From the Rector: The Power of Community

Dear Alumni, Before the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” became a truism, we knew from human experience that growing up in a community of people has a powerful impact on a young person.

Early impressions of difference, interpreted as “right” and “wrong,” “normal” and “abnormal,” become part of a frame of reference that can be hard, in later years, to adjust. Where we come from is, simply, where we come from. But we know that, just as there are “windows” for the development of language skills and executive function, there are corresponding social and emotional times in children’s lives when learning can be enhanced or stunted by experiences in communities.

At their best, residential schools accelerate all kinds of learning and can be powerful and inspiring environments in which teenagers set standards of excellence and develop those critical skills – self-awareness and management, social awareness and relationship building, and responsible decision-making – that provide the basis for successful, mature adulthood. These “social-emotional learning” skills emphasize basic, traditional values – kindness, empathy, compassion – that are at the heart of good relationships and caring communities.

Residential schools are not always “at our best,” and repenting and acknowledging the failures of our past reinforces our commitment to being better for our students now and in the future. Learning how to be that safe, inspiring community is the work of all schools in 2020, and it is certainly our work at St. Paul’s School every day.

In my short time in this community, I am struck by its powerful, positive diversity. This year, our students come from 30 states and 18 countries. They represent families from all walks of life, and they bring with them the influences of the myriad communities that have, to date, shaped them. When we talk about the distinct fully residential community that is St. Paul’s School, we’re talking about what it means to live fully engaged as a whole young person in this diverse community, coming together around the pillars of scholarship, leadership, character, and community – SPS 360, as we refer to it – and being energized by learning from each other.

These teenagers lean in, they opt in, they show up – pick the current term for maximizing opportunities to grow, and these students do it. Their energy and spirits are high; they care about world events and issues; and they learn from each other that “different” isn’t “wrong.” In living with people from around the world, in learning all about them rather than seeing them in just one dimension, our students develop an understanding of human experience that broadens and expands not only their frames of reference but also their curiosity and empathy. When you know someone from living together, it is easier to walk the proverbial mile in that person’s shoes if you have already borrowed them to try them out. This experience makes people better.

The differences among our students are what make us a terrific community in which to grow up and become the kind of citizens America and the world need. As our Board prioritizes affordability, access, and financial support for great students, we are investing in our core strength, both now and for our future.

Sincerely,

Kathleen C. Giles