David O'Halloran, Headmaster - Saint David's School, New York City

As we settle into the summer with an eye to the upcoming school year, our faculty are participating in a series of professional development workshops, led by Jamie MacNeille and Nora Sundar. Reflecting upon and sharing what worked best in our spring distance learning platform is helping us to evolve the delivery of our curriculum in ways that amplify relationships, increase student engagement, and promote student agency regardless of the platform--virtual or in-person. During yesterday's "Toolbox Share," faculty shared new tools and techniques they employed to attain several educational outcomes, among these: an app that enables boys to write, illustrate, and narrate - in Spanish - books about animals, which they can then share with each other; iMovie tutorials that boys can rewatch to deepen understanding and practice new art skills; circle talks where boys come together to share their thoughts and feelings; podcasts that engage boys' imaginations and ...

Our 39 new graduates made history last week. A class unlike any other, they were graduated in the midst of a pandemic. As I said during Friday's live virtual ceremony, they have wrestled with the course of time and triumphed. Since mid-March, this special class of boys had not been together in-person. However, through their diligence, fortitude, and positivity, they remained close in spirit. During many sessions this spring on Zoom, the Are You Smarter Than an Eighth Grader  quiz show included, the virtual walls seemed to give way and, among the dialogue and the laughter, it felt like all was as it should be. Having gone through this challenge was not easy, but it has bonded these boys more than they may yet realize. This was evident in their ready smiles at graduation. As is tradition, each graduating class leaves a gift to Saint David's. The Class of 2020's legacy gift is a pair of rubbed bronze lanterns to illuminate the Graham House doors. It is a fitting gif...