Rachel Spellman P’26, ’27, ’28 hosts a boys varsity basketball team dinner at her home.

For many volunteers, the relationships built through Beaver become one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. “I have loved all of my volunteer experiences at Beaver,” shared Kathy Rothman P’17, ’22, ’26. “Volunteering has been a wonderful way to get to know, and work with, other parents, as well as some amazing Beaver staff. It has been such a fun and meaningful way to support and give back to a community that will always be a very special place to me.”

Beaver welcomes involvement at every level. Whether you have a few hours to give throughout the year, would like to help with a single event, or are interested in taking on a larger leadership role, every contribution helps strengthen the Beaver community. We invite all parents and caregivers to explore the many opportunities available and join the 100+ volunteers who help make Beaver such a special place.

When students began approaching the Hiatt Center about creating more opportunities to engage with the topic of immigration, they set in motion what would eventually become a week-long inquiry into the topic featuring a expert in residency and Social Impact Fair. Central to the experience was Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, who spent a week on campus meeting with students and faculty, visiting classrooms, and sparking conversations.

With both Upper and Middle School students advocating for more opportunities to explore the topic of immigration, the Hiatt Center planned a series of meetings for students to express concerns, discuss goals, and create a plan. “The Hiatt Center became a gathering space for students and faculty seeking conversation, reflection, and ideas for action,” shared Associate Director of the Hiatt Center Barbie Garayúa Tudryn. “We intentionally worked to meet students where they were and listened closely to identify the issues that mattered most to them.” These conversations became the foundation for both Iván’s visit and the Social Impact Fair. 

While at Beaver, Iván presented to Upper and Middle School students, led workshops, visited classes, and started conversations across campus. In one instance, Iván brought together several classes—Theories of Justice, Philosophy, and Empires to Independence—to work through case studies related to immigration, diving deep into the ethical and moral dilemmas that come with immigration enforcement. In another example, Iván fielded questions from Middle School students about his career, his favorite cases to work on, and his perspective on civil rights.

Iván leveraged the concept of “Cathedral Thinking” to encourage students to view their advocacy as part of something much bigger, especially when it seems there is no immediate outcome to their work. “A central idea Iván shared was ‘Cathedral Thinking,’ the belief that meaningful justice work takes time, collective effort, and commitment, much like the construction of a cathedral may take generations to build,” explained Barbie Garayúa Tudryn. This concept—paired with Iván’s infectious optimism—served as inspiration for students hoping to make a difference. “Iván Espinoza-Madrigal’s speech was very inspiring and stuck out to me,” reflected Leila Sakoulis ’27. “It was very hopeful for the future, which was really nice to hear, especially in times like these.”

The student-led Social Impact Fair provided an additional opportunity for students to engage in conversation. At one booth, Charlie Scott ’28 discussed her volunteer work with the Immigrant Learning Center, sharing statistics and resources on Boston’s immigrant communities. At another, students wrote supportive notes to families in ICE detention centers as part of the Letters of Love Campaign. Regardless of the approach, each display was an invitation for students to connect with their peers on the issues that matter most to them.

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal’s residency and the Social Impact Fair showcase how meaningful dialogues can often start with student advocacy. “Our students ask urgent questions, seek understanding, and want to engage meaningfully with complex issues on a daily basis. Our role as educators is to create spaces where they can think critically, listen deeply, and imagine how they might participate in shaping a more just future,” noted Director of the Hiatt Center Liz Latour. “As an Expert in Residence, Iván amplified this by affirming our communities’ concerns, broadening our perspectives, and providing hope for the future.”

Hello, Middle School Students and Families! Here is a recap of today’s Middle School Meeting.

Teagan Weintraub ’31 ran today’s meeting. You can check out the slides from this week’s meeting here.

BVR Student

Parker Slugg ’32 presented Incorporates Feedback by Reflecting, Asking for help, and Trying Again.

Announcements

Reagan Coughlin ’26 announced the Upper School mini plays presented by the Foundations of Theater class. Middle School students can attend the first of the three plays on Friday, May 29, during recess.

Max Bensonoff ’31 and Felipe Hong ’31 announced they are trying to start a middle school esports team. They are sending out a form that students can complete to let them know if they would be interested in participating.

Ms. Garayúa and Ms. Latour from the Hiatt Center recognized the students who attended either most or all of the Hiatt Leadership Institutes this year.

Students who attended six or more workshops include Eva Bachman ’31, Samir Kasrawi ’30, Niamh Peyton ’32, Olivia Smith ’30, Violet Teman ’32, Elena Todd ’31, Elizabeth Zimman ’30

Students who attended all of the workshops include Aki Cheung ’32, Hannah Barnett ’31, Elliot Enyeart ’30, Lael Hackshaw ’30, Sophie Herbstman ’30, Jack Ledley ’31, Ninah Mahidhar ’30, Kieran Morrissey-Dhekne ’30, Reade Mrazek ’30, Malcolm Richkus ’31, Alessandro Traverso ’30, Estelí Valenzuela ’31

BVR Librarian, Ms. Kempkes, reminded students about the Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award, encouraging everyone to read this summer and vote in the fall for their favorite book. The book with the most votes will be named the Beaver Book of the Year.

We announced the changes to the afternoon bus schedule happening this week.

Tuesday, May 26
All buses depart at 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27
All buses depart at 3:45 p.m. except route #1: Charleston/Boston/Brookline, route #3: Weston/Wellesley/Newton, AND route #4: South of Boston, which will run at 3:45 p.m. AND 5:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 28
All buses depart at 3:45 p.m.

Friday, May 29
All buses depart at 3:45 p.m.

L’mar Hibbert ’30 announced that Student Council is hosting a special event on Friday, May 29, from 2:30–3:30 p.m.: Middle School Manhunt! The gray team versus the navy team activity will take place in two rounds. In round one, 6th and 7th graders will hunt the 8th graders. Then the roles will switch, and the 8th graders will hunt the 6th and 7th graders.

Happening This Week

RISE: Wall flowers part two

Advisory agenda: Preparing for Student Led Conferences happening next week.

This week’s home games:

Wednesday
MS (A) Tennis vs. Belmont Day | 3:30 p.m., Baker Courts

Thursday
MS Boys Lacrosse vs. Carroll | 3:30 p.m., Upper Far Field

Announcements

Ms. Kempkes, BVR Librarian, spoke to students about the Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award. The annual reading program features a list of titles curated by a committee of public librarians, school library media specialists, and educators. Students are encouraged to begin reading the selected books over the summer and will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites in September.

Ms. Kempkes also reminded students that all Beaver library books are due back this week.

During R-TIME, a librarian from the Boston Public Library met with 6th grade students to help them sign up for a Boston Public Library card. A BPL card provides free access to millions of physical books, streaming media, and research databases. Cardholders can also access free or discounted passes to dozens of Massachusetts museums, free state park parking, and borrowing privileges for unique items such as musical instruments and technology.

Mr. Rohn and Ms. Klammer encouraged students to come to the Sumo Bot competition during recess today.

Caroline Mitchell ’30 announced the last candy jar of the year: candy salad!

The application for next year’s Head Admission Ambassador is due today. All 7th grade students who are Admission Ambassadors this year can apply to be next year’s Head Admission Ambassadors.

Student Reminders From Ms. Hollos

I spoke to students about cleaning up after themselves and others. Students talked about jobs they do at home, for example, clearing plates from the table, cleaning their rooms, and doing their laundry. I reminded them to clear their plates at lunch.

Happening This Week

RISE: Wall flowers

Advisory agenda: Sharing the Good: Reflecting on positive memories from the school year.

This week’s home games:

Tuesday
MS (B) Tennis vs Dedham CD | 3:30 p.m., Baker Courts
MS Baseball vs Fessenden | 3:30 p.m., Upper Field

Wednesday
MS (A) Tennis vs Rivers | 3:30 p.m., Baker Courts

Thursday
MS Boys Lacrosse vs Shady Hill | 3:45 p.m., Upper Far Field
MS Girls Lacrosse vs Shady Hill | 3:45 p.m., Upper Field

It all started with Romeo and Juliet. After reading and taking a test on the play, students were tasked with taking Shakespeare’s work and making it their own by reimagining the setting, conflict, and characters. Each student brought their vision to life by writing a sonnet and a chapter. “Bringing my own characters into the storyline was fun,” Rose Scott ’30 reflected. “It helped me understand Romeo and Juliet and the ideas of Shakespeare better.”

The creative freedom of the assignment provided students with an opportunity to use their own interests as a lens to explore Shakespeare. “The setting of my retelling was a futuristic dystopia where some people had magic and some didn’t,” shared Sophie Herbstman ’30. “I chose this because I love fantasy, it’s one of my favorite types of books to read.” Lesleigh Robin ’30 went in a different direction, leveraging her love of dystopian literature to create a setting ravaged by war. Caroline Mitchell ’30 decided to focus her retelling on Mercutio, a character she felt was underrepresented in the original text. As Caroline explained, “I chose Mercutio because I felt he didn’t get enough attention. I liked adding more depth to the character, it ended up expanding the story itself.”

Students created three-dimensional book covers to accompany their writing. In addition to housing each student’s prologue and chapter, the covers also served as a visual representation of the themes, symbols, and settings students explored. Just as no two retellings were the same, no two covers were either, with pieces ranging from a miniature balcony to a wolf’s head to a lyre. “When you put your ideas on paper, you start to see it in new ways,” said Ayan Toussaint ’30. “Once you add the visual component, it all comes together and you can see the real story.”

The process of creating book covers on the Design Level extended conversations that began in the classroom. As students worked, they connected over their retellings and reflected on their creative decision-making. “Parents can appreciate that riding in the car is just about the best environment for honest conversations with your teens—it’s when they share the most with you,” Middle School English teacher Kathleen Kosberg reflected. “The same happens among students while they’re working on a visual arts component for class; inhibitions seem to diminish, and the conversations feel natural, spirited, and supportive.”

By the end of the assignment, students had created entire worlds based upon their understanding of Romeo and Juliet. What began as a study of Shakespeare became an opportunity for the class to explore their own voices and interests through writing, collaboration, and creative expression.

The reimagined book covers are currently on display on the second floor of the Middle School wing.

As one of the most iconic titles in musical theater, Chicago represents something different to everyone. “When I found out we were doing Chicago, I was so happy,” shared actor Orli Azoulay ’26. “Chicago is like the show of shows.” Stepping into the Jazz Age world of Chicago offered students the opportunity to bring some of their favorite songs, scenes, and characters to life. “It’s always been my dream to be in Cell Block Tango, so it’s like a dream coming true,” said dancer Nora McBride ’26.

Enthusiasm for the show has only grown as students have developed a better understanding of what makes Chicago so beloved—and so challenging. “I think the dance element is really interesting,” actor Reagan Coughlin ’26 reflected. “The props are really cool; they become part of the expression of the dance.” With dance as a major component of the show, students studied the history and style of Bob Fosse’s choreography. An emphasis was placed on exploring dance as a storytelling device similar to dialogue and costuming. “All of the dances are so different and they tell their own story,” added Nora.

With a unique set, dynamic lighting, and costumes authentic to the time period, the vibrant expression of Chicago presented challenges to those on and off stage. As stage manager Sara Schiavo ’26 explained, “the set is very different from ones we’ve had in the past. We play around a lot with levels and there are spotlights that help capture different scenes and moments.” In order to extend this scene-building to all aspects of the show, student technicians worked closely with musicians on underscoring scenes. “A lot of the sound effects are made with instruments, so there’s a cool overlap between music and tech,” Sara shared. “I haven’t seen that a lot in other shows.”

Being immersed in Chicago provided students a deeper understanding of the themes central to the text. “[Our director] Ms. Farrell talked a lot about the fact that—even though the show takes place in the 1920s—it has messages that are so impactful, especially now,” Sara recalled. Students used this understanding to inform how they approached their respective roles on and off stage. “My favorite part of this show has been playing a character like Roxie Hart,” Orli reflected. “She’s very flawed, but those flaws reveal what Chicago is truly about.”

Performances of Chicago: Teen Edition will take place at Beaver on May 14, 15, and 16 at 7 p.m. in Bradley Hall. Tickets can be purchased here. Please note that this musical contains mature content.

Caroline Mitchell ’30 announced the Spring Lumos Debate Tournament winners:

• Bradley Forrester ’32
• Landon Allen ’30
• Kieran Morrissey-Dhekne ’30
• L’mar Hibbert ’30
• Olivia Smith ’30

L’mart Hibbert ’30, Daniel Orloff ’30, Caroline Coe-Rohl ’30, and Alice Gametchu-Walker ’30, this year’s Head Admission Ambassadors, encouraged current 7th grade Admission Ambassadors to apply for the role next year. Each student shared why they applied to be Head Admission Ambassadors:

Caroline: I wanted to be a Head Ambassador because I wanted to be more involved with Beaver and share my experiences with new people.

Daniel: I wanted to be a Head Admissions Ambassador because I like meeting new students and helping them feel welcome.

L’mar: I wanted to be a Head Ambassador because I enjoy talking with families and sharing why Beaver is such a great school.

Alice: I wanted to be a Head Admissions Ambassador because it gave me an opportunity to take on a leadership role and share why I love the beaver community.

Applications are due by Tuesday, May 19.

Kieran Morrissey-Dhekne ’30 and Alessando Traverso ’30 recapped the last Hiatt Leadership Institute that took place last week. Vivian Mandelman ’26, Samantha Feinberg ’26, and Dany Sidman ’26 designed and led the workshop.

“We learned about how taking time to ask the right questions should always be the first step before attempting to solve a problem, act on a new idea, or improve relationships.”

Vivian Mandelman ’26, a senior intern in the Hiatt Center, reminded MS students that the deadline to apply for the Hiatt Summer Fellowship is this Friday, May 15.

Here are the students who have applied so far:

Beia Rubin ’31, Blaise Bergmark ’30, Bradley Forrester ’32, Caleb Davis ’30, Caroline Coe-Rohl ’30, Catherine Crooker ’30, Charlotte Henson ’30, Elliot Fayne ’30, Estelí Valenzuela ’31, Eva Bachman ’31, Julia Roetter ’31, Juliana Wilcox González ’30, Kate Daley Demerle ’31, Lesleigh Robin ’30, Leila Faris ’32, Max Bensonoff ’31, Milly Hedgepeth ’31, Niamh Peyton ’32, Owen Bau ’31, Ruby Parker-Geller ’31, Taylor Franklin ’31, Violet Teman ’32, Wesley Wu ’31, Zoe Kelso ’31

Upper School students Alex Liu ’28 and Ash Yang ’28 announced AAPI Heritage Month. The AAPI US Affinity group will host games from 12:00-12:30 p.m. in the Rogers Room on Thursday, May 14, for the AAPI MS Affinity Group. It is open to all who identify as AAPI to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Please stop by, we will have snacks, and it will be lots of fun!

Student Reminders From Ms. Hollos

As we make our way through the last weeks of school, here are a few reminders:

• Wear sneakers to recess. Students have recently injured themselves while playing barefoot or in inappropriate shoes for running around, such as slippers.
• Return recess balls into the bag, whether you played with one or simply walked by one left on the ground. It’s part of being in a community.
• Store your athletic equipment downstairs by the athletic lockers, not in any hallways. You can also talk to your advisor about a good space.
• Listen to teachers and staff when they tell you to do something. It is not okay to ignore a BVR adult.

Happening This Week

RISE: Sidewalk chalk

Advisory agenda:

8th grade is Sharing the Wisdom with 6th grade.
7th grade will participate in silent drawings.

Wellness: 6.2 and all three sections of 7th grade will have wellness with Mr. Slotnick this week to talk about drug and alcohol education. 8.2 will be working with Ms. Graham on creating their own mental health apps.

This week’s home games:

Monday
MS (A) Tennis vs. Nobles | 3:45 p.m., Cannalonga Courts

Tuesday
MS (B) Tennis vs. BB&N | 3:30 p.m., Cannalonga Courts

Wednesday
MS (B) Tennis vs. Boston Trinity | 3:30 p.m., Baker Courts

Returning to campus allowed alumni to share their experiences and expertise with students. During a particularly impactful gathering, Ciara Dillion ’16 and Fedna Jacquet ’06 met with performing arts students to detail their careers in entertainment. Students asked questions on a variety of topics ranging from memorable set experiences to the process of finding and working with an agent. Ciara and Fedna pointed to their time at Beaver—specifically with Jennifer Yolles and the performing arts department—as foundational to their careers.

“I feel so energized now,” one student reflected after the presentation. “Hearing from them makes me want to pursue acting.”

The day culminated in an all alumni reception in Bradley Hall, bringing even more alumni and community members together in celebration. Classmates reunited, teachers reconnected with former students, and stories were exchanged over dinner.

The evening continued with an alumni panel hosted by seniors Rylee Barnwell ’26 and Neal Mahidhar ’26 featuring Ariel Brown ’96, Fedna Jacquet ’06, Dave Madan ’01, and Andy Spellman ’96, P’26, ’27, ’28. Panelists discussed their careers and reflected on their time at Beaver, touching on how their experiences at the school shaped the paths they went on to pursue ranging from performing arts to entrepreneurship to healthcare.

The program concluded with the presentation of the 2026 Beaver Alumni Award to Andy Spellman ’96, P’26, ’27, ’28. Founder of Fifth Down Capital and an entrepreneur and investor focused on supporting founders and their vision, Andy remains deeply engaged with Beaver as a speaker, mentor, class expert, and internship host. In his remarks, he reflected on the impact of a Beaver education on himself and on his kids.

Reunion 2026 welcomed alumni representing more than sixty years of graduating classes. Through campus tours, student conversations, and reunions with peers, the day served as a reminder of the lasting community that is central to the Beaver experience.