Harmony - A Joyful Balance

Saint David's Parents Association Benefits are many things: evenings of dining, dancing, auction bidding.

Above all, they are a celebration of our community.

And what a community we are! This year's event, held Friday evening, broke all records for attendance: more than 620 parents, faculty and staff gathered for Harmony - Joyful Balance to enjoy each other's company and to honor our school. It was an evening that will live long in our collective memories and hearts.

The benefit theme riffed off our theme for this school year. In joyful balance we celebrate the joy that comes from our boys finding the good within the balance of our four pillars: Academics, Arts, Athletics, Spirituality. Our boys' endeavors, whether in science labs, the art and music studios, gymnasiums, or Chapel, lead to their discovery and exploration of interests, passions, and beliefs. Along the way, they learn to listen to and respect others’ thoughts and opinions--the value of civil discourse--as they build confidence and faith in themselves, their families, and their community.

In harmony, we recognize that music is truly found not in the notes of a song, but in the silence in between. Our teachers are in the in-between. They are the music, guiding our boys to be "all that they can be; all that they will be." Our parents, our partners.

From the second that the doors of Cipriani 42nd Street opened, to the final call of the after party, the harmony and joy of our community was on full display. In deep gratitude to the Benefit Chairs Natalia Torres and Carolyn Traut; all their committee chairs, our PA President Norris Daniels, Director of Development Maureen Barry and her team, and to the cast of thousands who made Friday evening possible.

Ut viri boni sint.

Enjoy viewing (or re-viewing) the video:

The Wisdom Within - A Matter of Trust

The Teaching Boys Initiative (TBI) is a cornerstone of Saint David’s School’s strategic vision, aimed at developing a robust framework of evidence-based best practices in boys’ education. The initiative’s primary goal is to empower educators with the knowledge, skills, habits, and dispositions of reflective practitioners, enhancing their professional growth and the overall quality of teaching and learning for boys. In TBI's new quarterly blog series, "The Wisdom Within," our faculty share stories that inform, inspire, and encourage reflective practice using evidence-based approaches in teaching and learning for boys. The following inaugural entry, "A Matter of Trust," was written by reflective practitioner and Master Teacher Tom Ryan, who has been inspiring generations of Saint David's boys for more than 53 years. A MATTER OF TRUST …but, I digress. I cannot possibly begin any writing piece, and/or class, without some digression that, as I have said to my s...

Jack Mullin '12 : Reflections on a Mom's Love

The Chapel talk tradition at Saint David's provides faculty and alumni with the opportunity to share with our boys meaningful and inspiring personal stories: their experiences, lessons learned, challenges overcome. The annual Fifth Grade Mother-Son Chapel gathers our fifth-grade boys and their mothers or mother figures for a special shared pre-Mother's Day experience; a Chapel Talk by a young alumnus who reflects upon the role his mother has played in his life. This year, we welcomed former Student Council President Jack Mullin '12. Jack's family has deep roots with school. His older brother Patrick graduated in '08 and his dad, Terry, in 1973. Jack's talk centered on the impact both his alma mater and his mother, Immy, have had on his development into the man he is today. Below are excerpts that I would like to share: "My family's multi-generational lineage is a testament to the incredible sense of community Saint David’s fosters, and I too hope I have...

Strong Values

You can feel it in the air: the indescribable yet readily recognizable excitement of the start of a new school year - in our boys, teachers, families, administrators, and staff. Below, I share excerpts from my opening letter that speak to our 2024-25 school-wide theme, "Strong Values:" "To-morrow I cease to be a puppet, and I become a boy like you and all the other boys."* We teach boys. That’s what we do. And we want our boys to think for themselves. And we want that thinking to be rooted in and guided by “strong values”—our school-wide theme this year, found in the last line of the mission’s second paragraph. In keeping with the school’s classical tradition, these strong values are shaped at Saint David’s by the cardinal and theological virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and courage, along with faith, hope, and charity. To many Western philosophers, possession of these virtues makes a person good, happy, and thriving. Something we want for all of our sons. ...

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

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