Class of 1987 reunion

Not Your Ordinary Class Reunion

Sanbornton – Oh no, another class reunion! Often times when you think of class reunions you think of high school classmates and the four years spent together at a specific point in time in a square brick building surrounded by pavement. You get together to share a few laughs and then return to your life, quickly leaving those memories behind you. For most, those classmates have long been forgotten, replaced by college friendships and current acquaintances; however, four years is not the norm at Sant Bani. As with most things about Sant Bani, reunions, too, hold a special place in the hearts of all those that spent from as little as one to as many as thirteen years together forging friendships that have remained strongly intact all these years later.

Recently on a warm summer day under a tent on the playing field of Sant Bani School, alumni gathered to begin a long-anticipated reunion weekend. Over 50 graduates and their families from a span of years on either side of 1987 gathered from points all over the country to reunite with classmates and friends who shared their formative years at this unique and dearly loved school in the woods of Sanbornton.

1987 alumna Yazmin Zupa-Coveney was instrumental in arranging the event. Former long-time teacher Russell Perkins traveled from California to spend time with his past students. At one point during the weekend, Perkins led a moment of silence to honor those students and teachers who are no longer with them, but are still an integral part of the soul of Sant Bani. Another former teacher, Shipp Webb returned to Sant Bani from Tennessee to visit with the many students he had taught fourth grade to years ago.

One of the many long-standing traditions at Sant Bani is its yearly All-School Mountain Climb. In keeping with tradition, Rebecca Shannon, a 1987 graduate of Sant Bani and a 1991 graduate of Tufts University led a morning hike up West Rattlesnake Mountain. This trail was chosen so that the alumni’s children who also attended the reunion could be part of the hike; inclusion is a cornerstone of Sant Bani’s philosophy.

During the weekend spent together the group toured the school’s campus to spark memories and to see what was new and different since they moved on. They enjoyed a special showing of the school’s newly created DVD in which many of their own memories were depicted. A vegetarian potluck luncheon and a more formal dinner for the alumni and their families also took place during the weekend.

Alumni, watching their children play together, were reminded of their own more carefree days tromping through the school’s dense forests during a science class, climbing the rocks at recess, scoring that tie-breaking goal in field hockey or soccer, or sitting quietly on the hillside sketching the surrounding landscape during art class.

The more things change, the more they remain the same can be said for the wonderful weekend spent fondly remembering the remarkable experiences each alumni enjoyed while attending Sant Bani School, the little school that could.

Sant Bani is a kindergarten through twelfth grade independent day school located in Sanbornton, New Hampshire. To learn more about Sant Bani please visit the school’s website at santbani.org.