News & Views
Country School Dedicates New Dining Hall in Honor of Alumna Susan Haigh Carver ’51
Head of School Aaron Cooper officially kicked off the 2018-2019 school year Sept. 6 at an assembly which included the dedication of the Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall & Commons. VIEW PHOTOS > VIEW VIDEO>
“The first week of school is a joyous time, when we get to reconnect with friends we have not seen for a while, when we catch a glimpse of all the school year has to offer, and when we can again enjoy the spirit of community,” said Mr. Cooper.
John Carver, husband of the late alumna in whose honor the building was dedicated, and his three children, Thomas, Amy and Jonathan, joined in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In 2013, the Carvers first approached the school about making a gift which would be the largest to date in the school’s history and one that would significantly impact the lives of Country School students and would celebrate the sense of community that was so meaningful to Sue’s experience as a child attending the school.
“What better way to bring people together than around food,” Mr. Cooper said at the opening.
The new dining hall is bathed in natural light creating an open, spacious hub of campus life and a central community gathering space for students, faculty and parents, as well as a warm and inviting space to welcome prospective families and school visitors. The expanded kitchen allows the school to offer a wider variety of hot and cold freshly made foods.
“It’s beyond my expectations,” said Mr. Carver. “Sue would have loved it.”
Mrs. Carver grew up in Darien and after attending NCCS, went on to Ethel Walker School and Smith College before she and her husband settled in the San Francisco Bay area. Throughout her life, she cherished the memories of her days at NCCS. As an alumna, she returned in 2001 to celebrate her 50th reunion.
Classmates of Sue’s from the Class of 1951 Hayden Connor, Gail Miller Stoddart and Linda Rook Stikeleather, along with her husband Allan; Judith Steinberg, a former NCCS parent and close family friend, and close friend Bill Jones, along with other friends, attended the ceremony.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
