Drone Flyover Kicks Off Centennial at Severn School

Severn School headmaster Doug Lagarde said he knew he wanted to do something big to celebrate the school’s centennial year—but he didn’t realize at first it would involve a flying drone.

Lagarde said he has seen other schools spell out “100” and take a picture to celebrate centennial, but he wasn’t sure how to go about doing it. He first considered using a helicopter—a costly endeavor—then realized he could use a drone.

“We actually had considered using a helicopter and knowing that it was going to be a fairly big expense, but you turn 100 once, let’s make sure you get a fun thing,” Lagarde said. “When we started looking into it we found… they do this through the drone and the cost was minimal compared to what it would cost to do the helicopter. It also adds an element of learning to the experience.” 

Terry and Belinda Kilby, a husband-and-wife team from Owings Mills, were the drone artists for the event. Terry operated the drone during the flyover, which had a high resolution camera attached to it.

Lagarde said pair would be coming back to the school in the fall to talk with students about robotics. 

On Friday morning, after Convocation, students and faculty alike donned white T-shirts featuring the school’s centennial logo, and recessed onto the artificial turf fields to fill in the outline of the number 100 stenciled on the grass. 

Since this was the first year Severn School had a lower school of elementary students—since merging with Chesapeake Academy—kids of all ages were able to participate.

“Obviously it was a completely different experience than anything we’ve ever had here,” said senior Rylan Collier of Severna Park. “We greeted the [younger kids] off the bus, and to see kids that come up to your waist all the way up to us was a great experience.”

Fellow senior Cortney Mathis of Bowie said the event was the perfect start to senior year for Severn School’s 100th-graduating class.

“It was very exciting. It’s awesome being the 100th-graduating class,” Mathis said. “They did it awesome at Convocation so I can’t wait to see what they do at graduation…I am thinking doves flying over!”