This week, as a school community, we have the opportunity to celebrate something truly unique – the centennial of Kensington Intermediate School.

In 1926, Kensington was built. To put that moment in perspective, life in America looked very different. Some of the largest areas of work in our country were manufacturing and mechanical trades, agriculture, transportation, and trade. The automobile was transforming how people traveled. Radio was beginning to connect families and communities in new ways, and television was still in its earliest stages. The world was also navigating the aftermath of World War I and entering a new era of growth, innovation, and change.

And here in Rocky River, something lasting was being built. 

One hundred years is an incredible milestone. It is a moment of great pride, but also an opportunity for deep reflection about who we are, where we have been, and where we are going as a school community.

While 100 years may feel like a long time ago, the foundational pieces of excellence that have been sparked across Rocky River have never changed. Generations of students have walked through the doors of Kensington to learn, grow, form friendships, discover who they are, and create memories that have stayed with them long after they left the building.

That is because a school is more than the bricks and mortar that hold it together. A school is a feeling.

It is a feeling of belonging, connection, and pride. It is the memory of a teacher who believed in you, a friend who made you laugh, a classroom where you discovered something new, or a moment when you realized you were capable of more than you thought.

That feeling is part of what has connected generations of Rocky River families for more than a century.

One of the most humbling parts of being connected to Rocky River, for me, is the immense responsibility that comes with stewarding the next generation of Pirates. For more than a century, our schools have served as launching pads for young people who have gone on to make a difference in their communities and change the world. At the same time, our schools have provided a thread of connection that binds generations of families and our entire community together. That is something we should be incredibly proud of.

As we celebrate Kensington’s 100th anniversary, I believe we should also reflect on what it means to be stewards of this community. Stewardship means understanding that what has been entrusted to us is bigger than any one person or any one generation. Our responsibility is not simply to preserve what has been given to us. It is to care for it, strengthen it, and build upon it so that those who come after us inherit something even stronger.

The story of Kensington is ultimately the story of people. It is the story of students, families, teachers, staff members, administrators, and community members who have invested their time, energy, and hearts into Rocky River City Schools.

This milestone gives us an opportunity to celebrate that history and honor those who have shaped it. It also gives us an opportunity to look forward.

The students who walk through our doors today will help shape the next 100 years of Rocky River. Our work is to provide them with the foundation, opportunities, relationships, and sense of belonging they need to carry that story forward.

One hundred years ago, a school was built in Rocky River. Today, we celebrate the community that was built around it. And tomorrow, we continue the work of building thoughtfully toward the next 100 years of Rocky River City Schools.

Thank you for your continued partnership in creating and sustaining a culture of stewardship in River. Most importantly, thank you for helping make our schools places where generations of Pirates can learn, grow, connect, and build memories that last a lifetime.

With Pirate Pride,

Adham