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2021 SESSION

21102299D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 603
Offered January 20, 2021
Commending Christchurch School.
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Patrons-- Hodges and Poindexter; Senator: McDougle
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WHEREAS, Christchurch School, an esteemed college-preparatory school in Christchurch, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021; and

WHEREAS, a private, coeducational boarding and day school serving students in grades nine through 12, Christchurch School is one of the six Episcopal private schools administered by the Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia, Inc., the educational branch of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, at a time when secondary education was not widely available in the United States, Christchurch School aimed to offer an affordable, comprehensive, and faith-based education that would mold students into upstanding citizens and leaders of their communities; the school opened its doors on September 28, 1921, under the leadership of the Reverend F. Ernest Warren; and

WHEREAS, over the past 100 years, Christchurch School has maintained its mission to inspire and guide children as they embrace a sense of confidence, purpose, and identity and develop into compassionate, successful, and engaged citizens of the world; the student body today hails from 15 states and 14 countries, reflecting the diverse and global educational experience the school provides; and

WHEREAS, various organizations have supported the growth and success of Christchurch School since its founding, including The Scott Foundation, which was instrumental to the construction of the school’s campus and its historic St. Peter’s Chapel; and

WHEREAS, numerous distinguished individuals have graced the halls of Christchurch School over the years, including William Styron and Lewis B. Puller, Jr., both Pulitzer Prize–winning authors, and Dr. William Easterling, ’72 Ph.D., member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and

WHEREAS, situated on 125 acres along the Rappahannock River, Christchurch School offers its students an exemplary outdoor classroom to stimulate their curious minds and cultivate their love of nature; and

WHEREAS, due to its waterfront location, Christchurch School is uniquely able to host regional and national sailing regattas and other boat launches, as well as run an on-site oyster operation that, with support from the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation, helps mitigate pollution in the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay; and

WHEREAS, Christchurch School encourages its students to maintain active and healthy lifestyles, with an athletic department that boasts a national champion sailing team and state championship teams in football and basketball; and

WHEREAS, through its groundbreaking Learning Skills Program that was established in 1981, Christchurch School has achieved national recognition for its ability to incorporate students with learning differences and other diagnoses into mainstream academic environments; and

WHEREAS, for many years, Christchurch School has been masterfully led by its current head of school, John E. Byers, who is the longest serving head of school at the institution and widely regarded as one of the best leaders in its history; and

WHEREAS, through its extraordinary and unwavering dedication to the development and success of young people over the past century, Christchurch School has helped make the Commonwealth a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Christchurch School on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John E. Byers, head of school at Christchurch School, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the school’s history and its many noteworthy contributions to the Commonwealth.