On Friday, April 11th, South Kent School students, faculty, and staff rolled up their sleeves and took to the roads, streams, trails, and campus grounds for our annual community-wide Cleanup Day. With Earth Day just around the corner, the Hillside community came together to honor the land we call home—and give back to the greater South Kent area through hands-on stewardship.
The day began with a Chapel service at St. Michael’s, where The Reverend Steve Klots reminded the community of our, “God-given obligation to be faithful stewards of creation.” His words set the tone for a day rooted in care, reflection, and responsibility.
The event was organized by Father Klots, in close collaboration with the Kent Conservation Commission, who provided both logistical support and celebratory Earth Day cakes to thank participants for their hard work.
Armed with gloves, garbage bags, and determination, thirteen groups of faculty-led student teams were deployed across South Kent and neighboring areas—from Leonard Pond and Bull’s Bridge to Hatch Pond, Camps Flat Road, and along the railroad tracks near the North Campus. Even the streambed near Stockdale Arena and the slopes by the maintenance shed got a deep clean.
This tradition is more than just a beautification effort. It teaches students the value of environmental stewardship, community responsibility, and the real impact of collective action. Every bottle collected and every piece of litter removed reinforces the idea that small efforts, when done together, can make a big difference.
South Kent is proud to continue this annual initiative, blending our mission of thoughtful living with real-world action—one bag of trash at a time.