Head of School

Happy Summer from South Kent School!

Thank you to all the alumni and families who joined us for an unforgettable Alumni Weekend and the official kick-off of South Kent School’s Centennial. We celebrated the reunion years for classes ending in 3 and 8 and welcomed all back to the Hillside to start commemorating 100 years of the School. 
 
Our series of alumni events teed off with a beautiful and fun day on the green for the Annual Golf Tournament at The Club at River Oaks. Our alumni, faculty, staff, and friends enjoyed a day full of big swings, fun, and friendly competition over 18 holes, plus dinner, drinks, and awards to cap off the day. Photos are available to view and download here. You will need to enter the password sks1923 to access the site and all the photos from the day. 

Friday began with the Board of Trustees holding their annual meeting while the alumni classes arrived and gathered for lunch and the first of our Alumni Speaker Series. Sid Stockdale '73 presented an emotional recounting of his experiences growing up during the Vietnam War when his father, Vice Admiral James Stockdale, was a POW in Hanoi Hilton and his mother founded the National League of Families of POWs and Missing in Southeast Asia. Click here to watch Sid’s Alumni Weekend presentation or purchase his book, “A World Apart: Growing Up Stockdale During Vietnam,” from the School, which offers an in-depth look at his experiences. 

In the late afternoon, a group of enthusiastic alumni decided to relive their glory days and embark on a nostalgic run through the picturesque cross-country course. Friends and classmates gathered at Lew's Lagoon for this 1st Annual Alumni X-Country Run and, by all accounts, thoroughly enjoyed their time together while navigating the familiar trails of our beautiful campus. Later, in honor of the class of 1973’s 50th reunion, 9th Head of School Lawrence A. Smith '73 and his wife, Relinde de Greef, hosted a wonderful gathering at their home. The rest of the Friday evening festivities kicked off with “Cocktails in the Courtyard,” where all were welcomed with an enticing array of hors d’oeuvres prepared by our own dining staff, Sage Dining Services. Many classes then headed off to various local dining establishments for class dinners, while others stayed on campus for a lively cookout hosted by Father Klots or a seafood feast at the firepit organized by the classes of 1987 and 1988.

Saturday morning began with a Head of School welcome followed by “In My Day” alumni presentations led by the members of the 50th reunion class, 1973. The stories shared brought back warm and wonderful memories about the hard-fought lessons learned from their class’s time on the Hillside. Next, we welcomed our 9th Head of School, Lawrence A. Smith '73, and newly appointed 10th Head of School, Brian D. Sullivan, along with Board of Trustees members Tim Richards '75 and Alex Thomson '78, to present and discuss the current state of the School and the 2023 Strategic Plan. Brian ended the presentation by sharing his vision on how to meet the needs of our people, program, and place and propel South Kent forward into the start of its second century. If you are interested in hearing more, please consider joining us at one of the many Regional Events hosted across the country to celebrate our Centennial and hear more from our new Head of School.

Following a busy morning, the afternoon presented itself with a wealth of activities, tributes, and events to participate in. The School had ribbon cuttings to celebrate two very special occasions: the clearing and opening of the Whittemore Trail, named in honor of Celie and Charlie Whittemore ’39, and the Solar Installation Project. Whittemore Trail was made possible by the Brown and Whittemore families as well as members of the Class of 1965. The Solar Installation Project, which will supply about 40% of the School's annual electricity, was made possible by the work of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the unwavering dedication of Tim Richards '75 and SKS faculty member Rich Chavka. You can read more about the Solar Installation Project in the next installment of the Alumni Newsletter.

At the Whittemore Trail ceremony, Foster White '55 was honored with the Noble F. Richards '49 Alumni Volunteer Award for going above and beyond the call of duty and for his deep dedication to South Kent over the years. To further recognize his commitment, the School also presented him with a framed photo of the twenty-four Charter Scholars, who were the earliest students to procure an education in the first academic year of the School in 1923. One of those Charter Scholars was Foster’s father, Frank C. White '29, making the moment and the award special and symbolic in many ways.

Other events from the day included a fun and fast alumni hockey game and a well-attended sip and paint class that took place in the newly renovated Maggie Smith Visual Arts Center, now located in the Bringhurst Buildings. Another highlight of the afternoon gave our alumni an opportunity to get back out on Hatch Pond. Crew shells were ready to go when the Class of 1972 challenged the “undefeated” Class of 1973 to a friendly but highly competitive race. And if you want to know who won, you had to be there! It was a beautiful summer afternoon that brought many alumni back to the pond to re-live their rowing days as South Kent oarsmen. 

That evening, Father Klots led a traditional memorial service for those departed alumni in St. Michael’s Chapel. The service was followed by the Centennial kick-off dinner reception, which took place in Joseph J. Brown Gymnasium. Alumni were welcomed with banners showcasing stories and quotes from the first ten years of South Kent School as well as the beginning phase of our notable alumni series that pays tribute to the remarkable accomplishments of just some of our distinguished South Kent classmates. We will continue to pay tribute to our alumni all year long, so if you would like to elect a South Kent School alum, including yourself, you can do so by filling out this form.

The festivities continued with cocktails, dinner, and music provided by Val “Re-Run” Pearce '97. Throughout the evening, we paid tribute to members of our community and reunion classes. Derek Porter, the School’s long-standing Director of Technology, was honored with The Geri Haase Award for his devotion to South Kent, tireless efforts, and readiness to support all members of the community. Patty Garcia-Pedrosa and Gonzalo Garcia-Pedroso '95 were also recognized for their heartfelt commitment to the School after 17 and 22 years of service, respectively. Finally, Board of Trustees Chair William Rowe '88 awarded The Robert and Anna MacLean Distinguished Service Award to Lawrence A. Smith '73 to recognize his extraordinary effort, achievement, and service as 9th Head of School during such a pivotal time in the School’s history. Servant well done.

The warm summer evening ended with the Garcias hosting alumni from the Class of 1946 through the Class of 2018 at their home. Stories and laughter continued into the night. Sunday morning began with the Service of Holy Communion, followed by a delicious Hillside brunch. We witnessed the timeless bonds that were forged during your time here and watched as they were rekindled and strengthened. As we reflect on the memories made this Alumni Weekend, we are already looking forward to next year’s celebration. Photos from the weekend are available to view and download here. You will need to enter the password sks1923 to access the site and all the photos from the weekend. 

Our Centennial year activities and planning are well underway, and we will continue to send communications and invitations to all, reminding you about our upcoming regional and core Centennial events. In the meantime, you can check the Centennial Events page on the South Kent School website for the most up-to-date information.

In our next Alumni Newsletter, you will hear from our 10th Head of School, Brian D. Sullivan, learn about some of the projects and goals we have for the coming year, and get a glimpse of what the 100th academic year at South Kent School looks like. We look forward to staying connected and wish you all an enjoyable summer!