October 9–11, 2025
Join us under the Mountain in October! We're looking forward to welcoming families for class visits, advisor meetings, the fall concert, athletic contests, and more.
Berkshire is excited to be hosting a special presentation by Marc Brackett, Ph.D., author, Yale professor, and performance and leadership expert, as he shares his talk, "Exploring the Power of Emotional Intelligence" on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
And don’t miss our annual Friday Night Lights event. Cheer on the Bears as Varsity Football faces Noble & Greenough at 7 p.m. under the lights on Schappert Field!
Living Our Core Values: Integrity
During Monday’s All-School Meeting, Ms. Woodworth spoke to the student body about one of the School’s core values: Integrity. She emphasized the critical importance of academic integrity, especially in a community setting like Berkshire––how the School asks students to live out the core values every single day, and how this requires dedicated consistency. “What is powerful about the Berkshire experience is that there is tremendous opportunity in front of you if you lean into that challenge,” she said. “And this is why being at Berkshire empowers you and prepares you for lives of purpose.”
All students discussed academic integrity in their English classes this week and had a chance to review Berkshire’s Honor Code and sign the Academic Integrity Statement.
The choices you make in those moments—when no one is watching, when the pressure is on, when the easy path beckons—those choices will shape not just your grades or your transcript, but the person you're becoming. Remember: how you do anything is how you do everything. Make it count.” –Heidi Woodworth, Dean of Academics
Academic Resources
The below resources are available to all students for help and support. In addition, faculty members hold office hours twice each week at 8 a.m. and are available by appointment outside of those times.
Writing Center
Monday – Thursday: 8 – 10 p.m. in Berkshire Hall
Math Resource Center
Monday – Thursday: 8 – 10 p.m. in Berkshire Hall
Kenefick Center for Learning (KCL)
KCL provides additional support focusing on learning strategies and study skills. Students may contact Mrs. Driscoll for an initial meeting to discuss resources by emailing her at dorydriscoll@berkshireschool.org
The "Be Present" Cell Phone Policy
As a Berkshire community, we want students to be fully present—engaged with peers, adults, and the opportunities that surround them each day under the Mountain. Our aim is to help students form healthier, smarter relationships with technology, so that they experience sharper focus, deeper friendships, better rest, and stronger well-being.
To support this goal, the new cell phone policy for the 2025-26 school year is: no cell phones during the academic day.
The energy and connection in our community spaces has already been noticed and felt. Engagement in Allen Theater and the sense of belonging in the dining hall are stronger, and both students and adults are experiencing the joy of connecting with one another without the distraction of their cell phones.” –Michael Bjurlin, Dean of Students
Athletics Leadership Event
On Friday, Aug. 29, Berkshire’s fall athletes and coaches gathered in Allen Theater for a session focused on leadership and teamwork. Guest speakers Damien DiGiulian and Bill Beaney, both retired men’s ice hockey coaches, stressed the importance of character, commitment, and collaboration in shaping a successful season.
Athletes broke into their respective teams to identify two-four core values they want to embody this fall, choosing words like kindness, grit, and discipline. These conversations encouraged reflection on how such traits can show up in practices, games, and daily life.
The chosen values will serve as a guide for each team’s culture and commitment throughout the season.
We’re here to help teams build the foundation for a strong, connected community. As we know, leadership and character guide everything we do here at Berkshire." –Dan Driscoll, Director of Athletics
The Warren Family Gallery
"Echoes Under the Mountain"
September 1– October 31, 2025
This fall's photo exhibition showcases over a century of Berkshire's history from the School Archives. Photos include action shots from the athletics fields, theater performances, and various moments of campus life.
This exhibition brings to life the stories, traditions, and everyday life that shaped the place we call home. You'll see that while some things have changed, much has stayed the same!" –Glen Seelenbrandt, Director of The Warren Family Gallery
Mark Your Calendar
Fall Photo Day | Friday, September 26
Photographers from Highpoint Pictures will join us on campus to capture photos of ALL students for our Fall Photo Day! No pre-ordering is required. Families will receive email proofs prior to purchasing.
All-School Photo | Monday, September 29 at 9:20 a.m.
We will gather for this year's all-school photo behind the Soffer Athletic Center followed by photos of the Class of 2026 and the faculty on the Berkshire Hall steps.
Meet our Admission Team
Admission season is heating up! Our team is excited to start welcoming prospective students and families for tours and interviews beginning on Monday, September 15. In addition, we're hosting eight Virtual Events, led by students and faculty, to provide an inside look at life at Berkshire.
The Admission team will also be hitting the road for school fairs and receptions across the country and around the world. We hope you'll meet us on the road or join us for an upcoming event this fall. And please feel free to spread the word!
Update from the College Office
College Rep Visits
Nearly 100 college and university admission officers visit Berkshire to meet with students throughout the academic year. The College Office is very excited to welcome reps from Bucknell University, Dartmouth College, Davidson College, Smith College, Denison University, and many more. Below is an overview of some of the schools visiting Berkshire over the next few weeks. The full list of visiting schools can be found on our website.
College Bootcamp: Saturday, September 13
College Bootcamp is a dedicated time for sixth formers to work on their college essays and applications with the help of college counselors and English teachers.
Apply for a 2026 Pro Vita Trip!
Applications are now being accepted for anyone interested in a Pro Vita Winter Session trip! The application deadline is Tuesday, September 30 by 10:00 p.m.
This year's offerings include a trip to The Island School in Eleuthera, Bahamas, a tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and a cultural adventure in China.
Financial assistance is available for all domestic and international programs.
Pro Vita Winter Session is built on the foundation of curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and authentic learning, to give students the opportunity to explore the world around them and to embrace the School motto: Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus, "Learning, not just for school but for life.” With over 50 experiential courses, local site-based excursions, and various guest speakers and events on campus, students are encouraged to uncover new talents and discover lifelong pursuits.
Please reach out to Patrick Donovan, Director of Pro Vita, with any questions at pdonovan@berkshireschool.org
Alumni Spotlight
Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath ‘96, MD, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Deputy Head of the Subdivision of Breast and Gynecological Pathology, both at the Medical University of Vienna. Her focus is on researching prognostic and predictive factors that govern the progression and therapy response in breast cancer.
Read more about what inspired Zsuzsanna to pursue a career in medicine, her journey from Hungary to Berkshire, and how a music teacher inspired her love of horses.
Being an ASSIST student at Berkshire was one of the best times of my life, and I hope that many more international students will enjoy their time at Berkshire and broaden their horizons." –Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath