Vol. 10, No. 4 Tappahannock, Virginia,November 2007

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we prepare to move away from the close St. Margaret’s School community we have become during this first trimester of the school year, we can all feel how we have been changed by our time together. I love the traditions that mark this season and lead us toward the next. Class chapels by both the senior and junior classes helped these groups unite around a theme and a message: the river and our responsibility to care for our environment from the seniors and strong women and the opportunity we each have to both admire and become strong women ourselves from the juniors. Seniors flooded the chapel with color with each class dressed in colorful River Day shirts and chapel pews decorated to match. Juniors dressed in black to honor women in the world who have been silenced and then lit candles on the altar in memory of the strong women they featured in their words and decorations.

Certainly this was the perfect introduction to St. Margaret’s Day! Honoring Saint Margaret of Scotland with the traditional piper, processional, service at St. John’s Church, and festive Thanksgiving luncheon let us be together and see each other in ways that are now familiar. I wish you could all have been with us as the piper led the school, organized by class and all dressed in tartans, across the campus in the clear autumn sun. This is the same processional we had on Opening Day and will have again at Baccalaureate, but this time we had the comfort of knowing where we fit and not struggling with introductions or good byes.

Field hockey and volleyball tournaments, the fall art show and dance and music recitals, then trimester exams let each student gain a sense of both belonging and completion. When we return for the advent season, we will have moved on to basketball, swim, and track teams, a few new courses and new activities, but the same sense of knowing how we fit together, a community of individuals joined in pursuit of our mission of educating young women for life. I give thanks for the opportunity to lead this community and to share its life with each of you. My very best wishes to you for a joyous Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School



 

Experiential Education Brings Lessons to Life -
Learning outside the classroom .......

Fall Athletes Honored -
Three students named to all-LIS teams.......

Ubuntu Day Educates for Life -
Students discuss health in all areas.......

Academic Integrity: -
Having integrity now will pay off later in life.......

THE CURRENT

The Current We know you are proud of all your daughter has accomplished. Let her know by placing an ad in this year's yearbook Visit www.sms.org/yrbookad to download the order form. Orders are being taken now. Ad content is due by December 5. Questions? Contact Yearbook Sponsor Shannon Spears at 804-443-3357 Extn: 7552 or email sspears@sms.org

Spend the night... or a day at St. Margaret's School Meet students and teachers Go to classes, take a tour Visit Days: December 8, 2007 Overnight Visit: January 20-21, 2008 Prospective parents, contact the Admission Office for an invitation. Current parents, let us know if there is someone we should invite! Contact us today: (804) 443-3357 / admit@sms.org or RSVP online at www.sms.org/rsvp

Support SMS this Holiday Season Honor your daughter or someone dear to you this holiday season with a gift to the SMS Annual Fund. When you do, your honoree will receive a card announcing your generous gesture and recognition in the 2007-08 Annual Report. You may enjoy tax benefits if you make your gift before December 31! Visit www.sms.org/giving to make your gift online or call the Development Office at 804-443-3357 for more information.

Please join your SMS friends for these events Young Alumnae Day Return to campus, see your friends, and share your college or work experience with current juniors and seniors. Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at noon Alumnae Council Meeting at Lewis-Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond - Richmond area alums are invited to join Alumnae Council members for lunch. Saturday, February 16, 2008 at noon Thistle Society Luncheon at Westminster-Canterbury in Richmond. This event will honor alumnae who graduated 50 or more years ago. Saturday, March 5, 2008 at noon For more information, contact Director of Alumnae Relations Amanda Gates at 804-443-3357 x3015 or agates@sms.org