Excitement on Opening Day as Westminster Begins 137th Year

From new incoming Third Formers to Sixth Formers and prefects, every student felt the high level of excitement on Williams Hill on Sept. 2: it was Opening Day. As a steady stream of cars drove onto campus, new and returning students and their families were first welcomed by Dean of Residential Life A-men Rasheed, Dean of Admissions Miles Bailey ’94, and Director of Advancement Newell Grant Jr. ’99.

Arriving at the top of the Hill, music, cheers, and the amplified shouts of prefects through megaphones let students and their families know that the Westminster community was energized by the start of the academic year. Dressed in black and gold, prefects waved flags, shook pom-poms, and urged every vehicle to “Honk your horn!” so that the welcome could be heard across campus.
 
Third Former Chloe Corneau ’29 from Cromwell, Conn., had seen the prefect welcome previewed on social media and enjoyed being a part of the campus tradition in person and said, “I’m excited to start the year!” Her mother Alicia noted, “I’m excited, but also maybe a little sad” to have Chloe leaving home to be a boarder
this year.

Kerry Pokorny of Glen Ridge, N.J., brought her daughters Caroline ’26 and Lily ’29 to campus with a full heart: “For me, this year is particularly meaningful because I have a freshman starting out and a senior finishing up. I’ve seen all the growth and transformation my older daughter went through, and I’m excited to watch my
younger daughter experience all of that here at Westminster.”

Peer leaders, Sixth Formers and international students returned earlier in the week, but most students arrived on Opening Day. The 433 students who arrived on campus represent 22 states including California, Wisconsin, Virginia, Maine, and South Carolina as well as 22 countries, including Spain, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Korea,
and Ukraine. There are a total of 123 Sixth Formers and postgraduate students, 117 in the Fifth Form, 113 Fourth Formers, and 80 in the Third Form.

Once students completed registration in Armour Academic Center, faculty members directed families to their dorms and Sixth Formers sprang into action to help carry boxes, luggage, clothing, and textbooks. Sixth Formers Virginia Whiting ’26, Alex Musser ’26, and Lauren Levinson ’26 were busy welcoming students and
assisting with move-in at Gund House. “I’m excited to be back with friends,” said Virginia. “I love seeing everyone.” Alex and Lauren agreed and mentioned riding their scooters and decorating their dorm rooms as highlights of returning to campus and reestablishing their life in the dorm.

As a parent of Fifth Former Liam Hibbard ’29 and Third Former Maeve Hibbard ’29, Stephanie Morin of Barrington, R.I. shared, “We are incredibly excited for all the continued opportunities that they’ll explore here at Westminster.” With their youngest daughter Hattie ’29 starting as a Third Former, the Lynch family of Avon, Conn., had already experienced Opening Days on Williams Hill with their two older daughters, Ava ’23 and Tilly ’25. “I appreciate coming here and feeling like family when I show up. It’s so much more than a school,” said Coley Lynch. “I think Hattie will have a wonderful time with everybody here supporting her and helping her along as they did with my older two daughters.”

The next day featured the first Chapel of the school year with Head of School Elaine White introducing the Head Prefect Address, delivered by Mimi Salman ’26, a boarder from Dubai, U.A.E. Mimi spoke on the importance of community and its connection to this year’s theme, “unity.” “Community is when people show up for each other every single day. Community is about being together,” said Mimi. “Unity is about moving forward together.” She conveyed to new and returning Martlets that the Westminster campus is “a place to forever call your home.”

Following her address, Sixth Formers led a procession toward the Sixth Form Lawn for the traditional pin ceremony. Former Head of School Graham Cole began the practice as a way of recognizing the Sixth Form and emphasizing their responsibility as leaders to uphold the core values of character, community, involvement, and balance. The Sixth Form class designs its unique pin in the spring of their Fifth Form year and wear their pins all year as a constant reminder of their leadership responsibility. That Sixth Form design is also on their Sixth Form flag, a practice begun by former Head of School Bill Philip. The flag resides in the head of
the school's office for the year, until it is needed to call a Hill Holiday.

After the pin ceremony, the Prefect Board led new students into Andrews Memorial Chapel for the sign-in ceremony. Students are expected to commit themselves to do their best to live up to the community standards and to embrace that commitment when they sign the school ledger.

The official first day of classes began Thursday, September 4. On the following Saturday, Head of School Elaine White formally welcomed the entire Westminster community in the Head of School Chapel program, and the first full week of classes began Monday, Sept. 8.