Head's Weekly Message — April 12, 2019
Dear Mayfield Senior School Parents,
It is weeks like this past one when I feel particularly blessed to be part of this beloved Mayfield community. After the most joyful and beautiful prom on Friday evening and the most wonderful and fun alumnae homecoming celebration on Saturday morning I was off to Chicago to join our choir for a festival. As I waited on the tarmac at LAX I checked my text messages one last time before take off and was stunned and devastated to learned that our dear friend, Mayfield father David Sanchez, had died suddenly after hiking in Eaton Canyon. David had been preparing to walk the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route across Northern Spain that ends in the city of Santiago de Compostela, when his kind and wise heart gave out. An important scholar and beloved teacher in the Theology Department of Loyola Marymount University, David’s mentorship was transformative for countless students including our own April Garcez, who studied with him while working on her master’s degree at LMU.
In Chicago, our girls dedicated their performances to the Sanchez family, in particular singing the lovely piece “Weep No More” by David Childs with special sensitivity and grace. Our adjudicator, who knows the composer well, told the girls that he had never heard the piece sung more beautifully. It was a heartfelt tribute.
At school our students organized and led a prayer service for David on Monday morning, and they had further time for reflection and prayer during our Reconciliation Service on Wednesday. I know you are all joining me as we hold Denna, Bella ’19, and Maya ’23 in the Light and send them our deep love and support. David will be laid to rest on Wednesday.
Next week, as we prepare our hearts for the joyful celebration of Easter, we will also be celebrating our Holy Child mission in a very special way. Tomorrow, a visiting team from five Holy Child schools will be arriving to spend several days with us at Mayfield. During this time they will be talking with many members of our school community to learn about how we live and make known Cornelia Connelly’s beautiful vision for educating girls. I want to thank the members of our Mission Effectiveness Committee, led by Ann Pibel and Cathy Cota, who worked with an amazing student committee to prepare for the visit. Please note that school will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday to allow time for the Visiting Committee to read their report to the faculty and staff.
With Love and Gratitude,
Kate Morin
Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.
