Founders Day Celebration

In honor of the school’s 55th anniversary, students were treated to a bit of a living history lesson with a special Founders Day celebration. Meeting up in the gym, the students along with faculty and staff heard stories from those Overlake luminaries who worked and went to school here decades ago.

From former English faculty to relatives of the first president of the first Overlake Board of Trustees, the ability to learn how the school was shaped and formed by those who cared and came before us was so valuable for those in attendance. In particular, hearing from the brother of the school's founder was especially moving. Caspar Clarke talked to the student body about what he calls his "accident" with Overlake. "I'm here by accident," remarked Clarke. "My job on the first board was to hold my brother's coat and I did so well at that, they decided to make me Chairman of the Board of Trustees for awhile."

The following individuals were honored today:

Caspar Clarke, brother of school founder, Charlie Clarke, and the school’s first president of the Board of Trustees

Greg Foster (’81)

David & Amy Fulton, parents of alums, former Trustee

Myra Goetz, Overlake’s first English teacher, hired in 1970

Betty Newell, worked in the Specific Languages Disability Program in the early 1970’s

Cebert Noonan (’79)

Carol O’Donnell, worked as the director of development and community relations for 19 years

Ellen Zarter, English teacher at Overlake for 18 years

At the end of the assembly, Head of School Matt Horvat was also honored as he wraps up his 11th year at Overlake and will be moving to London to become the next Head of School at the American School in London.

Click on the slideshow to see special moments from the assembly. To learn more about the school’s history, spend some time with our interactive digital timeline.