New Canaan Country School Holds Closing Exercises

From New Canaan Country School: New Canaan Country School held its Closing Exercises on Thursday, June 14. Head of School Dr. Robert P. Macrae encouraged the 32 ninth grade graduates of the Class of 2018 to continue to take ownership for their learning.

“Each member of the Class of 2018 can proudly claim an ownership stake in Country School,” said Dr. Macrae. “Every one of you has a unique story of how this place has become your own. You went to great lengths to protect, preserve and promote the school you love—to leave it a better place than when you entered.”

Ninth Grader Hannah Nightingale of Rowayton delivered the Class Salutation in which she noted, “We are gathered here today to celebrate the immeasurable. To celebrate everything this school has taught us beyond textbooks.”

Dillon Mims of Norwalk presented the Class Reflection. “There’s no up and leaving Country School and never looking back, it’s too special of a place for that. When faculty have inspired and prepared you for this moment, there’s no such thing as goodbye— only ‘see you later.’ When the values of Country School, being part of a risk taking mistaking-making community, are what you’ve lived your whole life by, there’s no such thing as goodbye— only ‘see you later.’ NCCS is a part of each and every one of us, and we can’t just say goodbye to it— and if we could, we wouldn’t want to,” said Dillon to his classmates.

Daly Baker of New Canaan received the Johansen Award, which is presented to the member of the graduating class who most exemplifies the qualities of care and concern for others, compassion and a sense of community.

Class of 2018 graduate James Kontulis of New Canaan received the Gamble Award, which is presented to the student who exemplifies, to the highest measure, the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Class of 2018 will attend the following secondary schools:

Berkshire School, Brien McMahon High School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy, Greens Farms Academy, Greenwich Academy, Hopkins School, The Hotchkiss School, King School, The Loomis Chaffee School, Millbrook School, Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter Academy, Rye Country Day School, St. George's School, St. Luke's School, The Taft School, Westhill High School, Westminster School and Williston Northampton School.

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9. Located on a 75-acre campus at 635 Frogtown Rd in New Canaan, the school provides transportation to families living in Westchester and Fairfield counties. For more information, please visit www.countryschool.net.

Photo 1: The 32 members of New Canaan Country School’s Class of 2018 included front row (from left): Lydia Dormer of Wilton, Lucy Jones of Norwalk, Daly Baker of New Canaan, Georgia Rivero of New Canaan, Katherine Scarborough of New Canaan, Lauren Walsh of Wilton, Sydney Coffield of Stamford, Emma Herdeg of New Canaan, Audrey Magnusen of Norwalk, Anna Hernandez of Stamford, Hannah Nightingale of Rowayton; second row (from left): Owen Collins of Darien, James Kontulis of New Canaan, Aaron Watkins of Norwalk, Sydney Essex of New Canaan, Alexis Rodgers of New Canaan, Logan MacLear of New Canaan, Jennifer Llamas of Norwalk, Nina Stoops of Darien; third row (from left): Brian Villalta of Stamford, Tyler Galante of Darien, Jay van Dijkum of Darien, Will Seiden of Darien, Alex Byrne of Darien, Carter Alvord of New Canaan, Shane Carbin of Norwalk, Jeffrey Ricciardelli of New Canaan, Adam Rizvi of New Canaan and Luca Franzino of Stamford.

Photo 2: (from left): Daly Baker and James Kontulis, both of New Canaan, were the recipients of awards in honor of their exemplary character, leadership and sense of community, Hannah Nightingale of Rowayton and Dillon Mims of Norwalk were student speakers at New Canaan Country School’s Closing Exercises.

Photo 3: (from left): Logan MacLear, James Kontulis, Georgia Rivero and Alexis Rodgers, all of New Canaan, attended New Canaan Country School from Pre-K through Grade 9.

Photo 4: Carter Alvord of New Canaan who attended New Canaan Country School from Pre-K through Grade 9, receives his certificate of graduation from Head of School Dr. Robert Macrae, June 14. All photos courtesy of New Canaan Country School

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