Derryfield School

THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL INSPIRES BRIGHT, MOTIVATED YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THEIR BEST AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES NEEDED TO BE VALUED, DYNAMIC, CONFIDENT, AND PURPOSEFUL MEMBERS OF ANY COMMUNITY.

THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR WAS A YEAR OF GROWTH FOR THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL. AS WE EMERGED FROM THE COVID ERA, WE SET ANOTHER RECORD FOR ENROLLMENT, OPENING WITH 415 STUDENTS. THE DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT BODY EXPANDED AS 24% OF OUR STUDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS STUDENTS OF COLOR, AS COMPARED TO 13% IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. IN ADDITION, 34% OF DERRYFIELD STUDENTS RECEIVED NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID, INCLUDING SEVEN AMOSKEAG SCHOLARS WHO ENROLLED TUITION-FREE, REPRESENTING BRIGHT AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS FROM LOCAL UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THESE STUDENTS JOINED OUR CARLSON SCHOLARS AND MALONE SCHOLARS, WHO QUALIFY THROUGH BOTH A FINANCIAL AND ADMISSION LENS, AND ENROLL WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR ENDOWED FUNDS.ANDY CHAPPELL JOINED THE DERRYFIELD COMMUNITY AS THE NINTH HEAD OF SCHOOL IN JULY 2022. ANDY SHEPHERDED THE SCHOOL THROUGH ITS FOURTH YEAR OF A STRATEGIC PLAN REFRESH, ALL THE WHILE BUILDING COMMUNITY AND HELPING TO GUIDE THE INITIAL PROCESS OF SCHOOL RE-ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. THE RE-ACCREDITATION PROCESS WILL CONCLUDE IN DECEMBER 2023.THE SCHOOL HAS STAYED TRUE TO ITS MISSION, AND STRIVES TO BE A REGIONAL AND STATE LEADER IN EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION. OUR STRATEGIC PLANS KEEP US FOCUSED ON BEING THOUGHTFUL LEADERS, KEEPING OUR PEDAGOGY AND FACILITIES CURRENT AND INNOVATIVE, AND STAYING CONNECTED TO THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY. AS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, WE EXCEL AT DEVELOPING SKILLS AND LIFELONG HABITS THAT SET OUR ALUMNI UP FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE 2023, 100% OF THE CLASS WAS ADMITTED TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, 90% TO ONE OF THEIR TOP THREE CHOICES. AS A WHOLE, THE CLASS WAS OFFERED OVER $4 MILLION PER YEAR IN NON-NEED BASED MERIT AID FROM THESE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. ALUMNI CONTINUE TO CONNECT BACK TO DERRYFIELD, MOST NOTABLY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE VALUABLE COLLEGE AND CAREER ADVICE TO DERRYFIELD STUDENTS AND YOUNG ALUMNI USING DERRYFIELD CONNECT, AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT OFFERS NETWORKING RESOURCES.THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL BEGINS ITS SECOND HALF-CENTURY IN A POSITION OF STRENGTH AND WITH A PROFOUND SENSE OF OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FACILITIES THAT MATCH OUR STELLAR ACADEMIC PROGRAM. WORKING TOWARD COMPLETION OF A MAJOR GOAL OF THE FACILITIES STRATEGIC PLAN, THE SCHOOL RAISED $7.7 MILLION DOLLARS, 88% OF THE GOAL, TO CONSTRUCT THE COMMONS, A DINING FACILITY IN THE HEART OF CAMPUS. THE COMMONS IS SLATED TO OPEN ITS DOORS FOR THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEAL IN FALL OF 2023, AND IT WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE EACH DIVISION TO GATHER AS ONE OVER HEALTHY, DELICIOUS MEALS. HEAD OF SCHOOL ANDY CHAPPELL NOTED, "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY IS TO SHARE A MEAL TOGETHER, DURING WHICH WE CAN GATHER TO ENJOY ONE ANOTHER, AND TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER BY BUILDING THE COMMONS, WE WILL BRING THIS SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO OUR ENTIRE DERRYFIELD FAMILY. WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH, WELLNESS, DAILY EXERCISE, AND GOOD NUTRITION. WE'RE EXCITED AT LONG LAST TO HAVE A FACILITY AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH A FOOD SERVICE PROVIDER THAT CAN PROVIDE AND TEACH THESE VALUES AND IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS."FINALLY, THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR SAW A RETURN TO COLLABORATIONS WITH THE GREATER MANCHESTER COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEER STUDENTS PARTNERED WITH THE AFGHAN SUPPORT NETWORK TO HELP TUTOR YOUNG AFGHANI CHILDREN IN THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS, AND AN ENTIRE GRADE SPENT PART OF A DAY IMPROVING GROUNDS AND FACILITIES AT A LOCAL CAMP FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS. FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, OUR STUDENTS HAVE WORKED WITH ATHLETES FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND WERE THRILLED TO GET BACK TO THIS UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AFTER A THREE-YEAR HIATUS DUE TO COVID. THE RED CROSS CLUB ORGANIZED A SUCCESSFUL BLOOD DRIVE, AND EQUITY CLUB PARTICIPATED IN AND RAISED OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR WAYPOINT'S SLEEP OUT TO COMBAT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. COMMUNITY SERVICE WAS WOVEN INTO THE CURRICULUM AS SIXTH GRADE MATH STUDENTS PUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF RATIOS AND FRACTIONS TO GOOD USE IN SCALING UP RECIPES, THEN COOKING AND SERVING LUNCH AT THE SLUSSER SENIOR CENTER IN HOPKINTON. EIGHTH GRADERS PARTNERED WITH STUDENTS AT WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR LESSONS IN SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP. UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO JOINED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TRAVELED BY VAN TO VOLUNTEER ALL OVER MANCHESTER. THEY ASSEMBLED FOOD KITS FOR MANCHESTER STUDENTS IN DANGER OF GOING HUNGRY OVER THE WEEKEND AT FUELED BY KIDS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY GRACE MIKOL '18. STUDENTS OFFERED TECHNOLOGY HELP TO SENIORS AT RIVERWOODS, SOLVING PESKY PROBLEMS WITH EMAILS OR PHOTO-SHARING. THEY SORTED THROUGH DONATIONS OF FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES AT THE FAMILIES IN TRANSITION FOOD PANTRY. IN ADDITION, THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO SHARING OUR FACILITIES WITH LOCAL, FELLOW NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2022, THREE SUCH ORGANIZATIONS UTILIZED OUR TENNIS COURTS AND A MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE: CHABAD OF NH, OUR NEIGHBOR DOWN THE ROAD, CAME TO DERRYFIELD EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR A MONTH. A DOZEN CHILDREN FROM THEIR DAY CAMP PROGRAM RECEIVED TENNIS INSTRUCTIONS FROM ONE OF THEIR COUNSELORS. ADVANTAGE KIDS, WHOSE MISSION IS TO: "INTRODUCE NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND YOUTH TO THE BENEFITS OF TENNIS AND YOGA, HELPING THEM DEVELOP IN BODY AND MIND," USED THE DERRYFIELD TENNIS COURTS AND MOVEMENT ROOM FOR SIX WEEKS, TWICE PER WEEK. THE 30+ KIDS IN THE PROGRAM WERE INSTRUCTED BY BOTH LOCAL COACHES, AND DERRYFIELD STUDENTS. YOUTH CO-ED TENNIS, A (NOMINALLY) FREE PROGRAM OFFERED TO MANCHESTER CHILDREN, UTILIZED THE DERRYFIELD COURTS THE WEEK OF JULY 25-29 FOR THEIR HALF-DAY TENNIS PROGRAM. APPROXIMATELY 25 CHILDREN ATTENDED THE CAMP.DERRYFIELD'S AIM TO INSPIRE BRIGHT, MOTIVATED STUDENTS TO BE THEIR BEST AND TO BECOME LEADERS FOR THE COMMON GOOD GIVES PURPOSE TO OUR COLLEAGUES, OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER STELLAR YEAR.

THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL, BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER'S HOST FOR THE PAST 32 YEARS, FOCUSED ON THE CORE VALUE OF COMMUNITY IN 2022 THAT WAS CARRIED THROUGH THE SUMMER BY BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER. WITH 89 STUDENTS AND 23 TEACHING FELLOWS, WE HAD THE STRONGEST SENSE OF COMMUNITY EVER AS WE LAUNCHED OUR 31ST SUMMER - THE FIRST THAT WAS FULLY IN-PERSON SINCE THE PANDEMIC THAT HAD DISRUPTED ALL OF OUR LIVES. ACCORDING TO A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE (5/5/2022), EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY HAS SURGED SINCE 2020. ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO GO REMOTE AND WERE MOST CHALLENGED BY THE TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS OF REMOTE SCHOOLING. THEREFORE, IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT LOW-INCOME AND BIPOC STUDENTS, ALREADY FACING AN EDUCATIONAL GAP, FELL FURTHER BEHIND IN SCHOOL. MANCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NO DIFFERENT, THEY SHOW THAT STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS ESPECIALLY STUDENTS OF COLOR. BTM CONTINUES TO USE A STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH TO MEET EVOLVING CHALLENGES AND CELEBRATE OUR GRADUATES, WHO AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SIX YEARS OF BREAKTHROUGH MENTORING AND LEARNING, - HAVE ALL CONTINUED EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER'S UNIQUE "STUDENTS-TEACHING-STUDENTS DUAL MISSION PROVIDES SIX YEARS OF INTENSIVE, TUITION-FREE ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT MANCHESTER STUDENTS FROM TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ON THEIR PATH TO COLLEGE WHILE INSPIRING EMERGING LEADERS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATORS AND ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.WE DO THIS BY:1. INSPIRING EXCITEMENT FOR LEARNING: MOTIVATED STUDENTS GAIN THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL. AT BREAKTHROUGH, IT'S COOL TO BE SMART!2. CREATING PATHS TO COLLEGE: WE CHALLENGE AND PREPARE STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND ASPIRE TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.3. PROMOTING CAREERS IN EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVE TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE INSPIRED TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATORS AND LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT, RESEARCH-BASED TRAINING, AND COACHING FROM MASTER EDUCATORS. BREAKTHROUGH'S 6-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM WHICH IS FOCUSED ON RIGOROUS ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT WITH A BALANCE OF SUMMER CAMP FUN IS THE FOUNDATION OF BREAKTHROUGH AND WHERE THE MAGIC TRULY HAPPENS. FROM PHYSICS AND GEOMETRY TO READING AND WRITING, STUDENTS HONED ACADEMIC SKILLS AND PREPARED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR AHEAD. MEANWHILE, THEY TRIED NEW EXTRACURRICULAR COURSES LIKE QUIDDITCH, KNITTING, LACROSSE, FRENCH, OR PERFORMANCE DANCE! COMMUNITY BUILDING WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIRS AND FIELD TRIPS TO STAR ISLAND, RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN, AND BOSTON COLLEGES AND CULTURAL SITES. ALL THE WHILE, STUDENTS ENJOYED COMMUNITY BLOCKS, ADVISORY ACTIVITIES, AND SHARING THEIR TALENTS AT ALL SCHOOL MEETINGS!TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OUR STUDENTS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY, BREAKTHROUGH PROVIDES A SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM OF 5 SUPER SATURDAYS. PARTNERING WITH DERRYFIELD AND OTHER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, WE RECRUITED 15 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SERVE AS TEACHERS AND MENTORS FOR 67 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THEMES FOR THE SATURDAYS INCLUDED: COMMUNICATIONS, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS, MINDFULNESS AND WELLNESS, AND A SPECIAL FOCUS ON STEM SUBJECTS. IN FEBRUARY AN EXTRA SCIENCE SATURDAY WAS HELD IN THE DERRYFIELD LABS FOR BREAKTHROUGH BY DERRYFIELD. DURING THIS OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL DAY, STUDENTS WERE LED BY BREAKTHROUGH TEACHER, KENNEDY, AND DERRYFIELD TEACHER DR. MOON, THROUGH A GENETIC MODIFICATION LAB USING THE STATE-OF-THE-ART SCIENCE LABS AT THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL! THIS LAB ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MAKE BACTERIA GLOW GREEN! THE FINAL SUPER SATURDAY CONTINUED THE SCIENCE THEME WITH A VISIT TO CHASE LABS AT UNH TO EXPLORE THEIR FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDED: GIANT WATER AND WAVE TANKS, OCEAN MAPPING, LIVE UNDERWATER FEEDS AND EVEN DISSECTING A SQUID AND WRITING WITH ITS INK!BREAKTHROUGH HAS REMAINED FINANCIALLY STABLE THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR SMALL BUT MIGHTY YEAR-ROUND STAFF LED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEB MCLOUD, PROGRAM DIRECTOR CAROLINE WILSON, AND DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY ALICE HANDWERK. THROUGH ALICE'S HARD WORK, STRATEGY, AND PLANNING, BREAKTHROUGH EXCEEDED ITS FUNDRAISING GOAL AND KEPT CLOSE TO BUDGET DESPITE INCREASING EXPENSES, PARTICULARLY IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS. AS WE STRIVE TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS ON THEIR PATHS TO COLLEGE DURING THESE COVID RECOVERY TIMES, BREAKTHROUGH HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROSITY OF MANY FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE BREAKTHROUGH HAPPEN - BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL FOR ITS MYRIAD AVENUES OF IN-KIND SUPPORT FOR BREAKTHROUGH.