Rector Kathy Giles welcomes students to Winter Term with encouragement to seek light and hope this season.
September 12, 2023
SPS welcomes 172 new students to the grounds for the 168th academic session.
BY JACQUELINE PRIMO LEMMON
From the Athletic and Fitness Center to Coit to the Schoolhouse and beyond, every corner of St. Paul’s School buzzed with excitement and back-to-school jitters as faculty and staff members welcomed 548 students — from 28 different countries and 37 states — to Millville during Opening Days. Sixth Formers were the first to move in on Friday, Sept. 1, followed by 172 new Third, Fourth and Fifth Formers on Sunday, Sept. 3, and returning Fourth and Fifth Formers on Monday, Sept. 4. Returning students greeted each other with hugs and smiles, advisers and prefects helped with move-in, and new students said their bittersweet farewells to their families in Chapel.
“There was a lot of great energy as friends reunited after a long summer and new friendships were made,” says Associate Dean of Students KC Hambleton. “Our student leaders worked hard to welcome our new students and returners.”
It was official: the School’s 168th year was underway.
“As we say in our mission statement, we are a community dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in character and scholarship, and character comes first, and your becoming a good person and your desire to be a good person are at the core of St. Paul’s School’s reason for being,” remarked Rector Kathy Giles during Fall Convocation on Sept. 5.
Every student, new and returning, will undoubtably make unique contributions to the SPS community and have countless opportunities to grow as students, athletes, artists and individuals during the 2023-24 school year. There are new talents to discover, skills to develop, friends to be made and lessons to be learned — and at SPS, everyone’s voice is important.
“You matter. Around the discussion table, in the house meeting, on the team or cast or in the club, you contribute to the living and learning of others in ways that are unique to you,” Giles continued. “You make us better, and we wouldn’t be as good without you.”
