STC HOMEPAGE | STC ALUMNI | ALUMNI CALENDAR

A Note from Headmaster Mason Lecky

Saints Alumni, I hope you had a restful and invigorating summer. With students, faculty, and staff back on campus, there’s a palpable sense of excitement in the air. We hope to see you at some of our fall events, including Homecoming Weekend on October 6 and 7, and our inaugural Great Saints Alumni Dinner on November 3.

Today I am pleased to provide an update on one commitment called for in our strategic plan, Momentum 2025. More than a year ago we charged a group of faculty and staff, led by Dr. Kim Hudson, to craft a set of Schoolwide Core Values. After months of good and thoughtful work, the group settled on a concept that was both in line with the charge but also uniquely St. Christopher’s–a new set of Community Pillars. I am pleased to present those Community Pillars to you here, along with a purpose and description for each of them. As you will see, there is nothing truly “new” about the values and tenets expressed here; what is new is our cohesive and community-wide expression of them in a concise and hopefully impactful manner.

Honor & Integrity

Saints strive to be honest, kind, and compassionate, choosing the hard right over the easy wrong. We care most about developing young men who possess honor and integrity.

Pursuit of Excellence

Saints strive to do their best in every endeavor. We value hard work and perseverance both inside and outside the classroom, focusing on process more than outcome.

Community & Brotherhood

Saints strive to understand and act upon the notion that we are part of something larger than ourselves. We value leadership, service, and the lifelong relationships that are formed in our community.

If you have been on campus recently, you may already have seen these Pillars on display on new banners atop campus light posts. They will also soon appear in prominent locations inside key campus buildings. More importantly, they will be actively inculcated into the daily vernacular and lessons we teach our boys.

I would also invite you to read my recent state-of-the-school update, in which I shared thoughts on the state of boys, boys’ wellness, and boys’ schools. You may have seen media coverage lately suggesting that boys and men around the world, but particularly in the United States, are struggling in the 2020s in several key performance and wellness areas. I believe that St. Christopher’s has a leadership opportunity and obligation to help frame these topics and to offer constructive solutions. Your St. Christopher’s School is endeavoring to make school engaging and transformative for the 1,000 boys we are privileged to serve, thereby addressing the very challenges facing boys and men today.

Thank you for your continued commitment to your alma mater, and I hope to see you on campus soon.

Go Saints!

Yours,

Mason Lecky

Headmaster

Alumni Highlights

Walking in the Footsteps of History

Alumni Tommy Dew ’85 and Tim Rose ’05 may have some years between them, but one thing unites the two: a passion for sharing history with others. Both Saints alumni found their callings leading walking tours in historic cities, where they put a spotlight on the history beneath our feet.

Rose (pictured left) started his company in May of this year, leaving behind a career in banking. “My wife and I live in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. I live eight and a half miles from Mount Vernon, and George Washington’s footprints are all over the city,” said Rose. “So many significant events have happened here, so I started doing more research and realized that there’s a lot of rich history here. It’s a very walkable city, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to build a company that offered high-quality history tours.”

Dew (pictured right), after graduating from college in Charleston and needing a job, found his way into tourism by driving carriages in the historic downtown district. “I realized I loved it. It suited me. I loved public speaking and moved from one stage to another,” he said. Dew started his own history tour company in 1997 and has been doing them ever since. “The historic district is incredible. We’re a peninsula city. It’s only five square miles, but we have more old buildings than any other city in the country,” Dew said.

Both Saints trace a direct line from their careers in history tourism to their days as StC students. “Growing up in Richmond, near Jamestown, Williamsburg, I grew up just so steeped in history,” Dew said. “I remember my teachers at St. Christopher’s, like Ron Smith and Mr. Squires. They were all just so demanding. Without question, one of the keys to my success is what they taught me about editing and public speaking,” he said.

Rose caught the history bug early on at StC and credits the ancient history classes of Dr. Boese as an early inspiration and influence. “I really appreciated his classes, and also Mr. Dickinson’s classes,” said Rose.

What’s the best thing about their jobs? Both point to working outside, connecting with people and sharing their passion for history with others. “I’ve never had a bad day at work,” Dew said. “I’m so fortunate to do what I do.”

Faculty Spotlight: Taylor Knight ’10

After earning a B.S. from Duke University and an M.B.A from William & Mary, Taylor Knight ’10 returned to his hometown of Richmond to pursue a career in finance. Little did he know he would ultimately find his calling as a teacher, volunteer for the Peace Corps in Lesotho and return to StC this year as an Upper School math teacher.

What’s it like to be a former student and now a teacher at StC?

I’m familiar with the campus and the classrooms, and I know what it’s like to be a student here and take an English class with Mr. Wood or science with Mr. McGuire. I still remember what that was like. I have that perspective, and it gives me a level of comfort and a way of connecting with my students. It’s also great being back in Richmond. The city’s changed so much, which is nice because I see the city through a whole new lens.

Where do you find your inspiration as an educator?

After I left Duke, I went into finance. I didn’t find the work fulfilling, though, and I decided to join the Peace Corps. I taught math in Lesotho, and some of my students hiked for miles to get to school. Maybe they didn’t eat breakfast that morning, maybe their clothes weren’t as nice as other people’s. But they were still so eager to learn. If they were willing to walk miles to hear me talk in a classroom, I want to meet them where they are. Their dedication level raised mine.

What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

When I see a student struggling, but then something clicks. That’s what keeps me going.

Favorite StC memory?

I came to StC in the ninth grade, and it was so new to me. What really stands out is how much I appreciated the free periods because they taught me how to manage my time and how to be an adult. That’s not something that happens in college. My time here helped me learn how to structure my time.

Favorite Dining Hall dish?

Biscuits and Gravy and fried potatoes! If I have that in the morning, I’m ready to go.

Campus News

All-School Opening Service

Saints of all ages gathered on the Terraces for the All-School Opening Service in early September. Per tradition, our seniors walked the kindergarten boys across St. Christopher’s Road to participate in the event. Watch the service here.

New Campus Improvements

Click here to check out a few highlights of our new campus improvements. They include new campus flags, the completed Community Pavilion, a renovated dining hall servery and more.

Request for Class Notes

Saints alumni, share your fun life updates! Got married or have a new addition to the family? Written a book, caught up with a fellow Saint or won a championship?

We love hearing from our alumni. Send us your news to include in the Class Notes section of StC Magazine by contacting Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Jen Scallon.