Please join the Social Justice Council for a screening of the award-winning documentary “13th”. Food and beverages will be for sale, and all profits will go to The Innocence Project, an organization working to exonerate the wrongly convicted reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

"13th" is an extremely powerful film by Ava DuVernay that explores the "intersection of race, justice and mass incarceration in the United States" and it is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which freed the slaves and prohibited slavery (unless as punishment for a crime). You can watch the trailer here. The screening is our second in a series of social justice oriented films for the The Academy's community. Come see the film, enjoy delicious food and drinks, have a discussion, and remember to bring your friends!  

GIRLS' NIGHT IN - April 21 (5 PM Saturday to 10 AM Sunday)

The Academy's senior women are continuing the tradition of hosting a Girls’ Night In, following its revival last year. First established by alum Gracie Hall (2012), Girls’ Night In is an opportunity for all of the women at The Academy to get to know each other better, boost each other's self-esteem, and have tons of fun. Activities will include movies, a potluck dinner, games, and bonding exercises. Seniors and faculty will provide breakfast in the morning, and each student is responsible for bringing her own pajamas, toiletries, and sleeping bag/pillows. The event will be chaperoned by female Academy faculty and staff members, and all female Academy students are welcome. Attendees are requested to spend the night, but in recognition of the fact that conflicts are a part of life, individual students should talk with Mrs. BZ if arrangements need to be made to participate without sleeping over.

Potluck dinner assignments will be distributed next week.

Students who plan to attend should RSVP to one of the senior girls.
Please be in contact with Mrs. BZ or Ella D. with any questions.

by Ruby Chase
The Academy’s GSA works to support the LGBTQ+ community, in an effort to make our school feel more embracing of all genders and sexualities. It's important to note that our student-run GSA is a “Gender and Sexuality Alliance,” which makes it more inclusive. Academy students really care about the community as a whole and how we can make it more inclusive for all. Twice monthly, the GSA meets to discuss topics relevant to the LGBTQ+ community including current events or upcoming projects, and also provides an opportunity for anyone to raise issues that are important to them.

Last semester a number of Academy GSA members attended the GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) Conference in Westfield. School-based GSAs from all over the country participated. We also purchased a rainbow flag to put on the school's flagpole. It was an easy thing to do and we hope it will inspire more support for the LGBTQ+ community. Our upcoming projects include participating in the Pride Parade in Northampton in May and possibly Greenfield in June. These marches celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and pride. We will also organize a day of silence (a day where people choose to spend a day in silence to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ people), and a larger goal for our GSA is to visit elementary schools in the area to talk to students about being good allies. We would draw and create posters with the kids with positive messages about the LGBTQ+ community. We’ve done a lot of work this semester and we’re excited for more to come!

If you would like more information about the GSA email Sophia C or Sam F.

With three months to go until the end of our fiscal year, we're a little over halfway to our Annual Fund Goal of $250,000. If you haven't yet made your gift or your pledge, please do so here. Parents, we're currently at a 72% participation rate, and we're aiming for 100%! Every gift matters, every day. Thank you for your generosity.