Hundreds of Sussex Consortium students, teachers and families gathered on school grounds May 20 to take part in the first pond walk and picnic since the facility opened in September 2020.
Sussex Consortium Principal Vivian Bush said the walk was started by beloved former physical education teacher Tommy Coveleski as a way to promote exercise. When the Sussex Consortium was housed at the Lewes School on Savannah Road, students walked around Blockhouse Pond in downtown Lewes. Coveleski passed away in 2016.
During construction of the new Sussex Consortium on Sweetbriar Road, a pond and trail were built to keep the pond walk tradition alive. Sussex Consortium teacher Patrick Zmuda said the event has taken place for at least 18 years.

Principal Vivian Bush said former physical education teacher Tommy Coveleski started the event to encourage exercise.

Ready for the picnic are Sussex Consortium Aquatics Director Maria Edgerton-Reed holding Isaac Speese, and parent Margo Mitchell Hopkins, seated, holding son Jack Hopkins. Behind them is Maydelis Gomez-Samon with her daughter Sofia Laserna-Gomez.