Through this special Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Chuck Boyles (’80), vice president of Factory Automation Systems in Atlanta, GA.
Let’s get to know Reese Bell, a 10-year day student from Cedar Bluff, Ala., who served as company manager for the fine arts department’s recent production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”
When I was in elementary and middle school, I read all the time. I had the time, and I loved to learn more about my interests. As I entered high school, I noticed the people around me weren’t reading, and I started to realize I wasn’t either. Even though I wasn’t reading anymore, I still enjoyed it and saw its value. I found myself missing reading and the simple joy it used to bring to my life. So, when I was given the opportunity to rally awareness and action for something through my senior ventures project, I chose to focus on the subject of reading.
Each year in AP Psychology at Darlington, students complete a creative project where they rewrite a familiar fairy tale and give one of the characters a psychological disorder. The goal is to combine accurate psychological understanding with creative storytelling. Students are free to present their work in any medium, including short films, children’s books, plays, podcasts, or music. This year’s standout projects included a handmade Hadestown-inspired picture book exploring PTSD, a short film about Lightning McQueen and narcissistic personality disorder, and an elaborate pop-up retelling of the myth of Herakles and the Hydra. The project highlights student creativity while encouraging thoughtful engagement with mental health concepts.
As we head into spring break and our students scatter across the globe — returning to their home countries, cities, and vacation spots around the world — it feels fitting to celebrate one of this year's standout experiences. In February, Darlington sent a delegation to the Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Chicago, Ill.
Spring Conference Day is coming up this week! These conferences offer a different kind of conversation than our fall conferences. In October, conferences focus on connection and clarity. We establish relationships, set expectations, and identify early goals. Fall is about building the foundation.
March is a month when steady habits shape strong outcomes. It is the time of year when character matters most. It is often easier to start strong than to finish strong. Finishing strong requires discipline when motivation dips, integrity when no one is watching, and resilience when outcomes are not what we hoped for. These qualities not only define successful students, but also help develop confident, capable contributors to their communities.
“When is the game? What was the score? Who are we playing against?” These are questions I hear constantly during athletic seasons. Too often, the answers are scattered, unclear, and unanswered. As someone involved in both athletics and graphic design, Leveling Up Darlington Athletics, my Senior Ventures project, is my effort to improve the quality, consistency, and branding of our athletic programs through social media, specifically Instagram.
When Mitchell Kelly Thurston (’14) first arrived on Darlington’s campus on the evening of Jan. 4, 2012, he had never seen the school in person. By 8:30 p.m., he was settling into a dorm room in Georgia, far from his home in Nassau, Bahamas. By the next morning, he was officially a Tiger.
Darlington would like to congratulate two of our band musicians for being selected for and performing in the District VII Honors Band. Girmante Zolubaite, a junior boarding student, made the flute section of the Grades 9-10 Band; and Xander Bickers, a member of our eighth-grade class, was chosen to play trumpet in the top Middle School Band at the festival.
Today, we feature Young Alumni Council member Elijah McKoy ('17), an orthopedic sales representative who graduated from Furman University in 2021. We hope you enjoy getting to know these young alums who have chosen to "learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect."
I am often reminded of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a book that first appeared in the mid-1980s. I remember being struck by it at the time, by how something so profound could also be so uncomplicated. The lessons were simple, yet deeply powerful. I was genuinely impressed that the most important truths about life could be pared down to a short list of ideas that anyone could understand and live by.
February is an exciting and busy month, and I am grateful for the energy and the commitment from our students and faculty across campus. During this time of high demands in and out of the classroom, maintaining balance is important.
Through our Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Matthew McConnell ('17), a digital content creator for Florida State University's communications team.
With our exciting theme for the year, "Blast Off to a Great Year," our 3-5 team took advantage of an opportunity that was provided to us by a Darlington grant with a visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Happy New Year! As we begin the second semester and step into 2026, this feels like a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set a positive path forward. A new year often brings renewed energy and fresh routines, and for many of our students, the holiday season also brought exciting new gifts, including devices and new ways to connect.
As the first semester comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the strength of the Darlington Community and the great students we have. The first half of the year has been full of strong academic achievement and meaningful growth among our students. Semester grades are now available and can be seen on the parent portal under the “Classes & Reports” link. This break is a great time to reflect on progress, reinforce positive habits, and set goals for the second semester.
Through this special Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Chuck Boyles (’80), vice president of Factory Automation Systems in Atlanta, GA.
Let’s get to know Reese Bell, a 10-year day student from Cedar Bluff, Ala., who served as company manager for the fine arts department’s recent production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”
When I was in elementary and middle school, I read all the time. I had the time, and I loved to learn more about my interests. As I entered high school, I noticed the people around me weren’t reading, and I started to realize I wasn’t either. Even though I wasn’t reading anymore, I still enjoyed it and saw its value. I found myself missing reading and the simple joy it used to bring to my life. So, when I was given the opportunity to rally awareness and action for something through my senior ventures project, I chose to focus on the subject of reading.
Each year in AP Psychology at Darlington, students complete a creative project where they rewrite a familiar fairy tale and give one of the characters a psychological disorder. The goal is to combine accurate psychological understanding with creative storytelling. Students are free to present their work in any medium, including short films, children’s books, plays, podcasts, or music. This year’s standout projects included a handmade Hadestown-inspired picture book exploring PTSD, a short film about Lightning McQueen and narcissistic personality disorder, and an elaborate pop-up retelling of the myth of Herakles and the Hydra. The project highlights student creativity while encouraging thoughtful engagement with mental health concepts.
As we head into spring break and our students scatter across the globe — returning to their home countries, cities, and vacation spots around the world — it feels fitting to celebrate one of this year's standout experiences. In February, Darlington sent a delegation to the Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Chicago, Ill.
Spring Conference Day is coming up this week! These conferences offer a different kind of conversation than our fall conferences. In October, conferences focus on connection and clarity. We establish relationships, set expectations, and identify early goals. Fall is about building the foundation.
March is a month when steady habits shape strong outcomes. It is the time of year when character matters most. It is often easier to start strong than to finish strong. Finishing strong requires discipline when motivation dips, integrity when no one is watching, and resilience when outcomes are not what we hoped for. These qualities not only define successful students, but also help develop confident, capable contributors to their communities.
“When is the game? What was the score? Who are we playing against?” These are questions I hear constantly during athletic seasons. Too often, the answers are scattered, unclear, and unanswered. As someone involved in both athletics and graphic design, Leveling Up Darlington Athletics, my Senior Ventures project, is my effort to improve the quality, consistency, and branding of our athletic programs through social media, specifically Instagram.
When Mitchell Kelly Thurston (’14) first arrived on Darlington’s campus on the evening of Jan. 4, 2012, he had never seen the school in person. By 8:30 p.m., he was settling into a dorm room in Georgia, far from his home in Nassau, Bahamas. By the next morning, he was officially a Tiger.
Darlington would like to congratulate two of our band musicians for being selected for and performing in the District VII Honors Band. Girmante Zolubaite, a junior boarding student, made the flute section of the Grades 9-10 Band; and Xander Bickers, a member of our eighth-grade class, was chosen to play trumpet in the top Middle School Band at the festival.
Today, we feature Young Alumni Council member Elijah McKoy ('17), an orthopedic sales representative who graduated from Furman University in 2021. We hope you enjoy getting to know these young alums who have chosen to "learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect."
I am often reminded of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a book that first appeared in the mid-1980s. I remember being struck by it at the time, by how something so profound could also be so uncomplicated. The lessons were simple, yet deeply powerful. I was genuinely impressed that the most important truths about life could be pared down to a short list of ideas that anyone could understand and live by.
February is an exciting and busy month, and I am grateful for the energy and the commitment from our students and faculty across campus. During this time of high demands in and out of the classroom, maintaining balance is important.
Through our Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Matthew McConnell ('17), a digital content creator for Florida State University's communications team.
With our exciting theme for the year, "Blast Off to a Great Year," our 3-5 team took advantage of an opportunity that was provided to us by a Darlington grant with a visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Happy New Year! As we begin the second semester and step into 2026, this feels like a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set a positive path forward. A new year often brings renewed energy and fresh routines, and for many of our students, the holiday season also brought exciting new gifts, including devices and new ways to connect.
As the first semester comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the strength of the Darlington Community and the great students we have. The first half of the year has been full of strong academic achievement and meaningful growth among our students. Semester grades are now available and can be seen on the parent portal under the “Classes & Reports” link. This break is a great time to reflect on progress, reinforce positive habits, and set goals for the second semester.
