A Letter from the Head of School ear Friends, “Belonging” is an increasingly common word and value in schools – an educational concept and movement which St. Andrew’s has helped to pioneer and popularize. And yet, belonging is a deceptively challenging ideal, particularly in a broadly diverse community like St. Andrew’s. What does it really mean to belong in school – to feel truly welcomed and known as a person and a learner, to believe that your teachers, leaders, and peers really believe in your potential and have your best interests at heart? Why does belonging matter so much at St. Andrew’s, and how could we be even more successful in creating a community of full belonging each day on our campus? The articles in this magazine seek to answer those questions in the brave and candid voices of those we care about most – our students, teachers, and alumni. As St. Andrew’s Head of School for the past 20 years, I want to honor my fellow Lions by sharing my own answers with you as well. Why do I care about belonging, and how has my and the school’s understanding of its educational value deepened over time? Belonging at St. Andrew’s has always been rooted in our inclusive Episcopal identity. Even before our doors opened, our founders cared a great deal about the school’s religious identity, and that care had almost nothing to do with dogma or rituals. It had everything to do with the kind of environment that our students and the adults who taught them would feel every day. In the tribute to founding trustee David Beers in this magazine, fellow founder Audrey Demas remembers that our first leaders “came together in our commitment to building a school where every student could find their place.” 2
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