School News

GivingTuesday is a global movement that began in 2012. The idea is simple. Let’s designate one day as a day to “give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.”  December 3, 2019, is a day organizations and individuals can choose to participate with their time, their resources, or their voice lending a hand to their local community or their favorite non-profit.

This week we pause to take a breath during a busy fall semester, but more importantly we take a moment to contemplate gratitude. As we gather around tables with friends and family, we are given the opportunity to be thankful for the blessings in our lives.

With Thanksgiving break on the horizon, Head of School Jenny Rao shared a message of empathy, kindness and inclusion with the Emma Willard School community at Monday's Morning Reports.

Adolescent girls are faced with a myriad of opportunities and challenges. High school is a time where many are exploring new interests, finding their voices, considering their futures, and formulating life-long habits. Wellness is an important foundation for personal success and is a necessary ingredient for daily living. Emma Willard educators work hard to provide positive modeling and encourage students to consider their wellbeing as a fundamental ingredient in their pursuit of success.

Head of School Jenny Rao learned early in her tenure at Emma Willard School how inquisitive students can be. They were curious about the then-new head of school and had all sorts of questions. Jenny took their interest to heart and instituted Rao Rumbles, where she left a box outside her office for students to leave questions. Recently, we've expanded Rao Rumbles to a "student edition" in which faculty can ask questions of the students! 

Situated in New York state’s capital region, Emma Willard School is a short drive away from a myriad of engaging educational experiences. From music students’ recent visit to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, to the marine biology trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston, to experiencing living history at Old Sturbridge Village, we are in a prime location for hands-on learning.

This past Tuesday, just before the frosty weather, the athletic teams at Emma Willard School came together in Alumnae Chapel for the annual Fall Athletic Desserts. Pink cupcakes in hand, athletes and coaches celebrated the achievements of individuals and teams over these fast-moving weeks of the fall season. Read more about the growth, skill, and dedication among our fall athletes after the jump.

Halloween at Emma Willard School is legendary. As an all-new communications team, along with many other new faces on campus, we’ve been hearing about the ‘Emmaween’ experience since our earliest days. Read on for some bootiful costume coverage and more information about the Emma Willard School Halloween festivities!

Holidays at Emma Willard School are a practice in multi-culturalism. During Morning Reports, students often share holiday experiences from their own backgrounds. We invite you to explore the activities and lessons that create the unique Emma Willard perspective on celebrations.

Early Tuesday morning, 32 Emma Willard School music education and choir students packed their lunches and loaded a bus headed for New York City. It was time for the much-anticipated field trip to the Metropolitan Opera. On the stage this year was Puccini’s beloved La Bohème.

Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Emma Willard School is pleased to share that two students Eura C. ′20 and Jihye (Ashley) B. ′20 are among the 16,000 semifinalists named in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

During the special Fall Family Weekend edition of Morning Reports last Friday, Service Learning and Community Engagement Coordinator Gemma Halfi spoke about senior Hannah S.’s award from the YWCA for her “Changing the Cycle” capstone project. This past Tuesday, the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc. held their 20th Annual Resourceful Women’s Luncheon, centered around the stories and accomplishments of 18 local women and girls who exemplify the tenants of the YWCA (eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all) through work in various fields. Read on for more details about Hannah’s work and her award.

Last weekend marked seven weeks since students arrived on campus for the 2019-2020 school year. To celebrate and share their experiences thus far, students welcomed their families for a look into their classes, hangouts on the red chairs in the beautiful early-fall weather, delicious meals, and a special edition of morning reports. Read on for more details about the weekend, including photos!

This fall, Dietel Gallery is home to an Emma Willard School employee art show. Installed outside the library and running the length of the hall at the front of Dietel you’ll find a variety of art that mirrors the scope the student work currently on display in Kiggins: weavings of all sizes, photography, paintings, mosaics, stained glass, and woodwork. Read on for photos and some statements from the artists about their pieces in the show.

Emma Willard School salutes eleven students who were recently named as “Commended Students” in the 2020 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards. Over 1.5 million students took the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last October and therefore entered the National Merit Scholarship Program. This is a national competition for recognition and awards conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Last Friday the hallway outside Kiggins auditorium started to fill with student artwork, ranging from digital and darkroom photography, large-scale paintings and woven textiles to jewelry hung from walls and mannequins. Read on for photos of the art, information about a peer critique session from Intro to Jewelry, and statements from students about their pieces on display at Emma Willard School.

Emma Willard School has proudly fostered a love of learning, the habits of an intellectual life, and the character, moral strength, and qualities of leadership for 205 years. Over many decades, our alumnae have gone on to serve and shape our world, taking with them memories of the many traditions celebrated during the important high school years of an Emma Willard student that reflect the learning and growth occurs on Mount Ida. Early in the academic year, the senior class gathers together for a weekend of class bonding culminating in a senior dinner. A faculty member and a student, both selected by the senior class, offer remarks to those assembled at dinner. Inevitably there are words of wisdom, reflection, and humility. This year’s speakers were Esther Dettmar, PhD and Felicity L. Their remarks, poignant and delivered with humor, are shared below:

Jane Fonda '55 was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame on September 14, 2019. She accepted the honor with grace and passion while demonstrating that she is a true alumna of Emma Willard School.

Throughout the academic year, Emma Willard School students provide inspirational remarks during Morning Report. Our first such speaker talks about making a difference even if you think the problem is too big. Senior Phoebe C. shared an experience she had working to draw attention to copper mining in Minnesota's North Woods. Phoebe's remarks also kick off Emma Willard School's focus and participation in the Global Climate Strike that takes place on Friday, September 20, 2019.

From the very beginning of this school year, Academic Dean Dr. Meredith Legg set Emma Willard School on a path of fostering the habits of an intellectual life. Over the past week, some of our faculty and students have taken a moment to reflect on their own habits.

The Emma Willard School community gathered this morning for a moment of silent reflection and to hear the words of History Instructor and Chair of Humanties. Dr. Naeher offered comments reflecting on this sad day in history. He challenged the students "I want to ask you, however, not to become numb, and I want to challenge you to cultivate a compassion that leads to positive acts for good, even and perhaps especially in the face of great suffering. While I can’t give you an easy way to do this, to feel deeply without succumbing to despair, what I can say is that in the presence of evil, and pain, there is occasion for great good."

Emma Willard School is pleased to announce a new parents’ association launching this academic year. The purpose of this program is to further engage families in the Emma Willard community. Parents have helped be admission ambassadors or have served as mentors for Practicum and Signature projects on an ad hoc basis in the past. With the formalization of a parents’ group, which will be called Parents EMbassador Program (PEP), we hope to augment the community aspects for parents and provide a supporting structure for the student experience.

On Thursday morning, faculty and staff gathered for the year's first Community Coffee in Sage Study. Among them were several of our new staff members. From campus safety to communications to admissions, you will see several new faces at Emma Willard this year. Please join us in welcoming the following new staff.

Emma Willard School is excited about the additions to our faculty for the 2019-2020 school year! Academic Dean Dr. Meredith Legg shares that they are “an impressive and energetic group, ready to contribute to the Emma Willard mission.”

Emma Willard School launched its 2019-2020 school year in fine fashion with Academic Convocation on Tuesday, August 27.

Emma Willard School proudly fosters the habits of an intellectual life. That is part of our mission and specifically noted in our mission statement. Also in our mission statement are the words “love of learning.” The school works hard to facilitate these cognitive pursuits for our students and also supports faculty, staff, and parent learning.

GirlSummer Session II finished with a joyful flourish. This last session was a mix of girls taking part in signature programs such as Writer’s Retreat, English Language and Leadership, and Emma Codes, as well as exciting electives such as Mixed Media, Podcast, Advanced Jewelry Design, Basketball, and Jazz.

Our athletics department celebrated our lacrosse, crew, softball, and outdoor track and field teams at our spring sports desserts ceremony. 

Emma Willard School is proud celebrate senior Isaac H. on being named a winner of a National Merit Scholarship!

Emma Willard School is proud to celebrate twelve students who have achieved the distinction of exceeding the national average on this year’s National Latin Exam.

Sabrina L. ’20 has been honored by the National Council for Women in Technology (NCWIT) with a 2019 Aspirations in Computing Award!

The Speaker Series, PRIDE, and the Library hosted Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) last Thursday, February 28.

There are many different ways Emma Willard School students can engage with the local community through the school's newly-developing Service Learning and Community Engagement program.

Emma Willard School’s Science Olympiad team had a strong showing at this year’s Regional Competition which took place on February 3 at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY.

Emma Willard School senior Hyeyon “Stella” Rim held a public reception for her exhibition “Painting Inspiration: FOR CHILDREN TO THRIVE NOT JUST SURVIVE” at the Arts Center of the Capital Region on Friday, January 25.

Emma Willard School participated in Processing Community Day Worldwide, hosting Processing Community Day at Emma Willard (PCD@EW) on Saturday, January 19. 

The Great Folk came and brought delight to the Emma Willard School community with their performance of the 104th Revels!

Emma Willard School faculty and staff participated in a professional development workshop hosted by Brave Enterprises on Monday, January 7.

Amy VanTassel '94 describes her experience running the Ultraman Israel this past November with Wattie Ink. Read her account: “Ultraman Israel: Follow the Arrows, Avoid the Land Mines.”