History
Kingswood Oxford School cherishes a rich history that blends the traditions of two independent schools - Oxford School for girls, founded in 1909 by Mary Martin, and Kingswood School, founded by George R.H. Nicholson in 1916. Martin and Nicholson founded their schools on the premise that "wise parents know they must share with teachers the shaping of the minds and character of young people" as first expressed by The American Country Day School Journal in the early 1900s. Throughout its history, KO has provided parents with numerous opportunities to participate actively in their children's education.
Martin opened Oxford School in 1909 in her home on Oxford Street in Hartford's West End. In 1924, the School moved to 695 Prospect Ave. in West Hartford. The Prospect Street site became the permanent home of Oxford and served as the home for Kingswood Oxford's Middle School until the new Estes Family Building for the Middle School opened on the same campus as the Upper School in 2003. In the summer of 2007 KO expanded and improved the dining facility and added the multisport (football, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and softball) articifical turf field. In 2008 construction began on the new Chase-Tallwood Science Math Technology Center, which was completed at the commencement of the 2009 school year coinciding with the School's Centennial Celebration.
Nicholson established the Kingswood School seven years later. He named the School for his alma mater, the Kingswood School based in Bath, England. The new Kingswood School inherited some of the traditions of the English school, including the School's crest, motto, colors (black and crimson) and distinctive symbol, the Wyvern. The wyvern is a mythical creature said to have two legs, two clawed wings and a serpent's tail.
Strong enrollments and leaders as well as steady growth in program and facilities marked the legacy of both schools until their merger in 1969. The School's name became Kingswood-Oxford School, with a hyphen separating the names of the schools. At the time of the merger, Kingswood Oxford adopted the Oxford School motto: Vincit qui se vincit (One conquers by conquering oneself). Kingswood's motto had been "In via recta celeriter" (In the right direction swiftly). In 2010, the School dropped the hyphen from its name, making it Kingswood Oxford School.
KO's current Head of School is Dennis Bisgaard, who between 1994 and 2000 was an administrator at Collegiate School, where Dr. Lee M. Levison, KO's former head, now serves as headmaster. While at Collegiate School, Bisgaard founded and directed the Collegiate School Teaching Institute. In 2000, Bisgaard was appointed Associate Director at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he later served as acting head of school during Director Bruce Shaw's sabbatical leave. Bisgaard currently serves on the following nonprofit boards: National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS); National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls (NAPSG); Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS); Covenant Preparatory School; WALKS; Sphere; and Founders League.
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