Fun

A retired public school teacher taught my first elementary education class in college. Each day she would sternly remind us early educators, to never use the word ‘fun.’

“Fun is not a word you use when talking about your classroom. You can use educational, stimulating, or rigorous but never say fun,” she would often lecture.

During my first year of teaching I was very careful not to use this “f” word when speaking to parents. Until one day a parent said, “The best thing I like about your class is that my son learns a lot while having fun.”

It was then that it clicked- of course most parents want their children to see school as a fun place! Yes, academics should be our primary concern, but the ability of a school to inject joy into education is what keeps our students smiling each day.

We want our students to think of St. Paul’s as a fun place to attend school. Next week, we are having a Dr. Seuss themed reading week, to stress the importance of being a life long reader. There will be stories, an assembly, dress up days, door decorating and…you guessed it: fun!

Fun is not a word used to describe all schools, but it is a word I hope students use to describe our school.

All school field trip to the Trampoline Zone
 as part of our Lower  School Fitness Day

Social Studies

Social studies are an essential part of the curriculum we teach at St. Paul’s Academy. The term ‘social studies’ often causes people to think of history. The lessons of the past are included under this heading, but so is our world’s current state. Social Studies are also the study of politics, economics, geography, and culture.

Equipping our students with knowledge and a deep understanding of past events is a great way for students to excel as citizens in the future. Our students move systematically by grade, starting with egocentric observations and experiences, such as ‘my family and friends’ and ‘holidays and celebrations’ in Kindergarten. As students’ knowledge of their world develops so does our Social Studies curriculum. By 5th Grade, a student will cover broader topics such as the age of exploration, slavery and emancipation.

Giving students an increasing wider world view provides them with the tools for well informed and thoughtful participation in society. Being a good citizen is always an essential commitment at St. Paul’s.

2nd grade celebrates Chinese New Year

The King of England collects "taxes" from
the colonists in 4th grade

Teaching Compassion

One of the most striking differences between St. Paul’s and other schools I have worked at is philanthropy. Here, not a month goes by that we are not thinking of our fellow man (or animal). The Chapel Guild is the driving factor behind the majority of the charitable giving demonstrated here. They are a parent organization that creates and distributes “love thy neighbor projects” for every grade.


So far this year, students have given apple baskets to our neighbors, created Christmas cards and sang carols at a retirement home, made soup in a jar for the Salvation Army, collected jackets and socks for those without, sent Christmas shoe boxes full of gifts to children in impoverished nations, and later this week 8th Grade is making stone soup to feed those at Lighthouse Mission.


In addition to all of these great service projects, Lower School students also collected 939 food items to feed the hungry during our House League food drive!


This is just the start to SPA’s philanthropy this year. There will be many more opportunities to teach our students the importance of helping those who are less fortunate.

Seahawks and Patriots fans come together in
the name of charity for the House League food drive