From the Headmaster
February 2020
Dear Saint David’s School Community,
Quia facit quod debet 1
Respect lies in the heart of a good man, and empathy lies at the heart of respect. Respecting those who think like we think,
or believe what we believe, or have a shared upbringing or experiences, is easy. Respecting those who have different beliefs,
a different upbringing or experiences, or who think differently, is harder. In order to cultivate a healthy understanding and
appreciation for difference, we must learn to view the world
through others’ eyes, feel their experience, walk in their shoes.
It’s only by doing this that we can develop empathy and,
therefore, respect. Courtesy can be demanded, but respect
must be earned. This issue of Saint David’s Magazine aims to
spotlight some of the school’s efforts in this regard.
In a fast paced and competitive world, our sons can often feel
pressure to be someone they aren’t. At times, they may even
assume emotional personae that obscure who they really are
because they think that’s who we or others expect them to be.
Our boys learn not only from what they hear us say, but more
from what they see us do. Saint David’s takes pride in what we’re
doing to build an even more sensitive and inclusive community
where our boys can be accepted and celebrated for who they are.
Our greatest struggle as humans, E.E. Cummings tells us,
lies in “the battle to protect our true selves from the self the
world wants us to become.” By creating a community where
boys can be themselves, we are helping them find relief, fulfill their potential, and have the freedom to “be who they ought
to be.” 1 Standing in this truth is where our sons will find respect for themselves and each other, and discover beauty in life
and the myriad ways it can be lived.
Enjoy the read. Ut viri boni sint. I remain,
Appreciatively and respectfully yours,
P. David O’Halloran
1. Anselm of Canterbury, De Veritate, composed in 1080-85
Saint David’s is an independent elementary school for boys of all faiths and backgrounds whose parents seek a school program
rooted in the moral and theological traditions of the Catholic Church. Pupils are admitted to Pre-Kindergarten through Grade
Eight. The school is located at Twelve East Eighty-ninth Street in Manhattan.
Since its founding in 1951, Saint David’s has graduated more than 2,000 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 Catholic 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 other traditions, creeds, and ways of life — fundamental in fulfilling the aspiration of the Founders “that they be good men.”
2 • Saint David’s Magazine