Happy Super Bowl!  Here are a number of items, and I urge you to get them out to your classmates:

SKS Centennial History Book

As you know, for the past three-plus years Marge Smith (daughter of Art and Maggie, and sister of Lawrence) has been working on a history of South Kent School from the founding in 1923 up through last year’s Centennial observance.  This 500-page work is nearly complete, and will be sent to the printer in the near future.  To give you an idea of what the book will be like, take a look at Chapter 1 (sorry, but because it’s more than 25 MB I’m forced to give it to you via Google Drive):

IMPORTANT: The School needs our help to get an idea of how many copies to print for the new book release.  Please forward this link to your classmates, and ask everyone to take a moment to indicate whether they are interested in purchasing one or more copies (Note: This is NOT a commitment, just an indication; you’ll be asked to confirm later):

South Kent School History Book: Community Interest Survey

To give you an idea of what the book will be like, take a look at Chapter 1

 20250207 – SKS – Centennial History Chapter 1.pdf

SKS Alumni Connection

Did you know South Kent has an alumni platform?  It gives you an alumni directory, and exclusive alumni talks like the one today with Sukehiro Hasegawa ’62:  Professor Hasegawa ahead of the Alumni Reunion in Asia next month.  Think of it as a Facebook-like site where Alums can connect, learn about upcoming events, exchange memories, post photos, volunteer to mentor recent grads, and so forth.  If you haven’t already, join to connect with friends and please urge your classmates to click on this link: 

South Kent School Alumni Connection

Mark Your Calendar: Spring For South Kent 

This year’s Annual Giving springtime fund drive, Spring for South Kent, will be held on April 8th.  As always, the objective is to get as many of our classmates to participate as possible.  This requires preparation, so please begin to socialize this event NOW with your classmates.  Regardless of what other contributions they may have made, please emphasize the desirability of taking a moment on April 8th to give online, or make a pledge!

Alumni Weekend 2025

It’s not too early to start thinking about Alumni Weekend.  This year it’ll be Friday-Sunday, June 6th-8th (there will be a golf tournament on Thursday the 5th).  For members of “The Old Guard” (1975 and earlier) there’s no charge for meals, and accommodation is available on campus (dorm rooms) at no cost.  All you have to do is register in advance.  Please urge your classmates to click on this link for more info, and to register:

Alumni Weekend 2025 – South Kent School

Spread The Word!  We Need Your Help!

SKS is trying to win this year’s “Best of Connecticut” contest from Connecticut Magazine.  This is a great way to get the School’s name in front of a wide audience, so your nomination really matters!  Please urge your classmates to take a moment to nominate South Kent School for BEST PRIVATE OR CATHOLIC SCHOOL in Litchfield County.  Please vote for us here:

https://www.ctinsider.com/best/votelitchfield/#/gallery?group=504256

   AND … you can VOTE EVERY DAY between now and February 14th, so please come back and nominate daily!

As always, please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.  Stay warm, and enjoy the game tomorrow!

Pig Tail Against The World!

Warm Regards,

Peter

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   It’s Autumn, and the whining buzz of the leafblower is heard across the land…

Veterans’ Day

   November 11th was Veterans’ Day.  A salute and heartfelt thanks to all of you who served!

   Do you know whom of your classmates also served?  I urge you to poll your constituents to be sure you have a complete list, including those who may have passed away.  Please be sure to let the school know.  Veterans don’t expect a big fuss, but it’s nice to be acknowledged on our day each year.

249 Years

   And November 10th was the 249th anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps (in a Philly bar, fittingly).  Happy belated Birthday to all Leathernecks (it’s a Marine thing)!  Semper Fi!

All Saints’ Day

    On Saturday, November 2nd, several boys gathered to clean and restore the gravestones at St. Michael’s Chapel Cemetery in honor of All Saints’ Day.  This has become an annual tradition, and holds special meaning for the South Kent community, connecting students with the school’s past and commemorating the lives of former students, faculty, and staff who have shaped the South Kent legacy.

    Fr. Steve Klots commented, “…during what might be called the octave of All Saints’ Day, we still pray in St. Michael’s Chapel by name for all former students, faculty, and staff members who have passed on to their eternal reward.  Each year, we also honor and remember those buried in the chapel cemetery by cleaning up the cemetery and their gravestones. In part, this is a mark of our gratitude for the school they have passed on to us.”

    The cemetery clean-up is a meaningful reminder of South Kent’s dedication to tradition and stewardship. The School instills gratitude through both words and deeds, linking past and present generations to the Hillside.

Wildfire

    Many of you are probably aware how terribly dry it’s been here in the East this Summer and Fall.  A couple of weeks ago our new Director of Communications, Sarah Chase, sent this photo of the smoke from a wildfire burning in Dover, NY, taken from the top of Spooner Hill.  The fire burned for more than a week.

Reunions

   It’s not too early to start thinking about reunions for the next few years.  Of course you know that the emphasis is typically on decades (40th, 50th, 60th, etc), with attention also given to the “fives” (ie. a class’s 55th).  Next year will be the five- or ten-year anniversary for classes that graduated in years ending with 0 or 5.

   It’s traditional that reunion classes make some sort of gift to South Kent.  This might be in the form of funding a specific project, or simply cash.  An easy solution is to set a target based on the anniversary year (ie. $60K for your 60th year).  For older classes where the numbers are dwindling, perhaps you might combine forces with other classes.  For instance, the 70th anniversary class of ’55 might propose joining with ’50 (75th) and ’60 (’65th) to muster up a substantial showing.  Don’t be bashful – reach out to your fellow Class Agents to talk over the possibilities!

   May I suggest you take the time to gauge your classmates’ sentiment on this, and guide them accordingly?  All techniques, including overt appeals to emotion and Rah-Rah, “Let’s Go Big Red!” cheerleading, are appropriate.

New York City Get-Together

    Speaking of reunions, there will be a gathering for all South Kenters on Thursday, December 5th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at the Racquet and Tennis Club at 370 Park Avenue.  Please let your constituents who live in the NYC area know about this, and urge them to attend.  For questions or to RSVP, please e-mail RSVP@southkentschool.org

Legacies…

    By now you all should have received SKS’s Annual Report of Donors 2023-2024 in the mail.  Your generosity as individuals stands out.  Along with the rest of our fellow Alums, our ongoing contributions to Annual Giving are what pays most of the bills, and makes it possible for Brian Sullivan and his team to provide an inspiring and challenging introduction to life for the boys. 

    One category in the report is the St. Michael’s Society, which lists donors who have made provisions in their wills for legacy gifts to South Kent, and formally advised the school that they have done so.  It’s possible that one or more of you, or members of your classes, have made such a provision but not yet told SKS.  If this is you, I encourage you to tell the school of your plan; it won’t change the fact of your generosity and will enable the folks on The Hillside to factor it into forward planning.  It’s a sensitive topic to bring up with your classmates, but it’s part of what we really need to get a handle on as Class Agents.

    Of course not all of us are in a position to leave a legacy to South Kent.  But with due regard for the ongoing and in many cases recent generosity of many of you and your classmates, there’s no time like the present!  We’re all undeniably getting older!  If you or one of your classmates are unsure how best to do this, I suggest you/they consult with an estate planning professional, or reach out to Carol-Ann Bruen at school (bruenc@southkentschool.org).  Let’s recognize the difference South Kent made in our lives in a direct and useful way now.

Thanksgiving

   I’m sure we all have memories of Thanksgiving at South Kent.  Because my family lived close by I was permitted to go home for the day, but one year I stayed on campus.  There was a special quality about dinner that day that sticks with me down through the years…

   Please accept my very best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!

   Pig Tail Against The World!

Warm Regards,

Peter

Peter M. Thompson ’67

Alumni Engagement Associate

(571) 331-8143

“All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.”

Bruce Fairchild Barton

1886 – 1967

Co-founder and first president of the iconic Madison Avenue advertising firm Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBD&O)

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    Hope you and your families are all well and thriving.

    I know you all join me in praying for all those who were affected by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, and for those who will suffer from Hurricane Milton when it hits Florida tonight.

Sunrise Over St. Michael’s Chapel

    Rev. Steve Klots captured a superb image of St. Michael’s Chapel this morning.  43F overnight on the Hillside, the foliage is turning, and the first frost is forecasted for next week (remember how that felt?):

SKS’s 101st Year Is Underway!

   There’s a lot of news to share.

   SKS is starting the year with 175 boarders and 4 day students.  Last year we were at 147.  55 of these boys are “traditional prep” students, as opposed to “high-performance athletes,” so we will be able to field conventional inter-scholastic teams in several sports.  This is the highest number of boarding students we have had, and there are no free beds on campus.  The final enrollment number may change somewhat, because a handful of boys from other countries have not yet arrived due to visa issues.  Overall, applications are up 72 percent over 2022-2023, so this reflects a very healthy school.

    The most recent Class Agents’ Zoom call on September 19th saw record participation.  Thanks to those who joined.  A few key points:

    >    Brian said, “We have an opportunity to nurture and develop young men in ways that larger schools cannot.”  “We are committed to building a school with an elite experience for boys, not a school for the elite.”

    >    The foundational principles of Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, and Self-Reliance continue to occupy a central place in everything the school does.  “Thanks to the Class of 1967,” Brian said, gesturing out the window of his office, “they’re right there on the wall, and our boys walk by them every day when they leave the dining hall, when they leave the Old Building” (see below for more on the wall).

    >    The emphasis on mental health continues, embracing not only the boys but faculty and staff as well;

    >    The scheduling of academics and athletics has been restructured to give priority to academics;

    >    The Stockdale Leadership Program will seek to instill in boys the confidence to stand up for what’s right, and for others as well as themselves;

    >    The diningroom has been a “tech free zone” for a few years, in order to prevent cellphones from intruding on meals.  This year classrooms are also “tech free zones,” with students expected to turn in their phones at the beginning of each class (some teachers had been doing this previously, but now it is a school-wide policy);

   Here are some snapshots from the first week, courtesy of Lara Barrett:

   Now that Brian has had a year to get into harness, and assess adjustments needed to make the administration of the school more effective and efficient, some personnel re-alignments have been announced.

    Craig Carter has been named Dean of Students.  Craig has a broad background of accomplishment as a teacher, educational administrator, and coach:

   Lindsey Lefevre is the new Assistant Head of School for Academics and Student Programming.  Like Craig, Lindsey has extensive experience in educational administration, and she has alrerady made significant contributions in the few years she has been at South Kent:

   Luz McCarthy has been named the Assistant Head of School for Business Operations, and Finance.  In the few years she has been SKS’s Chief Financial Officer, Luz has brought system and good management practices to the school’s financial management:

    You may be interested to know that last year Brian spent 90 nights away from campus reaching out to various constituencies.  Carter, Lefevre and McCarthy will bring a level of consistent oversight to South Kent’s daily operations that will allow Brian greater freedom to travel in order to represent our school to alumni.

The Wall

    On September 11th, Nick Benson returned to The Hillside to perform maintenance on the slate panels into which he carved South Kent’s foundational principles two years ago.  The carving had weathered, and the words had become difficult to read from the courtyard.  Nick cleaned the slate, “tinted” the lettering, resurfaced the panels, and applied a sealant.  This process will reduce maintenance to an occasional washing for many years to come.  Here are a couple of photos:

(Note: The final photo was taken after Nick had tinted the carved letters, but before the final resurfacing and sealing.  That’s why they look fuzzy.)

    As always, please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions or concerns.

   Pig Tail Against The World!

Warm Regards,

Peter

Peter M. Thompson ’67

Alumni Engagement Associate

(571) 331-8143

“All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.”

Bruce Fairchild Barton

1886 – 1967

Co-founder and first president of the iconic Madison Avenue advertising firm Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBD&O)

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   Happy Independence Day to you, to our families, and to your classmates!

   Pig Tail Against The World!

Warm Regards,

Peter

Peter M. Thompson ’67

Alumni Engagement Associate

(571) 331-8143

“All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.”

Bruce Fairchild Barton

1886 – 1967

Co-founder and first president of the iconic Madison Avenue advertising firm Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBD&O)

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   The Centennial Weekend was a rousing success.  Weather was a bit threatening on Friday, with some rain, but Saturday was perfect – sunny, breezy, and not too hot.  The campus looked great!

   Courtesy of Francis Coleman ’57, here are photos for you to share with your classmates:

      https://photos.app.goo.gl/EyL9DwRRafjWGYRu5

    Highlights of the weekend are subjective and too numerous to list here, but two items really stand out in my mind:

      > After lunch on Friday, Emmy Award-winning actor Gordon Clapp ’67 performed an abridged version of his show “Robert Frost: This Verse Business” in the recently-reopened Bringhurst Auditorium.  Phenomenal!  Gordon transforms himself into Frost, and the performance was poignant, thought-provoking, and terrifically entertaining.  Gordon told us his interest in Frost blossomed while he was on The Hillside

      > Saturday morning in the Study Hall, Head of School Brian Sullivan started things off with a bang by giving a dynamic and compelling “State of the School” presentation.  His presentation was detailed, forward-looking, and optimistic.  Brian is looking to grow the overall size of the School modestly, with the bulk of New Boys in the III and IV Forms.  The proportion of “high performance” athletes will decrease to roughly half of the student body.  It looks as though we will meet our 5 year enrollment target after just one year!

   Pig Tail Against The World!

Warm Regards,

Peter

Peter M. Thompson ’67

Alumni Engagement Associate

(571) 331-8143

“All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.”

Bruce Fairchild Barton

1886 – 1967

Co-founder and first president of the iconic Madison Avenue advertising firm Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBD&O)

The post Centennial Weekend appeared first on South Kent School.