While the Saint Stephen’s community was mostly spared from the brunt of Hurricane Ian, our neighbors to the south in Lee and Collier counties weren’t nearly as lucky. The Hurricane left a path of widespread destruction in Southwest Florida that will require long-term recovery efforts. With a desire to do its part to help, the entire SSES community created a series of donation efforts that culminated this week.

The Falcons boys and girls lacrosse programs organized a drive that resulted in a massive amount of donated goods that were sent via truck on Wednesday to a collection center at Riverdale High School in Fort Myers. Thursday was deemed “Superhero Day” on campus and students, faculty, and staff donned their best superhero gear in exchange for a monetary donation. More than $7,500 was collected, which will be given to Episcopal Relief & Development for their support efforts in Southwest Florida, as well as to the recovery drive for our friends at Village School of Naples.

Athletics did its part by adding a home game for the football Falcons on Thursday night against Gateway Charter School of Fort Myers. Gateway has not yet been able to return to campus in the aftermath of the storm, but the game was scheduled to help provide at least a little bit of normalcy for their student-athletes and an opportunity to bring their school community together at an uncertain time. It was a good night all around as the Falcons won a thriller, 31-26, and Saint Stephen’s filled Gateway’s team bus with donated food to take back to Fort Myers with them as they plan to return to school on Oct. 17.

Middle School Latin teacher Tony Haakman has been named the state’s 2022 Latin Teacher of the Year by the Classical Association of Florida. Haakman becomes the third Saint Stephen’s Latin teacher to win this award since the association began naming its honorees in 1981. He follows previous SSES winners Linda Mishkin in 1997 and Geoff Revard in 2006. In addition to his teaching, Haakman – along with Revard – has helped to build Saint Stephen’s into a powerhouse competitor at the annual Florida Junior Classical League (FJCL) state forum. Over the past 17 years, Saint Stephen’s has consistently placed among the Top 10 in the state at the FJCL’s senior level, and the 2019 team brought home the school’s first-ever Florida academic championship. Among the program’s other recent highlights, in 2015, three Saint Stephen’s students qualified to be part of the six-member Team Florida that won the Advanced Certamen National Championship in San Antonio, Texas.

Saint Stephen’s has opened its 52nd school year with record enrollment and unmatched enthusiasm. Students, faculty, and staff representing all grade levels gathered inside Hoagland Arena on Aug. 26 for a rousing opening celebration that included musical performances, the ringing of the opening bell, and plenty of Green & Gold spirit created and led by the varsity cheer squad. It marked the official start of what promises to be an exciting school year that is highlighted by record-breaking enrollment. Nearly 740 students were on campus for opening day, including more than 140 new students who are joining Saint Stephen’s from schools throughout the area, the country, and the world. Despite this rapid growth in the student body, however, Saint Stephen’s has maintained its commitment to small class sizes and the personal interactions that make the school and its culture so special. The student/faculty ratio remains 9:1. The 2022-23 school year also marks the final one for Head of School Dr. Jan Pullen, who will retire after 35 years of service to Saint Stephen’s. Dr. Pullen started at SSES as director of the Lower School in 1988 and was named Head of School in 2003. You can watch some of the highlights from the opening ceremony here

Saint Stephen’s celebrated its 47th graduating class on Saturday, May 21, with a beautiful commencement ceremony at Harvest United Methodist Church in Lakewood Ranch. The 58 seniors collected their diplomas in front of family and friends, and enjoyed an inspirational graduation address from Ms. Elizabeth Djinis, an alumnae of the Class of 2012, graduate of Duke University, and a decorated journalist.

The Class of 2022 will matriculate to 40 different schools in 20 different states and countries. Acceptances included 105 unique institutions and 57-percent of the graduates were accepted to their first and/or second-choice school. The class features a National Merit Scholar and multiple honors college acceptances to universities including Southern California, Ohio State, South Florida, Florida, Xavier and others. Seven graduates are recruited student-athletes who will attend universities to play men’s soccer, men’s tennis, sailing, football, track, and women’s basketball.

The complete matriculation list: American University, Boston University, Bryant University, Carleton College, Duke University, Eckerd College, Elon University, Emory University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida Polytechnic University, Florida State University, Hastings College, Jacksonville University, Lake Forest College, Louisiana State University, Ohio State University, Rice University, Rollins College, Saint Leo University, San Diego State University, Savannah College of Art & Design, State College of Florida, Stockholm School of Economics, University of North Carolina, University of North Georgia, University of Texas, Sewanee University, Trinity College, University of California-San Diego, University of Central Florida, University of Colorado, University of Florida, University of Iowa, University of Mississippi, University of South Florida, University of Southern California, Wofford College.

Following an extensive national search, the Board of Trustees has named Peter Kraft the new Head of School at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. He will officially begin in the role on July 1, 2023, after a one-year leadership transition period common at independent schools.

With more than 25 years experience as a teacher and administrator, Kraft comes to Saint Stephen’s from Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, where he has served as Associate Head of School since 2017. After beginning his career in New England, Kraft moved to Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. in 1995 as a history teacher and coach. He left Peddie as Academic Dean in 2011 to become Associate Head of Academic Affairs at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis, Ind. He also served as Interim Head of School at Park Tudor in 2016-17.

“As I told the community during my visit, Saint Stephen’s values are my own. I believe in scholarship, leadership, service, and integrity,” Kraft said. “To be able to lead a school with which I am so aligned — one that cherishes traditions but also embraces innovation — is truly a blessing.”

A native of Pittsburgh, Penn., Kraft earned a bachelor’s degree in history from The College of William and Mary, a master’s in U.S. history from the University of Virginia, and a master’s in private school leadership from Columbia University Teachers College.

He becomes the sixth Head of School at Saint Stephen’s and succeeds Dr. Janet Pullen, who has been an administrator at SSES since 1988 and has served as its leader since 2003. Pullen will remain in her position throughout the 2022-23 school year while meeting regularly with her successor. Kraft will visit the Saint Stephen’s campus at key times throughout the year to help assist with the transition.

“Peter Kraft is someone who is well-educated, has extensive leadership experience, understands the importance of Episcopal schools, and is an extremely personable man who wants the best for children,” Dr. Pullen said of the selection. “I’m very much looking forward to working with him all next year to help him get Saint Stephen-ized!”

Saint Stephen’s annual Fine Arts Week kicks off on Friday, March 18, with the first performance of the Upper/Middle School musical “Beauty and the Beast” at 7 p.m. in the Falcon Playhouse. Performances will also take place on Saturday, March 19 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 24 at 7 p.m. and Friday, March 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the March 24-25 shows can be purchased online here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/q9N/

The rest of the schedule for Fine Arts Week includes:

Monday, March 21: Lower School work on display in the Campus Center windows, Lower/Intermediate/Middle work on display in the Sunshine Library, Middle School Ensemble/Strings/Band (Palm Courtyard) at 9:35 a.m.; Upper School Alexi Tucker Art Show and Awards (Palm Courtyard) at 5 p.m.; Upper School Masterworks Recital in the Gallery at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22: Middle School concert for sixth grade (Palm Courtyard) at 9 a.m.; Upper School Arts Chapel at 9:35 a.m. including Arts Honor Society induction, Music Honor Society induction, Theater Odyssey plaque presentation

Wednesday, March 23: Third grade watches “Beauty and the Beast” (Falcon Playhouse) at 1:45 p.m.

Thursday, March 24: Intermediate School Lunchtime Concerts (IS Picnic Tables) – sixth grade from 11-11:45 a.m., fourth/fifth grades from 12-12:35 p.m.; “Beauty and the Beast” at 7 p.m.

Friday, March 25: Lower School Flag Friday at 7:45 a.m.; “Beauty and the Beast” at 2 p.m.

Library Director Christina Pommer was honored on March 3 with the highest award given by the Association of Independent School Librarians (AISL) – the Marky Award. It is given annually to an AISL member who has made a significant contribution to the national organization. Pommer has been a leader in AISL for more than a decade and has held multiple roles within the organization, including conference organizer, technology coordinator, president-elect, and president. She currently serves as past president.

At a ceremony announcing the honor, Pommer was noted for, “always being the first to say, ‘We can do this,’ and ‘How can we make it happen?’ She gracefully and resolutely led AISL through the beginning of the pandemic when none of us knew what to expect. One of her biggest accomplishments in a particularly challenging year was the 2021 AISL virtual conference, which she envisioned and wrestled into reality. She has remained an integral part of AISL after her leadership role was complete, and is a consistent and passionate advocate for everything we do.”

The Marky Award was inspired by Mark Hillsamer, the librarian at St. Albans School in Washington D.C. for 36 years. Hillsamer helped to establish AISL in 1987 and fostered its growth for 14 years. The Marky Award has been given annually since 2002. The award itself is a mask from Thailand of a lady who holds her index finger gently to her lips in a familiar “shushing” gesture. A mounted replica is given to the winner to be displayed in his or her library for a year, together with a small unpainted replica of the mask for the honoree to keep.  The honoree is chosen by the past Marky winners.