A New Tradition: Celebrating Milestones with Meaning

During our closing faculty and staff meeting days, after the students had departed and classrooms began to quiet, the St. Patrick’s community gathered for a special end-of-year luncheon and a beautiful new tradition.

For the first time, milestone boxes were created and presented to faculty and staff members celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 years of service at the Day School. Each handcrafted box was filled with personal notes written by colleagues — notes of appreciation, joy, memories, and admiration. As the boxes were presented by individuals or departments and the notes were read aloud, the room filled with both laughter and tears.

The stories shared reflected the heart of our school, the deep relationships, the impact of everyday moments, and the extraordinary dedication of those who serve this community year after year.

This new tradition was lovingly brought to life by our Art Department: Sevgi Wallack, Steph Sack, Kyujin Lee, and their partner Elizabeth Markowitz, Dean of Faculty, whose creativity and care gave shape to something truly meaningful. Their vision turned an idea into a powerful celebration of service and connection.

We extend our deepest gratitude and congratulations to the following honorees:

5 Years
Sydney Britton, Crystal Buffington, Victoria Carson, Imani Edwards, Elizabeth Gambal '06, Christopher Gregory, Alana Lewis, Patrick Neilan, Anna Young

10 Years
Tia Crutchfield, Victoria Gibson, Betsy Sebring

15 Years
Christopher Heim

20 Years
Nadia Smith, Amy Yount

30 Years
Angie Blake-Moore, Tinia Duckett

At St. Patrick’s, milestones are more than markers of time. They are reminders of the people who shape our community, day in and day out. With this new tradition, we were able to honor them in a way that was as heartfelt and unique as they are.