Knightly News

This week, our school community gathered for an all-school chapel service focused on a simple and profound concept – kindness. Our Middle School Praise Band filled the gym with song, and Upper School students read the Word of God. It was a joy to see Lower School students carefully watching everything and singing with pride when they recognized a hymn. Our spiritual leader, Rev. Kirkland “Skully” Knight, offered prayers for peace, the human family and unity. Senior Ryann Richard spoke about what it means to be kind and in a place where bullying and hate are not tolerated. “It is not anything new for us to be kind,” she reminded the gathered Knights.

In fact, kindness is not new. We’ve been called upon to be kind for generations. The Episcopal Baptismal Covenant reminds us to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself” and “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” Such a commitment stems from kindness, grace and love, and I am so thankful to be a part of a community that strives for kindness in everything we do.

Kindness takes intention and regular practice. For 13 years, our kindness ambassador, Father Skully, has helped our Episcopal community strive to achieve this. He reminds us that kindness looks like a community where all are welcome and experience belonging. Together, our school community has faced tremendous challenges, and Father Skully has been a calm, guiding voice. Always reminding us that we are Episcopal Knights, he has called on us to comfort those in need, offer patience and understanding, and live and love sacrificially. Lessons and Carols, International Day of Peace and school-wide Eucharistic services are visible reminders of our shared commitment to each other and the kindness that prevails even during difficult times.

As you know, this will be Father Skully’s last holiday season with us, but I am confident that the foundation he has established here at Episcopal will live on for years to come. I am so grateful for the example he has provided for our Episcopal family.

Father Skully, we thank you for your kindness, insight and love. You will be dearly missed.

Throughout my tenure as Head of School, I have witnessed the kindness of our Episcopal Knights, and I am so thankful for who we are. As an Episcopal school, approximately 15% of our families are Episcopalians. This means we have a wide diversity of religious backgrounds among us, and we celebrate this fact. Recently, a group of Lower School families shared how they observe Diwali. Our students were inquisitive and engaged, and the student performers were confident in sharing this important aspect of their faith. Such an experience showcases the welcoming and kind nature of our community and the openness we have for conversations with others regarding different perspectives and experiences. These conversations are how we grow and develop in kindness.

Episcopal schools educate the head and the heart, and we strive for justice and peace among all people. We want our students to ask questions like why and how. Our faculty provide opportunities such as the Service Learning and Community Impact course, during which they seek to help students understand why people are in certain situations and how we can positively impact others. Dr. Rebecca Kuhn and Chaplain Charlie guide this student-driven course, which allows students to thoughtfully consider topics such as criminal justice, homelessness and addiction. Through open and respectful conversations, students share their thoughts and opinions, and they have told us the course is “empowering” and “impactful.”

Through service, our kindness reaches beyond our campus. For 20 years now, Episcopal students have served the community through the Habitat for Humanity youth build. Each holiday season, our community shatters contribution records to the Shepherd’s Market Food Pantry Thanksgiving Food Drive. I am so thankful to all of you for supporting these meaningful efforts. 

Service learning is intentional and emphasizes quality over quantity because we want our students to learn as they reflect on the impact of these experiences. New Service Learning Coordinator Ginny Barr is expanding this program and working alongside our teachers to create experiences that connect the curriculum to the needs of the community. Next semester, we hope to offer experiences for the entire Episcopal community to unite in service. I am so proud that the kindness we share on campus flows beyond us and makes a true difference in the lives of others. I hope you will join us in this important work.

Through worship, belonging, open communication and service, our community models kindness every day of the year. This is how we prepare the next generation for lives of purpose and meaning. This offers us hope for the future and a world where kindness happens 365 days of the year.

Taking a moment to reflect on our school community fills me with tremendous gratitude. Our students continue to excel, our faculty and staff develop meaningful learning experiences and our families truly care about student growth. The Spirit of Episcopal unites us in support of our next generation of Knights, and I thank all of you for being a part of this effort. Thank you for the kindness you show each other and the support you offer our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Carrie Steakley
Head of School

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