Reflection, Respect, and Character
At Rectory School, educating the whole child means nurturing not only the mind and body but also the spirit. We believe that spiritual growth helps students develop empathy, gratitude, and a deeper sense of purpose—qualities that guide them throughout life.
Once a month, our entire community gathers for Chapel at Christ Episcopal Church, located just across the road from campus and deeply rooted in Rectory’s history. These services are non-denominational and inclusive, welcoming and respecting students of all faiths and traditions. Each service is thoughtfully tailored by age group, offering messages and moments of reflection that speak meaningfully to where students are in their personal journeys. In this peaceful setting, students and faculty are invited to pray, meditate, or simply sit quietly and reflect.
Together, we recite the Rectory Chapel Covenant, a guiding statement that reminds us to honor and celebrate one another’s unique paths:
We are each on a sacred journey to understand who we are in the context of the wide and wonderful world we share with one another. Though our neighbors’ journeys may, at times, seem different from our own, we honor, respect, and celebrate that each one of us is wonderfully created, each one of us is special, and each person’s journey is, indeed, sacred.
Rooted in our Christian heritage, Rectory continues to embrace a spirit of openness and respect. Students who wish to deepen their personal faith may attend local weekend services across denominations—including Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish—with opportunities to visit other faith communities, such as a Buddhist temple, throughout the year.
Every day at Rectory, we reinforce the importance of character and compassion. Through acts of kindness, community service, and reflection, students learn to recognize the needs of others and to take responsibility for making a positive difference. It’s part of how we help them grow into thoughtful, respectful, and engaged citizens—ready to lead with heart and purpose.