The Ethel Walker School

Join Head of School Dr. Meera Viswanathan for a cocktail reception celebrating the impact of a Walker’s education, followed by a panel of alumnae discussing their journeys from Walker’s to college to career.

Date: Thursday, October 15
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Soc

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Location: Abra’s Dining Hall
(With overflow seating available in the Common Room and Terrace)

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 10:40 - 11:15 a.m.
Location: Chapel
(Beaver Brook Living Room — Available for Overflow & Livestream)
Description: Details forthcoming!

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Abra’s Dining Hall and The Common Room

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Please note: All Master Classes take place at the same time, so you may register for one Master Class only.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Description: Darcie Little Badger, a gifted writer of everything from comics to lyric novels, will visit Walker’s in early November as part of the school’s Visiting Writer program. Little Badger is known for weaving her Lipan Apache heritage into thrilling stories filled with one-of-a-kind characters. Join Kim Harris-Thacker, the faculty instructor of the Visiting Writer class, during Family Weekend for the chance to discuss Little Badger’s methods for using the written word as a means of exploring identity, and find out how you can do the same.
Facilitator: Kim Harris-Thacker P’24, ‘27, History Faculty and Archivist
Location: Galbraith Classroom, LG3
Maximum Capacity: 30 participants

Please note: All Master Classes take place at the same time, so you may register for one Master Class only.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Description: Come check out the Molecular Genetics class and learn how fruit flies are pivotal to the study of genetics and understanding human diseases. Learn how to anesthetize fruit flies, tell the differences between males and females, view different phenotypes (physical characteristics), and discover how we set up fly crosses to create new lines of flies using jumping genes!
Facilitator(s): Dr. Sandra Quinlan P’16, Chemistry Faculty, and Dr. Suzanne Piela P’22, ’28, Science Faculty
Location: Beaver Brook 3rd Floor, Room 309A
Maximum Capacity: 15 participants in each session

This master class will be offered in two 30-minute sessions to maximize parent participation.

Please note: All Master Classes take place at the same time, so you may register for one Master Class only.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Description: Ever wished you could make your digital artwork come to life? In this beginner-friendly master class, you’ll discover the magic of animation using Procreate. No prior animation experience or Procreate knowledge required! You’ll learn how animation works, explore Procreate’s simple frame-by-frame animation tools, and create your very own short animated piece from scratch. Through a series of quick, hands-on challenges, you’ll transform an ordinary drawing into something that moves, loops, and surprises. By the end of the session, you’ll have a finished animation to share, and the skills to keep experimenting with motion, storytelling, and digital art. Come ready to draw, experiment, and discover new possibilities for your artwork!
Facilitator: Katelyn Rodriguez, Art Faculty and Middle School Coordinator
Location: Beaver Brook 2nd Floor, Room 215
Maximum Capacity: 11

Join the Ethel Walker School Parent Association (EWSPA) for a special reception! Enjoy drinks and appetizers, mingle with fellow Walker’s families, and enter the raffle for a chance to win a prize. We hope you’ll join us for an evening of connection, community, and fun!

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Constance Lavino Bell ‘48 Library

Hear from Head of School Dr. Meera Viswanathan as she provides parents with an update on where we are today and her exciting vision for the future!

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 10:00 - 10:40 a.m.
Location: Chapel
(Beaver Brook Living Room — Available for Overflow & Livestream)

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Please note: All Master Classes take place at the same time, so you may register for one Master Class only.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Description: Today’s world loves a sound bite: “According to this study, coffee is a wonder drink!” or “This poll says this politician is going to win the election in a landslide!” The tricky part is realizing that these statements can be accurate—at least according to the sample being studied. In this class, we’ll explore how statisticians can get so much right and still be wrong, and how that is mathematically possible. Prerequisites include a sense of curiosity, the ability to look beyond yes-or-no answers, and the imagination to visualize other possible outcomes.
Facilitator: Chris Hague, Director of the Middle School
Location: Beaver Brook 2nd Floor, Room 214
Maximum Capacity: 15

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Chapel

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Location: Abra’s Dining Hall
(With overflow seating available in the Common Room and Terrace)

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Athletic Fields

Note: You do not need to register your student.

Please consider making your donation to The 1911 Fund! Our goal is 100% parent participation. Each and every student will benefit from your participation in The 1911 Fund. Thank you!

Please note: All Master Classes take place at the same time, so you may register for one Master Class only.

Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Description: In this playful, contemplative master class, we will explore the art of the haiku as poetic expression and a way of seeing the world. Through the work of one Japanese master, the possibilities of translation, and our own creative experimentation, we’ll discover how a few words can open unexpected doors to beauty, meaning, and transcendence.
Facilitator: Dr. Meera Viswanathan, Head of School
Location: Beaver Brook Living Room
Maximum Capacity: 50 participants