Mr. Faus' Blog

Gratitude is one of our core values at The Benjamin School. We spend a lot of time talking about it, teaching it in our classrooms, and modeling it for our students. But it's always an honor and a joy to really put it into action.

Today, our community experienced that joy firsthand. We had the profound privilege of officially cutting the ribbon on our new Stiles-Nicholson Innovation Center and thanking the lead donors who turned a bold vision into reality.

Looking out at the faces of the people who made this incredible space possible, I was overwhelmed with appreciation for the power of our community.

Last October, we stood on that very spot to break ground on the project that is now a reality. But, even with the most detailed renderings, we could never have fully anticipated what this space would become.

Today, the Stiles-Nicholson Innovation Center stands as a true hub for STEM at the Upper School. Between the state-of-the-art maker spaces and the cutting-edge labs, it is a magnificent addition to our campus. And while students have only been in the space for a few weeks, I can’t seem to remember a time when it wasn’t here.

We can only imagine the individual and collective discoveries that will happen inside these walls. As educators, we know that given the right tools and a bit of direction, our students will always find ways to open doors and push the boundaries of their education.

I am grateful to David Nicholson and the entire Stiles-Nicholson team as well as our other lead donors, the Arwood, Glasband, and Narlinger families.

A building like this doesn't come together without brilliant partners like PBK Architects, AMC Construction, Zabik and Associates, Urban Design Studio, Civil Design, JLRD, and MC Engineers. This building is a model of innovative design and collaboration, and it happened because of their hard work.

I also want to recognize the heart of our school: our faculty and staff. Our teachers have done a beautiful job integrating their curriculum into this amazing space. I would especially like to acknowledge Renee Szeliga and Debra Perretta for their invaluable help in designing and implementing the use of the Innovation Center.

Thank you to Leslie Downs, Ryan Gallagher, Dan Merrill, and the entire facilities team for their tireless, behind-the-scenes work.

As I watched our guests explore the new labs and maker spaces later in the morning, I was reminded that this building is more than just bricks and glass. It is a promise to our students about their future, made possible by a community that believes in them.

In Community,

Dave Faus
Head of School