Knightly News

“Episcopal loves you!”

"Get well soon. We’re thinking and praying for you!”

“You got this.”

A well-timed inspirational love letter can make time spent healing or undergoing treatment a little more manageable. Episcopal first grade teacher Stacey Smith knows the experience all too well. As Smith faced her own cancer battle last year, she received a gift that truly brightened her day. Smith received a Totes de Joie basket filled with inspirational items, including a bracelet, a cup and prayer cards; however, what she’ll never forget was handcrafted with love. “The thing that stuck out the most was the cards,” she says with a bright smile.

100 Messages of Love and Support

The cards were created by local elementary students and featured sweet messages that were so impactful Smith knew she wanted to have her Episcopal first grade students participate as a class. Now, after successfully completing treatment and returning to work full time this year, she has already led the effort to share the love that she received.

After showing her students the cards from her gift and sharing how important they were to her, she tasked the first graders with writing their own. In true Lower School style, students were enthusiastic about the project. Ultimately, 100 brightly colored, handwritten cards were made featuring butterflies, flowers, drawings and lots of love.

Building Community through Service

The love letter story continued when the Knights girls soccer team recently participated in their annual team service project. Each year, the girls fill Totes de Joie bags with treats and gifts for area patients, and this year’s bags included the cards from their younger classmates. Smith was thrilled for her students to have such a connection with their older friends.

Projects like the letters of love are a perfect example of Episcopal’s Building Community theme. Thank you to the students who made cards and filled bags to make a difference in our community, and thank you to everyone who supported Stacey throughout her journey. We are Episcopal!

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.