A Stellar Summer for Horizons at Saint David's

The news from Horizons at Saint David's couldn't be better. This past summer, 120 boys in rising Grades One through Nine were back on campus, in-person, to participate in the six-week summer program designed to enrich boys' learning and prevent academic summer slide. For the vast majority of these boys, it was their first time returning full time to a classroom in more than 16 months, requiring a special focus on academics, fitness, social skills and classroom routines.

Horizons staff were more than ready. Math and reading specialists designed personalized education plans for the boys, resulting in a 66 percent growth in math and a 71 percent growth in reading by the program's end. Increased opportunities for daily physical activity and sports were woven into the sessions to address the problem of childhood obesity resulting from the pandemic. Lacrosse was introduced for the first time through a partnership with CityLax.

In collaboration with Ramapo for Children, Horizons provided professional development in social-emotional learning to all staff, and all grades attended weekly social-emotional classes. All of the students reported feeling connected to the Horizons staff as people who cared about their well-being.

There's more good news, too. The Horizons at Saint David's program has been expanded to run throughout the year, offering optional six-week fall and spring sessions.

This type of success is only possible when you have a program that is run and staffed by caring, consummate professionals; in this case, everyone from Executive Director Hope Lippens, Program Director Lindsay Zaremba, and Athletics Director/Volunteer Supervisor Nick Imbelli, to the advisory board members, teachers and Saint David's alumni volunteers.

Horizons at Saint David's began in 2012 with 17 rising first graders, as part of Saint David's School's 60th anniversary initiative to give back to society in a meaningful, mission-focused way by providing educational opportunities for elementary school children; in this case, boys from partner schools in East Harlem. Ten years later, it is stronger than ever.

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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