School News

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. 

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.

King School Grade 8 students met with peers from The Greenwich Japanese School this month as part of their Cultural Exchange Program. Now in its ninth year, the exchange provided a valuable opportunity for students to examine similarities and differences between the two communities.

Parsing economic trends takes time and skill, making the King Economic Research: Weekly Market Report and King Cast podcast valuable for the community. Produced by King School economics students, each product calls for research, analysis, and reporting that cultivates excellent fluency in economics for the students creating them.

King School’s varsity winter athletic programs continued their hot stretch this week, sweeping all competitions this past Wednesday, January 18!

A months-long study of the geometry found in different cultures sparked brilliant artwork by second grade students, which they recently presented in the Lower School. Inspired by geometric paintings commonly found in the homes of the South African Ndebele people, horizontal patterns common in Ghanaian kente cloth, and symmetrical motifs found in Islamic mosaics, the students produced original pieces infused with colors, patterns, and shapes.

One way to understand the events that led to World War I is to reenact them, which is exactly what Ken Lewis’ Grade 8 history class did recently. In an engaging and lively simulation, the exercise introduced students to the national alliances that developed before the start of The Great War. Using role-play, students gained a deeper understanding of the alliances and the discussions, negotiations, and occasional agreements between country representatives. 

King School Athletics takes a proactive and holistic approach to supporting the growth and development of our student-athlete leaders. Part of this holistic approach includes our Upper School Captain’s Council, which is composed of varsity and JV team leaders for each of the more than 30 programs we offer at the upper school level. 

This year's Winter Showcase will feature three of King's varsity teams in action, along with an upper school faculty versus student basketball game on Saturday, January 28. There will be plenty of momentum leading up to the game as students celebrate Spirit Week in all divisions, which will culminate in an upper school dance on the evening of Friday, January 27. Flik will be providing King "concession stand" items for all King students in attendance at the showcase games on campus on Saturday!

Culminating a semester-long independent study, students in King’s Middle School debuted their R.E.A.D.Y. projects this week to peers and community members. The projects showcased the unique interests of each student spanning the worlds of fashion, film, engineering, athletics, and more.

King School is proud to share that two students, Ben Persily ’23 and Gouri Krishnan ’23, have been selected as Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Top Scholars for their research work in King’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE). 
 
The prestigious nature of this scholarship can not be overstated: previous recipients of this award have gone on to collect 14 Nobel Prizes and 19 MacArthur Fellows, among other extraordinary accolades.

It was a chilly October morning when Prekindergarten teacher Jen Agro saw horses at King for the first time. Her students were way ahead of her, galloping around the schoolyard on cushions, bucking and neighing to each other. Over the next several days, stables sprouted up in the PreK classroom and horses were present throughout the school day. Within the week, Agro could see a course of study come into focus.

Three King School lower school educators brought their passion for social studies to Nashville, Tennessee, for an annual conference on the subject. The event provided a platform for attendees to share ideas and curriculum around a variety of topics and look towards the future of social studies education.

A yearly tradition continued prior to break as upper school French 201 students were welcomed in Grade 5 to discuss the francophile world. The student-led lessons highlighted language, cuisine, sports, and culture in fun and engaging ways.

Continuing his 12-year career in education, Jeremy Bletterman joined King School this year as Dean of Student Life in the Middle School. After a busy fall semester, he shares what surprised him the most about King, his thoughts on its robust middle school experience, and his hopes for the future.

Over winter break Laura Bowe, Director of Global Education, and Micah Hauben, Dean of Athletics, traveled to Japan in preparation for upcoming student travel programs. The experience helped to cultivate existing relationships with peer schools and explored additional opportunities for King’s Global Education and Athletics programs.

The annual Teddy Bear Toss event brought the King community together to support athletics and bring holiday cheer to families in need. A staggering number of teddy bears and stuffed animals were collected this year and joyfully thrown on the ice at Twin Rinks before an exciting hockey match against The Harvey School. Following the game, the donations were brought by team captains and King Cares organizers to Person to Person.

Momentum toward winter break was marked by gorgeous music rising out of the Performing Arts Center as the annual Winter Holiday Concerts celebrated the many cultures of the King community. The Middle and Upper Schools came together to present both instrumental and choral concerts, which were followed by the Lower School Winter Concert.

At King School, students infuse service learning into holiday season celebrations. Beginning the Thursday after Thanksgiving, and every Thursday into the start of January, middle school students come together for King Cares Give-Back Thursdays. 

Ron Fournier, author of “Love That Boy: What Two Presidents, Eight Road Trips, and My Son Taught Me About a Parent's Expectations,” paid a virtual visit to King School Monday, December 5, for what was an especially significant occasion: His was the first book selected for the first-ever division-head book club, and this was the group’s first meeting.

A delegation of students, faculty, and staff proudly represented King School at the NAIS’ People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

King School’s Director of Student-Athlete Health Services, Emma Jonsson, presented at the eighth annual International Working Group (IWG) World Conference for Women and Sport, which took place in Auckland, New Zealand, from November 14-18. This is the largest gathering in the world to advance gender equity in sports and physical activity.

Viking teams have been hard at work bringing home wins this week in basketball and ice hockey at the start of the winter sports season. Read the results and see photos in this week's update.

See photos from the Lower School Math Morning and learn more about King’s approach to mathematics in a video featuring Jenny Bruno, Grade 5 math teacher and Lower School Math Coordinator.

Peals of laughter and applause echoed through the Performing Arts Center during showings of the Upper School Fall Play, “Clue: On Stage.” Directed by performing arts teacher Mark Silence, the cast and crew showcased their hard work and talent, entertaining audiences in all three performances.

The King Volleyball team just closed a thrilling season, taking home both New England and FAA titles. Their games were packed with emotion as the team repeatedly delivered peak performances under intense pressure. 

In mid-November, six King students attended the Girls Advancing In STEM (GAINS) conference in what was the first in-person gathering for the community since the coronavirus pandemic. The event, which took place at Yale University, spanned three days during which high school girls interested in STEM connected with role models working in STEM fields.

Students in King School’s Model UN club traveled to Brown University to compete in BUSUN, the university's Model UN simulation, for the first time in-person since 2021. The experience reinforced students’ strong academic lessons and helped them better understand their individual responsibilities as global citizens.

Congratulations to the more than 40 upper school student-athletes who were presented with team awards and selected for postseason recognition this fall.

Girls Varisty Volleyball continues to dominate the court. With two new wins the Vikings advance the the NEPSAC semi-finals tomorrow, November 19.

Throughout his time in the King Upper School, Tommy Heaton ’23 developed an interest in credit cycles, the recurring economic phases of borrowing and lending. After parsing decades of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s meetings and finding patterns in recessions, he distilled his findings into a research paper that is garnering attention. 

As part of the King School Visiting Artists Program, artist Jeilla Gueramain kicked off her residency this week with a lower school assembly during which she discussed her artistic inspiration and process. The King School Visiting Artists Program is an opportunity to enrich, enhance and inspire the visual arts students’ experience at King, providing them with an immersive experience. 

The periodic table had a social media moment when Grade 8 students created social profiles for the elements. Students were assigned an element and tasked with researching its properties to create an Instagram profile complete with a profile photo, bio, and comments. Students presented their profiles at the end of the week before combining them into their own periodic table outside of the classroom.

Middle School thespians explored how Leonardo da Vinci allowed curiosity to spark his intellectual pursuits in the premiere performance of “I Want to Fly” at the Performing Arts Center.

Spanish classes in the Lower School immerse students in the language, culture, and customs of Spain and Latin America.

King School congratulates James Raidt ’23, who has committed to Duke Baseball after officially signing his NCAA Division I National Letter of Intent. The early signing took place in the upper school gymnasium on Wednesday in a ceremony held before family, coaches, and friends. James has attended King his entire academic career and fully embodies the school’s virtues and commitment to excellence.

Students at King School successfully bred an endangered amphibian. The eventful arrival of the three red-banded dart tadpoles took place inside a student-built vivarium that was transformed to reflect their habitat. 

Vikings keep up the pace in the post season. Advancing to the FAA Finals for the first time since 2017, Volleyball will host Sacred Heart Greenwich in the championship match tonight. Varisty Boys and Girls Soccer advance to the playoffs while Cross Country and Football wrap up their seasons.

King’s Digital Wellness Committee welcomed parents and students to “Navigating a Digital World through Parent-Child Partnerships.”

Crayons, wizards, M&M’s, animals, and more taught classes to witches, angels, superheroes, and a host of other characters and creatures on Monday, October 31, as the King community celebrated Halloween. Parents, guardians, and other community members gathered in the lower school courtyard for the culminating lower school Halloween parade.
 

Whether preparing for an upcoming ensemble performance or pursuing an individual passion, students enjoy a range of performing arts classes at King. Take a walk through the campus’s state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center, and you will find teachers thoughtfully guiding students through lessons that focus on building a sense of community alongside technical skills.

Big wins and playoffs are set for the Vikings as the fall season nears its close. This week, read highlights from our seven fall varsity programs, including recent crew and football wins, volleyball’s undefeated streak, and FAA seed rankings.

Throughout the year, King School celebrates the different cultures of members of the community. Recently, King parents Prachi and Rahul Iyer talked with second grade students about the significance of the Diwali holiday. During the discussion, students learned about the meaning of the holiday as well as the traditions, foods, and decorations that accompany it.

Catch up on the latest fall athletics news as Vikings race towards the postseason. Also, learn more about the annual captain and team leader workshop, winter sports fair, and middle school winter sports kick off.

As part of their social studies, Grade 1 students have been learning about communities, what it means to lead a community and the responsibilities that come with such a position.

To further advance their understanding of these topics, the students had the opportunity to ask questions to school leaders and Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons.

Leadership and citizenship were on full display during the Middle School Student Council elections on October 19. Each candidate represented King School virtues, speaking about their experiences at King and their hopes for the future.

During this year’s Sukkot holiday, the Jewish students’ affinity group shared a meal and conversation under a sukkah.

Through weekly meetings, the group aims to build stronger connections with each other in spaces where they can discuss their shared experiences.

King Athletics was out in full force this past weekend as we celebrated our Homecoming. This annual tradition saw athletes from all of our fall upper school athletic teams take part in activities and competitions on campus on Saturday, October 15. It was a perfect day. The campus was buzzing with excitement as games, races, and team ceremonies took place. There were food trucks, family-friendly activities, and fall colors all around. 

With school colors and lots of school spirit, Viking pride was in full swing on the King School campus as students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the school came together to celebrate Homecoming 2022.

A lively pep rally on Friday kicked off the weekend as students, faculty and staff cheered for fall athletic teams. Later that evening alumni reconnected at a cocktail party in the Performing Arts Center.

The entire community visited campus on Saturday for a full day of athletic competition, food, and activities. Alumni toured the campus, reflecting on fond memories from their youth.

The weekend concluded with the 10th annual King Cares 5K on Sunday. The race, supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford and the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, had a record turnout with nearly 200 community members competing. 

As we head into Homecoming weekend, King Athletics would like to give a special shoutout to our women athletes. King is a partner of the national Under Armour and BSN Sports Women of Will (WoW), which empowers schools and coaches across the country with performance solutions and a robust female athletics support system. The goal is to help change lives and inspire the next generation of women to strive for greatness.

During the lower school faculty meeting on Wednesday, October 12, lower school teachers discussed how they challenge students' mathematics skills in fun and engaging ways.

On Monday, Varisty Girls Soccer earns a huge FAA league win over Hopkins. Continuing their undefeated streak Varisty Girls Vollyball beat Hamden Hall. Cross Country competed at an All-Leauge race this week, and Football celebrates its Senior players.

In recognition of their academic accomplishments, Gouri Krishnan ‘23 and Ben Persily ‘23 have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. Both have submitted their applications to move to the finalist stage and look forward to the announcement of winners in the coming months.

As part of their social studies curriculum students in Grade 3 learn about community and storytelling. This week students conducted interviews with members of the King community creating real-world connections to their lesson.

This week students in Grade 8 resumed their morning tradition of helping with lower school drop off. The program bridges the two divisions and promotes a sense of responsibility and belonging for the oldest middle school students.

This week athletics celebrates Women of Will athletes with wins in Girls Soccer, Volleyball, and Field Hockey. Photo galleries from recent games are also now available.

Students in Grade 7 participated in a variety of activities at Camp Jewell. The overnight trip provided an opportunity to bond, build and strengthen friendships, and build a sense of community at the start of the year.
 

New friendships, a little mentoring, and a greater sense of community are some of the goals of a recently reinstated lower school buddy program. Students in Grades 1 and 3 recently partnered in Mrs. Rachinsky-Wood’s classroom to share a snack, read books, and get to know one another.

In its first year at King School, the Hispanic/Latinx affinity group aims to create a safe space for students who identify as Hispanic or LatinX to share and celebrate their heritage. Members of the group have begun to plan activities for the year to raise cultural awareness and help Hispanic communities in need.

Bringing to life King’s commitment to an inquiry-based approach to education, six upper school students spoke about their experience applying inquiry and research to different areas and disciplines, including sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, and athletics at the annual State of the School presentation.

After a successful preseason program, Vikings' fall athletics are in full swing. All of our fall programs are off to strong starts. The athletes continue to work hard, and the results are starting to show. Read on for team highlights

A new place of play and learning, the Prekindergarten "Backyard" features blocks, tree stumps, ladders, buckets, and movable slides and bridges. The space offers King School's youngest learners a dedicated place to express their interests and imaginations.

This fall, King School launched Middle School University for new and returning students entering Grade 6. The engaging program took place during the first two weeks of school and provided an introduction to essential skills and concepts for successful learning in middle school.

Watch as students in Grade 11 engage in healthy competition and team bonding through a challenging obstacle course that included puzzles, hurdles, and climbing walls.

Returning after a two-year hiatus, the Grade 8 start-of-school bonding trip immersed students in the history and culture of Philadelphia, PA.

During an exercise in literacy class, fifth grade students realized their superpowers, and learned a little about kryptonite, as they were immersed in “The Power of Yet.” Over the course of three days classes analyzed the actions, traits, and qualities that yield personal strengths and weaknesses.

With “Love and Gratitude,” the King School community rang in a new year at the annual Ringing of the Bells ceremony. School leaders addressed the audience echoing messages of growth and community. Following the ceremony, a group of Grade 12 students presented to Prekindergarten students.

Vikings return to the fields, courts, courses, and water for fall preseason athletics. In addition to sport-specific training, the two-week program fostered teamwork and social-emotional growth among athletes and coaches.

The buzz of Upper School Prize Day lent momentum to the festive air on campus leading up to graduation. A traditional celebration at King, the event honors excellence across the academic disciplines, clubs, arts, athletics, and in the King community.

Surrounded by proud families and teachers, middle school students celebrated their hard work and academic achievements during Middle School Prize Day and the Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony.

In a celebration bursting with anticipation, students and their families gathered for the Lower School Moving Up Ceremony Friday, June 10, 2022. The ceremony marks the start of middle school for fifth grade students and the successful completion of the school year for the lower school students.

Music, laughter, and bells rang across the King School campus as 91 members of the Class of 2022 received their graduation diplomas and celebrated the strength of their community among family and friends during this year’s Commencement ceremony on Friday, June 3.