Founders Day 2024!

History, hoopla and one very happy 73rd birthday for the American School in London—this year’s Founder’s Day was a celebration to remember.

Every April, our community recognizes ASL’s founder Stephen Eckard, who started a school in his Knightsbridge flat for 13 young boys on 21 April 1951. As founding headmaster, Eckard and his partner, Peter Waller, stewarded the School through significant change and growth for 20 years: co-education, K-12 expansion, seven relocations and a move to our permanent, purpose-built campus in St. John’s Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Founder’s Day festivities included a middle school scavenger hunt, where student sleuths hunted down historical facts and ASL trivia for the chance to win a prize from the alumni office. Congratulations to Mrs. Duggan’s advisory for taking first place! 

In Lower School, our youngest students learned about Mr. Eckard and the origins of our extraordinary school during a special assembly on Wednesday, 17 April. Who knew some of our favorite teachers and staff are also alumni? 

Special thanks to Katie Farrell ’01 P ’35 for being an assembly guest speaker and sharing some of her memories from her time as a student.

The school-wide, Founder’s Day recognition took place on Friday, 19 April. ASL was awash with orange and black as students and teachers arrived on campus dressed in school colors and signature spirit wear. Middle school student council reps distributed oranges to all who passed through Waverley Place and Loudoun Road entrances, and Eagle was spotted high-fiving, dancing and bringing school spirit. MS students also enjoyed a DJ and Founder’s Day themed activities during their recess. 

Thank you to everyone—students, teachers, parents and volunteers—for supporting Founder’s Day this year! It takes a village, and we know Stephen Ekcard would be proud of ours today.