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The Bears' Den | 10.7.23 A semi-monthly newsletter designed to keep our Berkshire community connected and engaged.

Third Form Retreat

After a busy few weeks, third formers had an opportunity to reconnect as a class and bond up in the treetops at Ramblewild Adventure Park in Lanesborough, Massachusetts.

For more photos from Third Form Retreat, please visit Berkshire's SmugMug gallery here.

Fall Family Weekend

October 13-14, 2023

Join us under the Mountain next weekend! We’re looking forward to welcoming families for class visits, athletic contests, and more, including special guest Lynn Lyons, LICSW, who will present her talk, “Modeling Matters: What Parents Need to Know (and Do) to Decrease Stress, Worry, and Anxiety" on Friday at 1:00 p.m.

Plus, enjoy Friday afternoon games on the turf field and food trucks under the lights from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.! Offerings include pizza, barbecue, tacos, coffee and espresso drinks, Ben & Jerry’s, and more!

* Don't miss the Fall Concert! Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. *

Spring 2023 Academic Awards

Congratulations to our academic award winners from the Spring 2023 semester! We will celebrate this year’s achievements at the close of each trimester, in the winter, spring, and next fall.

As we look to the year ahead, remember that we’re just getting started. In the academic year before us, I wish for each of you academic curiosity, the opportunity to demonstrate your perseverance and your resilience, and that you always display academic integrity, showing respect for yourself, your peers, and your teachers."—Dean of Academics Brooke Depelteau

Classroom Spotlight

Adv. Algebra II & Trigonometry

Sylvia Gappa

In Mrs. Gappa’s Adv. Algebra II & Trigonometry class, the Egg Bungee Lab allows students to practice their graphing skills and their ability to write the equations of lines in a real-life situation. It’s also a great way for the class to feel comfortable with each other early on in the school year by having a little fun!

Using an egg and some elastic bands, students take measurements comparing the number of elastics and the amount of stretch, to run a linear regression which they use to predict a bungee run at a height revealed on the last day. Students then spend time analyzing the correlational coefficient and any errors that they may have made in their approach to gathering information.

Egg Bungee Lab

Third former Rori Nisi shared, "The equation we used to determine the amount of rubber bands needed gave us the number 16.8. We were nervous that the egg would hit the ground, so we went with only 16 bands. We should’ve used 17 because the probability that our equation would work was 98%. So we learned we should have trusted our equation."

This lab was a fun, hands-on way to practice linear functions. I had a lot of fun actually looking at how linear equations are used in the real world.”–Rori Nisi ’27

College Rep Visits

Colby's Deputy Dean of Admissions Tori Neason provides an overview of her school and the admission process.

Through the course of the year, nearly 100 college and university admission officers visit Berkshire to meet with students. It’s been busy in the College Office this fall, with reps from Northeastern, Bucknell, University of Southern California, Colby, and SMU, all on campus this week and many more to come. Go Bears!

Mystery Swag Bag Giveaway!

Wednesday, October 11th

$125 value!

Are you following Berkshire School Athletics on Instagram? If so, you'll be entered to win a "Bag of Swag" from Berkshire! Give us a follow to stay up-to-date on the Bears and for a chance to win Berkshire gear!

And be sure to follow @BerkshireSchoolAthletics on Threads for game day scores and highlights!

Mic'd Up with Coach Holmes

Go behind the scenes with Varsity Field Hockey Coach Janna Holmes as the Bears prepare for game day. Watch the video below.

For more field hockey action, follow the team on Instagram!

You'll often find Bears walking along Berkshire's Campus Loop, a one-mile stretch around campus. Join Jeff Depelteau for a walk along the Campus Loop to meet some of the people (and learn about the places and programs) that make Berkshire such a special place.

Mr. Depelteau and Sixth Form Dean and Latin teacher, Mike McCabe, go for a walk along the Campus Loop.

Hosted by the Students Activities Office

On Friday, September 29, Student Activities hosted a Clubs Fair in the Soffer Athletic Center. Over 30 clubs were represented offering students a wide range of social experiences beyond academics and afternoon programming.

Photos by Dave Collopy, Student Activities & Club Coordinator

Fall Photo Day Reminder

Fall Photo Day is THIS TUESDAY, October 10. Photographers from Highpoint Pictures will join us on campus to capture photos of ALL students! No pre-ordering is required! Parents or guardians will receive email proofs prior to purchasing.

STUDENTS: Look for a photo schedule to arrive in your email, and don't miss cider donuts and hot cocoa at the photo table!

Calling all Seniors

Interested in a class ring?

Class of 2024

Samuel Shapiro ‘08 will be on campus to share class ring samples and sizing. Stop by his table in the Jack on Friday, November 10, from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. to order.

Password: gobears!

Questions? Contact Samuel Shapiro at hello@trustinsam.com or call 914.200.4584.

Student Center Construction Update

Berkshire's Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees Buildings & Grounds Committee Chair Jim Hooper '69

Construction on the renovation and expansion of Berkshire’s new student center is well underway! Members of the Board of Trustees recently toured the space, and Director of Facilities Tim Fulco '78 provided an update, below:

Since early July, the general contractor has been systematically removing all of the components of the interior to the point where the building now consists of the structural steel and building envelope. The selective demolition is essentially complete. Site demolition is taking place in an effort to begin installation on the exterior infrastructure.

Being in the early stages, work is currently taking place on the ground floor. Subfloor electrical and plumbing infrastructure is being installed, and once complete, a new concrete subfloor will be poured over the top.

Next, the supplemental steel is due to arrive, which will be used to install the new top floor, which will house the Music Department. This work will be performed in conjunction with the excavation for the new addition, as well as the installation of additional steel beams and columns. Stay tuned as the project progresses!

Photos by Tiffany Stephens, Assistant to the Deans of Academics & Faculty

The DEI Alumni Alumni Council Presents Collective Voices: A Virtual Conversation Series on DEI

Fred Williams ’69

A Conversation with Fred Williams ’69 and Head of School Pieter Mulder

Wednesday, October 18th at 8:00 PM EST

Public defender, judge, law professor, and one of the first Black students at Berkshire, Fred Williams ’69 arrived on campus in 1966 through the A Better Chance program. Along with classmate Joe Dirl ’69, they were among the first Black students to attend and the first to graduate.

Please join us for the inaugural DEI Alumni Council’s Collective Voices event, a virtual conversation between Fred Williams ’69 and Head of School Pieter Mulder, as they discuss Williams’ reflections on Berkshire, the judiciary, and his career teaching at an HBCU (historically black college or university) law school.

The DEI Alumni Council’s Collective Voices speakers series highlights the importance of hearing from and including the perspectives and experiences of historically marginalized identities within our alumni community. By listening to and valuing our voices, we aim to work toward a more just, equitable, and inclusive community at Berkshire School and beyond.

Sneak Peek: Student Center 👀

This view is from the Soffer Center side of Benson Commons across the dining hall and back around to Mrs. Gilligan and Mr. Bjurlin's offices. Stay tuned for more updates!