What can a squishy handful of slime, a splash of paint, or a sandbox teach us about learning? In Episode 10 of The Satellite, we dive into the sensory-rich world of early childhood education at St. Anne’s School to uncover the developmental magic behind “messy play.”

Featuring real classroom audio clips of students in our Program for Young Children (PYC) immersed in finger paint, sensory bins, and collaborative art projects, this episode celebrates the joyful, messy work of growing mighty minds. Grounded in research on sensory integration and early brain development, we explore how St. Anne’s School’s hands-on, play-based philosophy builds the foundation for curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning with our expert educators. Together, they unpack how unstructured exploration—what might look like “chaos” to adults—actually fuels creativity, problem-solving, and emotional regulation in our youngest learners.

Guests:

Amy Byman, Preschool Teacher

Spencer Jones, Prekindergarten Assistant Teacher and Alum (‘10)

Courtney Severe, Prekindergarten Teacher

Lisa Wells, Head of Program for Young Children

What does it really mean to grow in gratitude—and how can thankfulness shape the way we learn, lead, and live? In Episode 9 of The Satellite, we explore this year’s schoolwide theme, “Growing in Gratitude,” and the many ways it’s come to life across the St. Anne’s School community.

Featuring real classroom clips and audio from community events, this episode highlights how gratitude has become more than a word on the wall—it’s a daily practice woven into lessons, leadership, and school culture. Head of School Connie Coker shares the inspiration behind this year’s theme; Head of Upper School and Director of Belonging and Inclusion Karen Davis discusses how small acts of appreciation ripple through the hallways; and Prekindergarten Teacher Lindsay Mellor describes how our youngest learners are leading the way through kindness and service, including a schoolwide World Kindness Day celebration. 

Together, they reveal how growing in gratitude nurtures empathy, connection, and a sense of belonging—planting the seeds for lifelong learning and a joyful, thankful heart. 

Why should a school end in eighth grade? Why does being a “top dog” in middle school matter?

In Episode 8 of The Satellite, we examine what it means to conclude a student’s formative years in a space where they are leaders, role models, and fully known. We’re joined by Dr. Michah Rothbart, Associate Professor at Syracuse University and co-author of the American Educational Research Journal publication Do Top Dogs Rule in Middle School?; Connie Coker, Head of School; Gabbi Paucek, Director of High School Placement; alumna Jessica White ’20 and current Syracuse University student; and current Eighth Grade student Bennett R. to reflect on the powerful experiences that define the St. Anne’s School educational journey culminating in a final, opportunity-rich Eighth Grade year.

This conversation is grounded in emerging research from Amy Ellen Schwartz, Leanna Stiefel, and Michah W. Rothbart, whose study Do Top Dogs Rule in Middle School? reveals how K–8 grade structures increase students' sense of safety, belonging, and academic confidence. Layered with the progressive, research-backed approach to education that defines St. Anne’s School—where academic rigor is interwoven with social-emotional learning and purpose-driven curriculum—we explore how being a “top dog” prepares students not just for high school, but for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and empathy.

Art is an integral part of St. Anne’s School’s curriculum and that is by design. Art, in its myriad forms, has a transformative impact on the brain, as well as on overall health and wellbeing. The emerging field of neuroaesthetics proves this, and as part of last year’s Head’s book recommendations, the School dove deep into this topic after reading New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. In Episode 7, members of St. Anne's School's Fine Arts Team explore how exposure to art, art-making, and sensory-rich environments help students feel better, learn quicker, and live life more fully.

As a follow-up to Episode 1, this episode looks at the preliminary outcomes from the implementation of the School’s new personal device policy which launched ahead of the 2024-25 school year. After instituting the policy, St. Anne’s School compared specific metrics against those taken prior to the policy to see what impact phone-free schooling has had on students, families, and faculty at the School, and in this episode, our guests discuss those results. While the results are telling, there’s more to the story than just data. This episode also explores anecdotal evidence and the student perspective as well, with a group of Middle School students sharing their personal reflections on how phone-free schooling has impacted them and their experiences at school.

Episode 6 Guests:

• Karen Davis, Associate Head of School for Innovation & Learning

• Dr. Hadley Moore, Associate Head of School for Students & Families

• Christian Pazdersky, Head of Middle School

Total Run Time: 43min

At St. Anne’s School, teachers view young learners as protagonists in their own educational journey, a key tenet of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. But what does Reggio look and sound like in the classroom? And more importantly, how does it–and the playful, emergent curriculum it inspires–impact young learners? In Episode 5, we explore the Reggio Emilia approach in depth, we hear from educators who are experts on Reggio and both project- and play-based learning, and listen as they discuss the impact that Reggio-inspired instruction has had on St. Anne’s School students. Then, we dive into the classroom and hear firsthand how this collaborative approach helps students develop a natural curiosity for the world around them while also learning how to express themselves in myriad ways.

Host: Liza Johnson, Director of Marketing & Communications

Guests:

Amy Byman, Preschool Teacher

Lindsay Mellor, Preschool Teacher

Krista Spradlin,Twos Teacher

Lisa Wells, Head of Program for Young Children

Total Run Time: 50:13

What does purpose-driven learning look and feel like, and why is it essential to a well-rounded education? In Episode 4, we learn how St. Anne’s School cultivates purpose both in and out of the classroom–from integrating social/emotional learning, service and leadership opportunities, and global education into the curriculum, to partnering with local and global organizations that help build a strong sense of community for all. Through audio clips from the classroom, guest discussion, and digging into the research behind the benefits that come with leading a life of purpose, we consider Education leader Ross Wehner’s idea that the purpose of school should be purpose itself.

You may have heard of the Science of Reading or the debates regarding balanced versus structured literacy–hot topics within the world of Education that have made headlines in recent years. But what does the Science of Reading actually mean? And more importantly, how does it–and the instruction it informs–impact young readers? In Episode 3, we explore how St. Anne’s School–a school that adopted the Science of Reading five years ago–uses cognitive research and neuroscience to inform its emergent reading curriculum. We hear from educators who are experts on the Science of Reading (SoR), and listen as they discuss the impact–both qualitative and quantitative–that SoR-informed instruction has had on St. Anne’s School students. Then, we dive into the classroom, and hear firsthand how this approach helps students at every grade level as they progress from learning to read to reading to learn. We also learn how students are assessed under this approach and what interventions are used for students who need further support. Finally, we hear discussion on why being a dynamic, research-informed school is so important for both educators and students.

In Episode 2 of The Satellite, we learn why St. Anne’s School’s approach to civic-minded education is so unique, and how St. Anne’s School is practicing civil discourse at the student, faculty, and parent levels in a variety of ways–some of which have been in practice at the School for many years, and others which are new this year but are already making a big impact. We hear discussion on why it is more important than ever–with the 2024 presidential election in our midst—for schools to lean into issues-centered education and provide ample civic engagement opportunities for their students. From Fourth Grade Peacemakers to the Middle School Social Contract to Eighth Grade Capstones, we learn how St. Anne’s School is equipping students to be engaged, respectful, and civic-minded citizens who aren’t just sitting at the table of democracy, but are bringing something to it.

In Episode 1 of The Satellite, we learn why Jonathan Haidt’s New York Times Best Seller The Anxious Generation resonated with educators and parents at St. Anne’s School, and the research and conversations that went into the School’s new Personal Device Policy—a policy which takes a hard stance on banning phones in school. From the trends educators are noticing with regard to students’ personal device use at school to both anecdotal stories and quantitative analysis on the impact that personal device use has on student learning and students’ social behaviors, we learn the importance of keeping children young and why implementing school policy beginning at the middle school level (or even earlier) is so important. We hear discussion on how parents and students are reacting to the new policy, and we end with a conversation on how the School plans to measure the benefits of enacting the new policy, as well as learning how this data will be shared not just with the School’s community, but with other educators across the nation who are looking at St. Anne’s School as a pioneer on this forefront.

Host: Liza Johnson

Guests: Connie Coker (Head of School), Dr. Hadley Moore