From the Headmaster
Dear Saint David’s Community, An archway is a doorway, a gate. The Triumphal Arch depicted on the cover of our magazine is the Arch of Titus in Rome. As Saint David’s graduates, these young men, pictured just before passing through the Arch this past March, are metaphorically about to travel across an even more important threshold and enter a larger, more complex world. As Saint David’s men, they will enter this new world knowing, among other things, the importance of service. Our Eighth Grade boys beneath the archway symbolize for us the ideal that being a “good man” is in part being a “man of service.” In thinking about service, Leone Levi, the 1880s English jurist, teacher, and statistician once said, “Man has six organs to serve him and he is master only of three. He cannot control his eye, ear, or nose, but he can his mouth, hand, and foot.” It is by using our mouths to speak and our hands and feet to help build, construct, feed, touch, and comfort that we are able to serve, to contribute to the greater good. The value of service is important to Saint David’s School. In this publication’s feature article, Ray Feerick speaks of the school’s desire to cultivate within our boys a generosity of spirit that develops through thoughtful, planned involvement in service throughout their years in the school. Connie Hays and Bob McLaughlin reflect on special teachers who have served the school so memorably, and Rev. Luke Travers ’71, who continues to serve the school on special occasions, reflects on the role Saint David’s played in developing his love of learning. The “Service” theme of our publication also speaks directly to our school Mission. “Saint David’s,” our Mission states, believes that “ . . . elementary education is important
Dr. O’Halloran meeting with kindergarteners and teacher Amy Fox. in its own right and should always be compelling, joyful, and designed to serve self, others, and God.” To serve by giving of oneself for the benefit of another or others is noble, just, and right. It is a human value that we at Saint David’s know and celebrate. This publication is dedicated to service—an important tenet of our school’s Mission— and its continued articulation by our boys in words and deeds, as they step through yet another of life’s milestone doorways. Sincerely and respectfully yours,
P. David O’Halloran June 2005
Saint David’s is an elementary school for boys of all faiths 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. Since its founding in 1951, Saint David’s has graduated nearly 1800 students. They have gone on to the most competitive New York City secondary schools, as well as 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.
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