News at Renbrook School | Top Private Schools for Academic Success

Spelling in Nature

April 5, 2019

The 2nd grade went outside to practice writing their spelling words using things found in nature.

5th Grade Creates a Spanish City

April 2, 2019

5th grade Spanish students learn about Spain and the different businesses that can be found in a Spanish city or village. They created their own city complete with stores, restaurants, hospitals using Spanish dialog.

Renbrook Students Selected for Northern Region Middle School Music Festival

April 2, 2019

11 upper school students were accepted to the Northern Region Middle School Music Festival this year. Participating students were Paige (violin), Jayden (alto saxophone), and 9 vocalists: Sahil, Tessa, Robbie, Devin, Alice, Manu, Simone, Kayla, and Harshil. Listen to them rehearsing “Sisi Ni Moja” with over 200 middle school singers!

Renbrook’s Eleventh Head of School Appointed

April 2, 2019

On March 25, Renbrook School announced the appointment of Mr. Matthew Sigrist as the school’s eleventh Head of School, succeeding the current Head, Mr. Scott Hutchinson. Mr. Sigrist will start on July 1, 2019. Matt comes to Renbrook from Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, VA, a 1-12 independent day school with 1,232 students. He has worked in administrative roles since 2007 and served as Middle School Director at Norfolk Academy since 2014. In that role, Matt is responsible for 350 students in grades 7-9. Prior to Norfolk Academy, Matt served as Head of the Upper School at the Peck School in Morristown, NJ for seven years.

“We’re excited to welcome Matt, his wife, Kathleen, and their four daughters to the Renbrook community. Matt’s natural leadership abilities are obvious, and his past experiences have prepared him well for this Head of School role. Matt’s hiring begins a great new chapter for Renbrook.” says Head of School Search Committee Chair and Renbrook’s Board of Trustees Chair Eric Daniels ‘77.

During his time at Norfolk Academy, Matt advanced many areas of the Middle School. He developed the division’s Mini-mester Program and its relationship-based Advisory Program. During the school’s recent strategic planning work, Matt contributed broadly to the effort, and he has led important committee work on faculty growth and excellence focused on faculty learning communities. Throughout his career, Matt has enjoyed the opportunity to teach, coach, and lead school divisions in K-8, 7-12 and 1-12 grade schools in large and smaller markets and in different parts of the country. He served as Upper School Director at The Peck School (Morristown, NJ) and as teacher, coach, and Middle School Moderator at Delbarton School (Morristown, NJ). Each of the schools where Matt has served shares traits and goals similar to Renbrook: student-centered, empathetic mindset, academic excellence, a focus on character education, and clear mission identity. He has taught and coached throughout his career, and he continued to teach math and economics and coach baseball at Norfolk Academy. At Norfolk Academy, Matt’s current Head of School, Dennis Manning, appointed Matt to the Finance Committee, the Parents Advisory Council, and the Strategic Planning Committee. Matt has also participated in annual fund and capital campaign initiatives.

Matt earned his Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership at Columbia University, Teacher’s College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Williams College, where he was captain of the baseball and football teams. Matt’s wife, Kathleen, was the former Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Newark Academy (Livingston, NJ) as well as an Admissions Reader at Williams College and the College of William and Mary. Matt and Kathleen have four daughters ages 12, 10, 7 and 4.

Upon receiving the Board’s offer, Matt stated: “Kathleen, my girls, and I are thrilled to join the Renbrook family! I am humbled and honored to be entrusted with the awesome responsibility to serve the children, families, faculty, and staff of this wonderful school, and I look forward to opportunities this spring to visit campus.”

Meteorologist Visits Renbrook

April 1, 2019

Kaitlyn McGrath, a meteorologist from NBC Connecticut came to visit students today at Renbrook School in West Hartford. She brought the NBC branded Snow Monster with her so the kids could learn all about its multiple cameras and ground and air temperature gauges. Student got to ask Kaitlyn questions about how she forecasts weather and how Snow Monster is a key asset to the Department of Transportation during snow storms. There was no shortage of questions about life on television and Kaitlyn answered them all with a smile. Sixth grade students were especially inquisitive as they are studying weather right now in their science curriculum.

Changing Lenses

March 28, 2019

Changing Lenses
by Julie Schlossinger
Lower School Head

Third Grade Immigration Day Projects

March 5, 2019

Immigration Day is the culminating event of the third grade study of immigrants coming through Ellis Island in 1908. Leading up to Immigration Day, students read non-fictional and fictional accounts of Ellis Island and traveled to the Connecticut Historical Society to learn more about the reasons immigrants left their home countries to come to America.

Liquids, Solids and Gases

February 28, 2019

JK learned about liquids, solids, and gases today. Demonstrations included mixing baking soda and vinegar to create CO2 gas, how candles, (like people) need oxygen to keep going/burning. A few of our young learners tried using air power to move a ball from place to place.

Black History Month

February 28, 2019

In honor of Black History Month, Renbrook enjoyed a concert from the Bloomfield High School Gospel Choir! Thank you for sharing your talents with us!

Eight Grade Gets a Visit From NBC Connecticut’s Max Reiss

February 28, 2019

Eighth grade history students started a “Shero” PSA project to honor Women’s History Month on notable women from various areas. They’ll make a short video about their achievements and humanitarian work. NBC CT’s @MaxReiss explained how to take info and condense it down to a smaller piece.

Third Grade Has Talent!

February 28, 2019

A job well done for our third grade students who showed off their talents in the Variety Show!

Jeopardy!

February 28, 2019

Fourth grade students playing Black History Month Jeopardy with Mrs. Flynn.

Learning About Seeing Eye Dogs

February 28, 2019

Renbrook 7th graders welcomed Steve Famiglietti from The NEAT Center at Oak Hill this morning. Thank you for sharing how the K9 dogs get trained in a development center to help the blind! NEAT is Connecticut’s largest private provider of services to people with disabilities.

March of Dimes Kick-Off

February 28, 2019

5th graders kicked-off their March of Dimes Read-A-Thon with a visit from a March of Dimes representative. Thank you for visiting and sharing the inspiring stories of your organization!

Kindergarten Students Make Rube Goldberg Machine

February 19, 2019

The Worry Cycle

February 12, 2019

The Worry Cycle
by Kara Ashley
Upper School Head

Ye’ Olde Renbrook Village 2019

February 4, 2019

As part of the history program, Grade 5 students create a colonial village interpreting the life and times of 1700s America. Students learn colonial skills, trades, professions, music and dance, portraying characters from colonial times

Eighth Poetry Out Loud

February 1, 2019

Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recital. This program helps students master public speaking, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Congratulations to all our eighth-grade students and our winner Simone and tied runner ups Justin and Dora!

Renbrook Shout Out from Wesleyan University

January 29, 2019

Great shout out to our Renbrook students from Wesleyan University! The Next New Things: Presenting Final Projects in IDEAS 170 https://ecs.page.link/X1GN

Fidelco Guide Dogs Visit Renbrook

January 29, 2019

Seventh graders welcomed Fidelco Guide Dog German Shepards Ocean and Que before raising money for the Renbrook Fidelco Fundraiser on February 22nd.

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