Carroll School Dedicates New Fish Center

School for students who learn differently celebrates opening of new facility on Wayland Upper Campus; honors John and Cyndy Fish for their vision and commitment to school mission and students

 WAYLAND, MA, October 2, 2017 -- Carroll School today held a ribbon cutting and building dedication of The Fish Center, new home to Carroll’s Upper School. The ceremony took place on the eleven-acre property located at 45 Waltham Road in Wayland. The event brought together John and Cyndy Fish, Carroll School trustees, Wayland town officials, the building’s renovation team, and Carroll School students, parents, faculty, and school leaders to celebrate the official opening of this campus and recognize the Fish Family for making it possible.

The generosity and commitment of John and Cyndy Fish, parents of a former Carroll student, allowed for the acquisition of the Wayland campus in 2016. John and Cyndy’s vision and ambition for Carroll fueled a yearlong renovation project to turn the private residence into a viable school. The Fish Center opened its doors to staff, faculty, and students this August, ready to provide the exceptional opportunities that families have come to expect from Carroll.

“The Carroll School supports young people who are fortunate to learn differently and are committed to becoming the leaders of tomorrow,” said John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. “Cyndy and I are extremely honored and proud to be associated with the expansion of this innovative school that encourages these future leaders to realize their true potential and pursue their most ambitious dreams.”

The purchase of the Wayland property came at a fortuitous time for Carroll School. A significant Campus Master Plan process revealed the need for regulation-sized athletic fields and an arts and innovation space, both of which recognize, foster, and celebrate the dyslexic advantage in Carroll’s students. The same process also identified the need to improve and expand the classroom, lab, and common space for its signature Upper School program for students in grades 8 and 9.

“The opportunity afforded Carroll School by the acquisition of this property is enormous,” commented Steve Wilkins, Head of School. “Carroll is executing our mission more completely today than ever before.  We are now able to provide an outstanding educational environment for our Upper School program in the Fish Center, we have moved administration to Wayland thereby freeing up essential space on the Lincoln Campus for our Middle School, and the new athletic fields in Wayland are sensational.”

Students with dyslexia excel in areas often undervalued in traditional schools. Their creativity may come through the arts, technology, or their physical coordination in athletics. For Carroll students, these activities aren’t simply “extras” but vital to students’ discovering their strengths. The new athletics fields and classroom space provided by The Fish Center enables the school to grow academic and athletics programs while freeing up a building on its Lincoln campus providing much needed space to more fully implement its arts and innovation curriculum.