HEAD OF SCHOOL
H
appy New Year! It is with some disbelief that we’ve entered the year 2020, and it has provided me a moment to pause and examine the metaphor of 2020 as it relates to St. Martin’s. At the mid-point in the school calendar, this is a wonderful time to both reflect with 20/20 hindsight and also to look ahead with 20/20 vision to clearly see the path of St. Martin’s Episcopal School for both what it has been and what it might be. You’ll note that we are celebrating our 60th school year, and I invite you to take a trip back in time by perusing the 60th-anniversary article and pictorial timeline outlining some of the important milestones in the life of St. Martin’s. It’s truly been a fantastic journey and I’m proud to lead a school that’s been true to its mission since its inception in 1959. With 20/20 hindsight, I look back at the first semester of this school year and marvel at how quickly it flew by and also wonder how we scored in our efforts to serve our students best. I see that students were challenged and withstood both tests of knowledge and tests of character as SMES teachers and administrators worked hard to serve the needs of St. Martin’s students. Using a growth mindset as a compass, I see that when teachers meet children where they are developmentally and expose them to new concepts, the students are not limited and they find their pathway toward mastery. With that in mind, I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen in and out of the classrooms. Early Childhood children are developing literacy skills through innovative teaching concepts that intentionally meet children where they are for these important foundational skills. Letter games involving their names and those of their peers make learning and understanding the alphabet fun. And the games continue until everyone is on board.
“This is a
wonderful time to reflect back with 20/20 hindsight and also to look ahead with 20/20 vision to clearly see the path of St. Martin’s Episcopal School.”
As I walk through the Elementary School, the 3rd-graders are conducting experiments to learn how animals adapt over time to find food in their environment, 4th grade has been learning to use the laser cutter in the Creation Studio and 5th-grade French students are applying the language to blueprints they are drawing. Active learning is an everyday activity. In Middle School, things are getting real for our 8th graders as they are in the throes of the high school application process. I enjoy a weekly lunch meeting with a small group of 8th-grade students to gain insights into their individual journeys through St. Martin’s. Whether they joined SMES in Pre-K or joined in Middle School, I’m always impressed with their insight for how a SMES education has impacted their lives and what they are hoping the foundation they’ve gained here will mean for their future. The repeated mantra of the importance of small class sizes and the connection they have with their teachers and peers is both telling and heartwarming. With 20/20 vision, I’m excited to see the future of our new infant program that just debuted this month. Almost a third of our smallest students are faculty and staff babies and another third are brand new to St. Martins! The 24 Baby Warriors are settling into their new routine exploring their environment, playing, resting and developing readiness skills that distinguish our Early Childhood program as both caring and innovative. It is a joy to have them join our St. Martin’s family! I hope you’ve all received my personal news relating to the next step on my journey toward Episcopal priesthood. It’s been an amazing experience to receive a calling, and I know this process will not only benefit me as a person but will allow me to provide vital pastoral value in my role as the Head of St. Martin’s Episcopal School. Please enjoy this latest edition of Patterns magazine, and I wish you all the best for 2020! With love, light and blessings always,
Dr. Luis Ottley Head of School
PATTERNS | WINTER 2020
3
