The Frederick Gunn School

{{Short description|Prep school in Washington, Connecticut, US}} {{COI|date=March 2024}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = The Frederick Gunn School | image = The Frederick Gunn School new logo.png | alt = | caption = | motto = Vir Bonus Semper Discipulus Est | motto_translation = A Good Person Is Always Learning | address = 99 Green Hill Road | city = Washington | state = Connecticut | zipcode = 06793 | country = United States | coordinates =  | established = {{start date and age|1850}} | opened = | closed = | type = Private, College prep<br>Day & Boarding | gender = Coeducational | district = | grades = 9–12/PG year | superintendent = | dean = Ashley LeBlanc | principal_label = Head of School | principal1 = Emily Gum | enrollment = 315 | enrollment_as_of = 2021–22<ref name=quick-facts>{{cite web|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/about/quick-facts |title=Quick Facts |website=www.frederickgunn.org |language=en-us |url-status=live |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812043705/https://www.frederickgunn.org/about/quick-facts}}</ref> | avg_class_size = 12 students | ratio = 6:1 | faculty = 55 | ceeb = 070-825 | accreditation = NEASC | campus_type = Rural | campus_size = {{convert|220|acre|km2}} | team_name = | sports = 35 sports teams | athletic_conference = NEPSAC | newspaper = The Highlander | colors = | tuition = – Boarding Students: $66,523<br>– Day Students: $47,234 <ref name="TUITION">{{cite web|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/admissions/affording-fgs|title=Affording FGS - the Frederick Gunn School }}</ref> | communities = | feeder_schools = | website = {{URL|http://www.frederickgunn.org/}} | footnotes = }}

'''The Frederick Gunn School''' is a private, coeducational, boarding and day prep school for students in grades 9–12 and postgraduate, located in rural Connecticut, United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Frederick Gunn School|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> The {{convert|220|acre|km2|adj=on}} campus borders the village green of Washington, a small, historic town in Litchfield Hills. Formerly known as '''The Gunnery''' and '''Mr. Gunn's School''', it was named for its founder, has no military affiliations and is a non-sectarian school.

The Frederick Gunn School was founded in 1850 by Frederick W. Gunn, a teacher, abolitionist, and father of recreational camping in America,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Rich |date=2022-07-08 |title=The Life Lessons of Summer Camp |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-life-lessons-of-summer-camp-11657292830 |access-date=2022-07-13 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> based on his belief that strength of character was the goal of education.

== History == Formerly known as The Gunnery, The Frederick Gunn School was founded by Frederick William Gunn and his wife Abigail in 1850.<ref>{{cite web |first=Paula Gibson |last=Krimsky |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/reading-writing-and-the-great-outdoors-frederick-gunns-school-transforms-victorian-era-education/ |title=Reading, Writing, and the Great Outdoors: Frederick Gunn's School Transforms Victorian-era Education |website=Connecticut History |accessdate=November 27, 2018 }}</ref> It was originally 30 boys on {{cvt|50|acre}}.<ref>{{cite book |title=Where to educate, 1898–1899. A guide to the best private schools, higher institutions of learning, etc., in the United States |last=Thomas |first=Grace Powers |year=1898 |publisher=Brown and Company |location=Boston |page=37 |accessdate=August 17, 2012 |url=https://archive.org/stream/wheretoeducate1800thomrich#page/37/mode/1up}}</ref> In 1894 The Ridge School was founded as an affiliated junior school for younger boys. The school offered a classical education typical of Anglican tradition schools of the time but also emphasized athletic opportunities, environmental awareness and moral values.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} In a less inclusive era, the Gunns' school welcomed girls, international students and African American students.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In the 1920s the school became an all-boys school, enrollment tripled and new buildings were added. During World War II, The Gunnery prepared boys for entering the armed forces. In 1977, The Gunnery returned to its coeducational roots. For several years prior, The Gunnery had a partnership with the nearby all-girls school Wykeham Rise, which has since closed.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=About Us — History & Traditions|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/about/history-traditions|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wykeham Rise site to become high-end country inn|url=http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Wykeham-Inn-ground-breaking-set-for-spring-5698962.php|work=The News-Times|date=August 19, 2014}}</ref> The first female head was appointed in 1991.

== Boarding == The Frederick Gunn School is a day and boarding school, with 73% (232 boarders, 83 day)<ref name=quick-facts/> of its students residing in one of the 10 dormitories on campus. Students are supported by teachers, coaches, faculty advisors, dorm parents, administrators and student leaders who are designated as Residential Assistants (RAs).<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Student Life - Dorm Life|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/student-life/dorm-life|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=FrederickGunn.org}}</ref> In most dormitories, students are grouped by class. Each dormitory consists primarily of single and double student rooms, but also house faculty and their families. There are students from 22 countries and 22 states in the U.S. Students from the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and the U.S. Virgin Islands were included in the student body in the 2021–22 academic year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 September 2019|title=School Opens With Second Consecutive Year of Record Enrollment|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/calendar-news/news-details/~board/news/post/school-opens-with-second-consecutive-year-of-record-enrollment|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref>

== Athletics == === Championships === *1987 – Boys Ice Hockey – WNEPSAC Championship<ref name=":1" /> *1988 – Boys Ice Hockey – WNEPSAC Championship<ref name=":1" /> *1989 – Boys Soccer – WNEPSAC Division II Championship *1990 – Boys Ice Hockey – WNEPSAC Championship<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 November 2023|title=Athletics - Our Teams - Boys Varsity Ice Hockey|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/athletics/our-teams/boys-varsity-ice-hockey|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2002 – Girls Ice Hockey – New England Division II Champions<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=17 November 2023|title=Athletics - Our Teams - Girls Varsity Ice Hockey|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/athletics/our-teams/girls-varsity-ice-hockey|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2004 – Boys Baseball – Western New England Prep Baseball League Champions<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=25 March 2024|title=Athletics - Our Teams - Boys Varsity Baseball|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/athletics/our-teams/boys-varsity-baseball|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2007 – Boys Baseball – Western New England Prep Baseball League Champions<ref name=":3" /> *2007 – Girls Lacrosse – New England Class B Co-Champions *2009 – Boys Baseball – Western New England Prep Baseball League Champions<ref name=":3" /> *2012 – Girls Field Hockey – New England Class C New England Champions<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Athletics - Our Teams - Girls Varsity Field Hockey|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/athletics/our-teams/girls-varsity-field-hockey|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2013 – Girls Ice Hockey – New England Division II Champions<ref name=":2" /> *2013 – Boys Hockey – Edward G. Watkins New Years Tournament Champion<ref name=":1" /> *2014 – Girls Ice Hockey – New England Division II Champions<ref name=":2" /> *2014 – Boys Crew – National Scholastic Championship Regatta Champions<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=20 April 2024|title=Athletics - Our Teams - Boys Varsity Crew|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/athletics/our-teams/boys-varsity-crew|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2015 – Boys Hockey – Edward G. Watkins New Years Tournament Champion<ref name=":1" /> *2016 – Boys Hockey – New England Elite Eight Tournament Champion<ref name=":1" /> *2016 – Boys Lacrosse – WNESSLA Champions<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 March 2024|title=Athletics - Our Teams - Boys Varsity Lacrosse|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/athletics/our-teams/boys-varsity-lacrosse|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2016 – Boys Lacrosse – Colonial Tournament Champions<ref name=":4" /> *2016 – Boys Football – New England Eight-Player Football Champions *2017 – Boys Hockey – Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic Champions<ref name=":1" /> *2018 – Boys Hockey – Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic Champions<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=December 16, 2018|title=News - Boys Varsity Hockey Wins Back-to-Back Christmas Classic|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/calendar-news/news-details/~board/news/post/boys-varsity-hockey-wins-back-to-back-christmas-classic|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2019 – Girls Cross Country NEPSTA DIII Cross Country Champions<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 11, 2019|title=News - Girls Varsity Cross Country Wins New England Championship|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/calendar-news/news-details/~board/news/post/girls-varsity-cross-country-wins-new-england-championship|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2019 – Boys Crew – Beebe Cup Winner<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=May 21, 2019|title=News - The Beebe Cup Returns Home After 19 Years|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/calendar-news/news-details/~board/news/post/the-beebe-cup-returns-home-after-19-years|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2019 – Boys Crew – Du. Pont Cup Winner<ref name=":5" /> *2019 – Boys Crew – Head of the Riverfront Regatta, first place, junior 4+<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=October 9, 2019|title=Gunnery Rowing Wins Gold and Bronze at Head of the Riverfront Regatta|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/calendar-news/news-details/~board/news/post/gunnery-rowing-wins-gold-and-bronze-at-head-of-the-riverfront-regatta|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref> *2020 – Boys Hockey – NEPSAC Tournament Piatelli/Simmons (Small) Bracket Champion<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=9 March 2020|title=News - Boys Varsity Hockey Wins New England Championship|url=https://www.frederickgunn.org/calendar-news/news-details/~board/news/post/boys-varsity-hockey-wins-new-england-championship|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=frederickgunn.org}}</ref>

== Notable alumni == thumb|Gunnery Camp, called the first organized summer camp

*Gerald Warner Brace, novelist *Justin Dunn (2013), Major League Baseball player *Edsel Ford II (1968), director of Ford Motor Company *George Grande (1964), Major League Baseball announcer *P. J. Higgins (2012), Major League Baseball player *Andrew Lack (1964), chairman of NBC News *Dick Lehr (1972), journalist *Kayla Meneghin, professional hockey player *Noemi Neubauerová, professional hockey player *Kristýna Pátková professional hockey player *Sam Posey (1962), professional racing driver *James N. Rosenberg (1895), lawyer *Sean P. Stellato (1997), NFL Agent / Author *Peter C. Sutton (1968), art historian *C. Whitney Tillinghast 2nd, Adjutant General of New York<ref name="Reynolds1911">{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Cuyler |date=1911 |title=Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs |volume=I |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hudson_Mohawk_Genealogical_and_Family_Me/5Yk-AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=&pg=PA656 |location=New York, New York |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |page=656 |via=Google Books}}</ref> *Jonathan Tisch (1972), businessman *Steve Tisch (1968), businessman *Sam Walther, professional hockey player *Dick Wolf (1965), television producer

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.nepsac.org/ NEPSAC main page] * [https://www.frederickgunn.org/ The Frederick Gunn School website]

{{New England Preparatory School Athletic Council|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunnery}} Category:Washington, Connecticut Category:Schools in Litchfield County, Connecticut Category:Private high schools in Connecticut Category:Preparatory schools in Connecticut Category:Boarding schools in Connecticut Category:Educational institutions established in 1850