SHARE

Wooster School In Danbury Asks Students To 'Rock' The Year At Convocation

DANBURY, Conn. -- The official start to Wooster School’s 91st year began on Tuesday in Danbury. 

Wooster School in Danbury opened the school year with its 91st convocation ceremony on Tuesday.

Wooster School in Danbury opened the school year with its 91st convocation ceremony on Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Wooster School students share a hug at the convocation.

Wooster School students share a hug at the convocation.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Wooster School students were asked if they were "ready to rock" the school year.

Wooster School students were asked if they were "ready to rock" the school year.

Photo Credit: Contributed

A video clip of Convocation 2016

Photo Credit: Wooster School Communications

The entire school gathered in the Forever Young Gymnasium for the event. The youngest and oldest students in the community gathered, with pre-kindergartners and kindergartners, and seniors sitting together. 

Head of School Matt Byrnes welcomed the community and introduced the Rev. Stephen Tickner, who led everyone in the school prayer. Continuing a tradition, Senior Prefect Jacob Engelbrecht led everyone in the reciting of the School Honor Code. Tradition continued as attendees celebrated Crayons to Commencement. Students who began their Wooster School careers in the Lower School and are now seniors were recognized. 

The nine seniors were each presented with a box of crayons, symbolic of their early days on the campus of Wooster School. The students recognized were: Trixie Betz of North Salem, N.Y.; Oliver Brown of Ridgefield; Tess Cicala of Bethel; Brianna Clarke-Ellis of Danbury; Vincent Eckstein of Cross River, N.Y.; Brogan Heneghan of New Fairfield; Emily Kirshner of Brookfield; Marie Klepacz of Danbury; and Venus Okwuka of Brookfield. 

In his remarks, Byrnes asked students to think about “rocking” their school year. “One of the things that we are going to ask you this year is to really think about rocking when you do things. When you learn how to do that, really great things can happen for you.” 

He spoke about what it means “to rock” and how so many people who had gone on to do great things in their lives and how other people fit that definition. As he showed images of people who “rock” in their lives, he described them as people who had dreams, persevered, were resilient, creative, imagined, broke down barriers, are resolute, very brave, patient, like to have fun and sometimes are hard to figure out. 

Byrnes concluded by asking the students if they were “ready to rock the school year,” at which point music chair Claire Simard and other students and community members led the whole school in a rendition of Queen’s classic “We Will Rock You.”

to follow Daily Voice Danbury and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE