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I just want to say thank you to some of the most influential people in my life: Mrs. Byron and Dr. Gauthier. They have been so amazing, kind, helpful, and supportive during my years here, and I have had so much fun in their classes. Thank you for taking the time to challenge me and help me see things through a different lense, and I'm so appreciative of your resilience in adapting to online learning. I will miss seeing you both next year.

Riyah Patel

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I am so thankful for all the hard work my teachers have been doing to make sure our year remains to be a great one, as well as the incredible amount of support they have been giving, but I would like to especially point out how wonderful Ms.Federico has been through it all. Her positivity and bright smile during classes kept me and my senior classmates going strong. She let us know that it was alright to be disappointed, but also showed us how to look on the brighter side of things. Not to mention she also gave us a happy escape in writing that we gladly took comfort in, allowing us to channel our emotions healthily through our writing and explore a creative outlet that gave us something fun to do in a time that’s difficult to find fun activities to do without leaving home. So, a huge thank you to Ms.Federico for being so supportive and caring, not only just during this time, but since the beginning of the year :)

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Because it's Teacher Appreciation Week and because of their heroic efforts this spring, we invite you to share a message of gratitude with a DS teacher on this board!

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Thank you, Ms. Roberts, for giving Emma a classroom experience that makes her wish Latin class was every day!
-Annie Branch

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I started teaching a yoga zoom class this week and I was able to raise $95 in one day of classes.  This money was used to purchase meals to give to hospital staff at Parkland hospital.  The nurses there have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. The meals were provided by Table 8 pasta in Bedford.  They provide the staff with 1/2 trays of food to share with their families.  I am so pleased to be a part of their efforts and will be teaching more classes to be able to provide more support to the people on the front lines of this crisis.
~Regina Dixon

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A heartfelt thank you to Betty Jipson, who has fostered a love of reading in so many people -young and old! She knows ever reader and always ten more suggestions in the back of her head. Thank you!

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Fred M.,  Class of 1970:  Celebrations Catering

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Fred M.,  Class of 1970:  Celebrations Catering

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Thank you Fred, for your loving donations. You make the Class of 1970 proud. I enjoyed hearing your voice at our Virtual Reunion this week (I am sorry your video didn't work).
My Best,
Adair O'Reilly

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Our family is doing a food drive for the New Hampshire food bank by collecting cereal boxes from our neighbors and those around us. This time is very difficult for everyone around us and we wanted to relieve some stress from the food bank by donating our goal of 75 boxes of cereal to those in need. - The Allard Family

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Yang Family Donates Clorox Wipes to Bedford PD

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Yang Family Donates Clorox Wipes to Bedford PD

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The Yang Family donated a case of Clorox wipes to the Bedford Police Department earlier this month and received a shout out on the Bedford PD Facebook page. Nice work, Yang Family!

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Many thanks to the Derryfield community members working to care for patients, support the healthcare system, keep us safe and who are active in businesses and organizations that are supporting NH and families. The creative ways members of the Derryfield community are helping to solve problems throughout the state and the region is inspiring!

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Ellie Small has been working with Grammie Small (age 91) and the Derryfield Robotics Team to make masks. Ellie is also making masks for other healthcare workers as well as her Grandmother Young's caregivers at the nursing home.

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Robb Goodwin '02 is a Shining Example of Everyday Caring

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Robb Goodwin '02 is a Shining Example of Everyday Caring

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Robb Goodwin ’02,   has been grocery shopping for several family members, including his 92 year old grandmother, so they don’t have to leave the house and can all remain safe. He even helped an elderly stranger, that he passed in the market, look for toilet paper; when none could be found, Robb gave her one of his packages.

Robb is also growing vegetables in his apartment to give others. Growing for others gives him, in his words, “something to care for”.

Robb’s sister lives in New York City. Concerned for her safety when the pandemic started to take hold he convinced (or coerced) her that she would be safer in Manchester with family. He drove to New York one afternoon after lunch, pulled up in front of her apartment building; she jumped into the back seat and Robb drove straight back to Manchester.

If our family can stay safe, as we have so far done, it will be in part thanks to Robb, whose caring has been a clear example of how family and community look out for one another.

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Debbie Cousineau (mom of Zoe '20) and Gary hit the road yesterday to deliver the DVD's of this year's Upper School musical, Legally Blonde.  They set out from Weare on a circular road trip with 18 stops in Bedford, Merrimack, Salem, Kensington, Hampton, Stratham, Manchester, Hooksett, and Hopkinton.  It sounds like they had a blast and loved the chance to see everyone (from a distance).  And we're glad to hear the actors and their families can take a break from Netflix to connect with their Derryfield theater community's masterpiece!  Thanks, Debbie & Gary!

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You are an amazing group of individuals, full of integrity, intelligence, and a healthy dose of humor and fun! I miss seeing you every day- I even miss the messy and smelly senior forum :-) Be strong and remember that, when we gather for your 5th reunion, you will have SO many stories to tell!
Best,
Ms. Grodman

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Those of us without our own classes and advisees rely on Community Meeting, Fireside Chats, and other community gatherings to stay in touch with the students and faculty.  We want to recognize Annie Branch and her outstanding efforts to keep us connected while we're all at home.  Juggling all of these platforms is not easy, and receiving submissions from all different people adds a whole extra layer.  Thank you for always going above and beyond!
-Your grateful teammates in Philanthropy & Engagement

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A big shout out to DS family members like Deb Allen  and nurse  Michelle Leclerc who have been fielding questions about enrollment and physicals and all the paperwork that keeps us moving forward into next school year. Thank you for all you do 😊

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So many of our stories are about Derryfield community members taking care of folks outside of the DS community, but I have to nominate Dawn Kilcrease for setting the example and pace for caring for oneself and caring for others WITHIN the community. Dawn has kept an open Gratitude Journal on her personal Facebook page, inspiring all of us to think beyond ourselves and reflect, at the end of an often exhausting day, on thankfulness. Early on in the COVID fiasco, she "adopted" the Moose the Cougar mascot costume and has kept our community laughing with Moose's antics. Moose even delivered goodies and smiles to several Derryfield employees in selfless acts of caring and fun. It's never difficult to respond to "why I work at Derryfield" when the community is so enriched by inspirational colleagues and students.
-Kathleen Rutty-Fey '87
Director of Enrollment

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I want to thank the fabulous DS Faculty & Staff for not skipping a beat while continuing to educate our children during these trying times.  Our family is so grateful to be a part of such an innovative and caring community.

-A Grateful Junior Parent

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You are an extraordinary class. You have been stellar role models for younger students; they are missing you. Thank you for your inclusivity and warmth on our teams, our casts, our clubs, as buddies and in the hallways. Thank you for helping to shape a culture of kindness, belonging and personal excellence at Derryfield.

Looking forward to celebrating your commencement on campus when the time is right.
With affection and pride,
Dr. Carter

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We wish you all the best and are so very sorry you did not get your senior spring and all the activities that do with it, and most importantly, your traditional graduation.  We are thinking of you and are with you in spirit.  You will all rock it as Derryfield graduates and we are proud of you!
Love,
The Gagnon Family:
Anne, Mitch, Elizabeth ('19), Jeremy ('21) and Noah ('24)

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A huge shout out of many thanks to all of the middle school & upper school teachers and everyone at DS! What a great job everyone is doing & also for being so prepared for this virtual learning! We are very appreciative of all DS is doing!
The Dudley Family

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When I entered DS in 9th grade I found it confusing that people acted kindly towards me, learned my name, and were interested in what I was doing. I was suspicious for a week or two wondering what people wanted from me before I realized  they actually cared. Being accepted and cared for at DS helped me see other people and myself in better ways. Not all schools achieve that, and I think this event captures something important.                        - Lee Rynearson '03

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Cody Bournival '18, Serving Others as a New York EMT

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Cody Bournival '18, Serving Others as a New York EMT

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St. Lawrence University closed their doors for the rest of the school year in March. Cody Bournival ‘18 stayed in New York instead of returning home to New Hampshire in order to work as an EMT transporting COVID patients. He became certified in January and is currently working 90 hours per week while also attending online classes. Thank you for your service to others, Cody!

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Thank you faculty!

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Hello Derryfield! When I found this picture on my camera roll (from a hike late last summer), I couldn’t help but think that the flower represents our community. Even in rocky terrain, here we are, still growing, standing tall, and showing our beautiful, true colors!  Thank you to everyone for stepping up, doing their part, and making the best of a challenging situation. I love my school! ❤️❤️❤️ Every little thing is gonna be alright!
Love,
Mimi Coombes

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Aissa Sweets, owned by Evelyn Brensinger Aissa '99 and her husband Ahmed, in Concord is selling flour from their bakery!

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I just want to commend the DS faculty, administration, and Trustees for doing so well by its students in helping them prepare for a changing world. Even though I've been away from teaching there for nearly 8 years, I've kept tabs on how Derryfield has been evolving. I have read with interest the faculty and administration's updates on meeting the goals of the School's strategic plans. I watched Mary and Lindley's recent "Fireside Chat" presentation of how Derryfield has been adapting with the move to online learning -- with which a number of the faculty have expertise, thanks to the Malone Foundation courses -- and I marvel at how nimble the School's faculty members have been in meeting the challenges of remote learning. Hold fast in your efforts to reach out to and support one another with kindness in these difficult times; it's inspiring! - John Bouton

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My senior year English teacher DHS was one of my most favorite and influential teachers I’ve ever had. She sparked my interest in popular culture and showed me how cool English class can be! Now being a freshman in college, I was writing a paper that I knew DHS would love and could give great insight on. She took time out of her busy day to sit down and video chat with me about it. Derryfield teachers’ kindness and tenacity continues long after graduation! So grateful for DHS and all the support she’s given me even after graduating. :) - Maggie Cissel '19

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I am so proud of how all the 8th graders have adapted to their new learning environment. We miss seeing your faces and hearing your laughter, but you are learning more than you know! You are finding ways to adapt, to be patient, to have empathy, and to grow in spite of obstacles big and small. Do not give up and keep looking for ways to choose to make a difference.
~Ms. Russell

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I’m so sorry that your DS student experience isn’t ending the way anyone would want, but you are an alum forever and your reunions will be filled with stories of how you survived and thrived. Best of luck as you move to the next leg of your journey and know you will always be part of the Derryfield family.

Ellie Cochran ‘69

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I have been working closely with my department and my division plus admin to be prepared and ready to be online. So, the frequent check-ins and particularly the availability of our tech team (Mr. DeYoung, Ms. Ek, Ms. Branch) has really made me feel so supported. Plus, Ms. Carter, Ms. Shutz, Mr. Brandt, Mr. Dougherty and Ms. Byron) have been there to support me in a myriad of ways. I couldn't be more grateful to them and to DS right now.

- A Current DS Faculty Member

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Thank you for not giving up on my student with the online classrooms. Thank you for making the time to help him one on one.  Thank you for being great teachers and advisors. You have gone above and beyond the call of duty. THANK YOU!!!!!
- Mother of a Junior Class Member

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I wanted to thank you again for all that you have done to make sure this virtual learning is working. I wanted to let you know that it is. Last night, when I was going through the list of what I was grateful for, I thought, I am so grateful that my school is one of the only schools I know that was completely prepared for this! I wanted to thank you and other faculty members for the hard work you/they have put into this to make it a success. I love the new schedule and I literally can’t wait to start school everyday. The positive e-mails you send every morning give me a positive attitude, and all of the teachers are so kind, considerate, and thoughtful during these hard times. Feel free to share this message with any faculty members that were also part of making this schedule happen. Thank you so much. - A Grateful 7th Grader

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XO, Anna Moskov

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Grace started fueled by kids when she was a student at DS.

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Along with remote learning, some siblings in Bedford are also spending their days working to feed hundreds of food-insecure children in the state's largest city.>> Download the FREE WMUR appThe Mikols of Bedford are busy running their nonprofit, Fueled by Kids. The organization provides bags of food to keep hundreds of needy Manchester children from going hungry over weekends.Grace, the oldest, started the organization in 2016 and is back from college, helping her younger siblings who now lead the group.Normally, 50 volunteers would join in the effort, but due to social distancing, the Mikols are doing this all on their own and with many Queen City parents out of work, the need has increased. >> Latest coronavirus coverage from WMUR"We are currently providing 600 bags per week, which is an increase from the 470 bags that we normally pack throughout the school year," Hannah Mikol, general manager of Fueled By Kids, said."We make sure that each bag includes four meals and several snacks, including fresh fruits and vegetables," Kate Mikol said."This comes to a total of 2,400 meals and around 3,000 snacks per week," Joe Mikol said.With grocery stores strapped these days because of the coronavirus pandemic, it's been challenging to stock the shelves."But our wonderful partner Sysco has been able to give us food where we've been lacking," Hannah Mikol said.Instead of distributing their food through elementary school, guidance counselors and social workers, now that schools are closed, the bags are delivered by buses to those in need.The siblings are hoping to keep up with the high demand."Luckily we have a lot of very generous donors and sponsors that are helping us keep up with the funds, however we did not plan for this in our budget for the year, but we are going to keep going until we run out of money," Joe Mikol said.Anyone who would like to make a donation to help the organization feed Manchester children can visit fueledbykids.org. ** See an interactive map of town-by-town data **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

Along with remote learning, some siblings in Bedford are also spending their days working to feed hundreds of food-insecure children in the state's largest city.
>> Download the FREE WMUR app
The Mikols of Bedford are busy running their nonprofit, Fueled by Kids.

The organization provides bags of food to keep hundreds of needy Manchester children from going hungry over weekends.

Grace, the oldest, started the organization in 2016 and is back from college, helping her younger siblings who now lead the group.

Normally, 50 volunteers would join in the effort, but due to social distancing, the Mikols are doing this all on their own and with many Queen City parents out of work, the need has increased.
>> Latest coronavirus coverage from WMUR
"We are currently providing 600 bags per week, which is an increase from the 470 bags that we normally pack throughout the school year," Hannah Mikol, general manager of Fueled By Kids, said.

"We make sure that each bag includes four meals and several snacks, including fresh fruits and vegetables," Kate Mikol said.

"This comes to a total of 2,400 meals and around 3,000 snacks per week," Joe Mikol said.

With grocery stores strapped these days because of the coronavirus pandemic, it's been challenging to stock the shelves.

"But our wonderful partner Sysco has been able to give us food where we've been lacking," Hannah Mikol said.

Instead of distributing their food through elementary school, guidance counselors and social workers, now that schools are closed, the bags are delivered by buses to those in need.

The siblings are hoping to keep up with the high demand.

"Luckily we have a lot of very generous donors and sponsors that are helping us keep up with the funds, however we did not plan for this in our budget for the year, but we are going to keep going until we run out of money," Joe Mikol said.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to help the organization feed Manchester children can visit fueledbykids.org.
** See an interactive map of town-by-town data **

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Bedford siblings work to feed hundreds of food-insecure children

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Along with remote learning, some siblings in Bedford are also spending their days working to feed hundreds of food-insecure children in the state's largest city.>> Download the FREE WMUR appThe Mikols of Bedford are busy running their nonprofit, Fueled by Kids.