Stories of Brothers Bound by Shared Sacrifice

The notion of what it means to be a good man is at the heart of the mission of Saint David's School. This Seventh Grade Father/Son Dinner is an annual special event in which fathers or father figures, and sons explore what it means to be a good man, the relationship between parent and son, and other mission-inspired themes. We were thrilled to have fathers, sons, grandparents, brothers or other paternal influences in the lives of our boys at table together last week for this signature event--the first time we could hold it in person in the last two years.

This year's featured guest speaker, Kevin M. Callahan, wrote Brothers in Arms: Remembering Brothers Buried Side by Side in American World War II Cemeteries. Callahan's book centers on the stories of brothers who died fighting for freedom during the Second World War. After graduating from Yale University, Mr. Callahan had visited the American cemetery at Normandy and was taken by both the beauty of the grounds and the sacrifice of so many. He realized that their sacrifice was what enabled him to "trek through a free and prosperous Europe some fifty years later." He was struck particularly by the grave site of Sgt. Frank McNally from New York, who at the time of his death was about the same age as Mr. Callahan. Then, ten years ago, when visiting the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Italy with his wife and three young sons, Mr. Callahan came across a pair of brothers buried side by side. He found the sight of the two brothers resting together to be especially poignant. This experience inspired him to find and tell the stories of all brothers buried side by side in American World War II cemeteries overseas.

The ultimate expression of "the good" is the sacrifice of one's own life to save the lives of others. For a family to lose more than one member to war is a sacrifice of exponential proportion and pain. Each serviceman who lost his life had a story and Mr. Callahan shared those of some of the brothers: the Roosevelts, the Bangs, and others who, while hailing from different backgrounds all served together, united by a sense of duty and purpose. We were moved by the tales of these brothers and their sacrifice for the greater good, and came away with much to contemplate and reflect upon.

The event's theme reinforced the enduring bonds of friendship and family, which we also celebrate during this dinner. Held in the spring of seventh grade just as our boys begin planning the transition to their next school and when their families are engaging in conversations about life and "what comes next," the evening focuses on the power of supportive and loving relationships. Thank you to our Development office for organizing and executing such a memorable experience and for the Neary family for helping us to secure this internationally renowned guest. Ut viri boni sint.

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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