Message from the Head of School

Thank you for your interest in St. George's Collierville, the middle/upper school campus of St. George's Independent School. Having added a new grade every year since we opened our doors in 2002, we marked a major milestone in May 2006 when our first senior class graduated. It has been a remarkable journey, one which continually challenges and rewards me.

In his book Connect, the psychologist Edward Hallowell writes of the critical importance of relationships in human development. Central to his thesis is the idea that human beings are driven by two powerful forces – the desire to achieve and the desire to connect with others. Indeed, today's fast-paced culture, illustrated in part by the pervasiveness and potential anonymity created by technology and multi-tasking, has created conduits toward achievement that can overshadow the need for connectivity between individuals.

Hallowell argues that our changing culture can potentiate an escalating disconnect between people, leading to possible emotional and social distress. To combat this cycle, he cites the home and school as two key areas to enhance connectedness among youth in our culture. Hallowell cites studies that have shown that students who state they feel connected to their school and to their peers have a much healthier developmental profile. Those who claim to be disconnected, conversely, have been shown to fall into a profile characterized by higher degrees of depression and anxiety.

Clearly, schools play a vital role in our society. They are not only the places where young people learn what they must learn to be successful and productive citizens, but they are the places where they learn how to navigate the waters of socialization. During adolescence, students often work through this dynamic with the help of their peers; but, adults, especially teachers, play a pivotal role in this process as well. Schools can be engaging, healthy places where connectivity is fostered and nurtured. Easily, however, schools can become data-driven institutions where teachers teach what they are mandated to teach so that students can learn what they are mandated to learn in an environment of decreasing attention to the importance of human connectivity.

To be a school of connectivity has been, and will continue to be, the pervasive goal of St. George's Collierville. Our ongoing endeavor is to create and sustain a culture where the relationships between students and teachers are strong, healthy, and sharing. Ours is an academic environment where mutuality and respect are highly regarded and visible ramparts to forces that foster disconnect and tension in our larger society. The St. George's curriculum includes an interdisciplinary focus, sharpening the connection between ideas and their mutual influence on different areas of study and the practical world outside of the classroom. Through this process, there is connection between subject matter and critical, analytical thinking skills. St. George's integrates technology into the classroom, fostering connections between the academic work of today and the growing medium of tomorrow. Through an emphasis on character and leadership, St. George's students explore the connection between individual and collective responsibility. Our approach to religious education allows for a connection between each student and their God-given gifts and talents. Through various community service programs, students have the opportunity to connect with members of the surrounding community, including those less fortunate than themselves. In so doing, students learn that all people are connected through our common human bond and that this connection can be strengthened simply by caring, sharing, and acting.

Through a commitment to a holistic approach to education, St. George's Collierville creates connections between the various venues of learning: the classroom, the athletic field, and the chapel. In so doing, St. George's students experience learning that is seamless, relevant, and empowering. I welcome you to St. George's Collierville and invite you to learn more about our "New School of Thought."

Sincerely,

William W. Taylor, Head of School
St. George's Independent School, Collierville