Founders Day

TRADITIONS 139 YEARS LATER By Sarah Woods, Director of Communications

In 1883, as Allen-Stevenson opened its doors for the first time, the Brooklyn Bridge, connecting the cities of Manhattan and Brooklyn, also opened. Allen-Stevenson had just three students enrolled on day one but has educated over five thousand boys since then. Within 24 hours of opening the bridge, 150,000 people ventured across, and since then, millions have followed.

During the bridge’s history, it’s seen horse-drawn carriages replaced with trolleys, which were then retired with the advent of car lanes. Currently, it’s undergoing a transformation as new bicycle lanes are being added to ensure a more sustainable future. Over the same 139 years, Allen-Stevenson has also adapted in order to remain relevant. The School has just completed another major building project and revamped the structure of the divisions and schedules, as Mr. Trower has set out in his message on pages 2 and 3 of this publication. While there has been change, the foundation of AllenStevenson remains much the same. Traditions, such as Founders Day, when the School celebrates its formation, carry on to this day. “It’s important for us to remind the boys of the School’s humble beginnings to demonstrate just how far we’ve come,” said David R. Trower, Head of School. “I enjoy ringing a bell that dates back to the 19th century that was given to me in my first teaching job and showing Mr. Allen’s old wooden desk to the boys.”

This year, Founders Day was on October 8. As always, the School’s birthday provides a wonderful chance for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to come together as a community with various activities planned throughout the morning. Keeping with tradition, the School once again invited an alumnus to address the community on this special occasion. This year’s speaker was Adam Donaldson ’05, who thrilled the boys by joining the gathering virtually from Notre Dame Stadium, where he is the Assistant Athletics Director overseeing Production and Media Partnerships. His thoughtful and inspiring advice to students? “Work hard, be kind, and take risks!”

Older and younger boys have time together outside A-S in 1902 @ 509 Fifth Avenue

Scan the QR code to hear Adam’s speech

Adam Donaldson ’05

Pairing older boys with younger ones has been a popular aspect of Founders Day. To help prepare the Upper Division boys for the time they would be spending with the Lower Division boys, they used Advisory to write in their journals about what they remembered about being students in Lower Division. They highlighted building bridges from one table to the next with some special blocks, marble runs, read alouds, Mr. B’s guitar class, and thinking the older boys were SO big. They also readied themselves for talking about stars over Zoom with their young buddies.

Lower Division students created colorful 3-D star artwork integrating elaborate cutting patterns, folding, and gluing to make beautiful construction paper stars. Older students joined in the fun, including seventh graders who used origami paper to create their sparkly celestial bodies! All of the artwork will be proudly displayed outside the classrooms, each piece as unique as each boy at Allen- Stevenson.

These buddies spent time chatting over a birthday blue and gold iced cupcake on the closed street to round off this special morning.

Happy Birthday, Allen- Stevenson!