Falcon students in middle and high school flocked to the clock tower to sign a large metal beam on March 7, marking a historic milestone in Kinkaid’s history.
Following the signing, the beam served as structural support in the top level of the framework for the new Upper School. But before its installation, the beam was placed in front of the clock tower for members of the community to sign.
In between classes, before school and at lunch, almost every student and faculty member in Middle and Upper School wrote their names in bright purple or yellow marker.
Students said this was a way for them to memorialize their name in Kinkaid history.
“It’s cool leaving a mark of myself at Kinkaid,” sophomore Kavin Mukerji said. “I think it’s unique that Kinkaid lets students of all ages sign the beam.”
An estimated 600-plus names were signed on the beam.
Head of School Mr. Jonathan Eades was one of the first to sign the beam and emphasized the beam’s symbolic significance.
“The signing of this beam is special in a sense that it is essentially a time capsule, and it commemorates that all of us here and now at Kinkaid are making significant history together,” Mr. Eades said.
A similar beam signing was held last year for the Lower School students.
After the signing, the beam was moved to the construction site and installed over spring break.
The beam signed this spring remained visible after it was erected on the west side of the construction site near the parking garage and was to be exposed for a few months.
Ultimately, it will be covered in the process of building the new high school.
While it will be concealed within the new Upper School, the legacy of the students who signed it will live on.
