Professional Community In-Service Day Explores Strategic Priorities Through Experiential Learning Activities
Members of the professional communities branched out to sessions focused on important school priorities including Episcopal identity, health and well-being, service learning, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
St. Margaret’s professional community engaged in a meaningful in-service day last week that explored the intersections of the school’s strategic priorities while fostering connection and choice.
Members of the professional community branched out to one of nine sessions of their choice, focused on important school priorities including Episcopal identity, health and well-being, service learning, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
The day was inspired by a visit earlier this year by educator and author Beth-Sarah Wright, who spoke to the professional community and student leaders about dignity and its role in creating an authentic community. It also relates to St. Margaret’s school-wide goal for the 2022-2023 school year to “deepen connections to our Episcopal identity,” and specifically to “explore and advance the intersection of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Identity with health and well-being initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion work.”
The day started with a mindfulness and breathing exercise by Lower School spiritual practice teacher Jessie Akers, who shared a routine she utilizes with her students using a Hoberman sphere (also known as a “breathing ball”). Afterward, each member of the professional community received a Hoberman sphere to continue practicing the mindfulness exercise on their own.
Professional community members then split up to participate in two sessions of their choice covering several strategic initiatives. They included:
- Dignity Book Club: Participants read and discussed Dr. Wright’s book Dignity: Seven Strategies for Creating Authentic Community.
- Go Outside to Go Within: Members of the professional community participated in a reflective hike to the Flag Pole Summit on the local Patriot Hill Trail.
- How to Integrate Self-Care: Participants engaged in experiential learning activities to create a more balanced and peaceful life.
- Learn More About Breakthrough SJC and Special Camp: This session explored St. Margaret’s two signature non-profit programs and their role in the community through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Hand-On Service for Welcome INN: Participants learned more about the local non-profit Welcome INN and prepared a meal to serve the needs of the local unhoused and working poor community.
- Meet-and-Greet with TIDE Students: Participants met with members of the Tartan Inclusion and Diversity Education (TIDE) Upper School student leadership group to hear perspectives on continuing their important work at the school.
- Mindfulness Yoga: Professional community members learned and practiced mindful meditation and yoga poses to achieve a calm, settled and productive mind.
- Splatter Art: Participants learned a unique form of visual arts and its therapeutic technique of “paint throwing.”
- The Benefits of Art Therapy: Professional community members learned how anxiety and stress can be processed through artistic expression.
“The feedback was very positive for this in-service day that allowed professional community members to engage in learning opportunities of their choice,” said Assistant Head of School Ryan Dahlem. “There was also a sense of connection as adults from across campus gathered around shared interests. The entire day was conducted in-house, and we are thankful for our professional community members who leveraged their talents to lead these meaningful sessions revolving around our strategic priorities.”
After the morning sessions, the professional community conducted division-specific work for the second half of the in-service day.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
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