On February 5, 1951, one teacher welcomed four young boys through the black doors of a new independent elementary school's single building at 12 East 89th Street in New York City. Today, Saint David's School welcomes more than 400 boys each day to a campus comprising six contiguous buildings and more than130 faculty and staff.
The week of February 2, 2026, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of that first school day.
Colorful balloons set the stage on Monday for a festive Founders’ Week that featured celebratory activities for everyone: an all-grades anniversary trivia competition – (Congratulations to J.S.’26 whose knowledge of Saint David’s history earned him an 8/10 score.), anniversary t-shirt, poster-size all-school photo, Saint David’s Birthday Cake at lunch, and a custom cookie to close out the week.
And, our anchor events – the 75th Jubilee celebratory mass and Parents Association’s Excelsior Benefit – were testaments to the deep bonds that unite our community members across all class years and eras.
Thursday morning’s mass was nothing short of a profoundly moving spiritual experience. More than 1,000 were present in person at St. Ignatius Loyola (400 plus on livestream), representing decades of alumni and alumni families, as well as our current school body. At its conclusion, one young alumnus approached me shedding tears and said he cried multiple times throughout the ceremony—it was that moving. And he wasn’t the only one. It was truly a celebration of who we were, who we are, and who we want to be.
The following evening, we were some 1,200 strong at our celebratory benefit dinner dance, which honored teachers who have given 25 years or more service to the school. Never before had so many members of the Saint David's community gathered in one place. The energy was contagious, the joy evident, and the love that this community has both for the school and for each other, palpable. To see and speak with "boys" from classes spanning decades, and to watch them mingle with their "old teachers", their fellow classmates, and classmates' families, was a gift of connection I will forever cherish.
I believe the strength of this connection boils down to one thing: Throughout her history, Saint David’s has maintained one constant, a north star driving it ever upward. Our unwavering mission is rooted in the original intent of our school’s bold founders—that boys be educated to fulfill their potential through rigorous academic pursuit, deliberate moral introspection, critical analysis of ideas and issues within the classical tradition of balance, the traditions of our founding faith, a sense of true community, a sole focus on boys' elementary education, the athletic and aesthetic, and the commitment to educating boys to aspire to be good men--
ut viri boni sint.
In the final lines of our Alma Mater, it reads: “Fons, praeceptor/Praecipue/Nutrix beata/O Alma Mater/Sancti David lude.” These words speak of the school as a teacher of us all, a blessed mother to all who pass through her embrace… If the past is any indication of the future, the school’s fountain of knowledge, her loving embrace will only continue to widen and brighten. We are deeply grateful for the myriad in our community who chaired anniversary initiatives, volunteered, and gave so much of their time and talent to deliver a "week to remember" at a momentous moment in Saint David's history.
One highlight of our celebratory mass was a rendition of the inspirational song "Seed to Sow," arranged by our music Chair Jeff Moore and featuring a moving delivery by our First Choir, Bell Choir, and Percussion Ensemble. In it, Mr. Moore, through lyrics he wrote for this rendition, presents a most poignant and apt observation for this anniversary year as "We look back with pride, and ahead with joy."
Excelsior.
