Poet in Residence

This spring, Berwick Academy experienced a full-circle community moment when the School welcomed its 10th Poet in Residence and original founder of the program, former Middle School English teacher Mary Anker.

Established in 2011, the Poet in Residence program continues to thrive in the Middle School, with each wordsmith leaving a lasting impact. At the start of her visit in April, Anker posed a challenge to the entire Middle School. “Take risks whenever you can. Take risks in your relationships, in your goals, and for this week; in your writing.” Like all previous visiting poets, Anker chose specific aspects of the writing process and workshopped with students on the art of crafting poetry. The poets who have visited Berwick Academy have brought their own cultural perspectives, their expertise, and their desire to immerse themselves in teaching. Mary Anker was no exception.

While growing up in New Mexico and California, Anker started telling stories to her younger brothers to help them get to sleep. She’s been awed by the power of words ever since. In 1999, when Mary Anker came to Berwick Academy, a door opened. Across that threshold waited a full career of teaching, coaching, learning, creating, and poetry. Even in retirement, her dedication to students and the community on the Hilltop never wavered. In 2021, former students Will Grant ’15, Emma Sattler ’17, Elsa Grant ’17, and Anker collaborated on an unlikely conversation, a published collection of poetry and artwork that stemmed from a string of “let’s keep in touch” emails between student and teacher.

The Poet in Residence week concluded with Anker presenting an evening reading in the Jackson Library that was open and free to the public. Berwick students shared poetry of their own at this event, and anecdotes from the workshops they attended. The Middle School chorus also performed several powerful songs that Anker had referenced throughout her teachings. Before her departure on Friday, there was a division-wide rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” an anthem of the American civil rights movement. Touched, Anker shared an excerpt from a poem she planned to send to her former student, now co-author, Will Grant: “I’m back where we were, missing those days and you. But now, there are these guys. All their minds, open to the risk of possibility.”

by Rob Quinn, Director of Athletics

The 2022-23 fall and winter athletic seasons brought great success to the Hilltop. The golf and boys swimming and diving teams brought home Eastern Independent League (EIL) Championships, while boys ice hockey won the Holt Conference in dramatic fashion. Girls soccer made a run to the EIL finals and competed in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Tournament; boys cross country went 5-1 on the season; and girls basketball finished with an impressive 17-5 record that included EIL and NESPAC tournament appearances. Individually, girls soccer player Allie Moore ’24 and girls ice hockey player Bella Pomarico ’23 were named Players of the Year by the EIL in their respective sports, and Eli Chilicki ’24 was the Player of the Year in the Holt Conference for boys ice hockey.