Before Kingswood Oxford School was established, merging in 1969, it was once the all-boys Kingswood School and the all-girls Oxford School. My grandma, Leslie Chorches Weinstein, is an Oxford alumna, and my mom, Alexis Weinstein, is a KO alumna–so you could say that my KO veins run deep. 

I had the opportunity to sit down with Leslie Chorches Weinstein, Myck Williams, Deborah Lamont, and Helen Newell Douglas from the Oxford class of 1966. Since reconnecting at their 50th reunion, these local women–and others–still often get together. 

Oxford School was established in 1909, with the motto “Vincit Qui Se Vincit,” which, translated from Latin, means “One Conquers by Conquering Oneself,” and is KO’s motto today. With a class of 32 girls – and the entire school population being only about 218 girls across all six grades – my guests explained their experiences attending Oxford. 

While KO’s colors are crimson and black, just like Kingswood’s were, Oxford’s colors were grey and orange. One way KO honors this history is with four houses, as our student body is divided into red, black, grey, and orange for competitions throughout the year, as well as our notable field day, Cup Day. There is also a Middle School a capella group called the Octopipers, whose colors are grey and orange as another nod to Oxford.

The Oxford campus was on Prospect Ave and Highland St, which later became the KO Middle School and is Bristow Middle School today. The girls started off each school day with chapel in a little room that was their auditorium. “We sang Protestant hymns, and we had a reading,” Mrs. Lamont said, explaining how each senior did a reading at some point throughout their senior year. “It was a very nice way to start the day,” Mrs. Weinstein said. 

The Oxford school uniform consisted of a grey flannel blazer with an Oxford emblem patch, a matching line skirt (as pants were not allowed), a rough white blouse with a round collar, often a circle pin at the collar, a belt, their choice of a sweater, knee-high socks, and saddle shoes or brogues. This uniform only applied late fall into mid-spring (after May 1), as it was too hot to wear the wool uniform. Instead, they could wear anything they wanted, of course, with harsh and reasonably similar style guidelines as the uniform dress. 

“It could be freezing cold out when you wore your skirt and your knee socks,” Mrs. Weinstein said. The skirts also had to be a certain length to be in dress code. “And if you knelt on the ground, your skirt had to touch the floor, ” Mrs. Douglas said. The uniform was strict and in line with the times, making sure to cover certain parts of the body so girls’ outfits were not too revealing. “So the only way we could express ourselves was with a cumberbund or our knee socks or sweaters,” Mrs. Williams said, expressing their limitations for fashion freedom. 

A uniform is not only a way to look cohesive, put together, and proper, but it is also a way to be inclusive of everyone’s backgrounds. “The feeling was that they figured that some girls came from wealthy families, and maybe some girls didn’t, so they didn’t want to classify society,” Mrs. Lamont explained. “I really liked that part of it, too.” While the uniform was quite strict compared to what KO students today are used to, it had some positives. “I thought that was the easiest thing to get up in the morning and just throw those clothes on,” Mrs. Weinstein said, as students never had to think much about what outfit to wear.

As is true at KO today, sports were then mandatory at Oxford, but there were far fewer sports to choose from. Winter sports, for example, consisted of basketball or dance. The uniform for sports was a navy blue sleeveless tunic-style one-piece that went down to the mid-thigh, and they wore bloomers as garments underneath. For graduation, the ladies wore white dresses–just like we at KO do today–but they walked from Oxford to a church nearby together. As graduation gifts, they received a ring with the motto “Vincit Qui Se Vincit,” and “Oxford School” with a logo that resembles a book, and “1909,” as their year of establishment. 

Posture was also an element of much reinforcement at Oxford school, as some students even had to go to posture class. “Somebody would walk down the hall when we were standing in line to go into the cafeteria,” Mrs. Weinstein said. “And they’d tap you on the shoulders. Today I still have good posture.”

The women shared that their class was not cliquey and they all got along really nicely. “Everybody was nice,” Mrs. Lamont said. “We were not snobs. We were unique in that regard.” Coming into Oxford late as transfer students, Mrs. Lamont and Mrs. Weinstein both agreed that they could have been ostracized, but weren’t. “We were accepted as aliens into the group without any problems,” Mrs. Lamont said. 

While it could have been more difficult for them to make friends and feel welcomed at Oxford, that was not the case. “Because others had started in seventh grade, you had bonds,” Mrs. Weinstein said. “Yeah, you know, we were never going to forge those, but we were very included.” They even explained how they don’t remember ever sitting with the same people at lunch every day. “I was tremendously, even now, still grateful for that, because those three years that I was there were absolutely wonderful,” Mrs. Lamont said.

Another difference from today was how much the women knew about the personal lives of their classmates. Because of the culture at the time, and the fact that it is more socially acceptable to be openly honest today than it was back then, the students never used to share home struggles, leaving some of these women shocked to learn of their classmates’ personal issues years later. “We didn’t talk about stuff like that. It wasn’t in the culture to expose ourselves emotionally that way,” Mrs. Lamont said. “You did what you had to do.” 

They explained how people comforted each other, but–in their experience at least–they never got too in-depth to learn about the negative aspects of their outside lives. The alumni also recalled being at school during the tragedy of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and how they weren’t told what had happened by their teachers, and had no phones or loudspeakers. The school handled it by sending them home, again demonstrating that outside issues weren’t discussed much at school. 

As Kingswood and Oxford only merged a few years after these alumni graduated, they saw the merger as positive. “I thought co-ed education was good, especially in a controlled environment,” Mrs. Douglas said. “I thought this would be really beneficial for Oxford for sure, and I hoped for Kingswood.” 

I asked them all what they would choose to do if they could go back to the old Oxford for one day. Mrs. Williams said that she really enjoyed chapel. Mrs. Douglas mentioned glee club, as that was something that she really enjoyed during her time at Oxford, as well as sports. “At 10:30 a.m. every day, the cafeteria was open,” she explained, “and we had a half an hour break, and we had juice and cookies,” another of her favorite aspects of school. “I thought it was so nurturing,” Mrs. Douglas said.

Mrs. Weinstein went on to mention her Spanish class, as that was a favorite class for her. “I would go back to Señor Rojo’s class,” Mrs. Weinstein said. “We had a great relationship with him.” Mrs. Weinstein went on to explain how the tight-knit relationships built at a small school such as Oxford are one-of-a-kind. “Especially from my experience, coming from public school, I never had that kind of relationship with teachers before,” Mrs. Weinstein said when reflecting on how the class went to Señor Roho’s house. “I was kind of blown away by the fact that these classes are so small, and how you get to really know your teachers, and they get to know you,” she said. The students even had the opportunity to go to Spain with their Spanish class. “That was an option that is probably common nowadays with kids,” Mrs. Douglas said, “but it wasn’t then. It was a big deal in 11th grade.”

When asked what Oxford means to them today, Mrs. Douglas explained that she never liked learning before Oxford. “It got me to want to learn and use my brain and realize I’m smart with the things I want to be smart in,” Mrs. Douglas said. “It gave me a wonderful education.” Oxford also helped these women prepare for college. “College was easier because of the skills that we learned,” Mrs. Weinstein shared. 

Mrs. Lamont shared more of her experience coming to Oxford from Catholic school. “I think that I experienced a tremendous freedom, coming from where I came from,” Mrs. Lamont said. “To be able to be with really smart girls, who I always wanted to be like, and I could learn to think for myself, ’cause in Catholic school, you don’t, and it was just a wonderful moment to sort of experience freedom, even though it wasn’t so free in those days, it was still way freer.” Mrs. Williams mentioned the relationships she was able to make, reflecting very positively on her time at Oxford. “I would say some very special teachers and lifelong friends,” Mrs. Williams said. 

It was a special opportunity for me to be able to interview my grandma and the other Oxford alumna, and I enjoyed hearing their stories. From strict uniforms to the campus, posture, social norms, and their favorite aspects of Oxford, this interview will definitely stay with me and has provided insight on Oxford to the KO community. We thank Mrs. Weinstein, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Lamont, and Mrs. Douglas for sharing their wonderful experiences!

Something that I have observed is that we never fully take advantage of the opportunities we have because we are scared. Senior Managing Photo Editor Matthew Belo agrees. “You never know what you might step into,” he shared. 

Matthew has been attending Kingswood Oxford since his freshman year. During his time at KO, he has been a major contributor to the arts community, particularly through his outstanding, eye-catching photography. Whether it is for the KO News or the art gallery, he has a gifted talent that speaks through his passion. Pictures describe the scenes that we are unable to depict from the stories written. Matt has been a photo editor for the past three years, which has been a huge help to KO News.

Before we wish Matt a sincere goodbye, I’d like to acknowledge his past and future accomplishments. Coming from a small Catholic school in Simsbury, he successfully adapted to the Kingswood Oxford culture. When asked what his “worst” year at KO was, Matt was quick to respond. “Freshman year,” he said. “It’s getting used to a new place in a different curriculum.” I think many of us, including myself, can relate to and agree with this.

After taking time to adjust, Matt found his place here at KO. He has grown into himself and his community since he first arrived here. He looks forward to upcoming end-of-year events but is most excited to see what his future holds at George Washington University. He plans to study information systems and get a job in tech. 

As Matt says his final goodbyes and his last hellos, leaving his mark here at Kingswood Oxford, he wanted to share parting words with the remaining KO community: “Find people who you like to be with,” he said. “Try new things, and try new hobbies. It doesn’t hurt.”

At Kingswood Oxford’s Upper School, impressive achievements are nothing new – but this spring, eighth grader Stephanie Reale has added an especially noteworthy one to the list: winning a regional spelling bee in Connecticut and advancing to the state-level competition.  

For Stephanie, her interest in spelling sprung from curiosity, and not just competition; it started with a desire to better understand language itself. “I wanted to learn Greek and Latin roots and improve my spelling abilities,” she explained. Creating a foundation and focusing on the building blocks of words later became one of her strongest strategies. 

When the moment of victory arrived at the regional spelling bee, it didn’t immediately feel real for her. “I was extremely excited,” she recalled, “and many of my classmates and friends came to take a picture with me.” Still, the excitement was mixed with surprise. Stephanie noted that many of her peers were phenomenal spellers, making the win feel both rewarding and unexpected. Almost immediately, her mindset shifted toward what came next: tougher competition at the Connecticut Spelling Bee. 

Preparing for that next level required both discipline and creativity. Stephanie relied on a mix of independent and collaborative study methods. She made flashcards, with the help of her classmates, and studied from the official Scripps National Spelling Bee materials – these included progressive levels known as One Bee, Two Bee, and Three Bee. She also used the Word Club app to reinforce her learning. While she didn’t follow a rigid daily routine, her consistent engagement with words proved effective. 

Her approach to difficult words reflects a deeper understanding of language structure. Rather than trying to memorize every word as a whole, Stephanie breaks complex words into smaller, more manageable parts. This method helps her decode unfamiliar vocabulary under pressure. 

Even for a strong competitor, though, challenges are inevitable. At the Connecticut Spelling Bee, the word that ultimately ended her run was “woebegone.” While disappointing, moments like these are part of the experience and part of what makes success in spelling bees so demanding.

Looking back, Stephanie emphasizes the importance of strong fundamentals. Her advice to other students interested in spelling bees is simple but insightful: focus on roots and don’t skip the basics. “Start with the easy words because you do not want to overlook them,” she said. It’s a reminder that even advanced competitors rely on a solid grasp of foundational skills. 

Stephanie’s achievement highlights not only her dedication, but also the supportive academic community around her — from classmates who helped her study to the broader school environment that encourages intellectual curiosity. As she continues her academic journey, her success in the spelling bee stands as a testament to the power of persistence, preparation, and a genuine love of learning. 

As the Head Editor of Features and Arts, senior Sanya Sadiq has contributed hard work and dedication to KO News. As many seniors in the spring look forward to graduation, we sadly must say our goodbyes to those who have been in the KO News family. 

Sanya first joined KO News in the second semester of her sophomore year, but she shares that she wishes she could’ve started earlier. She also mentioned the positive encouragement from her sister, friends, and English teacher and Faculty Advisor Cathy Scheiffelin, after taking the journalism class.

The article she is most proud of is her piece on senior year stress, as she felt it was especially real and relatable to students. Through her writing, she aimed to connect with others and reflect shared experiences within the school community.

What she will miss most about KO News is the community it creates. She values the opportunity to work with peers she might not normally interact with and appreciates the connections she built with both underclassmen and classmates.

As she prepares for this next chapter, she leaves advice for future staff members: “Block your time effectively and put everything into every article you’re writing,” she said, while also adding that it’s important to have fun. After graduation, Sanya plans to attend the University of Richmond, where she will major in business management. We wish her the best of luck on the new journey she will soon take and miss her deeply. 

For senior writer Olivia Pilecki, being part of KO News was much more than just an extracurricular activity. Even though Olivia first learned about journalism in her first year, her inspiration came from her older sister, who shared stories from her experience working for the KO News. 

In her second year of high school, after taking journalism, Olivia decided to work with KO News and share her voice through her pieces, spending the past years working for the paper as a writer. She has written articles covering almost every section, from features to sports, and everything in between. 

Unlike many writers, Olivia did not limit herself to a few topics. She said she enjoyed writing about a variety of things and was also ready to help whenever someone needed her. Being part of KO News taught Olivia the importance of establishing connections with people. Olivia learned how to conduct interviews, approach people, and have good conversations. 

These skills will be something Olivia remembers even when she graduates from high school. One of her favorite days is News Day, where everybody joins in to make the newspaper happen. The KO News staff and KO community wish Olivia luck for what’s to come.