Letters from the Head of School

Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood

-“Shed a Little Light” by James Taylor

Dear Princeton Academy Family,

In the words of James Taylor, “let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King”. In so doing, we are bound together through a legacy that reminds us that leadership is service, and service is leadership. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life is a testament to this ideal, and the mission of Princeton Academy is inextricably intertwined. 

Dr. King once said that “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” As a school of the Sacred Heart, we are guided by Sacred Heart Goal III, which states that “schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a social awareness which impels to action.” Like Dr. King, soulful love is at the core of our mission.

Dr. King states, “An individual has not started living until [they] can rise above the narrow confines of [their] individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Through Goal III, Criteria 1 and 7, our “educators prepare students to serve the common good in an interdependent world…(and) develop in the students a life-long commitment to service.” A Princeton Academy student grows to be a man for others and a citizen of the world. We think of others before we think of ourselves. We are empathic helpers who live with divine purpose to make our world a better place. This must be our example to the world.

According to Dr. King, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” Through Goal III, Criterion 6, “the school community engages in direct service, advocacy, outreach and partnerships to work for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.” At Princeton Academy, we develop young men to be creative, compassionate, and courageous leaders of a just society. We use our strengths to make others’ lives better, and we stand with moral courage to do what is right and good for others.

Leadership is service. Service is leadership.

What does this look like?

This week we have three members of the Class of 2023 participating in the St. Andrew's Episcopal School #HackBAC. The HackBAC inspires and cultivates genius in young leaders of color who innovate for positive social impact. It is intentionally created as an affinity space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) 8th-12th grade highly motivated students who have demonstrated interest in social justice and those who work in solidarity to advance social justice for these identities. Princeton Academy's three gentlemen scholars will be participating in a multi-day event designed for the ideation and presentation of innovative ideas related to this year's theme, "Innovating to Promote Health Equity in BIPOC Communities by Addressing Social Determinants of Health," and participants will focus on how students from historically marginalized races, cultures, and identities experience their environment in relation to health care and access. This is the second year that Princeton Academy Middle School students have participated in HackBAC, and last year three eighth-grade students finished in second place among a field of high school students.

Leadership is service. Service is leadership.

On Monday, January 16, 2023, Princeton Academy will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by holding our annual MLK Day of Service. Conceived by Tia Bennett P‘22 seven years ago, this vital event is a PASH ritual that brings our community together to serve our sisters and brothers in the spirit of Dr. King. While MLK Day might be a day off from school, it is a day ON to lead and serve. If you cannot make it at 10:00 am on Monday, no worries - we ask that you lead and serve in some way in your locale. As Dr. King says, “everybody can be great because anybody can serve.” This is a call to action. All are welcome. 

This is who we are - leaders who serve, servants who lead. We hear Dr. King’s call and, guided by our mission, let us answer it.