Carlisle Revives Founders’ Day Tradition After Nearly 50 Years

Last Friday, Carlisle School proudly revived a cherished tradition—the celebration of Founders’ Day—after nearly half a century. The day was a testament to the deep connections that define our school, bringing together past and present members of the Carlisle community in a heartwarming display of appreciation for our shared history.

At the core of Carlisle is our ability to create a family atmosphere that extends beyond our students and teachers to include administration, alumni, families, and board members. This year’s Founders’ Day gathering was a remarkable reflection of that bond as we welcomed our current board members, several past board members, members of the founding families, current students, alumni from the classes of 1974 and 1975, former faculty members, current faculty and administration, and more.

To commemorate this special occasion, we honored the tradition set during the very first Founders’ Day by planting three dogwood trees. Each tree symbolizes a vital part of Carlisle’s past, present, and future. A photo was taken with the first tree alongside the extended members of the founding families, paying tribute to the visionaries who laid the foundation for our school. The second tree was planted in honor of all current and past board members and their families, recognizing their dedication to Carlisle’s growth. Finally, the third tree was dedicated to all current and past administration, faculty, and staff, celebrating their unwavering commitment to shaping generations of students. To commemorate the day, we felt it was only fitting to plant trees—a symbol of legacy, life, growth, and family. 

As part of the celebration, we recognized several dedicated members of our faculty and staff for their decades of service to Carlisle. In gratitude for their unwavering commitment to our students and school, we presented them with flowers and one of the original sketches of the campus. We were honored to celebrate Judy Dashoff for over 40 years of service, along with Christina Tisdale, Linda Gibson, and Tracy Guebert for more than 30 years of dedication.

The celebration also featured wonderful performances by our students, showcasing their incredible talents and bringing joy to the event. Their performances truly highlighted the spirit and creativity that make our school so special.

A heartfelt thank you to Chris Clark, Class of 1999, for his touching and inspiring speech. His words resonated deeply with our community, reminding us of the lasting impact of a Carlisle education and the bonds that connect us across generations. He has been a part of the Carlisle family in many ways over the years—first as a student, then as a teacher, and now as a parent!

Additionally, we were honored to be recognized by Cognia for 50 years of accreditation, a testament to Carlisle’s long-standing commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement. This milestone highlights the dedication of our faculty, staff, and leadership in providing the highest quality education for our students.

As we reflect on this historic gathering, we are excited to make Founders’ Day an annual tradition—one that not only honors our past successes, but we also look forward to the bright future ahead.