Dana Hall began its 130th academic year on Tuesday, August 31 with registration and Opening Convocation. Students and faculty gathered in a steamy Bardwell Auditorium where Head of School Caroline Erisman welcomed new and returning members of the Dana Hall community.

Erisman shared a story with the students, and encouraged them to move toward their objectives and desires for the academic year one step at a time. “Work hard and be persistent in the pursuit of your goals,” Erisman offered.

All-School Co-Presidents W. Manly ’11 and T. Witter ’11, as well as Middle School Co-Presidents N. Panahi ’15 and E. Roberts ’15 also shared greetings. Manly and Witter

revealed the theme of the school year: “Be an ally, be more…” Every month Manly and Witter will change what comes after “be more” so that each month is met with a new challenge.  In September, they are asking students to be more welcoming.

Students and faculty sang the Opening Convocation song written by Choral Director David Coleman. After closing remarks by M. Lafferty ’11, the assembly came to a close with the Alma Mater. Students then headed to class meetings before ending the day with the first Step Sing of the year.

The school year begins with 489 students, 372 in the Upper School and 117 in the Middle School. Along with 229 day students, Dana’s six dormitories will be home to 143 boarding students. Girls represent 15 states, including California, Florida, Texas and Wyoming, and 16 countries, including Bermuda, Egypt, Indonesia and Thailand. Dana Hall continues to have a multicultural study body, with 15% international students and 17% women of color.

All students are participating in class retreats for the remainder of the week, and will set sail on the traditional Harbor Cruise on Monday, September 6.

Sixteen new faculty and staff members have joined the Dana Hall community for the 2010-11 academic year.

Jodi Blackburn is the new Administrative Assistant in the Health Center. Most recently, Jodi served as the Recreation Program Manager for the Town of Weston. In addition to her new responsibilities, Jodi will continue to give swim lessons and coach at Dana Hall.

Marcie Bruder was a House Assistant at Dana Hall from 2005-2008, and has returned as Student Activities Coordinator and 12th Grade Class Advisor. 

Jesús López Díez will teach Upper School Spanish. For the past 10 years Jesús taught Spanish at Deerfield Academy and Milton Academy.

Molly Erdmann is the House Assistant in Johnston D.  Molly has worked for Kelly Educational Services as a substitute teacher and as a childcare provider.

Andrea Foote is the House Assistant in Wheeler. Andrea graduated from Dana Hall in 2006 and is a recent graduate of Colorado College.

Cailey Klasson will work as the Library Assistant. Cailey is currently pursuing a Master’s of Library Science at Simmons College.

Kristen McCarthy is the House Assistant in Johnston C.  For the past two years, Kristen worked as a teaching assistant for children with special needs in the Needham Public Schools.

Erin Newhall is an instructor for the Community Dance Program at Dana Hall. As the director of the Dance Etc. Performance Troupe in Middleton, Mass., Erin teaches advanced students Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop and has won numerous awards for her choreography.

Whitney Miller is the House Assistant in Johnston B.  For the past two years, she has worked for AmeriCorps, first at The Providence Children’s Museum then at The Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Eleanor Millman will teach Physics in the Upper School.  Last year she received her MA in Physics from Harvard and taught basic Biology, Physics, and Chemistry at the Harvard College Program in General Education.

Lucy Mull is the House Assistant in Johnston A. This past year, Lucy was a substitute English teacher and coach at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vt. as well as a copy editor and Public Relations Coordinator of the Historical Pages Company.

Cara Share is Dana Hall’s new Associate Director of College Counseling. From 2006-2008, she worked as the Assistant Dean of Admission at Colgate University. Last year, while pursuing a Master’s degree in School Counseling at Boston College, she worked in the guidance office at Weston High School.

Jennifer Sherwood joins Dana Hall as the Director of the Dana Hall School of Music. Jennifer worked at Turtle Bay Music School in New York City since 2002, first as Director of Development and Marketing and then as Executive Director.

Katie Tierney is the Manager of Dana Hall’s new school store. She has been the co-chair of the school store at Schofield Elementary School in Wellesley for the past eight years. 

Karli Washington is the House Assistant in Greylodge. Karli is a graduate of Salem State University and has a BS in psychology. Karli is enrolled in Salem State's graduate program in Higher Education in Student Affairs.

Michael White will serve as the Athletic Trainer while Janna Berger is on sabbatical.  Prior to Dana Hall, Michael has been an athletic trainer for the Toronto Blue Jays, Harvard University and Arlington High School.

Registration is open for the Community Dance Program at Dana Hall School. Classes begin in September. The Community Dance Program offers high-quality classes in a variety of dance techniques including Creative Dance, Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop. The program is co-ed and open to students ages three to adolescence.

Dana Hall School was recently awarded a grant from the Margaret Hall Foundation for $10,000 to strengthen the School’ Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program.

Registration is open for Dana Hall’s Community Rock Climbing program beginning in September. The Rock Climbing program offers Kids Climb for children ages 3 and up and Coffee Climb, an adult program that builds strength and fitness through climbing.

With students and teachers gone for the summer, the Dana Hall School campus is playing home to a variety of summer camps and programs.

Dressed in white with crowns of flowers in their hair, the 89 members of the Class of 2010 said goodbye to Dana Hall on Sunday, June 13, as they took part in the School’s 129^th Commencement Exercises.