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Head of School Peter Becker ’95
It’s April! Spring is always a busy and exciting time on campus—this one especially so. Hear more from Mr. Becker about what the next eight weeks promise for our community.
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Education for Life
Strategic Plan Updates from Mr. Allen and Mr. Parente
Education for Life, our new strategic plan, is a blueprint for what comes next; it is a process that will intentionally and methodically move us toward our vision for Taft. It is focused on preparing young people not simply to navigate a changing world, but to shape it—with imagination, integrity, heart, and, above all, a commitment to serve. As we work through the process, you will begin to see changes in what we do and how we do it. Some are happening now. Mr. Parente and Mr. Allen share more below about changes you’ll see at the close of this academic year, and the start of the next one.
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Art’s Transformative, Evaporative Power
Reflections on Spring Break in Italy
“In Italy,” writes Anny Qian, an upper middler in Honors History of Western Art, “we got to see the paintings, altarpieces, and statues we studied in class in situ and up close. The size of the piece, the texture of the paint or marble, the lighting from stained glass windows — all made the experience of appreciating art in person incomparable to viewing it on a screen.” Indeed, returning to a darkened classroom with projected images has been, for a group of ten talented students, as difficult as adjusting from a piping hot margherita pizza to a Domino’s pie that has amalgamated with its corrugated cardboard container. And even though spring has begun to burst into bloom around Potter’s Pond, these intrepid art historians can’t help but feel a bit like Dorothy back in monochromatic Kansas: whither is fled the brilliant Technicolor™ gleam? It’s in Padova, where, under the ultramarine night sky spread out across the ceiling of the Scrovegni Chapel, we stood staring for two entire sessions at Giotto’s works. Liam Dhumale-Smyth, a Senior standing under those frescoed stars, found himself transfixed by how revolutionary Giotto’s art felt, how unlike his paintings were compared to so many pieces we’d seen made by the artist’s contemporaries and predecessors: devout men who painted in the maniera greca altarpiece after altarpiece of an unmoving and unmovable Madonna and Child. In those icons that have no countervailing force in the hypostatic union, the divinity can feel chilly and remote. To see up close Giotto breaking from that staid tradition — painting a Crucifixion and Lamentation with human terror and human grief — is to come face to face with the Gospel according to John, who writes that, at the hour of his death, Jesus did not cry up to the heavens but instead spent his breath asking the disciple “whom he loved” to take care of his mother, Mary. Drawn to the human warmth radiating from Giotto, Liam focused on a different scene from the Gospel of John in which Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. Trying to find words to explain what had drawn him to that episode in particular, Liam reflected that the “simple act is one of love and, importantly, extreme humility. For me, Giotto shows Jesus in his most human capacity: as a deeply loving friend whose love did not have to be miraculous.” It’s in Siena, where, in the absolute dark of a climate-controlled room, students in front of Duccio’s Maestà found that they were themselves, in the words of senior Steven Zhang, bathed in the “light reflecting off the gold foil” of the old master’s work. That luminous goldleaf, writes Anny, “reflects not only sources of light but also shadows of one’s movement — creating a truly impressive sight that captivates viewers in a timeless and placeless communion with the piece itself.” Reflecting on that communion and on the experience of standing mere inches away from Duccio’s panel depicting Christ’s turning Mary Magdalene away (Noli me tangere), Anny writes: '[Christ’s distancing himself from Mary, who thought him dead] reminds me of the concept of love after death; if your love for someone who has passed continues to be based on your physical interactions, that love could not exist anymore. However, Christ indicates that to believe and to love is something that transcends earthly ideas and even basic human instincts. The only way for a true connection to persist is for [that love to become] a spiritual and emotional love, just as Magdalene needs to learn to do with Christ.” Emerging from that grotto-like room where our shadows and Duccio’s gold seemed to blend into what upper middler Tess Celebi describes as “the vibrant blue of the sky over Siena” felt like waking from a dream. It’s in Florence, where, in the monastic silence of the cells of San Marco, we were stunned to find that the centuries separating Fra Angelico from Mark Rothko seemed inconsequential. Reflecting on her experience standing in one of the diminutive, plain cells, Senior Allison Palmer writes: "[Fra Angelico’s Transfiguration and Rothko’s Gethsemane] transcend that temporal boundary and portray intensely complementary imagery. When I looked at Rothko's piece, it felt as though I was seeing what Fra Angelico had painted, only with all external focus on realism stripped away, leaving only bare, raw emotion. Where Fra Angelico's piece is warm, Rothko's is cold, yet it is almost through this thermal opposition that the two pieces are able to work in harmony with one another; both are so different, yet are able to tug at the same underlying feeling." Time seemed also insignificant and unreal each night as we ate gelato on the steps of Santo Spirito, recapping our favorite art and experiences of the day, and as we strolled home along the Arno in the moonlight. It’s in Rome, where, in the mottled light filtered through stone pines and cypresses, we stood in a March shower around the violets at John Keats’s grave, where, even amid the hustle and bustle of Piazza di Spagna, we spent a quiet hour in the apartment where the young poet died in the arms of his friend Joseph Severn. “Even though we looked at so many grand and famous pieces of some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance,” writes Tess, “it was [Severn’s drawing of Keats] that stood out to me.” The pen-and-ink sketch — 'drawn to keep me awake,' as Severn writes, to ensure Keats would not die thinking himself alone — was, Tess writes, “made with love and a tired hand. When looking at it, I could see pain certainly, but the pain that was communicated was coming from Severn, not from Keats. Keats was depicted, in my eyes, as peaceful — if just for that moment — like it was the first relief he had had in a while. The pain that was there came from love, and that's what made this little sketch so memorable." Such attention to art’s power is particularly apt for Keats, who, in a letter to his brothers, Tom and George, writes that the "excellence of every Art, is its intensity, capable of making all disagreeables evaporate." Art’s transformative, evaporative power was our focus throughout the trip: how Bernini’s Daphne, the terrified nymph, looks backward at her gaining assailant, not noticing the spindly tendrils, roots, shoots, and leaves growing from her fingers and toes, or how Giotto imagines Judas’s enveloping Jesus into his cloak and into a kiss, transforming what should be a symbol of passion into a sign of betrayal. Looking back on the trip, a different transformation comes into focus. Perhaps the most one might hope for from traveling is, to paraphrase Twain, the dissolution of preconceived notions: to think about something from a different angle, to see it as if for the first time.
Thank you to Mr. Werrell and his Honors History of Western Art students for sharing reflections and photos from their time in Italy.
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Global Studies and Service Diploma
Learn Deeply, Build Purpose
Each year, a select group of Taft seniors earn two diplomas at graduation: that’s right, two diplomas. In addition to the traditional diploma awarded for general studies and scholarship, Taft awards a Global Studies and Service (GSS) diploma to seniors who have, over the course of their Taft careers, built and successfully navigated individualized curricular pathways combining coursework, language study, peer/cohort work, sociocultural learning experiences in their home countries and abroad, and participation in a global ambassador experience on campus. The rigorous, multi-year course of study culminates in a capstone project and demonstration of learning. This spring, twenty-nine new GSS diploma candidates were accepted into the program. That group—along with the current GSS diploma candidates deep into their individualized courses of study—were recognized and celebrated at a reception on campus. Congratulations, all!
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Up Next: Nationals!
Applied Learning
After several rounds of intense competition, four Taft students took first place in the 2026 Connecticut Personal Finance Challenge. Yuqi Qian ’27, Kai Kinoshita ’27, Chelsea Soetemo ’27, and Ha Hoang ’28 qualified for the finals, held at Synchrony Financial Headquarters in Stamford, CT. “This was fully a student-led initiative by members of Taft’s FBLA and DECA clubs,” notes faculty advisor Marc Hess. “The team was crushing it throughout the final, live rounds.” The Connecticut competition is a qualifier for the National Personal Finance Challenge (NPFC), a nationwide competition offering high school students the opportunity to build and demonstrate their knowledge in the concepts of earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, and managing risk. Teams compete online in the first rounds of the NPFC, completing a 30-question challenge. High-scoring teams are invited to their in-person state finals. Kai, Yuqi, Chelsea, and Ha were among the members of eight teams invited to the Connecticut finals, where they advanced to the final four before winning the state championship in the Quiz Bowl round. As state champions, Team Taft earned an invite to the National competition, where they will use their knowledge to create a financial plan for a fictitious family. The top 16 teams in the National Finals will advance to compete for the National Championship title in a Quiz Bowl, consisting of 20 rapid-fire questions. The top four teams will take home cash prizes. The event will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 1. The National Personal Financial Challenge is sponsored by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), whose stated mission is to equip K-12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities. Photos courtesy Mr. Hess
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A Rare and Meaningful Moment
Reflections from Rev. Ganung
In his roles as teacher and school chaplain, Mr. Ganung helps guide our community to a stronger, more deeply connected place. He brings empathy, compassion, wisdom, a deep understanding of history, and global context and perspective to bear as he inspires each of us think and act beyond our selves, and to be more informed and compassionate global citizens. Mr. Ganung often pauses to guide our community through periods of reflection—sometimes in response to global events or celebrations. He recently shared his thoughts on this year’s confluence of Ramadan, Passover, and Easter. We share his thoughts with you here:
This year offers us something rare and meaningful—a moment when the seasons of Passover, Easter and Ramadan (ended on March 19th) all overlap. While these traditions come from different faiths, they share powerful themes: reflection, renewal, sacrifice, and compassion. Across these observances, people are taking time to slow down, look inward, and reconnect with "what truly matters." Whether through fasting, prayer, or acts of kindness, each tradition calls us to become more thoughtful, more disciplined, and more caring toward others. At a time when the world can feel divided or uncertain, this convergence reminds us of something deeper that unites us all: our shared humanity. It is an opportunity—not just for those who observe these traditions, but for all of us—to reflect on how we treat one another, how we respond to challenges, and how we can contribute to a more compassionate community. Let this be a moment where we choose understanding over judgment, generosity over indifference, and purpose over distraction. Small actions—kind words, helping someone in need, taking time to listen (with the heart, not the ears)—can have a lasting impact. Together, we can use this moment not just for reflection, but for meaningful change in ourselves and in the world around us. Shalom, Salaam, Shanti, Rev. G
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Community, Connection, Resilience, Humanity
What Does It Mean To Be Human?
Last November, while many Tafties were thinking about college applications, Hotchkiss Day, and Thanksgiving Break, Jenny Rowe P’29,’26 had something even bigger on her mind: The Great World Race. Rowe was about to run seven full marathons on seven continents over a seven-day period. Over the course of seven days, Rowe ran marathons in Cape Town, South Africa; Wolf’s Fang, Antarctica; Perth, Australia; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Algarve, Portugal; Cartagena, Colombia; and Miami, Florida. Between races, Rowe and the other competitors crossed seven time zones, and flew more than 25,000 miles. In the end, Rowe ran 182 miles over more than 34 hours. She finished fourth among the female competitors. Rowe shared her story with the Taft community during a recent Morning Meeting talk, which opened with video footage from the race, and included interviews with competitors. “The best people you’ll ever meet in your life are the people that do this race,” one of the racers noted on camera. “Everybody has some kind of adversity that they’ve had to overcome, and [this race] is transformational.” For Jenny, the adversity was two-fold: her position at an asset management firm was eliminated, and her 31-year-old brother died unexpectedly. “I saw an Instagram ad for The Great World Race. I’m pretty sure that Instagram’s algorithm reached inside my brain, read my thoughts, and figured out that I needed to do something big,” Rowe explained. With only four months and one week to train, Rowe signed up for the race. What she learned about herself along the way allowed her to more deeply and fully respond to Taft’s 2025-26 guiding question for community learning and exploration: What does it mean to be human? Watch Jenny Rowe’s full and powerful exploration of inner strength, grief, addiction, community, connection, resilience, and humanity
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Snapshot: The Arts at Taft
Nine Taft dancers traveled to Westover School for the New England Prep School Dance Festival. This biannual event brought more than 100 student dancers from Taft, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Loomis, Kent, Westminster, and Westover together for a full day of master classes; the day closed with a series of performances, including two pieces by Taft students from our recent Winter Dance Concert. Participating Taft students are pictured in the front row: Zoë Woodhall ’27, Natasha Flint ’28, Titania Wang ’28, Julissa Benjamin ’29, Bonny Long ’29, Karina Flaherty ’29, Dora Lang ’29, Emmy Solso ’29, and Juliana Empey ’29.
Congratulations to, from left in photo, Brandon Guo, Esther Lee, and Hayden Choi, who represented Taft at the 2026 Connecticut All State Music Festival. The musicians were selected for the honor through a competitive audition process. The three-day festival took place in the state’s capitol, and featured orchestra, concert band, jazz, mixed choir, and treble choir performances by exceptional student musicians led by celebrated guest conductors.
Brandon has also been accepted into the prestigious and highly competitive Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI). Brandon will advance his oboe study on the Tanglewood campus this summer through the Institute’s Complete Musician Workshop. Founded in 1966, BU Tanglewood Institute is the premier summer program of its kind, offering a transformative experience to young instrumentalists, composers, and singers on its campus in Lenox MA, also the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Students are invited to a selection of master classes and question-and-answer sessions given by artists and instructors engaged by the BSO, Tanglewood Music Festival, and Tanglewood Music Center, among them (in past summers): Dawn Upshaw, Yefim Bronfman, Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sofie Mutter, Iman Habibi, Joshua Bell.
The cast and crew of the spring show, 13: The Musical, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, is hard at work preparing for another series of unforgettable performances in Bingham Auditorium May 7th through 9th. Your cast: Evan- Jabari King; Patrice- Josephine Andonellis; Brett- Daniel Kaminju; Malcolm- Michael Li; Eddie- Liam Schereschewsky; Kendra- Sophia Kosover; Archie- Isaac Obeng; Lucy- Anny Qian; Cassie- Farren Camp; Charlotte- Willow Camp; Molly- Ruby Dawson; Richie- Alvin Wang; Simon- Wilson Littman; Cheerleaders- Titania Wang, Willow Camp, and Bonny Long; Rabbis - Alina Liao, Lindsey Fang, Kelilah Eguavoen, Bonny Long and Titania Wang. We can’t wait to see all of these talented Tafties on stage—some for the last time at Taft—so come out for their spectacular swan songs.
______________________________________________ Background Image: Winter Dog Park, by artist and alumnus Matt Pinney ’96. 2026, oil on canvas, 30” x 28”. His show, Fire Pit Stories, runs through May 9th in Potter Gallery.
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Athletics and the Afternoon Program
Mr. Dunn
There is almost nothing better than spring at Taft. And now that spring has officially arrived, our spring sports season is officially underway. Hear more from Director of Athletics and the Afternoon Program, Andy Dunn.
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Looking Ahead
Grands' Day: April 15th
It’s less than a week away! We’re excited to welcome families to campus Wednesday, April 15, 2026! Grands are invited to attend classes, hear from Mr. Becker, attend arts and athletics events, and more.
Taft Musicians Perform in Boston April 19th
The Taft School Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band will perform at First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough Street, on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be served following the performance; registration is not required. The concert will feature works by Johann Sebastian Bach, The Beatles, Thelonious Monk, Booker T. and the MG's, and Count Basie. See you in Boston!
Taft Talks with Jennifer Wallace April 21st
Please join us April 21st at 4 pm for a virtual conversation with Amy Julia Becker '94 and acclaimed journalist, author, and speaker Jennifer Wallace. Wallace will talk about research from her latest book, Mattering. In her earlier book, Never Enough, Wallace reported that students in high-achieving environments are at high risk for anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. She also showed that knowing we matter can protect against these risks. Mattering offers key insights into how much we each need to know that we “are valued by others and add value to the world.”
Collegium Musicum Performs in Boston, April 26th
Collegium Musicum will be in concert in Boston Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Old South Church, 645 Boylston Street. The concert begins at 3:00 pm. Registration is not required. Join us!
Artist’s Reception, Potter Gallery: May 8th
Taft welcomes artist and alumnus Matt Pinney ’96 on May 8th for a 5 pm reception in Potter Gallery where his show, Fire Pit Stories runs April 13th through May 9th.
13: The Musical, Bingham Auditorium: May 7th-9th
Catch the show Thursday, May 7th at 7 pm; Friday, May 8th at 7:30 pm, and Saturday, May 9th at 3 pm.
Taft Talks: Parenting Girls, May 14th
Amid the age-old pressures of adolescence, young women today also face the particular challenges of navigating social media. How are girls at Taft faring in a world filled with images of ideal humans, constant comparison, and the pursuit of academic, athletic, artistic, and co-curricular excellence? How can parents support their daughters in this climate? What are the particular challenges and opportunities girls face right now? Join Taft Talks moderator Amy Julia Becker '94 for a 7:00 pm Zoom chat with Dr. Rachel Jacobs, Taft’s Director of Counseling, and School Counselor Gaby Dorval '99 about the health and wellness of girls at Taft.
Commencement 2026: May 23rd and 24th
It is hard to believe that the Class of 2026 will be graduating next month! You’ll find everything you need to plan for the big weekend on Taft's 2026 Commencement webpage, accessible through the button below.
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Our school calendar is full and dynamic. Check it regularly for updates.
Taft in 10 is designed to keep you up-to-date on campus happenings. For a deep dive into student life through the student lens, be sure to read every edition of the school newspaper, The Taft Papyrus. Bookmark it! TaftSchoolPapyrus.org
________________________________________________ Background Image: Yuqi Qian’27 has been working on a number of environmental projects across campus, from radio telemetry and other wildlife tracking initiatives to the recent installation of a tower designed to attract and protect purple martins. With guidance from Taft Science Teacher Michael McAloon, the National Audubon Society and helping hands from Taft’s EcoMons, the purple martin tower was just installed in the no-mow zone on campus.