Student Life

When you ask current students about their favorite time of the day on The Frederick Gunn School campus, they invariably talk about time spent with friends, whether they are hanging out in the dorm or creating their own fun outside. School days are busy. Students move from academic and co-curricular commitments to dinner and evening study hall. But there are opportunities for friends to gather throughout the day. It might be grabbing a table together for lunch in the dining hall, hosting a movie night in your dorm room, or meeting up for an impromptu baseball game on the Quad, spikeball on the turf, or sledding on the hill behind Teddy House in winter.

Weekend activities include Open Skate and Open Hockey times at Linen Rink, trips to the Danbury Fair Mall and other local shopping centers, movie theaters, and area restaurants as well as the ever-popular Arethusa Farm Dairy for ice cream. Sign-ups are available for excursions to try bowling or visit a trampoline park, and some weekends are just good for sleeping in and going to brunch in the dining hall, where chocolate chip waffles and a fruit and yogurt bar are usually on offer. Students can also take advantage of dances, the fitness center, open gym times, seasonal activities (carve your own pumpkin, anyone?), movie screenings and guest performances right on campus, and cheer their fellow Highlanders at home.

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Student Life News

Emily Raudenbush Gum and Tom Perakos '69

Multiple Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning producer and philanthropist Thomas S. Perakos ’69 brought “Razzle Dazzle” to The Frederick Gunn School’s 175th Commencement Exercises on May 25, 2025.

“Kids, you’ve got nothing to worry about. It’s all about showbusiness. The whole world is your stage now. You’ve got what it takes. Let’s bring it,” Perakos said as he took the stage to deliver a Commencement Address that was filled with a mixture of funny, poignant, and memorable moments.
 

Tom Perakos '69 with Tony Award

Multiple Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning producer and philanthropist Thomas S. Perakos ’69 will address the Class of 2025 at The Frederick Gunn School’s 175th Commencement Exercises on May 25, 2025. Perakos is currently a producer of the stunning revival of “Sunset Blvd,” which received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical Revival. He is also a producer of “Buena Vista Social Club,” which led the Tony nominations, receiving 10, including Best New Musical. Perakos’ accolades now span two continents. His producing credits earned him three 2025 Olivier Awards in London last month for “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” — Best New Musical; “Giant” — Best Play; and “Titanique” — Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. 

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2025 Spring Concert art: Soundtrack of Our Lives

The Frederick Gunn School Music Program will present its spring concert, “Soundtrack of Our Lives: Iconic Movie Themes, Music Masterpieces, and Timeless Jazz,” on May 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Tisch Family Auditorium of the Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center. The concert will feature Chamber Orchestra, Vocal Ensemble, Jazz Band, and special guests under the direction of Ron Castonguay P’27, Director of the Arts and Music Director. 

Limited seating is available for family, friends and the community. No registration is required. Parking is available in the Upper Parking Lot with a limited number of accessible parking spaces directly outside TPACC. Please see the Campus Map for details.
 

Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Pack the RInk game 2025

Best of luck to both the Boys and Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Teams, who will play in the New England Championship Quarterfinals on March 5. The #8 seed Girls Varsity Ice Hockey team will travel to Lawrence Academy to face #1 Seed New Hampton School in the Dorothy Howard bracket at 2 p.m.

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The #8 seed Boys Varsity Ice Hockey team will travel to play #1 seed Kimball Union Academy in the Piatelli/Simmons Bracket, with a 4 p.m. puck drop. Go Gunn!

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painting by Anna Hesketh '28

Cathy Yang '28, a student in the Technique and Artistry cocurricular program, won The Connie Horton Memorial Award for Best in Show at the Kent Art Association's 33rd Annual Student Art Show. Yang was honored for her beautiful ceramic work among students who exhibited in a variety of artistic mediums from six schools: The Frederick Gunn School, Millbrook School, South Kent School, Forman School, Marvelwood School, and Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
 

Behind the Scenes_student interviews

Ever wonder what it’s really like to be a Gunn student? An exciting new film project, “The Highlander Journey,” which had its world premiere on February 18, seeks to answer that question as it shows the journey of being a Highlander from freshman to senior year. The five-minute film is fast-paced and fun, highlighting some of the challenges, changes, and traditions — like School Walk, Senior Rock and the Stray Shot — that will resonate with current students and alumni, as well as giving prospective students a look at why Gunn is a cool place to be.  

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Girls Varsity Hockey_Hockey Fights Cancer

Student-athletes from Gunn's Boys and Girls Varsity Ice Hockey teams have organized three games to raise funds and awareness for mental health and those affected by cancer. Girls Varsity Ice Hockey hosted a Hockey Fights Cancer game vs. The Hill School on January 26 in Linen Rink to benefit the American Cancer Society.

On February 7, Boys Varsity Ice Hockey will take on Taft School at 4:15 p.m. in Linen Rink in a game to benefit The HT40 Foundation’s Shoulder Check initiative. A second Hockey Fights Cancer game is scheduled for February 14, with Boys Varsity Ice Hockey taking on Brunswick at home at 6 p.m.
 

Gunn Model UN students at YMUN LI

Three Highlanders were honored with awards at the 51st Yale Model United Nations (YMUN LI) conference, held January 23-26, 2025 on the historic campus of Yale University. They were among 20 student-delegates who participated in the conference from the Gunn Model United Nations program. 
 

Mean Girls poster art 4x6

Get in, Washington. This winter musical is gonna be so fetch! The Frederick Gunn School Theatre Program will proudly present the fiercely hilarious musical “Mean Girls High School Version” from book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”), and composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), February 20, 21, and 22 at 7 p.m. in the Tisch Family Auditorium of the Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center.

All shows are open to the public. Seating is by general admission. No reservations required. Free parking is available in the Upper Parking Lot off Kirby Road, with a limited number of accessible parking spaces outside TPACC. Please see the Campus Map for details.
 

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