Vol. 12, No. 10 Tappahannock, Virginia, May 2010

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

What a gift May is each year – just long enough to hold all of our final traditions and celebrations, yet short enough that it reminds us to pay attention to the conversations and gifts we want to share with those who have made a difference in our lives this year. Memories are made this month. Some of the larger, more public ones are highlighted in this issue of River Views, yet each girl will have her own, and they will all be very different.

Whenever we talk about our hopes for our students and our school, we mention the power of possibility, both the possibilities we see in each girl we accept as a member of our community and the transformative power within this community to make the possible real. Consider what we shared in just one week!

Wednesday morning, as we took our places in our usual chapel pews, we found ourselves surrounded by flowers. After a year of morning services, it was the eighth grade class’s turn to lead us in worship. They called their service Growing in Faith. In silence, they processed to the altar where each girl placed her individual flower in a vase creating a bouquet. Yes, they are a colorful group, and how they’ve grown! In the next 20 minutes, in Bible verses, poems, songs, and prayers, we heard and saw their growth in faith, confidence, understanding, public speaking skills, and sense of belonging. They understood community, both how it had changed them and how they had helped create it for themselves.

Just two days later, in this same sacred space, candles flickered before us as this year’s school leaders came forward and lined the altar rail on the inside looking out. In my words of appreciation to them, I returned to their own goals to reflect on the impact they have had on the school this year. “We have chosen building relationships as our first priority.” And the strength they have inspired in others was evident on Wednesday in the eighth graders they have formally mentored and in the next portion of the leadership service when the new leaders came forward to face those they would be replacing. The solemnity of this service was reflected in the white dresses each girl wore and the light of leadership the outgoing leaders passed to those who will follow in their footsteps as they lit their candles and blew out their own. As Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us, “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” And, so the traditions continue; the girls learn and grow; and the St. Margaret’s School community celebrates the difference it makes in their lives.

Yes, our girls are changed by their St. Margaret’s years, and in turn, they have changed our community. We celebrate this growth, together, one last month!


Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School



 

SMS Spring Event Highlight
Spring Family Weekend 2010......

Scotties Spring Success:
Varsity Softball Team LIS Tournament Champions......

SMS Leadership Elected for 2010-2011:
Next Year's Student Leaders......

My River Views:
Features Ifeyani Okoh on the Lantern Ceremony......

Did you know! Lots of time and energy have gone into planning for next year. Some fun facts: We’ve heard over 20 speeches for leadership positions next year. Academic Departments have spent hours together planning curriculum and classes for next year. Mrs. Farmer has worked with EACH student individually to build her class schedule. We sold 180 packing boxes in 30 minutes and had to order more! Returning students had 60 rooms to choose from for where they’d like to live next year among 3 dorms. There is only 1 River Views left for the 2009-2010 School year. And finally...it’s only 100 days until Opening Day 2010!!!

Alumnae Association Upcoming Events Your event calendar is at www.sms.org/alumcalendar