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...

Saint David's Co-Directors of Inclusion, Diversity and Inclusion, with Dr. Derrick Gay  As a school that deeply values "true community," we want our children to embrace civility and respect difference, to always demonstrate a commitment to stand up for what is right. In so doing, our boys can live more meaningfully and can experience the joyful penned in our mission; a joy that isn't defined as happiness per se, but rather the deep satisfaction that comes from knowing and accepting oneself, and then, by extension accepting and respecting the humanity in others, regardless of difference.  In this light, we continue our partnership, now in its seventh year, with Dr. Derrick Gay , whose sessions focus on building an ever more inclusive and respectful community where all of our boys, their families, and our teachers and staff feel a sense of deepening connection and belonging. Last week, Dr. Gay met with boys in all grades for sessions that promoted efforts among the boy...

I would like to share the following feature article, which appears in the current issue of Saint David's Magazine. Written by our Lower School Head Hope Lippens and Assistant Lower School Head Nick Imbelli '98, it addresses how Saint David's School attends to our younger boys' social and emotional well-being. Over the past two-and-a-half years, we have collectively, as a society and school community, faced challenges never before experienced. Each day, we are barraged by talks of a global pandemic, political discord, social injustices, and violence. Many adults have had a difficult time finding answers for themselves, so it is no surprise that children are struggling to cope with the stressors they are faced with each day. Even prior to the pandemic, research conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration found that between 2016 and 2020, there was a 29 percent rise in anxiety and 27 percent rise in depression in children ages 3-17.  In 2020, the Ann ...

Saint David's 72nd year is off to a joy-filled start! Our classrooms and hallways reflect the energy and excitement of boys slipping back into familiar routines, catching up with old friends, making new ones, and connecting with their incredible teachers. It's an exciting time for all. Below, I share some thoughts from my Opening Letter, which celebrates our theme this year "Joyful Balance":  "And all at once, summer collapsed into fall."  * After sending all the other knights to slay the dragon and failing, the king, left with no other options, sends his own daughter to protect the kingdom. Tearful, she confronts the monster just as George arrives on his white horse and sporting shining armor to save her and the kingdom. Today, George could just as easily be a Georgina or the princess herself. Regardless of the anachronistic nature of parts of this story, “chivalry” redefined for the 21st century has a place.  In origin, c hivalry was formed in the Old Fre...

  Saint David's faculty at the IBSC Conference in Dallas, Texas (June 2022). Action research is any systematic inquiry conducted by teacher researchers, principals, school counselors, or other stakeholders in the teaching/learning environment to gather information about how their particular schools operate, how they teach, and how well their students learn. —Geoffrey Mills, Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher The most effective teaching incorporates art, craft, and science. Traditionally, the profession’s strength has rested in the art and craft areas. Art speaks to teachers using their own passions, talents, and creativity when teaching. Craft refers to the skill sets teachers exhibit, often gained through experience. The science of teaching leverages strategies that well-designed research studies indicate are most effective in eliciting desired outcomes in students. It is data driven, both quantitative and qualitative. By incorporating the scie...