Catching up with Alumni

Class of 2021: Henry Stotler and Lauren Hagan

Getting to see old friends you haven’t seen or talked to in a while can feel very special. That is why the Community School Class of 2021 reunion was so fun and important to celebrate. We were able to see the people we grew up around but don’t get to see as often anymore. The reunion provided us an opportunity to catch up on the new things about everyone’s lives and experiences at their new schools. Something fun that we got to do at the reunion was watch the sixth grade play of the current sixth graders. Even though it probably made us all a little jealous to see a traditional performance, it also reminded us of all the teamwork required of our entire class and teachers to produce our 6th Grade Play as two classes and two plays instead of a whole class and one big play like normal due to Covid-19. In the words of author Richard Paul Evans, “Old friends are memories personified.” This perfectly describes the Community School Class of 2021 reunion.

Class of 2020: Chris Tao and Harper Hall

On March 8, 2022, the Class of 2020 had a little reunion. With a strange finish to our sixth grade year and 24 months of uncertainty to follow, it was fantastic being back together at Community.

Reuniting with classmates you spent nearly a decade with, in some cases, felt incredible. We reminisced on our time together and noted the changes we could see in one another. The Class of 2020 is exceptional (or so we think), and it’s satisfying to see how Community School has shaped us and continues to impact us in mind, body, and spirit. We are all grateful for the start we got at Community!

Class of 2016: Noah Kleinlehrer

Although we have previously spent the past six years attending various secondary schools across St. Louis, there was always a special connection that united us wherever we were. While we would see alumni at school sporting events or cross-school occasions, we never had been together as one class before our reunion. To all convene in one place, sitting at the tables we had lunch at for years in our childhood, walking past the playground where we created friendships that still hold today, and the classrooms and libraries where we discovered a love of learning made the day ever so special. Our reunion concluded with a slideshow of photos from all of our years at Community School. From laughs to affectionate expressions of joy, it was great to look back at our years of childhood and development. While we were all going on our separate journeys of discovery, it was a pleasure to be able to come together once more as the Class of 2016 to congratulate and recognize all our hard work while reminiscing on our time spent together.

Alumni Social: Jen Gosnell ’79

On December 15, 2021, we welcomed alumni, alumni families, and friends to campus for an Alumni Social. Guests included graduates from every decade between the 1950s and 2000s! We enjoyed reminiscing and sharing about what’s new at Community. We gathered in the Discovery Center, where we enjoyed wine and snacks, chatted, and looked through photographs pulled from the archives of the school and our classmates back then. Kristin Garrett Keller ’96, our current Alumni Board President, even brought some old shop projects for show and tell! This event has been added to our annual calendar, so please mark your calendars for January 12, 2023. We are moving to that date to better coordinate with the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award assembly, which will be held that morning. Stay tuned for your invitation!

Campers Visit Studio Terra Nova

On June 10, 2022, students in Community School’s Clay Camp visited the studio of artist Carol Fleming Marks ’73. Campers learned about her process and the importance of persistence as an artist. They also had the opportunity to make clay art. Carol’s Studio Terra Nova is close to Community’s campus and is open for tours.