Belmont Hill is thrilled to welcome Celine Pak, the school’s newest teaching fellow in the Classics department. Teaching Latin Alpha and Latin Gamma, Ms. Pak is also actively involved in extracurricular activities beyond the classroom, lending a hand to Mr. Conway with the Middle School newspaper and assisting Mr. Doar and Mr. Chittock with Boys of the Book. She also has plans to establish a Certamen team at Belmont Hill, which could participate in a national competition delving into all things Latin, from the language to mythology and history. As a Form II advisor, she is also dedicated to providing guidance and support to her students, fostering their growth and development.
Ms. Pak grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, spending her elementary school years at the Brimmer and May School in Newton. She then went on to attend Boston University Academy for high school where she was involved in the literary magazine and served as an admissions tour guide. However, it was her involvement in the Community Service Club that left a lasting impact, teaching her the value of “character formation and the importance of small, repeated acts of kindness rather than one grandiose gesture.” Ms. Pak attended Haverford College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she majored in Comparative Literature and Classical Languages. While not officially part of any sports team, she developed a passion for running and swimming, both of which she continues to enjoy today.
Following college, Ms. Pak served as a teaching assistant at Haverford College, where she taught Ancient Greek to college freshmen. This experience allowed her to share her passion for languages and classical studies with eager young minds. When asked about other formative life experiences, Ms. Pak recalled her teaching at her alma mater in 2018-2019: “Although BUA is a very different school than BH, one thing that they share is that they’re both schools where the adults care deeply about the children in attendance. Working at BUA was the first time I got to see the ‘adult side’ of a school that cares very deeply about its mission, and I fell in love with the job. With both jobs at BUA and Belmont Hill, I’m often reminded of the Latin word ‘cura,’ (care) which is a word that pops up in Cicero everywhere It’s cura that I see at Belmont Hill, both from the teachers and the boys: a commitment to knowing and seeing each boy on an individual level, but also, more importantly, a love of that duty–the knowledge that this is a shared commitment between all of us.”
We are extremely excited to have such a passionate educator on board, who brings not only a love for Classics, but also a dedication to instilling a sense of care and community within Belmont Hill. As she embarks on her journey as a teaching fellow, her commitment to education will undoubtedly enrich the lives of both students and colleagues alike, and we look forward to the positive impact she will certainly have on our school community.
