Hello St. E’s Community,

I am writing to you today, cozied up and thawing out from this week’s snow, thinking about the sunshine in the days ahead. It can be difficult to put yourself in a sunny state of mind when the snow seems to be piling up, just like it can sometimes be difficult to see the positives when life throws you a curveball.

One of the many amazing things about our school and community — aside from the support we can count on to receive from our peers, parents, volunteers, Trustees, educators, colleagues, and mentors — is that we have resources available to all who need to practice a little extra self care. Being mindful of ourselves, our feelings, and what feels nourishing and comforting is so important; it helps us heal and reset so that we may fully appreciate those sunny days when they come.

This time of year always reminds me of a fascinating story about a colleague I worked with at another school. She’d lost her husband to an illness and was, understandably, broken-hearted because of it, and she was brave enough to share her feelings with us. Things felt hard for her for a long while, as if it kept on snowing and finding that sunshine seemed impossible. But one day, she received a package in the mail with several glue sticks inside and a note that said, “I know how much your husband meant to you. Here is some glue to mend your broken heart.” Since that day, she has received the same package every year on the same day for the past 25 years with the same message; she’s never figured out who sends them, but this seemingly small gesture from a kind soul helped her mend her broken heart over time.

I think what we don’t always realize during difficult times is how much support and love there is all around us. There are the people we know and trust to be there when we need them, but beyond them, there are many more with kind, generous hearts looking to help, offer a shoulder to cry on, or simply listen when we need to get something off our chests.

The St. E’s community is made up entirely of these helpers and kind souls. They are in every classroom, around every corner, waiting to help lift us up if we stumble or if our hearts feel broken. We take care of each other and offer love through even the darkest and most difficult days. We can offer encouraging words, like saying “I’ll be here if you need me,” or “Let me know how I can help you,” which can make a world of difference to someone who is going through hardship.

Or, we can remind one another about the things that bring us joy and make us feel comforted. Sometimes listening to your favorite playlist, taking a walk with a friend, getting some “puppy” therapy at the local dog shelter, or even watching your favorite movie that makes you laugh, are all ways that we can take care of ourselves so we are ready to show up for others in need. Even taking a few slow, deep breaths helps our bodies feel good, which makes our mind and hearts feel good too.

There are so many ways to express love and support, and at St. E’s, we are fluent in all of them. We stand up for each other, remind each other of our individual and collective resilience, and always have each other’s backs.

So in the toughest of times, when we’re feeling buried by the snow and cold and gray, look for the rays of sunshine in your life; they are there, I promise! They’re the friends and family and people on campus who make our days better and brighter, and remind us that practicing self care and showing love to others will always be important.

With hope and healing,

Adriana Murphy
Head of School