An Evening with Wes Moore on Resilience

“True resiliency means you were able to make a bigger table for other people to see their own greatness as well.”

This key message was delivered last night by Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the nation, and bestselling author, combat veteran, and social entrepreneur. Mr. Moore provided a riveting, inspiring talk via Zoom for our graduating eighth graders, their parents, and the alumni/alumni parent community on resilience, this year’s school-wide theme. The evening marked the 17th annual Alumni Parents Council Lecture Series event; this year renamed for the first time in honor of alumnus Eric Wu ’14 (R.I.P.), in celebration of Eric’s short but meaningful life.

Lauding the graduating class for their ability to adapt during this curve ball pandemic year, Mr. Moore observed a great lesson from this pandemic: that the only certainty in life is inconsistency, surprise, and the need to adapt. As he reflected on the unpredictability of life, Mr. Moore encouraged the boys to live deeply and purposefully, to “go big” and leave a positive mark on this world: “While we are here, let’s push, let’s advocate, let’s organize, let’s love, let’s fight, find an issue, pull people together, have conversations with those we might not have had conversations with before.”

Mr. Moore noted that we are all part of a larger, global fabric and our individual successes are dependent on the success of all others. Resilience, he said, requires more than an individual’s singular conclusion; it entails using one’s power to pull others up—we are all interconnected.

In closing, Mr. Moore expressed his confidence in our boys, stating, “I know the hopes, dreams and expectations of everyone here are that you are going to be truly resilient and the world will be better because of it.”

Each year, our Lecture Series provides a culminating master class experience for our graduating class which includes presentations by the guest speaker, followed by a question and answer session with the eighth graders. Yesterday evening inspired all present to live lives of impact and meaning, and was the perfect lecture in honor of Eric, an incredible young man who epitomized our school motto Ut Viri Boni Sint in deed and in word.

Saint David’s School thanks Mr. Moore for sharing his wisdom and insights with the boys, their parents, and the alumni community. Appreciation also goes to APC co-chairs Winnie Feng and Annie Haddad, J.P. Hormillosa and Maureen Barry of the Development Office, and alumni parent and former trustee Suzanne Karr for bringing this memorable evening to fruition.

Resilience in the Teaching of Languages

Above: The Nerf microphone ball enables boys learning remotely to hear their classmates well. The pandemic has challenged educators to reinvent and reimagine units of study to keep learning engaging, regardless of how it is delivered. The following article, written for Saint David’s Magazine by our Modern Languages Chair Dr. Victoria Gilbert and Lower School Spanish teacher Flor Berman, addresses how this was done in the Spanish immersion language program at Saint David's. Ms. Berman and Dr. Gilbert, recipient of the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers' Ruth E. Wasley Distinguished Teacher Award, presented on the topic at NYSAIS’s Flexible Classroom Conference last summer. How Spanish Classes Have Bounced Back Resiliency implies an ability to bounce back, but as teachers working with the youngest learners in the school, we would reframe resiliency as the opportunity to reimagine. Whether boys are learning through a face-to-face experience or through the med

The Role of Faith in Social-Emotional Learning and Psychological Well-Being

The following article by our School Psychologist, Dr. Michael Schwartzman, appears in the current issue of Saint David's Magazine : During one of my first observations in a Saint David’s classroom 15 years ago, I witnessed two first grade boys in a verbal altercation. Although it was contained just between the two boys, their observant teacher had them talk it through and then shake hands on being in a better place for having done so. I was very impressed, and still am, with this approach that the school takes many times throughout the day. It helps establish a firm idea of how to behave, especially in social situations where emotions can be stirred and run high. Through this experience repeated consistently day in and day out, better, more productive ways of engaging become increasingly integrated by the boys as they develop socially and emotionally in interaction with each other. As the School Psychologist, I spend a lot of time thinking about the touch points for student and t

Storytelling Demonstrates Understanding

Their time had arrived. As the lights dimmed in our Otto-Bernstein Theatre, the astrophysicists, a mix of jitters and excitement, awaited their opportunity to share insights and stories about the workings of the universe. Which planets might support life? Is there water on Mars? What are Dwarf Planets? "Let's take a look at our closest neighbor, Venus," invited one presenter, before revealing that the planet - while ideal in proximity - has surface temperatures of 900 degrees F: "Imagine - standing on the surface would be like being burned alive!" Later that same day, in our Graham lunchroom, early 20th century immigrants of all ages from Italy, China, Ireland, Russia, among other countries, waited, with hope and determination, their turn to be interviewed for admittance to America. It wasn't going to be easy. They would be asked pointed, potentially life-altering questions by various processors. "What's that cough? It doesn't sound good,&qu

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

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