The Derryfield School

Reflections on my Special Olympics Experience

The New Hampshire Special Olympics Winter Games was an inspiring event in which I was a participant over February break. A large group of Derryfield upper school students and faculty took the hour and a half bus ride from Derryfield to Waterville Valley Ski Resort to volunteer at the first Special Olympics Winter Games since 2020.

Poetry Out Loud at Derryfield

Sophomore Steph Livingston represented Derryfield School at the semi-final Poetry Out Loud (POL) competition on February 21 at New England College. POL is a national program that “encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance.”

Three Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists

Three members of the senior class at The Derryfield School have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists. Jaisen Soundar, Zach Rabold, and Jack Schroeder were notified in February they are in the running for Merit Scholarships.

Perfect Season for Middle School Girls Basketball

Our journey that began on November 7, 2022 is full of treasured memories for the players, coaches, and fans. How can anyone forget the clinic that the girls put on in the league championship game? Thanks to everyone who supported DS girls middle school basketball in this perfect season.

Sixth Graders Serve Lunch to Seniors

Combining math with community service, fifteen 6th graders purchased, prepared and served lunch at the Slusser Center in Hopkinton, NH on February 15. Forty seniors greatly enjoyed the menu of pulled pork sliders, cornbread and roasted vegetables. The strawberry shortcake dessert cups were the sweet conclusion of the delicious meal.

Author Speaks of Epic Trek Across Canada

Anders Morley, author of This Land of Snow, an account of his Nordic ski trek across northern Canada in winter, spoke of his experience at the February 13 Community Meeting. Morley is a native of New Hampshire, and attended Derryfield for one of his middle school years. His book is described as, “A seasonal meditation on wilderness, solitude, and how access to wild places can help us find our way back to our most authentic selves.”

Seventh Graders Report on Bear Brook Adventure

On February 7, the entire Derryfield 7th grade embarked on the annual winter field trip to Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, NH. Led by middle school science teacher Karen Robichaud, the intrepid adventurers each reported back on their experience in the wilderness. Here is their story, told through many voices.

Student Addresses Devastation in Turkey

Ipeksu Yucel, a sophomore at Derryfield, is a first generation American who was born and raised in the US, but her entire family lives in Turkey. During Community Meeting on February 13, Yucel offered her perspective of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey the previous week. “This topic is very personal and very important to me, given the events of the past week, yet being so far from family and friends. I think it is important to raise awareness, and also to encourage humanitarian efforts.”

Student Artists Adorn Flamingos

Students in the 6th grade art class have been exploring painting through art history. The class all read a Scholastic Art Magazine article titled The Top 10 Paintings You Should Know. Students were then tasked with identifying an artist and painting from the reading, or one from their own explorations, and completing a research guide.

Derryfield Students Receive Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Derryfield School Visual Arts Department is thrilled to celebrate the success of our student artists and writers! For the Visual Arts Awards, 22 individual Derryfield students, and a total of 51 winning pieces, have received recognition from the New Hampshire Scholastic Art Awards. For the Writing Awards, Derryfield submitted 51 pieces, and a total of 34 winning pieces have received recognition from the New Hampshire Scholastic Writing Awards. Please visit this website that features ALL of Derryfield's 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing submissions and winners.

Student Sculpture Garners Award

Junior Kazu Loreman was one of five Derryfield students whose work received a Gold Key designation in the annual Scholastic Art Awards, our country’s most competitive juried art competition for students in grades 7-12. Loreman fashioned a sculpture of a polar bear, and describes his work,

“We were asked to create a piece about a current political topic that we cared about, and I chose the extinction of the polar bear. To me, it is devastating that such a beloved creature will die out because of human interference. I wanted my piece to be impactful, for the viewer to understand what it means with little analysis.”

Middle School Model UN

Model UN (MUN) is a simulation where students take on the role of a delegate representing a country in the United Nations. The goal is to negotiate with other countries, and to propose solutions to a global problem. Delegates prepare by researching information about their country, and their country’s position on the topic. Adelino Vellis '28 writes about his experience with Derryfield middle school Model UN.

Student Wins Gold in Art Competition

Each year, Derryfield students submit work to the Scholastic Art Awards, our country’s most competitive juried art competition for students in grades 7-12. This year, there were a total of 1,972 individual pieces and 81 portfolios of student artists from all over the state. Derryfield submitted 120 pieces and 42.5% received recognition. Five Derryfield students were selected as Gold Key winners, the highest honor. Suprina Kabadkar won two Gold Key awards, in the categories of Digital Art and Art Portfolio.

Author Presents Keynote at MLK Celebration

Joel Christian Gill, an author, cartoonist and historian, was the keynote speaker at the January 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance at The Derryfield School. This program was made possible by the E. Charles Sanborn Visiting Fellow Fund. Thanks to proceeds from this fund, distinguished lecturers, scholars, and writers visit the Derryfield campus for classroom visits, faculty workshops, and public forums.

Derryfield Senior Honored at MLK Event

At the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition event held on January 16 at Manchester Memorial High School, Sarah Naje ‘23 was presented with the Vanessa Johnson Youth Award, in honor of her advocacy efforts. The extensive program also featured panel discussions, music, and a reading from Dr. King’s work.

Derryfield Celebrates Lunar New Year

"But We’re Not a Private School Family"

With introductions complete and atmosphere-setting chitchat having done its job, I lean in and ask the adults accompanying the applying student, “Here’s the million-dollar question, how did you get here today? How did Derryfield fall on your radar?”

Teachers Attend People of Color Conference

Derryfield English department faculty members Laurie Byron and David Baroody recently attended the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) in San Antonio, TX. More than 7,800 adults and students from around the country participated in the annual event. Ms. Byron said, “It was an amazing experience to see over 7,000 educators gathered in one space to talk about issues around equity and belonging and personally it reaffirmed for me a re-commitment to this work.”

To Find the Good and Be the Good

Matimano on Exhibit in Lyceum Gallery

The Lyceum Gallery is currently hosting the work of fine art painter Jozimar Matimano. In his portraits in oil Matimano comments on social issues, while sharing concepts that are important to him.

Summit Examines Future of STEAM

Members of the faculty and staff, alumni, parents, and community business partners gathered on December 1 to discuss the future of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) at Derryfield. Peter Brandt, Assistant Head for Faculty and Innovation and teacher of mathematics in the middle school, coordinated the meeting.

David Baroody Works with UNH Research Team

David Baroody, a member of the middle school English department since 2019, was selected to join a 12-person UNH research team that spent a year studying digital literacies teaching and learning in NH. Dubbed TILDE, an acronym for “transformational inquiry in literacy for digital environments,” the project was sponsored by UNH’s Collaborative Research Excellence Initiative....

Asian Culture Club Samples Global Spices

Members of the Asian Culture Club and numerous culinary aficionados gathered at lunchtime on November 17 to hear Director of Global Education Brandon Gauthier expound on the history and characteristics of three spices–Sichuan peppercorns, Grains of Paradise, and Long Pepper. The attendees first gathered their own sample bags of each spice, and then settled in for enlightenment.

Munoz Earns Equestrian Honors

Middle School Students Delve Into Crime

One of the most popular middle school Exploration courses is Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), team-taught by Dean of Students and Director of Security & Crisis Management Gillian Roberts and Director of Athletics Chris Hettler. Exploration courses are designed to immerse students and faculty in experiences and pursuits that inspire new interests, broaden skills, and sharpen awareness of the community outside of the classroom. Rooted in academic and real world skills, the courses encourage students and faculty to take risks, be playful, and venture into new territory.