School News

Boys Varsity Basketball and Ice Hockey win against tough competition early in the season. Fall athletes were also recognized for their outstanding performances with numerous team and postseason awards.

From the impact of genetics and ethnicity on breast cancer and the environmental effects of candles to American football's history and the ball's aerodynamic design, Grade 8 students showcased a diverse range of interests through their semester-long R.E.A.D.Y. projects. Friends and family of the young researchers buzzed around the middle school atrium on Friday, December 8, listening to the students’ R.E.A.D.Y. presentations, an acronym that stands for Research, Experience, Action, Designed by You. 

Six students and nine faculty and staff members traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) from Wednesday, November 29 - Saturday, December 2.

Grade 4 families and members of the King community were invited into the classroom on Friday, December 4, to see the culmination of the students’ U.S. Region unit. The unit covered the geography, climate, landscapes, and states within each region. Studying various types of maps taught students essential skills such as cardinal directions and scale.

Students from King School’s Model UN club traveled to Brown University in November to compete in the Brown University Simulation of the United Nations (BUSUN). The group of 18 students expertly argued their positions with a high level of sophistication and knowledge over the weekend of intense debate, lobbying, caucusing, and resolution writing and sponsoring with students from across the country and the world.

King students, parents, faculty, staff, and families interested in King School’s approach to science packed the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 16, for King’s second annual Science Research Night. The evening event was a testament to King’s commitment to inquiry-based learning and showcased the high level of scientific research students engage in each year.

Students in science teacher Katie O’Connor’s Grade 8 Concepts in Physical Science class used ClassVR, a technology that introduces virtual and augmented reality in classrooms, to see things invisible to the naked eye through augmented reality. More specifically, they had the chance to see models of elements and compounds that are ubiquitous in their world. 

Grade 5 students have been immersed in the dawn of civilization, studying Mesopotamia and exploring the ancient world guided by the driving question, “How did we get here?” The unit recently culminated with students presenting models highlighting individual interests to their lower school peers.

After taking home a second straight Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) title with a thrilling 3-1 win over Sacred Heart Greenwich on Friday, November 10, King Varsity Volleyball earned an unprecedented eighth straight New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) title defeating The Rivers School (Weston, MA) 3-0 on Sunday, November 19, in the NEPSAC Class B Championship at Milton Academy in Milton, MA! The path to the FAA finals included victories over Greens Farms Academy and Greenwich Academy, while wins over Groton School (Groton, MA) and Greenwich Country Day School propelled the team to the New England finals.

King Girls Volleyball defeated Sacred Heart Greenwich in a four-set thriller to take home their second consecutive FAA Championship. King Varsity Field Hockey played in its first NEPSAC tournament game since 2016. King Football finished the fall season with a win. As fall wrapped up, the winter season kicked off, with Varsity Boys Basketball, Varsity Girls Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Squash starting this week. 

As King School continues to develop community partnerships, lower school students recently engaged in discussions and lessons with community leaders, authors, artists, researchers, and scientists from King and beyond. Grade 1 students met Mayor Caroline Simmons, artist Muffy Pendergast visited the lower school art studio, Grant Dietz ’24 presented research on global warming to Grade 5, and PreK visited the upper school frog project, among other activities aimed at deepening the community relationships.

Middle school students debuted the first theatrical performance of the 2023-24 school year with two magical performances of “A Wrinkle In Time” on Friday, November 10. The iconic science fantasy piece tells the story of three adolescents who embark on a journey through space and time looking for a lost family member. Themes of family, good against evil, personal maturity, and forgiveness resonated with many students.

Six King students attended this year's Girls Advancing In STEM (GAINS) conference at the University of Chicago earlier this month. Accompanied by Director of Science Research Victoria Schulman, the students attended panel discussions, took STEM tours, and met and networked with role models from various fields.

Several upper school winter sports began this past week, with more starting up after the Thanksgiving break.
 
Upper school students should reach out to coaches with any questions. Students interested in winter sports who have not yet signed up should email Mr. Decker and the head coach immediately.

Varsity Girls Volleyball looks to secure their next FAA championship on Friday, November 10, and Cross Country competes in their final race of the season on Saturday, November 11. In postseason play, Viking soccer players take the field in All-Star games this weekend. Finally, National Letters of Intent were signed this week by Sylvia Freidenrich ’24 and Jonathan Decker ’23.

The middle school community enjoyed an engaging presentation from Rodney Eric Lopez, a motivational speaker and educator who teaches about community, growth mindset, and generosity through dance. Lopez spoke with students and faculty in the middle school atrium on Thursday, November 9, where he shared how dancing and departing from comfort zones can bring a community together.

Stemming from a Kindergarten lesson on seed growth, Grade 4 students were recently tasked with creating a non-fiction book highlighting seed germination. Their work was shared in person during a meeting with their Kindergarten buddies, reinforcing academic skills and growing communal connections.

Members of the King School community and the Global Citizens Initiative (GCI) celebrated the organizations' long-standing partnership, during a special event on Wednesday, November 8. King was formally recognized as one of GCI's select partner schools during the celebration where faculty, students, and alumni spoke of the program's impact on fostering deep connections and a sense of global citizenship. The partnership reflects both organizations' commitment to developing global leaders and creating a meaningful global education experience.

Several upper school winter sports will begin next week, with more starting up after the Thanksgiving break. The previously announced winter sports lineup, includes our newest program, Pickleball, along with an opportunity for athletes interested in Girls Club Ice Hockey! 
 
Upper school students should reach out to coaches with any questions. Students interested in winter sports who have not yet signed up should email Mr. Decker and the head coach immediately.

The King Model UN Club welcomed students from Rye Country Day School and St. Luke’s School for a Model UN conference on Sunday, October 29. The exciting event, organized and run by the club, sets the stage for the upcoming collegiate competition this month at Brown University.

King’s Football secured a thrilling 33-22 victory over Hopkins School in the Metropolitan Independent Football League (MIFL) quarterfinals last weekend. The fifth-seeded Vikings will now travel to take on top-seed Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York, for a Friday night lights semi-final this evening, Friday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m.

Lower school students enjoyed music from the Middle School String Ensemble at a recent assembly. In addition to the group performance, middle school students and Performing Arts teacher Colin Benn discussed each instrument's purpose, inspiring their younger peers to pick up instruments of their own.

Across campus, Barbies, superheroes, monsters, creatures, and more enjoyed classes together on Tuesday, October 31. Faculty and staff enjoyed dressing up as well in individual and group costumes. The day culminated with friends and families joining together for the annual Lower School Halloween Parade around the Lower School Courtyard.

In this week's Athletics update, King Varsity Football looks to secure a win in their Metropolitan Independent Football League Playoffs first-round matchup against Hopkins School and fall teams recap their exciting Homecoming games.

The Viking spirit proved to be stronger than any rainfall. Despite uncooperative weather, Homecoming 2023 at King School was a Viking-sized celebration, complete with school spirit, alumni pride, and community fun. See videos, photos, and read more about this great community event.

King Athletics is ready for this weekend’s highly anticipated 2023 Homecoming festivities! Athletes from all seven fall athletic programs will be in action, competing in front of current and former Vikings. Off campus, our Crew team will be racing in the Head of the Charles, the largest regatta in the world!

King School’s Art and Design program provides students across divisions with a strong technical foundation to express their ideas and identities in visual form. As students explore different techniques and ideas, they bring their artistic visions to life. Whether it's sketching en plein air, sculpting in our studios, or harnessing the power of digital illustration, artists thrive throughout King, refining their skills and enhancing their capacity to communicate through the language of art.

The Performing Arts Department is offering two new classes in its new recording studio. Audio Engineering I is being offered for the first time this semester, and Audio Engineering II will be offered next. The classes allow students to dive into audio production techniques and use their new skills to shape their artistic style, which are already emerging in the students’ new music mixes.

Upper School Art Teacher Corina Alvarezdelugo was recently named the 2023 Connecticut Outstanding Art Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Art Education Association (CAEA), a professional organization which represents the art teachers of the state. Alvarezdelugo earned the recognition for her work cultivating artistic growth and critical thought in her students by offering a multidimensional and rich multicultural curriculum.

Fall athletics have seen an impressive start to the 2023-24 interscholastic campaign, with Varsity Boys Soccer and Varsity Field Hockey securing impressive victories. Read highlights from games and hear from the Head Coaches behind the teams in this week’s athletic update.

In Grade 3 Social Studies, students used the school community to hone research and writing skills and practice their interviewing techniques. After exploring the roles and responsibilities of different non-teaching members of the King community with the class, they selected three people they would like to learn more about, interviewed them, and discussed their findings.

In a recent lesson, Grade 8 history teacher Ken Lewis led his classes through World War I using alliance simulations and battleship games. The exercise was part of the course that introduces students to American foreign policy and political theory through active project-based lessons that incorporate close reading, research, writing, presentation, and group collaboration skills.

This week, “The Morning Show” returned with a teaser for the second season of the episodic, student-produced series on Tuesday, October 10. The show was created by Connor Neary ’25. Previous productions included athletic highlight reels, a promotional video for the King 5K, short student and teacher interviews, and a podcast. Connor expanded the show this year by creating a club to support the production. “The Morning Show” Club allows more students to contribute ideas and segments. 

This week, King’s Middle School introduced two new programs designed to foster inclusion and belonging between students from different grade levels: Middle School Families and Fellowship Fridays. The programs will increase the number of opportunities students have to mingle, find common interests, and develop new relationships in the King community.

Thank you to King upper school students Spencer Neckritz ’24, Grant Dietz ’24, Chase Phillips ’24, Rafe Reinstein ’24, Varun Bennabattula '26, AJ Mahadeva ’26, Kyle Kipnes ’24, and Nathan Trepanier ’24 for their insightful King Talk on Wednesday, October 4. The students spoke about their experience abroad this summer during the Global Education program’s Sustainability in Japan trip.

Leading up to the Jewish Sukkot holiday, Kindergarten students learned about the week-long festival, which emphasizes the values of hospitality, gratitude, and community in their homeroom class. The lesson culminated with the class experiencing a sukkah during a visit to Head of School Carol Maoz’s home on the school’s campus.
 

Golf team co-captain Zach Munno ’24  channels his success on the course to benefit communities off the course, earning him national recognition. In 2020, he organized the Metro Cup golf tournament and has since raised nearly $250,000 for local charities. His success earned the attention of the United States Golf Association and the American Junior Golf Association (USGA-AJGA), which named him as one of the two winners of its prestigious 2023 Presidents’ Leadership Award.

No more trials. No more ERGs. It’s time for the King Crew athletes to get out on the water for some competition. The Vikings will compete in the 2023 Head of the Riverfront Regatta on Sunday, October 1. Last weekend, Cross Country participated in their second meet and saw the best time by a Viking this season.

Everything about the Upper School is designed to facilitate learning. From the modular tables in the Library Learning Commons, to the menu in the Dining Hall, students are immersed in spaces that facilitate discussion, education, and growth.

The Lower School Library and Technology Literacy program offers students rich literature experiences and opportunities that help them build foundational technology skills. Students emerge from the program as researchers and learners with confidence and purpose. To facilitate this, students kicked off the new year by playing a cooperative Bingo Board game that featured questions that helped them build relationships and learn the fundamentals of the library.

From Bridgeport and Colebrook to Philadelphia, middle school students bonded over ziplines, archery, and a Museum of Illusions in field trip excursions designed to build camaraderie and set a positive tone for the year. Pushed out of their comfort zones and into experiences that called for collaboration and team-building, the trips initiate a spirit of unity and yield lasting memories that lay a strong foundation for collaborative growth throughout the academic year. 

Of more than 1.3 million submissions, King Class of 2024 students Catie Harvey, Max Krueger, Spencer Neckritzt, and Jack Zipper were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists this month. The students follow in the footsteps of their peer Ben Persily ’23, who, earlier this year, became the first King student ever to win the scholarship. Being named a semifinalist puts these students in a pool of less than 1% of high school seniors.

First grade social studies students explored the concept of community by discussing the social units they belong to and how smaller units make up greater communities. The inquiry-based unit included identifying community leaders at King, and they invited Head of Lower School Dr. Sandy Lizaire-Duff and Head of School Carol Maoz for interviews about their roles at King.

For the second year, King School's Middle School University (MSU) launched Grade 6 students into the new year, introducing essential skills and concepts for successful learning in Middle School. 

This year, the program expanded on three original areas of focus: materials management, effective communication, and executive functioning skills. A new unit was added to encourage students to take risks by helping them navigate anxiety associated with stepping out of their comfort zones.

The King community showed up in full force to cheer the Viking Field Hockey and Football teams at Fall Fest on Friday, September 15. Students, faculty, and staff from all divisions enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of fun and games on campus before dismissal. Both teams played hard, securing wins at home behind a chorus of cheers and applause.

Vikings are setting the pace for a strong fall season with tremendous opening performances in volleyball, soccer, football, and field hockey. Varsity and JV teams played strong at home and away games, scoring some notable wins for the Vikings.

Congratulations to upper school students Olivia Asnes ’25, Nicholas Butler ’24, Felicity Goudie ’25, Antonia Kolb ’24, Julian LaGattuta ’24, Olivia Rodrigues ’25, and Zachary Munno ’24, for being selected as Moffly Media “Teens to Watch 2023.” The students are profiled in Moffly’s September issues according to their hometowns and lauded for their academic accomplishments and community contributions. Antonia is also featured on Bedford and New Canaan Magazine’s “18 Under 18” list for her outstanding research achievements.

Walking around the Lower School, it's hard to believe that classes are only in the second week of the school year. From Prekindergarten to Grade 5, students are engaged in active lessons, shaping their minds and bodies for a year of purposeful learning.

To help the Grade 8 class step into the division’s leadership role, middle school teachers kicked off the new year by hosting the Grade 8 Retreat. This year's event took place in the Middle School on Thursday, September 7, and Friday, September 8, and offered students a chance to connect with their peers, set expectations, and share their vision for the year ahead.

Fall teams played hard in preseason scrimmages, resulting in impressive performances against strong opponents. The determination, enthusiasm, and team spirit displayed have set the Vikings up for an exciting season.

Upper school fall athletes hit the fields, courts, water, and courses for the two-week preseason on August 21. Ready to embark upon successful seasons, athletes from Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, Cross Country, Crew, and Girls Volleyball are setting the tone for the school year by competing and excelling this fall. Read on for preseason highlights and college commitments from three Vikings.

Congratulations to rising sophomore and King Boys Golf team member, Thomas Bonomo '26, who qualified for the 121st Met Amateur golf championship this week! Earlier in the month, Thomas qualified for the Connecticut Open, the biggest event on the Connecticut State Golf Association schedule.

Students and chaperones Tom Castonguay, Karen Raidt, and Dr. Peter Yu are enjoying medieval villages, picturesque landscapes, and awe-inspiring scientific wonders in Switzerland and France during one of this year's study abroad opportunities.

Surrounded by proud families, King teachers, and staff, middle school students marked the end of a chapter and the beginning of their high school years during the Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony on Friday, June 9.

In a celebration filled with excitement and a deep sense of accomplishment, King’s youngest Vikings and their families gathered for the Lower School Moving Up Ceremony on June 9. The ceremony marks the lower school students’ successful completion of the school year and the start of Middle School for Grade 5 students.

The Middle School celebrated the incredible achievements of its students with the annual Prize Day ceremony on June 8, 2023. Congratulations to all of the outstanding students.

Despite a passing storm, warm weather and even warmer hearts swept through the King School campus as 84 graduating seniors received their high school diplomas on June 2, surrounded by beaming families, faculty, and staff. NFL player Kevin Pierre-Louis KLHT’10 delivered the commencement speech highlighting the importance of resilience, adaptability, and self-confidence. 

This spring, six Vikings senior athletes committed to play sports in college. Several of these students were recognized among family, friends, and coaches in the Upper School Gym, where a ceremony was held on Thursday, May 25. This group of standout athletes is joined by senior James Raidt ’23, who, in the fall, signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Duke University.

Every May, seniors embark on a self-designed independent research project that allows them to dive into a topic about which they are passionate. From homemade drones to electronic dance music and historical research, students presented their Senior Projects during the last week of school, showcasing their academic achievements and preparedness for higher education.

Months of inquiry and discovery culminated with impressive student presentations at the Grade 7 Science Fair in the Upper School Gym on Friday, June 2. The variety of work on display spanned a range of student interests and included research in culinary arts, athletics, cellular biology, and more.

The Super Duper Weenie Truck, an ice cream bar, and a slideshow of baby photographs kicked the end-of-year festivities into motion for Grade 5 on Wednesday, May 31. Organized by class parents, the festivities allowed students to recognize their progress and created buzz and momentum for the coming Moving Up ceremonies.
 

Viking athletes bring home wins and post-season recognition as the spring athletic season comes to a close. Read news from all teams in this week's athletics update and follow kingschoolct_athletics on Instagram for the latest updates as Varsity Boys Lacrosse plays their championship game today, May 26.

Culminating weeks of multidisciplinary work, students proudly presented research projects at the annual Grade 5 Science Fair. Parents, faculty, and staff enjoyed learning more about the varied studies in physics, biology, engineering, and chemistry. A culminating event of the lower school experience, the collaborative work sets a strong foundation for continued studies in Middle School.

The seventh annual STEM Colloquium showcased years of research from senior class recipients of the STEM Distinction, recognizing the students' passion, determination, perseverance, and achievement. Ben Persily ’23, Gouri Krishnan ’23, Yuriy Sandmeier ’23, Clare Liao ’23, and Eli Lowe ’23 discussed their capstone projects, many of which were completed through King School’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE). Following the student presentations, Director of Science Research Dr. Victoria Schulman announced the winners of the Upper School Science Fair, which was held on May 10.

Middle school students took their learning on the road in mid-May, applying math, science, and analysis skills in real-world situations that reflected their progress this academic year. From Broadway to the Long Island Sound and Lake Compounce, students spanned the area for research and relationship-building as they prepared to move up. 

The postseason is here, and the Vikings are ready to shine! While some teams have wrapped up the league and FAA tournament play, several others now move on to New England championships this weekend and next week.

King School’s Grade 4 took geometry to the links as they applied lines and shapes to build mini-golf course holes. The lesson served as the culminating math exercise for the year and incorporated prototype drawings, consultations with the school’s golf team, and presentations on Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

King School is thrilled to announce that Ben Persily ’23 won the prestigious National Merit $2500 Scholarship. The award is the culmination of two years of competition; winners were announced on Wednesday, May 10. Over 1.5 million students from about 21,000 high schools entered the competition, which began in October 2021 when high school juniors took the Preliminary SAT (PSAT.) The highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than 1% of the nation’s high school seniors, were named semifinalists. For Connecticut, that meant earning a PSAT score of 1470 or higher, with 1520 being perfect.

King School’s Grade 8 played the role of delegates facing a United Nations Committee in an activity that marked the end of a yearlong study of American foreign policy and the United States’ role in the world today. Under the guidance of history teacher Kenneth Lewis, students debated global issues with one another as part of a Model U.N. simulation in their history class in mid-May. 

King’s Lower School buzzed with fun and festivities as students hosted the traditional Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday, May 12. The annual event drew more than 150 guests from across the globe and kicked off with a breakfast reception featuring Head of School Carol Maoz, Head of Lower School Dr. Sandy Lizaire-Duff, and student performances. The day allowed grandparents and special friends to immerse themselves in a day of classroom lessons and activities.

Boys Lacrosse Varsity Head Coach Jay Hill and Girls Lacrosse Varsity Head Coach Katie O’Connor connect on the fields in their coaching roles and in the classroom as members of King’s Science Department, Hill in the Upper School, and O’Connor in the Middle School.

The creativity and ingenuity of King School’s students were evident at this year's Upper School Science Fair. The annual event, now in its seventh year, showcased work from the entire Grade 9 class as well as students in Grades 10-12 enrolled in the Science Research elective class and all ASPIRE students.

Romance and magic were in the air at King School as a middle school cast of 37 actors and 12 crew members staged “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” in King School’s final theatrical performance of the 2022-23 school year. The show, which was double cast, filled the Performing Arts Center with music and applause during performances on May 4 and 5.

King School’s Grade 3 writing classes have infused fairy tales into writing lessons for several years. This spring, teachers Ellen Eagleton and Samantha Clark gave the unit a multidisciplinary spin by incorporating traditional stories from Africa, China, Ireland, Mexico, and Persia. Students explored geography and discussed the tales’ themes, cultural similarities, and differences. Then they wrote fairy tales of their own.

It has been a strong spring so far and many of our teams, and athletes are gearing up for postseason competitions and events. With the end of the school year approaching, and summer on the horizon, it is time to start looking ahead to the upper school fall athletics season and to many important activities happening in the coming months. King’s Fall Athletics Fair is on Thursday, May 25, summer training opportunities are lining up, and preseason starts in August.

Culminating a years of research and self-discovery in the arts, nine senior advanced art students presented capstone projects at two Art Colloquia in the Performing Arts Center at King School in late April. The presentations result from the school’s O.P.E.N project experience: Original, Personal, Experiential, and Novel, with the advanced students spending an entire year exploring a theme of their choosing. Students used different mediums to explore topics including the environment, human behavior, geology, and technology creating work that reflect their interests or experiences.

A heartwarming testament to the commitment and dedication of King School faculty and staff, the inaugural Platinum Circle Dinner honored current and former employees who have given 20 or more years of service to the school.

This year’s Global Fair, sponsored by the PA KInD Committee, was a beautiful showcase of King’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. After a three-year hiatus, the event returned to the lower school gym, where families transformed the space into a multicultural hub.

The King of Spring celebration carried into last weekend as many upper school spring athletes and teams faced off Saturday, April 22. Varsity Girls and Boys Lacrosse, Varsity Softball, and Varsity Baseball competed in games on campus, as Track and Field and Crew teams competed in events off campus. The final athletic event of King of Spring was Sunday, April 30, as the King Varsity Girls and Boys Lacrosse teams welcome athletes and coaches from New York for the Harlem Lacrosse Clinic.
 

A traditional literature lesson was given a multidisciplinary twist this year in Grade 1. Teachers Julia Rachinsky-Wood and Zach Levine invited Performing Arts teacher Amy Darnton into their classrooms, giving students the opportunity to bring the lesson to life on the stage in the Performing Arts Center.

Grade 7 students visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York this week. The field trip aligned with student research into what it means to be American. The visit allowed students to deepen their understanding of the complex situations the president faced in office.

King School is excited to announce that Alex Martin will be the King Crew Head Coach and Program Director. Martin began working with the team in winter and is determined to lead the program into a competitive spring rowing season.

Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a Day of Action hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Awareness Club (GSA) in King’s Upper School. Community members gathered during the FLEX period for activities and speeches focused on promoting acceptance and a greater understanding of issues relevant to trans youth. 

American football linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis KLHT ’10 spoke about his journey to the NFL, including King and Coach Gouin's impact on him, in the Houston Texans' video series My Football Story.

Members of the middle school affinity group, Students of Color at King (SOCK), enjoyed food, games, and bonding with upper school students from the Black Student Union (BSU), Hispanic and Latin American Affinity Group, and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Affinity Group (AAPI) over lunch on Wednesday, April 13. Led by faculty advisors, the cross-divisional gathering inspired conversation and camaraderie in a welcoming setting.

Coach Jhonny Arteaga was recently appointed Technical Director for King Soccer. In this role, he will work closely with all of King’s boys and girls soccer athletes and coaches, providing technical and tactical support, strategic guidance, and mentoring. Additionally, Artega’s JA Elite Soccer program will expand to include the program’s first-ever soccer clubs for boys and girls. The clubs will begin competition after the Fall 2023 athletic season concludes.

Children’s book author and illustrator John Rocco visited King’s Lower School on Wednesday, April 12, to discuss his books, his inspiration, and his process. Each of Rocco’s books offered a range of discussion topics applicable to multiple grade levels. By the end of his visit, he had inspired students to see themselves as authors, illustrators, and researchers.

Upper school student and ASPIRE scientist Yuriy Sandmeier ’23 has created a combination therapy to treat tuberculosis (TB) infections, and, until this breakthrough, the disease was resistant to drug treatments. His accomplishment recently earned top marks at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, and the story behind the research is as powerful as the breakthroughs he is generating.

King School has a new face at the helm of the Varsity Boys Tennis team for the 2023 spring season. King Athletics is thrilled to appoint Telly Zangas as the Head Coach of the team starting with this season.

Embracing students' passion for superheros, teachers Jen Agro and Jessica Vigliotti produced numerous experiences, which they call provocations, that yielded academic skills alongside social-emotional development in fun and engaging ways. Over the course of several weeks, students studied geometry to create a city for their alter-egos, used science to free heroes frozen in ice, collaborated on costumes, and more.

After returning from the first Florida training trips since 2019, the regular season has started for many of our King spring teams. Read highlights from upper and middle school baseball, lacrosse, softball, and tennis teams in the latest athletics update.

Taking ownership of learning is an essential aspect of the middle school experience. King guides students in discovering who they are and how they learn. Part of this development is having students lead the traditional Parent-Teacher Conferences. The result is meetings that foster accountability and encourage students to develop self-advocacy skills. Open communication channels yield better academic performance and strengthen student relationships with teachers and family.

Eight members of the King community attended the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Commission on Diversity’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference on April 2 at Hopkins School. The event brought independent schools across the state together to foster cross-cultural understanding and take action to improve the school communities regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

On the first weekend of April, King School hosted its eighth annual El Sistema residency. The event uses music ensembles as a means of communication and connection between communities of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Musicians from the Middle and Upper Schools joined visiting students from various El Sistema USA programs, including Stamford’s Project Music, for intensive music workshops.

The STEM Build-a-Boat Challenge in Grade 6 Science Teacher Lindsay Chiodi’s class evaluates students' understanding of density in a fun and creative way. Students compete in small groups, applying their knowledge from classroom lessons, labs, and homework to design and construct a vessel capable of supporting increasing weight.

Grade 2 students recently presented their research highlighting the Long Island Sound ecosystem to lower school peers, concluding two months of inquiry and investigation. Written research accompanied dioramas featuring animals native to the Sound, showcasing the broad range of academic skills students developed during the project.

The Class of 2023 welcomed 22 alumni representing many industries, including law, education, technology, finance, performing arts, athletics, and more, to campus for Career Day on Monday. After an introduction in the Performing Arts Center, students convened in small groups for open discussion with the alumni. The annual event provided the soon-to-be graduates with valuable insight into life after King, including personal and professional advice for living a fulfilling life.

During the second week of Spring Break, March 18-24, more than 150 upper school athletes and coaches headed to Florida for a week of training, team building, and camaraderie. The Vikings spanned across Florida to the Disney ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, the Austin Tindall Sports Complex in Kissimmee, the Saddlebrook Golf and Tennis Academy in Wesley Chapel, and the Stetson University in Deland.

After a tremendous winter season, recognition has now been confirmed for our outstanding winter athletes. Additionally, for the first time since 2019, spring teams are traveling south to train, compete, and grow together over the break.

In the first part of their linear perspective unit, Grade 8 students majoring in Art and Design created murals in the Middle School, demonstrating their knowledge of one-point perspective. Working from initial sketches, students carefully placed and trimmed colorful masking tape to create the illusion of depth on the flat walls. After Spring Break, students will use this experience to inform work using a two-point perspective.

“Rodger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” dazzled audiences last weekend at King’s Performing Arts Center. Students wrapped in colorful costumes sang witty show tunes with a modern message that transformed the centuries-old tale. In this adaptation of the classic, Cinderella is empowered by the virtue of kindness.

Grade 4 students took their first foray into exploring rhetoric in a lesson that started with parsing books and led to literary essay writing and Spotify podcast recordings. The students focused on deconstructing language in select books and applying the techniques they discovered to their own work. The two-month experience culminated in a presentation to families and peers on Wednesday, March 8. 

King School has a strong commitment to its Performing Arts program, evidenced by its state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. As stunning as the facility is, the program’s competitive edge comes from the talented students and its team of dedicated professionals. The standard they bring is evident in the program’s curriculum, which is regularly refined to ensure that academic rigor keeps pace with the students. This year, that refinement process produced the addition of a Certificate of Distinction in Performing Arts.

In a rematch of last year’s thrilling overtime finals win for King, Ice Hockey made it two in a row with a dominating 6-2 win over St. Luke’s School in the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) title game on Saturday, February 25 at Stamford Twin Rinks (STR)! The Vikings also finished the winter as the FAA regular season champions, marking the first time in program history that King has won back-to-back regular season and tournament titles!

A powerful message about navigating self-acceptance came to the Middle School Monday, February 27, when wellness advocate Hakeem Rahim visited King to share his story with a focus on mental health awareness and wellness. Rahim offered actionable steps to help students and their friends navigate difficult times.

While expanding their focus on communities, Grade 1 students took a close look at their favorite places in Stamford and surrounding towns, conducting research, creating models, and sharing their learning with peers and adults. 

Viking athletes have been playing hard in postseason matches against long-standing rivals. Read updates from Ice Hockey, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, and Squash as winter athletics come to a close.

The 2023 spring athletic season kicks off next week. Review schedules, contact information, and guidelines and expectations for what is sure to be an exciting season.

Grade 5 students sharpened their academic skills as they advocated for various causes during an Advocacy Cafe in lower school classrooms on Friday, February 24. The cafe served as a supportive space for students to share their passions as they practiced public speaking. Backed by evidence, students presented cases for gun law reform, gender equality, and in support of cyberbullying and mental health awareness.

Directors of Teaching and Learning Heather Parker and Jessie Coulombe led a breakout session at the NYSAIS Student Support Conference on King’s collaborative approach to teaching executive functioning skills in the Middle School. The conference took place at the Mohonk Mountain Resort in New Paltz, New York, spanning three days in early February.

Research took a personal turn for Antonia Kolb ’24 when a life-threatening tick-borne infection revealed a lack of readily available information about such diseases. She decided to address the problem by developing an app to identify ticks and assess their risks. Two years, several accolades, and more than 600 Apple App Store downloads later, DETICKT IT was selected this month by Congressman Jim Himes as the winner of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge in Connecticut’s Fourth District.

Students, faculty, and staff convened on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the induction of Jack Zipper ’24 into the Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society. Students inducted into the King’s chapter of the society must complete an application demonstrating a commitment to journalism through professional development, community engagement, and ethics. Jack’s acceptance is a testament to his talent and hard work as a producer of “King Cast,” King’s economics podcast, and as an editor of “The Pelican,” King’s student newspaper.

King Athletics hosted its second annual Male Athlete Leadership Day on Saturday, February 4, at Chelsea Piers in Stamford. Male athletes from various King teams turned out for the four-hour program, which focused on mental health and movement. The event was a great success. Students participated in deep and inspiring conversations as well as in physically and mentally challenging activities. They also enjoyed a Mexican-inspired lunch buffet and refreshing smoothies. 

Grade 5’s recent production of “The Claw” on Friday, February 3, in King's Performing Arts Center presented an opportunity to perform on stage and explore the emotions that come with significant changes. With moving up from Lower to Middle School on the horizon, the play was a perfect vehicle for students to process the feelings such transitions can bring.

King School’s Grade 7 students fanned out across Stamford and into Darien Wednesday, February 8, visiting five King Cares community partner locations for a day of service learning. The trips emphasized the importance of community engagement and offered students a chance to identify an area or organization of interest. The excursions served as a foundation for continued work as students grow through the Middle School and Upper School.

Last week, students in all divisions celebrated Spirit Week. Dressing in a different theme each day, students showcased their personalities across campus. The week was capped off with the upper school winter semi-formal dance Friday evening, leading into an action-packed Saturday. The annual Winter Showcase drew students, families, faculty, staff, and fans to campus, where they cheered on Viking athletes in action.

When history teacher Christos Galanopoulos heard Olivia Asnes ’25 announced as winning Outstanding Delegate at Harvard Model United Nations, he threw his arms up and let out a resounding “YES!!!” All of Boston likely felt his excitement. Eighteen King students delivered outstanding performances at the simulation.

When the Chair of the Mathematics Department, Dr. Victoria Khiznichenko, and math teacher Stacey Karipides sought to offer middle school students an extracurricular math option, they organized a math club and called it “K Squared.” The club meets after school on Tuesdays in the Upper School’s Academic Center and is open to both middle school and Project Music students.

The new year brought a new initiative to the King Lower School, one that celebrates the school’s virtues of integrity, kindness, perseverance, and respect. Counselor Maki Itoh spearheaded the idea of Virtue Cards as a way to reward exemplary behavior in students.

Eight upper school students received awards and honorable mentions for visual art, argumentative writing, and poetry at this year's Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition for creative teens.