Head of School’s Notebook: Service in Spirit

December 20, 2024

As we head into the final days of the year where giving and receiving gifts is central to many cultural practices, I find myself reflecting on the adage, “It is better to give than receive.”

Here at Cate, our ethos of servons codifies our shared belief that life is made meaningful through regular and generous acts of service. What distinguishes Cate is how spirit and service are bound together by a fundamental belief that we are each part of a whole and therefore, mutually responsible for the thriving of the people and places in our lives. In this web of interconnectedness, we feel the joys and sorrorws of each other and believe that true service comes from a place of mutual belonging rather than obligation.

Here are some examples of where I see the spirit of servons alive each day at Cate and beyond.

Growing up, together: Our youngest learners who attend our Early Learning Center get to live, learn, and play alongside our students and their teachers (many of whom are their parents). Despite being small, these children serve us by consistently embodying a genuine sense of wonder, unconditional love for each other, and endless hunger for learning through play. In return, we delight in them as we share our own gifts and talents – in this case on the basketball court!

Leading together: This past week, I hosted our student-run Women’s Forum at Mesa House for a fireside chat where we discussed the opportunities and challenges female leaders face. While I hope my own story served as inspiration, in reality, these young women gave me an even greater gift of hope as I saw in them the courage and conviction I only found as an adult. It felt meaningful to be gathered under the portrait of Katharine Cate who herself was a visionary and pioneer.

Thriving, together: Whenever I visit Lucky Llama, I take time to read the Coastal View News. As you can imagine, I was delighted to see this article featuring Dean of Academics Annalee Salcedo who recently joined the Carpinteria Arts Center board. I love this arts center for the ways it serves the Carpinteria community by celebrating the arts as a means to connect us to each other and to the values of the Carpinteria community, where the joyful celebration of life, beauty, and play is central. Like our students, Annalee has made it a priority to devote time to serving in our community ensuring this community resource continues to thrive.

Teaming, together: This fall, a serious wildfire burned in Ventura county where many Cate community members live. We are all too familiar with the powerful destruction these fires can bring, including feelings of helplessness. During this time, I saw hundreds of firetrucks from all over California and neighboring states in our area to help serve alongside local firefighters. Like a healthy immune system, this immediate and powerful response provided the resources to combat and extinguish both the fire and the fear. We are so grateful.

Playing together: Our football team distinguished themselves as a formidable opponent this fall; however, underneath the fierce facade lived a team culture defined by gratitude, positivity, and service. I snapped this picture during assembly as the team sang happy birthday to Athletic Director Wade Ransom. I loved seeing the joy and connection between these players as I believe the secret ingredient to the strongest teams isn’t force but reverence.

Dining together: Formal dinner is a long-standing treasured tradition where we gather for a seated meal. Students take turns working as servers where they carry heavy trays, refill water glasses, and help clean and clear the table. While we appreciate these physical acts of service, what’s even more meaningful is the attitude our student servers bring, where warmth, hospitality, and graciousness are infused in their work that helps us all feel at home with each other.

Discovering, together: We take seriously the privilege of living close to a rich marine environment and are constantly getting students into our Yukons to learn and play in and around the ocean. We know and believe that when we feel a strong connection to a natural environment, there are incredible gifts the environment gives to us including immediate and long-lasting health benefits, a sense of awe and wonder, and a rich natural laboratory. What’s even more powerful, however, is the sense of ownership we then feel to protect these sacred natural spaces in return. A natural cycle of service!

Contributing together: We have a long-standing Los Niños school trip where Cate students live, work, and serve the greater Mexicali community. Students return from this trip energized despite the long hours on the road and constant daily activity. Each student talks about how powerful it feels to be of service to something outside of themselves and their daily lives. I am proud that these trips are a highly sought-after opportunity where authentic engagement drives student participation rather than a sense of obligation.