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

Several years ago, Saint David's Environmental Action and Awareness Committee (EAAC) was founded by art chair Jenna Boccella. A Faculty/Staff volunteer-run organization, the group sought to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint, both individually and school-wide; thereby making Saint David's as environmentally conscious as possible. Over the years, efforts have targeted paper, plastic and energy use.  Following a COVID-hiatus, the group instituted a new recycling initiative for the 2021-22 school year, one which encouraged our community to enhance paper and plastic compost habits and to practice sustainability whenever and wherever possible. Reduce and reuse are two primary points that we want to drive home, and then after those two options have been exhausted, we aim to recycle. A Recycling Challenge was called in which homerooms and offices vied to be identified as most successful in their recycling efforts. The plan was so well received and successfully integrated that ...

Yesterday, the Yale Spizzwinks(?), America's oldest undergraduate a cappella group, provided a morning workshop and concert for Upper School boys. In the early morning Master Class with our Chamber Singers, the Spizzwinks(?) stressed the importance of a physical warm-up prior to singing: "You are your instrument." Soft/hard palates, explosive consonants, and solid advice about bringing a song to life rounded out the lesson. During the concert of jazz standards and contemporary songs that followed, these energetic young men and women wowed our boys with their wonderful singing, intricate harmonies, and hilarious stories. They told one famous story about their rivals from Harvard that the boys all loved. The concert closed with the Chamber Singers joining the Spizzwinks(?) onstage for a rendition of Let It Be (see video clip below), which they had workshopped together earlier that morning. Thrilled to share the stage with such a renowned group of singers, our boys were ins...

Our seventh graders have a longstanding tradition of participating in weekly visits to the Carnegie East House assisted living facility as part of our program of studies. Placed on hold during the pandemic, we received the green light to resume the trips this school year. Each Monday afternoon, the boys and their homeroom teachers walk over to Carnegie East House, where, in small groups, they engage with residents in a variety of activities. This past week's visit featured a trivia quiz game, "Name that Tune," and "Guess the Sport" charades. The boys and residents look forward to these experiences and, because they occur over a sustained period of time rather than as a one-off event, they are able to have more meaningful interactions as both groups get to know each other. At times, engaging with different people--some of whom may be experiencing challenges--is not easy for young people, but it leads to greater maturity, empathy, respect and, ultimately, that dee...