children with special needs in surf therapy programs, taught teamwork lessons to kindergartners, and led third graders on a service trip to City Hope, where they discussed poverty and homelessness. In each project, they planned, acted, and reflected. Along the way, they began to see leadership in new ways. Sometimes it means speaking up. Sometimes it means listening. Sometimes it means simply standing beside someone. Our Episcopal tradition reminds us to honor the dignity of every person and to seek peace and justice. But you don’t need to be religious to understand the power of service. When boys act with empathy, reflect honestly, and stretch beyond what’s comfortable for someone else’s benefit, that is sacred ground. One student put it best during a Chapel reflection. He said, “Service isn’t something I do because I have to. It’s something I do because it helps me understand who I am.” That kind of clarity is what we hope for. In a fast-paced world that often rewards self- interest, service learning slows us down. It encourages us to notice, to wonder, and to ask how we might help, not because we have all the answers, but because we care. That, I believe, is one of the most important lessons we can teach. Life feels fullest not when we take, but when we give.
do. We invite them to ask why. Why do some people go hungry? Why is it our responsibility to help? Their questions are encouraged. Their compassion is welcomed. OUR BOYS ARE LEARNING THAT LEADERSHIP ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT BEING OUT FRONT. SOMETIMES, IT’S ABOUT STANDING ALONGSIDE. In the Upper School, their understanding deepens. In Grade 5, they study food insecurity. In Grade 6, immigration. In Grade 7, climate change. In Grade 8, issues like housing and economic disparity. These aren’t abstract topics. The boys meet them head-on through field trips, partnerships with local organizations, and conversations with people doing the work. The Grade 8 capstone project brings it all together. This past year, students mentored younger boys through sports clinics, helped
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Rev. Dr. Timothy J.S. Seamans has served as chaplain at Cathedral School for Boys since 2021. An Episcopal priest, author, and speaker, he brings decades of experience in youth ministry, theology, and education.
2025–2026 RED&GOLD
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