On the Way to the Next Peak

Securing access and affordability

• The financial aid budget increased by $300K this year, helping us move toward the goal of tuition assistance for approximately 20 additional students.

• The second of two Fisher Fellows joined the faculty this year.
• Faculty stipends have been increased for housing and professional development during sabbaticals.
• Teachers Strengthening Teachers (formerly the Master Teacher Program) and regular cohort meetings are providing our faculty with new ways of advancing their individual teaching practices, sharing ideas, and developing the next generation of excellent teachers.
• Four new faculty homes and two new apartments have been built and occupied while two additional houses have received whole-house renovations.
• Other faculty housing upgrades include five new kitchens, five new roofs, new windows for four houses, and 16 remodeled bathrooms.

Advancing program initiatives

• Our Astronomy Program, a cornerstone of Thacher’s STEM curriculum, was transformed after the Thacher Observatory underwent a complete renovation, including a new dome and a research-grade telescope along with the equipment to run the new upgrades.
• The music program has expanded with a new music instructor and subsidized music lessons for students on financial aid.
• The Asia Initiative and the Marvin Shagam Initiative for Ethics and Global Citizenship are both in place;
• We have added courses on Pacific Rim and Pan Asian history
• The language department has expanded their Mandarin offerings
• The expanded international study program links elective courses to travel and provides travel opportunities.

Upgrading facilities

• Construction of a new dining hall is well on its way with a target completion in summer 2019.
• A large percentage of the funds required for the construction of the GATES academic building has been raised and we are aiming to begin construction this summer (2019).
• Upper Field and the baseball facilities have all be upgraded. The baseball diamond received a brand new infield of fresh sod and clay, handsome new dugouts, and upgraded scoreboards.

Supporting environmental sustainability

• We have reduced our water usage by more than 50 percent from our 2014 level;
• The first of three phases was an automated electronic water management system for irrigation. It measures all water use and controls how we use water across the campus.
• More than 90 percent of the electrical power used on campus is now generated by our solar field. It contains more 2,000 panels and includes a battery storage system used for peak demand times and nights. It also acts as an emergency backup source of power.

Ensuring financial robustness

• The Thacher School endowment has grown from $125 million, at the outset of this campaign, to $171 million.
• We are more than halfway to our goal of raising $15 million in estate intentions for the School.
• A large percentage of the funds raised to date are unrestricted funds, which will provide future administrations and boards with the flexibility and resources they need to ensure the ongoing strength of this very distinctive and important school.