Head of School Welcome

Driving up Main Drive, the red doors of Old School and the Gothic tower of the Chapel greet you, yet it is the spectacular view of Second Beach that likely grabs your attention. Yes, St. George’s has a unique and beautiful oceanside campus, but our school is so much more than that.

We often use the word “community” in reference to St. George’s, a word we interpret as more of a charge than a descriptor. Community is purposefully built here each and every day in our classrooms, dorms, and advisories, our studios and stages, our Chapel, and through our clubs and teams. The size of our school — around 400 students — is big enough to provide robust and broad opportunities, yet intimate enough to naturally lend itself to the development of meaningful relationships, both between students and between students and adults. That these relationships are grounded in shared values derived from our Episcopal heritage, Honor Code, diversity vision statement, and mission statement makes our school community that much stronger.

In our classrooms, talented faculty bring learning to life, all organized into interdisciplinary academic departments to help students make connections across the curriculum. Our daily schedule promotes deep learning and a healthy pace of life, contributing to the joyfulness seen about campus. In the afternoons and evenings, these same educators coach our teams and direct extracurricular activities, supporting the holistic development of students. And given our incredible location, with proximity and access to Newport and the resources of Aquidneck Island, it comes as no surprise that a St. George’s education stretches beyond the boundaries of a classroom. We have long been a leader in experiential learning, dating back to the creation of the Geronimo program in 1974. This type of bold thinking about teaching and learning lives on today through the creation of the Connected Learning Department and its numerous experiential programs, including Global Studies, Rogers Scholars, Dragons in Hollywood, the Island Impact Initiative, and Dragons for Civic Action.

St. George’s enrolls students from around the country and around the world, creating an intentional 24/7 learning environment where students gain exposure to and learn from a diversity of perspectives. By living and working alongside peers and adults from different backgrounds and experiences, students develop a deep, enduring respect for others and are held to — and meet — high standards for their character. These are the conditions that create skills and habits that last a lifetime. 

I look forward to welcoming you to the Hilltop, so that you can see firsthand the power of a St. George’s education. 

Sincerely,
Michael Wirtz P’30
Head of School