Easter message from Head of School Julia Wall

One of my favorite artists at the moment is Jon Batiste. During his live performances, Baptiste pulls from musical traditions across generations and cultures, blending them into a joyful cacophony that – very literally – spills onto the streets. The room tone that he creates through songs like “Lean On My Love” invites everyone to feel what he feels. He reminds listeners that sharing music is a spiritual practice, expressing joy together makes us more human, and “hope is a contact sport”. Yes, hope is a contact sport!

In a school like Stuart, hope is not abstract. It is anchored in faith and built, day by day, through relationships that reflect God’s love. It lives in the quiet, steady ways we stand beside our children, encouraging them, challenging them, and, most of all, believing in them the way God believes in each of us. That belief matters more than we sometimes realize.

Over Spring Break, I finally chipped away at the pile of novels on my nightstand and particularly enjoyed reading My Friends by Fredrik Backman. The novel is about a group of teenagers who, against all odds, maintained a singular vision of collective hope that carried them. One line resonated: “The world is full of miracles, but none greater than how far a young person can be carried by someone else’s belief in them.” I see that miracle unfolding here at Stuart all the time. I see students try something new or difficult, hesitate, and then find their footing, often because someone nearby made them feel capable before they felt it themselves.

This is where my own sense of hope comes from. As a parent and educator, I have learned that there is no certainty of outcomes, but there can be enduring faith. The Resurrection of Christ teaches us this. When our students trust in God’s love for them and are supported by the trust and care of their communities, something in them shifts. They move with greater courage and confidence. They begin to trust their voice. They accept that challenges are part of growth. They imagine what they might contribute. They ambitiously build a future. They lean on love. 

Easter reminds us that even in the midst of uncertainty, God’s love has no end—and it is God's love which calls us to hope. Hope, as a contact sport, is an act of collective, faithful courage. As Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat reminds us, “Have courage and confidence; God will give you the strength you need.”

Entering into this Easter season, alongside our families of various faiths who celebrate traditions of spiritual growth and reflection, I am grateful for the many ways this community practices courageous hope-filled acts of attention, care, and enduring faith. Team Hope.