On the most picture-perfect, sunny day, Gilman students, faculty, and staff gathered on Chandlee Field to officially welcome the 2024-2025 school year on Wednesday, September 4. Bagpiper Dan Lyden led a line of students: Representatives from each class carried their class flags, and seniors walked hand-in-hand with boys in kindergarten and prep-one.

The Traveling Men performed the national anthem followed by Dr. John Mojzisek aka Dr. Mo, who offered the invocation. His spoken-word poem touched on themes of new beginnings and brotherhood. “Bless our new faces and braces, our backpacks and athletic sacks. Bless new students and teachers and staff, new looks and lockers, new lights and lounges.” He went on, “Let us emerge from darkness into your light as one. One family, one brotherhood, one Gilman.”

School President Frank Siciliano presented a quote from Congressman John Lewis, and Senior Class President Matthew Feola read words spoken by tennis stars Venus Williams and Roger Federer. Head of School Henry Smyth gave opening remarks, which began with a spontaneous announcement for a purple dress-down day on Thursday in anticipation of the first Ravens game of the season. “I’ve got sports on my brain,” he said, and then shared three moments over the summer when he was inspired by athletic-related messages.

The first came while watching a swimming event during the Olympic Games. U.S. swimmer Regan Smith gave an interview from the pool deck immediately after winning a silver medal. The reporter asked her what had changed from the last Olympics she participated in to now. Her response was that although she still had a deep passion for swimming, she realized it wasn’t the only thing in her life. “Her perspective had broadened,” Smyth said.

In an unrelated interview, a sports psychologist who helps athletes sharpen their minds to allow them to perform at a high level said that athletes who find areas to engage in outside of their main sport actually see improvement in their main sport. In other words, “They find things to round out their lives,” Smyth said, noting the emerging pattern.

The last moment came after several people suggested that Smyth watch tennis icon Roger Federer’s speech delivered at Dartmouth’s commencement. “One lesson he shared was that we need to have variety in our lives,” Smyth said. Then he repeated a Federer quote that Feola had read earlier in the convocation: “Life is bigger than the court.” Smyth stressed the critical importance of creating balance in our lives by taking interest in a variety of things, tying it to Gilman’s mission to educate each boy in mind, body, and spirit.

To close out the event, the Traveling Men performed the school hymn followed by Assistant Head of School for Community, Inclusion, and Equity Mike Molina’s delivery of the benediction.

Watch a recording of the 2024 Opening Convocation

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