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A Message for Advent
The season of Advent, which begins on November 30 and ends Christmas Eve, is contemplative rather than festive. Advent invites us to slow down and reflect on the themes of hope, peace, and love so prominent in the biblical story, particularly the story of Jesus’s birth. We are invited to prepare spiritually over the weeks, which is why we light advent wreath candles in chapel week by week. Hanukkah sounds a similar note of celebrating light in the darkness.
Many religious and spiritual traditions teach that we should respect the dignity of every human being as a kind of inner divine light. We at Campbell Hall center the idea of human dignity in our entire educational approach. It will be hard this year to reflect on that theme without noticing its degradation in the public sphere.
We are witnessing a troubling normalization of rhetoric and policies that directly contradict the call to respect the dignity of every human being. When public figures mainstream antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, and other forms of dehumanization, we cannot remain silent. Our Episcopal identity demands that we speak clearly: hatred in any form has no place in our community, and we will not accept the degradation of any person's inherent worth and dignity. In our classrooms, chapels, and common spaces, we commit to:
Our students are watching how we respond to this moment. They are learning not just from our curriculum, but from our character as a community. Some are testing limits, trying out behaviors they see elsewhere. Let us show them that our values are not negotiable, that human dignity is not a partisan issue, and that we have the courage to uphold what is right.
The work of building a just and compassionate society begins here, in how we treat one another and in the moral foundation we provide our students. In this community built on the heritage of Abrahamic revelation, every person matters. Every person belongs. Every person is beloved. We hope you agree, whether you are religious or not. May we continue to be grounded in these fundamental spiritual truths.
In faith and solidarity,
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Many religious and spiritual traditions teach that we should respect the dignity of every human being as a kind of inner divine light. We at Campbell Hall center the idea of human dignity in our entire educational approach. It will be hard this year to reflect on that theme without noticing its degradation in the public sphere.
We are witnessing a troubling normalization of rhetoric and policies that directly contradict the call to respect the dignity of every human being. When public figures mainstream antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, and other forms of dehumanization, we cannot remain silent. Our Episcopal identity demands that we speak clearly: hatred in any form has no place in our community, and we will not accept the degradation of any person's inherent worth and dignity. In our classrooms, chapels, and common spaces, we commit to:
- Creating a safe space where every student, family member, and colleague knows they are seen, valued, and protected
- Teaching our students to recognize and resist dehumanizing language and ideas, wherever they encounter them
- Modeling the moral courage to stand against injustice, even when—especially when—it has become mainstream
- Grounding our decisions and policies in love, justice, and the radical belief that all people are created in the image of God
Our students are watching how we respond to this moment. They are learning not just from our curriculum, but from our character as a community. Some are testing limits, trying out behaviors they see elsewhere. Let us show them that our values are not negotiable, that human dignity is not a partisan issue, and that we have the courage to uphold what is right.
The work of building a just and compassionate society begins here, in how we treat one another and in the moral foundation we provide our students. In this community built on the heritage of Abrahamic revelation, every person matters. Every person belongs. Every person is beloved. We hope you agree, whether you are religious or not. May we continue to be grounded in these fundamental spiritual truths.
In faith and solidarity,
The Rev. Canon Julian Bull Head of School | Christopher Dennis Associate Head of School | Toya Holiday Director of DEIJ |
Campbell Hall
Campbell Hall is a K-12 independent, Episcopal, gender-inclusive day school. We are a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving, and responsible human beings.
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Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.