We just celebrated the first Alumni Weekend on campus in three years, and it was a rousing success. Classes whose graduation year ended in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 came back for a series of memorable events. |
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| We kicked off the long weekend with the annual South Kent School Golf Tournament at The Club at River Oaks in Sherman. It was a spectacular day on the green, with alums, employees, and friends of the School enjoying some friendly competition over 18 holes. |
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All Golf Tournament photos are available to view and download here.
The Board of Trustees held their annual meeting on Friday afternoon while the alumni classes arrived. Later on, we all gathered for welcome drinks in the Courtyard before heading off to class dinners at some of South Kent School's favorite local dining establishments. |
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Saturday began with a State of the School presentation and conversation in the Assembly Hall. The highlight was the announcement of a significant philanthropic commitment to help jumpstart improvements to our facilities and campus and provide additional support for our faculty and staff. Following the presentation, alumni congregated to participate in what has become a beloved Alumni Weekend tradition: the "In My Day" session. This year, members of the three 50th reunion classes - ’70, ’71, and ’72 - shared memories from their time at South Kent School; all were emotional, humorous, and incredibly heartfelt. |
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In the afternoon, alumni participated in their favorite Hillside sports and activities. Crews gathered and rowed on Hatch Pond, competitors took to the ice for a relaxed-pace hockey game, friends shared a spirited game of disc golf, and others walked around campus and enjoyed a refreshing wine tasting on an unseasonable warm day in May. |
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That evening, Father Klots led a traditional memorial service for departed alumni in St. Michael’s Chapel, highlighted by an emotive tribute to former Headmaster John C. Farr ’58, given by Sam Simmons ’68. |
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Following chapel, we gathered under a tent below the gym to begin the social part of the evening. All enjoyed a cocktail hour followed by dinner, and eventually some “dancing,” most noticeably and energetically by the Class of ’71. Between dinner and the dancing, I presented Peter Thompson ’67 with the Noble F. Richards ’49 Alumni Volunteer Award, which Peter had won last year but never received due to COVID. Other great moments from the evening included awarding an honorary diploma to Mr. Paul L. Abbott, recognizing him for his 49 years of extraordinary service to the School. Ruth Abbott Greenberg ’84, along with her son, Corey Greenberg ’14, accepted their father’s/grandfather's diploma in his absence, and the entire gathering gave them a standing ovation. |
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All Alumni Weekend photos are available to view and download here.
There were so many wonderful memories, stories, and good times shared over the weekend. I am hopeful that we will have even more alums and families come back to campus for Alumni Weekend next year as we count down to the School’s centennial celebrations.
In the meantime, the Hillside will be buzzing during these summer months with some exciting facility upgrades, campus improvements, and school programming enhancements in the works for the next academic year.
I wish you all a joyful, healthy, and restful start to your summer. If you have any questions or observations about SKS, I hope that you will not hesitate to get in touch with me. |
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