Core Values That Guide Us
At St. Anne’s School, we believe that true education nurtures both the heart and the mind. Our mission and core values reflect this commitment, guiding how we learn, grow, and contribute to the world around us. Together, the Values of the Heart and Mind form the cornerstone of a St. Anne’s School education—preparing students not just to succeed academically, but to lead lives of meaning, character, and impact.
Values of the Heart
Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Kindness
These core values form the foundation of our relationships and community. These values shape students into empathetic individuals who act with integrity, care for others, and take ownership of their words and actions.
Values of the Mind
Principled, Self-Aware, Communicators, and Critical Thinkers
These core values reflects the intellectual habits we seek to instill in every learner. These values empower students to approach challenges thoughtfully, express themselves clearly, reflect on their growth, and engage with curiosity and purpose.
As a school, we:
- Believe in our students. We have confidence our students are capable and strong, bringing unique attributes, natural curiosity, and great promise to their learning.
- Challenge our students. We encourage our students to understand themselves as learners and develop the skills needed for reflective, critical thinking while helping foster the resilience needed to face failure and adversity.
- Offer a supportive environment. We maintain an environment where students feel known and included.
- Inspire lifelong learning. We encourage students to take the intellectual risks required for academic and personal success and help them pursue focused passions that inspire lifelong learning.
- Value our educators. Our educators are experts in their field and possess a passion for research-based teaching and reflective learning, and for these reasons and more, they are respected, rewarded, and retained. We have an excellent retention rate and on average each educator remains with us for over 10 years.
- Educate the whole student. We understand and foster the intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual development of our students.
- Cultivate each child’s natural talents. We promote the exchange of ideas between parents and teachers in order to build a tightly knit community that cultivates the unique gifts of each child.
- Are guided by Episcopal principles. In the Episcopal tradition, our program cultivates intellectual discipline, reason, and wonder, as students learn to govern oneself and build a life of purpose.
Episcopal Tradition
Although St. Anne’s School was founded by St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in downtown Annapolis, we are an independent school and do not receive financial support from the church. However, we maintain a close and meaningful relationship with the parish. We are proudly rooted in the Episcopal tradition and deeply guided by its values—we welcome all faiths, celebrate diversity, and nurture a spirit of compassion, inquiry, and service.
Our Episcopal identity is expressed through monthly chapel gatherings that foster reflection, community, and student leadership. Chapels may be led by school leaders, local clergy, or guest speakers from a variety of faith backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of our school community. Students actively participate in these services by leading readings, offering prayers, singing songs, and engaging in meaningful dialogue. Families and members of the wider community are warmly invited to attend.
At St. Anne’s School, we honor and celebrate Christian traditions while also recognizing and uplifting the rich tapestry of other world religions and cultural celebrations. This inclusive approach helps students grow in understanding, empathy, and respect for others—key elements of our mission to educate both the heart and mind.