News

“This chair is just right,” said Goldilocks! 7th grade wanted to explore what makes a piece of furniture “just right” so they interviewed faculty and staff to figure out what piece of furniture they needed in their spaces. They made design sketches, calculated measurements, and created a model on 3D design software called Blender which they then 3D printed. Students had to create a functional furniture piece using only duct tape and cardboard and presented it to the faculty/staff member it was designed for including the admissions office!

This past February, all the students in grades 6-8 took part in the New England Math League Contest by taking a 30 minute contest in their math classes. The results were tabulated and the top five scores in each grade were sent in to compete as a team and as individuals against other schools in New England. Renbrook was ranked in the top 30 schools in New England in grades 6-8. Seventh graders Ciaron G. ranked in the top 35 students in New England. In the Hartford, New London, Wydham and Middlesex counties, eighth grader Brendan S. earned second place in the region as an individual and helped the team earn second place. The seventh grade team earned second place as well in the Hartford, New London, Wydham and Middlesex counties. 

From left to right in group photo:
Andrew L., Dora L. , Adriana B. , Manu N. , Griffin S., Robert H., Simone R.

Photo with medal winner: Simone R. – Silver Medal for French Middle School 2

Seven Renbrook students participated in the 2019 Connecticut Council of Language Teachers Annual Poetry Recitation Contest, which was held on Apr. 3 at Rockville High School in Vernon. 
Griffin S. (French MS 1)
Robbie H. (Spanish MS 1)
Andrew L. (Latin MS 1)
Adriana B. (Spanish MS Heritage Speaker)
Simone R. (French MS 2)
Manu N. (Spanish MS 2)
Dora L. (Mandarin MS Heritage Speaker)

Since January, these students perfected their recitation of poems from well-known poets of their languages of study. The seven participants won the in-class and all-school run-offs. At the statewide contest, approximately 600 students from 50 schools competed in 16 languages. Poems for Middle School had between 10 – 20 lines. Students were judged in four areas: memorization, diction, interpretation, and body language. Latin poetry had to be recited according to the classical meter. All students received a certificate of participation. Simone R. won the Silver Medal for the French Middle School 2 category! We are proud of their dedication and courage!

Renbrook Family Day at the Community Farm of Simsbury. Families volunteered on Saturday, April 6 to help prepare the farm for planting new crops, clearing fields, cleaning and filling flats for seeding and of course taking care of the animals! Thank you to all the Renbrook families who joined us! And a huge thank you to farm manager Paul and farmers Jim and Vi for showing us how it all gets done. 

Another great performance by our sixth graders for the Renbrook tradition of the Greek Play. More pictures on the Parent Resource Board under Photos and Videos.

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!

Changing Lenses
by Julie Schlossinger
Lower School Head

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.

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

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

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! 

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

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

7th graders got a visit from Ben Garson, master trainer from Dogology and his dog Judah, a 100-pound German Shepard to discuss training techniques. This expands on the lesson about alpha dog vs. submissive dog and how to teach manners to dogs as part of their 7th grade dog unit in science. It’s always a fun and heart-warming way to bring learning to life at Renbrook!

As part of the 7th grade Life Science class, students got up close with three birds of prey. Along with the Renbrook School mascot, the red-tailed hawk, they also got an intro to an American Kestral and Saw Whet Owl. 

Fourth grade had a ‘Book Frenzy’ during Library classes. Books from different genres were set out on tables and students sampled them during multiple three minute rounds that led to lots of great books being discovered!

Amy Hopkins, President of the CT Parrot Club proudly shows off “Rosie” the rose breasted cockatoo to upper school students.