Dear CUSTOMFIELD1,
The closing months of Fenn's 91st school year certainly tested the resilience of our school community. First, COVID-19 altered life as we knew it on Monument Street. Teachers, students, administrators, and staff banded together to ensure that learning continued in the virtual realm and that the relationships, spirit, and atmosphere of Fenn remained strong and steadfast. Our nation was then stunned by the killing of George Floyd, prompting outrage and coast-to-coast protests against racism and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In the wake of the unrest, we challenge ourselves to consider the privileges we enjoy, to dig into what may be difficult conversations, and to educate ourselves on the origins of racism and on the roles we can play in helping to dismantle it in our daily lives and communities.
In a June 3rd letter to the community, Derek Boonisar shared some of the immediate steps that we took as a community to process the nationwide events together. The work within our community is continuing in earnest, and we will remain focused on how we can continue to best honor diversity, promote inclusion, and always be a welcoming and supportive community to all.
During these challenging times, it is important to pause and recognize the joyous moments that we can celebrate together. Just over two weeks ago, we said farewell to the eighth and ninth grade graduates moving on from their time at Fenn. Although graduation week was a combination of pre-recorded and live Zoom meetings, the graduates and their families were still able to celebrate their Fenn journeys in ways that felt uniquely Fenn. What makes our community so special and unique was on display.
As the months pass, we hope this newsletter can serve as a brief reminder that Fenn is always here for you and that we are continuously striving to be the best version of ourselves for our students, alumni, families, faculty, and staff. This newsletter will be released less frequently over the summer months, but we hope to provide as many interesting updates as we can. We wish you a wonderful summer, and please do stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Acting Alumni & Engagement Officer
NEWS & EVENTS
Community Read & DEI Resources
Alumni, please join our administrators, trustees, faculty, staff, current parents, and Middle and Upper School boys in a summer community read of Stamped - Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. For our Lower School boys, we are recommending a more age-appropriate reading of This Book is Antiracist by educator Tiffany Jewell. These community reads will continue our important work of exploring the roots of racism and identifying anti-racism efforts we can commit to regardless of our age or circumstances.
In an online libguide created by our Hammett Ory Library team for summertime reading, learning, and enrichment, we also provide additional DEI resources that will assist with self-reflection and personal education about the infinite ways of being in the world, with a particular focus on Black identity.
2020-2021 Graduates Parade
On June 5, dozens of Fenn families, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate the departing graduates in a rolling car parade through Concord and around the Fenn campus. The Communications and Advancement teams created this video of the celebration. There was also a nice video tribute from one of Fenn's most visible and truly hilarious alums, Steve Carell '76. Take a look here.
CHECK IN WITH FENN
Are you on the front lines contributing to the battle against COVID-19? Are you engaged in protests or other efforts to support the Black Lives Matter movement? Please send updates to alumni@fenn.org or mmarinella@fenn.org. We're eager to share your important work with the broader Fenn community.
Acting Alumni & Engagement Officer
Mike Marinella '04 | mmarinella@fenn.org | (781) 539-5555
516 Monument Street • Concord, MA 01742 • (978) 369-5800
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