Head of School

Greetings from a bustling Hillside!

As soon as Alumni Weekend was over, we started to work our way through a long summer projects list, and the outcomes are already remarkable. Every dorm is getting painted to a degree, and most are undergoing significant overhauls with new flooring, new furniture, and bathroom renovations. All paths, as well as the driveway to Garfield House, have been stripped and resurfaced. Bringhurst is in the first stage of becoming our arts center, part of a conversion that will take two years. When the current art studios on the bottom floor of McCoun (the New Building) are moved to Bringhurst, we will repurpose that space into a student center, a project we plan to undertake during the Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations.
 
The tennis courts next to the chapel have been removed, returning that area to the old “chapel rink” as the only flat, grassy space on campus other than the playing fields. The upper courts, just below Bartlett House, have been completely renovated and now consist of two tennis courts, pickleball courts, a roller hockey area, and a basketball court. In addition, the beach volleyball area is being cleaned up and refreshed. In Joseph J. Brown Gymnasium, a mural has been added to the gym walls, an HVAC system installed, and the locker rooms have had complete makeovers. Daily, “the place,” as the old-timers refer to campus, is being transformed.

To understand our program-wide curriculum, in and out of the classroom, we have asked parents to join in on our summer engagement assignment and read at least one (or both) of the following two books. Though written for parents with children of different ages, not just adolescents, both books describe South Kent School’s mission-based practices. I recommend them as excellent resources for understanding how we educate our boys today. 

BOOK 1:  Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine – By Michele Borba Ed D.

Throughout Thrivers, author Michele Borba, Ed D., uses many of the words from our mission: “South Kent School prepares young men to succeed in college and thrive as thoughtful and engaged citizens in a rapidly changing and intensely competitive world.” With data and examples to support her ideas, Borba explains how our society has come to emphasize “striving” over “thriving.” To reverse this trend, she suggests we teach seven basic character traits: confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism. Rather than being a “problem identifier,” the author offers how to be a “problem solver". Her approach aligns with how we live our mission and values in all areas of school life.

BOOK 2: The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed – By Jessica Lahey

Where Thrivers is interspersed with words from our mission, our second book, The Gift of Failure, regularly uses vocabulary from our mastery approach to learning. From our website: “At its core, mastery learning empowers our students to advance their knowledge and skills at an individualized pace. This innovative curriculum at South Kent School was intentionally built for every type of student.” As explained by Lahey, parents and educational institutions regularly push students along at a set pace while protecting them from failure. We do not learn well if we stick to what we already know. The Amazon reviewer of this book paraphrases the author’s thesis that parents (and schools) “must learn to allow their children to experience the disappointment and frustration that occur from life’s inevitable problems so that they can grow up to be successful, resilient, and self-reliant adults.”
 
Either of these books could have been explicitly authored to illustrate what we do at South Kent. It is our hope that by reading and learning together, we can challenge our South Kent boys to live into our mission and "thrive as thoughtful and engaged citizens in a rapidly changing and intensely competitive world."

Aside from summer reading, we had three important South Kent School celebrations this past week: a “Faculty Brat” Reunion and the awarding of two diplomas. 
 
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Tim Richards '75 hosted the Faculty Brats, pictured below, at his house on Cape Cod. We hope to host a larger event on campus during the Centennial year for this often-overlooked group, who have provided much joy and color to the community over the years.

On July 7, Fr. Klots and I presented Arthur Smith '22 his diploma in the chapel as Arthur could not attend Prize Day 2022. Eighteen members of Arthur’s family, including his mom, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Christine Pina, and a few South Kent School staff members, were in attendance. After the ceremony, they took over the Kent Pizza Garden for a reception.

Also, on July 7, Fr. Klots and I went to Paul and Terese Abbott’s home to present Paul with his honorary diploma. Paul joined South Kent's faculty in 1965 and faithfully served the School community until his retirement in 2014. The dedication of the 1971 yearbook sums up his steadfast commitment to South Kent School students: “If there are perfect people in the world, then Mr. Abbott is one of them. He is an excellent teacher, advisor, and friend...Late in the night, sitting in his living room, he can make the days and weeks you have spent worthwhile and make the days ahead seem even more exciting than you thought possible...” We are forever grateful for Paul's service to South Kent School.

Please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns. My very best wishes to you for the coming summer weeks.