A Message from the Head of School

Head of School Mike Maher with his wife Jean who works in Admission, teaches Spanish and coaches girls' varsity lacrosse All independent college preparatory schools should offer an outstanding core experience: a first-rate academic program, distinctive opportunities in the arts, and excellent athletics. Berkshire is no exception; it provides an exceptional college preparatory curriculum with advanced courses and AP offerings in all disciplines. It is what happens at the periphery of this exceptional core that sets a school apart. Berkshire’s motto Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus, “Learning not just for school but for life,” is as well suited to guide a learning institution in the 21st century as it was over 100 years ago when Berkshire was founded by Seaver Buck as a school for just seven boys. The motto underscores the timeless values that Berkshire has embraced for over a century: to help students become independent thinkers, to help them make value judgments, to encourage them to take risks and to respect each other. These are qualities critical to a high school education and essential in life. Above all Berkshire strives to prepare students for college and the complex world they will enter as adults. In order to accomplish this dual mission, we recently launched the Berkshire Model: Learning for the 21st Century. We have taken existing strengths like our track record as leaders in environmental conservation and developed new programs which speak to the changing nature of the world we live in. The Berkshire Model places academics, the arts and athletics at the core of the Berkshire experience and maps out a constellation of programs that provide a full spectrum of opportunities. The Berkshire Model encompasses such programs as the Advanced Math/Science Research program, the Center for Sustainability, Pro Vita Winter Session, and the Center for Global Learning. These programs have been defining ones over the last few years and will continue to define the School for years to come.

The Mahers with their children, Maddy '13, Isabelle and Sam '12 Though we have been working hard to refashion the curriculum, the most important experiences Berkshire students will have are the relationships formed with their advisors, teachers, coaches, dorm parents and prefects. The best way to get a sense of this close-knit community is to hear directly from the students who live in it every day. You can listen to Berkshire students tell their own stories on our Student Perspectives page. Jean and I hope you will visit campus to meet the students and faculty that make this community a home. Take in the incredible view, learn more about our new programs, and see what is happening at Berkshire today. I hope you'll agree that it's something extraordinary.                                                                                                                          Michael J. Maher