October 14, 2021 | Vol. 21-22, No. 6 A MESSAGE FROM OUR ADMISSION DIRECTOR
Gerard Gonnella '89, Director of Admission, discusses Connecting and Reconnecting while welcoming 134 new students and their families to the W+H community in his October blog post. Below is an excerpt:
It's the time of year again to welcome many new and returning students back to school. Once again, The Wardlaw+Hartridge School, in its 139 years of continuing operation, welcomes students to what will certainly be another challenging and fun-filled year with many opportunities to explore new ideas and passions. We are pleased and proud to have completed a robust admission season, welcoming 134 new pioneering thinkers and their families for the 2021-2022 school year. I enjoyed connecting with many of our newest community members at the New Parent Reception on October 7. Their children are the latest group of new students to add to our diverse student body.
SCHOOL CALENDAR Thursday - October 14, 2021
8:30 AM Front Courtyard / Lower Snowdon Saturday - October 16, 2021
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Front Courtyard / Amphitheatre SCHOOL NEWS COMMUNITY ENJOYS FALL FAIR FUN The W+H community of parents, students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni and friends enjoyed fun, food, games and reconnecting as Fall Fair and Homecoming Day returned after a one-year hiatus. This year's event was held outdoors at the back of campus with volunteers from the Parents' Association, Booster Club and W+H student body running various booths, games and stations. Coffee and bagels were available for early morning guests, including many who arrived to cheer on the students in the annual third and fourth grade soccer game. As the W+H athletic teams began competitions on the tennis court, soccer field and cross country course, the parking lots filled and guests began to peruse the many offerings at various booths. Activities included carnival games and crafts, various raffle prizes, a corn maze, potato sack race, henna, balloons and tattoos, egg relay race and dance contests. Food options included the Booster Club grill, Upper School soup lunch, Middle School French fries and various carnival treats. AARUSH DHARAYAN '22 RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST The College Counseling Office at The Wardlaw+Hartridge School announced that W+H senior Aarush Dharayan '22 has been named a semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation was presented to Aarush, who is pictured with Dr. Bob Bowman, Upper School Head (left) and Andrew Webster, Head of School. Aarush has an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. Semifinalists who earn Finalist standing will remain in contention for a National Merit Scholarship. These scholarships are underwritten by the NMSC to honor the nation's scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence. STUDENTS EMBRACE SPIRIT WEEK THEMES Students in all three divisions enjoyed a week of daily themes to celebrate Spirit Week. Upper School students engaged in a week of friendly competition and the seniors prevailed with the class championship in a narrow 160-140 victory over the juniors thanks to solid performances each day. Daily themes included Color Day (Monday), Dress to Match First Letter of Your Name (Tuesday), Pajama Day (Thursday) and Green and Gold Day (Friday). All students wore purple in recognition of Wednesday's Cancer Awareness Day, with donations directed to the Valerie Fund. Middle School themes consisted of Holiday Wear (Tuesday), Breast Cancer Awareness Day (Wednesday), College/University Day (Thursday) and Green and Gold Spirit Day (Friday). Students and faculty participated with creativity and enthusiasm. In the Lower School, students and teachers dressed to impress on Team Spirit Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday and Green and Gold Friday.
NEW PARENTS MEET COMMUNITY AT RECEPTION The Admission Office hosted the New Parent Reception on a beautiful early autumn evening in the amphitheatre on October 7. Parents from all three divisions mingled with each other along with parent ambassadors and school administrators. Guests enjoyed a delicious buffet of appetizers prepared by Sage Dining Services. Gerard Gonnella '89, Director of Admission, and Andrew Webster, Head of School, provided welcome greetings during which they thanked the new parents for joining the W+H community. Sharon Byrne, Performing Arts Department Chair, introduced three student performers and expressed her gratitude for working with many talented W+H students. Sophia Fontaine '22 (piano), Joanne Ding '25 (flute) and Krishna Patel '22 (vocal) entertained the audience with wonderful performances. Julian Jenson provided piano accompaniment for the final two pieces.
US FALL PLAY ANNOUNCES CAST LIST The Wardlaw+Hartridge Performing Arts Department announced the cast list for its Upper School Fall Play – These Shining Lives – with performances set for November 12-13 in the Berry Performing Arts Center. Leading players include Rose Kassam '22 as Catherine Donohue, Naischa Puri '23 as Charlotte Purcell and Krishna Patel '22 as Frances O'Connell. The rest of the cast consists of Giselle Lee '23, Jack Silver '23, Charlie Silver '24, David Flatau-Jones '24, Carter Huang '22, Timothy Oligino '24, Sasha Chernyak '23 and Aarya Patel '25. Ticket information will be coming soon. Hope to see you at the show! UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Karl Miran, Athletic Director, announced this week's Upper School Athletes of the Week. Congratulations to soccer player Cian Nicholls '24 and tennis players Amelie Leu '24 and Avni Vasani '24. Cian has shown great leadership qualities, proving that leadership is a set of actions and attitudes, rather than a title. Although he is a freshman, he has assumed the responsibility of being a starting varsity goalie without a qualm. He had to make a number of tough saves in pressure-packed situations last week, but that's typical of Cian's play. Amelie Leu and Avni Vasani play second doubles on the varsity girls' tennis team. At Fall Fair, the pair defeated Monroe's 2nd doubles team in 3 competitive sets. The win by the two freshmen broke the 2-2 tie, and gave the Rams a team victory over a much larger Red Division team. MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Karl Miran, Athletic Director, announced this week's Middle School Athletes of the Week. Congratulations to cross country runner Leah Alves '29, soccer player Ryan Bokina '26 and tennis player Pallavi Shah '27. Leah has raced on the W+H course four times: one time trial and three meets. Leah did not just improve with each run, she demolished her previous times. Hard work at practice has helped Leah lower her times from 27:25 to 24:55 to 19:41 to 16:46 at Fall Fair (pictured). Ryan has shown exceptional consistency throughout the season so far. He is a standout leader and a highly reliable and well organized defender. Ryan sets high standards of smart play and is key to the team's developmental success so far. He was incredibly influential in the Rams' Fall Fair victory against Gill St. Bernard's School. Pallavi always gives 100% on the court and in practice. This season she has had some nice wins with her doubles partner while showing great sportsmanship. Pallavi's hard work throughout the week has led to her improvement. MILKWEED NEEDED FOR HUNGRY CATERPILLARS There are little monarch caterpillars in the Lower School! They are residing in Senora Hinestroza's classroom for all to see. They are slowly growing but will soon be hungry, hungry caterpillars. Monarchs eat only one thing – milkweed. We are on the lookout for any milkweed you have in your yard or that you see in a local park. Most has gone to seed at this point but there is still milkweed around to be found. We do not need plants dug out – only clippings. Please contact Katherine Heiss at kheiss@WHschool.org if you can help. COLLEGE REPS VISITING VIRTUALLY W+H is pleased to welcome many of the finest colleges and universities making virtual visits with our students this fall. Next week's list includes Connecticut College, Mount Holyoke College, University of Chicago, Haverford College and Marist College. For more information about colleges and universities visiting W+H this fall, go to https://www.whschool.org/academics/college-counseling/colleges-on-campus From the W+H Parents' Association A BIG FALL FAIR THANK YOU!
For those who attended Fall Fair, we truly hope you had as much fun as we did. We thank each and every one of you who participated in any way to make Fall Fair a great community event. The weather held out and we were all able to enjoy some time in person together. Without all of you, none of this would have been possible. To all of our volunteers, sponsors and those who donated - THANK YOU!!
Please make sure to join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WHPAGroup to enjoy some of the amazing photos taken that day. Our Facebook group is also a great way to keep updated on all things WHPA.
WHPA Meeting – Thursday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
Our next W+H Parents' Association meeting will be held via Zoom this Thursday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Join us to receive updates from all divisions, a recap of Fall Fair and other future events as well as hear from some of the school administrators. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom :)
To join us - please go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88908003233?pwd=Ty9qRE5rOTJFRUp0VGYwSndsOUxhQT09
Meeting ID: 889 0800 3233 Passcode: 552281 THANKSGIVING PIE SALES - ORDER NOW!
Order delicious Thanksgiving pies for this year's holiday! These annual treats, prepared and baked by the Sage Dining Services staff, can be ordered now through November 19. Pickup is on November 23.
Apple or pumpkin pies are available at $8 each or two for $15.
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