May 10, 2025
Dear SKS,
One of the highlights of my week at school was seeing our 4th grade present the annual Wax Museum. If you didn’t get a chance to pop in, you’ll have to check out some of the photos below (and mark your calendars for next year!) Every student researched a historical figure or celebrity, then presented oral presentations dressed as their person of interest. There were all kinds of depictions – from Betsy Ross, to Marie Antoinette, to Thomas Edison to Bethany Allen. One of the things that struck me was that each speech ended with what the person wanted to be known for.
It made me think, What do WE want to be known for?
It’s such a great question to ask ourselves now and then as a check-in to see if we are living up to our own hopes for what our legacies will eventually be.
Another one of my week’s highlights was attending our youngest son, Nick’s college graduation. It was a great day of celebrating for our family! I tell you this because the keynote speaker’s remarks spoke very much about this idea of legacy. It challenged the audience to think about the type of people we want to be in the world.
The speaker was Coleman Domingo – many of you may know him for the roles he has played in The Color Purple, Rustin, and more recently, the HBO series, Euphoria. You may also see him in theaters now as he plays Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the Michael Jackson story in the movie, Michael. Domingo talked about leaving a mark on the world – but not in some of the ways that society would have us necessarily think. He said, “Success is lovely, awards are shiny, but character – character is legacy.” He emphasized staying true to oneself while navigating life, telling students to be in community and learn from each other. He talked about the importance of spreading as much love and light as we can, because that’s what the world needs. But perhaps one of the most strikingly beautiful lines in the whole speech was this: “Remember something….your softness is not a liability, your tenderness is not a weakness. In a world that rewards sharp edges, be the velvet.”
Be the velvet – that gorgeous metaphor really stuck with me. And I think it's a very appropriate metaphor as we celebrate mother’s day today. To our wonderful mothers – know how much a part of YOUR legacy and what you will be known for is being that tenderness, that softness, that velvet for your children. YOU are the ones who listen each day. YOU are the emotional cushion, offering your children a quiet hug, a listening ear, a favorite meal. In providing this unconditional love, you offer them a beautiful reflection of God’s own love for us. These are the consistent and soft textures of life that help build a child’s sense of security, self-worth and confidence.
In the upcoming days, join me in thinking about our legacies, and the ways we can all soften the sharp edges of perfection, judgement and stress at home, at school and in our world. And, for all you mothers out there, THANK YOU for being the velvet for your families!
G.B.Y.*,Mrs. Mulvanerty
