New Canaan Country School Officially Opens School Year

Kyle’s Court Opens in Memory of Former Student

On Sept. 3, New Canaan Country School officially opened the academic year. Interim Head of School Peter O’Neill welcomed more than 1,000 students, parents, faculty and staff with the theme of “Building Community.”

“This will be the only school year of its kind,” said Mr. O’Neill at the Parents’ Association coffee that morning. “For your child, this year will bring “firsts” and initial discoveries that happen just once. That is the beauty of working in schools – to be a part of moments, daily, with such pronounced singularity and novelty. These moments combined create a remarkable journey for your children, one which we as educators take great pride in helping to shape.”

The first day of school also marked the opening of “Kyle’s Court,” a resurfaced Middle School hardtop area, which includes basketball, tennis and four-square.

“Kyle’s Court” is dedicated in honor and in memory of Kyle A. Markes, a Country School student who passed away in December 2013 after a 13-month battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The son of Jackque Mclean-Markes and Walter Markes of Stamford, Kyle was a fifth-grade student at the school when he was first diagnosed.

When Head of Middle School Kirsten Rosolen gathered the Middle School students, teachers and Kyle’s family together last May to unveil plans for the new court, she shared that it was a fitting way to “celebrate his courage; to celebrate his cheerfulness; to celebrate his selflessness; to celebrate his light-hearted nature; and to celebrate the upbeat and positive spirit that he brought to campus every day from grade 1 through grade 6.”

Kyle loved basketball and was an avid Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) fan. Fittingly, one hoop was painted in orange and blue, OKC colors. Magic Johnson was also an inspiration to Kyle. Having researched The Magic Johnson Foundation, Kyle wanted to make a difference in the lives of others too. During his time at the Smilow Cancer Center , Yale-New Haven, Kyle set up shop and made rubber band bracelets to sell to all who came onto his floor at the hospital. All of the money he raised he gave back to Mikey’s Way, an organization that had supported Kyle and other children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

The school will also remember Kyle in an annual day of service each spring, where students, teachers, parents and the broader community will come together to devote their time and energy to projects which support causes close to Kyle’s heart. The first Kyle A. Markes Day of Service will be held Saturday, April 11, 2015.

New Canaan Country School is an independent day school serving children from Beginners (Pre-K) through Grade 9 from Fairfield and Westchester counties. For more information, visit www.countryschool.net.