October 1, 2026
LS WIT
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, October 1
The Blessings of the Animals, LS Campus, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 2
Hispanic Heritage Assembly, 8:30 am
Friday, October 9
STEAM Day
LS Dress Down Day!
Monday, October 12
Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day - No School
Wednesday, October 21
Photo makeup day
STEAM DAY DRESS DOWN DAY Please wear blue and white to celebrate the underwater theme on Friday, October 9.
PLAYGROUND USE AFTER SCHOOL DURING EXTENDED DAY
We love seeing our Lower School Saints enjoying the playground after school! To help keep everyone safe, children must be actively supervised by an adult. Supervision from inside a vehicle does not allow for proper safety monitoring. Please plan to sit near your Saint and remain off cell phones while supervising. Your presence and attention help ensure a safe and happy playtime for all. Questions? Please contact Mary Kelley.
We love seeing our Lower School Saints enjoying the playground after school! To help keep everyone safe, children must be actively supervised by an adult. Supervision from inside a vehicle does not allow for proper safety monitoring. Please plan to sit near your Saint and remain off cell phones while supervising. Your presence and attention help ensure a safe and happy playtime for all. Questions? Please contact Mary Kelley.
LS ASSEMBLY
We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special Lower School assembly on Friday, October 2.
We will welcome Los Quetzales Mexican Dance Ensemble, a local folkloric dance group that brings the rich cultural traditions of Mexico to life through traditional dance, music, and colorful regional costumes. During the performance, students will learn about the history and meaning behind the dances while exploring traditions from different regions of Mexico.
We look forward to this joyful opportunity for our students to learn, celebrate, and experience the beauty of Mexican culture together!
PHOTO MAKEUP DAY
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
This photo day is intended for the students and staff members who:
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Were absent during the original photo day
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Or were dissatisfied with their original picture
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Joined your school community after the original photo day
Friendly Reminders:
No purchase is necessary to retake photos!
If a package was purchased, students MUST return their original photo package to the photographer to receive a new package.
Ordering information:
Any parents who have not yet ordered photos can still pre-order their makeups, retakes, or original portraits at: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001418477
After Picture Day:
If parents have any questions about ordering, please contact the Underclass Customer Service Department: www.vosphoto.com/contact-us or call 703 532 0013.
LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS OF COLOR AFFINITY GROUPS
As part of our ES-12 programming, we are pleased to offer affinity groups at the Lower School for our fourth or fifth-grade students who identify as students of color*.
Affinity group meetings are intended for and designed to bring people together who share a common identity or experience. The Lower School lunch bunch model with the Lower School counselor has historically provided an opportunity for students to gather by grade level and gender in support of students’ individual and collective school experience.
We are pleased to present an opportunity for our students to engage in thoughtful dialogue through this affinity group, which is designed to create an adult-supervised safe space where students feel free to share openly and affirm identities. In doing so, it supports student development by fostering self-awareness, confidence, and healthy relationships that promote a more positive, inclusive, and successful school experience for all. Ms. Davis, Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity, and Mr.Joseph, long-time Saints Faculty Member and former LS PE teacher, will serve as lead advisors.
Other LS faculty of color will participate in a recurring cycle. The group will meet approximately once a month for 30 minutes during the fourth and fifth-grade lunch period. The first meeting will be Monday, October 19 at 12:00 pm. The meeting will last for approximately 30 minutes. If your child would like to participate, please complete the participation form by Tuesday, October 13th. Students will not be allowed to participate without parental permission. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Ms. Davis or Mrs.West, Lower School Division Director.
*The National Association of Independent Schools defines a person of color as identifying with one or more of the following Racial/Ethnic Groups: Black/African American, Asian American/South Asian, First Nation/Native American, Latino/Hispanic American, Middle Eastern American, Multiracial American, and Pacific Islander.
SAINTS FUND PARENT PARTICIPATION CHALLENGE
The 6th Annual Parent Participation Challenge is officially underway! Throughout October, our Saints Fund Grade Chairs will be reaching out as we rally for 50% parent participation in support of our incredible faculty, staff, and students. Last year, gifts of all sizes added up to over $571,000 and this year, your support can go even further. Whether you contribute to the 2026-27 Saints Fund or the Gift of a Saints Education, special matching gift challenges throughout the month will double the impact of your donation!
We also can't wait to celebrate our amazing Saints community in person, so please mark your calendar for our Parent Party on Saturday, October 24, from 6:30-8:30 pm (stay tuned for more details soon!). Head over to sssas.org/ppc today to make your gift, leverage the match, and help us kick off the challenge strong!
COMMUNITY JAZZ ROOM SESSIONS CONCERT
We are excited to announce our opening Community Jazz Room Sessions Concert on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 7:00 pm in the Upper School Black Box Theater. Join Us for an Evening of Saxophone Excellence.
We are thrilled to open our Jazz Room concert series with a very special performance by the Jazz Saxophone Ensemble, under the musical direction of Vaughn Ambrose, Performing Arts Chair.
This all-star ensemble brings together some of the metro area's most celebrated saxophonists, joined by a dynamic three-piece rhythm section. The evening's program will feature iconic arrangements inspired by the legendary SuperSax band and the incomparable Benny Carter — NEA Jazz Master and saxophone virtuoso.
Come celebrate the artistry, history, and joy of the saxophone with us. We look forward to seeing you there!
This Concert is Free and Open to all ages! Please click HERE to RSVP
For questions, please contact Vaughn Ambrose at vambrose@sssas.org.
Space is limited, so we ask that you RSVP by Monday, Oct 19, 2026.
Post-concert reception will include refreshments.
Jazz Room Sessions Location: St. Stephens and St. Agnes Upper School Black Box Theater 1000 St. Stephens Rd, Alexandria VA 22304.
REMINDERS
OUR SAINTS COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS
This week, our students participated in community conversations focused on what it means to be a member of our Saints community. During these conversations, we revisited our school character traits of respect, responsibility, compassion, and honesty and talked together about what these traits look like in our classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, throughout the school day, and even during extended day. We also talked about what they do not look like.
We reminded students that everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how we respond when we do. We encouraged students to remember these four steps:
This week, our students participated in community conversations focused on what it means to be a member of our Saints community. During these conversations, we revisited our school character traits of respect, responsibility, compassion, and honesty and talked together about what these traits look like in our classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, throughout the school day, and even during extended day. We also talked about what they do not look like.
We reminded students that everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how we respond when we do. We encouraged students to remember these four steps:
Stop. Own It. Repair It. Learn From It.
When something goes wrong, we want our students to stop the behavior, take responsibility for their choices, work to make things right, and learn from the experience so they can make a different choice next time.
When something goes wrong, we want our students to stop the behavior, take responsibility for their choices, work to make things right, and learn from the experience so they can make a different choice next time.
An equally important part of our conversation was reminding students that we take care of one another in our community. The adults at school care deeply about them and are here to help, guide, and support them. We want every child to know that they can turn to a trusted adult when they have a question, concern, worry, or need help navigating a situation.
We continue to ground these conversations in our Saints Community Agreement:
"I promise to show respect, take responsibility, act with compassion and always be honest."
Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and included. Together, we make our school a safe and happy place to learn and grow.
We invite you to review these ideas with your child and continue the conversation at home. Your partnership helps us reinforce these shared expectations and strengthen the caring community we want for every Saint.
"I promise to show respect, take responsibility, act with compassion and always be honest."
Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and included. Together, we make our school a safe and happy place to learn and grow.
We invite you to review these ideas with your child and continue the conversation at home. Your partnership helps us reinforce these shared expectations and strengthen the caring community we want for every Saint.
LS DRESS CODE
In the Lower School, students will be required to abide by the dress code. As you shop for fall clothing, please keep the information below in mind. Please note that T-shirts are no longer part of the daily dress attire. Here is a link to view some dress code items.
In the Lower School, students will be required to abide by the dress code. As you shop for fall clothing, please keep the information below in mind. Please note that T-shirts are no longer part of the daily dress attire. Here is a link to view some dress code items.
Daily Dress Attire
Students are expected to wear the following:
Students are expected to wear the following:
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Jumpers or skirts in the school’s plaid.
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Collared polo-style dresses in solid red, navy blue, dark green, yellow, or white
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Navy blue or khaki bottoms (shorts, long pants, capri pants, skirts, skorts). Note: Leggings are permitted under skirts but not by themselves unless it is a dress-down day.
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Shoes or sneakers that provide substantial foot support for walking, recess, outdoor play, learning, and physical education classes.
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Sweatshirts (with no logo except “Saints”) or sweaters in solid red, navy blue, dark green, yellow, or white; gray “Saints” sweatshirts are permissible.
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Collared shirts or turtlenecks in solid red, navy blue, dark green, yellow, or white; collared shirts or turtlenecks should not have any logos except for the Saints logo if desired.
Students should not wear:
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Tank tops.
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Flip-flops or slides.
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Athletic shirts, shorts, skirts, or pants.
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Sweatshirts with logos other than “Saints.”
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Skirts or skorts shorter than 4” above the knee.
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Variations of the colors specified i.e. turquoise, pink, light, or lime green.
If a student is not in the dress code, a teacher and/or administrator will connect with the student and family with a reminder of the proper attire for the next school day.
P.E. Attire
Students at every grade level should wear proper shoes for physical education classes including shoes that have laces that tie and that are typically designed for running and active play.
Students at every grade level should wear proper shoes for physical education classes including shoes that have laces that tie and that are typically designed for running and active play.
Dress Down Days
During the school year, some days are designated as “Dress Down” days and students can wear casual attire and not the daily dress attire. Short shorts, short skirts, and tank tops are not permitted at any time. Leggings cannot be worn at any time without clothing covering them.
During the school year, some days are designated as “Dress Down” days and students can wear casual attire and not the daily dress attire. Short shorts, short skirts, and tank tops are not permitted at any time. Leggings cannot be worn at any time without clothing covering them.
Spirit Dress Down Days
During the school year, some days are designated as “Spirit Dress Down” days and students can celebrate our school community and show their Saints spirit. On these days, students may wear official Saints t-shirts and spirit wear, shirts, shorts, or athletic bottoms in Saints colors and clothing connected to a designated theme, such as pajama day, holiday attire, or other festive wear.
During the school year, some days are designated as “Spirit Dress Down” days and students can celebrate our school community and show their Saints spirit. On these days, students may wear official Saints t-shirts and spirit wear, shirts, shorts, or athletic bottoms in Saints colors and clothing connected to a designated theme, such as pajama day, holiday attire, or other festive wear.
Uniforms from Lands' End
When ordering from Lands’ End, be sure to include our Preferred School Number 900026733 to earn 3% back to the school for all qualified uniform purchases. Learn more about uniform options at Lands' End.
When ordering from Lands’ End, be sure to include our Preferred School Number 900026733 to earn 3% back to the school for all qualified uniform purchases. Learn more about uniform options at Lands' End.
School Plaid
All plaid jumpers and skorts can be ordered through our Uniform Tab on our online school store. Helpful hint: if it appears that we are sold out online, please email Kim Speed at kspeed@sssas.org. She will make sure your order will be filled.
All plaid jumpers and skorts can be ordered through our Uniform Tab on our online school store. Helpful hint: if it appears that we are sold out online, please email Kim Speed at kspeed@sssas.org. She will make sure your order will be filled.
We also have our lightly used uniform closet! Email Katherine Carbo, Director of Lower School Admissions, for more details: kcarbo@sssas.org.