Gratitude and Grace

After the tragic events of last week in the Baton Rouge area, it has been wonderful to have the Episcopal School community back on campus for classes! Our middle school students have been so positive and eager in spite of the challenges presented by compressed space and some adjusted routines that our space constraint requires.  Our teachers have been heroic and highly professional in their daily efforts to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for our opening week.  As we approach the end of the week, we have settled into our “new normal,” and fine work with curriculum has begun.  Two words come to my mind as I write, the first - gratitude…

• for the many acts of kindness and generosity that I have heard about and witnessed.
• for the thoughtful, creative, collaborative work done by faculty and staff to make opening school without the use of four important buildings possible and successful.
• for the support of our parent community that we have felt like never before.
• for the structure and routine that provide a safe zone for all whose homes are very different now.
• for the empathy and compassion that I witness multiple times each day as we learn of the current circumstances of faculty and students.
• for the spirit of this place where spiritual growth in the midst of challenge is ongoing and our fine Chaplain keeps us focused daily on God’s healing presence and peace.

The second word is graceful.  I have challenged our middle school faculty to continue their graceful restoration of all that is important and best in our program.  I also have asked them to be full of grace, ready to support and to forgive each other, their students, and themselves for the irritations, mistakes, and distractions that are inevitable in this time when we live in close quarters with one another and feel more fatigued than usual.  They are graceful indeed. The unselfishness I have seen inspires me and makes me as proud as I have ever been to be part of this fine community! 


Lucy Smith
Middle School Division Head

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