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The Bears' Den| 9.9.23 A semi-monthly newsletter designed to keep our Berkshire community connected and engaged.

The first week of school is in the books!
As Berkshire embarks on its 117th school year, we welcomed 430 students from 39 countries and 29 states, including 148 new Bears.

Fall Family Weekend

October 13-14, 2023

Join us under the Mountain on October 13-14! We’re looking forward to welcoming families for class visits, athletic contests, and more.

Don’t miss our new Friday Night Lights event! Cheer on the Bears facing off at the turf field—Varsity Field Hockey and Varsity Girls and Boys Soccer—and enjoy dinner from food trucks under the lights. Go Bears!

Meet our New Faculty & Staff

Welcome to this talented group! Read more about them below.

Welcome Dr. Vitaly Nazarov

Vitaly Nazarov, MD, MPH, FAAP

Dr. Vitaly Nazarov joined the Berkshire community as Medical Director this summer. In this role, he oversees the Student Health Center and provides regular, on-call support. Upon completion of his M.D. and Ph.D. at State Pediatric Medical University in St. Petersburg, Russia, Dr. Nazarov completed a research residency at Yale School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and earned his master’s degree in public health at the University of Connecticut Medical School.

Most recently, Dr. Nazarov served as attending physician at Fairview Hospital in nearby Great Barrington, Mass., and had been a pediatrician at MACONY Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine since 2014.

Announcing Kevan Bowler as Campus Interfaith Chaplain

Kevan Bowler

In a new role for Berkshire, Kevan Bowler will serve as the School’s Campus Interfaith Chaplain. As the interfaith chaplain, he will support students’ spiritual and emotional well-being and provide a space for students of all faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs to explore their spirituality. With a B.A. from Connecticut College and a Master’s degree from Hartford Seminary, Mr. Bowler has been on the faculty since 1999 and holds the Leon and Mabel Weil Endowed Chair in History.

I am dedicated to guiding students on their personal journeys of self-discovery, growth, and reflection. I firmly believe that spiritual and emotional well-being are integral components of a student's overall success, and my goal is to ensure that each student feels heard, valued, and empowered to navigate their Berkshire experience with a sense of purpose and resilience.”–Kevan Bowler
For more photos of Bears in the classroom, please visit Berkshire's SmugMug gallery here.

In a commitment to our students' strongest learning environment and community, all of Berkshire’s academic classrooms are cell phone-free zones. As always, cell phones are not permitted in Allen Theater or in the dining hall. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this policy!

Follow @BerkshireSchoolAthletics on Instagram and Threads to keep up-to-date on athletic news, scores, and highlights!
For more photos of Bears at Play, please visit Berkshire's SmugMug gallery here.

You'll often find Bears walking along Berkshire's Campus Loop, a one-mile stretch around campus. Join Jeff Depelteau for a walk along the Campus Loop to meet some of the people (and learn about the places and programs) that make Berkshire such a special place.

The Hub

Want to know what's happening on campus, Bears? Check out student activities on The Hub on the Student Portal or by scanning the QR code above.

Saturday, September 9

7:30 PM | Town Trip to Great Barrington

Sponsored by Green & Gray

8:30–10:30 PM | Neon Dance, Soffer Athletic Center

Sunday, September 10

1:00 PM & 3:00 PM | Town Trips to Great Barrington

For questions about what's happening this weekend, contact Mr. Collopy at dcollopy@berkshireschool.org.

The Warren Family Gallery

Personal Treasures: Cherished Works of Art on Loan From the Faculty & Staff

September 1 – October 28, 2023

For The Warren Family Gallery’s latest exhibit, the faculty and staff have been invited to submit a “personal treasure”—a piece of art, an object, perhaps a memento, that has important and personal meaning to them. Each of the items is accompanied by a brief story or anecdote that describes why the piece is special. Among the exhibited pieces are family heirlooms passed down through generations, paintings and drawings made by family members, works of art and furniture created by faculty, and other assorted treasures.

Treasures, from left: Ms. Yashavant's drawing, Ms. Lyon's Shaker boxes, Ms. Smith's altarpiece, Ms. Barnhardt's quilt, the Gappas' painting

Mark Your Calendar

All-School Photo | Sept. 18 | 9:20 AM

We will gather for this year's all-school photo behind the Soffer Athletic Center followed by photos of the Class of 2024 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 September 18th. In addition, this year 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 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!

Berkshire Bulletin Summer 2023

Check out the latest issue of the Berkshire Bulletin, featuring alumni who are forging their own paths in small business, Commencement 2023, Class Notes, lots of campus news, and more!

Mic'd up Moments

Coming soon: Go behind-the-scenes with Berkshire's varsity coaches as they prepare for game day. Watch the teaser below.