Community Spotlight: Saint Stephen

Jack, John (dad), Meghan (mom) and Philip Buhler with dog Poppy]

BRADENTON – The Lower School students, ranging from three years to third grade, at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, a private, independent, co-educational, college preparatory school in Bradenton, recently transported their animals to the school for its annual Blessing of the Animals.

Father Nathan Speck-Ewer, the school chaplain, blessed over 50 animals, including hamsters, birds, cats, dogs and a pony, on Friday, October 3. Numerous stuffed animals were also in attendance.

“This unique and light-hearted tradition brings the school and community together,” said Dr. Jan Pullen, head of school at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. “The parents, teachers, children and pets look forward to the over 30-year ceremony each year.”

More than 65 family members attended the traditional event, which has taken place at the school for over three decades. The children sang songs like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and How Much is That Doggie in the Window” to celebrate their beloved pets.

About Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School is a private, independent, co-educational, college preparatory school in Bradenton, Fla. Saint Stephen’s delivers world-class education, excellent extracurricular experiences and exciting programs like AP course work, the iPad initiative, a band/strings program, a global education program, K-12 daily foreign language program and our Marine Science Initiative, to name a few.          

Saint Stephen's sits on a gated, 35-acre campus, which includes a state-of-the-art athletic complex that hosts school athletic events including soccer, football, track and field, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis and cheerleading. At every level, from PK3 through grade 12, students are nurtured in small classes, encouraged and supported in their academic pursuits. Students benefit from programs and educational models that have proven successful by Saint Stephen’s students who are excelling today in colleges and universities around the world. Saint Stephen's is proud of its rich academic offerings that go hand-in-hand with a strong college counseling program, a wide variety of competitive sports teams, a creative fine arts program, and many community service learning opportunities. For more information about Saint Stephen’s, please visit www.saintstephens.org.