Chapel

The nexus of our spirituality is Chapel, a place, program, and sanctuary for students, faculty, and staff. Chapel is where our musicians first perform in public; where plays and liturgical dance bring ancient stories alive; where individual students share Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Jewish traditions; where our entire community comes together to nurture the spiritual beings we are, and to encourage one another on our journeys of faith.

Chapel, a 30-minute Episcopalian service, takes place weekly for the Lower School, and three times a week for Middle and Upper Schools. Guest speakers, dignitaries, and students address the Chapel theme for the year such as "Journey," "Unity," or "Honor." Middle and Upper School students take further responsibility by planning their own services through their respective Chapel Council and Student Vestry.

Chapel Theme for the Year

The Chapel Theme acts as a central thematic thread throughout the school year.

Each year during the Spring the Upper School Vestry and Middle School Chapel Council ask for ideas for the theme that will form a focus of addresses in Chapel for the following academic year. The theme should highlight that issue or idea that the school community thinks should be at the heart of our discussions in matters of the Spirit. Obviously other ideas and topics are covered in chapel, but the theme acts as a central thematic thread throughout the school year. The student leaders of these two groups establish processes where their peers, faculty, administration, and staff across all units of the school can offer their suggestions as to what core consideration should be under discussion.

The theme for the 2011-2012 school year is "Be the change you want to see in the world " - Gandhi

Themes in past years have included the following as a representative sample: Faith, Hope Love, Esse Quam Videri, Honor, Unity, Journey, Faith, Words To Live By, Character, 'Risk, Respect, and Responsibility,' Reach Back to Go Forward, Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?, Risk and Resilience, and Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly.