MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Faithful friends and comrades sure Ahhhh...the lazy days of summer! These words are not exactly true at 900 Hillsborough Street, for the campus is alive with activities and laughter, a completely different experience than when I arrived on campus last July and the pandemic was in full gear. I had been told all about the wonderful programs that occur in the summer months at Saint Mary’s, and I am grateful that we are getting closer to “normal” every day. I have spent my entire career working in girls’ schools, and I can say without hesitation that I have spent my entire career looking specifically for Saint Mary’s. I needed a school that is rich in tradition but has both eyes opened to the future; a school where girls are not afraid to meet the academic challenges presented to them; a school with a faculty and staff who give of themselves inside and outside the classroom; and a school with an unmatchable group of alumnae who continue to support their alma mater with time, treasures, and talents. I needed a school with a mission statement that focuses on student outcomes but embraces each and every one of us with these opening words: Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement. I needed a school without judgement, where faith and spirituality
are interwoven but personal and respected. And finally, I needed a school that was not afraid to take a chance on me or on anyone who appeared at the doorstep with a desire to be part of the Saint Mary’s community. I am excited about the future of Saint Mary’s, in part because of the contents of this summer magazine! “Academic excellence and personal achievement” abound in the articles featuring our students, our faculty and staff, and our alumnae. And remember: Almost all these successes took place with masks on and six feet apart! Thank you, to all who have welcomed me in your homes and on Zoom screens, in outdoor settings and in emails, in small groups and in a very well-attended Reunion Weekend. For me, being at Saint Mary’s is an experience of a lifetime, and your imprint has made this a destination for me, for students, for adults, and for generations to come. I close with words from the Saint Mary’s School Hymn: Faithful friends and comrades sure! Carol Killebrew Interim Head of School
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