The Spence School

Today, we honor Juneteenth and the perseverance and freedom it signifies.

Congratulations to Annesley A. ‘24 for being named a US Squash All-American again this year, making her the first two-time All-American in Spence history! Annesley, a two-sport AAIS All-Star in Lacrosse and Squash, led her teams to incredible success, including a flawless league performance and the 5th consecutive AAIS Squash Championship.

Middle School students in GETS (Girls Empowered Through Steam) delved into the fascinating world of anatomy with a sheep heart dissection! This was one of their two dissections this year, aimed at teaching general heart anatomy and comparing sheep hearts to human hearts.

GETS, a student-led club, strives to empower Middle School students eager to explore science beyond their curriculum by pairing them with passionate Upper School mentors.

Middle School students had great weather and lots of energy for Field Day. They filled Randall’s Island with spirit, teamwork, and exuberant joy!

Grade 9 students shared a day with their Grandparents and Grandfriends, visiting Upper School classrooms, exploring the building, and sharing breakfast with them. A special assembly showcased student and grandparent talent!

The Spring Choral Concert was a showcase of incredible talent and excitement, featuring singers from the Middle School, Upper School, Faculty, and Staff! Well done, everyone!

As Grade 9 students concluded their in-depth analysis of “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, the kitchen prepared a Nigerian-inspired menu for all divisions to enjoy, offering a delicious and immersive way to connect with the novel’s setting in Igboland, Southeast Nigeria. The menu featured Nigerian Tomato Stew, Efo Riro (a stewed spinach dish), plantains, and Jollof Rice—a staple in West African cuisine.

Seniors in the Advanced Art Portfolio program presented curated collections of their artwork made during their time in the Upper School Visual Arts program. Student work spanned a variety of mediums, including charcoal drawings, glazing paintings, graphic stories, triptychs, block prints, oil pastels, bookmaking and ink transfers.

The Independent History Research (IHR) Fellowship program celebrated its inaugural Symposium—the two-year IHR program allows students to immerse themselves in historical research, collaborating with experts and utilizing archival sources. Thirteen seniors presented their work around this year’s theme: Agency, Resilience, and Community, in exciting student-run panels covering political and economic issues, social institutions and cultural identity, and art and representation. Juniors in their first year showcased their research through posters and are eager for another year of rich archival study.

The Spring Instrumental Music Concert showcased an incredible array of talent from all divisions! We enjoyed performances by the LS Instrumental Ensemble, MS Guitar Ensemble, MS Rock Band, US Jazz Combo, Spence Music Collective, MS Orchestra, and US Orchestra.

Grade 6 students learned about types of biome in different National Parks, researched organisms that live in the biome to create a food web. Students partnered up to combine their observational skills and illustration skills with their knowledge of ecology to create these vibrant and detailed webs of life!

The Sabers are hitting it out of the park this season!

Varsity Track is rounding into championship form with several season-best and personal-best PAWformances, even rewriting two school records. The Softball team remains undefeated after winning all nine of their regular season games and are now in pursuit of the AAIS Tournament Title. Sabers’ Lacrosse made program history, returning to the AAIS Semifinals for back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. And Badminton is making a “racket” this spring, entering the upcoming AAIS playoffs as one of the top seeded teams.

Be sure to follow for daily updates as our teams move through playoffs! Go Sabers!

As a part of her Eco-Fellow thesis, Lee Lee ‘24 brought together 70 students from across NYC for a remarkable Eco Fest, a powerful day of environmental action and education. The Eco Fest included a compelling speech from a waste expert advocating for NYC waste legislation, an informative tour of a DSNY Waste Transfer Facility, and engaging student-led activities.

She will present her thesis, “Uniting for Change: Inspiring Environmental Action Among NYC Students,” at the Eco Independent Science Research and Eco-Fellows Research Symposium later this month. Well done, Lee Lee!

There was an extra dose of “girl power” in the audience as Spence alumnae attended a performance of the acclaimed new musical “Suffs,” produced by Jill Furman ’86. Congratulations Jill on your six Tony nominations including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical.

Grade 1 had a grand time welcoming their Grandparents and Grandfriends to the Lower School! They treated them to an exclusive musical performance, swapped handmade flower crafts, and guided them on a lively tours of their classrooms, offering a sneak peek into their learning adventures. 

Thank you to all!

Spence’s Asian Affinity and South Asian Affinity students hosted acclaimed NYC restaurateur Ellia Park to an Upper School assembly to learn more about her passion for Korean culture and cuisine. The student-led assembly was planned as a celebration of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage month.

Spence alumnae Judge Judy H. Kim ’89, the first Korean American elected judge in NY State, and Dr. Leonore Huppert Levin ’64, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, were honored as recipients of the Judith Joseph Jenkins ’91 Distinguished Alumna Award at this year’s Reunion. Congratulations to Leonore and Judy.

Students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate “wonderful oneness” through sharing connections, music, and poetry at the spring All School Assembly.

Upper School student Irene L. ‘27 has been selected as one of the members of the NYO2 2024 Orchestra, an intensive summer training program for outstanding young musicians. Well done, Irene!

Renowned musician and Spence’s Instrumental Music Teacher Greg Harrington performed at an intimate gathering at the White House for the President, the House Speaker, a Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), Ambassadors and members of Congress. The event blended contemporary and traditional Irish culture, with Harrington performing classic Irish tunes as well as renditions of popular U2 hits.

Grade 3 performers “moved and grooved” at their music concert, which featured songs about journeys and pathways. Students sang the popular Chilean song “Río Río,” a beloved camp song “I Love the Mountains,” and more.

Spence wishes a happy Passover to all who celebrate!

Our beloved alumnae came back to the Red Doors to connect with each other and the School. Thank you for an unforgettable Reunion, and congratulations to the Class of 2024––the newest members of the Alumnae Association!

In conversation with Head of School Felicia Wilks, developmental psychologist and co-Founder of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center Dr. Aliza Pressman shed light on how parents can authentically connect with their children to build stronger relationships. After shedding some light on what it means to raise a “good human, Dr. Pressman answered questions from the audience about how to implement these parenting techniques in today’s complex and social media-driven world.

At the Grade 6 Eco Residency, students learned about watersheds, water properties, equitable access, and wastewater treatment. Equipped with this new information, students formed a mock water council to discuss how they might solve critical water challenges in NYC.

The 16th Annual Head’s Forum, “In the Age of AI, What Does it Mean to be Human?”, provided a thoughtful exploration into the applications of Artificial Intelligence, assessing both its tangible and perceived effects on culture, education, and industry. The 2024 program, which is hosted for Grades 11 and 12 students and their parents, was organized by a committee of faculty and staff collaborating across departments.

The program featured insightful presentations by two AI thought leaders, Spence alumna Harper Carroll ‘14 and Allison Bishop, as well as a dynamic student-led panel discussion, fostering a robust dialogue on the future trajectories of AI technology.

Congratulations to the more than 20 Spence Upper School writers and artists who were recognized with over 60 Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions by the regional 2024 New York City Scholastic Awards!

Artwork by Ariya M-G ‘27.

Eid Mubarak!

Spence wishes a joyous Eid al-Fitr to all who celebrate!

One of the two groups of Upper School students that visited Costa Rica this Spring break had an incredibly immersive cultural experience. They lived with host families, took daily Spanish classes, and explored butterfly sanctuaries, volcanoes, coffee farms and animal rescues. They also delved into culinary traditions, learning to cook local dishes and make chocolate from scratch.

Lower and Middle School students gathered on the fourth floor terrace to view this afternoon’s solar eclipse! Lower School faculty led activities demonstrating the unique shadows during different phases of the eclipse. Middle School’s eclipse viewing was enhanced with themed snacks: Sun Chips and Moon Pies.