What began as a simple wooden box built by a group of passionate Ashley Hall students has grown into a powerful symbol of compassion, leadership, and connection in our community. The Ashley Hall Blessing Box, located in the parking lot at Fuel Cantina, just up the road on Rutledge Avenue, operates on a simple yet profound principle: Take what you need, leave what you can.
The Blessing Box was a project led by beloved Ashley Hall teacher Kiki Sweigart in 2020. It quickly became a cherished part of the Ashley Hall community—a tangible way for students, parents, and neighbors to support one another. Though Mrs. Sweigart sadly passed away in 2024, the project continues in her honor, carried forward by students in the Doing Good Society, keeping leadership and oversight in student hands.
From the start, the need has been clear—and constant. The Blessing Box sees steady use from the surrounding community, with families depending on it daily for nonperishable food, toiletries, and other essentials. Middle School students and Doing Good Society members organize regular drives to collect items, restocking the box each week. During the summer months, staff, faculty, and dedicated Ashley Hall families volunteer to keep it filled, ensuring there is no gap in support, even when school is not in session.
This year, that commitment received an extra boost from Ashley Hall’s dining service provider, Flik Dining Services, which made two $1,000 donations to help sustain the project and expand its reach.
At its heart, the Blessing Box is more than a service project—it’s a living lesson in empathy, gratitude, and community leadership. It shows students that giving back doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. And in the spirit of Ashley Hall, it reminds us that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. Vayia Kourtidis ’29, a member of the Doing Good Society, summed it up perfectly, “I believe we have a responsibility to help our community in any way we can, especially as food insecurity increases. I’m so thankful to Mrs. Sweigart for introducing it to the school, and I love to maintain it in her memory.”
If you would like to help stock the Blessing Box, please consider participating in the Ashley Hall food drive taking place from November 10 through 20. Drop-off boxes are located in the Pardue Hall Reception Area and across campus in each division office. Food collected will benefit both the Ashley Hall Blessing Box and the Lowcountry Foodbank.
Please keep in mind that everyone is welcome to stock the Blessing Box directly at any time! We are noticing that donations are very quickly going to those in need. Here are some suggested items for donation: Whole Grain Rice, Pasta or Oats; Low Sodium Soups or Stews; Canned Tuna; Canned Meats; Low Sugar Cereal; 100% Fruit Juice; Canned Fruits; Canned Vegetables. Pop-top cans are preferable, as not everyone has access to a can opener.
Ashley Hall is pleased to announce that Lauren Fogelgren, PA-C will join our community as the Director of Health Services in January. Lauren brings over 15 years of pediatric clinical experience across New York, Georgia, and South Carolina. She has also held key leadership roles in higher education, serving as the Director of Admissions and Assistant Professor in the Division of Physician Assistant Studies at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she was recognized with the 2025 MUSC Teaching Excellence Award.
Lauren’s professional and academic interests center on promoting the mental health, wellness, and nutrition of children and adolescents. She recently completed her doctorate in these areas and looks forward to fostering a culture of well-being within the Ashley Hall community.
As many do, Lauren fell in love with Ashley Hall after her campus visit. At that time, she shared,“The energy on campus and among the staff was evident in every interaction I had and observed. I went into the interview excited about the opportunity, and I left even more enthusiastic. I truly appreciated the collaborative spirit across roles and the school’s forward-looking vision. It would be an honor to come to work each day surrounded by such dedicated staff and inspiring students.” Since then, her excitement has grown, as has the joyful anticipation of the team she will lead in the Health Center.
We’re thrilled to introduce We Are Ashley Hall, a new podcast celebrating the voices, ideas, and experiences that define our vibrant community.
Each episode invites listeners into meaningful conversations with Ashley Hall administrators, educators, and community members as they explore what it means to take ownership of learning, ask bold questions, and grow as leaders and global citizens.
This episode spotlights Ashley Hall and the International Baccalaureate (IB), featuring a thoughtful discussion on global thinking, the power of student-led learning in our classrooms, and our journey to becoming an IB World School. The Lower School at Ashley Hall is proud to be an authorized Primary Years Programme (PYP) within the International Baccalaureate framework. The Middle School is currently a Candidate School for the Middle Years Programme (MYP), with plans to pursue the Diploma Programme (DP) following MYP authorization. Listen here »
Featured in this Episode:
Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73 Head of School (Introduction)
Naa-Adei Kotey, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning
Elizabeth Flowers, Lower School Faculty and PYP Coordinator
Jen Liberatos, Lower School Faculty
Sara Lyle, Middle School Faculty and MYP Coordinator
This episode explores how global perspectives are woven into the Ashley Hall experience and how our language and travel programs empower students to engage confidently with the wider world. From classroom study to international exploration, discover how Ashley Hall prepares young women to face the world boldly and thoughtfully. Listen here >>
Featured in this Episode:
Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73 Head of School (Introduction)
Sarah Margaret Decker, Language Department Chair
Tyler Moselely, Community Partnerships and Global Education Coordinator
Marietta Julliard, Lower School French Faculty Member
In an era where screens are woven into nearly every part of daily life, learning how to engage with technology thoughtfully has never been more important. Digital citizenship and wellness ask us to consider not just what we do online, but how those choices impact our well-being, our relationships, and our communities. In the third episode of We Are Ashley Hall, we turn our focus to navigating the digital world with intention—building healthy habits, understanding our digital presence, and fostering a culture of respect and balance that supports both connection and personal growth. Listen here >>
Featured in this Episode:
Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73 Head of School (Introduction)
Erin Neighbors, Director of Library and Media Services
Kelly Sumner, Director of Counseling and Upper School Student Life
Kristin Doggett, Lower School Counselor
At Ashley Hall, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. In this new quarterly reflection, A View from the Head’s Office, Head of School Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73 shares stories and observations from across campus, offering insights into the ideas and moments that shape our community and our students’ education.
The Extraordinary Will Take Care of Itself
It was an ordinary afternoon on campus— one of those afternoons here at Ashley Hall where sunlight is slanting through the live oaks, and there is the sound of children at play spilling from the Lower School playground and the Early School Outdoor Classroom. As I passed by, I noticed a group of kindergartners huddled over one of the box gardens. They were excitedly pointing out to one another the features of an insect that one student gently held cupped in her hand. As a biologist myself, I leaned in closer to see and to listen. “Ladybugs eat the bad things in your garden and protect your plants.” “Ladybugs sometimes eat pollen, but it is really the bees that carry the pollen.” “Butterflies carry pollen too, kinda by accident, when they are sipping on a flower.” “We need to put the ladybug back on the leaf so she can be in her natural home.” They were learning from one another, and their teacher just hung back, observing. There had been no prompt except the environment itself; there was going to be no test. It was learning in its purest sense, driven by curiosity and questions.
Moments like that remind me of a favorite piece by William Martin, who describes himself as poet and friend of quiet places:
Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
In a world that celebrates constant achievement, it can be easy to forget that growth often begins quietly, in small, seemingly unremarkable moments of observation, kindness, or connection. The extraordinary outcomes we hope for our students are born in these everyday experiences where we focus on perseverance over perfection, where we acknowledge mistakes as a place for a new start, and where we make space for curiosity and self-expression.
At Ashley Hall, we believe in the power of these moments. Whether it’s in the thoughtful pause before a student contributes in a Harkness discussion, the laughter shared during a performing arts rehearsal, or the quiet focus of a student performing a chemistry lab experiment, learning happens most deeply when girls are given the time and space to be fully present.
The world our students will enter when they move on from Ashley Hall will demand more from them than “simply knowing.” Facts will be at their fingertips. Instead, the world will require people who can listen, adapt, risk, and act with courage and compassion. These qualities are not taught through the pursuit of the extraordinary—they are nurtured through attention to the ordinary and through the relationships that make our community so strong.
Across campus, I see this truth unfold daily—a sixth-grade Big Sister at recess kneels beside her Little Sister to help her tie her shoe. A senior speaks with grace and conviction in front of her peers, inviting them to participate in a community action project. A Middle School teacher turns an unexpected rainstorm into a spontaneous lesson about the water cycle. None of these moments would make headlines, but together, they create the environment where confidence, empathy, and resilience take root.
If we can help our students see beauty in the everyday, to marvel at what is right in front of them, then we have prepared them well. Because when children learn to be fully alive to their own experiences, the extraordinary truly does take care of itself.
As we continue to reflect, learn, and grow together as a school community, I invite you to stay connected to these conversations. Our new We Are Ashley Hall Podcast offers another way to listen in and engage with the ideas shaping our classrooms and our future. The first episode, “Ashley Hall and the International Baccalaureate,” explores how the IB philosophy aligns with our mission and prepares girls to think critically, care deeply, and act with purpose in a global context. I hope you’ll take a moment to listen and to reflect on what makes our community extraordinary.
I would also like to note that our faculty and staff have embarked on an exciting journey to examine how we spend our time at Ashley Hall through the lens of our school schedule. We are working with two consultants, experts in independent girls’ schools and IB schools, Dr. Shannan Schuster and Dr. Andrew Taylor. Rooted in brain science, research, and what we know about how girls learn best, this work invites us to ask: How does our schedule reflect what our community values? Our goal is to ensure that every aspect of the school day is student-centered—supporting curiosity, engagement, and well-being—while keeping us in stride with the mission and curriculum that define an Ashley Hall education. You’ll hear more about this work in the coming weeks and months.
I am grateful for the curiosity and commitment that define our Ashley Hall community. Together, we help our students find meaning in each moment of learning, for it is in these small moments that purpose and possibility take root. We make the ordinary come alive.
Dr. Anne T. Weston ’73 Ashley Hall Head of School
Every October 11, the world recognizes the International Day of the Girl—a day to celebrate the strength, creativity, and potential of girls everywhere. For the Ashley Hall community, it’s also a moment to pause and reflect on what we see happening here every day: girls who lead with confidence, think critically, and uplift one another.
A Global Message, Lived Locally
This year’s global theme reminds us that when girls are given the tools and support to succeed, they don’t just imagine a better world—they build it. At Ashley Hall, that belief is more than an ideal; it’s our daily reality. Whether through spirited classroom discussions, innovative STEAM projects, or moments of mentorship between younger and older students, our girls learn that their voices matter and that they have the power to create change.
As proud members of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS), Ashley Hall is part of a global network of more than 500 schools dedicated to advancing girls’ education and leadership. Through shared research and collaboration, the ICGS amplifies what we know to be true: girls’ schools provide environments where students are more likely to develop confidence, take on leadership roles, and engage deeply in STEM subjects. That global connection reminds our students that they belong to something bigger—a worldwide community of girls who are learning, leading, and lifting one another up.
For families interested in learning more about the global movement behind this day, UNICEF
and UN Women offer powerful stories and data on the impact of empowering girls through education and opportunity.
Celebrating Our Community of Changemakers
The International Day of the Girl is also a celebration of the community that surrounds and uplifts each Ashley Hall student—our faculty, families, and alumnae who champion the belief that girls who have the will have the ability. Together, we’re not just preparing students for the future; we’re equipping them to shape it.
Every classroom discussion, performance, athletic competition, and community service project reflects that purpose. We see it in the curiosity of a Lower School scientist, the compassion of a Middle School mentor, and the determination of an Upper School scholar ready to take on the world.
Honoring the Mission
As we join the global community in recognizing this special day, we celebrate the girls who inspire us daily—and the shared mission that unites us as an Ashley Hall family.
Because when girls are empowered to lead, supported by a community that believes in them, their potential is limitless.
Happy International Day of the Girl from all of us at Ashley Hall!
In a Reggio Emilia–inspired program, an Atelier is much more than an art room. It is a laboratory of exploration—a dedicated space where children investigate ideas, experiment with materials, and make their thinking visible through creative expression. At the heart of the atelier is the Atelierista, an educator with a background in the arts who collaborates with teachers and children to extend learning through creative media. Together, they weave imagination, discovery, and reflection into the fabric of daily life.
At Ashley Hall, Wendy Robbins, our Atelierista, guides children in this unique space, helping them transform questions and curiosities into meaningful creations. In the post below, Wendy invites you into our Atelier’s new home, a place filled with light, inspiration, and possibility—where children are encouraged to wonder, take risks, and celebrate the beauty of their own ideas.
Here’s more from our very own Atelierista:
This past summer, a special place in Pierce Hall, beside the Lower School STEAM Lab, was set aside and renovated for use as the new Atelier. This room is lined on three walls with large windows, filling the room with the most beautiful natural light. The fourth wall reveals four brick archways. Outside the windows is a charming hand-painted mural depicting campus scenes familiar to the children. The room is lovely and fits the aesthetic of the Reggio Approach in the most perfect ways. Shadows fall across the floor and move up onto the walls, inviting curious children to observe and interact. There is plenty of space for dedicated movement and art areas. The environment has a calmness to it that calls to eager learners to explore and share ideas.
When we first learned that the Atelier would be moving, we all wondered how we would be able to recreate the feelings and functions of the original. In the Reggio Approach, the environment is considered the “third teacher.” This means educators go beyond decorating the space, and they consider ways that it can engage the children in the process of learning. Materials are organized to promote meaningful interactions. Furniture is placed conducive to the patterns of children’s movement around the room. Children are able to be autonomous, drawing upon the environment to make their own choices related to their interests. Teachers are always observing and reflecting on what could be changed or added to build layers of the children’s learning.
Recently in the Atelier, we have been introduced to or become reacquainted with materials that are staples in our room. We learned how to care for and utilize tools that we use for painting and clay work. I have been inspired by the gifts that the children bring me, small mementos from the natural world such as leaves, flowers, rocks, and shells. I decided to set up the atelier with a variety of mediums for the children to use to further explore these special items. They use paint to cover their treasures with vibrant color. Sticks poke out of natural clay, often representing cakes and calling for impromptu birthday celebrations. With crayons and colored pencils, the children draw on and around the treasures, sometimes creating a story as they go along.
As the year progresses, we feel fortunate to have such an inspiring place to work, play, and learn. This is a space where children can feel ownership and know that they belong here. They can feel free to take risks, ask big questions, and test their theories in their own ways. Here, their creativity is valued and held close to the heart of our program.
As you have conversations with your children at home, ask them questions that encourage answers that speak to who they are as thinkers. Here are some examples:
Tell me something interesting about this work.
What happened when you tried this new material today?
How did you feel as you created this?
This dialogue keeps the spirit of creativity alive and nurtures the ever evolving process of learning.
Ashley Hall is a K-12 independent school for girls, with a co-ed preschool, committed to a talented and diverse student population. We consider for admission students of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin.
Ashley Hall is pleased to announce that Lauren Fogelgren, PA-C will join our community as the Director of Health Services in January. Lauren brings over 15 years of pediatric clinical experience across New York, Georgia, and South Carolina. She has also held key leadership roles in higher education, serving as the Director of Admissions and Assistant Professor in the Division of Physician Assistant Studies at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she was recognized with the 2025 MUSC Teaching Excellence Award.
