Legacy Breakfast initiates new tradition at Brookwood
Over its 40-year history, Brookwood School has instituted numerous traditions. Friday's Legacy Breakfast is the beginning of a new tradition of special events for alumni.
Attending the breakfast and program on the front lawn of the school were more than 60 area alumni who are parents of current Brookwood students. Those moms and dads joined their children on blankets and chairs set up in the early morning sunlight. They ate breakfast finger foods and enjoyed hot and cold wake-up beverages as Headmaster Mike Notaro recognized alumni leaders serving on Brookwood's board of directors and on the faculty.
Two of Brookwood's current teachers are former students at the independent college preparatory school.
In the school's first graduating class in 1974 was Susan Secrest Waters, who now teaches kindergarten at her alma mater. Her mother, Sarah Secrest, was present for the special event. Sarah and Pratt Secrest donated much of the land that makes up Brookwood's campus. In the audience was one of Waters' classmates, Lib Lanigan Olson, whose three daughters now are Brookwood seniors, about to graduate.
Natalie Harvard Braswell, a prekindergarten teacher, was in the Brookwood class of 1980. Her husband Robert Braswell, also in the class of 1980, was there, as was their 9th grade son Ben.
Melissa Sloan Breese, Class of 1983, is Brookwood's business manager, the Booster Club treasurer, and the mother of Sloan, 11th grade, and 7th grader Kaitlyn.
Peggy Rich, the featured speaker, never attended Brookwood herself, although she served on the board of directors for many years, beginning in 1982, and is now a trustee. Her mother, the late Bobbie Flowers, served on the first board of directors, Rich's father, the late Langdon Flowers, had actively participated in the school's organization, and her children, board member Charnie Beverly, Margaret Brock and Scott Rich are alumni. Also, Rich's brother Jay Flowers, grandchildren, nephews and great-nieces are either Brookwood graduates or current students.
She focused her remarks on words from Brookwood's alma mater: "Lifting up her values ever," reminding the audience that the school's traditional values are the basis for its safe and vibrant learning community, offering the best facilities and technology. Since the primary importance of education is to lead to a successful life, Brookwood's intelligent and energetic teachers, she said, not only love their students but also focus on each child's inherent worth and personal potential.
"Brookwood students' participation in athletics, the arts, student government and other extra-curricular activities help develop personal skills and talents, teamwork, friendships and leadership," Rich said.
She praised the "community of supportive parents active in school life" and said that the Legacy Breakfast is another tradition in "a heritage of meaningful traditions that bind each generation to the previous ones."
More than 1,000 students have graduated from Brookwood since its first commencement. The current senior class will graduate on May 15, and, keeping with another longstanding tradition, have all been accepted to universities for their higher education.
Peggy Rich was the Legacy Breakfast speaker.
Sarah Secrest, right, who, with her husband Pratt Secrest donated land for the Brookwood campus, helped found the school and served on the original boards of directors, was there with her daughter, Susan Waters, a Brookwood alumna and a current teacher at the school.
Reid Myers, a 3rd grader, particularly enjoyed the "breakfast" part of the Legacy Breakfast. He and 1st grader Ethan are the sons of Nan McCollum Myers of the Brookwood Class of 1990.
Karen Leabo Singletary, Brookwood Class of 1984, enjoyed breakfast with her sons Levi, a kindergartner, and 1st grader Zach.
Cairo families at the breakfast included Kevin Chason with 8th grader Phillip and 10th grader Sarah Chason and Celeste Chason Tyler with 4th grader Natalie and 11th grader Austin Tyler.
Philip Watt, right, is chairman of Brookwood's board of directors and was among the first group of students at Brookwood in 1970, graduating in 1979. He greeted the first board chairman, Heywood Mason, one of the founders of Brookwood School.
Charles Allen, Brookwood Class 0f 1976, is vice chairman of the board of directors. He joined his children Stuart, 6th grade, and Grace, 11th grade, at the Legacy Breakfast. Crighton Allen, who presently attends Washington and Lee, is a 2007 graduate of Brookwood.
