Diversity Week

We began Diversity Week with an overview of what's to come (student performances, special guests, a fashion show) by one of the co-presidents. Then the other co-president shared her story of coming to see her own multi-ethnic identity in new ways through her experiences at Bridge Builders.

The Rev. Billy Kyles

How to begin to describe this morning's chapel? After singing "Amazing Grace," the St. Mary's community welcomed a living legend. The Rev. Billy Kyles was standing on the balcony with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the evening he was shot. Rev. Kyles spoke about keeping dreams alive, quoting the poet Langston Hughes as a refrain. And he told us of the last night and then the last moments of the paragon of the Civil Rights movement. We were honored and inspired by his presence.
After chapel, about a dozen students spent another half hour asking him questions and listening to more of his stories, including the day he walked his five-year-old daughter into a school as the first black student.
What a gift to hear history told in the first person.

100th Day of School and more!

We celebrated the 100th day of school with the SK girls who came over to serenade "big chapel" with their songs, and the little girls soon to be flowergirls at graduation also got matched up with their big-girl-seniors!
But that's not all! We also continued the celebration of Mary Davis' 100th birthday. Mrs. Shaw introduced this school matriarch to the students recounting Mary's storied life, and she read a proclamation from the governor of Tennessee officially marking Mary's birthday (actually last Thursday) as Mary Davis Day in Tennessee. What a life!

What happens in FCD, stays in FCD

I'd love to tell you about the conversation between our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders with our representative from "Freedom from Chemical Dependency," but ... No teachers get to stay and listen! I'm sure it was wonderful!

Mu Alpha Theta Inductions

It's a day to honor not just our math scholars, but also to celebrate the comedic turn that advanced math offers. Seniors explained the history and requirements of the Mu Alpha Theta society, and they offered a few jokes along the way. (Most of the humor went over the head of your dear-blogger, I never made it to Pre-Cal.)
With laughter and admiration, the mathmatically gifted among us were honored this day.

The Very Rev. Andy Andrews

From our sister institution, Dean Andrews joined us today. Before sharing his "princess story," Andy asked us all to place our feet squarely on the floor, to lift our hands and then place them on our knees, to sit up straight and take a deeeeeeeeep breath. In. Out. In. Out.
Then the story of the princess unfolded. She faced the torture of the world telling her she was not a wondrous creation, but she held on to the truth: she was wonderfully made and beloved. Andy sent us all out to live as "groovy" princesses ourselves (and a few princes too), remembering that we are beautiful and beloved creatures and a gift to the world.

Alumnae Chapel

We welcomed Gwyn Fisher, class of 1996 today. Gwyn is the executive director of MPact Memphis an organization tasked with engaging and empowering the local young, professional community to make a difference in Memphis. Gwyn's journey has taken her around the world and "back home," and she shared her passion for making Memphis the kind of city that we'd all be glad to come home to ...