The Satellite

Episode 11: Global Citizens in the Making - Inside the Costa Rica Experience

What does it mean to become a global citizen—before you even reach high school? In Episode 11 of The Satellite, we travel alongside St. Anne’s School’s Seventh Grade students as they bring their World Languages & Cultures learning to life through an immersive partnership with World Leadership School [https://worldleadershipschool.com/] and a weeklong journey to Costa Rica. From organic farms and rainforest hikes to whitewater rafting, artisan markets, and local Chilamate school visits, this episode highlights how real-world experiences deepen students’ understanding of language, culture, sustainability, and leadership. Featuring insight from Executive Director and Co-Founder of World Leadership School Erin Hawk, as well as reflections from trip chaperones and students—including clips from the students’ daily field vlog—this episode captures how voice, choice, and shared inquiry empower young people to lead with curiosity, empathy, and purpose. Together, our guests explore how experiential learning transforms classroom knowledge into lived understanding, helping students see themselves as active participants in a global community.

Episode 10: Messy Play, Mighty Minds

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

Episode 9: Growing in Gratitude - Turning Thankfulness into Lifelong Learning

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.

Episode 8: Ending in Eighth - The Purpose Behind a Thoughtful Educational Journey

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.

Episode 7: The Transformative Power of Art

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 [https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Art-Arts-Transform/dp/059344924X/ref=asc_df_059344924X?mcid=e613fc7634393fbf88517f429e69a44c&hvocijid=8947279079197093136-059344924X-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8947279079197093136&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027635&hvtargid=pla-2281435179978&psc=1] 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.