St. Margaret's Episcopal School Viewbook

Our mission at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

S T. M A R G A R E T ’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 31641 La Novia, San Juan Capistrano, California 92675 Phone: 949.661.0108 Fax: 949.661.8637 www.smes.org St. Margaret’s Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, finanacial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.

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From the moment you visit campus the first time, you feel it. St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is special. There is shared purpose and energy. We are all in.

Students, teachers, administrators and parents are eager and enthusiastic to be here, to be together and to grow and learn. It begins with a true love of scholarship, an intellectual vitality, that is nurtured and celebrated each day.

Classrooms are alive with examination and debate. Students have unlimited opportunities to discover new passions and interests. They are supported and cheered on by a diverse community rooted in its Episcopal values and committed to their development and wellbeing. From our very youngest preschoolers to our seniors who are about to go on to colleges across the nation, our students are excited to learn and explore, and that energy is contagious. This is our everyday.

“ St. Margaret’s is a vibrant learning community where natural curiosity and academic pursuit flourish. Our faculty continually challenge our students to grow, and our students are always stretching themselves, trying something new and putting their work to the test.They engage to the fullest in every arena and embrace a growth mindset. It’s a very stimulating school culture.”

Academic Dean Dr. Jeneen Graham

We have the highest expectations every day because our work is about the lives of young people.

St. Margaret’s is foremost an institution dedicated to the transformative power of learning, educating children to succeed and thrive in life today and tomorrow. Rooted in best pedagogical practices, our approach engages and challenges students to discover and cultivate their unique talents and passions, to pursue their studies at the highest levels and to always seek new growth and learning opportunities.

We are developing conscientious, global citizens with the capacity to lead, the humility to serve and the heart to make the world a better place.

Our college-preparatory academic program is researched and proven, rigorous and dynamic. The curriculum combines foundational depth in reading, writing, mathematics and science with exploratory breadth in computer science, humanities, world languages and arts.

We recruit nationally to bring together faculty with extensive experience and expertise.

They are dedicated, professional educators who care about our students and are invested in their development and success. Our teachers work within an intimate academic setting, differentiating instruction to stretch and support students along their personal educational journeys.

Through four distinct school divisions, our educators and a thoughtfully-aligned curriculum foster authentic engagement in the classroom that leads to enduring understandings.

Spirited inquiry, critical reasoning, in-depth analysis, creative thinking and problem solving are hallmarks of a St. Margaret’s education. Most importantly, students are encouraged to think independently and find their own unique voice as they articulate ideas in a supportive learning community grounded in an appreciation for diversity and global perspectives.

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Guided by our Episcopal identity, the spirit, character, health and happiness of each student are at the forefront of everything we do. Our Tartan community is diverse and inclusive where students feel a sense of belonging and deep connection. They are motivated to serve the world around them.

They are boys and girls and young men and women of integrity, responsibility and compassion for others. These qualities are valued and developed through a thoughtful and integrated student life program of service, leadership, spirituality and school traditions. We know and love each of our students, and they feel the comfort and confidence to try new things, take risks, and face challenges, often succeeding beyond their own expectations.

“ The investment we make in authentic, trusting relationships with our students and each other models healthy citizenship for our young people and is the foundation for the supportive and nurturing learning environment we enjoy at St. Margaret’s. We often hear that our students and alumni are recognized for their poise and fine character.They are the true embodiment of this extraordinary school community that fosters the values and principles that will guide them throughout their lives.This is our everyday.”

Head of School William N. Moseley

Innovation is our everyday.

St. Margaret’s educates students to serve and lead the world they will inherit. For more than 35 years, we have continually expanded and enhanced the academic program to nurture the inspiration, talent and skills needed of the next generation.

St. Margaret’s is redesigning education for the 21st century and reimagining learning environments from the library to the computer lab.

Today’s students are digital natives. They desire education that is relevant, experiential and infused with current technology. Early engagement in complex subject matter also fuels lifelong interest and prepares them for high-demand college majors and 21st-century careers.

Our curriculum is forward looking. STEM at St. Margaret’s merges the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math, and is a part of every student’s academic experience. Computer science courses begin in kindergarten with robotics and advance to software engineering in upper grades. Exploring environmental, sustainability and global topics in the curriculum offers new opportunities for all students to tackle world issues and interact with other cultures.

The setting of education is changing as well. From fabrication and design labs to learning commons spaces and outdoor classrooms, we are breaking the mold on the traditional classroom. These flexible and technologically-rich learning environments unleash new instructional approaches and encourage collaboration, experimentation, design thinking and invention.

St. Margaret’s continues to innovate education so our students can innovate the world.

M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Our mission at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 31641 La Novia, San Juan Capistrano, California 92675 Phone: 949.661.0108 Fax: 949.661.8637 www.smes.org St. Margaret’s Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.