Coeducational College Preparatory Day School serving Grades 5-12
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Parent Back-to-School Night 2023 Reflection
There’s a wonderful cartoon by The New Yorker’s David Sipress that pictures every educator’s worst nightmare. A teacher is at the smartboard with their back facing the class. We can see one of the students taking great delight in pushing a bubblegum bubble out of their mouth and expanding to such an extent that it overshadows the two students in front of them. It looks like it will soon reach the teacher at the front of the room. Meanwhile, the speech bubble records the teacher as saying, "Now that the person chewing gum so loudly has finally stopped, perhaps we can all pay attention to what I'm doing here." (!)
I believe that paying attention is at the center of everything we do here at Seabury Hall. As an Independent School affiliated with the Episcopal Church, paying attention means the ability to give each student the comprehensive attention they need while also nurturing the school as a whole. Our independence gives us the freedom and flexibility to be present to the needs of the Maui ‘ohana as well. Whether it’s opening up our gym showers, welcoming displaced families, or empowering students to jump into community service leadership opportunities that honor their ethics and values.
Our newly revised Mission Statement is infused with a dynamic “paying attention” as well. It speaks of inspiring a “high standard of academic achievement through a balanced program that nurtures respect and dignity of character rooted in our school and spiritual values.” Our mission recognizes that we’re not just minds being carried around by bodies. Paying attention to the health and wellness of our integrated selves is of the first priority. This means that as Seabury Hall celebrates diversity and strives for justice and peace, we recognize that true strength and integrity come through being abundantly inclusive, compassionate, humble, and curious.
Tonight, as we come together, as we hear our educators’ passion and purpose, may we pay attention to these school and spiritual values being fostered here on campus. In this way, may we find the love that makes us strong, and the hope which never ends.
