The Independent
Crafting a Vision for the Future Strategic Planning Update
We are excited to share our meaningful progress in advancing the pathways outlined in our Strategic Plan. These pathways guide our efforts to ensure St. Peter’s School remains a vibrant, innovative, and supportive environment for our students, teachers, and community. Here’s a look at how we’ve already begun implementing our vision for each pathway:
Students
At the heart of our mission is supporting our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth. To ensure we’re meeting their needs, we’ve launched a thorough review of our current Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and wellness practices. This process will help us assess where we are strongest and identify areas for improvement so we can further promote self-confidence, self-advocacy, and self-awareness. By aligning these efforts with our broader curriculum, we aim to ensure every student feels equipped to succeed academically and thrive personally.
Community
Building strong connections among students, families, and staff is critical to the St. Peter’s experience. To strengthen communication and engagement, we recently introduced our new school app. This tool has already proven invaluable for sharing important updates, resources, and events with our community. By enhancing accessibility and streamlining information, the app is helping us foster stronger relationships and ensure everyone feels informed and connected.
Teachers
Our teachers are the foundation of our students’ success, and we remain committed to their growth and well-being. This year, we’ve expanded access to meaningful professional development opportunities, giving teachers the chance to learn new skills, collaborate with peers, and stay ahead of educational trends. These experiences benefit our teachers and enrich the classroom experience for our students. By prioritizing professional growth and offering competitive salary and benefits, we ensure our teachers feel valued and supported.
City
Philadelphia is more than our location—it’s an integral part of the SPS experience. This year, we’ve embraced opportunities to use the city as an extension of our classrooms. Whether through field trips to historic sites, partnerships with local organizations, or cityfocused projects, we’ve intentionally integrated Philadelphia into our students’ learning. These experiences deepen their understanding of the world around them and foster a sense of connection to their community.
Campus Enhancement to Support Our Strategic Plan
The St. Peter’s School Board of Trustees, the Vestry at the St. Peter’s Church, and the School’s Administration have been collaborating on a plan to build a new structure on the corner of 3rd and Lombard (on the vacant parking lot), which could provide important spaces for both organizations. St. Peter’s School has been a cornerstone of the Society Hill neighborhood for nearly 200 years. To support our strategic plan, we are embarking on a journey to expand our campus and enhance our educational offerings.
As part of the plan, the School would benefit from the Great Hall, a large space that will provide space for our PE and sports program as well as a larger gathering space for our community events. Dedicated music and art rooms would put our Arts facilities on par with the excellence of our program. The rooms will include a recording studio, ample space for larger group choral practices, and enrichment for our existing Arts curriculum.
Next steps include the design approval by the Philadelphia Zoning Board in late March, with possible groundbreaking in early 2026 and completion before the start of the 2027-2028 school year. We have a lot of work ahead, but these are important steps, and we look forward to providing more details in the coming months.
As we move forward, we are energized by the opportunities ahead and grateful for the shared commitment of our entire community in making this vision a reality. Together, we are building a foundation for success that will last for generations.
Building Musical Foundations Keyboard Lab at
SPS
This year, SPS proudly launched a new Keyboard Lab in the Upper Grades music program, led by teacher Maureen Adamson. The lab introduces students to the fundamentals of piano playing in 6th grade, progresses to chords and chord changes in 7th grade, and culminates in songwriting in 8th grade. While the program is still in its early stages, all students are beginning with foundational skills as they build their musical abilities.
The Keyboard Lab is a testament to SPS’s commitment to fostering creativity and expanding opportunities in the arts.
Whether the Weather Budding Meteorologists in Kindergarten
Kindergarteners have been hard at work exploring the world of meteorology! Through observing the weather outside, charting patterns, identifying clouds, and making predictions, our young scientists have gained an in-depth understanding of how weather works. Taking it one step further, they set up their very own green screen to create weather forecasts—just like the professionals on TV!
To make the experience even more special, meteorologist Andrew Kozak from CBS stopped by to share insights about his job and the science behind predicting the weather. With their skills in tracking, forecasting, and testing out their “Magic Green Wall,” these budding meteorologists are well on their way to becoming weather experts!
Philadelphia as Our Classroom
The City Curriculum at SPS
St. Peter’s City Curriculum connects students to our historic city’s incredible resources and opportunities. By pairing classroom curricula with hands-on, real-world experiences, the program encourages students to engage deeply with Philadelphia while exploring topics like history, media, and environmental science.
Students have already participated in a variety of exciting projects. Upper-grade students have taken walking tours to explore the city’s layout and discuss its features as a potential utopia. They have also visited PhillyCAM, a community media center, to learn about media literacy, tour production studios, and participate in a hands-on production activity. In addition, the Free Library of Philadelphia visited SPS to distribute library cards and introduce students to library resources.
Upcoming experiences will further enrich the program. Fifth graders will visit FRIEDA for a creative writing workshop inspired by an art installation. They will work with retired educators to develop their writing skills while interpreting art. Meanwhile, grades 1–5 will visit Fairmount Water Works to learn about Philadelphia’s waterways, the importance of clean water, and how nature provides essential ecological services.
For our Director of City Curriculum, Alex Albanese, the best part of the program has been uncovering hidden gems around Philadelphia. “I’ve discovered so many things I would’ve overlooked without this role,” he shares. The supportive SPS faculty have been instrumental in bolstering the program. “Everyone has been so collaborative and helpful as I figure out what works best for their curricula!”
The City Curriculum is a shining example of how SPS brings learning to life for our students.
Echoes of the Season
Holiday Classics from St. Peter’s Choir School
This holiday season, we’re delighted to share a special piece of St. Peter’s School history. While exploring our archives, we uncovered vintage vinyl recordings of the St. Peter’s Choir School performing beloved holiday classics, including:
• O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Silent Night
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• O Little Town of Bethlehem
To preserve these beautiful renditions, we’ve digitized the recordings, allowing us to share them with our community and ensure they remain a cherished part of our legacy. These timeless melodies offer a glimpse into the traditions and talents that have long been a hallmark of our school.
Scan the QR code to hear the recordings for yourself!
A Stitch in Time
The St. Peter’s School Quilt
This fall, SPS received a remarkable gift: a hand-sewn quilt created in 1978 by a dedicated group of St. Peter’s families and friends. Each panel tells a story, celebrating iconic Philadelphia landmarks and life at SPS. From Penn’s Landing to the Italian Market, the quilt captures the vibrant spirit of our city and school community.
To explore the quilt up close and learn about the stories behind each panel, scan the QR code below!
Growing Together Faculty Professional Development
At St. Peter’s School, our teachers are committed to lifelong learning, ensuring they stay at the forefront of current education trends while developing new skills to enrich our students’ learning experiences. This fall, the faculty participated in a wide range of professional development opportunities, both as a team and individually.
Whole Faculty Development Highlights:
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): A group of teachers created a PS–8 SEL manual over the summer to guide monthly SEL themes across classrooms.
Differentiation: Teachers collaborated and shared strategies for tailoring instruction to meet diverse learning needs.
Executive Functioning: Faculty participated in training led by Jennifer Shemtob from Teacher Time to Go, focusing on strategies to help students build essential organizational and cognitive skills.
Curriculum Workshops: Training sessions included Fundations (K–4) and Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage (2–5).
Responsive Classroom: Faculty worked together to set action steps for supporting students during transitions after long breaks, such as Thanksgiving and the holiday season.
Individual Professional Development Highlights:
PAIS Early Childhood Conference: Exploring curiosity, mindfulness, social justice, and executive functioning strategies for young learners.
Learning and the Brain: Insights into teaching emotional brain strategies to support resilience, regulation, and EQ in challenging times.
NCTE Conference: Inspiring equity, creativity, and innovation in English language arts education.
Adding Voices: Integrating anti-bias and anti-racist frameworks into art education.
These professional development opportunities ensure our teachers are well-equipped to deliver innovative and impactful learning experiences, inspiring our students every day.
Did You Know?
Opportunities like these are made possible by contributions to the Annual Fund. Your support directly impacts the growth and development of our faculty and students.
Thank you for making a difference!
