News & Updates

SBS Students Shine at DANEIS Public Speaking Tournament

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

This Sunday, December 7, Stoneleigh-Burnham School students competed at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Public Speaking Tournament, an event sponsored by the Debating Association of New England Independent Schools. The tournament brought together students from across the region to compete in a range of public speaking disciplines.

The team delivered an impressive performance, earning multiple individual awards across several categories. In Persuasive Speaking, Valentina Hernandez ’27 placed third overall. Maeve Noble ’26 earned a tied third-place finish in Interpretive Reading and first place in Impromptu Speaking. Maeve also received the tournament’s highest overall honor, placing first as Top Speaker of the event.

The Top Speaker award carries special significance, as it qualifies the recipient to compete at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships to be held this April in Bristol, England. This marks Maeve’s second first-place overall finish of the season and her second Worlds qualification this year.

Adding to the celebration, alumna Becca Knapp Tsao ’85, herself a former Worlds qualifier during her SBS days, has generously donated to support the debate and public speaking program. This gift will help fund student participation in competitive speaking opportunities, including Maeve’s trip to Worlds this spring. “Best of luck to Maeve, and kudos to SBS for helping another girl find her voice,” Becca said.

Stoneleigh-Burnham School is proud of all of our student competitors, and the incredible community rallying behind them on every step of their journey.

Maeve ’26 Qualifies for World Debate Championship

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Small School. Big Voices

Stoneleigh-Burnham School’s Debate & Public Speaking is Headed to Worlds!

This month, Stoneleigh-Burnham School hosted a tournament for the Debating Association of New England Independent Schools (DANEIS) league, welcoming top student speakers from across the region to compete in persuasive speaking, impromptu speaking, and interpretive reading.

Among the standout performances was Maeve ’26, President of the SBS Debate & Public Speaking Society, whose scores qualified her for the World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC) - known across the DANEIS community simply as “Worlds.”

Held each spring in a different host nation, Worlds brings together the top students from six continents to compete on the global stage. This year’s competition will take place in Bristol, England, where Maeve will join other top U.S. qualifiers as part of Team USA.

For SBS, this milestone marks the 23rd student to qualify for Worlds since the competition’s inception, underscoring the school’s long tradition of empowering students to speak up, take the lead, and make an impact beyond campus.

And with the season just getting started, and the team’s already impressive standings, Maeve may not be the only SBS Owl bound for Worlds. Stay tuned!

Lili ’28 leads Stoneleigh-Burnham equestrian team to national success

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The Greenfield Recorder

It was a successful trip to St. Louis for the Stoneleigh-Burnham School equestrian team earlier this spring.

The Owls competed in the 2025 Interscholastic Equestrian Association Dressage National Finals and performed well, as the Stoneleigh-Burnham D1 team was named the Reserve Champion in the Upper School Team School Champions category.

Lili Green was a standout performer on the Owl squad. The freshman took home a first place trophy in the Varsity Open Dressage Test (Team) while adding a fifth place finish in Varsity Open DSE (Team). She was also the reserve champion in Varsity Open Dressage Test (Individual).

“It was a really cool experience,” Green said. “All of us rode so well. A lot of riders got second, third, fourth. We were all consistently placing high which was great.”

The Stoneleigh-Burnham squad flew into St. Louis on the Friday of the tournament and it was a quick turnaround before Green had to compete.

Green — who is from Shelburne Falls — was the first out to compete at 7:30 a.m. that Saturday, the first competitor to go in the Varsity Open Dressage.

What is an Open Dressage Test? The dressage test is designed to demonstrate a horse's training and suppleness, showcasing its ability to respond to the rider's aids and perform movements with balance, rhythm and harmony. The test consists of a series of movements that the horse and rider must execute in a specific order within a designated arena.

Being the first to go, Green did not have the benefit of seeing others before her to get an idea of what the judges were looking for.

“It was pretty hard because I didn’t see anyone else go beforehand,” Green said. “I didn’t know who I was going up against or what score the judge would give.”

To make things more difficult, this was a competition where each rider did not have any experience with their horse beforehand. The only look Green had at her horse came from the warm-up rider, which gave her some insight into how it would behave.

“In this discipline of riding, you just pull a random horse,” Green said. “You get there and ride without any other experience with it. This is pretty new to me as well. Before coming to Stoneleigh, the only horses I knew are the ones I owned so this was different for me. I watched the warm-up which was a great way to see what the horse might be like.”

Green performed quite well under the circumstances. She said she was pleased with the horse she had and felt good after her run where she was able to perform all the moves she wanted.

“I got very lucky with the horse I pulled,” Green said. “He was perfect. I had to ride well of course but he was straightforward and a fancy mover. Open is the highest level of IEA so there’s more fancy movements you have to do. My horse was perfect.”

As the first to go, Green saw her score get posted and when she saw she received a 72, she knew she would be in the mix to take home first place. In equestrian, anything above a 64 is considered a good score.

“I was very happy with my score,” Green said. “It was stressful just watching other riders go and see their score uploaded. I just stayed in first and ended up winning the class which was surreal. It was surreal knowing that getting first contributed to the team’s success as well. I wasn’t the only one who was joyful. The whole team was excited which meant a lot to me.”

Green began riding when she was 4 years old and fell in love with the sport right away. When she was eight, she took her first dressage lesson and decided that would be the event she would focus on.

She qualified for nationals after a strong performance at a qualifier at Mount Holyoke College. To qualify, you have to place first or second in your division, which typically features over 15 riders. Green did that to clinch her spot at nationals.

Green wasn’t the only standout at nationals. Senior Ava Hafner took fifth place in Varsity Intermediate Dressage Test (Team), fourth in Varsity Intermediate DSE (Team) and eighth in Varsity Intermediate DSE (Individual).

Freshman Mena Eichelberger placed fourth in JV Novice Dressage Test (Team), third in JV Novice DSE (Team) and placed in the top 12 in JV Novice DSE (Individual). Sophomore Aden Ackah took second in JV Beginner DSE (Team) and placed in the top 12 in JV Beginner DSE (individual).

Eighth grader Summer Scott rounded things out with an eighth place finish in Future Intermediate Dressage Test (Individual).

“It’s such an amazing environment at Stoneleigh,” Green said. “The barn is the best place on earth. Being there with all your friends makes it even better. I used to ride and still do ride at a training barn that is mostly adults so having kids my age at the barn was new to me. It’s nice to have them there.”

Green has been competing throughout the summer, just returning from New York where she earned her first qualifying score for regionals. She’ll be heading to Vermont later this month to train and compete in a three-day show.

Going into her sophomore year at Stoneleigh, the goal is to be back at nationals next year.

“I would love to qualify for nationals again,” Green said. “It was an amazing season last year and I’m hoping I can keep that up for the rest of my high school career. I have a lot to strive for in this sport.”

2025 Commencement Photos Now Available

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Stoneleigh-Burnham School Wins First Place at Home Public Speaking Tournament

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Stoneleigh-Burnham School is proud to announce that the school won first place at the annual Public Speaking Tournament hosted on their
campus on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

Nine schools participated in the tournament, bringing together 32 students. The schools included SBS, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Choate, Groton, Andover, Roxbury Latin, BB&N, and NMH. Five students represented Stoneleigh-Burnham School at the event: Zoe '25, Amy '25, Maeve '26, Ida '26, and Valentina '27.

The tournament consisted of three rounds: After-Dinner or Persuasive Speaking, Interpretive Reading, and Impromptu Speaking. Stoneleigh-Burnham School students demonstrated success across all categories. Maeve '26 won 1st place in Persuasive Speaking, and Zoe '25 secured 2nd place in both After Dinner Speaking and Interpretive Reading. Ida '26 and Valentina '27, both novice speakers, also achieved excellent results.

The Stoneleigh-Burnham School team was awarded First Place overall.

The event was organized by Parke Burgess, Humanities Department member and Debate & Public Speaking Coach at Stoneleigh-Burnham School. “We are a small school but we showed once again that we have extraordinary students: thoughtful, dedicated, and resilient. They speak boldly and with great integrity. I could not be more proud of them,” Mr. Burgess commented.

About DANEIS
Comprised of independent high schools in New England states, the Debating Association of New England Independent Schools (DANEIS) provides opportunities for public speakers and debaters to compete both regionally and internationally. Founded in 1978, DANEIS now includes 30 member and affiliated schools. Canadian and overseas tournaments are coordinated with the International Independent Schools Public Speaking League.

Stoneleigh-Burnham School and WingSpan Featured in The Reformer

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Stoneleigh-Burnham School: Beyond the Classroom Wingspan Program Launches Students Toward Future-Ready Careers

GREENFIELD, MA - In the competitive world of college admissions, Stoneleigh-Burnham School (SBS) knows that good grades are just the beginning. This prestigious all-girls school, nestled in the picturesque Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, goes above and beyond to equip students with the skills and experiences that set them apart and prepare them for future-ready careers. Recognized by Niche.com as a top all-girls school, SBS offers Wingspan, a unique program designed to empower students and give them a competitive edge.

Wingspan is an immersive academic micro-term where students delve deep into their passions and gain invaluable real-world experience. It's a chance for them to explore their interests beyond the traditional classroom setting, engaging in hands-on learning that sparks creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Imagine a dance enthusiast learning the intricacies of starting a dance studio, from pricing lessons to marketing strategies. Picture a tech-savvy student gaining practical experience on platforms like Twitch, building their skills and online presence. Envision a language lover embarking on a travel immersive to Quebec, fully immersed in the French language and culture. These are just a few examples of the diverse and engaging opportunities that Wingspan provides.

But Wingspan is more than just exciting experiences. It's about developing crucial skills. Students learn to conduct research, analyze data, and present their findings in a compelling way. They work closely with faculty mentors who provide guidance and support, helping them to refine their ideas and achieve their goals.

Through Wingspan, students not only deepen their knowledge in their chosen field but also develop essential skills that are highly sought after by colleges and employers. They learn to think critically, solve problems creatively, and communicate effectively. They gain confidence in their abilities and a sense of ownership over their learning.

Stoneleigh-Burnham School's Wingspan program demonstrates the school's commitment to providing a truly engaging educational experience. By empowering students to pursue their passions, gain real-world experience, and develop essential skills, Stoneleigh-Burnham School provides an environment where students are encouraged to bring their big ideas and are given the room to be heard.

Stoneleigh-Burnham School Names Mandy Black as New Head Coach of Varsity Soccer

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Stoneleigh-Burnham School is pleased to announce the appointment of Mandy Dziewulski Black as the new head coach of the varsity soccer program. Coach Black brings over 20 years of coaching and playing experience to SBS. “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Black to the SBS community,” said Lisa Moore, Director of Athletics at Stoneleigh-Burnham School. “Her extensive experience, proven track record of success, and commitment to developing young athletes make her the ideal candidate to lead our varsity soccer program.”

Coach Black’s coaching experience spans all levels, from youth club teams to college programs. In addition to her role at Smith Academy, she has served as the assistant women’s soccer coach at Mount Holyoke College and Mount Ida College. She also served as the head coach for the FC Massachusetts and Western United Pioneers U18 and U11 girls’ teams.

As a player, Coach Black’s passion for soccer began in her youth. She played club soccer for the Kingsport Crossfire and was a member of her high school team at Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee. She then went on to play four years at Hollins University in Virginia, where she served as team captain for three years and was named Athlete of the Year her senior season.

“I am incredibly excited to join the Stoneleigh-Burnham School community and lead the varsity soccer program,” said Coach Black. “I am passionate about fostering a positive and competitive environment where student-athletes can develop their skills, build confidence, and achieve their goals.”

Coach Black holds a Master of Business Administration from Tiffin University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hollins University. She is a member of the United Soccer Coaches (USC) and holds a Level 1 Goalkeeping Certification, Level 6 Intermediate Certification, and a USC National Diploma.

Winter Solstice Concert

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Traditions at SBS

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Traditions, old and new, make Stoneleigh-Burnham a special place. Before winter break, we held our first candle-lighting ceremony after the Winter Concert. It was a beautiful way to connect as a community and send our students off for the holidays.

Podcast Launched by SBS Literary Society

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Stoneleigh-Burnham's Literary Society just launched their new podcast, The Owl's Nest!

In the premiere episode, students Leila '25 and Melissa '25 share their poetry and discuss the meaning of art. Leila '25, a member of the Literary Society, says, "While Melissa and I are writers, our podcast isn't just for written and spoken art. We want to bring in students from all disciplines to speak about the art they create."

New episodes drop every other week. Catch the first one here: https://sbschool.org/the-owl-s-nest