NEWS: General

In a first ever three-way tie, the Third, Fourth, and Sixth Forms claim victory to the Chaucer-Challenge on Monday, September 24, 2012.

Instituted about 10 years ago, the Chaucer Challenge adds a contemporary twist to the South Kent School tradition that every new boy recites the first 14 lines of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.

In keeping with Chaucer’s times, the school metaphorically "throws down a gauntlet" as a means of challenging the boys by form to complete the challenge that every new boy in the group completes Chaucer.

“It works very well to bond new boys to their new group here at school and to bring new boys into the SKS family,” said Nancy Lyon, Chief Operations Officer.  “It also complements our hero's journey theme by creating an intentional challenge, something very hard for many boys to do and it creates personal pride and a sense of confidence as they begin their journey at a new school,” she added.

The long-standing tradition of Chaucer at South Kent School is one that alums can still relate to and many years later can still recite the lines. “It reinforces our sense of tradition and gives current students something in common with students decades ago,” Lyon said. “It creates an instant sense of belonging,” she added.

Although a pizza party given by Andy Vadnais, Head of School and his wife Nancy Lyon is the sought after tangible prize, the boys rally together and gain much more than that personally, as a form and as a school community.

“Andy and I have the fun problem of having to buy a lot of pizza for a lot of guys,” said Lyon.  “A great problem to have!”