Head of School

I hope this email finds you, your family, and your loved ones safe and healthy.

You may have already seen my recent chapel talk on YouTube; I felt it was important, however, to send this link for those who may have missed the broadcast. In this talk I tried to explain the “State of the School” in this moment, January 2021, and how we continue to provide the best possible educational experience for our boys today. For those of you who attended SKS I hope my words also evoked parallel recollections of your time on the Hillside.

View the State of the School Chapel Talk

All of the boys returned to campus on January 18th, ending our month-long vacation. Before that, all of the faculty and staff were required to self-isolate and were tested on January 14th. The students had to self-quarantine at home for ten days prior to return and submit PCR tests to our Health Services within 72 hours of their arrival. On January 19th every member of the community was tested and we began the term, though classes, chapel and assembly were virtual as we worked to establish the safety of the community while welcoming back students from all corners of the globe. On January 26th we tested everyone again; the third test in three weeks. We are now back to our pre-break “normal” due to the hard work of the faculty and staff during the time off, and the motivating desire of our students to adhere to our protocols in order to have as regular a year as possible.

The Governor of Connecticut has reduced the restrictions on athletics as of January 19th, allowing teams to practice while following some guidelines (no spectators, strict cleaning practices and mask wearing), and we are allowed to compete against other Connecticut Teams as of February 1st which is an important step and a great morale boost for our boys.

Thank you for all you have done to support the School through this past year. We continue to rely upon the commitment of the SKS community and look forward to the day when we can welcome you back and gather together again on the Hillside, showing off all that our students are currently doing. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns.

Warmest regards,

Lawrence A. Smith '73
Head of School

Head of School's Reading List:

Apollo's Arrow:
The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live
by Nicholas A. Christakis

This new book on COVID-19 has plenty of science for those so inclined, but is also a great read for those people like myself, who lean more toward the humanities.  It is well researched, well written and illuminating about the pandemic, what is really happening, and what we need to do to move on safely.  The New Yorker calls it “A piercing and scientifically grounded look at the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic and how it will change the way we live — ‘excellent and timely.’"

Video Updates:

SKS Hillside Update 2021 Week 1
The boys are back and so is the Hillside Update!

SKS Hillside Update 2021 Week 2
We put week two in the books and look forward to a return to competition in week three... but first, lets enjoy some time on Lew's Lagoon!

State of the School Chapel Talk
1/13/2021