From the Head
When young people first enter school—at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School they do so often as three-, four-, or five-year-olds—they bring with them a deep fascination with the world around them, a tremendous appetite for learning, and a wonderful enthusiasm for pursuing what interests them. For the last half century, St. Patrick's has accepted the awesome challenge of extending that curiosity, shaping that learning, and sparking fresh interest (and revealing unrecognized gifts) where a young person may have least expected.
First as a nursery school but for most of its life as an elementary school, St. Patrick's has certainly grown and changed, as must any vibrant institution committed to the growth and change of the young people in its midst. Still, there is a constancy in our larger purpose, identified through our commitment to Exceptional Literacy— with its focus on developing character, advancing human understanding, and promoting academic excellence for all of our students—that captures our core identity.
Even as we invite students to explore different ways of knowing—through science and art, math and music, religion and technology—we recognize that the spoken and written word enables human beings to interact with, to understand, and to influence the world around them. So it is that Exceptional Literacy has continued to guide this growing and changing institution; to guide teachers in their selection of ideas, skills, materials, and activities; and to guide children in their emerging sense of self and wider world.
At the same time, we realize that St. Patrick's is a place for young people and so must reflect their exuberance and joy. Indeed, an organizing value is our firm belief that we need not choose between being a warm, nurturing, joyful place—where children see that they are known, respected, and loved—and one that sets challenging standards for their academic work, for their sense of responsibility, and for their behavior. To choose one over the other suggests an impoverished understanding of how one nurtures children, of what truly brings them a sense of joy and self-worth.
St. Patrick's will always be a place for young people to bring their fascination with the world around them, their appetite for learning, and their enthusiasm for pursuing deep interests and discovering altogether new interests and abilities. We are pleased to present on this web site some of the ways we make St. Patrick's such a place. Of course, we invite you to come and see the school up close, as this is the very best way to experience the vibrancy of St. Patrick's.