Chaplain’s Report The Rev’d Dr. Benjamin Anthony, Chaplain Katie Elder and Cheryl Eiszner continue to provide excellent divinity instruction to the students across the three divisions (Early Childhood, Lower Division, and Middle Division). Mrs Eiszner has embraced and flourished in her work as Godly Play instructor and Mrs. Elder has exercised considerable and thoughtful initiative in her role(s) as chaplain to Early Childhood students and divinity instructor to Lower and Middle Division students. The faithfulness, intelligence, and care with which they teach and care for the students is extraordinary. It is of little surprise then to see how loved they are by students and teachers alike. As Chaplain my primary role is to supervise and enact the chapel and divinity program at St. Richard’s. Additionally, I work to cultivate at the school an environment consistent with Episcopal values. My work as part of the school’s Leadership Team and Diversity Committee are venues where those values are integrated into and reinforced in the life of the school.
The 2019-2020 academic year was more than three quarters complete when on March 13 the coronavirus prompted the school to shut down and transition to remote learning. An initial return-to-school in mid-April after spring break never materialized. Traditional spring school events were scuttled, rescheduled, and recreated. The graduation for the class of 2020 was celebrated first on Zoom—as much of our community life would soon be transferred—and then with a festive car parade on 33rd Street.
2020 was a year marked by disruption, upheaval, and loss. But it was also a year marked by a deeper appreciation for community, traditions, and joy of being together. Teachers are true heroes: for all the ways they are practical, steadfast, resilient. But the heroism is especially evident in the faces of the students, who are the very embodiment of hope for a different tomorrow.
The faculty adapted to teaching remotely, adapting rapidly in the spring and then more deliberately over the summer. The SRES Leadership Team, guided by David Amstutz, head of school, worked continuously over the summer to formulate the reopening plans so that St. Richard’s could return to in-person instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 academic year. This aspiration became reality on Thursday August 13 and St. Richard’s has maintained in-person instruction more or less continuously since. The sounds of students playing on the playground were a welcome and frequent sound in the neighborhood. A welcome disruption of the pandemic and social distance-enforced silence; frequent because of the increased use of outdoor space as part of the school day. Lunch served in the classrooms and soccer field, recess outside (when the temperature remains above 30 degrees), modified drop-off and pick-up procedures, masks, and frequent handwashing have all become normalized part of school life. And in turn, the return of school life has restored a measure of normalcy and hope to the community. Chapel and community gatherings have continued at St. Richard’s, though like worship at Trinity it has largely continued through pre-recorded videos and on Zoom. The limitations of the shift to video are familiar to anyone reading this but this same limitation birthed an anthology-style Lesson & Carols service. A pre-recorded “Lessons & Carols Through the Years” video was shared with the school and church communities, providing a placeholder and reminder of the treasures we have in our traditions and will have again soon.
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