Episcopal Identity

A Spiritual Home

As a member of the Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia, our Episcopal identity is at the core of who we are. Grounded in the Christian tradition as expressed in the Episcopal Church, we honor and celebrate God as the center of life and uphold values of purpose, respect, and compassion for ourselves and others. We are committed to loving and honoring each person as a child of God, and we welcome students and families of all faiths and backgrounds.

Through chapel services, thoughtful religious studies, and a commitment to justice, empathy, and community, we invite students to explore their own spiritual journey while deepening their understanding of the Episcopal tradition.

You don’t have to be Episcopalian—or religious—to belong here. You are valued for who you are.

One of the most important ways we express our Episcopal identity is through our hospitality and inclusion of all students in the religion classroom—Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians, Christians and non-Christians, people of no faith, and students from multi-faith families. We aim for every student to see reflections of themselves and to grow in their understanding and respect for beliefs and perspectives different from their own. Rebecca Cooper, SSSAS Religion Department Chair

Our Episcopal Identity in Action

Being an Episcopal school means:

Honoring every person’s dignity
Welcoming all backgrounds and beliefs
Pursuing goodness and justice
Modeling God’s love and grace
Encouraging critical thinking
Serving God in Christ in all persons
Living out our mission through service, worship, and learning

We are not a school that tells students what to believe. We invite them into thoughtful exploration, grounded in care and respect.

Chapel is the Heartbeat of Our Week

In each division, weekly chapel gatherings in the Episcopal tradition invite students into a shared space of spiritual deepening, peace, reflection, and joy. Many students say chapel is a favorite part of their week—even if they don't come from a religious background.

Examples of special services in chapel include:

Lower School

Middle School

Upper School

Senior Chapel: During their final chapel service, each senior receives the gift of a prayer book and a "word" chosen by the community that shows how we see each of them as a unique and beloved child of God.

Senior Chapel Talks: Many of our chapel services include a sermon given by a senior. This is a cherished tradition that allows seniors to share a personal reflection with their classmates.

Holy Week Service: During Holy Week, through music, scripture, prayers, and art created by our students, we walk through the events of Jesus' last week.

Lessons and Carols: A candlelight service before Christmas break in which students read Advent and Christmas scriptures and sing Christmas hymns.

All-School Gatherings

Upper School Student Vestry: Leading with Purpose

The Vestry is made up of about 20 juniors and seniors who are interested in being part of the Upper School’s worship and faith formation. These students help the chaplains lead worship, and also give the student perspective on how to build up our school’s faith and Episcopal identity (though they need not be Episcopalian). The Vestry meets with the chaplains bi-weekly for lunch and for retreats twice a year to deepen their own faith and to plan for upcoming worship and other religious events.

Chapel is...

...a space for thoughtful stillness.
...a space to experience unconditional welcome.
...a space to experience community.
...a space to experience joy.

What We Teach

Religion classes are academic and thoughtful—never preachy. Students are encouraged to engage at their own comfort level, ask questions, and explore meaning in their own way. There are three core components of our religion curriculum as outlined by the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES): Biblical Studies, World Religions, and Ethics.

Our goals across our three divisions include:

Fostering empathy and understanding

Encouraging respectful discourse

Cultivating moral integrity and leadership

Inspiring curiosity and openness to diverse perspectives

Equipping students with reflective practices for a balanced spiritual life.

Lower School

(Early Saints Age 3– Grade 5):

Godly Play (ES–Grade 3): Students hear sacred stories and respond with wonder, art, and play.
Religions in My Neighborhood (Grades 4–5): Students learn about different faiths and how they’re practiced in our local community.

Middle School

(Grades 6-8):

Sixth Grade: A study of world religions—through classwork, stories, and local field trips. There is an understanding and mindfulness of people in our world with no religious traditions and/or multi-faith families.
Eighth Grade: Ethics and community engagement—students explore what it means to live with integrity and purpose. The class engages scripture more robustly.

Upper School

(Grades 9-12):

Students complete 1.25 religion credits through core classes and electives.
Courses include:

Biblical Studies
Ethics (tenth and twelfth grade)
Electives like Sacred Music and Creative Prayer

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Living Our Values ~ Putting Goodness into Action

Service Learning

Ethical decision-making

From their earliest years through graduation, our students grow as thoughtful, compassionate decision-makers. Through age-appropriate conversations, classroom activities, and guided reflection, they learn to consider different perspectives, express their values, and make choices rooted in respect, justice, and responsibility.

What “goodness” means at SSSAS

We believe the most successful learners are driven by two equally strong desires: to reach their full potential as learners and people, and to make the wider world a better place. For more than 100 years, our students have joyfully and successfully pursued both goals–because, in our intentionally designed program, knowledge and goodness illuminate and empower each other.

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Meet the People Who Make It Meaningful

Our chaplains and religion teachers are more than educators—they’re trusted mentors, compassionate listeners, and a source of wisdom and support for students, families, and faculty alike. They create safe, welcoming spaces where students can reflect, ask big questions, and develop their own understanding of meaning, purpose, and identity. Religion classes are both academically rigorous and deeply human—offering room for exploration without pressure.

Beyond the classroom, our chaplains are part of the fabric of our community. They offer guidance during joyful milestones and challenging moments, and many serve as officiants for weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other sacred occasions in the lives of our Saints.

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FAQ: Faith, Religion, and Curriculum at SSSAS

1. Do students have to be Episcopalian (or Christian) to attend SSSAS?

2. Will my child be required to participate in religious activities?

All students attend chapel and take religion classes, but participation is approached with sensitivity and respect. No student is ever required to profess a certain belief or share anything personal unless they choose to. For those students interested in taking a leadership role, we have an Upper School student Vestry comprised of about 20 juniors and seniors. These students help the chaplains lead worship, and also give the student perspective on how to build up our school’s faith and Episcopal identity (though they need not be Episcopalian). The Lower and Middle Schools also have leadership opportunities at chapels.

3. What is chapel like?

Chapel is once a week on each campus and is a reflective, joyful, and welcoming community gathering. It includes music, scripture readings, student and faculty talks, and moments of prayer and stillness. Many students say chapel is a favorite part of their week—even if they don't come from a religious background. Here is a sample of what a typical week in a Middle School chapel looks like:

Prelude music
Opening Song
Responsive recitation of a psalm
Musical Anthem
Reading of scripture
Chapel Talk
Prayers of the People
Concluding Prayer & Blessing
Closing Song
Newsreel and community announcements

4. How is religion taught in your classes?

Our religion classes are meaningful, academically substantive, and age-appropriate. In Lower School, students explore stories of scripture and community. In Middle and Upper School, they study global religions, ethics, scripture, and spiritual traditions through a lens of lived religion, always encouraging thoughtful reflection and respectful dialogue. We are not a school that tells students what to believe. We invite them into thoughtful exploration, grounded in care and respect.

5. How is the Episcopal faith incorporated into daily school life?

6. Will my child learn about other religions?

7. Is there pressure to share about personal beliefs in class?

8. Who teaches the religion curriculum?

9. How does spiritual life support my child’s personal development?

We hope that the spiritual depth offered at SSSAS will enable our students both to seek clarity about their own beliefs and religions and to honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their own lives. Whether through chapel, advisory conversations, or service learning, students develop their own moral compass, grow in empathy, and learn to reflect on their values—important tools for life in a diverse, complex world.

10. Why an Episcopal School?

Episcopal schools exist not merely to educate, but to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings as creations of a loving, empowering God. Our mission to pursue goodness as well as knowledge is rooted in our faith tradition—and open to all. You do not have to be Christian or religious to belong here. You are valued simply for who you are.

11. What is the Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia (CSDV)?

CSDV is a non-profit organization that operates six Episcopal Church-affiliated schools in Virginia (Christchurch School, St. Catherine's School, St. Christopher's School, St. Margaret's School, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, and Stuart Hall School). These schools are each separately accredited and share a common mission rooted in the Episcopal faith. CSDV was established in 1919 by the Council of the Diocese of Virginia.