A NEW VISION

WRITTEN BY RECTOR SARA STEPHENSON RECTOR & HEAD OF SCHOOL

As my tenure as Rector and Head of School begins, our mission and motto remain beacons for the future of Chatham Hall. Our mission of equipping curious thinkers to lead lives of impact is truly our North Star. It guides everything we do and constantly points us toward our beliefs, goals, and truths. Our motto of Esto Perpetua charges us all to continue to be committed to our community norms and practices long after our time on campus ends. They inspire us each day, and our goal is to fulfill the promise of delivering our mission and ensuring that our community is worthy of our motto.

GROW, EVOLVE & ENHANCE

My vision for our shared future is to grow, evolve, and enhance our platforms to ensure each student is charged to be her most authentic self and to ensure that she has a clear and multifaceted sense of her life of impact, both now and in the future. Our new Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center will call us to reflect on best practices for inner and outer work as we remain deeply committed to valuing and developing individual self-esteem, confidence, and assurance. Our new building will command our focus on excellence across various wellness practices inside and outside our spectacular new facility.

STRATEGY & PLANNING

Chatham Hall students have been change-makers and leaders for more than thirteen decades. As society continues to evolve with a determinedly global and entrepreneurial spirit, our girls will stand prepared to think and act differently. Our strategic planning work with Babson College will soon be shared with our wider constituent community. It will reflect our school’s readiness to face the ever-changing world and our students’ willingness to embrace and adapt to change as an essential part of life.

Committed To Our Roots

While we are forward-thinking and innovative, we remain steadfast in our commitment to our roots and foundation. We are, first and foremost, a girls’ school, and we are rooted in the Episcopal tradition that encourages all members of our community to seek truth and love. This commitment to our history and values provides a sense of security and connection to our community. We celebrate the unique benefits of a girls’ environment every day, and we thrive in a community where the voices and spirits of girls are respected and cherished.

Empowering Every Girl

We empower every girl to be her authentic self and promise that each girl will be recognized and loved for who she is. As we welcome diverse faiths to our campus community, we continue to hold St. Mary’s as the heart of our school, inviting all students and employees to find peace, grace, and reflection within her walls and beyond.

Our gorgeous 365-acre campus provides a spectacular outdoor learning environment for students, employees, and community members. As we continue connecting with wellness and balance, we champion our location and privileged connection to nature in the heart of the Virginia countryside. Few schools, day or boarding, are fortunate enough to offer a chance to experience the beauty of nature and seasons over and over again on a daily basis.

As we stand on the threshold of our next decade, we are filled with anticipation and readiness for all the decades that will follow. We are prepared to adapt, grow, and continue our journey towards excellence. The future is bright, and we are excited to see what it holds for Chatham Hall.