Message from the Head of School
Welcome to Birches, a school with a unique approach to learning that sets us apart. We believe children thrive in an educational setting deeply rooted in nature and attuned to students' social and emotional well-being. Children at Birches are engaged and motivated by our developmentally-appropriate, interdisciplinary curriculum that nurtures and challenges head, hand, and heart.
Our immersive curriculum integrates the school’s distinctive setting, enabling us to foster wonder and understanding of the natural world. Such frequent and authentic interactions with the environment inspire students’ awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the world we all live in. Learning at Birches happens in harmony with nature.
Profound, joyful learning is intricately linked to an individual's capacity to derive meaning and make connections. Our students actively engage in relevant, hands-on experiences that span multiple disciplines and incorporate the essential elements of work and play. Children are encouraged and challenged to practice and show what they know in myriad ways representing their dynamic perspectives and individuality.
Birches is a small school, and deliberately so. Children learn best when they are known and when they experience a deep sense of belonging within their school community. Our size cultivates trusting, genuine connections between students and teachers, allowing children to take intellectual and emotional risks in a close and supportive setting. We know, value, and celebrate each child here. As a result, our graduates leave Birches well-prepared academically for high school and grounded in an authentic sense of who they are and what it means to be a vital community member.
Birches School, like nature itself, is a vibrant institution offering innumerable opportunities for learning and growth. Everyone in the Birches community is a learner, and we are strengthened daily by our shared commitment to active learning and our potential to grow and change.
We invite you to visit us on our beautiful nature-based campus and witness firsthand how we nurture creativity, cultivate curiosity, embrace empathy, and empower each student. Come experience the lively, spirited hum of a Birches school day!
Sincerely,
Serena Wilkie Gifford, M.Ed.
Head of School
Welcoming Serena Wilkie Gifford, Incoming Head of School
We are thrilled to announce that Serena Wilkie Gifford has been appointed by the Board of Directors as Birches School’s next Head of School. The Search Committee unanimously recommended Serena’s nomination to the Board of Directors who also unanimously approved her appointment effective July 1, 2023.
We sought a passionate and experienced educator as our next Head of School who could further strengthen Birches’ mission to nurture students' innate curiosity and creativity in harmony with the natural world. In Serena we found an accomplished and enthusiastic independent school administrator, teacher, and parent who is deeply committed to supporting our immensely talented teachers, to connecting with our students and parents, and to working with all Birches constituents as we move forward into our next decade. In over 30 years as an educator and administrator, she taught at The Brearley School, The Nightingale-Bamford School, and Shady Hill School, where she was Lower School Division Head. She is currently finishing her term as the highly respected Head of School at Tower School in Marblehead. Serena’s proven abilities to implement a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum, to help ensure a vibrant culture of learning and engagement, to lead efforts to pursue strategic goals, including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, are inspiring. Serena’s references all describe a thoughtful, curious, dedicated school leader who prizes her time with, and strongly supports, all constituents of a school community. We are excited and energized by the promise and potential of Serena’s appointment as our new Head of School.