Libraries - Thayer Academy

Southworth Library

Southworth Library in the Upper School stands as a longstanding hub, serving as a gathering place throughout the school day and beyond. With its panoramic view of the campus, the library not only offers resources but also serves as a venue for community events. The mission of Southworth Library is to provide a diverse array of resources and services to the school community. Carefully selected resources represent various viewpoints, authors, reading preferences, and interest levels. Library staff collaborates closely with students, focusing on information literacy and independent research skills, ensuring meaningful integration with class assignments. The Upper School Library embodies Thayer Academy's commitment to a holistic and enriching educational experience.

Visit Southworth Library

Southworth Library Hours
Mon. 7:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tue. 7:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wed. 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thu. 8:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Middle School Library

The Middle School Library is dedicated to providing a broad spectrum of resources and services to the school community. Resources are thoughtfully selected to encompass diverse viewpoints, authors, reading preferences, and interest levels. Library staff actively engage with students, fostering information literacy and independent research skills. Through close collaboration with faculty, librarians seamlessly integrate their instruction with class assignments. Utilizing TigerGuides, the library ensures accessibility on and off-campus, tailoring guides for individual assignments, grade-wide projects, and comprehensive access to databases and ebooks. A member of the Massachusetts Library System, the library stands committed to enriching the academic experience.

Visit the Middle School Library

Middle School Library Hours
Mon. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tue. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wed. 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Meet Our Librarians

Amy Perry

Director of Southworth Library

Upper School

Kerri Brosnan

Upper School Librarian

Stephanie Rando

Southworth Library Assistant

Upper School

Blodine Francois

Middle School Librarian | Middle School Technology Coordinator

Middle School

Additional Learning Resources

With such a rigorous curriculum, it’s nice to know there are places to go to work through a math problem with a peer tutor, get some help organizing an essay, meet with a study group or chat with a librarian about an upcoming research project. Thayer’s Learning Resources complement a student’s academic life and provide significant support and enrichment.

Benelli Writing Center
Hale Learning Center

Benelli Writing Center

The Peter J. Benelli Writing Center (BWC), established in September 2011, seeks to foster a cross-curricular, whole-school approach to writing as a process and strives to celebrate the endeavor for all students. One of the common refrains from Thayer graduates following graduation is an appreciation of how well they were taught to write - be it for college courses or careers later on in life. The Writing Center is a place that augments the tremendous teaching that already occurs in the classroom - where students can seek help with any part of the writing process. Dedicated BWC Fellows are trained to assist student writers at all stages of the process, and across all disciplines, for any project (literary essays, poetry, non-fiction, fiction, history research papers, college essays, lab reports, contest entries, etc.).

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BWC Mission Statement

The Peter J. Benelli Writing Center seeks to foster a cross-curricular, whole-school approach to writing as a process and strives to celebrate the endeavor for all students.

About Peter J. Benelli
In 1958, Peter Benelli started teaching English at Thayer, and in 1967, he became headmaster. During his 33 years at Thayer, Mr. Benelli was esteemed for his writing skills because of the many letters and notes he wrote to former students and their families. It is therefore more than fitting that Mr. Benelli’s legacy at the Academy should be the Writing Center - dedicated to the craft in which he took such a keen interest.

Karen Jersild

Upper School History Faculty | Benelli Writing Center Director

Upper School

Hale Learning Center

The Hale Learning Center (HLC) provides additional support to students who face academic challenges, often rooted to language skill deficits. To that end, Thayer Academy designs, implements, and coordinates approaches to learning and teaching that offer students the best chance of success in meeting the demands of a rigorous academic program.

The Hale Center’s trained professional staff analyzes student learning profiles, works directly with students and their parents, recommends practical teaching approaches to faculty, assists in teacher training to meet student needs, supports the admission selection process, and – as appropriate – consults with the Academy’s educational psychologist to identify students requiring support.

Each Division, Middle and Upper School, has its own age-appropriate Hale Learning Center space and program under the direct supervision of an Academic Support Coordinator. The Hale Learning Center Director ensures the effectiveness of the program over the entire span of grades 5 to 12.

Middle School

Biweekly After-School Study Skills Instruction Areas

Meta-cognition
Learning styles and preferences
Active reading strategies
Memory skills
Time management
Mindfulness
Study strategies
Test taking strategies
Note taking strategies
Organization strategies

One-on-One / Small Group Instruction

Reading Comprehension Strategies
Study Skills
Planning
Organization
Moral Support

Summer Study Skills Course (offered in August)

Day 1: Time management, organization, learning styles, and meta-cognition
Day 2: Active reading and note taking, growth mindset
Day 3: Memory strategies and mock school day: how to navigate and benefit from resources at Thayer Academy
Day 3 Evening Workshop for Parents: How to help at home

Roles & Responsibilities of HLC staff

Communicate with the consulting school psychologist, parents, and faculty
Review neuro-psychological evaluations, if applicable; create faculty-accessible summaries of evaluations

Hale Learning Center Staff

Works with the Upper School HLC to plan for a smooth transition from the Middle School to the Upper School.
Provides an alternative testing environment and space for students to finish extended time tests, print papers, access the Internet, and assist students in completing work in many ways.

Additional Support for Students

Fall term (Sept. - Nov.) Study Skills Course taught once per cycle to all 6th graders
Study Skills “crash course” for new 7th and 8th graders during new student orientation
Fall term Academic Strategies Course taught once per cycle to all 7th graders
Winter term Growth Mindset Course taught once per cycle to all 5th graders

Additional Support for Parents

HLC Staff speaks at a Parent Association Coffee about helping students prep for exams during the spring

Stephen Moran
Middle School Hale Center Director
781.664.2219
smoran@thayer.org

Upper School

Weekly After-School Study Skills Instruction Areas

Meta-cognition
Learning styles and preferences
Active reading of textbooks
Memory skills
Time management
Combining class notes with reading notes

One-on-One / Small Group Instruction

Reading Comprehension Strategies
Study Skills
Planning
Organization
Applied assistive technologies (i.e., Kurzweil software, books on CD, digital voice recorders, speech-to-text technology)
Moral Support

Summer Study Skills Course (offered in August)

Day 1: Time management
Day 2: Note taking
Day 3: Active reading
Day 3 Evening Workshop for Parents: How to help at home
Day 4: Mock School Day: How to navigate and benefit from resources at Thayer Academy

Roles & Responsibilities of HLC staff

Communicate with the consulting school psychologist, parents, and faculty
Review neuro-psychological evaluations, if applicable; create faculty-accessible summaries of evaluations
Utilize and coordinate, as appropriate, peer tutoring program, Thayer’s Special Education Intern, and off-campus tutors
Support students with disabilities (SSD) or who are applying for extended time on SAT tests

Teachers in the Hale Learning Center

Ensure a smooth transition from Middle to Upper School.
Provide an alternative testing environment and space for students to finish extended time tests, print papers, access the Internet, and assist students in completing work in many ways.

Erica Dunne

Upper School Hale Learning Center Director | Upper School Coordinator of Academic Support

Upper School

Partnerships with Parents

The staff in the HLC coordinates and maintains dialogue with parents about psycho-educational evaluations and recommendations, existing IEPs, and the academic status of students. They also offer a parent education program and information sessions related to learning styles, attention difficulties, dyslexia, and other language-based challenges. Members of the HLC staff can create a Student/Parent Tool-kit, an online resource of supports for students and their parents.

Faculty Support & Professional Development

HLC staff members keep in touch with the most up-to-date methodologies and research through course work and attendance at workshops and seminars. The also identify opportunities for other faculty members to enrich their understanding of various learning differences and enhance their teaching approaches.

Thayer Academy Special Education Intern

This internship is designed to provide a beginning educator who is pursuing a master’s degree in special education the opportunity to gain additional experience from classroom and specialist teachers. The intern works with experienced teachers, observes classes, assists with individual and group projects. He or she also provides direct student support on a 1:1 basis and in small groups.

Additional Support Staff & Structures

Both the Middle and Upper Schools retain staff to specifically support students as they develop strong study skills. In both divisions, the Deans are responsible for identifying and tracking students who require academic support. In addition, the Hale Center staff members consult with outside tutors, and, when needed, work with parents to find tutors. The Upper School also has a specially designed English program for students requiring extra support as a result of language deficits.

Ask A Librarian

We can help you locate library resources, connect with a subject librarian, or find support at any stage of your research.

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Calendar

News & Calendar

Amy Perry

Kerri Brosnan

Stephanie Rando

Blodine Francois

Additional Learning Resources

Benelli Writing Center

BWC Mission Statement

Karen Jersild

Hale Learning Center

Direct Student Support

Middle School

Upper School

Erica Dunne

Partnerships with Parents

Faculty Support & Professional Development

Thayer Academy Special Education Intern

Additional Support Staff & Structures

Ask A Librarian

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