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Our Mission Continues



As we close out Week Six of our distance learning program, boys and teachers are connecting, teaching, and learning in a quintessentially "Saint David's" way, maintaining the integrity of our program across its four pillars (academics, arts, athletics, spirituality).

I'd like to share a few examples:


Third, fourth and fifth graders were visited by author Jessie Janowitz (The Donut Fix and The Donut King) for an animated, engaging session with Q&A on how to turn a spark into a story.


Eighth graders are continuing to benefit from the school's partnership with the DNA Learning Center. DNALC biologist Jennifer Hackett leads Zoom sessions as the boys extract DNA from leaves for later analysis. Rigorous academic pursuit continues.

Boys in all grades are engaging in push-up challenges for pennies (and lots of dollars) in the "Pennies for Push-Ups" school-wide fundraiser to support Feeding America. Led by the Eighth Grade Student Council and our Athletic Department, the boys' success has been phenomenal. They have shot past their initial $2,500 goal and raised $16,000 for the nonprofit that supports food banks across the country--and they still have a week to go. Working for the greater good continues.

Our eighth graders are also in the final stages of the culminating ARCO project. Each has employed his artistry, imagination, and critical analysis of ideas and issues to create an original piece of artwork that pays homage to a modern artist. The boys will present their work, their rationale, and the project's challenges via video to a panel of judges next week. Appreciation for beauty continues.

Each morning, school opens with an Agent for the Good Chapel Talk delivered by a seventh grader. Our days begin with these well crafted, spiritually uplifting messages around a notable good person, scripture, and our school's mission. Chapel tradition continues--and the entire community can attend virtually.

This is just a snapshot of the myriad ways Saint David's has been committed to our program and mission during these extraordinary times. We're tending to our boys' emotional/social well-being and, through online office hours and our advisory program, making sure the imperative relationship between individual teacher and boy remains strong and continues to flourish.

No one knows what the next months will bring in the Covid-19 crisis. However, I can say with certainty that our school will rise to any challenges and we will meet them head on. Guided always by our mission and values, we will provide our boys the best Saint David's experience possible. Ut viri boni sint.

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