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

At Saint David's, we believe the development of compassion, kindness, and empathy builds and strengthens connection and belonging among all our boys--whatever their belief traditions, backgrounds, or family circumstances. In service of this imperative, Saint David's is in its sixth year of collaboration with  Dr. Derrick Gay , an internationally recognized consultant on issues of Diversity and Inclusion, and Global Citizenship. These efforts to promote empathy, cultivate cultural competency, and deepen inclusion are grounded our school's mission and values, and in the shared values of our families.  On Friday, Dr. Gay was the featured speaker at our Parents Association Meeting, giving parents an inside look at the work done during developmentally sound assemblies he leads with all grades. Dr. Gay shared some of the videos he screens in various classes to spark discussion, and provided strategies and approaches parents can also utilize at home.  The approach taken in sessi...

Bulgaria may be of small size geographically, but the Balkan nation possesses a rich abundance of ancient history, culture and tradition.  Our first graders recently explored Bulgarian culture and language with class parent Rali Dimitrova, who visited the boys in our Lower School Library to share her family's culture and traditions with her son's class.   The boys learned that Bulgaria is world famous for its roses and holds a Rose Festival every year.  They explored the country's music and dance traditions, watched a video of the national horo dance, and a few even got up and tried it out. They also discovered that Bulgaria is one of the few countries that uses the Cyrillic alphabet, invented by Bulgarians in the ninth century; and that Bulgarians welcome guests to their homes with bread (pita), honey and salt.  Most intriguing of all was discussion of Bulgaria's "Golden Treasures" including Varna --the mysterious and oldest known golden treasure in the world...

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, Horiz...

The focus, concentration, and smiling eyes speak volumes.  One month into our 71st year, examples of active engagement in the scholarly and creative abound at Saint David's: Our young scientists in first grade learn how to use pipettes and microscopes.  Second graders engage with museum educators and their Saint David's teachers for a months-long collaboration with the Guggenheim Museum on an art inquiry and creation unit that takes place just down the block at the museum and in our art studios. Our eighth graders, as part of their micro-to-macro exploration of human anatomy, prepare to dissect cows' eyes; this hands-on experience will provide a deeper comprehension of anatomy than can be gleaned through illustrations in text books or videos. The Philharmonic Ensemble, Chamber Singers, and Percussion Ensemble are all back - our boys are flexing their creative muscles as they play instruments or sing, all safely and in accordance with pandemic protocols.  It is wonderful ...

The following is excerpted from Saint David's Magazine, Vol. 35. No. 2: A sense of belonging, a sense of connection to something greater than oneself—the essence of brotherhood—is essential to a boy. At Saint David’s, this sense of connection, of fraternity, is something we not only encourage but also cultivate, foster, and integrate into all we do. Our mission identifies Saint David’s as “a true community known for its sense of family, compassion, and kindness.” We believe it is this development of compassion, kindness, and sense of family that builds the bonds of brotherhood and establishes a sense of connection and belonging among all our boys regardless of where they’ve come from, what they believe, or their family circumstances. “That they be good men,” the aspiration of our founders and the school’s motto, is not the province of one individual; but rather a whole-of-school commitment to every boy’s well-being.   Merriam Webster defines brotherhood as “a fellowship, ...

Orientation Day at Saint David's School (*masks removed for photo). In reflecting on last year and preparing for this one, I cannot help but recognize the bravery in this community. Mission-focused and data-driven, we safely opened early and remained open during the height of the pandemic. No small feat, it required both personal and professional bravery on the part of our teachers and staff, and trust and courage on the part of our boys and their families. We were cautious to the extent necessary, but committed to living our school’s principal mission and purpose. Our successful experience is a testament to the strength, resilience, and bravery of this community. As we embark on our school’s 71st year, Covid-19 remains with us and we will be called upon again to be brave, resilient, flexible, and strong. Although closer to normal, our new school year will not reflect a full return to pre-Covid days. It will continue to challenge and test us in ways we cannot possibly anticipate. A...

I would like to share my last Chapel talk for the year, in the form of a poem:  Three cheers for the year that was Good bye, good riddance, pip-pip Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? No play No friends No easy amends It’s been a year of stoic upends Adios, toodle-oo, so long  Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne? No singing No get togethers No swimming with pals It’s been a year of strange rationals Ciao, see you later, adieu  For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne No fun No movies No popcorn to throw It’s been a year of traveling slow Farewell, sayonara, safe travels We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, For days of auld lang syne No beach No ball No courts to compete It’s been a year of endless defeat Au-revoir, ta-ta, peace out For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne No more masks No more distance No more temperature checks We’re done with these uncertain treks No more virtual No more hybrid No more wei...