Len's Letter from News From The Hall: October 23, 2023

During our chapel talks this semester, Dr. Brock has been speaking with our students about the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Today, he led the students into a deeper examination of “love,” illustrating the lesson with the parable of the Good Samaritan, which asks us to ponder what it means to love our neighbor, and to ask ourselves, “who IS my neighbor?”
 
What Dr. Brock shared with us is that while most Bibles use the word “neighbor,” - a noun, the original Greek word in this verse is actually “near,” - an adverb. “You will love the person NEAR you as yourself.”
 
All of us at Saint Mary’s Hall are very near each other – in classrooms, in the corridor, on the field or stage, in the dining room, or waiting for a ride after school. How we treat each other during all those times –our eagerness to pause and reach out to someone who has a different background or ethnicity or belief system, or our willingness to help each other, whether it’s by picking up trash on campus or inviting someone to sit with you at lunch – is an important demonstration of our love for each other and is how we show our “fruit.” 
 
The value we place on caring for each and every community member here is why our work in Belonging is so important. While Barons hail from over 50 zip codes, here on Starcrest, we are very near each other – and it’s incredibly important that every student feels at home in these halls.
 
As we continue to focus on our DEIB work, I am delighted to announce that Dr. Brock will serve as our Interim Director of Belonging. He will serve in this role in addition to continuing as our School Chaplain as we conduct a national search for a long-term Director of Belonging.

We invite you to join us on November 14 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. for a conversation with Rosetta Lee about affinity groups, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as Saint Mary’s Hall presents an evening with Rosetta Lee. Since 2004, Rosetta has been a diversity speaker and trainer on a variety of topics. As an educator, her goal is to make sure all kids feel safe and affirmed. She has worked with over 350 K-12 public and independent schools throughout the country, along with over 100 colleges and universities, nonprofits, businesses, and more. To RSVP, click here.