From the Headmaster
February 2024
“ Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice , here by a smiling look , there by a kindly word ; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love .” *
Dear Saint David ’ s Community ,
It is often not the grand gestures , but the small acts of kindness that have the greatest impact . Our everyday demonstrations of respect and compassion touch lives , cultivate goodness , and signify love .
The two Saint David ’ s boys depicted on this magazine ’ s cover , planting a tree in Central Park , reflect this truth . Against the vast backdrop of the park , each is doing his small yet essential part in service of a greater good and kindness . At Saint David ’ s , small acts of civility are embedded in our ethos – the handshake , a smile , the holding of a door , saying please and thank you , a well-placed kind word , or a listening ear . These kindnesses may seem like minor gestures , when , in fact , they form the very fabric of a healthy , strong , respectful community .
This issue looks at the varied ways in which kindness manifests itself at Saint David ’ s – whether in our commitment to the relational dimension of teaching and learning , signature experiences and special initiatives spread throughout our program , or in the reflections of alumni who credit Saint David ’ s for instilling in them the value of virtues that embody doing good . It also provides lessons learned from the introduction of television to address and critically examine the impact of social media today , especially with respect to kindness .
In his piece , 2024 Alumnus of the Year , Brendan McGuire ’ 90 , notes that our school motto “ suggests that out of goodness flows a sense of obligation to others .” A community grounded in kindness , such as Saint David ’ s , enables our boys to aspire to be good men – men of character who seek meaning beyond themselves .
Ut viri boni sint . Enjoy the Magazine . I remain ,
Respectfully yours ,
* St . Therese of Lisieux
P . David O ’ Halloran
Saint David ’ s is an independent elementary school for boys of all faiths and backgrounds whose parents seek a school program rooted in its founding Catholic faith . Boys are admitted to Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Eight . Since its founding in 1951 , Saint David ’ s has graduated more than 2,200 students . They have gone on to the most competitive New York City secondary schools and regional boarding schools , and from there to ranking universities and colleges throughout the nation . The school is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools , subscribing to its Principles of Good Practice for admission of students . Saint David ’ s also belongs to the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York . The school ’ s headmaster is Dr . P . David O ’ Halloran .
Community and Inclusion
In addition to our rigorous academic program and in keeping with our founding faith ’ s spiritual traditions , Saint David ’ s is known for its sense of family , compassion , and kindness . Our community includes boys and faculty that reflect the cultural , ethnic , racial , socioeconomic , and religious diversity of New York City . At Saint David ’ s , we believe that being curious without prejudice and without bias is essential to a well-informed , educated young man . Our boys develop cultural competency as they are taught to respect and embrace difference in all its myriad manifestations . Boys broaden their perspectives as they learn from diverse traditions , creeds , and ways of life — fundamental in fulfilling the aspiration of the Founders “ that they be good men .”
2 • Saint David ’ s Magazine