News from the Hall: August 21, 2025

Dear Saint Mary’s Hall Parents, 

Congratulations to all on a meaningful and exciting start to the school year. We are so grateful for your trust and confidence in our School to educate and nurture your children. As we look ahead to the new school year, we celebrate the meaningful work happening at our beloved Saint Mary’s Hall.  

We begin our 147th year at the Hall by continuing the remarkable history of a community dedicated to the noble, heroic work of educating young people.  Last week, we welcomed 137 new students who joined our returning students for a student body total of 804 students.  In her convocation speech, Form 8 student Danita Maybry ‘30 offered the following: “Some of the most important parts of life don’t always appear right away.  They take time.  They’re built, piece by piece, through the choices we make each day.  That is what makes this year full of possibilities: the chance to build something strong, something lasting—together.”  Danita expressed hopes and dreams for our upcoming school year, but her words also explain how an institution can thrive for nearly 150 years: that our students see themselves playing a vital role in leaving a positive legacy is a testament to the values of our community. 

Among our dedicated community is our Board of Trustees, whose work over the summer included the approval of a new set of Guiding Statements that refresh and update language around our Mission Statement, Vision, Core Values, Statement of Belonging, and our Statement of Spirituality.  One of the goals of this process, which began with a community-wide survey last year, was to convey our mission in more understandable and inspiring terms.  While our mission at Saint Mary’s Hall has not changed since our founding in 1879, how we have expressed it has changed.  Language changes with the times.  Our new statement now reads: "To teach students to grow in character, lead with integrity, thrive in college, and know fulfillment in life." At Saint Mary’s Hall, we believe that education is rooted in the belief that young people have limitless potential to thrive—a Saint Mary’s Hall education is about shaping kind, honest, and resilient young people who know themselves, know each other, and know the world.  

Over the course of this year, I’m excited to engage with our community in how these Guiding Statements serve as the foundation of our institution, helping us align our decisions, priorities, and practices with our core purpose.  These guiding statements are more than words on a page; they provide an institutional ecosystem for how we teach, lead, and build community.   

Over the past few years, we have strengthened our commitment to community and belonging in ways that align with our educational philosophy and founding. This work is ongoing, and we are so proud of our staffs’ dedication to ensuring that every child at Saint Mary’s Hall experiences a learning environment that is supportive, healthy, challenging, and reflective of our shared values.  

Our updated Statement of Belonging reflects this redoubled commitment: “Saint Mary’s Hall cultivates an environment where all community members are seen, safe, and valued.” 

To be clear, when we say we affirm the dignity and worth of all people, we mean that we are called to love, value, and honor every individual. As our board Chair Elise Ring Boyan put it in her remarks at Convocation, “...In the noisy and the quiet, please look for love — receive it and give it with grace and humility. Fill your hearts and lungs with it and then share it. And see how your supply never runs out. See how it sustains you and makes you stronger and a more powerful student and force for good... Let us honor our forbearers, each other, and the Barons to come by holding fast to our mission and values — by being the school that love built.” This means reinforcing the values of community, respect, and curiosity that comprise our core values and educational philosophy. 

In a world that seems to be getting more complex, more contested, and more divisive, living out these values becomes more important.  We were reminded last week how important it is to recommit to our work in the face of those many challenges in our world.  The words of Form 5 student Elizabeth Shi, who also spoke at Convocation last week, reflect that idea: “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” 

Her encouragement to face fear and embrace growth reflects the spirit we hope to nurture in every student.  Perhaps the ship that is our School is built for taking on the most pressing societal challenges. 

Student body president Kathryn Tubb ’26 delivered our final student address during convocation, and she reminded us to embrace and find joy in the unexpected moments that happen along the way. Looking forward, we are undaunted, excited about the work ahead, and prepared to embrace this journey with your children and family.

Thank you for being part of this community and for your continued support. If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, we would love to hear from you. 

 

With gratitude, 

 

 

Len Miller 
Head of School