Berkshire came together for its first Community Dinner of the school year—an opportunity for our Bears to meet new friends and connect with faculty over a meal together.
Senior Faculty Jesús Ibáñez shares some brief remarks before community dinners in a few moments of gratitude and reflection each evening. On Tuesday night, he encouraged everyone to think about their own purpose under the Mountain.
Thank you to Student Council for the fun, monochrome theme! Be sure to follow them on Instagram @Berkshirestuco.
Join us under the Mountain, October 17-19! We’re looking forward to welcoming families for the Fall Concert, class visits, athletic contests, and more.
And don’t miss our second annual Friday Night Lights event! Cheer on the Bears as Varsity Football takes on Canterbury at 7 p.m., while enjoying dinner from food trucks under the lights on Schappert Field. The line-up of vendors includes Roberto's Pizza, Taco Loco, Ben & Jerry's, and more!
Plus, special guest Lynn Lyons, LICSW, will present her talk, “From Stress to Smartphones, from Freak-Outs to Friendships: What Parents Need to Know (and DO!) about Worry, Anxiety, and Depression" on Friday at 1 p.m. Lynn has been in private practice for 30 years, specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults and children. She travels internationally as a speaker and trainer on the subject of anxiety, its role in families, and the need for a preventative approach at home and in schools. She is a sought-after expert, appearing in the New York Times, Time, NPR, Psychology Today, and other media outlets.
2024-25 Pro Vita Programming Schedule
Pro Vita Programming is an extension of Berkshire’s motto: Learning––not just for school but for life. One Saturday morning each trimester, the community comes together to hear from new voices and engage in conversations and activities that challenge and inspire.
September 28: “Real Talk” with Middle Ground School Solutions
Kent Lenci, facilitator of Middle Ground School Solutions, helps schools arm students with the skills and mindsets that will help them face, and hopefully ease, political polarization. Students will gather to learn about the challenges and, more importantly, the approaches that can ease that polarization. After the presentation, students will break into small groups for discussion, and then return to share their solutions and insights.
December 14: Drop Everything and Discover Your Joy
Students choose from over 20 joyful, mindful workshops led by local wellness practitioners and Berkshire community members then spend the morning learning about the power of presence as a way to increase their well-being. Past workshops have included: Restorative Yoga, Afro-Brazilian Drumming, Intuitive Painting, Rock Climbing, Ax Throwing, Breathwork & Meditation, and more! We will also welcome a speaker from Minding Your Mind, an organization dedicated to reducing stigma around mental health challenges.
May 5: Tending to the Mountain
Students lean into our shared responsibility as stewards of the environment on our beautiful campus. Through the support of Berkshire’s RKMP program, students engage in activities such as trail maintenance, trash pick-up, invasive species removal, and community garden prep. We will also welcome a guest speaker from Soul Fire Farm, a community farm in Grafton, NY. Once the work is done, we gather in Buck Valley for food, music, and celebration!
Grand Prize Winner!
Riki Ishiyama ’25 was recently awarded the Grand Prize of Nagasaki University’s Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition’s essay contest for a “Nuclear-Free Future.”
Ishiyama, of Kobe, Japan, is a fourth-generation atomic bomb survivor and currently serves as a peace ambassador for his country. His great-grandparents survived the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States during World War II.
I always visit the museum [in Hiroshima] every time I visit my grandparents. It has become a tradition for me to reflect back on a history that has deep roots."–Riki Ishiyama '25
Left: Riki stands in front of the Memorial Cenotaph in Hiroshima, a concrete, saddle-shaped monument that holds the names of all the victims of the atomic bomb.
During his sophomore year at Berkshire, Ishiyama led a discussion on the bombings in Ms. Lyon’s Modern World History class. Many in the class were unfamiliar with the events and the aftermath, he said, so the opportunity to teach his fellow classmates was powerful.
“It’s not really just about what’s right or wrong, it’s more about how we can connect different narratives and build our own vision of the world," he said.
On the heels of this award, Ishiyama also earned a Merit Award in the Law category of the annual John Locke Institute Essay Competition, which drew over 34,000 entrants from over 150 countries this year! Only 16% of entrants received recognition in this prestigious contest. Congratulations, Riki!
Making a Change With Gabrielle St. Clair '27
Gabrielle St. Clair '27, spent six weeks this summer participating in a program run by Yale University’s Substances and Sexual Health Lab (SASH).
At the culmination of the program she earned the Changemaker Award as a clear acknowledgement of her dedication and drive throughout her time at SASH.
“I came into the program kind of nervous because I didn’t know anybody. But for them to recognize me as somebody who could make a change, was a really fulfilling moment.” –Gabrielle St. Clair '27
Academic Awards
The presentation of academic awards acknowledges the good work, personal achievements, and academic growth of our students. The recipients of Advanced Awards, Scholar Awards, and Honor Roll from the spring 2024 trimester were recognized at All-School Meeting on Monday, September 16.
Scholar Awards are presented to those earning the highest GPAs in the trimester. Congratulations to last spring's Scholar Award winners below!
Stay in the Know
Want to know what's happening on campus? Visit the Parent and Guardian Hub, aka "the Hub."
Just log into the Parent Portal (sneak peek at left), then click the light green button that says "Parent and Guardian Hub." You'll find helpful info from the Student Life Office, weekend activities, and more!
Here's What the Hub Looks Like:
College Rep Visits
The College Office is excited to welcome reps from Colby College, University of Southern California (USC), Middlebury College, Bucknell University, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Northwestern University, and many more in the next few weeks. More details about those visits are below. You can find the full list of visiting schools on our website.
Mark your Calendars
All-School Photo | Monday, October 7 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 2025 and the faculty on the Berkshire Hall steps.
Fall Photo Day | Tuesday, October 15
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. Parents and guardians will receive email proofs prior to purchasing.
Come for the photo, sit by the fire, and stay for the cider donuts and hot cocoa! 🍩
Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Kelly '19
The Berkshires are home to a local community that prides itself on its creative and entrepreneurial endeavors. Take Great Barrington native Kevin Kelly ’19, for example. He recently launched After Hours, which the chef-owner describes as “the next generation of dining.”
Read more about Kelly’s innovative “restaurant without a home” and how it’s bringing small business owners together below.