The Ellis School is pleased to welcome new faculty and staff members this fall! These individuals bring diverse experiences and perspectives to their roles, as well as a wealth of knowledge in their respective areas, and are excited to join the Ellis community.

When Ellis Middle School students returned to their beloved building for the start of class last week they were greeted with bright, freshly renovated spaces worthy of the excitement the new school year brings.

The Ellis School is pleased to welcome six new members to its Board of Trustees. These individuals have strong ties to the School, and bring a range of skills and experience, as well as a depth of knowledge in their fields, that will benefit Ellis into the future.

The 2024 Sara Frazer Ellis Award will be presented during Reunion Weekend to Lucy FATO ’84. The award is presented annually to an Ellis alumna whose achievements embody the School’s mission and what it means to be an Ellisian.

This fall, two alumnae will be inducted into the Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame. Elizabeth (Liz) FAY Deegan ’89 and Sara HANEY Stroud ’04 will be honored during Reunion Weekend in October.

The 16 members of The Ellis School’s Class of 2024 will matriculate to 16 distinct institutions across eight states. Among these institutions are an institute of technology, R1: Doctoral Universities, a university in our nation’s capital, a women’s college, a historically black university, and an array of compelling liberal arts colleges.

As the 2023-2024 school year draws to a close, The Ellis School recognizes teachers and staff who will leave their Ellis positions for new adventures.

Ellis seniors Sara Woodside and Sarina Pretter loved being in Amye Sledge’s Pre-K class. It’s where they learned to read, and where they acted out countless scenes of adventure from their imaginations.

When Esty HENTELEFF ’23 graduated from Ellis last year and headed to North Carolina State University, she was a bit nervous about leaving home but excited for her newfound independence. She declared an Environmental Science major and intends to focus on environmental design; she’s considering landscape design among other careers. Her Ellis experience prepared her well for the demanding study schedule of her freshman year, and also gave her the confidence to think about a nontraditional path through her next few years of education. With her first year of college in the books and a world of opportunity ahead of her, Esty reflected on her time at Ellis and her first year of college—and, she shared advice for Ellis’ Class of 2024 ahead of their upcoming graduation.

Spring is an exciting time for schools, and especially for Ellis, as we celebrate each student’s rise to the next grade level, prepare for a variety of special events in May and June, and bid farewell to our seniors as they embark on the next exciting step of their education. Here are highlights of some of the things we most look forward to each spring.

Ellis junior Maya Earnest-Hawken isn’t yet sure where her career, or even her college experience, will take her but she knows one thing for certain: advocacy is important to her, and she plans to focus on it in her future.

A few days before spring break, the sixth grade homeroom was full of spring colors. Students were busy crafting decorations for a cause that many feel passionate about.

Dr. Reneé Brown-Antonelli has accepted the position of Athletic Director at The Ellis School, effective July 1, 2024.

Brenda Martinez’s class might look like fun and games, but spend enough time with her Lower School students as they play and you’ll start to hear a few tentatively spoken Spanish words grow into an enthusiastic Spanglish, and later into fluent conversation in a newfound second language.

Culture Jam is a long-standing tradition at The Ellis School and this year it celebrated a very special anniversary: 20 years of student changemakers making an impact through this student-led and organized diversity conference.

You’ll hear it from fifth-grader Samantha Schiff, and from many other Ellis Middle Schoolers to follow: kids are powerful.