Student Life

Chapel & Community Service

Chapel is a safe haven from the hectic pace of school life, a place to slow down and be mindful of God’s presence.
Students in each division come together every day for daily chapel service. Chapel is the center of our shared life together — it is in this sacred time and space that members of our community gather to lift our hearts in prayer and praise to God.
We guide and challenge all who attend our schools to build lives of genuine meaning, purpose, and service in the world they will inherit.

What to Expect in Chapel

Chapel gives students the opportunity to learn and participate in many different ways. Each day, students might hear a homily from the chaplain, their teachers, or their classmates or they might enjoy a musical or artistic offering. They might celebrate the life of a saint, engage in a time of quiet contemplation, or learn about and experience another faith tradition. Students are given the opportunity to serve as acolytes, readers, and chapel musicians, and in the Middle and Upper Schools they may serve on leadership teams that help shape the chapel program. In addition to daily chapel, special days in the Christian calendar such as Ash Wednesday, All Saints’ Day, and Easter are celebrated with services of Holy Communion.

All Faiths Welcome and Celebrated

Worship at St. Andrew’s is rooted in the liturgical tradition of the Episcopal Church and the Christian story of God’s love and grace, but is also welcoming and inclusive of those who do not identify as Episcopalian. Holy days from a variety of religious traditions are celebrated in chapel, and students from diverse faith backgrounds are encouraged to share about the rituals, prayers, and practices that they hold dear. All students and staff attend daily chapel, and are invited to participate as they feel comfortable.

Chapel Elements

List of 9 items.

  • Lower School Lessons

    In grades 1-2, the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Bible are taught to students through storytelling. In grades 3-6, students hear lessons from Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels, and the Epistles, following the Revised Common Lectionary. In addition to lessons from the Bible, students learn about Christian holidays and the lives of the saints. Students also get the opportunity to learn about other religious traditions and regularly hear from guest speakers about a variety of relevant topics.
  • Middle School Lessons

    In Middle School, students are introduced to more complex theological issues through faithful interpretation of Biblical texts from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Bible. Lessons follow the Revised Common Lectionary. From these readings, students explore a range of spiritual and moral themes such as community, friendship, forgiveness, compassion, honesty, decision-making, identity, and service to others, just to name a few. Chapel lessons also follow the themes of the Anglican liturgical calendar.

    In addition to lessons from the Bible, students learn about Christian holidays and the lives of the saints. Special chapel services are held on St. Andrew's Day, Lessons and Carols, All Saints' Day, Ash Wednesday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Veteran's Day, and St. Francis Day. Students also get the opportunity to learn about other religious traditions and regularly hear from guest speakers about a variety of relevant topics.
  • Lower School Prayer

    Each day, personal and community prayers are raised up during chapel time. As a result of this daily practice, students learn about the importance of prayer in response to the concerns and celebrations of life.
  • Middle School Prayer

    Each day in chapel, personal and community prayers are raised up during chapel time. As a result of this daily practice, students learn about the importance of prayer in response to the concerns and celebrations of life. Students may tell Ms. Brandon or their teachers if they have prayer requests.
  • Lower School Music

    As an offering of praise to God, students learn age-appropriate liturgical music using the Hymnal 1982. Chapel music is accompanied by piano on most days and guitar on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, students have "Hymn Practice" with their music teachers, where they learn new songs and practice old ones. Students also get the opportunity throughout the year to hear chapel concerts from their peers and from guest performers.
  • Middle School Music

    As an offering of praise to God, students learn age-appropriate liturgical music using the Hymnal 1982 and other supplementary resources. Chapel music is accompanied by piano on most days and guitar on Tuesdays. Students also get the opportunity throughout the year to hear chapel concerts from their peers and from guest performers.
  • Middle School Liturgy

    The daily chapel service follows the Morning Prayer Rite 2 service from the Book of Common Prayer.
  • Lower School Student Participation

    Beginning in the first grade, students serve as acolytes who are responsible for extinguishing the candles at the end of the service. In the third grade students also have the opportunity to read the Psalm appointed for the day. Students are also encouraged to offer their talents and gifts in chapel, such as reading a favorite book, telling about an important tradition or object, singing a song, etc.

    Students, parents, and faculty are supported in their spiritual and pastoral needs by Lower School/Middle School Chaplain Ashley Brandon and Head of School Melissa Grubb.
  • Middle School Student Participation

    Student participation is an important part of chapel life. All students are expected to participate in chapel, though students of other faith backgrounds may choose to participate by sitting quietly during the service. Each student has the opportunity to acolyte and read the Bible lesson of the day. English and History teachers help each student hone their public reading skills so that students will feel confident reading from the Bible in front of the entire Middle School community.

    Each student advisory has the opportunity to completely organize and lead one chapel service each year. These services usually fall on Fridays, and parents are encouraged to attend.

    Middle School faculty members also contribute by sharing personal experiences with students in the form of chapel talks. The goal of the chapel talk time is to demonstrate the wisdom and insight gained through personal experience. The faculty share with the community during chapel on Wednesdays.

    All are welcome and encouraged to attend the Middle School daily worship service.

Daily Worship

All are welcome and encouraged to attend daily worship. 
  • Kindergarten - 2nd grade: 10:40 am - 11:05 am
  • 3rd Grade - 5th Grade: 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
  • Middle School:
    • 8:55 am - 9:15 am (M-Th)
    • 8:30 am - 9:00 am (Friday) - Chapel Lab

Upper School Daily Chapel

Monday - Friday: 12:45 - 1:15 pm
Please submit prayer requests to Lower & Middle School Chaplain Ashley Brandon.
Chapel is where we learn to love each other. Community service, then, is where we learn to love those outside our school community.

Community Service

Community Service at St. Andrew's is seen as a natural extension of the chapel program, and integral piece of our Episcopal Identity. As students hear the spiritual messages of compassion, service, and love, they are compelled to put these lessons into action through working to improve the world around them. In every division, Community Service is incorporated into the student experience, ensuring every student leaves St. Andrew’s with a deep understanding of the importance of serving their community. In both the middle and upper school, a minimum number of service hours must be completed for students to graduate.

Meet the Team

List of 4 members.

  • Photo of Ashley Brandon

    Ashley Brandon 

    Lower & Middle School Chaplain, Lower & Middle School Religious Studies Department Chair
  • Photo of Whitney Kirby

    Whitney Kirby 

    Upper School Chaplain, Golf Program Director
  • Photo of Annie Sykes

    Annie Sykes 

    31st Street Director of SEL & Service Learning
  • Photo of Racheal Brooks

    Racheal Brooks 

    Assistant Head of Upper School - Student Life