It feels as though the ink is barely dry on our new Strategic Plan, and yet the momentum unfolding across our campus is extraordinary. Our educators are diving deeply into the six initiatives, reflecting on how each connects to the inspiring work they do every day. With any broad, mission-driven plan, thoughtful pacing is vital because the most enduring growth is intentional, collaborative and purposefully sequenced.

This year, our professional development days are devoted to bringing the Strategic Plan to life—working together to shape growth that is intentional, transformative and deeply aligned with our mission. As progress advances across all initiatives, my quarterly messages will explore the guiding ideas and educational philosophy that anchor this work, inviting every member of our community to share in the “why” behind our vision.

I’d like to start with the why behind our strategic initiative, Leading through Learning, which calls us to:

As our work evolves under Leading through Learning, you will see new opportunities for students to engage deeply, both on and off campus. In the Upper School and Middle School, our educators are developing a set of new courses that will meet throughout the school year and culminate in a weeklong immersive experience. The St. Margaret’s Exploration Academy (SEA Term) will offer students authentic, place-based, and globally grounded learning through civic engagement and purposeful exploration. Students in grades 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 will select from a range of SEA Term classes aligned with their curiosity and interests. Grade 8 students will focus on U.S. history, highlighted by the trip to Washington, D.C., while seniors will continue their Independent Senior Projects. In the Lower School, students will maintain their focus on the global goals with increased emphasis on fieldwork and civic, globally minded learning. And in the Early School, children will continue to engage in a rich curriculum that deepens through alignment with the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the insights of local and global thought leaders and practitioners.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the annual INDEX Conference for large PK–12 schools, where leading independent schools across the nation collaborate on data and research to advance collective practice. Among 60 carefully selected member schools of similar size and structure, St. Margaret’s continues to be a top performer; an achievement that reflects the dedication of our teachers, the motivation of our students and the intentionality of our curriculum.

Our curriculum stands among the finest anywhere. It is research-based, developmentally attuned and ever-evolving. Yet we are called to lead and teach in a time of profound transformation. Artificial intelligence, global change and shifting definitions of school and work remind us that our mission—to educate hearts and minds—is both timeless and urgent. Our commitment to “hearts and minds” is not symbolic. Rather, it is the heart–mind connection that fuels learning that endures. When students care deeply about what they study and when they know it matters and that they matter, engagement flourishes. And with engagement comes creativity, purpose and joy. Our students must not only understand the changes around them but also learn to co-create this new world with courage, discernment, wisdom and enthusiasm.

Research consistently affirms that purposeful, connected learning thrives in environments of engagement. In The Disengaged Teen, Anderson and Winthrop show that authentic engagement correlates with higher achievement, greater well-being, lower depression and stronger prosocial behavior. Simply put, when students feel they matter—and that their learning matters—they flourish.

William Damon captures this truth beautifully in The Path to Purpose, defining purpose as “a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is meaningful to the self and consequential for the world beyond the self.” Purpose, at its core, is generous; it reaches beyond the individual to the larger human story. When we help students see themselves as meaningful contributors to a wider world, we nurture not just academic excellence but also belonging and hope. To feel that we matter is not merely intellectual, it is deeply human. It begins with the heart, and it guides the work before us.

We aspire to more than high test scores; we seek to inspire students who continue to learn, lead, and serve far beyond their years at St. Margaret’s. To truly live our mission, our students must find themselves within the process of learning, leading and serving. Hearts and minds must be deeply engaged in this journey. That is why we are continually shaping our school as a place where every student feels belonging, purpose and joyful engagement in meaningful learning.

We are so proud of the dynamic work unfolding as we execute our new Strategic Plan, and we are deeply grateful to each of you for your partnership in your children’s learning. As always, it is both a joy and a privilege to stand beside you—participants and witnesses to the meaningful, purpose-filled lives your children are creating in our care. We look forward to the wonderful journey ahead and the incredible milestones our Tartan community will  achieve together.