Waterford School students recently engaged in a series of academic and commemorative events, ranging from earning over 100 regional Scholastic Art & Writing awards to participating in assemblies honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
In February 2026, Waterford Middle and Upper School students earned 133 regional awards in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. The honors included 102 photography awards, 23 writing awards, and 8 studio art awards across the Western Region. Notable recipients included Jerry X. '26, who won a Gold Key for his personal essay, and Raneem A. '26, who received multiple Gold Keys in photography.
Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day
During an April 17 assembly for Yom HaShoah, Upper School student Gabe B. '27 delivered remarks connecting his family's Holocaust history to modern issues of exclusion. B. shared stories of his great-grandfather Harry, who survived the Nazi occupation, and cautioned that discrimination often begins with small acts of mockery and social separation.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly
In a January 2026 assembly, History Department Chair Julie Ransom spoke about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign against poverty. Ransom detailed the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike and highlighted Dr. King's focus on the economic struggles faced by Black Americans during the Civil Rights movement.
Curriculum and Global Perspectives
The school's curriculum also emphasized community values and global perspectives. In January 2026, student Ryland L. '28 spoke on the impact of small acts of kindness, while the school's world language program continues to offer instruction in Chinese, French, and Spanish for Upper School students.
Distinguished Alumni Visit
Earlier in the school year, in December 2025, Waterford welcomed back Jake Reynolds '02, President of the New Jersey Devils, as a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Reynolds visited the campus to mentor students and participate in middle school basketball practice.
