Dear Lauralton Community,

"Those who sing pray twice." St. Augustine is credited with that pithy statement. During the past week in Italy and the Vatican it became abundantly clear that Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is living this credo thanks to exceptional teaching and learning, caring mentoring, and a commitment to our Mercy Mission.

Eighteen months ago Lauralton Hall Fine Arts Department Chair Margaret (Margy) Sargent began intensive planning for this interdisciplinary school trip to Italy that invited 10th-12th graders who study Latin, are interested in art history, or perform in the School's celebrated choral ensembles. This trip marked Sargent's seventh LH student tour following Jamestown's 400th, four Disney trips, and now our second Italy and Vatican tour. Sargent exemplifies the deepest commitment to these girls, their music education, and their development as young women. It was a privilege to chaperone the trip along with Sargent and four other safety-conscious, fun-loving colleagues and a group of supportive parents, grandparents, and siblings who took time off from their responsibilities to personally partake in this tour.

We witnessed inspiring performance excellence in Florence, Assisi, Rome, and in Vatican City — both at concerts performed in historic and stunning churches and at Masses in some of the most sacred sites in our world: St. Peter's Basilica and the papal basilica at Assisi. The a cappella musical selections were challenging in their musical range and featured glorious solo work; additionally, three conscientious students carried their acoustic guitars throughout our travels. The emotional pinnacle of the trip was witnessing the girls perform in the Sistine Chapel on Monday morning before our safe return to Connecticut last evening! Our hardworking guides told us that it is only one in 10,000 choirs that is welcomed to sing sacred music in the Sistine Chapel against Michelangelo's The Last Judgment and under his famed ceiling. Lauralton is honored. I urge you to attend their Spring Concert Wednesday, May 8, 7:00 p.m. at Parsons Auditorium in Milford to hear their breathtaking performance.

As a school leader, I am grateful that our students had these incredible opportunities to deepen their understanding of our cultural heritage and of our School's Catholic identity. The quality of the art historians' explication of the architecture and art distinguished the trip from so many tourism experiences. However, our students' exemplary behavior was truly the signature hallmark of the trip. Between gelato and cappuccino, strolls and shopping, pasta and pizza, our girls made memories that will fortify their meaningful friendships for years to come. An exceptional girls' school is a highly relational one, and this signature experience was only possible with a school culture that prizes warm relationships. (Click on our Facebook icon below to see photos and video -- more to follow.)

Curiously, we met the same flight attendant on both the outbound and return flights. While gratified by her warm welcome and accolades on both legs of the trip I was stunned to receive an overnight email from her: "I have been a flight attendant for nearly 30 years and polite, respectful, engaged teenagers are rare! ... They were kind, happy, and a true joy to be around." While obviously biased I could not agree more!

Our Mission calls us to be "responsible leadership in a global society." Please join me in celebrating the 49 Lauralton sophomores, juniors, and seniors who exemplified leadership during this past week and continue to do so as Lauralton ladies. Special thanks to their families who made these experiences possible.

Happy Holy Week,

Elizabeth Miller

Proud Head of School