Committed to Learning

Dear Friends,

Our country, and our world, is undergoing tremendous upheaval. The novel coronavirus and the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic have caused significant disruption and great suffering. The virus has put many of the most vulnerable in society at greatest risk, including a disproportionate number in the Black community. This is all the more heart-breaking in the wake of a national reckoning over the treatment of Black people and the systemic racism that continues to exist in this country. Those of good conscience can no longer turn a blind eye to this injustice.

Santa Catalina teaches that all human life is sacred and that each of us is made in the image of God. At this important juncture, we reaffirm our commitment to teach our students that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral society. Our aim has been to provide this education throughout our school program, from PreK to grade 12. But there is much work that remains to be done. Especially for those of us who are privileged, now is a time of listening to those who have been marginalized. Our goal for the upcoming year is to find ways to have Black voices speak to our students and faculty about their lived experience, so that we may listen and learn. This includes listening to the voices of Black writers, thinkers, and artists. And it includes listening to students of color at Santa Catalina, young people who have much to offer. At this point in time, it is critical to demonstrate humility in the face of the challenge of racial injustice. I will be working with our division heads to make listening and learning a focus for the next school year and beyond.

In addition, our board chair, Laura Lyon ’81, and I are committed to work with the board’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee to address how we can diversify our faculty and admit a larger number of students of color to the school. We will also seek assistance from our alumnae council and network with others in the larger Santa Catalina community to find ways in which our school can actively work to create a more just society.

Like many schools around the country, we at Santa Catalina are diligently working to prepare for a school year unlike any before it. We ask for your prayers and support as we navigate an uncertain future. Know that we act with faith and hope as we prepare our students to become global citizens who will one day possess “a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace and compassion.”

Sincerely,

Meg Bradley