School spirit has been the fabric of South Kent’s development into its current form. It has been incorporated into daily life on the Hillside since the 1940s, shortly after the Great Depression and World War II. While the pain of these events were heavily felt on campus, the school’s pioneers found a way to bring the community together.
In November of 1940, South Kent decided to divide the school into two clubs: the “Cardinal” Club and the “Black” Club. These clubs were inspired by South Kent colors that have been utilized since 1923. A point system was created to give each team points based on good deeds done by each club member throughout the year. Along with friendly competition and rivalries, this challenge fostered a greater sense of community between the boys. The Cardinal vs. Black competition became a hit on campus, launching an indomitable foundation that has never left the Hillside.
With the two clubs in mind, Athletic Director Timothy Hannen updated the athletic program by making a version of a physical cardinal as an addition to the school colors. Now, South Kent’s school spirit is based on preserving tradition while instilling new ideas, as the unveiling of the new cardinal just occurred at the most recent Prep Soccer game in early May.
We are excited to announce that later this year, we will be voting to decide the name of the new Cardinal.
