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Fenn has received two Community Service grants from the Parent Independent School Network (PIN). One ($500) is for a storage shed that will be built for Buddy Dog Shelter and Adoption Center in Sudbury, and the second ($250) is for a cold frame garden for Gaining Ground in Concord, which donates organic vegetables and fruit to meal programs and food pantries.

One is a fifth grader who loves playing baseball and watching video games. The other is an eighth grader who plays soccer and is headed to Deerfield Academy in the fall. What do they have in common? A passion for competitive swimming.

Urging his fellow graduates “not to leave Fenn behind,” President of the School Gordon Hargraves said, “Take the person that Fenn has made you and bring it to your new school, and you will make it a better place.” Gordon and Vice-President James Sanderson addressed family, friends, Fenn teachers and staff, and fellow students at the 84th annual Graduation Exercises held on June 7^th.

Twenty-five ninth and thirty-six eighth graders were awarded diplomas after Headmaster Jerry Ward provided personal reflections of each boy, singling him out for such traits as honesty, intellect, spirit, and enthusiastic commitment to Fenn life. Several prizes were awarded for excellence in character, service, academics, arts, athletics, and citizenship, with additional awards presented on Prize Day on June 5^th.

Twenty-seven parents, ten faculty members, and fourteen students attended the spring Parents of Students of Color (POSOC) dinner on May 16^th, where they enjoyed Thai food, remarks from the Headmaster, and entertainment provided by an a cappella group that was formed for the occasion by Diversity Committee members, calling themselves Oct-a-pella.

Upper School Diversity Committee co-presidents Jake Goorno and Odom Sam were joined with Middle School representatives Sammy Hankaoui and Piseth Sam to report on the Committee activities this year.

“Here I am—a vision in pink!” declared sweet young secretary Alice Sycamore upon making an entrance in the Upper School’s adaptation of Moses Hart’s and George S. Kaufman’s You Can’t Take It with You, directed by Tiffany Toner. The line drew roars of laughter, for Alice was ninth grader Will Haslett in a pastel frock, petticoat, golden ringlets, and dainty white shoes.

In true Fenn Men fashion, four other actors played female characters with aplomb in the May 21^st evening and 22^nd Assembly performances:Willie Page was would-be playwright daughter Penny; Gordon Hargraves was eternally optimistic Essie; Luke Newman was prim Miriam Kirby; and Odom Sam took on the double female role of Gayle Wellington and The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina.

One million handmade bones crafted by students, including Fenn boys, and artists and activists from around the world will be laid on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on June 8^th as a massive art installation meant to honor those lost to genocides and mass atrocities and those still fighting to survive them in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic republic of the Congo, Burma, and Somalia.

Fenn teams took part in team tournaments last weekend, taking home a second place trophy in lacrosse and third place honors in baseball. In track and field, nearly all of the team members set personal records. The tennis team earned a fourth place, with all four Fenn players winning matches.

“This has been one of the best if not the best Fenn talent show that I can remember,” declared Assistant Headmaster and Head of the Upper School Derek Boonisar after the community was treated to an hour of entertainment on May 15^_th provided by singers, instrumentalists, actors, and dancers across all grades.

Who was Soon and what happened to her? Seventh grader Austin Kwoun told his grandmother’s story for his Cultural Heritage Project and the rest of his essay follow this article.