It’s not easy to start a new job in the midst of a pandemic, but Bandana Jha loves turning challenges into successes. As of March 30, Ms. Jha steps into the role of Chief Financial Officer.

March 2 was Read Across America Day, which also coincides with a celebration of Dr. Seuss.  As she has for the past fifteen years, Mrs. Spirokostas's class has dedicated this week to honoring the works of Dr. Seuss.

We are closely monitoring the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. While the present information suggests a low public health risk, we have a team of administrators and staff in communication with one another on a daily basis to assess the situation.

Sixth graders asked: “How might we motivate students and teachers to bring their own reusable water bottles to the dining hall?”

Sixth grade memoirs are on display in the Writer's Gallery. Visual art complements the written work, and the art stands have a special creation story of their own.

In this issue of Benchmark Magazine, we explore arts integration—an instructional approach where the visual and performing arts are included across the curriculum—as an important articulation of our larger focus on innovation in instruction.

My days at Benchmark begin with a front row witness of our children’s entry into their schoolhouse. Through this ritual I have come to see that each child has a unique “signature” as they take these first steps across the bridge from home to school.

Students in Mrs. Arabia's class have been learning about kindness and inclusivity. When our music teacher Mrs. Veacock shared the song "Yay, People" from City Love with the students, they liked it so much that they convinced Mrs. Veacock that they should make a video as a surprise.

What might you need to survive in a hunter-gatherer society? As a follow-on activity to Nicole Scali’s sixth grade social studies lesson on the Stone Age, she asked her students to create functional hunter-gatherer baskets using only glue, 80 strips of paper, brushes, and a plan.