Eleven CSW students recently attended the Junior State of America Fall State convention, winning five out of seven debates.
Eleven CSW students attended the Junior State of America Fall State convention in Providence, RI, December 1–2. The theme of this year’s event was “Building Bridges: The Road to Compromise,” with debate resolutions investigating “factions of society — from political parties to rural constituencies to activist movements — [aiming] to inspire empathy and understanding.” Over 400 students from across the nation were in attendance.
CSW students participated in seven different debates and won five. Debate topics included:
Resolved, it's beneficial to engage with dictators rather than marginalize them
Resolved, that nationalism is inherently negative
Resolved, economic protectionism is beneficial
Resolved, hip-hop is dead
Julia Applebaum ’19, Orion Douglas ’21, and Ruby Russell ’20 all won Best Speaker awards.
Yesterday, the DEIB Office hosted our annual Heritage Fest with 25 heritages represented! The table displays truly transformed The Fit into a celebration of the rich cultures that make up our CSW community. From delicious food to beautiful artwork and meaningful traditions, each table showcased thoughtfulness, care, and pride. You helped create an atmosphere that was vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring—and the DEIB office couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Empty Bowls event a success! Over the past few months, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families came together at various events to paint more than 100 beautiful ceramic bowls.
The evening was filled with warmth and community spirit, featuring exciting raffles, delicious food, and performances by talented student musicians. The vibrant gathering not only brought people together but also raised funds for an important cause.
Thanks to the incredible generosity and participation of our community, the event raised over $2,500 in support of Rosies's Place, a multi-service community center that provides emergency shelter, nutritious meals, and a wide array of essential services for women in need. Together, we made a meaningful impact—and we’re already looking forward to next year!
Former CSW art teacher and accomplished artist Orlando Leyba returned to campus this week as a guest speaker at assembly, sharing stories from his personal and artistic journey as well as his process for creating.
Orlando, who is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, taught at CSW for ten years, spoke candidly about his childhood in New Mexico, where he spent summers working the fields with his grandfather. “When I would work these fields, I’d often get distracted because I would be finding pottery shards” he shared. “I would find treasures all the time when I would work the fields with my grandfather.”
This mod break, students embarked on the Spring Wilderness Trip — a sea kayaking and camping adventure in the New Meadow River region off the coast of Brunswick, Maine. The trip was split into two groups and began at Sawyer Park in West Bend, where students learned the basics of sea kayaking and camping before setting out in wetsuits through winds choppy waters. After a full day of paddling, the group reached their island campsites and enjoyed a cozy bonfire. The next day was filled with more exploration by kayak, as students navigated the scenic coastal waterways.
On the final morning, the group woke up at 4 a.m. to catch a breathtaking sunrise through thick coastal fog. After packing up camp, they paddled back to Brunswick, where a well-earned diner breakfast awaited. The trip was a great success — filled with adventure, teamwork, and unforgettable moments. We hope to see even more students join us for the next wilderness experience!
Dance Department Chair Nailah Randall Bellinger, who is wrapping up her Boston Dancemakers residency at the Boston Center for the Arts, will be leading a showcase examining the life of performing artist Donny Edward Hathaway. The multimodal dance narrative, (just) 33, “utilizes the body of Donny Hathaway’s work and archival documentation… to celebrate the breadth and genius of this inspiring intergenerational artist.”
CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—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.