Campus News
JENN MOYNIHAN NAMED MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION HEAD
Prior to Ellis, Ms. Moynihan served as Dean of Students for grades 6 to 12 at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, California. She worked closely with students, faculty, and families to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of students and to build a spirited school culture, including leading an initiative to reinvigorate the advisory program and playing a key role in Archer's work around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prior to Ellis, Ms. Moynihan served as Dean of Students for grades 6 to 12 at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, California. She worked closely with students, faculty, and families to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of students and to build a spirited school culture, including leading an initiative to reinvigorate the advisory program and playing a key role in Archer's work around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
ELLIS STUDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR ASPIRATIONS IN COMPUTING
Erika Rispoli, Class of 2022, received a National Center for Women & Informational Technology Award for Aspirations in Computing. Her recognition, a national honorable mention, put her among the top 400 student awardees in the country.
GRANDMA FINLEY
The Ellis community is excited to celebrate Head of School Macon Finley and the arrival of her first grandchild. It's a girl!
DIGITAL DEBUTS FOR ELLIS’ PERFORMING ARTISTS
From wearing masks to staging shows to accommodate social distancing, Ellis performers had to get creative on the stage (and in their living rooms) this past year. The Upper School fall play, Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, and Grade 6/7 play, Girls Rock the Classics, kicked things off and featured a mix of dramatic readings, prerecorded music, and staged action by the casts. Ellis dancers, singers, and musicians also pivoted from their typical in-person concerts to prerecorded versions that were filmed on campus. The final productions were then spliced together for families and streamed on YouTube. For the Upper School musical, Shrek, the Grade 8 operetta, The Wizard of Oz, and the Lower School musical, 101 Dalmatians KIDS, students rehearsed outdoors and recorded their performances before sharing with families and friends.
RECORD PARTICIPATION IN ELLIS FUND PARENT DRIVE
The first-ever Ellis Fund Parent Drive saw record numbers of participation, with 83% of the parent community donating to the Ellis Fund between December 1–8, 2020. Led by a team of parent ambassadors, Ellis families raised over $45,000 for the School and surpassed their goal of 80% participation.
SPRING HER FORWARD: BLOOM AND ZOOM
On Saturday, May 22, the Ellis community gathered virtually for Spring Her Forward: Bloom and Zoom, the School’s annual parent event presented by the Ellis Parent Association. Attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner from Butterjoint and an improv show from Arcade Comedy Theater (featuring special faculty guests), as well as an expansive silent auction. Over $42,000 was raised for the Ellis Fund! Our sincere gratitude to the 2021 Spring Her Forward sponsors: UPMC Health Plan, First National Bank, Simpson | McCrady, BBR Benefits Solutions, Inc, Tucker Arensberg Attorneys, Henderson Brothers, Metz Culinary, Dollar Bank, and Sisterson Certified Public Accountants and Consultants.
MICHELLE RUST NAMED DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Michelle Rust has transitioned from her role as Middle School Division Head to Director of Enrollment Management. A much respected member of the Ellis faculty, Ms. Rust was named Head of Middle School in 2013 and has been an exemplary leader for grades 5 through 8 for the past eight years. During her time as Division Head, Ms. Rust was deeply involved in admissions recruitment and retention work, and is well positioned to lead the Enrollment Management team into the future.
ELLIS TEAM WINS HOMETOWN HIGH Q
A team of Upper School students representing Ellis won first place on Hometown High Q, a local trivia quiz show for high school students on KDKA. Seniors Kiera Harrell-Danks, Annika Ramani, and Lowrie Woodside competed in the show, and Hunter Kloss, Class of 2021, and Grace Boyer, Class of 2023, served as alternates.
ELLIS HOSTS COVID VACCINE CLINICS FOR STUDENTS
Ellis was excited to host two vaccine clinics on campus this year in partnership with UPMC. The first clinic was held in the gym for students ages 16 and older, and the second was held on the field for ages 12 and up.
AMANDA FINIGAN NAMED UPPER SCHOOL DIVISION HEAD
Prior to Ellis, Ms. Finigan served as Dean of Student Life at the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, New York. During her eleven years at Berkeley Carroll, she taught mathematics (Algebra I through Calculus), served as a grade-level dean, acted as the faculty advisor to the school’s “Girls to Women” group, and was instrumental in the school's diversity and inclusion initiatives.
