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June 6, 2024
Dear St. Andrew’s Families,
The final week of the school year is filled with moments of joy and milestones. Whether it was bestowing individual awards or celebrating a class moving up to a new grade or a new division, the excitement and joy that comes with the end of the year was palpable this week. Tomorrow, we will celebrate Commencement at Washington National Cathedral as 96 seniors will receive their diplomas and officially join the St. Andrew’s alumni community. We are so proud of the enthusiasm, passion, and perseverance they have demonstrated over their St. Andrew’s careers!
Whether attending summer camps or programs, working a summer job or internship, visiting new places, or simply enjoying more time to read and to sleep, I hope each student, parent, and colleague enjoys some well-deserved rest and rejuvenation over the next three months. During the summer, you will receive important periodic communications from St. Andrew’s. In July, administrators will host virtual town halls to share information and answer parent questions about the 2024-2025 school year. The Zoom Town Halls will take place July 8 (US), July 9 (MS), and July 10 (LS) all at 10 a.m.
As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 school year, summer assignments are now ready for students and families to review. New this year, SAPA and St. Andrew’s are partnering with Schoolkidz, a school supplies vendor, to offer families of rising kindergarten through eighth grade students the opportunity to purchase pre-packaged student supply kits. The deadline is June 21, so parents should visit the Lower School supply list page and Middle School supply list page for more information. Upper School supply lists will be available in early July. Individual schedules for our Middle and Upper School students will be mailed out in mid-July and class lists for the Lower School grades will be available in early August.
To ensure that our teachers and administrators continue to provide the most research-informed education possible to our students, we set aside five days for faculty professional development each year. In 2024-25, our faculty and staff will also use these half-days for research and discussion about the school’s strategic vision, programs, and pedagogy, as St. Andrew’s completes a rigorous self-study process in preparation for our ten-year reaccreditation by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS). St. Andrew’s also schedules additional half days for parent-teachers conferences and our Grandparents and Special Friends Day.
There are two important dates for you to circle on your calendar. The first is August 9. That’s the day by which all required health forms and online information must be submitted and uploaded to Magnus Health. Please wait until after June 15 to upload this information. The second is April 21, 2025. In recent years, it has become a St. Andrew’s tradition to ensure that our students have the joy of one Snow Day annually, regardless of whether or not Mother Nature cooperates. Therefore, if we have not had an unscheduled full-day closure (due to weather or other unforeseen circumstance) by March 1, then April 21, 2025 will be a “Make-Up Snow Day” for all PS-12 students. Last year, we were fortunate enough to have a pair of snow days in early January, so we recommend you do not plan on this being a day off until after March 1. You can visit here for a full list of all of next year’s scheduled breaks.
In early July, you will hear from me as well as our Division Heads with details about the town halls and any other important information you might need for the coming school year. Until then, I wish you a restful and joyful summer that allows you and our students to rejuvenate and recharge. Thank you as always for supporting your children and St. Andrew’s so strongly and well. For those of you joining our community this coming year, we can’t wait to see you on campus this fall!
Faithfully,
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