Ellis faculty and staff participated in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) focused professional development together on Indigenous People’s Day. Centered on culturally responsive teaching practices, the Office of DEI hosted three sessions that included defining and understanding cultural competency through an Ellis lens, culturally responsive instruction, and highlighting and recognizing the DEI work that is already happening in Ellis classrooms.

For the first time in its seventeen-year history, Culture Jam will take place away from Ellis’ Fifth Avenue campus and be hosted entirely online. Organized and helmed by the Upper School Student Diversity League, Culture Jam 2021 will be broadcasted virtually on January 15, 2021. The conference will feature a keynote address from renowned activist and non-profit executive Gisele Fetterman.

Three Ellis soccer players earned postseason honors in recognition of their excellence on the field this season. Seniors Alexis Crichlow, Miranda Lightner, and Dalia Milch were awarded spots on the 2020 WPIAL All-Section team in honor of their hard work, leadership, and athleticism. In celebration of these accolades, Head Varsity Soccer Coach Tim Howard shared his perspective on this year’s All-Section athletes.

Five Ellis field hockey players were awarded spots on the 2020 WPIAL All-Star team in recognition of their athleticism on the field this season. Ilona Bender, Class of 2023, Grayson Honig, Class of 2023, and Tegan Poerio, Class of 2021, were named to the Class A WPIAL All-Star team, and Hannah Rust, Class of 2021, and Zoe Woon, Class of 2023, earned Honorable Mentions. In celebration of these postseason honors, Head Varsity Field Hockey Coach Amanda Rose shares her perspective on this year’s all-star athletes.

Thirty-six Ellis students earned honors on the 2020 national language exams. The French, Spanish, and Latin exams test students’ knowledge and comprehension of both language and culture. Over 70,000 students participate in the National French Contest and over 150,000 students take the National Spanish and Latin Exams.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are woven within the fabric of an Ellis student’s daily learning experience. But what role do parents play in supporting their kids as they do this work in their own lives? To help parents support their daughters and grow in their own journeys, The Ellis School has launched a four-part mini-series this year, The Groundwork: The Parent Role in Building an Inclusive Community.

To say that this year’s fall play was a show unlike any other would be an understatement. From wearing masks in rehearsals and throughout recordings to staging a show that allows for social distancing, this year’s cast and crew of “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play” put their creativity to the test. The final product was a virtual tour de force that put the talents of Ellis' Upper School students center stage.

For the seventh consecutive year in a row, the Varsity Field Hockey Team competed in the WPIAL championship against Shady Side Academy. This year’s matchup on November 2 was a battle until the final buzzer that ultimately ended in a 2-1 score that favored Shady Side. Although the game didn’t end with the Tigers being named WPIAL champs, the grit, dedication, and leadership shown on and off the field by our student-athletes this season is certainly something to celebrate.

Dr. Elissa McCARTHY Tessier '95 has been inducted into the Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame. Elissa was chosen for her outstanding athletic accomplishments and contributions as a student-athlete during her time at The Ellis School.

The Ellis School is proud to recognize Kathy McMORRAN Murray ’70 with the 2020 Sara Frazer Ellis Award. The award is given annually to an alumna whose achievements represent the Ellis experience and exemplify the School’s mission.

The Ellis School is pleased to offer a series of educational programs to parents for the 2020–2021 school year. These informative and helpful sessions will serve as opportunities for parents to learn from teachers, administrators, and experts around the strategies for raising confident girls who are ready and committed to impacting the world around them.

You can still hear the echo of laughter at lunchtime come 12:30 p.m., but it’s no longer emanating from Alumnae Hall—it’s coming from the courtyard, where girls sit cross-legged on beach towels and eat their lunches in the sunshine. And, unlike in years past, the presence of a tablet or cell phone at lunch is no longer an unfamiliar sight—it’s girls video-calling their friends who are learning at home, ensuring they have a front row seat to their socially-distanced salsa routine or are included in conversations about their favorite Netflix show. Small moments like these make it clear that Middle School girls are embracing their new spaces and schedules to start the school year.

One of the hallmarks of the Upper School is the focus on interdisciplinary, project-based learning. From partnering with external clients on engineering projects to learning about antibiotic resistance by participating in a nationwide research campaign, Ellis students learn about themselves and their interests from each other, their communities, and the world around them. And while the world and school in 2020 look different, the reality is that Ellis students are gaining more practical, real-world skills than ever before. They’re taking on new challenges with courage. They’re practicing flexibility at every turn. And, notably, they're tackling their new normal together as one school community.

Believe it or not, the pre-kindergarten curriculum begins with a monster. More specifically, a story about a very mischievous monster who refuses to listen, share, or help on her first day of school. The monster makes so much trouble that the teacher asks her to leave which makes the monster very sad. The monster wants to stay at school, but she doesn’t know what to do. At this point in the story, the pre-kindergarten teachers stop telling the story and ask the students, “Can you help Monster?”

The Ellis School is pleased to announce new faculty members for the 2020–2021 school year. The School is thrilled to add these passionate intellects, scholars, and linguists to our team. Please join us in welcoming these talented educators to our community.

The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Freedman to the Board of Trustees. Effective July 2020, Laura will work with fellow trustees and Board Chair, Mike Haggerty, to guide The Ellis School’s strategic vision for the future.

In October 2019, a new first happened. Fifty years after the all-male Apollo 11 crew landed on the moon, two female astronauts, Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, performed NASA’s first-ever spacewalk conducted entirely by women. It was the 221st spacewalk completed in support of the space station, but the only all-female one. While it was a huge milestone for NASA—it’s fair to say Ellis girls in the second grade can’t quite comprehend why it took so long.

Two Ellis soccer players earned postseason honors in recognition of their excellence on the field this season. Juniors Miranda Lightner and Dalia Milch were awarded spots on the 2019 WPIAL All-Section team in honor of their hard work, commitment, leadership, and athleticism. In celebration of these accolades, Head Varsity Soccer Coach Tim Howard shared his perspective on this year’s All-Section athletes.