Admissions Brochure

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WELCOME TO ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

WHO WE ARE The work of St. Anne’s took its first breath with a relentless commitment to the care of children and the pursuit of seeing them thrive in their lives, their careers, and the wider world.

We have had the privilege of contributing to this legacy for over seventy years. This is still our work today.

In 1929, three Episcopal nuns stepped off a train at Denver’s Union Station with the purpose of helping the city’s poor and sick.

Our sisters, like many monastics, were not motivated by power or influence. They were content living on the margins of both society and the Church, pursuing service to the poor, the weak, and the neglected. This is how St. Anne’s began: a convalescent home for children recovering from tuberculosis and polio.

In 1950, subsequent to the groundbreaking administration of the polio vaccine,only a small number of children still necessitated full-time care at St. Anne’s, so Mother Noel instructed Sister Irene (who would become Mother Irene) to start a school to help children who were not being served by the public schools. Their original teaching mission centered on providing individual attention and keeping classes small. The Sisters’ work shows us that unconditional love and humble service is a fundamental expression of faith.

Our founder, Mother Irene, was known for her positivity, passion for literacy education, eye for beauty, love of baseball, and good food.

Simplicity, devotion, compassion, and treating everyone as sacred still inspires everything we do at St. Anne’s today. Since its inception, the school has grown into a captivating bucolic campus tucked away amidst the urban bustle of Denver. We continue to provide an outstanding education and a warm, supportive community for our students and their families. Upon the very gardens, grounds, and orchard that our founders lovingly tended, their legacy continues to blossom, enriching the lives of the children who thrive here today.

When individuals or families choose to join St. Anne’s, they are joining a collective story and a bigger mission, not a religious sect. And while “Episcopal” is an indelible part of our legacy that is still easy to notice when walking around campus, we gladly and proudly welcome people of all religious and spiritual backgrounds.

Our only requirement is respect for the dignity of every person and willingness to build a loving community across any and all differences.

This love equally compels us to do what we can to know and to love our neighbor, especially those who suffer.

We strive to educate our students for their future and prepare them to thrive in the world where they will live and work. We recognize that the world our students will enter is changing rapidly, and we must ensure that our approaches and programs continue to evolve. By integrating the best of contemporary, research-based teaching methodologies and consistently reviewing our curriculum and practice, we cultivate deeper learning for all our students. The impact of a St. Anne’s experience is designed to encourage critical thinking, apply knowledge to real-world situations, and build the foundation for lifelong intellectual curiosity.

OUR FOUNDING VALUES

COMMUNITY

CURIOSITY

FAITH

COMPASSION

HUMILITY

COMMUNITY

We foster a sense of warmth and belonging among our students, staff, families, and the wider community. We embrace collaboration, inclusivity, and the shared responsibility to create a positive and enriching school environment.

CURIOSITY

We intentionally cultivate a drive for truth and knowledge, encourage creativity and exploration, and foster a love of learning. We teach students to think critically, be problem solvers, embrace challenges, and realize their intellectual potential.

FAITH

We honor our Episcopal identity and heritage by honoring all faith traditions and beliefs. We promote an Episcopal school culture that embraces trust, open-mindedness, and spiritual wellness.

COMPASSION

We act out of love by treating everyone with dignity, empathy, and respect. We create an environment that nurtures kindness with an appreciation for the richness of human experiences.

HUMILITY

Guided by humility, we encourage reflection and self awareness.

Our students embark on a journey of self-discovery that fuels their personal growth. They learn that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

FAITH AT ST. ANNE’S St. Anne’s is one of many Episcopal schools around the country that are well-known for their high-quality, holistic education. As an independent school, we are not affiliated with any church or religious organization, but we honor our Episcopal founding and identity by providing nondogmatic religious education and fostering a community life that supports the spiritual development of every child. Individuals and families of all traditions, beliefs, and identities are warmly welcomed at our school.

Our spiritual life on campus is most notably marked by chapel services at each grade level, as well as monthly all-school chapels. These gatherings follow a modified Episcopal liturgy that includes interfaith elements to reflect the diverse stories within our community. We have families who are practicing and non-practicing, atheist, “spiritual but not religious,” and families who observe two or more traditions in the same household.

It is also important for us to acknowledge the land we inhabit, recognize the Indigenous wisdom around us, and practice being in a balanced relationship with the Earth. We aim to be ever-loving, compassionate, non-judgmental, peace-making, collaborative, empathetic, and confident in reaching out across differences. We remain in service to each other and the greater world. Our primary hope, when it comes to religious and spiritual life at the school, is to allow every student to explore their faith—be it in a higher power or themselves—so that they leave St. Anne’s strengthened in whatever spiritual tradition is practiced at home or discovered beyond.

When individuals or families join our community, they choose to become part of a collective story and a larger mission inspired by our founders, but not a church.

While the religious heritage of St. Anne’s Sisters is deeply meaningful to us, we will always be inclusive of people of all religious and non-religious backgrounds and social identities. This is the Episcopal faith at its best: traditional and forward-thinking, accepting and inclusive, where the dignity of every person is respected, and diversity is genuinely appreciated as a gift.

We would like everyone to feel excited and comfortable considering St. Anne’s. Please feel invited to reach out to us with any and all questions.

PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE Grounded in the values and tradi ons of our Founding Sisters and empowered by their sense of belonging, St. Anne's graduates know themselves, care for others, and strive to serve and improve their communi es.

Communicate Effec vely

Are Commi ed to Learning

Respect Themselves, Others and Their Environment

Play, Laugh, and Build Friendships

Are Morally Grounded

Are Humble in Successes

Advocate Courageously

Are Resilient Through Challenges

Seek Balance Through Reflec on and Gra tude

Are Empathe c and Inclusive

Think Cri cally and Crea vely

WHAT OUR GRADUATES SAY “To this day, St. Anne’s continues to be a small but mighty community of young students, dedicated teachers, thoughtful administrators, hardworking staff members, and invested parents, each of whom is committed to upholding the founding virtues of the school and cultivating a space where students learn not only how to be good students, but how to be good people. I am forever grateful to have been part of such a special community.”

- Alumna and “May Queen”

“What St. Anne’s gave me was a love of learning and a curiosity about the world that carried me through high school, university, and onto my master’s and set me out into the world to live and travel through six of the seven continents.”

- Alumna ‘90 “Our heritage and the Sisters’ early work strongly fostered a dedication and humility we still see in our current graduates.”

- Alumna ‘87, Former Trustee

“Overall my success serves as a testament to the power of a strong foundation in creative freedom and hands-on learning.”

-Alumnus ‘04

“Love to me doesn’t just mean affection; it means helping others, being selfless and most of all always being there for someone else. St. Anne’s helped me grow as a person, making sure that I was always on the right track in academics or sports. My teachers constantly looked out for me, almost like a second family. The selflessness of the teachers and students at St. Anne’s is what I call love. The amount of kindness and support, the willingness to stay in touch even after I graduated, is what I call love. Supporting me was a priority at St. Anne’s even when it meant having difficult conversations and shedding a few tears. My time at St. Anne’s was filled with loving, supportive, selfless people who really cared.”

- Alumna ‘21

COMMUNITY & BELONGING AT ST. ANNE’S At St. Anne’s Episcopal School, we believe that the cornerstone of a thriving educational community is a deep sense of belonging rooted in equity and love. We understand that students flourish when they feel valued, respected, and connected to their peers and teachers in a nurturing and equitable environment. Our school is dedicated to fostering an atmosphere where every student can discover their unique strengths and passions, embrace diversity, and encourage open dialogue to promote both intellectual curiosity and personal growth.

Social justice is at the core of our educational philosophy, emphasizing the importance of empathy, advocacy, humility, and common humanity.

We are committed to instilling in our students a profound understanding of equity and the need to challenge injustice in an ever-evolving world.

Through a curriculum designed to both educate and empower, we inspire our students to become compassionate leaders who are prepared to address global challenges. By engaging in service-learning projects, exploring diverse perspectives, and collaborating with local organizations, our students learn the importance of contributing to a more just and equitable society.

Our school’s heartbeat thrives on the meaningful human connections that enrich our students’ experiences. We prioritize strong relationships between students, teachers, and families, as we believe that these bonds are vital for creating a vibrant and dynamic learning environment.

Our dedicated faculty and staff not only serve as educators but also as mentors, guiding and inspiring students on their educational journey. We invite parents to be active partners in their children’s education, fostering a collaborative and supportive community grounded in equity, belonging, and love. Together, we cultivate a network of care and support that transcends the classroom, ensuring each student feels valued, connected, and empowered to serve and enrich our world.

Thank you for considering St. Anne’s as a school to guide your child’s educational journey and as a community for your family.

We look forward to the adventures ahead and wish you an enriching, meaningful, and joyful journey.

CHRIS COX Head of School

OUR MISSION

Grounded in our founding values, we cultivate a community of curious and compassionate learners who are inspired to serve and enrich our world.

@ stannesdenver www.st-annes.org 2701 South York Street Denver, Colorado 80210-6032