Spartanburg Day School

Spartanburg Day School students, faculty and staff gathered Thursday morning for the school’s annual Opening Assembly, officially marking the first full day of classes for the 2026-27 school year.

The all-school gathering brought together Griffins from across campus to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year, welcome new members of the learning community and continue one of the Day School’s traditions with the introduction of this year’s Senior-Kindergarten Buddies.

Members of the Class of 2027 were formally paired with their kindergarten buddies during the assembly, beginning a yearlong connection between the school’s oldest students and some of its youngest. The Senior-Kindergarten Buddy tradition provides opportunities throughout the year for the students to spend time together and share in special school events.

Head of School Dave Skeen also welcomed students to the new year, noting that nearly 100 new students and families have joined the Spartanburg Day School community, along with new faculty and staff.

While acknowledging the many new faces and changes around campus, Skeen reminded students that the foundation of a Spartanburg Day School education remains unchanged.

“Our mission, the reason we are all here and what we want to live into as a school each year, is unchanged for this year,” Skeen said. “Our mission is to provide a superior educational experience, in a community of trust, that prepares students for a life well lived.”

Skeen centered much of his Opening Assembly message on curiosity and what he described as having an “explorer’s heart.” He contrasted the increasing ability of technology to provide immediate answers with the distinctly human desire to wonder, question and discover.

“Wondering is ours. Wanting is ours,” Skeen told students. “That’s the part that’s human.”

Using oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle as an example, Skeen encouraged students to embrace questions even when answers are not immediately available.

“Explorers do not set out because they already know what’s out there,” Skeen said. “They set out because they don’t.”

For the school’s youngest students, Skeen encouraged them to hold onto the natural curiosity that leads children to repeatedly ask “why.” For Middle and Upper School students, he challenged them to resist relying solely on shortcuts and instead choose experiences that require persistence and deeper thinking.

“Curiosity is not just asking a question. It must go further,” Skeen said. “Curiosity is staying with the harder question. A lot of people can ask. Explorers stay at it.”

Skeen also connected that idea to Spartanburg Day School’s Portrait of a Graduate, which describes graduates as purposeful, confident and discerning. He told students those qualities can help them understand why they are pursuing something, move forward when the path is uncertain and recognize when a shortcut might take away from the experience itself.

The assembly concluded with another Spartanburg Day School tradition, the ringing of the school bell.

The bell was originally given by Vicky Strange to former Head of School Rachel Deems, who rang it each year to call faculty together on their first day. Deems later gave the bell to the school, and three years ago Spartanburg Day School began ringing it as an entire school community to mark a new beginning.

Before ringing the bell three times to officially begin the year, Skeen left students with a challenge for the months ahead.

“Be curious. Stay with the hard question. Go the long way on purpose,” Skeen said. “Welcome to the first full day of the school year at Spartanburg Day School, and GO GRIFFINS!”