News Detail
Head of School Penny Townsend welcomes students back to campus
Head of School Penny Townsend welcomed students back to campus during an assembly at the Upper School Aug. 23, offering the traditional reading of Paul C. Ransom’s 113-year old letter and dropping her favorite word – grit – as she reminded that “being part of Ransom Everglades is not a spectator sport.”
After saluting each class individually – the seniors gave themselves the biggest round of applause – Townsend urged students at the Lewis Family Auditorium to seize opportunities, show honor and respect, and take on 2016-17 with perseverance and passion.
“So much is ahead of you this year,” she said. “This is an amazing school, one of the finest of its kind, full of interesting and intelligent people. Each of you enriches our environment and each of you has something to contribute. We need your contributions.”
Townsend also noted that “now more than ever, we need to have civility in our lives.” She challenged students to show up to class and school events; to seek help, and give it; and stay away from anything that could compromise their time at RE, including drugs, alcohol and stealing. She encouraged students to set long-term goals and stick to them.
“We all need a lifetime vision or goal that comes down to something pretty simple: What kind of person do I want to be?” she said. “How do I want to be remembered?”
Her message was amplified by Head of the Upper School Ken Mills, who admonished the Class of 2017 to “be the most welcoming senior class ever,” and Dean of Students Joshua Stone, who lauded seniors for their behavior and spirit during last week’s annual trip to the Circle F Dude Ranch in Lake Wales.
“The senior class at the Circle F Dude Ranch was absolutely outstanding,” Stone said. “If this is a foretelling of what’s to come, we’re going to have a fantastic year; please proceed with the same energy, spirit and values.”
Student Government President Franklin Civantos '17 hammered those themes home.
“We have some of the kindest, smartest people in the school,” Civantos said. “We have the potential to be the most spirited [senior] class Ransom has ever had …. Let’s be the leaders we can be to help make this school a better place.”
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.