The Ethel Walker School Commences 101st Year; Welcomes 100th Graduating Class

Classes began Thursday for the 101^st year of academics for women at the Ethel Walker School, an independent, college preparatory school for girls in grades 6-12. During the year’s first all-school meeting, Head Bessie Speers welcomed the School’s 100^th graduating class by sharing with them a photo of the school’s first graduating class.

Walker’s has been celebrating its Centennial year since October 2010, which culminates in a final celebratory weekend Sept. 30 — Oct. 2. The event’s keynote speaker will be Walker’s alumna actress Sigourney Weaver ‘67.

This year, the school welcomes students from as close by as Simsbury, and as far away as Turkey, Afghanistan, Chile, France, Germany, Namibia and Russia, among 18 foreign countries, along with students from 18 U.S. states. This year’s student body also represents the school’s largest boarding population since 1989; so large, in fact, that another dormitory was added to accommodate the demand.

President of the student body Kayla Monroe, a member of the class of 2012, said “I came in as one person and I’m leaving as 46,” referring to her relationships with her 45 senior classmates.

Faculty speaker Carol Clark-Flanagan reminded the students that they benefit from the 100-year continuum of academic rigor for women, and encouraged them to take risks, because, “If you don’t stumble and fail, how will you learn?”

Bessie Speers, with an overarching view of the school’s strong alumnae body, said “You will all be part of one another’s lives for many years to come.” As the school plans October’s celebration, it is evident that the connections made at Walker’s do last a lifetime. Many of the schools alumnae will be returning to campus for that celebration.

This information was provided in a press release from the Ethel Walker School.