Celebrate Earth Day by purchasing a set of sea turtle stationary created by Ashley Hall kindergarten students. All of the proceeds raised during this fundraiser support the Sea Turtle Care Center at the South Carolina Aquarium. Each set is $15 and will be delivered to students during the week of May 10. In the form below, please indicate each kindergarten class you would like to purchase prints from (Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Dolan, or both!) and you can also make a monetary donation in support of the fundraiser. All online purchases must be submitted by April 30.
Having one’s own space to create is crucial in the pursuit of art, and for Visual Arts faculty member Nancy Langston, envisioning and constructing such spaces are powerful reminders of art’s ability to dismantle stereotypes. A natural builder with her spatial skills and aptitude for visualization, Langston often draws on construction techniques in her art and in turn builds to channel her creative impulses. “I’ve renovated several houses in Charleston, and the process is similar to creating sculptures,” she notes. “In many ways, it is easier because the outcome is a known and measured entity.” This summer, Langston drew on that same ability to create a unique and inviting campus space for her students: Their very own “She Shed.”
The idea began several years ago when Langston transformed her backyard with an outdoor open-air painting/sculpture studio. “It started as a 12′ x 12’4 post and metal-roofed structure and evolved into a 14′ x 30′ outdoor studio oasis complete with ceiling fans, lighting, a sitting area, speakers, a mural on the floor, bricked paths, a fire pit, and gardens,” she explained. “Working with the sights and sounds of nature is uplifting, enlivening, and inspiring to creativity. Knowing how it makes me feel to create in an open-air space, I have long wanted to build a space like this for the girls in my classes, and with the pandemic and the need for social distancing and fresh, uncontaminated air, I saw an opportunity.”
With the School’s approval of her building plans and sketches, Langston immediately went to work and completed the project over the course of two weekends. “I would be remiss if I were not to give a big shout out to my husband, David, who cheerfully assists in my projects,” she enthused. “He is a technology account manager by profession, not a builder, but he too loves the challenges, from digging post holes to wiring the lighting, such projects present.”
Stocked with pottery wheels, tables, and chairs, the “She Shed” could not have arrived at a better time. “Being in the elements sparks my curiosity and makes me appreciate nature and breathing so much more,” said Dorothy Fort ’22. Many students expressed a similar appreciation for the chance to create out-of-doors. “Being within four walls sucks the living life out of me,” exclaimed Bryce Turberville ’21. “I’m more motivated when I’m outside.” For Langston, offering her students the gift of their own space for creativity is both practical and inspirational as they build their own futures. “They were a bit shocked when I told them that I built it,” she smiled. “The construction workers on campus had the same reaction. I look forward to a time when it is commonplace for folks to accept that a woman can have construction skills.”
The McBee Singers
Ashley Hall is thrilled to introduce a NEW addition to its team sports and activities, The McBee Singers, an elite vocal dance team of polished young singers and dancers with a strong community presence. The McBee Singers will build an eclectic repertoire of dynamic musical performances of Pop, Broadway, and Jazz favorites, with a unique and creative twist!
This exhilarating team of singers and dancers will illuminate and elevate Ashley Hall’s campus, as well as the local community, through quality and meaningful performances. The McBee Singers will also compete in national show choir invitationals.
View a sneak peek below of the energy and excitement students will experience as a dance team member!
The McBee Singers has two separate divisions: Varsity for grades 7 to 12 and Junior Varsity for grades 5 and 6. Team members are selected through an audition process attached to a 4-day bootcamp, which provides interested students with a sample of The McBee Singers’ repertoire and excitement. Pre-registration is required.
The McBee Singers will be led by Performing Arts faculty member Kirk Pfeiffer in Lane Hall 201. A one-time costume and materials fee of $250 will be charged.
Bootcamp dates:
9/14-9/18 | 3:15-4:15 p.m. | JV (Grades 5 and 6)
9/14-9/18 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | varsity (Grades 7-12)
9/18 | Audition
Ongoing rehearsals after Bootcamp:
9/21 Mondays | 4:00-7:00 p.m. | JV (Grades 5 and 6)
9/23 Wednesdays | 4:00-7:00 p.m. | varsity (Grades 7-12)
Register Now!
CACC Extension: After School Theatre Arts Program
CACC Extension is a new robust after school theatre arts program that offers Ashley Hall students grades 2-12 the opportunity to further develop their talent and skills in the areas of dance (ballet, theatre jazz, tap), acting, and voice.
CACC Extension is conducted by the Cultural Arts Center of Charleston (CACC), the Resident Performing Arts Company at Ashley Hall, and will offer classes to Ashley Hall students, by grade level, throughout the week, beginning September 21. CACC Extension will be led by Performing Arts faculty member Kirk Pfeiffer in the Gordon Dance studio in Pardue Hall.
View more information and the full schedule
Register Now!
During our extended time away from campus, we thought it would be nice to have a few virtual Ashley Hall family play dates. We hope you can join us for one or all to help spread happiness in our community! Ashley Hall families, please visit the Distance Learning Resource Board for access information.
JUST ADDED: Ashley Hall Community Yoga Hour
Tuesdays: May 12, May 19, May 26 | 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Intermediate Program and Upper School students and all Ashley Hall parents
Beginner level class
Ashley Hall is thrilled to partner with alumna Heather Pennington Downs ’79, owner of Down Dogs Power Yoga, for a mat-based class. Class will include gentle flow, linking breath to movement, and end with a meditation. Two instructors will lead the class, one serving as a visual reference and the other providing verbal cues and suggestions for modifications. Now has never been a better time to try yoga. Thank you Heather and Down Dogs Power Yoga! Please visit the Distance Learning Resource Board for access information.
Share the AH Joy!
Have good news to share with the Ashley Hall community? Follow the link below and record a short video to share your happy gram about something positive happening in your life or a message of encouragement for others. All ages welcome! Please visit the Distance Learning Resource Board for access information.
Submit your good news here!
Family Dance Time
Fridays: May 8, May 15, May 22, May 29
EEC & Lower School Families: 4:30 p.m. (20 minute class)
Intermediate Program & Upper School Families: 5:00 p.m. (30 minute class)
At the end of a long week sitting in front of the computer, our bodies need some movement, our brains need to relax, and families need to have FUN together. What better way than throwing a family dance party? End your week by joining EEC division assistant and professional dancer Alex Kosarko to sway your way into the weekend. Parents and siblings are welcome. Dance experience is not necessary, and we promise it will be easy to follow along! Please visit the Distance Learning Resource Board for access information.
Mindfulness Mondays
Mondays: May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25 | 5:00 p.m. (20 minute class)
Mindfulness has been proven by science and experience to have positive benefits for our health and relationships. It is a simple practice that does not require props or prior knowledge, and it can bring awareness and caring into everything we do. Join Lower School faculty member Susannah Elliott in exploring a mindfulness practice as a tool for reducing stress and anxiety during this time of uncertainty. All ages are welcome! Please visit the Distance Learning Resource Board for access information.
Family Game Night, featuring Kahoot!
Session One: Wednesday, May 6 | The Disney Challenge!
Come see who’s the biggest Disney fan in your family!
Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that features fun, educational games for the whole family! All players earn a $1 credit toward one item from the School Store when it reopens. A $5 School Store gift certificate will be awarded to the highest scoring student per round. We look forward to having some fun with your family!
Please visit the Distance Learning Resource Board for access information.
Grab your boots and join us for Square Dance at the Hall, hosted by the Class of 2018! Festivities will include live music, dancing with a caller, and more! A dinner of chili, mac-n-cheese, corn on the cob, and cornbread will be served. All students, parents, alumnae, siblings, and friends are welcome! Bring your whole family down to Ashley Hall and celebrate with the senior class! In case of rain, the event will be held in Davies Auditorium.
Online sales are now closed for this event. Tickets will available at the gate.
Since the school’s boarding school days, Fathers’ Morning has been a spring break tradition at Ashley Hall. Borders would eagerly await their fathers who had come to pick them up for the holiday, showing them around their classes and introducing them to friends.
Today, Fathers’ Morning is still marked by classroom visits and special programming. From dissecting a squid together in science lab to competing in a relay race on the campus lawn, it’s a special time for both fathers and daughters’ to spend time together on campus.