What Is the St. John's Experience?

October 6, 2011 by Steve Harrison

 I continue to be amazed by the energy, resilience, and caring of the St. John’s family.  The literal flooding of our Media Center on opening day elicited a virtual “flood” of human helpers - staff, parents, and friends – to get us through those tough days.  Now we’re once again proud of our beautifully functioning media space!  This spirit of care and willingness to pitch in are themes that I see repeated day after day by faculty, parents, grandparents, and so many others here at St. John’s.  It is just one of the intangibles that enrich our school and create a home-like atmosphere of warmth and acceptance for students, families, and staff alike. 

            One of our Trustees observed recently that families who come to St. John’s do so because they want the best possible educational and nurturing experiences for their children.  The decision isn’t made for reasons of prestige like some for schools, it’s not because we’re the least expensive option, and it’s not even because of the beauty and convenient location of our campus.  Families choose St. John’s for the unmatched and intangible quality of the overall experience here.  Children receive heaping plates of exceptional care, concern, and fun along with the healthiest, “Grade-A” educational entrees, topped off with the rich sweetness of solid spiritual grounding and faith formation – all in a warm, comfortable home of safety and respect.

            I’ve had people try to describe their experience at St. John’s, especially alumni and their families, and while their faces light up, they often are at a loss for words.  They remember the “feel” of the experience, much like one fondly remembers the flood of  wonderful Christmas smells and tastes from the past, but they find it hard to put into words.  The best I’ve heard was when one young man piped up, “It just feels like I’m home!”

            That’s what amazes me about the St. John’s experience – we come from a lot of different places and backgrounds, cultures and experiences, but we all come to feel that this is our family’s home.  And really that’s what we all want for our children – the best educational start we can give them in life from a foundation that feels just like home.