FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

I am pleased to share that we have had another extraordinary year at St. Stephen’s. Our students have amazed me with their industry, engagement and talents, and our faculty and staff have guided Spartans once again in skillful, compassionate and artful ways.

One of the blessings of being head of school is that I have a front-row seat to see our students engaging in joyful living and rich learning together. In the week before graduation, I attended the chamber orchestra concert, the Apollo Percussion concert, a 7th grade civics fair, the senior independent projects presentations and the engineering regatta in which our students raced the kayaks they designed, engineered and built. If you measure the success of our community by the scope of programs that we offer, St. Stephen’s stands apart.

However, my favorite way to measure our school’s success is “one Spartan at a time.” While it’s important to view the school at the community level, it is as important to measure the success of St. Stephen’s by the ways each of our 700 students has grown during the year. I am grateful to have recently received a number of thank-you letters from parents of current students. In each account, there is evidence that our school is living fully into its mission.

One parent of a senior wrote to his child’s advisor, “I want to take a moment to personally thank you — not only for your crucial role as his advisor, but for being the composed, steady and unwavering presence he could count on throughout his journey. There’s no doubt that St. Stephen’s offers a rigorous academic experience — it’s exactly why we chose the school. To note, earlier today I was genuinely blown away by the work my son and his classmates presented in their Projects in Science and Technology class. The level of creativity, depth, rigor, intellectual horsepower and execution by high school seniors was both mindboggling and world-class. Through a very challenging academic curriculum, moments of uncertainty, and real emotional and physical challenges, you were always there. Above all, you showed an infinite amount of authentic compassion and consideration without judgment. Your calm presence and positive influence will stay with him — not just as part of his education, but as part of his foundation.”

Another parent wrote, “All this year I have been waiting to find out whether my son would be able to feel at home at St. Stephen’s as himself. I am so happy to let you know that he has found himself. He was in two fine arts performances this weekend, and suddenly, there he was, actually more fully himself than I have ever seen. In some real sense, he actually grew taller over the past 24 hours. Thank you for building a school which cultivates individual growth. Maybe the most powerful gift a school can give to each student and to its community as a whole is the recognition that each and every person on The Hill matters. I’m so happy to tell you that my son feels that he matters, that what he thinks matters, that he can be someone, and that he belongs.”

As we look toward celebrating our school’s 75th anniversary this upcoming academic year, we will examine ways our school has grown and changed since our founding. What has been at our core since the beginning is the transformational experience students have as a result of the caring and committed faculty and staff. As you enjoy this edition of the Spartan, you’ll see examples highlighting the foundational learning and growth that both of these parents referenced in their letters. I am grateful that St. Stephen’s is a school where our students are known and loved individually, a community where our faculty and staff curate meaningful developmental activities that engage and inspire our students, and a place where our students come to know that they matter and where they are empowered to begin living lives that make a difference in the world.

All my best,

Chris Gunnin Head of School