Page 29 - 2017 Yearbook

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Woodside Priory School 11/14/16 10:49 PM
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By: MAX, CLAIRE
SACRED SPACE
It’s a typical Tuesday morning at Priory. Swarms of students mill about Schilling Square, eating Panther Shack snacks and talking with friends. Suddenly, the sound of a bell rings across the square and everyone files into the chapel for the weekly chapel service. While some elements of chapel remain the same every time, much of it varies from week to week. We sing a different song at the beginning, a different chapel speaker discusses a new idea, and a different talented person performs the reflection song.
In one particular week, Head of Upper School Mr. Schlaak gave a very moving chapel talk. He began by discussing how the most important part of life is learning, not solely in the academic sense but experiencing the different gifts of life and learning from them. He then moved into bravely and emotionally recounting one of his best friend’s fights with cancer, which he ultimately lost. For Mr. Schlaak, this tragedy stressed the importance of living life to the fullest before we no longer can appreciate its gifts.
The chapel service concluded as always with the reflection music. This time, a new Priory faculty quartet comprised of Ms.
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Matsuoka, Ms. Saddler, Ms. Paulson, and Mr. Mabeza took the stage to sing a song about coming together in harmony. This performance was great because as Jack Nash (11) said, “It’s cool to see your teachers in a different light. Their talent shows me that even when I grow up, I should hold onto my passions.”
The most important part of chapel overall is the benefit it has for the students. Emma Lewer (11) said that “chapel is a time when we can come together. I can recuperate and be thoughtful and reflective”. When asked about this particular chapel, Mikhail Saliba (11) commented on Mr. Schlaak’s talk as he saw it as a time in which “we were able to feel each other’s pain and come together”.
Overall, the weekly themes discussed within Chapel offer new perspectives and lessons that enhance the students’ Priory experience. The various new elements, such as the reflection songs, continually enliven the Priory chapel spirit.
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