Head of School Find Strength and Clarity in Community

Once the great energy of the community sets a school year in motion, there is truth to the sentiment, “The next time we pick up our heads, it will be winter break.” The longer lens and reflections that came together at the end of another calendar year carried a mix of emotions. They also set the stage for the amazing torrent of activity as campus came to life in January.

Last fall, in experiencing all the joys of the start of the school year, we ushered in the largest ninth-grade class in the Academy’s more than 200-year history. The quality and quantity of that class stands as testimony to how KUA has worked to expand our communications, recruitment, external efforts, and, even more significantly, the thoughtful refinement and scope of our educational philosophy, KUA Design. The team and program in place to welcome our youngest students, Nine by Design, starts students’ four-year journey with the foundation and connections to thrive.

Just as Nine by Design has gained more meaningful structure, so too have we seen our co-curricular programs thrive. As fall sports wrapped up with tournament play for the boys’ soccer team, winter sports were diving into holiday tournaments. Early in January, our varsity boys’ and girls’ hockey teams made memories of a lifetime when they jumped on the ice at Fenway Park—a winter classic not to be missed! Up on the Flickinger stage, we ushered in a new era following last year’s retirement of two KUA icons. Our collective jaws dropped at the opening acts for our new theater and dance directors, who introduced us to Bollywood dance and reconnected us with a Shakespearian classic that transformed the stage into a wooded wonderland.

Amid the great energy that defined the fall, we also struggled together through the loss of two deeply beloved community members. Former faculty member Cynthia Elizabeth Howe H’20, P’06, ’14 and senior Burke Ryder ’23 both spent a huge portion of their lives here on The Hilltop, and selflessly gave so much of themselves—epitomizing the very best of who and what we are here at KUA. The challenge of walking with each of them through their final chapter in life was difficult, but those journeys made even more transparent the love they had for their families and for KUA—a love we returned with equal measure.

When our foundations get rocked, we not only appreciate being together in community, but also find strength and clarity from the people and experiences here at KUA. You will find that in the pages of this magazine. KUA Design will have more meaning as you read it in the words of our teachers and coaches; it is at the heart of the work that so thoughtfully crafts the experiences of our students. The depth of the spiritual connections we make exploring our passions is articulated beautifully through the voices of a few of our current students as they explain the role sport plays in their lives. And we can all be inspired by the lives of purpose and integrity our alumni find, as shared in the profile of a recent graduate exploring unique solutions to a mounting global challenge.

At these moments of reflection, we can step back and be proud of the many ways we are fulfilling our mission. Building on all the authentic relationships we develop, we are truly students of this important work and thorough in our design and delivery of the full community experience. It’s great to be a Wildcat! K

TYLER LEWIS Head of School

Sound Bites from All School Meeting

Twice a week, the entire school gathers in Flickinger Auditorium for All School Meeting. Every gathering offers a time to share, bond, laugh, educate, and master the art of public speaking.

“All School Meeting is one of those rare occasions within our daily life where we as a community are all seated together. It is a fantastic time to appreciate each other’s presence.”

TAKEO ’23

Co-All School President

“I’m really excited to let you all know that the pigs arrived on campus last Saturday. The pigs are a crucial part of our KUA community here and serve a huge sustainability purpose. By having the pigs here, we save seven to 15 tons of carbon dioxide, which is enough to drive all the way around the world.”

BRYNN ’25

“Seventy-five percent of you are probably dehydrated right now. Think about how much water you’ve had today. Its super, super important that you’re adequately hydrated, not just for sports but for life, for class, and for maintaining your focus. So, if you haven’t had any water today—and your coffee with whipped cream and caramel doesn’t count as water—make sure you get some in you.”

MATT UNDERHILL

English teacher, boys varsity hockey assistant coach, varsity softball head coach

“Kindness runs so deep to the core of who we are. KUA’s been around for over 200 years, and inclusivity and embracing diversity has been at the heart of who KUA is since the very first day we were founded. Extending our kindness to others is the key that unlocks that.”

TYLER LEWIS Head of School

“This upcoming Monday we will be climbing Whaleback Mountain as a whole school. We do this as a community to connect with our classmates and peers, to enjoy nature, to experience new things out of our comfort zone, and to spend the day learning outside of the classroom. And most importantly, to have fun. Mountain Day is a tradition here on The Hilltop and we value the beauty of nature that the Upper Valley provides for us.” LULU ’24

“Going into this year, I believe that our ninth-grade class is resilient and lays a great foundation. I’m excited for this year, where we can all grow together, and I’m always here if you want to talk. You can usually find me at the bagel station.”

MO ’23 Co-All School President “What does ‘belonging’ mean? That’s kind of too big of a question for me to answer, but one thing I do know is what the ground of belonging is, what the very foundation of that is, and it’s three things: kindness, respect, and compassion. Those are the ground rules here at KUA. We treat each other with kindness, respect, and compassion.”

TOM KARDEL Assistant Head of School

“As you may have seen, there are some flowers outside the rink and this was to show KUA’s support at the Alzheimer’s Walk, where we had 28 students come out and participate. We also set a modest goal of raising $300, but as of yesterday, we had raised $2,200. We are incredibly thankful to all those who supported.”

AINSLEY ’24 & EVA ’24

“This past July, I engaged in a two-week long program at Oxford University in England as my Cullman Scholarship. I selected psychology and AI studies as my major and molecular medicine as my minor. This program has fueled my curiosity to explore and continue learning. I would like to thank the Cullman family for providing me this experience.”

RYAN ’23