As part of Ashley Hall Travel Programs, Upper School string students spent a week of their winter break touring the Umbrian-area of Italy. The girls played two public concerts, one in Trevi and the other in Spoleto, sharing the stage with 3 Italian musicians, 2 high schoolers and 1 adult amateur. 

Time on the trip was also spent exploring historical sights in Rome, Siena, Perugia, and Spoleto as well as enjoying Italy’s culinary offerings. In the picture above, the group—including faculty members, Liz Dinwiddie and Aubrey Gray, along with Jill and Lorenzo Muti—enjoy an authentic multi-course Italian meal to ring in the new year.         

This spring includes trips to India, Mexico, and West Africa.

Part angel and elf rolled into one, Dana Van Hook has spearheaded the Chicora Gift-Giving Project at Ashley Hall since 1999 and has helped share the spirit of this special season with approximately 3,000 Chicora Elementary students over this 18-year period.   
 
The Chicora Gift-Giving Project features a carefully assembled gift bag given to each student by Santa Claus himself at a special assembly at Chicora. The bag includes approximately 10 gifts: a new school uniform; toiletry items; new books based on the student’s reading level; and a special toy. Most importantly, the bags also include a personalized note from Santa with help from Ashley Hall students! “There is no agenda to the program and absolutely no overhead. 100% of everything is donated and comes from our amazing Ashley Hall community. The gifts given to these precious children takes pressure off their families during what is, for many, a financially challenging time of year. It fills my heart with a refreshed sense of joy every year,” said Dana.

This special holiday service project is embraced by students, faculty, parents, and Ashley Hall alumnae alike. Lively gift-giving assemblies are held in the Lower and Upper School with girls sharing presents and alumnae bring gifts to their Holiday party to contribute to the cause. Dana supplements contributions by shopping sales throughout the year, including buying Christmas cards the day after Christmas from the Dollar Store! Beginning the week prior to Thanksgiving, a special warehouse is donated for sorting of the inventory and bagging. Approximately 80 volunteers are involved in the bag assembly including Ashley Hall faculty/staff, 25 Upper School students, Chicora faculty members, and friends. Bags will then be transported to Chicora Elementary by bus—the large Ashley Hall 40-seater bus and 20 personal cars.

Thank you to all, especially Dana, for sharing your hearts with the children of Chicora Elementary School each December! 

Welcome to Her World: Exploring Math & Science at Ashley Hall

Wednesday, November 15
6:00pm – 8:00pm

The Ashley Hall Bee Society is buzzing on campus. Begun five years ago with one Bee Cause observation hive installed in the Lower School Science Lab, the bee program now expands through the Upper School curriculum with rooftop Langstroth hives (a wood hive built in a frame for easy bee and honey removal) being explored daily by students of all ages. It is a signature component of Ashley Hall’s science program giving the girls a “hands on” experiential learning opportunity to connect with the natural world and understand the bee’s critical impact on the ecosystem.

Learn more about the Bee Society and our science and math programs at Welcome to Her World. In this special evening program designed for parents across all divisions, Ashley Hall will share how our Learning Spiral is being fully realized in the areas of math and science. Specifically, the manner in which classroom activities and experiential opportunities are sequenced in order to foster not just content mastery but also the acquisition of vital skills and habits of mind will be shared. Participants will have the opportunity to experience first hand some of the important work students are doing and to get a glimpse of what might be ahead as they progress through other grades and divisions. Prospective families are welcome!

To make your reservation: email [email protected].

Please enter campus through the Smith Street Gate at 133 Smith Street. Ample parking is available in the lot across from the Smith Street Gate. Students are more than welcome to attend, but this event is designed for parents.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Performed by the Upper School theater ensemble, Honk! is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling. This is the story of Ugly, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and other barnyard creatures. Along a rollicking and harrowing journey he not only discovers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance in all its forms. This award-winning musical incorporates a beautiful message of tolerance. Appropriate for students of all ages.

Fill out the form below to purchase your tickets.

The members of Ashley Hall’s inaugural strings class (from left to right: Eliot Hall ’18, Lou Lou Byars ’18, Ann Sheridan ’18, and Meaghan Bonds ’18) are preparing to graduate this year completing the Ashley Hall Learning Spiral. (The program launched in 2004 – how time flies!) When asked their thoughts on the impact of this program, words like “transformative“, “inclusive“, “inspiring” were shared. These talented young musicians have helped pave the way for what is now considered one of Ashley Hall’s signature programs and have surely inspired other young strings players to pick up an instrument. “I love the connectedness of the strings program,” says Eliot. “We’re able to play throughout the year with much younger Ashley Hall girls and also work with other musicians in the community.” Ann chimes in with “classical violin led me to the celtic fiddle, how cool is that!”

The Ashley Hall Strings Program is also available to the community through private and group lessons for both children and adults through the Carolina Strings Academy. For lesson details, click here.

A signature component of our Global Studies Program, international boarding at Ashley Hall offers our campus a more worldly perspective. This year, we’re thrilled to have 21 girls from Asia and the Netherlands as members of the Upper School student body. The students call the Elizabeth Rivers Lewine ’54 House for Global Studies home while at Ashley Hall and enjoy close proximity to campus and all downtown Charleston has to offer. Welcome to the USA and Ashley Hall, girls!