News at Renbrook School | Top Private Schools for Academic Success

The Gifts of Recess

September 17, 2021

Often when I speak with elementary age children and ask what their favorite subject is in school, the answer most frequently given is… recess. At one time, I hoped I would hear math, reading, or writing, but 9 out of 10 times, it was always recess. It’s actually comical to watch the doors open to the playground and see so many children run out squealing with their arms open wide as if they are hugging the air. It’s such a common behavior and a true gift that brings me joy every time I see it. At this point in my career, I no longer wish to hear the words math, reading, or writing when I ask that question. You see, I now know that recess is a truly significant and important class for our students and one that should not be overlooked.

Back to School Musings

September 13, 2021

How is it that first days of school continue to cause butterflies and excitement in those of us who have been teaching for many, many years? It has been more than twenty-five years for me, yet I continue to experience similar feelings each year, both the night before and the morning of. There are countless picture books about this phenomenon. In fact, there’s a great one titled, “Butterflies on the First Day” by Annie Silvestro that almost all teachers have and bring out to read to their new classes on the first day.

Trustee Scholar Alex Wang

September 6, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Trustee Scholar Jack Griffin

August 30, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Trustee Scholar Kurt Burkhardt

August 23, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Continuing the Journey: Mathematics Learning 2021 and Beyond

August 16, 2021

Christine Ladd, Marianne Michailow, and Akilah Williams all attended the seminar Continuing the Journey: Mathematics Learning 2021 and Beyond sponsored by the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics (ASSM), NCSM: Leadership in Mathematics Education, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

Trustee Scholar Harshil Yerabelli

August 9, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Trustee Scholar Michelle Grant

August 2, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Trustee Scholar Rachael Budd

July 28, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Cramphin Excellence in Education Award Winner – Robbie Saal

July 6, 2021

Doug and Jane Cramphin served on the faculty of Renbrook School for a combined 78 years. They received monetary gifts in their names at the time of their retirement and have graciously paid it forward with the annual Cramphin Excellence in Education Awards. These awards recognize members of the faculty and staff who demonstrate passion, creativity, innovation, collaboration, strength in relationships, and a willingness to go above and beyond normal expectations, enabling others to excel. This year, three faculty members were chosen for this wonderful recognition and monetary awards. Today we celebrate Robbie Saal.

Cramphin Excellence in Education Award Winner – Kim Dansin

June 29, 2021

Doug and Jane Cramphin served on the faculty of Renbrook School for a combined 78 years. They received monetary gifts in their names at the time of their retirement and have graciously paid it forward with the annual Cramphin Excellence in Education Awards. These awards recognize members of the faculty and staff who demonstrate passion, creativity, innovation, collaboration, strength in relationships, and a willingness to go above and beyond normal expectations, enabling others to excel. This year, three faculty members were chosen for this wonderful recognition and monetary awards. Today we celebrate Kim Dansin.

Renbrook School is Rich in History – Right Down to the Faucets

June 28, 2021

Renbrook School is rich in history and evidence of that history is alive and well on our campus today. Renbrook School was originally the home of Frederick B. Rentschler, co-founder of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, his wife Faye Belden Rentschler, and their children. The estate was built more than 90 years ago and later became a school when Mr. Rentschler created a non-profit foundation to honor his late wife who had been the chief designer of the home.

Trustee Scholar Maddie Shani

June 22, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Cramphin Excellence in Education Award Winner – Becky Klein

June 22, 2021

Doug and Jane Cramphin served on the faculty of Renbrook School for a combined 78 years. They received monetary gifts in their names at the time of their retirement and have graciously paid it forward with the annual Cramphin Excellence in Education Awards. These awards recognize members of the faculty and staff who demonstrate passion, creativity, innovation, collaboration, strength in relationships, and a willingness to go above and beyond normal expectations, enabling others to excel. This year, three faculty members were chosen for this wonderful recognition and monetary awards. Today we celebrate Becky Klein.

Renbrook Alumni Visit with Eighth-Grade Students

June 17, 2021

Our eighth-grade students enjoyed a visit with two Renbrook Alumni recently to talk about careers. There was no shortage of questions from our inquisitive students as they explored career options and choices in the area of arts and entertainment and government. We are grateful to Barrie Kreinik “00, an actor, singer, writer, and audiobook narrator based in New York City, and Vasishth Srivastava ’06 who serves as Chief of Staff for Hartford Mayor Luke A. Bronin.

Trustee Scholar Alijah Sanford

June 16, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Fifth-Grade Student Inspired by TED Talk

June 7, 2021

Fifth-grade students recently watched a TED Talk entitled “Can Art Amend History?” by Artist Titus Kaphar, as part of their history study of slavery. Kaphar makes paintings and sculptures that wrestle with the struggles of the past while speaking to the diversity and advances of the present. According to TED, “In an unforgettable live workshop, Kaphar takes a brush full of white paint to a replica of a 17th-century Frans Hals painting, obscuring parts of the composition and bringing its hidden story into view. There’s a narrative coded in art like this, Kaphar says. What happens when we shift our focus and confront unspoken truths?”

Alumni Visit with the Class of 2021

June 4, 2021

This year, in lieu of its annual Alumni Career Day, Renbrook invited alumni guest speakers to Zoom with the Class of 2021. Barrie Kreinik ’00 and Vasishth Srivastava ’06 met with Renbrook eighth graders, sharing their personal stories, Renbrook memories, education and career paths, and career advice and insights on June 4, 2021.

Trustee Scholars

June 3, 2021

At Renbrook School, eighth-graders traditionally serve as leaders of the student body, running Morning Meeting, serving in senior positions on the student council, acting as team captains, playing major roles in the school musical, and more. Students can participate in the Trustee Scholar Project as one of their leadership roles.

Creating a Beehive of Innovation

May 24, 2021

At Renbrook, we are committed to project-based STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education, a multidisciplinary approach to hands-on learning. We believe that giving our students the chance to tinker, create, and build shows them that they can impact systems and objects in their world. We want our students to see that they can bring their learning to life by creating effective solutions that integrate knowledge and skills across disciplines. We take children’s intellect and ideas seriously and strive to help them build a “maker mindset,” demonstrating the value of an iterative process. It is through such process-oriented work that our students discover that their outcomes can be refined and improved through self-reflection and sharing their work with others.

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