produces CM, a twice-yearly magazine for alumni/ae and parents. Notable alumni David Altshuler, geneticist and co-founder of MIT's Broad Institute Patrick Amory, Matador Records general manager Mikaela Beardsley, film producer Emily Botein, public radio producer Loren Bouchard, animator and television director (dropped out before graduating) Jonatha Brooke, singer/songwriter Evan Dando and Ben Deily of The Lemonheads Mark Denbeaux, attorney and civil rights activist John Davis of The Folk Implosion Liza Featherstone, journalist Peter W. Galbraith, diplomat Melissa Glenn Haber, author and teacher Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of We Love You Charlie Freeman and New York Times contributing opinion writer Mark Greif, co-founder, co-editor and contributor to n+1 Karen Guillemin, microbiologist Susanna Kaysen, author of Girl, Interrupted, among other works, and has included references to Commonwealth in her books Anthony Kuhn, NPR correspondent Kasi Lemmons, director (IMDB page) Hamish Linklater, actor (IMDB page) Mia Matsumiya, violinist of experimental rock group Kayo Dot Sophia Michahelles, pageant puppet designer and co-artistic director, Processional Arts Workshop Ottessa Moshfegh, author Jesse Peretz, film director and former Lemonheads bassist (IMDB page) Nina Pillard, judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Daniel Pipes, historian, foreign policy analyst, Middle East & Islam specialist Jonathan Rotenberg, founder of the Boston Computer Society, while still a student at Commonwealth Cameron Russell, model Benjamin Sargent, celebrity chef and television personality Traditions Each day includes "Recess," when all students and faculty gather in the school's multi-purpose room for a snack and to hear announcements. Anyone—student or teacher—is invited to make an announcement. The Tuesday recess is longer than the others, allowing for short presentations or discussions. Each May seniors use an extended Tuesday recess to perform skits that parody their teachers and themselves. During another recess, they give various awards to students. Another tradition is "passing the clay," where all students take part in passing boxes of clay from the first to the fifth floor. This event happens twice a year. Trademark dispute In June 2016, the Boston Globe reported that Commonwealth School sued Commonwealth Academy, a high school in Springfield, Massachusetts, over the use of the name "Commonwealth". It had trademarked "Commonwealth School" in 2012. The Springfield school is now known as Springfield Commonwealth Academy. References External links Official website Private high schools in Massachusetts High schools in Boston Educational institutions established in 1957 1957 establishments in Massachusetts