Headmaster's Blog

Sam Healy (’09) will attend Claremont McKenna College in southern California next September where he was recruited to play quarterback.     The football program at Claremont–ranked the 9 th Best Liberal Arts College in 2014 by U.S. News & World Report—competes in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.   Sam recently graduated from Ethical Culture Fieldston School where he set two single-game passing records and finished in several of the school’s top-5 all-time passing categories.   He also was a three-year starting lacrosse mid-fielder for the Eagles during which time he was named to the First Team NY Post All-City team. Sam is currently attending Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, CT) as a post-graduate student athlete where he played for the Pelicans football team.   We are proud of Sam's achievements.  He chose a path less traveled.

Throughout the halls of Saint David's today, second graders spread good cheer.  Assembling in nooks and crannies, on stairwells, in the lobby and outside my office, the boys sang Christmas carols, old and new.  Ahh ... Christmastide. 'Tis the season.

Last night when we gathered in the Hume library amidst a glowing fireplace, dimmed lights, and holiday decorations, the spirit of Christmas met the spirit of Saint David's as alumni and alumni parents joined with our faculty for a joyous evening. We were there not only to celebrate the Season and each other's presence in our lives but also to recognize and honor Dr. Alberto Acosta, Class of 1971, as Alumnus of the Year, for his many contributions to the life of the school. Alumni Council Chair from 2011-2013, Alberto has been an incredible force in taking our alumni to another level through his stewardship and ability to bring together people who love Saint David's. Accepting the award, Alberto spoke of the importance of Saint David's in his life: how the school fostered a love of learning and the ability to think in an analytical and creative fashion. He also spoke of the school's values, its emphasis on the importance of doing the right thing, community se

Five Eighth Grade finalists recently presented art lectures to Eighth Grade girls from The Nightingale-Bamford School. For the Lectures, each member of the Eighth Grade researched a notable work by a renowned artist, and prepared a lecture and PowerPoint presentation on the work.  Boys selected relevant tools from traditional elements of analysis which included the in-depth critique of a variety of components of the work including its historical setting, and the artist's use of gesture, geometric simplification, iconography, line, color, and balance, among others. Five finalists were selected from the preliminary rounds by a panel of internal judges.  The finalists competed on Friday morning before a panel of predominantly external judges that included faculty members, administrators, trustees, and art experts. The girls of Nightingale, the boys' peers from the Eighth Grade and the boys of the Seventh Grade all looked on ... and what a show it was! Each of the boys w

Last week, second grade boys visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as part of our curriculum's  imperative to "break down the walls of the classroom" and provide all of our boys with greater opportunities for out-of-school learning experience--one important outgrowth of the Curriculum Initiative . At the Met, boys experienced a guided tour, chaperoned by two of their art teachers, Ms. Boccella and  Ms. Fidler, and their homeroom teachers. The program, called “Faces and Masks,” reinforced and enhanced what the boys have been learning about in their art classes back at school. The tour specifically focused on African, Native American, and Pre-Colombian masks, (which is what the boys have been studying at school) along with Western works of art featuring faces. The boys concluded their time at the museum with a drawing activity that asked them to zoom in on particular details of a mask that appealed to them. It has been said that when viewing art, it is importan

Saint David's boys are preparing for the stage at Carnegie Hall. Under the direction of our own maestro Phil Hough, The Saint David's Philharmonic Ensemble has been hard at work rehearsing for their upcoming performance. Last Wednesday, Ensemble Alumni, in keeping with our Thanksgiving and homecoming traditions, joined our current boys for an early morning rehearsal of the pieces they will play together on one of the most famous stages in the world this January, including La Réjouissance by Handel and the Theme from Mission: Impossible—an all-time favorite. The returning Ensemble alumni expressed genuine excitement about the chance to play with their former Saint David's classmates and continue to be a part of the school in this unique and special experience.  They lifted the spirits of all present and added a certain level of gravitas to the whole experience and event. As the performance date draws near, anticipation is mounting for what will be a wonderful opportu