$3 Million Gift Honors Legacy of Alorie Parkhill Through Renovation of Trapelo Dorm
Head of School Lise Charlier and the CSW Board of Trustees are delighted to announce the commitment of a $3 million gift to fund the full renovation of the Trapelo Dorm, transforming one of the campus’s historic residential spaces while honoring the late Alorie Parkhill, beloved, long-serving faculty member, dorm parent, and administrator.
The gift, generously bestowed by Alorie’s daughter and CSW trustee Rebecca Parkhill ’85, P’17 (Oliver Willett) and Robert Willett, will modernize the Trapelo Dorm, the very same dorm where Alorie once lived and started a family.
“The Parkhill-Willett Family embodies the very best of The Cambridge School of Weston,” says Head of School Lise Charlier. “From Alorie’s transformative tenure on our faculty to Rebecca’s leadership as an alum, parent, and trustee, their influence has reached into nearly every chapter of our school’s history. While this gift secures the future of the Trapelo Dorm, it is simply the latest reflection of a family that has given so generously their time, wisdom, and heart. We are profoundly grateful for their partnership and their enduring belief in our mission.”
Alorie Parkhill joined CSW in 1963 and, over the course of her 44-year tenure, served as an English teacher, theatre teacher, dorm parent, academic dean, and assistant head of school. She also made countless contributions to the school’s administration and programmatic offerings, including college counseling, curriculum reform, faculty mentorship, and academic scheduling. She is remembered as having a deep love of students, learning, and teaching.
“The Trapelo Dormitory holds an important place in my family’s history,” Rebecca shares. “It was my first home when my parents were teachers and dorm parents in the 1960s. More recently, our son lived in Trapelo when he was a CSW student. My mother loved CSW and devoted her long career to this community. It’s an honor to name the dorm in her memory.”
The Trapelo Dormitory originally served as a golf clubhouse for the Trapelo Golf Club, and in 1948 was moved to its present site and turned into a dorm and infirmary. It has since served as a home away from home for hundreds of students.
Once completed, the renovated dormitory will bear Alorie’s name and thenceforth be known as “The Alorie.” Plans for the space include revitalized student rooms, refreshed communal gathering spaces, upgraded infrastructure, and enhanced residential faculty suites. The design will emphasize shared common areas that encourage community, study, and connection, ensuring the building continues to serve as a warm home on campus.
“We are so grateful for this investment in Trapelo Dorm and what it means for our boarding program,” says Bobby Savino, Director of Residential Life. “This generous support will ensure that Trapelo remains a vibrant hub for student community and a home for the faculty and families who make life at CSW so special. Trapelo has been a longstanding pillar of the school, and we look forward to seeing everyone live, grow, and thrive together in this reimagined space for years to come.”
The bidding process is now underway to select an architectural partner for this transformational renovation project. CSW looks forward to keeping the community updated as design concepts develop and progress unfolds.
CSW — a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12 and PG — is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.