Marine Science students Merrit Kennedy, Sofia Rojas, Matthew Vatland and Reid Durham traveled to local senior community Vista Gardens this week to speak with the Conservation Club about their lagoon studies and partnership with the Indian River Lagoon Council. Their presentation sparked a lively discussion about the Indian River Lagoon, the future of the environment and how Mrs. Nelson's class has influenced their passion for environmental stewardship. Sofia Rojas specifically talked about her unique experience as a Tennessee "transplant" and how she would have never developed such an appreciation and understanding of this vital ecosystem without the field work and lab studies in the classroom. Thank you to Mrs. Nelson and the marine science team for keeping the conversation going beyond the limits of our campus.

Congratulations to Athena Collaros, Madison Dube (in absentia), Ivy Engel, Valentina Henriquez (in absentia), Brody Kreiger, Nicholas Leal, Alex Mira (in absentia), Isabella Peter (in absentia) and Ariel Sochaczevski, who were recently honored in the recent Thespian Induction Ceremony presented by Mr. and Mrs. Baker along with student leaders Savannah Brown '25 and Sophia Cetrulo '26.

To earn this honor, students must either participate in International Thespian Society competitions or contribute to both school theatre productions within the academic year. These dedicated individuals excelled in a variety of roles on stage, behind the scenes, in the tech booth or in set design and construction, showcasing their passion and commitment to the performing arts. The ceremony featured a heartwarming photo presentation, followed by a festive luncheon in honor of their achievements. Bravo to our newest SES Thespians!

ABC Day kicked off with a convoy like no other! Seniors rolled in riding golf carts, UTVs, boats and even a Barker Air Conditioning truck, because when it’s Anything But Cars, creativity takes the wheel. Laughter echoed through the front circle as the waterworks began, drenching everyone brave enough to be nearby. From middle schoolers to unsuspecting faculty and even the Head of the Upper School, no one was safe! Stay tuned for a full album of professional photos, and in the meantime, check out a few highlights from the morning here.

AP environmental science and ecology honors students explored the Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades system to directly observe the ecological interactions, environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts they study in classes. Opportunities to experience conservation areas like this provide a strong knowledge base and connection to the natural world, fostering environmental stewardship, critical thinking and informed decision making.

This afternoon, nine seniors, plus one in absentia, were inducted into the Saint Edward’s School Chapter of the Cum Laude Society. This prestigious society honors academic excellence in secondary schools and upholds the values of excellence (Areté), justice (Diké) and honor (Timé). The ceremony began with a warm welcome from the chapter’s secretary, Academic Dean and Co-Director of College Counseling Mrs. Sternberg, followed by an inspiring keynote address by Faithful Leadership teacher and Saint Edward’s alumna, Mrs. Tori Barnett ’00.

Afterward, Augie Barreirinhas, Noah Hernandez, Addison Logemann, Sienna Mallon, Max Plotkin, Conor Powell (in absentia), Sommer Soderman, Grace Starr Griffeth, Ava Steinfurth and Jay Sullivan were officially welcomed into the society by the chapter's president, Upper School Dean Mrs. Padgett, and celebrated for their exceptional academic achievements. To close the ceremony, inductees Augie, Grace and Addison performed a beautiful rendition of Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay, and Father Barrett offered a heartfelt benediction.

Please click here for an album of photos, and click here to rewatch the ceremony. Please note that the volume is low, so you may need to turn it up to hear clearly.

Marine science honors students spent the day sampling the lagoon from top to bottom as part of their lagoon research project. Seagrasses, algae, mud, fishes, invertebrates and water chemistry were investigated with time during the lunch break for a bit of football and soaking up the sun.

Seniors Sadie Howarth, Sienna Mallon, Jay Sullivan, Sofia Corominas de Wit, Conor Powell, Augie Barreirinhas, Gaby Collazo and Isa Argote were inducted this week into history honor society Rho Kappa. The recognition represents years of hard work and dedication to independent study in humanities. Each student had a moment to talk about their passion for social studies and the teachers who influenced them. Each student received a purple rope that will be worn at graduation. The ceremony was topped off by a delicious, celebratory cake with teachers and parents.

Seventh graders Stella Morris, Audrey Elliott and Sloane Moylan with their own unique pottery designs.

Ms. Esposito's US choir class was honored to welcome Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, as a guest to their class last Friday. With extensive experience in choral conducting and performance, Dr. Craig brought his expertise to a dynamic workshop on the song Ride On King Jesus. He worked closely with students on vocal placement, tone and song interpretation, offering insightful feedback and guidance that deepened their understanding and elevated their performance.

As Taylor Swift would say, "Are You... Ready for It?" Summer 2025 will be here before you know it, and JRA is getting ready to celebrate 50 years of Water Camp with you! Whether your little one dreams of swashbuckling adventures and creative explorations, or your high schooler is prepping for their college journey, JRA has the perfect camp to make any student's summer unforgettable.

Click here to learn more and register today!

Seventh-grade students visited the Indian River State College Performance Center last Friday, where they experienced a live production of Agatha Christie's classic mystery, Murder on the Orient Express. The captivating performance kept everyone intrigued and entertained. Students thoroughly enjoyed the show, appreciating the engaging storyline and remarkable acting. It was an excellent opportunity and a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Students are reading The Pearl as part of the sixth-grade English curriculum, so we examined oysters in Science Lab this week. Sadly, none of the oysters contained a pearl, but students had a lot of fun dissecting oysters and learning about the importance of oyster reefs in the Indian River Lagoon.

AP Art students have curated a selection of their portfolio pieces for display on the gallery wall in the Peter B. Benedict Library. Click the headline for an exclusive preview of the installation and artwork. The exhibit will be on view through March 31, and we invite you to a special closing reception on Friday, March 28, from 5 to 6 p.m. Join us in and around the library for an evening of art, coffee and live music. We look forward to seeing you there!

On Saturday, Feb 1st, the following mathletes attended the statewide Mu Alpha Theta competition at King High School in Tampa: freshman Alexander Wolek (Algebra 2), sophomore Rosalie Miller (Precalculus), junior Reese Fox (Precalculus), freshman James Peponis (Calculus) and senior Sienna Mallon (Calculus).

On Saturday, Feb 15th, the following mathletes attended the February regional competition at Olympia High School in Orlando: freshman Nahlia Hebig (Precalculus), sophomore Rosalie Miller (Precalculus), and junior Matthew Stern (Calculus). Barely missing a top-10 award, Rosalie finished with a 13th place (out of 42 students) in her division's individual test, and teammate Nahlia finished 23rd. In the Calculus individual, Matthew finished 46th out of 92 students. Competing in the team round against other Precalculus teams that had up to 4 members, Rosalie and Nahlia earned the 4th best team score out of 11 teams.

The following mathletes will be attending the April 4th-5th State Convention in Orlando: Alexander Wolek (9th), Nahlia Hebig (9th), James Peponis (9th), Rosalie Miller (10th), Matthew Stern (11th), and Conor Powell (12th). They will be spending the month of March preparing for the various competitions that occur during the 2 days such as the Team Bowls, Topic Tests, Gemini, Relay, Hustle, Ciphering, Trivia Game, Integration Bee, Speed Math, Mental Math, and Poster Competition. Let's wish our Pirates luck in the various events!

US Art Students visited the VBMA on February 21 and 27 to see the French Moderns exhibit.

Ecology honors students spent the day boating, exploring and learning about the largest river restoration project in the world at the FAU Kissimmee River Field Lab. Students investigated the water quality, vegetation, fishes, invertebrates and bird species to document the potential return of native terrestrial and aquatic species to the newly restored system.

The curtain rises on chaos on Friday in the Waxlax Center for the Performing Arts! Everything that can go wrong will go wrong in The Play That Goes Wrong, a full-blown theatrical disaster (on purpose!), packed with hilarious mishaps, missed cues and complete mayhem. Our Theatre Department is pulling out all the stops to make sure everything falls apart flawlessly. Don’t miss the madness, purchase your tickets now for the February 28 and March 1 performances!

Tonight kicks off the 33rd Annual Trunk Show! Start your weekend with a girls' night out at the Sip & Shop Party from 6 - 8 p.m. Online sales have closed, but tickets are still available at the door.

If your evening is already booked, you can grab a friend and stroll the booths for unique treasures on Saturday or Sunday. General admission shopping takes place on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. If you'd rather lend a helping hand, there are still volunteer positions open on iVolunteer. Just click here and choose the second or third tabs at the top to view the available time slots.

Get ready for a weekend to remember! All proceeds from this event directly support our School, helping fund initiatives from trips and student events to programming resources and classroom furniture. Thank you for being part of this incredible tradition. Happy shopping!

Written by Peyton Bittle '30.

Sixth and seventh graders attended the Indian River Regional Envirothon competition on Wednesday, February 19. The students competed in various Environmental Science categories and often competed against much older students. They did an outstanding job and showcased their knowledge. Way to go Pirates!

There are so many ways to participate in the PA's biggest annual fundraiser! *All proceeds from this event directly support our teachers, coaches and programs - enhancing the student experience in so many ways!

1) Have a girls' night out at the Friday Night Sip & Shop Party
SIP & SHOP PARTY
Friday, February 21, 2025: 6 - 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online until Friday noon, then they can be purchased at the door.

2) Grab a friend and stroll the booths for unique treasures on Saturday or Sunday
GENERAL ADMISSION SHOPPING
Saturday, February 22, 2025:
Trunk Show, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, February 23, 2025:
Trunk Show, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
*General admission on Saturday and Sunday is included with Kick-off Party tickets or pay $5 at the door.

Click here to add this event to your iPhone calendar.
Click here to add this event to your Google calendar.

We're not making any jokes here, the name of the spring play really is The Play That Goes Wrong. Our Theatre Department is working hard to prepare a special murder mystery performance, that may or may not encounter a few mishaps along the way. Purchase your tickets now for the February 28 and March 1 show dates.

Last year’s trunk show volunteers had a balloon blast, and this year, we need YOU to help make the magic happen again! Whether you’re ready to bounce in for setup, be part of the action or wrap up the event, there’s a spot for everyone. Sign up today to volunteer at the 33rd Annual Trunk Show from Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February 23 - you'll have fun and help a great cause!

Better yet, this year we are happy to offer FREE CHILDCARE in the Lower School for our volunteers on Saturday. Please note that this benefit is for Trunk Show volunteers only, and the care covers only the hours that you are donating to the School on SATURDAY. Here's how it will work:

1. Sign up on iVolunteer (chose the second tab at the top to view Saturday's time slots).

Don't forget to get a sneak peek of the fabulous vendors on Instagram @steds.trunkshow.verobeach and learn more about the weekend-long event by visiting the Parents Association Trunk Show page.

Students in sixth-grade science have been learning about astronomy and all of the objects in our solar system. To make the topic of astronomy even more hands-on, students built their own model rockets using simple materials like paper towel tubes, cardboard and plastic easter eggs. We launched our rockets outside to see how high they would go and to see which rocket had the longest flight time. Congratulations to Camden and Finn on a perfect launch with the longest flight time! It was a fun way to connect our studies of space with real-world applications. Everyone had a blast!

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, established in 1923, is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. The artwork was reviewed and recognized by a panel of creative professionals, and awarded for its outstanding merit in originality, skill and the emergence of a personal voice and vision.

Four of our Saint Edward's art students have won Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the 2025 Competition: Maia Wallace '26 won a Gold Key in Printmaking for her Cat Blues, Antonio Torres '28 won a Silver Key for his drawing, Mi Madre, Maria, Max Plotkin '25 won an Honorable Mention for his digital artwork, The Pearl, and Jack Engel '25 won a Gold Key in Film & Animation for his film Vanished. There were thousands of entries in the "Region-at-Large South Art" level. Gold Keys will go on to compete at the National Level. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to three of our US students have won awards in the Lagoonapalooza Art & Poetry Contest. Mia Perez '28 won first place for her manatee poster, Bruno Barreirinhas '26 won second place for his "Save the Lagoon" poster and Jack Engel '25 won first place in special categories for his video. We are so proud of their incredible talent and dedication to conservation!

All college-bound students and families of Indian River County,
 
You are invited to College Night with the Deans on Monday, January 27, at 7 p.m. in the Waxlax Center for the Performing Arts. Our panelists will join us from Wake Forest, FAU, Ohio State and Sewanee. These institutions represent a variety of in-state and out-of-state private and public schools, to give you the opportunity to learn about different admissions programs. The admissions leaders will sit on a panel and will then open the floor for questions. Please come prepared with questions written down.
 
We would like to see everyone attend - this event is free and open to the public! Click here to add this event to your calendar.

Monday was a day of stories and smiles at Senior Buddies' Reading Day! Seniors and their first-grade pals shared books, treats and laughter in the lower school courtyard. From blankets to benches, every corner was filled with friendship and fun. Please click on the headline for a few photo highlights.

This past December, Saint Edward's School alumni, as well as a few dads, came together to participate in the third annual mens alumni lacrosse game on campus. The event featured graduates who spanned several decades from the 90's through 2024.  Spectators loved the Kona-Ice and snacks while watching the teams square off on a shortened field with fewer face-offs, making for a fast-paced match enjoyed by all in the stands.  We can't wait to see what these players have in store for next time. Here are some great shots from this year's men's game.

Thank you to everyone in the community who attended the Wine Extravaganza to support this year's Pirate Ball and our 60th anniversary, chaired by Elizabeth Sorensen '97 and Angela Beckley Waldrop '98. This year's event was generously hosted by Monika Srivastava and Kunal Shah at their beautiful oceanfront home.  Guests spent the evening outside under the stars enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres with a special musical performance by Danielle Malloy and Kenny Clark.  Here are some photos that captured the celebratory nature of the evening.

This past December, Alumni gathered at The Moorings Yacht and Country Club to celebrate the holidays and reminisce with other pirates and faculty.  It was an evening full of joy and laughter down memory lane. Check out some of the evening highlights.

Students in Dr. Infanzón's AP Government class got a hands-on lesson in the election process today, featuring a special visit from representatives of the Supervisor of Elections. The session included insights into voter registration and a fun mock vote on Chick-fil-A menu items. Nuggets won by a close margin, proof that every vote counts!

Mrs. Michos’ Studio Art B class just finished a gridded project using acrylics. This is a collaboration with connecting pieces (16) that had to match up!

Marine science students continued their lagoon sampling days at new shoreline and spoil island locations as part of their lagoon research, funded by the Indian River Lagoon Council and National Estuary Program. Students traveled by boat in the early hours to begin their studies with dolphin mother-calf pairs traveling with the boat. Water quality parameters, seagrass coverage, sediment and biodiversity data were collected to compare lagoon sites. Click here to watch a video of the action.

Send us your news! We would love to hear what is going on with you. Recently engaged or married? New job or promotion? New baby or home? We want to know. Please send any news you would like to share and a photo to Maria Segura at msegura@steds.org.

***Please send your current mailing address if you have moved in the past six months to msegura@steds.org.