In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Amid a disgruntled parent, a leaking roof, or dismissal traffic, it is easy to lose sight of what brings us joy and purpose as educators. During those moments that lack sunshine and it’s hard to see our light shining, I find myself gravitating towards the classrooms, the cafeteria, the playground, or the chapel—spaces that define the inclusive and nurturing community that is St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School. 

Last week, I had one of those days that added a few more gray hairs. To that end, I began searching for “the light” and found myself walking into a kindergarten religion class. Our Director of Spiritual Formation was teaching the students the story of Noah, a faithful man who invited two of every animal species to join him in the ark. I watched the students imitate the various animal sounds as the teacher pulled out toy horses, cows, and dogs to drive her point home, and marveled as the kids responded, “Come on in!” as Noah once did. Afterwards, the students broke into small groups to participate in a coloring activity related to the lesson. Everyone found a group of friends to sit with except for one student. One of the kindergarten girls looked over and saw her classmate all by himself. She turned to him and said, “Ben, come on in!” inviting him to sit at their table in the same way that Noah had invited the animals onto the ark. While the children learned one of my favorite Bible stories that day, the lesson of inclusivity, empathy, and kindness I gained was much more profound.

Building an inclusive community is not just one way that we honor our Episcopal identity at St. Thomas and “let our light shine”—it is the cornerstone. We create opportunities for our faculty and staff, students, and parents to have a sense of belonging, regardless of their passions and interests. We believe that our different backgrounds and experiences enrich our lives, and it is this inclusivity that makes each member of our community feel valued and integral. Every school has its unique DNA and culture, but at St. Thomas, we have leveraged some of the following initiatives to cultivate the spirit of togetherness and unity among our constituents: 

• Opening Exercises — Three days a week, we gather to honor God and our country during our student-led opening exercises, “Flag”. It is a short ceremony, but an opportunity for our entire community to start their day together in prayer, thus setting the tone and intention for the day. 
• Cultural Celebrations — One of the things we are most proud of at St. Thomas is our diverse community. Whether celebrating Diwali, Lunar New Year or hosting a cultural fair, we ensure everyone has an opportunity to express their individuality in a culturally relevant manner for these special occasions and every day as we support each child’s “light.”
• Tapping into Passions — From golf and tennis tournaments to gardening and outreach, our community leans in to support the school’s various programs, particularly those they are passionate about. At St. Thomas, we create various platforms that tap into their interests to ensure participation. 

Being one of many excellent schools in Miami, St. Thomas’ differentiator has been our vibrant community and how we live into our Episcopal identity and “let our light shine.” The story of Noah’s Ark reminds us of the importance of compassion and the responsibility we all have to care for one another as we recognize every individual’s intrinsic value to our world, honoring each person’s light. We are so fortunate to be part of a school that nourishes our loving, secure, and inclusive community, and mostly, we are grateful for the students who live out our mission statement daily. 

Sarah Kemeness is Head of School at St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School in Coral Gables, FL.