Head's Weekly Message — April 23, 2021
Dear Mayfield Senior School Parents,
First, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who participated in our amazing Mission-Driven hybrid benefit last Saturday. It was so much fun to see so many friends in person after such a long time. The food—catered by Cynthia Brooks—was fantastic (thank you Cynthia Trepanier Porter ’79), the wine tasting was fascinating and delicious (thank you Emily Osterkamp Murphy ’06), and the performance of our National Anthem was stunning (thank you Clarabelle Sullivan ’21). The virtual tour of the Petersen Museum was also extremely interesting and fun. All of the hard work of our Development Team, led by Lela Diaz, and your wonderful generosity allowed us to exceed our goal. Congratulations and thanks to all!
On Wednesday we celebrated the 51st anniversary of Earth Day with a beautiful prayer service created and led by members of our Campus Ministry Council. Using the theme “Restore our Earth,” we began with a call to action by Pope Francis:
“Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude. Safeguard Creation. Because if we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us! Never forget this!"
Together we were given the opportunity to reflect upon the importance of nature in our own lives and encouraged to find ways to personally help restore and safeguard our planet through “Actions Not Words.”
Also on Wednesday, our students had the chance to vote for their class officers. As always, I was so impressed by the courage and wisdom of your daughters. Congratulations to all the candidates—they are amazing.
Yesterday, I got a real treat when I was invited to observe a freshman Conceptual Physics class. The students explored different types of motion by building Hot Wheels tracks and speeding their tiny cars through loops and jumps. We all learned a great deal while having lots of fun. In-person class with Mr. Abdallah is the BEST!
Finally, I want to update you on our decision about on-campus COVID-19 testing. The Pasadena Public Health Department has been very impressed by our campus safety and health protocols, and with the virus case numbers continuing to decline as vaccination rates increase, we have decided that on-campus testing is not called for at this time. We will continue to re-evaluate this decision as needed, and we thank you for your support and prayers as we continue to stay vigilant.
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.
