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Head of School Peter Becker '95
Last week, before leaving for Asia to connect with Taft families and alumni, Mr. Becker paused to look back on a memorable Family Weekend, and forward to Thanksgiving break and exams.
Missed the email from Mrs. Parente referenced in Mr. Becker’s video? Read it here:
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Community Connections with Mr. LaCasse
There are big changes at The Jig this year! The new menu makes it the best place in town to nosh, so why order out when you can get amazing food right here? Mr. LaCasse and Naomi give us the details.
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Learn Deeply, Pursue Excellence
Dr. Mirabi Earns Prestigious Logic Prize
Mathematics Teacher Dr. Mostafa Mirabi has been awarded the 2025 Christine Ladd-Franklin Logic Prize as co-author of the paper, Forcing with Invariant Measures. The prize is presented every three years for groundbreaking work in mathematical logic and computer science. “The paper grew out of a long-running collaboration with colleagues at Harvard, MIT, IPM, and Wesleyan,” explains Dr. Mirabi. “We were interested in how ideas from logic and probability might come together to describe mathematical worlds that blend structure and randomness. In the paper, we developed a new framework showing how such worlds can be built in a logically consistent way, offering new insights into the deep connections between mathematical logic (set theory and model theory), probability, and combinatorics.” The paper was co-authored with N. Ackerman (Harvard), C. Freer (MIT), M. Golshani (IPM), and R. Patel (Wesleyan). Dr. Mirabi’s results explore forcing—a method introduced by Paul Cohen (Stanford) to establish the independence of the Continuum Hypothesis, a landmark achievement that earned Cohen the Fields Medal (regarded as the Nobel Prize of Mathematics) in 1966. “Winning the Christine Ladd-Franklin Logic Prize is a great honor, and I’m deeply grateful to my co-authors and my colleagues at Taft for their encouragement,” says Dr. Mirabi. “It’s rewarding to see this kind of collaborative, curiosity-driven work recognized.” ___________________________________ Christine Ladd-Franklin (1847-1930) was an American psychologist, logician, and mathematician. A student of Charles Sanders Peirce and James Joseph Sylvester, Ladd-Franklin was denied recognition in her field based on her gender alone: she was denied a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University despite fulfilling all the requirements for the degree, and was unable to secure regular academic employment. Still, Ladd-Franklin made groundbreaking contributions to the Algebra of Logic tradition. Her "antilogism," was a central subject of examination in the first half of the 20th century.
Ethan Harry ’28 Published!
Last summer, Ethan Harry ’28 interned at the New York Botanical Garden under scientist Cecilia Zumajo-Cardona, an Assistant Curator in the Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research.
"As part of his internship, Ethan helped me catalog anatomical section slides,” explains Dr. Zumajo-Cardona. “When I proposed that he organize that data into a publication for our herbarium website, he went beyond, conducting research in the library and herbarium. Working on the writing and organizing the figures seemed to come so naturally to him."
And now, the publication is live; Ethan shares a byline with Dr. Zumajo-Cardona. Read Bassett and Celia Maguire: A Legacy in Leaves and Lenses, using the button below.
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Serve Generously, Lead with Courage
Veterans Day Speaker Jimmy Putko ’15, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
As a Taft student, Jimmy Putko’15 was a scholar, a record-setting athlete, a talented musician, a dorm mon, an eco mon… In short, he was a leader. When he arrived on the Cornell University campus after graduation, Putko was a Division I soccer recruit and an ROTC candidate—a naval officer in training. Soccer came naturally; finding his military footing did not. Today, Putko is a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy. Wearing the uniform that made him feel “awkward" and disconnected at Cornell is now a source of great pride. It is, he says, not only a reminder of all those who have served before him, but a connection to them, as well. He considers serving in the Navy to be “the greatest privilege" of his life. In his Veterans Day talk, Putko reflects on how his perspective on service has changed over the years, and shares lessons he’s learned through the lens of the Taft School motto, Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret; Not to be served but to serve.
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GO BIG RED!
Mr. Dunn, Director of Athletics and the Afternoon Program
It is a fantastic—and fantastically busy—time to be a Rhino! Fall athletes are wrapping up their seasons, winter athletes are busy with tryouts and conditioning, Red Rally and Hotchkiss Day brought our community together around our longtime (and good natured) rivalry with the Bearcats, service is making a difference in communities where it is needed most, the winter play is taking shape… So much energy, so much fun. Hear more from Mr. Dunn.
Congratulations to Varsity Field Hockey and Boys’ Varsity Soccer, both of whom earned berths in the 2025 NEPSAC Tournament! Field Hockey played hard and well against Andover in the quarterfinals, which closed out their season. After a big win on the pitch earlier this week, the boys continue their tournament run Saturday, November 15th at 2:30 p.m. on MacMullen Field. You can catch the livestream here at game time.
GO BIG RED!
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Finding Joy in Purpose
By all accounts, Pippin was one of the most spectacular shows ever mounted at Taft. The student cast and crew, and faculty directors, choreographers, conductors and more came together to produce a most extraordinary production. It was an incredible artistic achievement! Congratulations and thank you to all for bringing Pippin to Taft. Photo previews are below; a full gallery of show photos by William Yang ’26 is here.
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In Residence: Artist Jorge “Vascano” Vasquez-Elescano
Contemporary artist Jorge Vascano creates works that are complex and deep; they invite wonder and introspection. Vascano curated pieces for an awe-inspiring show in Potter Gallery. Antología runs through December 20. Earlier this month, Vascano hosted open workshops for Taft students in the Gallery. They learned about his process and philosophies, and had hands-on opportunities to explore his techniques. Hear from Vascano and get a glimpse into those workshops below.
Antología features sculptures, drawings, and carvings. All reflect the influence of Vascano's childhood in the Peruvian Amazon. “My work is an invitation for exploration into the elusive internal narratives that make us human,” says Vascano. “Fusing the subject and the material as an intricate vehicle of introspection, the work aims at allowing ourselves to acknowledge the inner complexities of the human psyche.” Vascano’s work has been featured in shows in the U.S., Portugal, Denmark, Ireland and Chile. He has been awarded international residencies to Giverny, France; Carrara, Italy; Kylemore Abbey, Ireland; and Todi, Italy. He has been featured in various publications, including Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Artnet News and The Washington Post. Notably, his works can be seen in the Golden Globe and Oscar Academy Award nominated motion picture, If Beale Street Could Talk. Potter Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm when school is in session.
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Serve Generously
One of Taft’s core values is serving generously. In his Veterans Day talk at Taft (see block 4 in this e-newsletter) U.S. Navy Lieutenant Jimmy Putko ’15 framed the work students do at Taft as “building an identity rooted in service." During the past month, student volunteers served meals at the St. Vincent DePaul Mission Soup Kitchen; Intro Tennis players volunteered at Bethlehem Community Garden; Strength & Conditioning traveled to Brass City Harvest; Boys’ Thirds Soccer, JV Soccer, and JV Football worked at Flanders Nature Center; Girls’ Varsity Soccer and Volleyball connected with young women from Park Central; and Varsity Football served Water-Oak Football.
In the videos below, Merideth Hui ’26 talks about spending time with girls from Park Central; Myles Petitjean ’27 shares the importance of working with young players at Water-Oak Football; and Lincoln Durfee ’26 and Carson Lowry ’26 talk about the work they did at Brass City Harvest.
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Family Weekend 2025
Another Family Weekend has come and gone, but the memories live on! Enjoy photos and videos from some of the weekend’s most memorable moments.
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What’s Next?
Thanksgiving Break: November 21-December 1 Campus closes each year for Thanksgiving Break. Students should leave after their last campus commitment Friday, November 21, and return by 7:30 pm Monday, December 1. Classes resume Tuesday, December 2.
PARENT PRO-TIP: This may be the first time students are home with their families since the start of the school year; it will certainly be the longest stretch of time many families have been together. Time at home will likely feel a bit different for everyone. Your Taftie has spent the first months of the school year learning to be more independent. They may have a new sleep or eating or fitness routine that works well for them; a new capacity for decision making and autonomy; and even a new appreciation for who they are and what they value. Be flexible. Give them a little space. Ask questions. Listen. Meet them where they are. But do expect them to respect house rules, treat their siblings and family members with respect and care and kindness, and bend a little. But don’t forget that they are growing, learning, discovering, and changing. It’s a good thing, right? And part of the reason you send them to Taft.
Holiday Gatherings
Boston Gathering Wednesday, December 3, 6:00-8:00 pm The 'Quin House
New York Gathering Monday, December 8, 6:00-8:00 pm The Yale Club
Family, Prospective Family, and Alumni Reception Thursday, December 11, 6:00-8:00 pm Hosted by Mark Allen ’93, P’29. Address will be shared upon registration.
End-of-Term Arts Performances
We’d love for you to join us on campus! If you can’t make it, tune into the arts livestream for each event.
Fall Dance Showcase Sunday, December 7, 7:00 pm Bingham Auditorium
Annual Services of Lessons & Carols Saturday, December 13, 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm services Collegium, Chamber Ensemble, and Jazz Band Woodward Chapel
Epilogue
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