A Loving Legacy
On Saturday, November 6, the School held an event to officially dedicate the Denault Library Courtyard, the most recent gift in the notable commitment of the Denault family to Nashoba Brooks School.
The story begins more than 40 years ago when Dorothy Denault helped to create a library on campus. “At the time,” she remembers, “there were books stacked up in the School hallways and overflowing on shelves. There was nowhere to put them all.” For Dorothy, building the library was not only to create a place to house the School’s collection of books, it was also about creating a quiet, reflective, communal space where students could enjoy reading together. When Dorothy learned about the School’s interest in adding the Library courtyard, she was thrilled to help: “I love being outdoors and working in the garden, and I thought it would be amazing to have an outdoor space for the library.” Her son, Charles Denault adds “the library is central to any school’s community and educational process. This outdoor courtyard is very exciting because it extends the library into the beauty of the natural environment, and provides teachers with an outdoor space where they can teach. There's nothing more powerful than that on multiple levels.”
Charles and his family have also played a significant role in the development and stewardship of the library through the Dorothy and Elliot Denault Library Fund, an endowed fund dedicated to maintaining the library and its collections. The fund has grown steadily over more than 20 years. Charles reflects passionately on his family’s steadfast commitment: “There’s an old saying that ‘I warmed at a fire that I did not build and I drank from a well that I did not dig.’ Schools like Nashoba Brooks exist because of the largesse of people that came before us, and I think we have a responsibility to those who come after us to keep reaching into the woodpile to throw another log on the fire so that the fire never goes out.”
Head of School, Danielle Heard reflects on the powerful impact the Denault family has had: “They made it possible to envision, create, sustain, and expand our cherished library—a space that stands at the center, both literally and figuratively, of learning at Nashoba Brooks. Their visionary philanthropic leadership has inspired generations of students to fall in love with literature and learning, build confidence, create connections, and expand their imaginations. These are gifts beyond measure!”
The Denualt family’s dedication to keeping the library’s fire burning for future generations is an inspiration. It underscores the significant impact campaigns and endowed funds have in helping our School thrive. The library courtyard is one of the campus improvements that marks the completion of the second phase of The Campaign for Our Future, which is focused on transforming campus spaces to better serve the School’s vibrant program. We look forward to Phase 3, which will enhance and reconfigure the arts platform, communal spaces in the Middle School, and the main entrance. All with the goal of creating safe, welcoming, and inspiring facilities that reflect the strength of our program as we begin a new chapter for Nashoba Brooks School.
More News
List of 20 news stories.
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Grade 1 Belts It Out!
This afternoon our community watched first graders ‘Belt It Out’!Read More -
Grade 3 Community Hero Projects
After weeks of hard work, Grade 3 students had the opportunity to present their Community Hero projects to their families and their interview subjects!Read More -
Visiting Lawrence Academy Alumni
A recent opportunity to connect with alumni attending Lawrence Academy left all in attendance filled with warm memories.Read More -
Family Fun at Fall Weekend!
Read MoreThe Nashoba Brooks School campus was bursting with excitement Friday, November 4, through Sunday, November 6, as we celebrated our annual Fall Weekend. -
2022 Concord Bookshop Day: A Smashing Success
This year’s Concord Bookshop Day was one for the records!Read More -
Students Consider Many High School Choices
Read MoreAfter almost a year of research, school visits, interviews, self-reflection, and essay writing, the Grade 8 class is enjoying a variety of excellent high schools to choose from. -
Students Recognized by National Latin Exam
Every year, thousands of Latin students across the United States and the world take the National Latin Exam (NLE).Read More -
Award Winning Authors Speak with Students
Alongside the book fair and poetry month, April has been a wonderful time for literature at Nashoba Brooks School. Sharon Draper and Jen Campbell, two celebrated authors, left their mark on the community over the past few weeks.Read More -
Parents Rave in Annual Survey
More than 75 parents responded to this year’s annual School survey and numbers were well balanced across all grade levels. The results of the survey are impressive and the feedback the parents offer to the School is glowing.Read More -
Nashoba Brooks Poets Published
Read MoreAs Black History Month comes to a close, students and faculty alike celebrate diversity, acknowledging that a school is not only classrooms, gymnasiums, and fields, but also the people within these walls. Each year and at every grade level our students contemplate the presence and importance of different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs. And this month provides community members with an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Black in America. -
Nashoba Brooks Prioritizes Affordability
Read More -
Grade 7 Students Help Local Turtles Thrive
As part of a multi-school initiative to support endangered species, Grade 7 students foster two Blanding's turtles for the school year.Read More -
Reflections from Artist Rachel Adams ‘01
Rachel Adams graduated from Nashoba Brooks School in 2001. She went on to study at Lawrence Academy followed by Maine College of Art and Design. Now living in Portland as a successful artist, textile designer, entrepreneur, wife and mother of two, Rachel shares her journey from student to full time artist.Read More -
Guiding Grade 8 Students Through the Secondary School Search
Guida Mattison, Nashoba Brooks School's director of secondary school placement, wants to remove as much stress as possible from the high school application process that Grade 8 students go through each year.Read More -
Grade 3 Meets Author Christine Day
Recently, Ms. Gaffny and Ms. Keady's Grade 3 students had the exciting opportunity to meet Christine Day, the author of I Can Make This Promise.Read More -
Digging into Identity
Read MoreEmployees spent much of last week’s professional development day discussing identity—both personal and communal. -
A Loving Legacy
On Saturday, November 6, the School held an event to officially dedicate the Denault Library Courtyard, the most recent gift in the notable commitment of the Denault family to Nashoba Brooks School.Read More -
Liz Joyce Accepted as a 2021-2022 Fellow by NCGS' Global Action Research Collaborative
Read MoreNashoba Brooks' school counselor, Liz Joyce, was accepted as a 2021-2022 fellow by The National Coalition of Girls' Schools' Global Action Research Collaborative. NCGS is an advocacy group that helps connect schools and organizations that educate and empower girls. -
Dedicated to Discovery
Read MoreOn Wednesday, October 20, the School held a dedication event to officially name the Sureau Family Discovery Barn. While the pandemic limited the size of the event, the community looks forward to a larger spring celebration of this compelling new addition to our campus facilities. -
Students Celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month
Read MoreThis year our students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by investigating a myriad of Hispanic and Latinx scholars, writers, and activists. In the first half of the month, students explored fifteen impactful individuals and events, selected by the Inclusivity Leadership Team (ILT).
Situated on a beautiful 30-acre campus in historic Concord, Massachusetts, Nashoba Brooks School enrolls all genders in Preschool through Grade 3, and students identifying as girls in Grades 4 through 8. Nashoba Brooks is an independent school designed to build community, character, and confidence in its students.
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