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Head of School Peter Becker '95
With all the big things that are happening around campus, it seems hard to believe that we’re only six weeks into the school year. One of the biggest happenings: the introduction of Taft’s new strategic plan. Mr. Becker talks a bit about it, Family Weekend, and the rock and roll backdrop in his video below.
And now, the details:
STRATEGIC PLAN: In his video, Mr. Becker encourages everyone to take a look at Taft’s new strategic plan via the school website. We’ve made that easy for you!
THE TAFT PAPYRUS: As Mr. Becker notes, the editors-in-chief of The Taft Papyrus have been hard at work transforming the storied institution that is our school newspaper into a modern, multimedia community resource. Not only is The Pap now online in a public space, the editors will also be exploring community and global issues through a series of podcasts. Stay tuned for the podcast launch! In the meantime, bookmark The Pap website, TaftSchoolPapyrus.org
FAMILY WEEKEND: This is so big it gets a block of its own! Scroll down for all the details.
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Family Weekend!
October 24th and 25th
Family Weekend is always a special time on campus. It is an opportunity for families to experience all things Taft—from Taft Today information sessions, arts performances, and dining hall meals, to sitting in on classes, cheering on athletic teams, and connecting with fellow Taft families. The full schedule of events is here. Below are a few highlights:
Friday, October 24
Friday's programming includes a series of "Taft Today" sessions, designed to give you an inside look at Taft from the perspective of students, faculty, and senior administration through panel discussions and presentations. Sessions will kick off at 9:30 a.m. and continue throughout the academic day, all while your Taftie is in class. This year, Taft Today programming is open to all parents.
Friday evening features dinner on campus, a spectacular performance of the musical Pippin in Bingham Auditorium, Jazz & Chamber Ensemble performances, and a big game under the lights on MacMullen Field when the Girls' Varsity Soccer team takes on the team from Kent School.
Saturday, October 25
Saturday brings more of the Family Weekend traditions we love: open classes with your Taftie, community lunch, arts performances and athletic competitions, club sales—and more!
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Community Connections with Mr. LaCasse
A wealth of knowledge and experience make Mr. LaCasse a tremendous resource to students, parents and faculty in our community. (That’s just part of the reason he was named a recipient of the 2025 Burch Ford Kaleidoscope Award for Excellence in Student & Residential Life. Read about it here.) This month, he’s sharing insights into the idea of collective genius and a culture of innovation—a culture that includes every Taft parent.
BONUS CONTENT: OCTOBER PARENT PRO TIP
Parent Pro-Tips will be sprinkled throughout communications (mainly Taft in 10) you receive from the school. They will be thoughtfully crafted by current and former parents and shared as a helping hand from one parent to another.
September was filled with fun activities, from orientation and dorm gatherings, to Super Sunday, the start of athletics and arts rehearsals, and club and affinity group kick-offs. As we move into October, everything about life at Taft comes into clearer focus, particularly in the academic realm. We are now moving toward our first big checkpoints: midterm grades come out October 23, and Early Decision and Early Action dates for college applications are just around the corner. Both can cause students to feel a bit more anxious than they have so far. That means this is a checkpoint time for parents, too.
Talk to your children about what they are feeling. What weight are they carrying? Be sure they know you believe in their abilities, but that they don’t have to carry it alone. Encourage them to talk to trusted adults— you, their advisors, dorm parents, teachers, school counselors, coaches. They can talk to their friends, dorm monitors, roommates, teammates. Encourage them to eat well, sleep well, and move. (Take a walk around campus or into town, attend Mr. Ganung’s meditation, hit some tennis balls really hard!) Each of these things can help diffuse stress, reshape perspectives, and ease the burden.
When things get tough students often think, “head down, power through.” We say, “look up, you’re not alone.” Support is everywhere.
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2025 Summer Journeys
In Service Across the Globe
Every summer, Taft students travel the globe embracing the school’s core values: they serve generously, learn deeply, build purpose, pursue excellence, and lead with courage. Some students participate in programs with support from travel and experience grants awarded by Taft and funded by generous alumni and donors. Others work through our partnership with the New York Botanical Garden, or serve from their hearts in their own global communities. We are grateful to those students who were willing to share the stories of their summer journeys with us this year. They include Tatum’s work empowering women in Nepal (background image), Andi’s commitment to marginalized children and families in Albania, and Steven sharing his passion for music with children in Botswana. Madison shared her passion for music, too, through a program similar to one in which she got her start as a cellist; Veronica worked in a lab at Yale hoping to crack the code on chronic inflammation; and Anthony studied the impact of climate change in Acadia National Park. These are just a few of the stories you’ll find in our 2025 Summer Journeys collection by clicking the button below.
In Service in Costa Rica: An Opportunity for All Taft Students
Taft students are invited to travel to Costa Rica next spring. The journey begins May 30, 2026; students will return to the US on June 9. The primary objective of the trip is to engage in volunteer work in the local community. Students will also have the opportunity to visit cultural and tourist sites in their down time, including the Irazu Volcano and Los Quetzales National Park.
Spanish Teacher Maria Zamora will lead the trip; she will be accompanied by two additional Taft chaperones. Space is limited. Mrs. Zamora will have an information table set up during Family Weekend, where she will be happy to answer any questions you might have and direct you to a registration link.
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Serving Generously
One of Taft’s core values is serving generously. As articulated in our new strategic plan, service is rooted in authentic connections within a diverse community and commitment to caring for ourselves and others. Those who serve generously demonstrate compassion, responsibility, and healthy habits as they prioritize their own well-being and that of their neighbors.
What does it look like to live that core value at Taft? Hear from Director of Community Engagement Kevin Danaher and a few Taft students about the work that has happened so far this year.
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Celebrating Excellence
Cum Laude Society Inductees
Sixteen members of Taft’s Class of 2026 were recently inducted into the Cum Laude Society, a national organization recognizing academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice, and honor.
Founded in 1908, the Cum Laude Society is the national scholarship society in secondary schools, corresponding to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi in colleges and scientific schools. A maximum of 20% of the Senior Class may be elected into the membership in the Cum Laude Society. Based on their academic records for both their middle and upper middle years, 16 members of the Class of 2026 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society this month. During Commencement ceremonies in May of 2026, these 16 inductees will be joined by other seniors whose selection will be based on their records for their upper middle and senior years.
Congratulations to new Cum Laude Society inductees who represent the top 10 percent of their class:
Kaiel Casserly, Rachel Chae, Torie Korenha, Eleanor Lemon, Heidi Li, Sarah Li, Mikel Makau, Isaac Obeng, Elly Ouellette, Allison Palmer, William Schereschewsky. Eden Thompson, Caroline Traina, Hannah Xu, Angela Yuan and Steven Zhang.
Also recognized during the ceremony were those students earning commendations from the National Merit Scholarship Program. With a selection index of 210 or above, these high performers have shown outstanding academic potential. Congratulations to:
Ava Burrows, Rachel Chae, Andi Gega, Eleanor Lemon, Estelle Magnan, Mikel Makau, Allison Palmer, Jason Rothstein, Lucy Ryan, Eden Thompson, Yolanda Wei, and Hannah Xu.
Heidi Li was recognized as a semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Competition for her outstanding performance last year on the PSAT, finishing in the top 1% of all test takers. She is now eligible to apply to be a National Merit Finalist to earn scholarship dollars.
Finally, the following students were named the Ranking Scholars at Taft for the 2024-25 academic year, with the highest unweighted averages in their classes.
Class of 2028 : Andrew Kim
Class of 2027: Tim Kasian
Class of 2026 : Hannah Xu
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In Residence: Daniel Nayeri
Taft’s 2025-26 Speaker Series
Taft’s 2025-26 Speaker Series kicked off with Daniel Nayeri, editor, publisher, filmmaker, and author of Taft’s 2025 all-school summer reading selection, Everything Sad is Untrue, (a true story).
Nayeri was in residence at Taft for several days, connecting with students and faculty, and sharing insights, experiences, and guidance. He led workshops on memoir writing with lower mid English students, and a writing workshop with seniors to help them as they work on their personal essays for college applications. He met with the editors of Taft’s student publications, signed books, joined students for a meal in the dining hall, and cooked Persian food with a few students and faculty members at the Head of School’s home.
But it was in Human Geography classes and an all-school meeting that Nayeri shared more of the personal story that lies at the heart of Everything Sad is Untrue; and where he approached the guiding question of the 25-26 Speaker Series, What does it mean to be human?
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Taft SKILLS
Strategies, Kindness, Identity, Learning, Leadership, Service (SKILLS)
Taft is committed to providing the strategies, knowledge, understandings, and support all new students need to make their transition to Taft a smooth one. Ms. Swift serves as their capable guide on that journey. Hear about SKILLS, Ms. Swift's course for all new Taft students.
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Pippin!
Taft’s Fall Musical
The entire cast and crew of the fall musical, Pippin, are hard at work and so very excited to be bringing this multi-Tony-winning play to life on the Bingham Stage. It all happens Family Weekend, October 24 and 25, with shows Thursday and Friday at 7 pm, and Saturday at 3 pm.
Four-time Grammy winner, three-time Oscar winner, and musical theater icon Stephen Schwartz brings us this updated circus-inspired version of Pippin, which won four 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. Heir to the Frankish throne, young prince Pippin is searching for meaning—for the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He looks for it in the glories of the battlefield, through relationships, and through political power (after disposing of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). Where does Pippin ultimately find happiness? Join us in Bingham Auditorium to find out!
Don’t miss it!
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Save the Date!
October 14, 16, 30: Flu Shots on Campus
Protecting our community's health is a community service. Students are strongly encouraged to protect themselves and others. With the flu season fast approaching, we’ve made it easy for everyone to do their part by offering flu shots on campus. The Health Center Flu Vaccine clinics will take place from 9am - 1pm October 14, 16, and 30. #servegenerously #nonutsibi
October 14 and 16: Taft Visits California
Two Taft gatherings are just around the corner. We look forward to welcoming you to Presidio Officers’ Club, San Franciso, CA, Tuesday, October 14, and to Hinoki & the Bird in Los Angeles, CA, on Thursday, October 16. Both events feature fantastic company, exceptional venues, and the opportunity to connect with Taft and Tafties.
Planning to come? We ask that you please register in advance:
October 23: The Red Rhino Fund Rhino Cup Golf Tournament and Silent Auction
The Red Rhino Fund, Taft’s student-led philanthropic non-profit, is excited to announce the second annual Rhino Cup Golf Tournament and Silent Auction on October 23, 2025. Everyone is invited to tee off and bid for a great cause! Proceeds support the Red Rhino Fund’s community grant program.
Spend the day with us at the Watertown Golf Club, starting with a 1 PM shotgun start, followed by a reception at 5:30 PM. Whether you're a golf enthusiast or just looking to support, there’s something for everyone.
Please note that your participation in the tournament and auction is not related to or in support of The Taft School Taft Fund or institutional fundraising.
December 31: School Photo Orders Due (free shipping if you order now!)
School photo proofs were emailed to all families by Highpoint Pictures on October 4. The email was sent from The Image Connection (support@theimageconnection.com), so please check your spam or junk folder if you don’t see it in your inbox. To order printed photos or the digital file, simply follow the instructions in that email. Free shipping is available on all orders placed by October 19. The final order deadline is December 31, 2025. Retouching services are also available. If you have any questions about ordering, please contact Highpoint directly at (914) 738-5500 or staff@highpointpictures.com.
Taft's school calendar is both full and dynamic. To keep up with current and upcoming school events, bookmark and visit the calendar page of our website regularly.
Background Image: Red Rhino Fund Board Members awarding local nonprofits with grant dollars earlier this year.