By Isla Beckstrom’26
School events unite our community—boarding school without ‘mandatory fun’ results in a dull experience for faculty and students. Aside from Convocation and the recent class trips, upcoming school events include Play for the Cure and the All School Walk. Apart from bringing the school community together, these events are essential traditions that have been going on for a large part of the school’s history. Crucial members of the Frederick Gunn School instituted these events, and although it is hard to recall while trekking through Steep Rock or playing under the lights with friends, these events were created to have an impact on the school community as they have.
The School Walk was first instituted by our founder, Frederick Gunn, in 1861. He led his students on a long walk to Milford, where students then camped for several days. About forty students joined their Headmaster on a 40-mile trudge to Welches Point, Milford. There, they camped for about ten days and conducted military drills to help them prepare for their service in the Union Army. After his death in 1881, the school walk was continued by the new Head of School, John Brinsmade, to commemorate Mr. Gunn’s death. Often, the date of the school walk is set as close to October 4th as possible, Frederick Gunn’s birthday. In years past, students and faculty have started the walk by laying a wreath on the gravesite of Frederick Gunn or reading his thoughts concerning nature. Although the path and traditions concerning the school walk have changed over time, the idea is the same: the celebration of our founder and his appreciation of the outdoors.
Play for the Cure is yet another fall-trimester school tradition. Students from every grade compete against each other in a field hockey game under the lights for bragging rights. Play4TheCure is a “sports fundraising program for the National Foundation for Cancer Research, which provides funding worldwide to the best scientists to enable cutting-edge research that other large cancer organizations can’t and won’t fund” (nfhca.org). In the years since its founding, the National Foundation for Cancer Research has provided 415 million dollars towards cancer research and education.
School Events are vital to the spirit and function of the Frederick Gunn School. For 175 years, these events have guided school members to find happiness, purpose, and enjoyment. These events have continued for so long for a reason. Although it may seem tempting to abstain from participating in school activities, these events only lead to positive outcomes for those involved.
