A LOOK BACK
The Power of Community Spaces by Mark Macrides,Archivist
hen I first arrived at NCCS in the fall of 1985, I was immediately impressed with the strong sense of community
were deliberately designed with half of the room devoted to
that resonated everywhere I visited on campus. In those days,
gathering. The Perrine Commons was configured for divisional
the school was smaller, so coming together in larger groups was
pageants, plays and assemblies. The old Assembly Hall had
easier. The full faculty and staff fit nicely in an extra-large classroom
space to accommodate an all-school gathering. The study hall
in the Stevens Building, and all the students and teachers could
in Stevens provided a home for full faculty and staff meetings,
gather snugly together in the old Assembly Hall. These and many
so that each member could address an issue feeling valued and
other opportunities for gathering larger groups emphasized the
included. The Watson Gym was a space not just for physical
educators’ understanding of how to effectively build community,
education, but one where PTA volunteers sorted and priced tag
from the smallest circle of a few children working together on
sale items before welcoming in the community at large as part
a project to the very large circle of all children, faculty and staff
of an annual fundraising effort.
celebrating an eventful moment together. For over 100 years, Country School’s mission has guided
Generous space is often considered a luxury in school environments where resources are carefully considered and
very intentional conversations about program and facilities
weighed against one another. As NCCS moves into a new
in support of community. As children’s experiences progress,
era, building community remains a high priority. With the
they are continually introduced to expanded opportunities for
thoughtful renovations to the Lower and Middle Schools the
building community. The concentric circles of the classroom,
past two summers, the new Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall
the grade level, the division, the faculty, the parent body and
& Commons and plans for a spacious new athletic center, it
the full school have always been honored and valued with time
is clear that Country School remains committed to planning,
and space to share and grow together.
designing and building spaces that perpetuate the strong sense
Throughout the years, as educators, architects and designers planned for new and renovated facilities, community was
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always a driving force. The spacious Welles Building classrooms
NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Fall 2018
of community that is very much embedded in the ethos and mission of Country School.