By: Marta Karpovich ’25
Babies are pushed up the hill, three to a stroller. The Jazz Band plays a soft melody as students and teachers alike flood the grass outside the Ward Center. Mr. Wight flaunts his groovy moves, dancing for all the little faces smiling back at him. Mr. Moss sings his famous St. Paul’s remixes to history’s most popular songs (the crowd favorite: “One St. Paul’s” riffed to the tune of the George Lopez theme song).
The energy on the hill is unmistakable: it is the sixth birthday of the St. Paul’s Schools unification as “One St. Paul’s.”
On Friday, the entire campus gathered to celebrate the community, sharing a common love for the school and, more importantly, the Jazz Band. From the youngest toddlers to the teachers who have been at the school for decades, they all celebrated the shared values of the St. Paul’s community.
This year, the focus was on one specific value: gratitude. Reverend Khristi L. Adams, the new executive director of community and belonging at the St. Paul’s Schools, told students that yes, gratitude makes us feel good, but it also builds communities like this one, in which a group of people share a common appreciation for the circumstances which have brought them together. She reminded the St. Paul’s community of the power of gratitude, how it can be used as a remedy to all the negativity we experience throughout the week. If we focus on the love we share rather than our individual grievances, gratitude can be a solution to the everyday problems of our lives.
Student speakers shared the little things that make them grateful to go to St. Paul’s, such as sports teams, teachers, classmates, the beautiful campus and the opportunity to grow as individuals. Building upon this gratitude, teachers from both the Boy’s, Girl’s and Lower schools shared why they love to come to work everyday. Kimura Sensei, Lower School Japanese teacher, spoke about her fulfilling experiences running into past students, proud of all they have achieved since attending St. Paul’s. Dr. Hulbert, Girl’s School Physics teacher, stated, “Everyday is a good day when you get to do Physics.” And, in a tribute to last year’s One St. Paul’s Day, Mrs. Lawrence, SP Middle School Humanities teacher, pretended to forget her speech and had a young middle schooler, who forgot his speech when he spoke last year, run up to hand it to her.
As a final act for the day, every member of the community wrote one thing that they are grateful for on a card and placed it in the new “Gratitude Garden.” Hundreds of multi-color cards are now on display on the St. Paul’s hill, a testament to the community’s gratitude.