Each year, every member of the Fieldston Upper School, including the eighth-grade class, excitedly gathers at the Society for Ethical Culture for one sole reason: to commemorate Felix Adler’s legacy of establishing the humanist Ethical Culture sect and envisioning a future of dynamic education, of course. Often referred to as a holiday, Founder’s Day programming entails impactful speeches, well-rehearsed tunes and moments of connection.
The real gratitude attributed to Adler, however, is not in its purest form as students lined in pews burst into school songs or listen to Adler’s original words. Rather, the second the formal program ends is when the spirit of Founder’s Day often begins to take shape. A crowd dressed in floral patterns and business casual wear spills from the Society’s headquarters on West 64th. Their destination? The ever-scenic Central Park right across the street, or rather the fence in front of it. Flurries of pastels, suits and flowers cross over with haste, eager to secure a prime spot to take the photos that will flood many an Instagram feed later that day. Ruminating over captions like “Thanks Felix,” “Felix Adler, the man you are” and other Adler-related quips, groups for photos are interchanged, and shared albums become a necessity.
To the average passerby, it looks as though a mass simultaneous photoshoot has ensued. Walking by without being asked to snap a shot or two is a near-impossible feat, but there is merit to the informal tradition. Founder’s Day photos are a wonderful way to preserve memories and document growth throughout the years. As Charlie Nosenchuk (Form IV) explains, “It is nice to take pictures with my friends that we will cherish forever. Seeing everybody do the same was fun and somewhat nostalgic. I was filled with joy as I looked back at all the photos – both mine and others.”
After a general consensus of photo satisfaction gets reached, some venture to Central Park for a walk or casual lunch. Founder’s Day is often the perfect spring day to do so. Unfazed by the slight breeze that chilled the air, students enjoyed scenic strolls on paths interwoven with blossoming flowers and cheery parkgoers. Zoe Gorman (Form IV) detailed, “It’s always fun to disperse into Central Park after the ceremony. Everyone gets together with their friends to take pictures and reflect on the morning.” A select few students’ post-ceremony jaunt to the park was the second of the day, prompting reflection on a morning spent bird-watching.
For those whose Founder’s Day interaction with Central Park extends only to photo ops, the Manhattan culinary scene awaits. Talia Proshan (Form VI) “had lunch at the Smith and hung out with friends.” Judging by the difficulty in obtaining a May 3, 12:30 pm reservation and copious stories sporting photo strips from the restaurant’s infamous booth, this plan was a popular one. Sharjah M Bodji (Form IV) had a similar post-Founder’s Day experience. She “went to an Italian restaurant” before venturing to beloved frozen yogurt spot 16 Handles. Bodji recalls “seeing Fieldston students thirty blocks from [the Ethical Culture Society],” a testament to just how quickly the student body populated the blocks of the Upper West Side.
Peers aside, teacher run-ins were also frequent as Leo Chesney (Form IV) recounted seeing her Form III English teacher, Dr. Elizabeth Nolte, seated just a table away from her at lunch. Chesney stated, “I guess it’s often strange to run into a teacher outside of school, and since a few of the friends I was with had [Nolte] as a teacher last year as well we all thought it was a funny coincidence that she ended up sitting right behind us.” Anecdotes like Chesney’s illustrate the unique joy and community-wide connection Founder’s Day fosters.
Ultimately, whether one hones in on the programming or all that follows, there is no denying just how special a day centered around a long-deceased philosopher can be. Lilah Glassman (Form IV) favors the day for the way it serves as “a marker of growth throughout one’s high school years,” and Sophia Ahmed (Form III) pinpoints “the most fun” aspect of the day as the “time [she gets] to spend with friends after the ceremony.” Gorman captures the essence of the tradition most accurately. She describes how she “just love[s] Founder’s Day because it is the one time the whole school comes together to honor collective achievements and celebrate the graduating senior class. The tradition embodies ECFS values through bringing generations closer and sharing experiences in a heart-warming way.” Seeing as the weight and fun of this year’s Founder’s Day have come and gone, we look to the future for more Adler-infused inspirational remarks, an excuse to wear our best floral attire and, with some luck, a reservation at The Smith.
