Community Update

June 20, 2013

Dear Editor.

As we sat
anticipating our fourth graduation ceremony from Radnor High School last week, we
were reminded that the Radnor School District has nurtured each of our four very
different children, and are still working on another, in such different ways.
Different teachers have touched their hearts and encouraged their souls, yet
the whole experience has helped us mold them all into people who will
eventually make Radnor proud and make a difference in this world.

We have
written to the community in the past about the sister and brothers, who
preceded Duncan and now want to celebrate his experience in this wonderful gem
we hold dear, AKA the Radnor Township School District.

Duncan
entered the District from a parochial school experience in first grade and was
welcomed into the multi-age classroom at Ithan Elementary as a second grader. Mrs.
Boettcher and Mrs. DeSerafino welcomed him into this community with open arms
and despite some learning challenges worked together with us to make his
transition smooth and helped tirelessly to ensure his success moving forward.
Along with Dr. Hornyak, and all his other teachers at Ithan, especially his
fifth grade team, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Doyle and Mrs. Hood; who had such faith in
him, he transitioned to the Middle School.

As parents we
had challenges with Duncan’s entry to the middle school. It didn’t always go so
well, totally our fault, yet the Middle School teachers he had the privilege to
teach him, Mr. Rendulich and Mr. Canny stuck with him and counseled us so that
the rest of his Middle School experience helped him bond with classmates and
feel part of the crowd. This support is something every middle schooler and
their family need to feel. We are truly grateful for the community support we
felt at RMS.

With the
support of Mr. Laffey, Mr. Stevenson, Mrs. Purnell, Mrs. McMenamin, and office
support from a very nurturing attendance secretary, Laura Foran he found
success and an unique identity. Along with all the teachers that supported him
at RMS he was able to try new things, new sports, and make new friends on his
own terms.

Thus he
entered Radnor High School as a more confident young adolescent being the
fourth Kingsbery, not an easy road to hoe. At Radnor High School he found a
home. He made it his business to welcome new students and take them under his
wing. He felt safe to ride the continuum between making a statement in his
dress, to trying ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse, to working on Radnor TV and to celebrate
his art. This is all due to the amazing energy of the Class of 2013 and to the
wisdom of the great administrative team and teachers who supported both Duncan
and all his classmates. They clearly define “infinite”.

We need to
celebrate all of Duncan’s RHS teachers as they all contributed to his success on
his graduation night.  To all of you who
encouraged him and had his back, we thank you! To those who went the extra mile
this senior year for Duncan to make this a seamless walk across the stage and to
give him the potential for a great future, we need to give extra thanks; Mrs.
Pearsall (our family’s guardian angel), Mr. Nguyen, Mrs. Krohn, Mrs. Butler, Mrs.
Agatone, Mr. Shilcock- Elliott, Mr. Mezger, Ms. Carol, Mr. Neary, Mr. Thomas
(both Brett and Jeff), Mrs. Wess, and of course Mr. Schellenger ; you all made
a true difference in his life and in the lives of many others, we are sure. For
your mark on our son’s life, we are truly grateful.

This class
has experienced more loss than most should ever endure and we believe that has
helped them bond as the Class of 2013. They might not have achieved that bond
without the enduring support of the RTSD community and the support of the RHS administration.
We thank you for offering our son the time and support needed to get through
the hard times and to celebrate the good. To all the friends who banded
together during the tough times, we know you not only helped Duncan but each
other in ways you may not imagine.

All parents
in Radnor can celebrate those teachers and other adults in the RHS community
and RTSD community, who make significant connections with their children, and
the truth is, we work as a community and this is our greatest strength.

As we launch
Duncan onto the next level, we again want to celebrate his roots, and thank you
for all you do every day to support our children.

Chris and
Pete Kingsbery