StM News

This morning, our chapel was filled with joy, pride, and a few happy tears as we gathered for the Lower School Awards Chapel—a special time to celebrate the accomplishments of our young Saints in reading, creative expression, and citizenship.

Families, teachers, and students joined together to recognize what makes the St. Martin’s Lower School experience so powerful: the chance for each child to be known, supported, and celebrated for their growth—academically, artistically, and personally.

Honoring a Love of Reading

Our Accelerated Reader Awards shined a spotlight on students who not only met their reading goals, but soared past them—demonstrating a true love of thinking and learning.

Students in Grades 2–4 were recognized for meeting their AR goals each trimester and earning top scores in total points for the year. From 50 points to over 400, these readers explored countless stories, deepened their comprehension, and developed a lifelong habit of curiosity.

These achievements are more than numbers—they reflect our belief that every child deserves to find joy in learning, and that academic growth flourishes when students feel inspired, encouraged, and challenged.

Spotlighting Student Creativity

Next, we honored students who were published in The Lyre, St. Martin’s all-school literary magazine that showcases original writing and artwork from across campus.

Lower School students with poems, stories, essays, or visual art featured in this year’s edition were recognized for their creativity and courage in sharing their voices.

These young authors and artists are living proof of our commitment to nurturing the whole child—empowering them not just to master core subjects, but to express themselves, take creative risks, and celebrate beauty and meaning.

We’re proud that The Lyre bridges divisions across Lower, Middle, and Upper School, showing our youngest Saints that their ideas are valued and their work belongs alongside students many years their senior.

Celebrating Character and Citizenship

At St. Martin’s, we believe academic excellence is equally as important as values like integrity, kindness, and leadership. That’s why this year, the Lower School recognized students in Kindergarten - Third Grade with Citizenship Awards. 

Though fourth grade honorees will be recognized later this week at the Fourth Grade Recognition Ceremony, today we honored students in other grades who consistently model what it means to be a good friend, a responsible classmate, and a caring member of our school community.

In a world that can feel hurried and competitive, these awards reflect something more important: the formation of good humans. Students who are not just successful, but also grounded in purpose and committed to service.

A Year to Remember

As the ceremony closed, Lower School Head Rebecca Lovisa shared heartfelt words of gratitude and pride:

“Your dedication, growth, and hard work have not gone unnoticed, and we are so proud of all that you have accomplished—both in and out of the classroom.”

She also offered special thanks to the parents and caregivers whose partnership fuels so much of what makes this community strong.

We often say that St. Martin’s is a campus of opportunity, where students are encouraged to try everything—to be athletes and artists, readers and leaders, creators and friends. Today’s awards celebration was a powerful reminder of just how brightly our youngest Saints shine when given the space to explore, grow, and thrive.

Congratulations to all our award winners—and to every Lower School student—for a phenomenal year. We can’t wait to see what you do next.