Colloquium for the Common Good is an opportunity for students to engage in deep thinking around some of the most challenging and important social issues of our day.
As an Episcopal Church school, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes believes that we need to examine the way that “goodness”—key to the School’s mission—is manifested outside our campus. That is why we have a special day of learning at our Upper School the week of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Programming for the day is assembled jointly by KiKi Davis, Director of Institutional Equity and Diversity, Brian Kane, Director of Environmental Stewardship and Valentina Raman, Director of Service Learning and Social Entrepreneurship—aka Team Justice. Students are offered an opportunity to choose three workshops from over 30 dynamic workshops sessions led by community leaders and changemakers, including SSSAS faculty and alumni. At the conclusion of the day, students are guided through a reflective process to make meaning from their experiences and translate ideas into action. It is an amazing day of learning and discovery.

Students passionate about taking action for the greater good or those with a keen interest in social issues may go on to enroll in our Social Entrepreneurship program which combines our strong academics and value of Goodness As Well As Knowledge. Social Entrepreneurship is a way of looking at complexity and change and identifying what may be within your power to take action upon. This process develops creative problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills that students can apply in many job settings in whatever field they choose. We also hope students come away with a greater sense of self-efficacy and compassion.

Both the Middle and Upper school have ways for students to get involved: at the Middle School, students can practice social entrepreneurship through our Seeding Social Innovations Club as well as our Student Leadership Council who all receive "changemaker leadership" training; at the Upper School, sophomores, juniors and seniors can enroll in Social Entrepreneurship for a semester and then continue receiving mentorship on their projects through an Advanced Social Entrepreneurship independent study.
Learn more about how SSSAS elevates awareness and empathy in our children.