Note From Trevor

As I walked back from lunch on warm and windy day earlier in the week, I came upon a group of eighth grade boys who were joyously playing a game they had created out of thin air. As orange and red leaves randomly blew away from their host tree, the boys took turns trying to heroically catch the unpredictably flying foliage. Loud cheers arose every time a boy made a diving snag. While I was watching (and at one point unsuccessfully participating in) the fun, a few other middle school students walked by and I overheard their deep conversation about the etymology and meaning of one of my favorite, but rarely useful, words: defenestration. In this one moment some middle schoolers were engaged in active and creative play while others were breaking down vocabulary with Latin origins and historical significance. And thus I saw and heard simultaneous examples that are a microcosm of what it often looks like to spend your days with middle schoolers – witnessing youthful play and mature intellectual exploration.

For those of you who have the opportunity to visit us on Tuesday for our Bring Your Parents to School day, you too will see plenty of examples of what daily life is like for Bancroft middle schoolers. Whether in the classroom, the theater, the art room, the music room, the playground, or the halls, here are a few things you might notice:

• A trusting community where taking risks is expected
• The use of technology in class, whether it’s used for student creativity, to enrich the learning experience, or provides assistive technology (like text-to-speech)
• Peers supporting peers
• Students transitioning smoothly between full class, small group, and individual activities
• Adolescents discussing literature in clusters
• The gamification of learning
• Students learning transferable skills like how to best study for a test
• The use of current events to make real world connections
• Students working on projects that have built-in choice and independence
• Classmates working together on a performance where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
• Lots of laughter and energy

Of course you will also probably see plenty of surreptitious and wonderfully unpredictable moments that demonstrate the enthusiasm of middle schoolers and the strength of our community more than words ever could.

Finally, please note that it’s perfectly fine if you’re unable to attend this causal morning event. We know many of you can’t get away from work, and we also know that many of you have middle schoolers who have ordered you to stay far away. Both of these scenarios are completely understandable. If you can make it and haven’t RSVPd since last week’s note, kindly email Catherine Hanssen so we can have your schedule ready. Once you wrap up in the classroom, I’m eager for us to share what we noticed over coffee at 10:30.

Announcements:

• Help..Donations needed!!!! Our first Community Service date is ‪November 18^th, a plastic bin was placed in the front of the Boone Room for donations going to families in need in the Worcester area. ◦ 
• Donations needed are:  Turkey stuffing mix, Turkey gravy, Bread and muffin mixes, Pasta and Stew in cans, Toiletries, Cake mixes, Frosting in cans, Birthday, Candles, Small toys for gift bags, New toys, New pajamas, Birthday wrapping paper 

• Purchase Gift Cards thru Scrip – Orders due on November 6 and/or December 4.  Through scrip you buy gift cards for places you normally shop and a percentage of the value is donated to the Bancroft PFA at no extra cost to you. You should have received a link to the order form this past week from the PFA or click here for it. Return the form to the Lower, Middle or Upper School Offices with your check payable to Bancroft PFA. Please include a contact email or phone number. Orders due November 6 and December 4.

• Monday-Thursday - Normal school days 7:45am-3:30pm (4pm dismissal with sports, aftercare available until 6:00pm) Friday - 2:45pm dismissal 
• Monday, November 2 - Quarter 2 begins
• Tuesday, November 3rd – MS bring your parents to school day - 7:50-11:15am
• Thursday, November 5^th – MS Fall Sports Season Ends

• Wednesday, November 11^th – Veteran’s Day Observed – School Closed
• Thursday, November 12 & Friday, November 13th - 8th Grade Play 7-9pm
• Saturday, November 21st & Sunday, November 22nd 
  • WRITERS CONFERENCE - Calling all student writers in grades 8-12! The Bancroft Young Writers Conference is scheduled for Nov 21+22. Six dynamic, published writers will serve as mentors, directing small workshops to expose students to a variety of genres such as science writing, slam/performance poetry, journalism and prose. The weekend is collaborative and celebratory in nature--the only requirement is an interest in writing! See this link (bancroftschool.org/writers) to learn more and/or contact English Dept. Chair Martha Fortier (mfortier@bancroftschool.org) for more details. 
• Sunday, November 22nd - Community Event - The Asian Culture Club in the Upper School is sponsoring a new community event this year, which connects to our global initiative and our relationship with China.  The event is a Chinese acrobat show at Mechanics Hall.  It is for all divisions, families, faculty, alumni, etc.  See attached Flyer here