Giant Relay Day

Considering most of the past year’s uncertainty, just holding a Giant Relay Day was an accomplishment. Head of School Dr. Mike Davis was determined not to cancel another Giant Relay Day, no matter how different the circumstances or activities. The day began with the whole school gathered for an AllSchool Assembly on Welborn House Lawn for remarks from Dr. Davis, including the traditional reading of Senior names and the Seniors enthusiastically shouting their class cheer, “2021: We got it done.” Giant Relay Day planners did their best to create a fun and festive day that seemed to be a hit with every grade level. The Lower School held its Field Day in the morning on both Firman and Slater Fields, guided by faculty from the P.E. Department and with assistance from Eighth Graders. Everyone gathered to watch Dr. Davis run not one, but two, races. Along with this year’s Kindergartners, the now-First Graders, who missed last year’s race due to the pandemic, lined up to challenge our Head of School. Middle School began the relay action after lunch with a heated competition amongst the Grades Six, Seven, and Eight teams on Wright Field. With dark clouds building, the Giant Relay started right after the Middle School finished. The Race consisted of three teams: Seniors, Faculty/ Staff, and (vaccinated) Parents. Alumni Board Member Ben Hock ’07 designed the race T-shirts with the theme “Back to the Future.” Current students, faculty, and staff cheered for their favorite team. Not surprisingly, the Seniors won the race by a wide margin. Senior Spencer Harvey, son of Ned and Libby Harvey ’84, had never been in a kayak, yet increased the student lead on that leg of the race, giving Senior Captain Luke Wharton an easy sprint to the finish. The Alumni Association is looking forward to seeing the return of an alumni team and many more fans at next year’s Giant Relay Day on May 20, 2022. We hope to bring back all the fun activities and CA community members we missed seeing in 2020 and 2021. Mark your calendars now, as we look forward to seeing you then, if not at Homecoming this fall. n

The winning Giant Relay Team, the Seniors, From Left: Chloe Brants, Nathalie Maffei, Kendall Smart, Maya Pellegrini, Aaron Rice, Peter Carpenter, Luke Wharton, Jordon Mills, Kiah May Not pictured: Grady Behrhorst and Spencer Harvey

Kayakers, from Left: teacher Sydney Finkbohner, Senior Spencer Harvey, parent John Briggs