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Chatter, laughter and excitement filled the air as Stanwich School students gathered for the first day of school. On Wednesday, September 8, Pat Young, Headmistress of the Stanwich School, greeted the 425 students and 95 faculty members that belong to the Stanwich community for the school’s 13th annual Opening Ceremony.

“This year we are embarking on our final chapter in the growth of the Stanwich School — the Senior House,” Young told Stanwich’s students during an all-school assembly. “Mr. Krein has joined us, leading the charge that will allow each of you to graduate from Grade 12 from Stanwich School,” she added.

Addressing the audience, Derek Krein, Head of Stanwich’s Senior House for grades 10 to 12, said he was “honored to be a part of the final phase of Stanwich’s growth.” Krein added, “I look forward to joining everyone in the Stanwich community as we build the Senior House.”

A highlight of the ceremony was listening to the gifts of song from the student body. Children in the Primary House raised their hands in the air to sing a round of Praise Ye the Lord Alleluia in French. Following the younger children, students in the Intermediate and Junior Houses joined together to sing I Will Call Upon the Lord.

Mrs. Young closed the ceremony by saying, “I ask as we go through this year, luck year 13, that we pay particular attention to what I call the Stanwich difference, and that is helping others to be their best. Stanwich students have created a place that is safe, thoughtful, and kind. In this environment, we can all develop the talents and gifts that we have been given.”

Under the tutelage of Stanwich School math teacher Peter Abbott, and science teacher Ryann Lyden, the school’s seventh graders recently helped bring an abandoned garden back to life. The school’s Junior House students cleared the weed-covered plot of land, germinated plants from seed, and planted a new crop of fruits and vegetables.

Abbott and other faculty tended to the garden over the summer and offered green beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, carrots, and the like, to fellow Stanwich faculty as well as to Stamford-based St. Luke’s LifeWorks. There is also a patch of collard greens that are used to feed the school’s gecko. The pumpkin patch that was created adjacent to the garden is full of fruit that will soon be ready for harvesting.

“After some nuisance nibbling by the local deer residents, the fence was raised to keep the deer out, and the seedlings finally had a fair chance to thrive,” said Abbott. “I anticipate a steady and plentiful harvest right through into October, and I can’t wait for the students to return to help collect and distribute the produce.”

For the 420 students, the last week of school was the culmination of a joyous year at the Stanwich School. At the twelfth annual closing ceremonies on June 10, 2010, Headmistress Pat Young related quite well to the sentiments of the students and assured them that their Stanwich education is one of a partnership.

“We know that we are a community that’s a partnership, and that we all work together to make our year special,” said Mrs. Young. “This year has been one where I look back on as a year of joy. Joy is doing your personal best. Joy is the fullness of the spirit that blooms from the loving heart, and it happens here every day, in many ways. Year 12 has been our year of joy, a year of living the Stanwich heart together.”

Following Mrs. Young, Doug Moffitt, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, congratulated the student body for being outstanding in so many ways. “There is no greater joy for a trustee than to learn, through so many different people and reports, of the wonderful things you do every day that reflect the mission of Stanwich School.”

Mr. Moffitt also gave the Grade 7 and 8 students kudos on embracing the school’s new Upper School campus in Stamford. “You have been positive pioneers, which represents so much of the spirit of your school’s first 12 years,” said Mr. Moffitt. ““You have all helped set Stanwich firmly on the path to realizing its vision, because one day you will see a beautiful new K-12 co-educational school right here on Stanwich Road (with) all the facilities needed to implement our programs, and most importantly, our mission. You see, the buildings and the fields will be beautiful and new, but what happens on the inside will remain uniquely “Stanwich” in mind, body and spirit. So we thank you for all that you have done to contribute so meaningfully to this important chapter in our history.”

Stanwich alumnus, Niki Consuegra, who is currently studying at the University of Michigan, addressed the students, faculty and guests. In his speech, Mr. Consuegra reflected on his time at Stanwich and all that he learned from his classmates and teachers. “When I think of a school, I don’t think of it as a place where you go only to learn information and then go home and do it all over again the next day. I think of a school as a place where learn invaluable information in the classrooms, strengthen your relationships with your classmates and the surrounding community, and keep yourself healthy and outgoing by competing in athletics. Stanwich embodies all of these things that makes it such a special school. This really cultivates its students into outstanding members of society,” he said.

When the students were sent out into new summertime endeavors, they were reminded that the “truth of Stanwich” is showing everyone the warmth of the Stanwich Heart.