Linda Saarnijoki P'12 and Rusty Davis P'12

Hail and Farewell
Among the faculty members retiring at the end of the current academic year are three Taft legends: Ted Heavenrich, Rusty Davis, and Linda Saarnijoki. As one alumnus said to Headmaster Willy MacMullen '78, "Those are some tall trees falling in the forest." Indeed. Each brought unparalleled excellence, extraordinary vision, and a degree of dedication to the Taft community that will not be forgotten. Rusty and Linda will be feted in New York City on April 21; all are welcome to attend. Read the Headmaster's thoughts on all of the retirements here, in a piece drafted for the Taft Bulletin.  

Ted Heavenrich
Listening to Learn, Learning to Listen: Remembering the Legacy of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Members of the Taft community paused this month to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a series of programs, activities, speakers, and workshops. The tribute began mid-month with Morning Meeting speakers Dr. James S. Bauer and Taft's Dean of Global and Diversity Education Jamella Lee, and continued with WorldFest 2016, a carnival of cultural exhibits and international cuisine. The celebration culminated Monday, January 18 with a full day of programs
and activities, kicked off by keynote speaker Ambassador James A. Joseph, who worked with Dr. King and served under four U.S. presidents. The day closed with Taft's annual Multicultural Celebration, a festival of song, dance, poetry, and unity held in Bingham Auditorium. Read more, watch video, and view photos from the events here.



 
Taft's 80th Service of Lessons & Carols
 One of Taft's most beloved traditions turned 80 this year. What would December be without our annual Service of Lessons and Carols? Enjoy this year's performance.  

Morning Meetings - Online! 
Taft's lineup of Morning Meeting speakers continues to engage and inspire the school community. Recent speakers include Professor Quinton Dixie, Veterans' Day Speaker Lt. Thomas Bennett MD, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Taft's Gospel Choir, Rockwell Visiting Artist Geoffrey Detrani, Monks from Tibet's Drepung Gomang Monastery, and Taft History teacher Greg Hawes '84. Videos of most Morning Meeting speakers are available on Taft's Vimeo channel. 
More News from Campus...

Taft E-Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 2
Winter 2016
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Campaign for the Second Century
As of December 31, 2015  
we've raised $166 million toward the Campaign goal of $175 million. We are in the home stretch and hope you will join this winning effort by the completion of the Campaign on June 30, 2016. 

Thousands of donors have supported the Campaign's goals of increasing financial aid, supporting faculty, and enhancing facilities.

Alumni, parents, and friends of Taft have also shown their support for Taft's programs. Our challenge is to create a sustained and relevant curriculum, with staffing to meet our vision of a school that graduates globally literate, intellectually robust, technically skilled, and ethically principled students. Here's how we're making that happen:

Global Studies
Through courses in human rights and international relations; travel experiences that build understanding of global issues; and talks by visiting artists, writers, scientists, and renowned figures from a variety of fields, students gain a thoroughly international perspective. Taft's Center for Global Leadership and Service also allows students  to  explore global issues while developing leadership skills to address them.
Service Learning
Our efforts include a school-wide Community Service Day and thriving year-round partnerships with nonprofits across the greater Waterbury area, as well as summer travel grants and service trips around the world.
Science Education and Environmental Initiatives
Taft graduates will gain literacy in the rapidly growing areas of scientific discovery and the impact science has on health, medicine, ethics, and political and fiscal decision making. We also offer courses in environmental science and partnerships with organizations like the New York Botanical Garden.
Academic Technology
Taft believes that learning in the future will be inseparable from the technology that informs it. Academic technology is not merely the "hardware" or "software" that has proven benefits for teaching, it is that our entire understanding of how we share information, connect to other learning communities, develop critical thinking skills, and collaborate and create has been revolutionized by advances in technology.
 
To find out more, visit our campaign website, or contact Director of Development Chris Latham at 860-945-5923 or chrislatham@taftschool.org; you may also

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