SEEDS PARTNER SCHOOL
The relationship between SEEDS and The Pingry School goes back to 1992 when SEEDS was founded by then Head of School John Hanly, future Board Member William Engel, and parent Betty Marsh. Since then, dozens of Pingry/SEEDS board members have overlapped on the boards of both institutions.
From Head of School Matt Levinson:
“The relationship between SEEDS and Pingry has continued to this day because of their shared mission – to help awaken the intellectual pursuits of young people and to prepare the world’s future leaders.
Pingry has been honored to serve as a site school for SEEDS at our Basking Ridge campus and is excited to see how our new Pottersville campus might open more doors and partnership opportunities with SEEDS in the future.
Over the years, Pingry has been able to attract and yield amazing young students from SEEDS in each of our newly enrolled Middle and Upper School classes. If we don’t see high yields from amazing SEEDS kids, it pushes us to study and improve ourselves to make sure we are an attractive and inclusive potential destination for SEEDS students next years of study.
As both the Head of School and a SEEDS trustee, I have witnessed how SEEDS graduates take on leadership roles within the community and engage fully in the student experience, whether it’s in athletics, performing arts, or the many clubs that Pingry offers. I am not surprised by their eagerness and willingness to participate and contribute – it is a mere reflection of the dynamic program that SEEDS continues to run.
As a SEEDS partner school, it’s important for Pingry to provide that opportunity to students from low-income backgrounds because Access Changes Everything! A family’s income should not heighten the hurdle that an amazing student needs to jump to receive the high-quality education, experience, and opportunities they need and deserve. It is the obligation of an independent school to find and provide the funding to let students from any and all socioeconomic statuses have the chance to soar.
What I would like to say to other private, independent schools to encourage them to partner with SEEDS and accept SEEDS students is this: You do not know what you are missing. The richness that SEEDS scholars bring to the classroom and community is immeasurable. The commitment to educational excellence and ability to sacrifice for the pursuit of education that a SEEDS scholar has exemplified in order to deserve that moniker is unmatched.”