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The Winchendon School

The best college prep school for students with significant unrealized potential

Academics

Ruby Bencosme

As a native New Yorker, Ms. Bencosme has worked in school operations in NYC prior to joining The Winchendon School community. As a natural explorer and lover of cultures, she has traveled around the globe. Ms. Bencosme’s passion for education led her to teach English as a foreign language in Spain. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Hunter College and TEFL from Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring new cities, and spending time with loved ones. Ms. Bencosme is excited to be an incoming faculty member at TWS NYC!”

Favorite Quote: “Since life is short and the world is wide, the sooner you start exploring it, the better.” – Simon Raven 

Superpower of choice: Teleportation!

Song to start the day: “On Top of the World” – Imagine Dragons

Favorite escape and book that Ms. Bencosme would take with her: “Platja del Bogatell in Barcelona, Spain and I would take The Four Agreements. There’s nothing better than the sound of the waves and a good read.

Favorite pastime: Hiking! “I love that feeling when you have reached the top and get to admire the view from above.”

“Bucket List” trip that Ms. Bencosme would like to take: Backpack along the east coast of Australia!

Jhonatan Carmona Tangarife

Mr. Carmona Tangarife joins the Winchendon MA team from Columbia – via Arkansas where he just completed a Masters from the University of Arkansas.

Favorite Quote: “There is nothing impossible to him who will try”. – Alexander the Great

Superpower of choice: I would love to fly. Even though I am afraid of heights. This will allow me to overcome my fear and enjoy seeing nature and the most beautiful places from the sky.

Song to start the day: “Don’t stop me now” – Queen.

Hero: El Chapulín Colorado: Even though he has no real powers, he is still brave and is always willing to help everyone. Know more about him here.

Famous person that Mr. Carmona Tangarife would most like to meet: Ellon Musk because he is so creative with technology and has interesting ideas about space.

Favorite escape and book that Mr. Carmona Tangarife would take with you: I love hiking and reading short stories. I’d bring Julio Cortázar´s collection of short stories.

Favorite pastime: Biking!

“Bucket List” trip that Mr. Carmona Tangarife would like to take: I would love to travel From Patagonia to Canada and visit every country, try local food and record a podcast with stories.

“Go to” comfort food: Thai Food… delicious!

Ashley Paulson

Ms. Paulson brings to Winchendon a strong background in kinesiology, health, fitness, coaching – and supporting students as a tutor.   She understands boarding school having attended and then returned to work at Culver Academies.  And she knows hockey!   Ms. Paulson played at Culver, then went on to be a leader of the D1 program at the University of North Dakota, before returning to the boarding school world where she has coached and taught.  She also receives high marks for knowing what it takes for players to get ready to compete at the highest levels.  Ms. Paulson will also be helping Wapiti develop their “academic muscles and habits” as a Learning Strategist in the Hatch Program.

Favorite Quote: “Man in the Arena” (famous speech by Theodore Roosevelt)

Superpower of choice: Teleportation. No one likes long travel days.

Hero: My parents. They both have worked so hard to support and provide the best opportunities for my sister and me.

Famous person that Ms. Paulson would most like to meet: Taylor Swift

Favorite pastime: hiking, trail running, working out and spending time with family.

“Bucket List” trip that Ms. Paulson would like to take: Backing around Europe

“Go to” comfort food: Chicken pot pie

Jared D’Arcey

Jared D’Arcey returns to TWS this fall after six years “away” teaching in nearby Templeton and Leominster.   For the last four years, Mr. D’Arcey has been focused on better engaging students through a very innovative program called “Big Picture Learning”.  This program emphasized personal learning plans, internship opportunities, restorative justice, and building stronger relationships with local communities.  This experience will only enhance Mr. D’Arcey’s core skills and style that made him immensely popular when he previously taught and coached on the MA campus.   Mr. D”Arcey, his wife Miranda Jennings – who also is a close partner with and a former teacher at TWS – and their two children live in Winchendon.

Favorite Quote – “You don’t have to; you get to.”

Song to start the day – “Hustlin’” – Rick Ross (Clean version, of course).

Favorite pastime – Camping with the family.

“Bucket List” trip that Mr. D’Arcey would like to take – Roadtrip from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina.

“Go to” comfort food – Bologne Sandwich on Wonder Bread with mayonnaise.

Which Winch ColLAB or course would Mr. D’Arcey like to take? Mr. Sampson’s AP Psychology class.

Michael “Mikey” Mills ’19

Mr. Mills returns to The Winchendon School just four years after he left to pursue a degree in theater at Texas Christian University.   While a student at Winchendon, Mr. Mills had been involved in everything, from playing hockey to having big roles in numerous theater productions.  At TCU, he also had a great experience,  graduating Cum Laude and achieving the University Scholar award.  While attending TCU Mr. Mills played on the Horned Frogs Men’s Hockey team, as well as performing in onstage productions. Now Mr. Mills will set the TCU jerseys aside to proudly wear the Wapiti again, but this time as a teacher, coach, theatre director, and dorm parent.

Superpower– Super Strength
Song– “Backroad Song” by Granger Smith
Famous person to meet– Christopher Lloyd
Favorite pastime– Hanging with friends
Travel of Choice – Spending time in Italy
Favorite Winchendon tradition – Taste of Nations

Morgan Mordini

For Ms. Mordini, her joining the Winchendon faculty is a return to her home state (actually the commonwealth!)  Ms. Mordini attended one of our nearby peer schools where she was a three sport athlete (field hockey, hockey, and softball) before going off to study and play ice hockey at Elmira College.  As a “Soaring Eagle”, Ms. Mordini garnered both academic and athletic honors, ultimately earning both undergrad and graduate degrees in business administration.

Superpower of choice– The ability to read minds

Song to start the day– “Everything I Love” by Morgan Wallen

Hero– Patrice Bergeron

Famous person that you would most like to meet– Morgan Wallen

“Bucket List” trip that you would like to take– Travel to all 50 states by car.

“Go to” comfort food– Grilled Cheese!

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