The Pigtail/Cardinal News Network is one of the longest-running student-produced publications at South Kent School. It is an example of student journalism and the long history of student communication on the Hillside.

As we head into our Centennial and the School looks to celebrate 100 years of student achievement, the student newspaper is a great example of the academic excellence and community engagement that South Kent School students have always been known for. We keep that spirit alive today while evolving our School publications to keep them relevant and exciting for the next generation of students.

The longstanding printed student newspaper formerly named The Pigtail will now be folded into the cross-platform, multimedia Cardinal News Network (CdNN), a student-run brand that reports on Hillside news in print, online, and across social media.

This 2022-2023 academic year, there is a club that meets weekly to plan and execute Cardinal News Network stories. The goal is to produce a print edition, as well as multimedia stories, at least once per month. Students develop their own story ideas, research, and report to “tell the story” in text, video, and photographs. The group produces a print issue almost every month, as well as actively posting on the website, www.cardinalnewsnetwork.org, and on social media platforms, such as Instagram.

CdNN wanted to share some of the history involved in the student publications at South Kent School. The Pigtail newspaper’s history on campus stretches back to the first issue started in 1927 by two Third Formers, Tudor Owen and Russell Eng. It continued for decades, with different students serving as staff members and editors and moving it forward each year.

When Ms. Lynn Mellis Worthington first came to South Kent School in 1997, she heard about the previous school publication The Pigtail, but faculty and staff didn’t think it could be brought back. It had not been published for several years, and the adults questioned whether the school even needed a student publication.

“I disputed that and made it my mission to seek out students who wanted to bring it back,” Ms. Worthington said. “In 1998, we did bring it back after a three-year hiatus. In those early years, it was a true labor of love for me.” At the time, Ms. Worthington was the Director of Publications, and her job was to promote the school.

“But The Pigtail was different. This was a student publication,” she said. “It was designed to provide the student view on life here on campus. That has always been the role of a student publication here and that continues today.”

Students in this year’s club have embraced the fun as well as the challenges posed by being student journalists.

“I’ve always had a great interest in writing and photography, so when Ms. Worthington reached out to me and told me she was starting the Cardinal News Network (club), I didn’t hesitate to join,” said Jaiden Banton, a fifth former.

Student journalism is important. It provides a way for students to find their own voice. It also can be an avenue to empower students to be agents of change. They learn to research topics that are being talked about on campus and seek out different viewpoints. Every story must have at least two different sources (people) who are quoted in the story. This provides different perspectives and balance to the story to ensure that it is not biased and one-sided.

Fifth Former Connor Broderick was named the Editor this year after he showed great leadership with the group of ten students who’ve been involved this year. Connor also has great graphic design and video editing skills that he’s put to use with the publication.

“I have some previous experience that I felt could be could be of use,” he said about why he joined. “I think it’s a great team environment here.”

Getting students to differentiate between opinion and objective facts is not always easy. There are times when students push for opinion, and there are places for that – the editorial and opinion page in the print publication and online.

Sixth Former Ivan Castro came to South Kent School this year from Uruguay and got involved with CdNN.

“I decided to join the Cardinal News Network looking for a development in my writing and journalistic skills. and what I appreciate the most about the newspaper is the teamwork and the freedom we have to choose the topics to write our own articles,” Ivan said.

The Cardinal News Network was launched in 2010 as an online platform and is a natural extension of the communication enjoyed for years through The Pigtail, the student newspaper.

In 2013, a new class through the Center for Innovation, Embedded Journalism, was begun, and students in the class covered Center for Innovation (CFI) classes. Video production was a major component of the courses, and students learned skills in filming, editing, and producing by shooting actual classes and putting together multi-segmented shows for viewing online. This course was discontinued in 2019 as the school moved in a new direction with its schedule. Some of these stories and videos are still available online.

Over the years, there has been an ongoing evolution in how the student publication is produced. This transformation is sure to continue as the students of South Kent School continue to find their voice and share it with the community.

 

South Kent School recognizes the dramatic impact that food insecurity has placed on local families. Even in a small town like Kent, where the median income is $78,125, over 100 people (or 55 households) are currently served through the local food bank. To help tackle the challenges of food insecurity and hunger in Connecticut, our School community will be joining together for South Kent School Feeds the Need, an initiative now in its second year that aims to collect monetary donations, nonperishable food, and personal care items to benefit the Kent Food Bank.

The Kent Food Bank recently called for donations as the shelves are getting bare. It has seen a significant increase in families seeking help in recent years. Last year, South Kent School raised $1,600 in cash and online donations and collected hundreds of items to offer to The Kent Food Bank.

The town of Kent is partnering with the Kent Community Fund, a nonprofit that collects monetary donations and directs them to food insecurity needs. For those looking to aid in our efforts to Feed the Need, please consider clicking on the “donate here” button below to contribute to the Kent Community Fund and include “Kent Food Bank: South Kent School Feeds the Need” on the donation page when asked where you would like to direct your donation.

DONATE HERE

South Kent School is collecting nonperishable food and personal care items during the week of April 17 that will be donated to the Kent Food Bank. Students will collect donations at the Intramural Basketball League games on campus and be in the community on Saturday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the local grocery store, Davis IGA. There, students will collect food donations and distribute lists of sought-after items by the food bank to shoppers entering the store.

As part of a longstanding collaboration, South Kent School students will also serve food and distribute clothing to the city’s most vulnerable people at Church Street Eats at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford on Sunday, April 23.

At South Kent, we have always believed that part of being “thoughtful and engaged citizens” is reaching out, connecting, and serving the wider community. Our students look forward to helping make a difference in the lives of others through South Kent School Feeds the Need.

Nearly two months into the school year, the South Kent School athletic teams have already provided memorable moments on the pitch, the ice, and the race courses. The School’s athletic program has been intentionally designed to build character and a passion for the game while supporting student-athletes as they train and compete at every level. With great leadership on the coaching staff and players who devote themselves to getting stronger and growing together, the Hillside is the place to be for every type of student-athlete.

This fall, the Prep Soccer team is riding a new wave with Colin Hodge as the new head coach, who has had instant success. With three-quarters of the season complete as of October 19, 2023, he has helped the Cardinals earn a 8-4-3 record, coming off a thrilling win at home against Bridgton Academy in front of a large crowd during Fall Family Weekend. Despite the team expanding over the course of the season, Coach Hodge is impressed with the way the boys have come together as a team and exhibited a relentless, competitive pursuit over a full 90 minutes. The Cardinals look to build off of their accomplishments over their last three regular season games, two of which will be on home turf at Farr Field.

Hockey continues to be an integral part of South Kent’s athletic tradition, preparing student-athletes on and off the ice for the demands of the college and professional ranks since the sport was played on Hatch Pond in the early 20th century. This year, South Kent Hockey has taken another step to keep this narrative alive by establishing the AAA Hockey team, coached by Head Coaches Rich Brande and Dillon Duncan and Assistant Coaches Jason Lefevre and Ross Leblond. The new program is made up of students of all grade and experience levels who want to develop and compete in a AAA league. This year’s team is slated for a competitive 30+ game schedule against prep schools and club teams predominantly based in the Northeast, with a week-long trip to Montreal planned for January against the illustrious Somang Academy. The 15O, 16U, and 18U teams are proving to stack up against their loaded, club team-styled schedule, as all three have at least a .500 winning percentage or better. The 18U team stands out in front of the pack with a 12-5-1 record as of October 19.

South Kent School offers a variety of other sports to cater to the interests of the entire student body. Students are given the option to do Mountain Biking or Cross Country. The Mountain Biking team, led by Coaches Eric Leitz and Anthony Tyburski, just hosted their most recent race, which invited over 100 racers to South Kent’s impressive and challenging 8 miles of backcountry trails. Cross Country has had two races at Oakwood Friends School and the Forman School as they look ahead to their next race at Marvelwood School on October 25.

As we progress to the second half of October, we are less than a month away from tipping off the basketball season, as the Cardinals will have a Prep Team, a Development Team, and a Thirds Team representing South Kent. The Prep Team will play 30 games, consisting of a prep school schedule and national powerhouses such as IMG Academy, which will be played at the National Prep Showcase. The Development Team will play against varsity teams of prep schools across the northeast, and Thirds will play a handful of games against local prep schools such as Kent School, Marvelwood, and more.

To keep up with South Kent School sports teams, please visit the athletics team pages on southkentschool.org or our follow the School’s sports social media accounts: @southkentsoccer @sksahockey @southkenthoops.

If you have visited the Hillside in the last eight months, you may have noticed some sleek and bright additions to the Stockdale Arena Hockey Rink and the field behind the Gilder Hall Dormitory. These areas on campus have been enhanced with captivating solar panel installations that have already made a positive impact on the School and are the result of a lot of hard work and energy from the group of people who made it possible.

It all started with one of South Kent’s core values: “self-reliance.”

Board of Trustee Member Tim Richards ’75 wanted to make energy self-reliance a priority after doing years of policy work for GE. With a group of dedicated alumni, trustees, and School administrators behind the idea, the School asked the Buildings and Grounds Committee, chaired by Curt Himy ’84 at the time, to develop a renewable energy project to help with this cause.

Trustee JJ Velez ’99 got the group started by connecting the committee to Mike Doty of Nuveen Green Capital, who proposed the financial model for a renewable energy project that the School eventually used. Rich Chavka and Luz McCarthy guided the project from on campus. Rich, from the project’s earliest days, represented the school in hours of meetings to work through the details of the project and the financing. Board of Trustee Treasurer Jim Garnett ’75 helped secure financial approvals to get the project off the ground, and alumnus Peter Boone ’71 helped the committee create a request for proposals from renewable energy firms. The Buildings and Grounds Committee decided to focus on solar energy to make use of South Kent’s land, and the group selected the engineering firm Earthlight Technologies to design, plan, and install a 498 kW combination ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar project on behalf of the School.

Earthlight, in turn, working with South Kent’s Building and Grounds Committee, discovered great potential with Stockdale Arena and Gilder Hall. The hockey rink is the top energy user on campus, has a high cost of electricity – 20c per KW hour – and receives a lot of sun throughout the day. Gilder is south-facing, and its back fields have limited trees, making it another great spot for solar panel installation. The solar arrays were installed and producing energy as of Spring 2023. As of summer 2023, approximately 40% of the School’s total electricity use is covered by renewable solar energy.

Aside from the incredible environmental benefits the project brings, it also saves the school money on electric bills without any out-of-pocket expense. The project required no upfront payments by the school, and the electricity savings and incentives more than cover financing costs. In fact, utility incentives for the renewable energy we produce result in additional income to the School that is generously cash-positive.

The vision for the future is to increasingly convert propane, fuel oil, and gasoline to electricity and eventually cover the remaining 60% of the School’s electricity here on campus. With the endless work and support of South Kent’s current Board of Trustees and School Administrators, South Kent looks forward to future projects that help conserve the environment and further move the School towards energy self-reliance.

As we head into mid-November, fall sports have wrapped up on the Hillside. South Kent’s Prep Soccer and Mountain Biking Teams each concluded their seasons in the first week of November, and the Cross Country team had their final race on Saturday, November 11, at Marvelwood School, competing in the NEPSTA Division IV Championships.

The South Kent Prep Soccer team dropped their final game at Farr Field 2-1 on Friday, November 3, against Putnam Science Academy, splitting the season series. The Cardinals had a solid year, finishing the regular season at 8-6-3. In a year that started with a clean slate, Colin Hodge’s inspirational coaching profoundly impacted the team, bringing out the best in all his players. Trends such as improving against a formidable opponent like Hoosac portrayed the growth and maturity of the squad as the fall progressed; the team lost in their first game 3-1, then tied in their next appearance, and then won by two exciting goals in the final matchup of the season. Coach Hodge noted, “The players worked tremendously hard, and you can clearly see that they all developed as individuals and, most importantly, as a team.” This year showed that South Kent Soccer has maintained its toughness and championship pedigree, giving the program a bright future and a great opportunity to continue its winning tradition.

The South Kent Mountain Biking Team, led by Coach Eric Leitz, finished their season on November 1, as they traveled to participate in the HMBL Championships at Norbrook Farms in picturesque Norfolk, CT. Cardinal racers have been knocking on the door for a first-place finish all year long on the backs of Bodhi Walsh and Max Gerbilsky, and they finally earned the gold from Walsh’s unforgettable efforts on the Norbrook Farms track. Leitz describes Walsh as “a powerhouse who climbs hills and sprints with ease.”

With five students on the roster–all new to the sport–the South Kent Cross Country Team ran its way through a challenging but successful season. Some highlights include a 9th-place finish by Third Former Zijie Zhou in the Oakwood Friends Invitational (making Zijie the team’s one podium finisher this year), a strong 26th-place finish by third former Jaewon Kim in the midseason HVAL race in Litchfield, and participation in the always challenging Kent Pumpkin Run by Fourth Former Nekhel Mckella and Third Former Gerd Pflucker. The final runner on the squad, Sebastian Teitel, turned in his best performance in the last meet of the season at the Division IV NEPSTA Championships, held this year on a chilly afternoon at Marvelwood School. While it was difficult for the Cardinals to compete on a team level with only five runners and a series of injuries and illnesses, the relatively young age of the squad and their improvement over the course of the season bodes well for the future of the program.

South Kent School is excited to announce Andrey Uryadov ’04 as the new Director of Hockey for the school’s premier, nationally renowned hockey program. As an esteemed alumnus and current South Kent Coach, Andrey brings great experience, passion, and a proven track record of success to his new role.

Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Andrey grew up playing hockey for SKA St. Petersburg. While there, he captained his 1986 birth-year team and led the team in points every season, helping SKA advance to the Russian National Championships and receive the silver medals in the 1998-1999 season.

Andrey came to the United States to continue his hockey career at South Kent School, where he served as team captain for multiple seasons and helped the team win their first New England Prep School Ice Hockey Championship in 2004. After graduating from South Kent in 2004, Andrey went on to play D1 college hockey at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and, after graduation, went to Europe to play professionally until 2011.

Andrey returned to South Kent School as a member of the hockey staff in 2015. He has worked with South Kent hockey teams from all three levels – 15O, 16U, and 18U – helping them win numerous USPHL, Showcase, and Tournament Championships, as well as helping lead teams to multiple appearances at Nationals, including South Kent’s National-Championship-winning 18U team in the 2017-2018 season. As the current Head Coach of South Kent’s 16U team, Andrey specializes in fostering player improvement and proficiency. He has been instrumental in guiding student-athletes toward academic and athletic achievement, driving skill development and growth on and off the ice, and supporting players as they build toward their futures in hockey and academia.

In addition to coaching, Andrey is a student-focused and dynamic professional with a remarkable history of driving enrollment success through strategic planning, targeted outreach, and relationship management. His multifaceted expertise spans teaching, admissions, college counseling, coaching, advising, and residential life.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Andrey since 2004, as a student-athlete here at South Kent, and as a colleague. Andrey is driven, focused, and has a mind toward excellence,” said South Kent Chief Athletic Officer Raphael Chillious.

“After a long search with qualified candidates, all signs pointed back to Andrey. As someone with extensive familiarity with our tight-knit community and elite hockey program, he was the right person for this position,” explains Chillious. “I’m looking forward to continue working with Andrey as we look to take our program to even greater heights.”

South Kent has a great hockey tradition, a prestigious program, and world-class facilities, with a private rink on campus in Admiral James and Sybil Stockdale Arena. We are excited to have Andrey guide this next phase of South Kent hockey, accompanied by his wife, Elena, and two sons, Mark and Alexander.

Join us in congratulating Andrey as he takes on this exciting next chapter in South Kent Hockey.

South Kent School is thrilled to introduce Billy Vizzo as the latest addition to the coaching staff for the 16U team in its esteemed hockey program. Billy Vizzo joins the Hillside from Shelton, CT. Billy Vizzo brings a wealth of hockey experience, having immersed himself in the sport since the tender age of 4. Notably, he showcased his exceptional talent at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, earning First Team All-State honors during his sophomore and junior years. Subsequently, Vizzo signed with American International College, a Division One hockey program within the Atlantic Hockey League. Following a year at AIC, he continued his collegiate career at Curry College, where his leadership skills as a team captain culminated in a career-defining season, earning him Third Team All CCC honors.

Director of Hockey, Andrey Uryadov, expressed his confidence in Vizzo, stating, “Coach Vizzo has a strong resume and will be a great addition to our staff as we support the development of young athletes on and off the ice.”

Vizzo’s standout performance at Curry catapulted him into the professional hockey scene, making his mark with the Worcester Railers in 2020. Further contributing to his impressive career, he played a pivotal role in securing the SPHL championship for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs during the 22-23 season. Culminating his professional journey in Abu Dhabi, Vizzo now eagerly anticipates his inaugural coaching opportunity with South Kent.

Andrey Uryadov added, “Billy brings a tremendous amount of energy and an unwavering work ethic to our program. His background as both a student-athlete and a professional player will undoubtedly make him a stellar role model for players with aspirations in hockey and in life.”

South Kent Chief Athletic Officer Raphael Chillious expressed enthusiasm for Vizzo’s addition, noting, ““We are excited to have Coach Vizzo join our hockey program. His experiences as a former high level player will help prepare our student athletes well for their respective futures in hockey and beyond.”

South Kent School is excited to announce Robert Belger as the new 18U AAA head coach for the 2024-25 season.

Robert Belger joins the Hillside from Yorktown Heights, NY, flexing great experience from playing and coaching hockey. Rob played his college hockey at Nichols College, a Division III program in Dudley, MA, from 2013-17. During his freshman year, Rob adjusted well to college hockey, as he was nominated to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast All-Rookie Team. Rob was also an integral part of the Bisons defensive core en route to their back to back conference Championships. Belger went on to graduate with a BSBA in Finance.

After his graduation, Belger immediately transitioned into coaching. He has dedicated his professional career to helping players of all ages on their hockey paths, currently certified as a Level 4 USA Hockey coach. Early in his coaching career, he worked with the Westchester Express Tier 1 program out of Brewster, NY, where he worked with their Midget program for 3 seasons. He also worked with the NY Applecore of the EHL as an assistant coach, focusing on the defense, special teams, and video work. Rob later co-founded Fail Forward Hockey, a skills and training company that hosts individual training sessions and larger camps. His success as coach and instructor landed him an opportunity with the Hartford Junior Wolfpack as an Assistant Hockey Director. Rob was in charge of developing hockey programming, running skills for the organization and coaching several teams. During his transition to South Kent, Belger currently is the Hockey Director and Head Player of Development at Champions Skating Center, overseeing all hockey programming.

“We’re excited to have Coach Belger join our hockey program. His experiences as a player and a coach will help our program continue a great tradition of development and placement both on and off the ice,” explains South Kent School’s Chief Athletic Officer Raphael Chillious.

Director of Hockey Andrey Uryadov says that Coach Belger “brings a great deal of knowledge on both the coaching and management sides of things. He is extremely energetic, driven, and eager to learn and continue developing players while helping them reach their potential with us. His playing background and hockey connections will continue to expand our reach as a program, benefitting our student-athletes as they look to take the next steps in their hockey careers beyond South Kent.”

When away from the rink, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife Ellie, their new daughter Brooke, and dog Cally. He also enjoys golfing and hiking in his free time.

Join us in celebrating Rob, as we look forward to him being a part of the South Kent Community!

 

Led by editors-in-chief Graeme Russell and Drew Jensen and supported by their Faculty Advisor and Humanities 2 teacher Ms. Denise Crlenjak, The Crest: A South Kent Literary & Arts Journal started as an honors project for class but turned into something more.

During a year filled with many changes, a group of talented students from the class of 2024 looked at the obstacles they faced and chose to reflect, connect and create a collection of imaginative work that illustrates what hard work and perseverance look like in the face of a challenge.

After ten weeks of gathering creative works, editing them, and compiling them into a publishable journal, the students had a finished project to feel proud of: the inaugural issue of The Crest.

View Spring 2022 | Issue 1: The Crest: A South Kent Literary & Arts Journal