Vol. 12, No. 11 Tappahannock, Virginia, June 2010

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

Another year, and what a joy it has been to share it with so many of you! As you faithful readers know by now, I’m a writer at heart, yet this month, I’d like to send you first to our website’s homepage where you can click on the links to picture galleries and videos of our final celebrations together (Commencement Highlights). I’ve thought a lot about how to describe the legacy of a St. Margaret’s School education, and I believe that we see it over decades in the lives of our graduates. Each girl came to us with her own expectations and aspirations. Each leaves with an understanding of her individual strengths and possibilities, as well as an appreciation of how to use these within a community to multiply her impact while continuing to learn from others.

After 19 years following the traditional commencement program, I decided that the 20th needed to be different; we needed to capture the individuality of each graduate and very personally convey the essence of her growth and transformation in words drawn from her own reflections and those of her advisor. Click on the final video, The Conferring of Diplomas, and experience with us the very personal final moments honoring each graduate. There is no better way to fully appreciate the impact of this close community on these young women.

How poignant this video will be for our graduates who return for their reunions in decades to come! Just one week after commencement, as we welcomed 23 of the original 32 members of the Class of 1960 back for their 50th reunion, a handful for the very first time, we watched a short film of their commencement on the same stage on our river lawn– long white dresses, red roses, a hint of individuality in their hair and expressions. We’d scanned their yearbook for pictures and words describing who they were that day, and in a roundtable conversation over Reunion Weekend, they shared the legacy of their St. Margaret’s years describing its influence on their life choices. We listened intently as they drew lessons from those days across decades of decisions and commitments. Next year, perhaps we’ll capture this on video, too!

As we close another year, my final words will always be thank you. Thank you to the Class of 2010 for their leadership and spirit, to all the members of our faculty and staff who cared so deeply for them, to the families who were our close partners, to our Board of Governors for their vision and wisdom, and to our alumnae who continue to return, this year in record numbers, to remind us of the impact of our mission on their lives. And thank you for the privilege it is to continue to lead St. Margaret’s School.


Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School



 

SMS Graduation
SMS 87th Commencement 2010......

Teachers Win Recognition:
Ignat "Konst" Konstantinov Awarded Waitzer Master teacher Award......

Academic Achievements Honored:
Many Awards at the Annual Academic Banquet......

My River Views:
Features Cabell Edmunds on Graduating from SMS......

Did you know! Campus is a different place in the summer without students and teachers, but there is still plenty going on! A week after graduation over 125 alumnae returned to campus for reunion 2010. We had 15,000 people on our campus for Rivahfest Bay Academy brings science teachers together for professional development using our river campus as home base! Many couples choose SMS as an idyllic spot to tie the knot! Several sports camps choose SMS for their summer clinics and take advantage of our beautiful fields! 24 St. Margaret’s employees keep the school moving forward throughout the summer