The Nightingale Fund

Class I artists brought their studies to life through an in-depth exploration of Alexander Calder’s mobiles and circus series. Their creativity was further enriched by a visit to the Whitney Museum—made possible thanks to the Nightingale Fund—where they experienced Calder’s work firsthand, connecting classroom learning with real-world inspiration.

This February, Nightingale Athletics made history with two NYSAIS championship wins! Our Varsity Indoor Track & Field and Varsity Swimming teams both earned state titles—an extraordinary accomplishment made even more impressive by record-breaking performances across the board. Your support fuels championship moments, ensuring students have the resources and encouragement to reach new heights, both in and out of competition.

Exploring artificial intelligence is no longer futuristic—it’s happening now at Nightingale. In Class VIII computer science, students used Google’s Teachable Machine to build and train their own image recognition models, learning how A.I. systems make decisions using data. This kind of dynamic, hands-on learning is made possible by your generosity, which sustains expert faculty, fuels innovative curriculum design, and creates the time and space for meaningful discovery.

A group of former robotics alumnae visited the 2025 team, fueling their efforts and helping pave the way for a championship win just weeks later. As former champions themselves, they shared designs and challenges—fostering mentorship and innovation. Your support powers hands-on learning and inspires the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers.

Closing out their study of The Outsiders novel, Class VII attended a performance of the corresponding Broadway musical in January. Your generosity provides students with the opportunity to explore literature from every angle, expanding stories in meaningful ways that deepen their connection to the material.

After a lesson on Mexican culture, Ms. Porras set up a taco shop, prompting Kindergarteners to practice their Spanish vocabulary while placing orders. Across divisions, your support fuels immersive programming, enabling students to develop skills through fun and interactive learning environments.

In preparation for last year's solar eclipse, science classes in all divisions engaged in lessons about the rare celestial phenomenon. In Upper School physics and astronomy classes, students analyzed the specific alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun that distinguishes our planet as the only one in the solar system to experience solar eclipses. The lesson culminated with a memorable moment on Nightingale’s roof, where students and faculty—equipped with special viewing glasses—witnessed the partial eclipse together. Across divisions and departments, the Nightingale Fund allows faculty to continually create new and unique learning experiences for our students.

Through your support, educators in every division have been able to pursue professional development opportunities across the country. Members of our Lower School faculty took a course at the University of Pennsylvania, titled Introduction to Teaching with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The course deepened their understanding of recent advances in AI, as well as the possibilities AI brings to the classroom. This work leads to new and unique learning activities with students, all while supported by a cohort of colleagues spread across the nation. In Middle School, teachers have utilized data to tell the story of belonging through the use of sociograms. Throughout the school year they have presented at multiple conferences, displaying this innovative method as a tool to improve students’ sense of belonging and overall social well-being.