud contests and the Black Rock Film Festival & Improv Night, to name a few. Clubs and Activities: 1907 Society Berkshire Birding Club Book Group The Dome (literature and arts journal) Fly Fishing Club

Quiz Bowl Student Activities Committee Ursa Minor (girls’ a cappella) WBSL Radio 91.7 FM Yearbook

French Club GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Green Key (tour guides) The Green and Gray (newspaper) Greensleeves (boys’ a cappella) Investment Club Jewish Student Union Kids 4 Kids (elementary school tutoring) Maple Syrup Corporation Math Team Model United Nations Poetry Out Loud Philanthropy Society

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Off Campus Recent off-campus outings: New York City and Hartford for museums, concerts and shopping The Big E, “New England’s Greatest State Fair” Apple picking at nearby orchards Ski trips to Catamount and Mount Snow Salisbury’s annual Ski Jump Weekend Paintball in Ancramdale, NY Albany (Crossgates Mall and movie theater) Interschool dances at Choate, Hotchkiss and Emma Willard Fan buses to rival schools

Berkshire School A Field Guide

What Berkshire students want you to know:

s “There are so many door you can open, and so many ts opportunities out there. Lo of people are trying new nt to things—it makes you wa try new things too.” – Chelsea, Lake Placid,

ly want you to “Teachers real u. You want to help yo y e h T . d e e c c su es acher 20 minut could email a te ra d end up in ext an l al h y ud st before r and a half.” help for an hou – Charlie, New

“There are so many th ings I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t come here, like taking a bigger role in the community. Your peers really encourage you to jump in. I came here thinking I would be scared to try somethin g new, but I wasn’t.”

– Liza, Miami

Beach, FL

lem ve no prob “People ha .” elves here s m e h t g bein tia Nova Sco Fall River, – Kelsey,

“It is NOT socially competitive. You can have friends in different grades. There’s no grade separation. That is huge.” – Elle, Wilmington, DE

To catch a glimpse of life at Berkshire, check out these student videos! www.berkshireschool.org/DayInTheLife

Canaan, CT

– Swetha, Whitehouse Sta tion, NJ

“It’s nice that w e don’t have every class every day. Some days you ge t to sleep in, some days yo u have a free period at a rand om time, so it’s not a constan t grind.”

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Things we love about Berkshire, according to the Bears, themselves: The sense of community Everyone knows everyone on campus Winter Carnival and only then! Standing on the school seal as a senior Exploring the Mountain Pro Vita week Getting to know the faculty Spirit Week Trying something new Hiking to Guilder Pond to swim Sledding on the turf hill The chance to do an Independent Study Stargazing at the Observatory

Leadership Opportunities Galore! // School Prefects • Green Key (tour guide) Leaders • Student Government • 1907 Society • Student Activities Leaders • Philanthropy Society Leaders • Green & Gray Captains

Berkshire School A Field Guide

anticipates Winter We’ve Got Spirit! // Every year the whole school eagerly y. Each dorm and Carnival, which takes place during the last week of Januar points being with title, the for the day students compete against each other al Carniv Winter tallied throughout Spirit Week, the week leading up to Night , Trivia Weekend. Dorm skits, broom ball, table tennis, figure skating . iceberg the of tip the just are t and a snow sculpture contes

r omes out fo c e n o y r e v “E nival. That’s Winter Car is. Berkshire y a w e h t just s rm, rivalrie o f s ip h s d n Frie ings all the r b it d n a , heat up ther.” dorms toge da ick, Bermu

arw – Zeiko, W

e really great It’s Better in Benson // “We hav , NJ. “With the food!” says Elsie from Paterson e’s always salad bar and the soup bar, ther what.” Weekly something good to eat no matter Community Advisee Lunch with advisors and students make Dinners with faculty and fellow get to know to e Benson Commons a great plac the whole community better, too.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

“The Mountain is a symbol of all that we can achieve and all that is greater than ourselves.”

#mountainday // Once each semester a surprise day off is granted (and usually announced

– Pieter Mulder, Head of School

excursions, general relaxing and a very good time is had by all!

Berkshire School A Field Guide

in some creative way!) and the entire school is encouraged to spend some time on the mountain. Mountain Days are full of group hikes, bikes, swims in Guilder Pond, fly fishing

Berkshire School A Field Guide

An Inspired Setting

The 400-acre Berkshire School campus is located at the base of Mount Everett (2,624 ft.) in Sheffield, Massachusetts, in the heart of the Berkshire Hills, a popular tourist destination for world-renowned arts and culture, health and wellness retreats and spectacular nature, including the Appalachian Trail, which is a short hike from campus. Approximately 2 ½ hours from Boston and New York City and 1 ½ hours from Albany and Hartford, Berkshire is centrally located and accessible to several highways and airports. Nearby Great Barrington (named the 2012 “Best Small Town in America” by Smithsonian magazine), Lenox and Salisbury, Conn., are frequent destinations for restaurants, shops and movie theaters.

Points of View // Options abound for changes of scenery, and Berkshire’s many vistas do not disappoint.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

For Families

“Hand in hand with friends and the extraordinary adults at Berkshire, my child grew into such a bright, accomplished and confident person.”

– Parent of a Class of 2016 Graduate

Parents, Join the Team! // There are lots of ways for parents to play a role in the Berkshire community. They are encouraged to reach out to prospective families in their communities and beyond through the Parent Ambassador Program. Athletic Team Coordinators work with fellow parents to organize team snacks or dinners on game days and other team activities. Some parents enjoy hosting Berkshire receptions in their homes for fellow parents and

The relationship between faculty, students and parents is a cornerstone of the Berkshire experience. The school takes seriously its principle of in loco parentis (“in the place of a parent”) and embodies it in many ways. Communication with parents is frequent, through letters, e-mails and phone calls, and faculty and staff ensure there is always a way they can be reached. Dorm staff watch over Berkshire’s boarding students and give each dorm a true family feeling, while form deans, who are in constant contact with teachers, chart the academic progress of each student. Coaches and other extracurricular leaders guide students through their afternoons, modeling teamwork and the benefits of non-academic pursuits. Working together, the school’s adults give students a sense of responsibility and productivity unique to boarding school living. Berkshire hosts two Parents’ Weekends each year, one in the fall and one in the winter. There is also a special weekend in the spring devoted to grandparents. The director of parent programs sends regular e-mail messages to all parents, and the school’s website provides parents with a comprehensive view of all that is happening on campus. Parents are also encouraged to follow daily happenings on the school’s social media outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

prospective families. On campus, teaching a class during Pro Vita week is a great way to share a talent or an interest.

“Teaching during Pro Vita is a privilege for any parent. As a visiting faculty member, I was struck by the collection of inspiring and inquisitive students enrolled in my ethics course. Ever cognizant of my status as guest at my son’s school, I marveled at the embrace offered by the entire Berkshire community. I was quite proud to participate in such a vibrant academic environment.” – Lynette Prescott ‘81 (Pictured at right with her sons, Corey ‘16 and Matty ‘14)

The Social Network // Advisors are in excellent communication with parents and gather information from the many adults—teachers, dorm parents, coaches, form deans—who form a student’s network of role models.

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Stay Connected: Now and Beyond

Next Steps Now that you know a bit more about Berkshire, here’s a list of what’s next!

1. August/Early Fall — Register for Testing Grade 9 and 10 require the SSAT .Grade 11 requires the PSAT or SAT . Grade 12 and PG requires the ACT or SAT.International students are required to take the TOEFL in addition to the SSAT, PSAT or SAT

#mountainday, #perkstobeingabear, #weweek, #bearhunt #provita2016, #berkshirebears, #wintercarnival2016

2. Fall through Mid-January — Schedule a Visit Please plan to spend approximately two hours at Berkshire for a campus tour, interview and time to ask questions. Visits can be scheduled between 8 am and 1:55 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; between 8 am and 9:40 am on Wednesdays; and between 8 am and 11:40 am on Saturdays. 3. December — Request Transcript & Letters of Recommendation Give the Transcript Request form to your secondary school placement office or guidance counselor to have your grades and test scores forwarded. Request that your current English and math teachers complete the recommendation forms. 4. January — Submit Application and Essay Deadline for the admission application is January 15th. If you are applying for Financial Aid, please visit sss.nais.org to complete the required financial aid forms and directly submit all necessary tax documents by the January 15th deadline. For assistance in submitting these materials, please contact SSS at 800-344-8328. For questions relating to Berkshire’s Financial Aid policies and practices, please contact Dana Anselmi, our Director of Financial Aid. March 10: Decisions Released // April 10: Responses Required from Admitted Students

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#bearsforever: Berkshire Connect // From college students searching for summer internships to professionals eyeing the next career move, the vast network of Berkshire alumni help each other out through our networking site, Berkshire Connect. Our alumni are employed by some of the top companies in the U.S. and abroad; they are entrepreneurs and self-starters; and they are always ready to assist fellow Bears with advice and opportunities. Once a Bear, always a Bear. Or as we like to say, #bearsforever

CT Contact our Admission Office anytime at 413.229.1003 with questions. We hope to see you on campus soon!

Berkshire School A Field Guide

Credits: Design by Hammill Design, Written by Sarah Olson and Lucia Mulder, Principal Photography: Chip Riegel Photography Additional Photography: Gregory Cherin, John Dolan, Risley Sports Photography and Amelia Patsalos-Fox â&#x20AC;&#x2122;14. With special thanks to the members of the Berkshire community who also supplied images for this book.

245 North Undermountain Road, Sheffield, Massachusetts 01257 www.berkshireschool.org