On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the Kingswood Oxford community gathered in Roberts Theater for the 35th Annual Convocation Ceremony to formally open the 2024-2025 school year as Head of School Tom Dillow welcomed all new and returning students and faculty members.
Mr. Dillow invited eighth-grader Anay Sahu to the stage, where he encapsulated a common KO experience and talked about the emotions he faced during his first day as an Upper Prepper a couple of years ago. Anay described events like meeting Head of the Middle School Ann Sciglimpaglia, who stood to greet him at the door, and his first class at KO, where he didn’t know what to expect. Anay said he recalled being nervous but beyond excited to embrace becoming a Wyvern. “That feeling of excitement, of opportunity, didn’t just help me navigate my first day here,” he said. “It was what ended up guiding me through my last two years here at KO.”
He explained that each of these experiences collectively reminded him of the lesson he had shared earlier. “Fear shows genuine interest, that you care enough about something to be concerned, but focusing on the excitement is what creates motivation,” Anay said..
Senior Speaker Stella Zimmer then took over the podium with an inspiring speech for the upcoming year. When addressing the senior class specifically, she reminded them to keep a positive mindset, to cherish every moment, and to set a positive example for the younger students. “Throughout these next couple of months, take advantage of every opportunity, create every memory, and make the most of our last year here at KO,” Stella said.
Once Stella and Anay finished, Mr. Dillow spoke once again and highlighted two of KO’s core values, respect and intellectual curiosity. “They are not just words on a page or concepts we discuss in assemblies,” Mr. Dillow said. “Our school’s core values are the principles that guide our actions, our interactions, and our approach to the world around us. In order for us to create a respectful and safe environment for all students, we must uphold these values every day.”
Mr. Dillow went on to thank all faculty members for their hard work and dedication and then ended his speech by leaving everyone in the audience with a charge. “To our students: I challenge you to be bold in your curiosity, to ask hard questions, and to seek out new perspectives,” Mr. Dillow said. “I also challenge you to do so with respect, and to remember that learning is not just about being right, but about growing as a person.”
Following all three speeches, Ms. Sciglimpaglia and Head of the Upper School Lisa Loeb called up seniors Sandy Cloud and Raine Wang to present the class flags to sixth-graders Violet Mattis and Jacob Palmer, which will be hung up on their graduation day in seven years. Then, Sandy and Raine were presented with the Class of 2025 flag, which will be hung up during the seniors’ Commencement in May. In addition, Ms. Sciglimpaglia and Mrs. Loeb presented senior class president Jenna Kanaan and vice president Leo Sussman with the senior shields, which all seniors will be able to carve their initials into later in the year.
To wrap up Convocation, all students and faculty rose as Choir Directors David Baker Steve Mitchell led the school in singing the school song, “Hail Kingswood Oxford.” Once the ceremony was concluded, students and faculty alike left the auditorium, eager and excited for the new school year ahead.
