Welcome from the Head

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

And we’re off! From arrival smiles, hugs, and even some tears which transitioned to expressions of comfort and then confidence as the day grew, the first day of the 2025-26 school year at St. Anne’s School has been one to remember! As one parent walked away with happy tears in her eyes at drop off, I watched her reluctant child gain confidence with each step as he approached friends in the hallway and neared his smiling teacher with open arms at the classroom door. So now, as summer fades and St. Anne’s School becomes the place where your children spend the majority of their waking hours, I want to thank you for sharing and trusting us with your most precious gifts. 

As students settled into their classrooms and began to connect with their teachers and friends old and new, parents connected and reconnected with one another in the Meditation Garden at our Parents Association Welcome Coffee. These natural connections to begin the day were highlighted during Opening Chapel with students, teachers, and families during which Father Manoj and I grounded the community in this year’s theme: Growing in Gratitude. I hope you departed campus this morning reveling in the return to routine. 

Our Kindergarten friends participated eagerly during chapel when asked to raise their hands in gratitude, and our Fourth Grade choir sang confidently as leaders of our Lower School. Our Eighth Grade students arrived as assured role models, ready to lead the School in meaningful ways during their final year.

Educators talk a lot about going slow to go fast: before diving into academics, we collectively set routines and expectations while empowering students to own their environment and experience, and this was fully evident across the School today. As I walked through the halls after Chapel, I spotted our Kindergarteners, in their customized first-day hats, practicing Ways We Want To Be in the hallway as their First Grade friends walked confidently by. Second Grade students were excitedly sharing their interests as they created “All About Me” books, and Third Grade students released this morning’s excited energy as they sang and danced with delight on the “spinny thing” on the playground.]

Making my way back into the building from the playground I found myself in a group of Twos, Preschool, and Prekindergarten parents eagerly awaiting their children for half-day pickup. Some of the students hadn’t yet finished their playground popsicles following their “bear hunt” and were very excited to show their treat to their grown-up! Student smiles met parent delight as our youngest learners departed on their first day.

This afternoon, Fourth Grade students enthusiastically played “Get-To-Know-You Bingo” while Fifth Grade students engaged in small-group brainstorming sessions centered on the question: What is Social Studies? Sixth Grade students created a full-class DNA chain (and kept it connected!). Seventh Grade discussed what is history? And what does it mean to be American? And Eighth Grade students connected as a community of readers while discussing and commenting on their summer reading selections.  

And this is just a portion of the magic that happened at St. Anne’s School today! Your children will be tired this evening as their bodies, brains, and mindsets adjust to the magic of the school year.  

I remain in awe of our extraordinary educators who put forth such care and dedication to set a strong foundation for the 2025-26 school year. Teachers are the heart of St. Anne’s School, and today they shined. Teachers will be in touch with parents as we settle into the year and will serve as your first line of communication and support. 

We look forward to welcoming the rest of our Program for Young Children students tomorrow to round out a connected and meaningful start to the school year. Please don’t forget your summer photos for the Growing in Gratitude Board in the front foyer!

I realize there are many moving parts and emotions with new routines and experiences at the start of each school year. Thank you, parents, for your positivity, your partnership, and the caring way you helped us to begin the school year today. I look forward to continued growth and gratitude–rooted in care and empathy–with you, your children, and the village of adults in this special St. Anne’s School community.

Gratefully,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

All teachers returned to the building this past Monday, and my heart is full of gratitude as we close out a productive week in joyful preparation for the year ahead.

I enthusiastically shared with all faculty and staff, and now share with you, that our theme for the 2025-26 school year is:

Rooted in care and empathy, we will actionably lean into acts of gratitude as a community this school year. In our opening faculty and staff chapel gathering on Monday, Reverend Manoj Zacharia of St. Anne’s Church shared with us: “Gratitude is not the extra seasoning sprinkled on top of our work; it is the soil from which our true vocation grows…Gratitude is the practice of opening us up to wonder. And wonder, in turn, sustains the heart of a teacher.”

And what a gift for teachers to return to the following heartfelt messages of gratitude from parents and friends during our opening faculty and staff meeting this past Wednesday:

As we Sustain Joy (2023-24 theme) and continue to Cultivate Connections (2024-25 theme), the extraordinary educators at St. Anne’s School look forward to Growing in Gratitude alongside each of you this upcoming school year. 

*When you return to the building next week, please bring a family photo showing a moment of joy, growth, and/or gratitude to affix to the front bulletin board! 

Hiring Updates

I am extraordinarily pleased to share with you the team of faculty and staff who will nurture, support, and challenge your children and meaningfully partner with you this year: 2025-26 Faculty and Staff 

Over the summer we welcomed Dr. Bryan Powell as our new Fifth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, Ms. Courtney Severe as Lead Prekindergarten teacher, and Ms. Maureen Brasille as Fourth Grade Teacher. Ms. Mitzi Reyes has shifted away from Homeroom Lead Teacher and graciously stepped into the Lower School Spanish Teacher position, a role she previously held with great success and care.

We had some departing Stars over the summer and I want to acknowledge their years of service, joy, and dedication to St. Anne's School. Pattie O'Neill returned to public school teaching after 12 years at St. Anne's School. Former Director of Development Jill Rowlett has taken a position as the Signature Events Officer at Luminis Health. And Jen Ondrey relocated to be closer to family. We wish them all the best and are grateful for the energy and joy they shared each day at St. Anne's School.

2025-26 Parent and Student Handbook

At the end of every school year, the administrative team reflects on and analyzes data and experiences from the previous year to drive meaningful change over the summer. I therefore share the following reminders and updates to the 2025-26 Parent and Student Handbook:

Upper School

First, one important change that you’ll notice is we now refer to Middle School as Upper School. We feel this slight but meaningful shift better describes the leadership experience of our students in Fifth through Eighth Grades at St. Anne’s School.

Uniforms

As a reminder, our uniform policy is intended to promote equity, responsibility, and community. Specifically, uniforms:

• help create a level playing field by reducing peer pressure and social comparison related to clothing choices, ensuring that all students are valued for who they are, not for what they wear;
• encourage students to take pride in their appearance and to approach school with a mindset of purpose and responsibility, preparing them for environments beyond school where professional dress may be expected; and,
• promote cohesion and school spirit while minimizing distractions, allowing students to concentrate on learning and personal growth. 

New this year, Upper School students will have the option to wear St. Anne’s School branded athletic clothing—instead of their uniform—on days that they have Physical Education (PE) on their schedules. In addition, on formal dress days, Upper School students can now choose between wearing a sweater vest or a blue blazer and St. Anne’s School necktie (this applies to all genders).

Tardiness

At St. Anne’s School, Advisory and Morning Meetings intentionally set the foundation for the day. When students arrive after these critical components of their day, it hampers their ability to fully engage, impeding their progress and the progress of all students in the classroom. While arrival times remain as they have been previously (8:10 a.m. for Upper School and 8:20 a.m. for Lower School), students will be marked as tardy if they are not present for attendance which will happen consistently across classrooms at 8:15 a.m. in Upper School and 8:25 a.m. in Lower School. Parents will be contacted after a student is tardy 5 times in a semester or 10 times in a year. 

Discipline Procedures

Every summer, Program Heads review data from the school year to ensure the efficacy of our policies and procedures and to make any necessary revisions. Accordingly, we have made some small changes to our discipline procedures—related to the definitions of infractions and the corresponding consequences. While most of the changes were made for clarity and consistency, we encourage your careful review to ensure you are familiar with these important policies. The one larger change you’ll notice is that we added a requirement for students to engage in restorative practices for any infraction at Level 2 or above.

Food Treats in School

Food treats should only be for classroom-wide parties (for example, a holiday party or class-wide celebration organized by Room Parents and/or teachers and advisors) and not for individual children’s birthday celebrations. When these treats are brought in, they should be manageable, easy to distribute, and in their original containers so allergy information can be carefully reviewed.

Drop-in Extended Care

For the most part, Extended Care (e.g., Before and After School care) is offered as either a full week program or 3-day/week program (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). While drop-in care may be available for Lower School and Upper School students, dates are subject to availability and require pre-registration at least 24-hours prior to the start of the program. Unfortunately, Drop-in care is not available for PYC students due to the staffing and ratio requirement for our youngest learners.

Please review and sign the 2025-26 Parent & Student Handbook, which can be found on the "2025-26 Parent & Student Handbook" tile on the MyCompass add** Resources tab, by Friday, August 29.

We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Gratefully,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

I write to you today just after the final graduation practice for our Eighth Grade students followed by a joyful Playground Playdate with our incoming PYC families. It is a time of transition and celebration. We look forward to exciting culminating events during this final week of learning, sharing, and connection. 

As we reflect on and celebrate the school year, I write to share news of retiring faculty and staff. Please join me in celebrating and bidding farewell to Dan Dunsmore, Leslie Edinberg, and Jane Spohn who are retiring as this school year comes to a close. 

St. Anne’s School is immensely grateful for the dedicated service of Dan, Leslie, Jane, and Shannon at St. Anne’s School and wish each of them joy on their new paths. We are lucky to have hired very strong candidates into each of these important positions at the School. As we finalize hiring, I will soon share a complete list of faculty and staff for the 2025-26 school year.

I look forward to continued connections and celebrations in the coming days.

In Connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne's School Families,

This morning I watched and listened in awe alongside parents, students, faculty and staff as our Eighth Grade students spoke passionately about issues that matter to them: food insecurity, equity in education, literacy rates, water quality and wildlife, poverty and sports, sustainable transportation, and more. Students beautifully wove details of their personal experiences into global sustainability issues about which they have come to care deeply. They shared detailed research alongside their recent service work with local organizations, and the morning culminated with their compelling “This I Believe” essays. Through the Capstone Projects, our soon-to-be graduates put learning, service, and purpose in action as confident, capable leaders. And the care, commitment, and empowerment of students driven by our teachers’ behind-the-scenes support was evident. There will be many opportunities for parents to see end-of-year learning and forged friendships on full display as we enter the final two weeks of the school year.

As we head into the holiday weekend, I write with an update. Excitement for our visiting Rwandan teachers waned as longer-than-usual visa processing times at the State Department proved to inhibit a visit this school year. We are hopeful to welcome our Rwandan teacher friends next school year. With that said, we have an excellent relationship with the Rotary Club of Annapolis who recently wrote to me, “I know that the St. Anne’s community is a unique and culturally curious one, and I think that your school might be a wonderful source for host families.” I am therefore passing on the request to host a Rotary International Youth Exchange Student for 3-4 months during the 2025-26 academic year. Students arrive in mid-August, just prior to the start of the academic year. By welcoming a Rotary exchange student into your home, you will:

• Promote international understanding and goodwill
• Share American culture and showcase the unique charm of our Annapolis community
• Forge lasting friendships and create memories that span continents and lifetimes

If interested, please see this flyer for more information. 

I also invite you to join us for a few other end-of-year opportunities for community connection:

• Volunteer Appreciation Brunch: Thursday, May 29 at 8:30am in the Outdoor Learning Commons

Please join us so that we may thank you for all of your support this year. RSVP here by Tuesday, May 27.

• PYC’s Family Fun Day: Friday, May 30 at 10:30am on the PYC Playground

We look forward to celebrating a joyful school year with our youngest learners. PYC parents should RSVP here by the end of day today.

• Eighth Grade Baccalaureate Ceremony: Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30pm at St. Anne’s Church

Please consider joining us at our Eighth Grade Baccalaureate Ceremony. Amidst the backdrop of the beautiful St. Anne’s Parish–from which our school originated–we tie our graduating class to the tradition and legacy of the School through a spiritual and reflective ceremony. No need to RSVP–we hope to see you there!

• Annapolis Pride & Juneteenth Parades: Saturday, May 31 and Saturday, June 21 respectively

We look forward to once again showing our school spirit and participating in both the Annapolis Pride and Juneteenth parades and festivals. We encourage you to join us for one or both events!

In closing, although this month and especially the final weeks of the month can be known as “Maycember” with so many closing highlights, I remind you to maintain routine as much as possible, slow down to really see and hear your children, and make time to connect. Each child has achieved so much, and they are proud. In the end-of-year bustle, be proud in the small moments alongside them.

Wishing you a safe and joyful Memorial Day Weekend!

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

I hope this note finds you and your children rested and rejuvenated following Spring Break. As the darker months of winter come to a close, it’s nice to break routine, slow down, and reconnect with family and friends as we turn the final corner on the 2024-25 school year. As we settle back into routine, I write to you with a reflection as well as some news for the days, weeks, and months ahead. 

A Reflection

In addition to spending quality time with family and friends in Vermont over the break, I was able to dive into a book recently gifted to me: The Gardener and The Carpenter: What the new science of child development tells us about the relationship between parents and children. I will be the first to tell you that I am reflecting on and refining my skills as a parent each and every day. It’s hard work. And while I am aware of best practices with children and adolescents as a 20+ year educator, through practice I know that each unique child requires different strategies on different days and in different stages of life. It takes quite a bit of humility and patience as a parent. That is why this book resonated with me. Dr. Alison Gopnik writes of going beyond the verb of parenting, as if one is a carpenter aiming to produce the best product, to using an old metaphor for understanding parents’ distinct relationship to children: Caring for children is like tending a garden, and being a parent is like being a gardener.

She goes on to write:

From the very beginning, (caring for children) has been a central project for any community of human beings. This is still true. Education, for example, is simply caring for children broadly conceived. The most important rewards of being a parent aren’t your children’s grades or trophies–or even their graduations and weddings. They come from the moment-by-moment physical and psychological joy of being with this particular child, and in that child’s moment-by-moment joy in being with you. Love doesn’t have goals or benchmarks or blueprints, but it does have purpose. The purpose is not to change the people we love, but to give them what they need to thrive. Love’s purpose is not to change our child’s destiny, but to help them shape their own. It isn’t to show them the way, but to help them find a path for themselves, even if the path they take isn’t one we would choose for ourselves, or even one we would choose for them. The purpose of loving children, in particular, is to give those helpless young human beings a rich, stable, safe environment–an environment in which variation, innovation, and novelty can blossom. This is true both from a biological and evolutionary point of view. Loving children doesn’t give them a destination; it gives them sustenance for the journey.

Teachers-in-Residence from Rwanda!

I am very excited to share that we will welcome two teachers-in-residence from the country of Rwanda later this spring! Some of you might recall that we welcomed Rwandan teachers to St. Anne’s School during the spring of 2018 as our Third Grade students studied African countries then developed a business enterprise to sell Rwandan coffee while connecting with students and teachers at APACOPE School in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Mrs. Coker welcomes visiting Rwandan teachers to St. Anne’s School in April 2019 (middle). Third Grade students selling Rwandan coffee at the 2018 Holiday Bazaar after learning about the country of Rwanda and connecting with APACOPE students via video conferencing (left and right).

Then APACOPE Teacher Mr. Emile Muhoza visited St. Anne’s School in February 2020 to teach Chemistry and Environmental Science to Seventh and Eighth Grade students and teach Traditional African Dance to Lower and Middle School students.

Mr. Muhoza with Third Grade (now Seventh Graders), instructing Eighth Grade Environmental Science, and leading a demonstration on Traditional African Dance in February 2020. 

We are fortunate to maintain our global connections. During the summer of 2023, I returned to APACOPE School and New Star Youth Academy in Kigali as well as visited the U.S. Embassy Makerspace where APACOPE teachers lead design and engineering training sessions for the local community. 

Mrs. Coker visits the APACOPE School Makerspace and U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2023 with APACOPE Head of School, School Owner, and Mr. Rugwiro (Director of the TEACH Makerspace Program). 

Rwanda is a leading country when it comes to sustainable environmental practices as well as peace-values education, and we are fortunate to be able to soon welcome two teachers to St. Anne’s School thanks to our partnership with local organization Connect Rwanda. 

Mr. Don D’Eve Mbarushimana Rugwiro and Mr. Asman Habimana are completing their final approvals this week and will arrive at St. Anne’s School later this spring to serve as teachers-in-residence for four weeks. Mr. Rugwiro has served as an English teacher at APACOPE School for the past ten years and more recently has taken over as Director of the TEACH Makerspace Program at APACOPE and the U.S. Embassy in Kigali. Mr. Habimana has served as a Technology Teacher at APACOPE School for the past eight years and also assists with the Makerspace Program. I have been personally connected with these teachers since 2018 when I visited Rwandan schools for the second time. 

While here, Mr. Rugwiro and Mr. Habimana will work closely with Mr. Alfonso in Design and Technology classes to lead and support design thinking and critical and creative problem solving with technology tools. They will also spend some time with our Second Grade students who are studying African countries as well as our Fourth Grade Peacemakers to discuss peace-values education. We are also hopeful they might spend some time in Middle School Social Studies classes. In addition to spending time at St. Anne’s School, Mr. Rugwiro and Mr. Habimana will visit other area schools to expand their reach, understandings, and connections. 

More to come from your child’s teachers and from your children themselves as these exciting plans unfold! Thank you for joining me in welcoming Mr. Rugwiro and Mr. Habimana to St. Anne’s School as we cultivate global connections. 

Personal Invitations

You Belong Here

As the acronym “DEI” and interpretations of implementation efforts are under greater scrutiny in our society, I invite you to a conversation with Director of Equity and Wellness, Nicole Banks, to discuss a vision for peace and belonging at St. Anne’s School and our framework for achieving it. Please join us this Thursday, March 27 at 8:30 a.m. in the Library for this important conversation.

What Though the Odds

After finishing The Gardener and The Carpenter, I dove into a re-reading of Haley Scott DeMaria’s book, What Though the Odds. Having no idea she was a fellow St. Anne’s School parent, I first met Haley as she was the commencement speaker at a local high school graduation ceremony. I was riveted by her story of faith, family, and friendship–a story that ultimately led her to St. Anne’s School as she shared with me in a signed copy of her book in 2021. Whether or not you’ve read her book, please join Haley and me on Thursday, April 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the School for a conversation about her triumphant journey and why she is recognized as one of the greatest athletes and motivators in the history of Notre Dame–and a legend at St. Anne’s School! Should you wish to read her book ahead of the conversation, you may purchase a copy here.

2025 PROM Auction & Gala! 

We have a phenomenal team of volunteers working hard to bring this year’s Auction and Gala to life, and I am pleased to share that tickets are almost sold out! In addition to raising necessary funds for our program, this is the top community connector of the year. Please join us on Saturday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Soaring Timbers. Don’t let prom attire keep you away–jeans, sneakers, or other comfortable attire are acceptable as well as vintage or wear-it-again suits or dresses.

Last year’s Gala was one of the most successful on record, and we look forward to replicating or outdoing its success this year. You’ll soon receive a note announcing this year’s paddle raise, and I am very proud to collectively come together to raise funds for this effort. 

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

Following last week’s State of the School Address during which I shared pertinent resources and data driving our decisions and progress as a school, I write to you today with an update.

Yesterday, Dr. Hadley Moore attended the 2024 NAEP Mathematics and Reading Report Card Town Hall and learned that national scores in Fourth and Eighth Grade reading and math are down again; they still have not rebounded since the pre-pandemic slide began and, in fact, national scores continue to decrease. The scores are worse in reading than they are in math. Concurrently, the New York Times shared yesterday that American Children’s Reading Skills Reach New Lows. This news made me pause and reflect.

You may remember from my State of the School Address two years ago that we saw slight decreases in our Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores in 2022, and we talked about NAEP data then and how scores across the country were down, which we thought was related to pandemic setbacks.

At that time, we didn’t wait to see if it would get better as we emerged from the pandemic or use the national data as a reason to continue with business as usual. Rather, we brought our Kindergarten through Second Grade teachers together to really dig into what might be going on, and we ultimately doubled down on the Science of Reading in 2023.  

And now, as I discussed in this year’s State of the School address, our MAP scores in Third through Eighth Grade show higher achievement and higher growth for both reading and math while national scores continue to decrease. Lending credibility to the hypothesis that our fidelity of implementation with the Science of Reading is driving improvements, this trend is also apparent in the few states that are fully implementing the Science of Reading. Most, including Maryland, have just begun implementation. 

There are two other factors driving decreasing scores: screen time and student absenteeism. 

You heard last week that our new Personal Device Policy, one of the first of its kind in our area and country, is having a measurable impact on student wellbeing, culture, and climate as well as math and reading MAP scores. Since implementing the policy, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade MAP scores have risen in reading and math as compared to the fall of 2023. 

For sustained academic excellence, I ask for your continued partnership not only in helping your children manage their screen time at home but also for getting your students to school regularly. Research shows that instructional time missed, including tardiness, has a real impact not only on the student missing class but also for their classmates. Please, of course, keep children home who are sick but perhaps consider this impact when scheduling vacations and other perceived optional time away. 

Thanks, as always, for your continued partnership and support. I am proud of St. Anne’s School’s dynamism, its use of research-informed approaches to improve student outcomes, and how our Star community rallies behind impactful policy changes.

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

Thank you to each and every one of you who joined us last evening for the 2025 State of the School Address and Reception. It was an exciting and inspiring evening together.

For those of you interested in reading the Brooks article I referenced, here it is.

One teacher approached me to share that he “got chills” as the news about the School’s Endowment was shared–news that inspired resounding applause. Other teachers shared that they were proud to be at St. Anne’s School and excited about the vision for the future. 

At the post-reception, parents echoed this sentiment. 

2025 State of the School Reception

Presently, we’re doing a lot. And we’re really proud of what we’re doing, the results we’re seeing, and the impact we’re making. And we have a clear vision of where we’re going.

As follow-up to the State of the School Address, I share with you three Calls to Action:

The first is to please submit any questions/feedback by responding to this email.

Secondly, please RSVP to upcoming Coffee and Conversations with Program Heads to continue the conversation:

• Program for Young Children: January 29, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
• Lower School: February 6, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
• Middle School: January 30, 2025 at 8:15 a.m.

And finally, I made a number of requests for partnership last night, and I want to connect with those who are eager and willing to partner with the School philanthropically. Please give now or reach out to me for further conversation.

If you were unable to make it last night, you can view the recording of the 2025 State of the School Address on the Resources tab in MyCompass >> add**.

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

During Christmas Chapel today, I spoke of traditions. In sharing a story, The Tale of the Everlasting Lantern, we reflected on traditions as a way to connect to our past, strengthen our community, and provide guidance through challenging times. Just like the lantern’s flame that persists through a blustery Winter Solstice, God’s love and our traditions carry the warmth of shared memories and the promise of continuity. 

This week has been filled with warm connections and traditions. From Friendly Beasts and Winter Concerts to holiday parties and Christmas Chapel, we have celebrated the season of light and love by connecting with and uplifting one another during these special traditions.

This holiday season, I wish you and your loved ones beautiful memories, moments of connection and restoration, and the continuation of soul-lifting traditions. 

On behalf of all faculty and staff at St. Anne’s School, thank you for your support and partnership in 2024. We look forward to a bright 2025!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

In Connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

What a week to celebrate the blessing of connection! I was reminded of this blessing during last week’s Prekindergarten Thankful Feast and Families of Color Friendsgiving, and again yesterday as our Eighth Grade students visited the Annapolis Light House to connect and serve community members in need. The blessing of connection continued at this morning’s celebration of Grandfriends’ Day during which we talked about showing up for students during the most formative years of their lives. Before departing for the long holiday weekend, we again connected over gratitude for family and friends during today’s Thanksgiving Chapel. 

Thank you for cultivating connections with St. Anne’s School.

I wish you all a safe, happy, and joyful Thanksgiving. 

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

St. Anne's School of Annapolis
3112 Arundel on the Bay Road
Annapolis, MD 21403

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

On this Election Eve, I am reminded of the critical role of schools—and values-based independent schools, in particular—in helping to educate the next generation to be active participants in a healthy democracy, where differing perspectives are welcomed and debated respectfully and civilly. In a note to our teachers this morning, I thanked them for so meaningfully diving into civil discourse preparation alongside our Statement on Campus Discourse and Framework for Difficult Conversations, and for their critical role as caring and compassionate educators and facilitators for our students. I thank parents, too, for supporting this important work at home and showing up at our recent Pluralism Potluck to extend community discourse.

We have done a lot of intentional work to get us to this point. If you haven’t yet listened to the recent Satellite podcast episode outlining this work, I encourage you to do so. There are many feelings and emotions surrounding tomorrow’s election. Students are watching and feeling how adults interact with and respond to one another. While students can’t escape this energy and heightened emotion, our job is to continue to provide routine, structure, and a safe learning environment. 

In thinking about community resiliency moving forward, all of us here at St. Anne’s School will continue to lean into our Values of the Heart and Mind through the critical skills of civil and civic discourse. You should also know that both Dr. Moore and Mrs. Banks will be at the ready should students or staff need time and space to process their feelings regarding the election. 

As I noted during a recent Middle School Morning Meeting, we are lucky to live in a country where we have a democracy—where the people choose leaders who care about issues to make the world a better place, and where it is okay to have different beliefs and opinions as well as healthy discussions about those differences. In fact, healthy discourse makes us better. 

Thank you, parents, for your continued trust in the values-based instruction your children receive at St. Anne’s School and for partnering with us as educators to support and uplift one another in the days, weeks, and months ahead. 

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

It is an exciting time for St. Anne’s School. One year ago, School Leadership and the Board of Trustees enthusiastically launched Journey Forward, the 2023-25 Strategic Plan for St. Anne’s School.

We made great progress towards our strategic goals last year, and I am pleased to now share the 2024-25 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) in alignment with the four pillars in the School’s Strategic Plan: Program, Culture, Environment, and Stewardship.

Please find the 2024-25 Annual Operating Plan on the MyCompass Resource Board >>Add***. 

I look forward to sharing further AOP updates and progress with you at the State of the School address on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

With your partnership, we look forward to a joyful, sustainable, and viable future at St. Anne’s School. Let’s journey forward, together.

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne's School Community,

I am thrilled to announce the launch of our new podcast series, The Satellite! Episode 1: Smartphones in School and St. Anne's School's New Smartphone Policy is now available on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts. We hope you will give it a listen and "follow" us on either platform.

The idea for the podcast was developed out of our Parent Education Series and the desire to provide access to the great work our educators are doing in a more accessible format. We look forward to launching future episodes that highlight our educators and students, as well as pertinent topics within the world of Education. 

About The Satellite Podcast: Welcome to The Satellite, a podcast brought to you by St. Anne’s School of Annapolis, a research-informed independent school and home of the Stars! St. Anne’s School is dedicated to educating students through the Wonder Years: two-years-old through Eighth Grade. The Satellite shares reflections, research, and real stories from inside the classroom and in the greater world of Education. Welcome to our orbit!

Recording Episode 1 of The Satellite

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We plan to expand The Satellite to other platforms in the future. For now, if you do not have either a Spotify or Apple Podcasts account, you may listen to the podcast. 

We hope you enjoy the first episode just as much as we enjoyed recording it! A big thank you to Liza Johnson for bringing the podcast to life, to Dr. Hadley Moore and Skip Holmes for joining me as guest speakers for this first episode, and to Rick Alfonso for his technical support on the recording of the podcast. 

Happy listening,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

As we come to the completion of the first full week of the school year, I write to you with important information and an invitation. Heads up: mark your calendar for the evening of Thursday, October 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (childcare with dinner will be provided). 

The late American philosopher and education reformer John Dewey said, “Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife.” The work of educators, especially in values-based independent schools, is critically important as we educate the next generation to be active participants in a healthy democracy where differing perspectives are welcomed and debated respectfully and civilly. In the midst of election season, when our world is seemingly more polarized and divisive than ever, I am reminded of the critical role of schools, and St. Anne’s School in particular, in shaping our future world. The work we collectively do for our children is instrumental for the future.

St. Anne’s School’s slogan is: You Belong Here. Diverse identities and divergent ideologies alongside respectful deliberation, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity make us collectively stronger. But not all behaviors and speech belong here. So, what does that mean? 

In an effort to answer that question, the School has developed a Statement on Campus Discourse  which includes an age-specific Framework for Difficult Conversations. It will take you five to seven minutes to read this document, and I highly encourage you to click on the previous link to review and start an important conversation with your child(ren) in alignment with what they are encountering at school. 

While the statement and framework are new, this thinking is derived from the School’s core Values of the Heart and Mind woven into how we have approached education at St. Anne’s School for many years. As students discuss often in Chapel gatherings, Morning Meetings, and Advisory, the Values of the Heart are: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Kindness. And our Middle School students discuss Values of the Mind, which reflect the portrait of a St. Anne’s School graduate. Our graduates are: Self Aware, Principled, Communicators, and Critical Thinkers. Please review the Statement on Campus Discourse and Framework for Difficult Conversations to see how these values are put into practice at every age and stage. 

Last week, I had an opportunity to participate in a discussion about civil discourse in independent schools with heads of school from around the country at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. The symposium, hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), and the Friends Council on Education was titled: Seeking Civility in Uncivil Times: A Conversation about Schools, Pluralism, and Political Discourse. Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith America and author of the book We Need to Build: Field Notes for a Diverse Democracy, shared the following: “So much of what we see of our nation right now is a battlefield. Diversity is not a battleground; it’s not a melting pot – it is a potluck. Pluralism is a potluck. Pluralistic campuses will foster the bridge-builders our divided nations need. And school leaders need to build a container so that people of diverse identities and ideologies can engage respectfully. You must strengthen the underlying community to uphold values.” 

All faculty and staff engaged in a conversation around our role as educators in a healthy democracy during Teacher Week. We reviewed the Statement on Campus Discourse and Framework for Difficult Conversations, and these foundations have started to guide conversations with students.

We now invite parents to the table.

Please join teachers and school leaders alongside parents from all grade levels for a Pluralism Potluck on Thursday, October 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Childcare with dinner will be provided for those who register. Middle School students are welcome to attend this gathering with their parents. 

Register for the Pluralism Potluck Here

The agenda for the evening will be as follows:

• 6:30 p.m. Arrive to School with an appetizer to share. Water and lemonade will be provided.
• 6:40 p.m. Discussion of Issues-Focused Civil Discourse at St. Anne’s School per partnership with the Close Up Foundation
• 7:00 p.m. Showing of Bring it To The Table
• 7:40 p.m. Review and Discussion of St. Anne’s School Statement on Campus Discourse and Framework for Difficult Conversations
• 8:00 p.m. Q & A and Closing Connections
• 8:30 p.m. Event concludes

The following day, Friday, October 11, school is closed for students, and faculty and staff will engage with PERIL, an applied research lab out of the School of Public Affairs at American University, to continue our research-informed approach to nurturing democratic citizens. 

Thank you for making intentional time, space, and effort to cultivate connections in our School community and for your continued partnership to nurture and mold citizens who govern their lives with confidence, compassion, and integrity. 

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Back-to-School Nights. 

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

And, we’re off! From arrival smiles, hugs, and even some happy tears to emerging comfort and confidence as the day grew, the first day of the 2024-25 school year at St. Anne’s School has been one to remember! As one parent walked away with happy tears in her eyes at drop off, I said of her daughter, “she’s got this, and we’ve got her.” Thank you for sharing and trusting St. Anne’s School with your most precious gifts.

As students settled into their classroom and connected with their teachers and friends old and new, parents mingled with new and familiar faces in the Meditation Garden. These natural connections that began the day were highlighted during our Opening Chapel. After welcoming our new students and teachers and giving special shoutouts to Kindergarten for attending their First All-School Chapel, to Fourth Grade for being the Lower School leaders, to Fifth Grade for entering Middle School, and to our Eighth Grade students for being our School’s leaders, Father Manoj and I grounded the community in this year’s theme: Cultivating Connections. No matter our background or experiences or whether we’ve been at the School one day or twelve years, there is so much on which each of us can connect, and it is very important for us to do so– especially across differences. With many new faces at the School, a smile and openness to connection goes a long way. 

I returned to the front office after Chapel to find a Prekindergarten class excitedly trekking through the School on a bear hunt! I followed their tracks which led me to our Kindergarten students confidently donning their first-day-of-school orange hats; First and Second Grade reviewing Ways We Want To Be, Third Grade discussing Core Values, Fourth Grade engaged in a collective brainstorm about class jobs followed by “Math Browse;” Fifth and Sixth Grade students intently and confidently setting up their binders and lockers, then Seventh and Eighth Grade students enjoying outdoor connection after lunch in the Amphitheatre, Back Field, and Outdoor Learning Commons. Educators talk a lot about going slow to go fast: before diving into academics, we collectively set routines and expectations while empowering students to own their environment and experience, and this was fully evident across the School today. I was most proud to see a more confident and comfortable disposition from our new students than was evident on the first day of Orientation. They’ve got this, and we’ve got them. 

I remain in awe of our extraordinary educators who put forth such care and dedication to set a strong foundation for the 24-25 school year. Teachers are the heart and soul of the School, and through first-day excitement and a few bumps, today they shined. Teachers will be in touch with parents as we settle into the year and will serve as your first line of communication and support. 

We look forward to welcoming the rest of our Program for Young Children students tomorrow and Friday to round out a connected and meaningful start to the school year. Please don’t forget your summer photos for the Summer Connection Board in the front foyer!

I look forward to a year of cultivating connections with you, your children, and the village of adults in this special St. Anne’s School community.

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

As we put finishing touches on classrooms and campus updates as well as an exclamation point on a week of connections and preparations before students return next week, I write to you with exciting news of the launch of St. Anne’s School’s partnership with World Leadership School.

This partnership will consist of three components:

1. Purpose Learning for Students
2. Professional Learning for Educators
3. Student Travel

Background and Context 

St. Anne’s School’s philosophy has long been grounded in a constructivist approach alongside an emphasis on project-based and problem-based learning. This method of teaching and learning begins with our youngest learners through our Reggio-inspired approach: children are protagonists in their learning; teachers are researchers and facilitators; the environment is a teacher; and parents are partners. These tenets of Reggio continue through Lower and Middle School as we focus on the human development of each child alongside connection to others as a foundation to academic challenge and potential. We have embraced an inquiry to action approach for many years, which has traditionally culminated for students with an international field experience in Costa Rica and an impressive and immersive Eighth Grade Capstone Project in which students define their beliefs and values while connecting with the greater community. Over the years, graduates have commented that the Capstone Project and Costa Rica trip have been among their most memorable moments of their time at St. Anne’s School. And not surprisingly, these are some of the most impressive and formative experiences for students as they move on to their best-fit high school and prepare to lead a life of purpose.

As the School evolves and innovates while we hold on to key tenets and values of our program and philosophy, we have been considering how to elevate access to world languages, opportunities for authentic connection with other countries and cultures, global citizenship, and a meaningful global field experience. This is where our partnership with World Leadership School comes into play.

World Leadership School Partnership 

World Leadership School (WLS) believes that schools can and should be the ultimate platform for launching children into lives of purpose. The mission of WLS is to partner with schools to reimagine learning and create next-generation leaders. This is done by taking students out in the world and coaching teachers to bring purpose to learning. Travel and professional learning is a two-engine cycle of increased creativity and connection in schools. 

So, what will this look like at St. Anne’s School?

Purpose and Professional Learning

Purpose learning starts with the belief that each child has a set of unique gifts that the world needs. The primary job of the School is to create a safe and trusting environment so that children can see themselves more clearly and connect to the world. Purpose happens when children connect their inner gifts with outer action. Purpose learning blends thinking, feeling, and doing all at the same time. We have been doing this for many years at St. Anne’s School, and this approach will continue alongside actionable impact learning though our project-based and service learning approach in our Program for Young Children and Lower School.

For many years, we have been proud to offer exposure to world languages and cultures through Spanish starting in Prekindergarten. Spanish instruction and exploration will continue for our Prekindergarten through Fifth Grade students with Mrs. Pattie O’Neill.

World Languages and Cultures

The biggest shifts and opportunities for greater meaning and impact are coming to our Middle School program. For the first time ever, students in Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grades will have voice and choice in world language instruction. Students in Sixth and Seventh grades will be able to choose Spanish or French. Eighth Grade students will be able to choose Spanish, French, or Latin. The new course, World Languages and Cultures, will be facilitated by Ms. Olivia Smith, who is fluent in French and Korean. Students will dive into targeted language immersion via a self-paced interactive online platform which Ms. Smith will administer and track. The most compelling part of the course, however, will be project and problem-based exposure to culture and connections. Using an exploratory inquiry-to-action model, this course will teach students to increase competencies in the target language by improving listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Our goal is for all students to improve language proficiency, embrace creativity, and honor and respect global cultures in a way that is ultimately purpose-driven. Ms. Smith is working closely with educators and experts at World Leadership School to bring purpose learning to life for our students while they build their language proficiency. This course will be graded and recorded on transcripts with the student’s chosen language. Mrs. Karen Davis, Associate Head of School for Innovation and Learning, invites your questions about the World Languages and Cultures course. 

Youth Purpose Summits

Some students who receive services through our Center for Learning will not participate in the World Languages and Cultures course. We have therefore expanded integration of World Leadership School’s purpose learning program into other areas to ensure all St. Anne’s School students have access to associated benefits. For example, components of the program will be discussed in advisory, and, in partnership with the World Leadership School, we are planning Youth Purpose Summits for all students, specifically: 

• Seventh Grade students will engage in an overnight, off-campus Youth Purpose Summit in April 2025.
• Sixth Grade students will engage in an on-campus Youth Purpose Summit in May 2025.

The goals of the Youth Purpose Summit are to:

• deepen human connection by allowing students and teachers to explore gifts and and articulate a deeper individual “why”
• catalyze personal growth by allowing each student to build a purpose map aligned to their specific interests and purpose goals
• expose teachers to new approaches to purpose-driven work with students and deepen faculty vulnerability and authenticity

Student Travel

The School is thrilled to announce the return of the longstanding Costa Rica trip, this year with direct ties to our curriculum, philosophy, and purpose learning. In partnership with World Leadership School, St. Anne’s School will offer a Collaborative Leadership Program in Chilamate, Costa Rica June 20-26, 2025. Current Seventh and Eighth Grade students are invited to participate. Mrs. Coker, Mr. Pazdersky, and Ms. Smith will attend the trip as chaperones and facilitators alongside World Leadership School staff. We anticipate the cost to be $2,500 to $3,000 per student plus airfare depending on the total number of students participating.

The School and World Leadership School will host a Zoom information session for current Seventh and Eighth Grade parents on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. We will answer specific questions as well as offer a more specific timeline for committing to the trip at this time. Mr. Christian Pazdersky, Head of Middle School, invites any pressing questions prior to this meeting.

In 2026, the trip will be offered to rising Eighth Grade students (current Sixth Grade students).  The School continues to consider ways to make the trip financially accessible to all students. 

In the world of education, educators agree that 21st century skills like collaboration and critical thinking are at a higher bar than memorizing content. But the highest bar of all is when students use these skills to make a positive impact on the world. In doing so, students begin to explore purpose. St. Anne’s School is excited to more meaningfully position students to live into their academic and human potential through the enactment of these updates. We look forward to sharing more soon, especially with Middle School students and parents, and look forward to continuing the conversation.

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

Official welcome to the 2024-25 school year! Our extraordinary educators returned to campus today, and there is a feeling of rejuvenation and unbridled energy as we reconnect with one another and imagine possibilities for the new school year.

We are entering the 2024-25 school year with an impressive team of committed educators. In addition to the new faculty introduced in my May communication, I am now pleased to introduce Ms. Victoria Rico as our 5/6 Science Teacher. Ms. Rico is in the final stages of earning her Master’s degree in Science Education. After her time at St. Anne’s School as an Associate Teacher during the 2021-22 school year, Victoria has spent the last three years as an Environmental Education Program Specialist. We are thrilled that she is returning to St. Anne’s School! 

In preparation for Orientation Sessions and the start of school, I share two requests:

1. Read the 2024-25 Parent Handbook and complete the Acknowledgement form in MyCompass add**** (top yellow banner) by Friday, August 30. Please pay careful attention to the following sections where we aim to reiterate policy and/or where important changes have been made:

1. 1. Attendance, specifically the Absence and Tardy policy (p.16-17)
   2. Behavior and Discipline Standards Policy (p.20-36)
   3. Parent Questions and Concerns (p.43)
   4. Center for Learning (p.44)
   5. Technology Policies including the Personal Device Policy (p.35-51)
   6. Statement on Campus Discourse (p.52-53)
   7. Lunches and Snacks, including food delivery services (p.53)
   8. Illness & Contagious Illness including COVID-19 (p. 58)
   9. Counselor Confidentiality (p.68)

2. On your child’s scheduled Orientation/Welcome Meeting/Drop-In Day, please bring a printed photo of your child/family engaging in a moment of joy over the summer. I invite you to affix this photo to the bulletin board in the foyer when you enter the School next week. After sharing summer moments of joy and connection during our Opening Chapel this morning, faculty and staff added their photos to the board. We can’t wait for the joy from the photos and memories to multiply when students arrive next week!

As a community, last year we very much leaned into the idea and feeling of Sustained Joy. Through elation and fleeting happiness as well as difficult challenges, we came to understand the notion of sustained joy through our personal dispositions, practices of gratitude, and by fostering meaningful relationships. To build upon the latter–fostering meaningful relationships–this year we will be focusing on Cultivating Connections.

Recent research and literature explores the decline in the U.S. and in the world when it comes to religious affiliation, community, and civic engagement—all areas that encourage human connection and meaning. St. Anne’s School is perhaps our best chance, and our students’ best chance during their most formative years, to experience authentic human interaction, belonging, democratic deliberation, and connection.

Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has been investigating what makes people flourish. The longest ever study on human happiness found one defining key to a long and happy life: deep relationships. This simple and profound conclusion is that good relationships, when nurtured, lead to health and happiness. 

But we don’t always put our relationships first. Distractions are hard to avoid. As we cultivate connections this year by by prioritizing purpose and service learning, by putting personal devices away with the hope for more face-to-face interactions and deeper teaching and learning, and by connecting with ourselves to be able to more deeply connect with others, I am hopeful that we will all cultivate deeper relationships and their ensuing health and happiness. 

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Families of Color Reception this evening from 5-6:30 p.m. And, please don’t forget to RSVP for the PA-Looza >> from 4-6:00 p.m. this Sunday! We need an approximate headcount to ensure the Parents Association can best plan food and drinks. This is the first time we’re trying an all-school, adults-only gathering prior to the start of the school year. I highly encourage you to make the effort to attend to cultivate meaningful connections as a foundation to a stellar school year.

In partnership and connection,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org

Dear St. Anne’s School Families,

After meaningful community conversations over the past few months and completion of Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, there were many times this summer I intentionally separated from my mobile phone and its incessant dings, pings, and subconscious pull. I hope you, too, have been able to create these moments of undistracted, uninterrupted time. 

I remain grateful to many of you for engaging in conversation with School Leadership over the summer about the implications of external digital media pressures on school and family values as well as student mental health and wellbeing. As discussed, while school policy prohibits use of personal digital devices during the school day, we uncovered that Middle School students, in particular, are finding ways around this if they are bringing devices to school. Studies confirm that when students have access to their phones during the school day, they use them, especially for texting and checking social media, and their grades and learning suffer. Phone use regularly interrupts the learning process and impedes healthy forms of social interaction.  

In consideration of mounting research alongside the wave of decisions across the country to release students from the pull of their smartphones and communication devices during the school day, we are enacting the following policies for the 2024-25 school year. These policies and their enforcement aim to nurture and protect students’ appropriate development and ensure an optimal learning environment at St. Anne’s School.

2024-25 Personal Device Policy

Program for Young Children and Lower School

No personal devices (smartphone, smartwatch, or communication device) are allowed at school for PYC or Lower School (up to Fourth Grade) students. The School provides landlines in the Main Office for student use. Parents should contact the Main Office for messages that need to be relayed to their children.

Middle School

No personal devices (smartphone, smartwatch, or communication device) are allowed at school for Middle School (Fifth through Eighth Grade) students. The School provides landlines in the Main Office for student use. Parents should contact the Main Office for messages that need to be relayed to their children.

The School realizes that some parents might want their Middle School child to have access to a communication device before or after school. We therefore ask every Middle School parent to opt in or opt out of their child bringing a personal communication device to school. To do this, please log in to MyCompass add***, click on the yellow bar at the top of the screen, and note your preference for your child. We ask all Middle School parents to do this by this Friday, August 16. 

Noting your intentions by this Friday, August 16 will allow the School to best plan our phone storage system for students. Parent-approved devices brought to school will be powered off upon arrival and turned in at the Main Office. Devices can be retrieved at the end of the school day. Each device must be clearly and permanently labeled with the owner’s name. 

Enforcement 

Again, the above policy aims to nurture and protect students’ appropriate development and to ensure an optimal learning environment at St. Anne’s School. We will review the policy with students at the beginning of the school year. The policy will be strictly and consistently enforced to achieve the stated outcomes. We appreciate parents also reinforcing the policy and intended outcomes with your children.

Should a student bring a device to school without a parent opting in or if a Middle School student is found with a device during the school day, the device will be taken and a parent will need to come into the School at the conclusion of afternoon carline for device retrieval and a conversation with their child and an administrator. 

Repeated infractions will result in implementation of the Discipline Protocol beginning at Level 2. 

Continuing the Conversation

Again, the Leadership Team reiterates gratitude to many parents for sharing their thoughts and resources with us over the summer. We are eager to continue the conversation around technology and social media best practices and recommendations as we partner with parents to nurture children’s appropriate development and wellbeing. 

*Middle School Parents: Please remember to log in to MyCompass by this Friday to opt your child in or out of bringing a personal communication device to/from school. 

You will soon receive program-specific information, including class lists, from Ms. Griffin and Mr. Pazdersky. Next week, I will share additional communications regarding the updated Parent Handbook which includes this new personal device policy. I also look forward to soon sharing exciting information about our evolving World Languages and Cultures course and accompanying Purpose Learning program in partnership with World Leadership School. 

As summer comes to a close and we look towards an exciting new school year, I thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Sincerely,

Connie Coker
Head of School

(410) 263-8650
stannesschool.org