Gooden Blog
Blog
Character Trait of the Month: Responsibility
January 29, 2026
This month at Gooden, we have been focusing on the character trait of Responsibility—what it looks like, how it feels, and why it matters in our daily lives. Responsibility isn’t just about following rules; it’s about making thoughtful choices, supporting others, and taking ownership of our actions even when no one is watching.
One of the most meaningful ways we see responsibility in action is through our Buddy Program. Being a “big buddy” comes with important responsibilities: setting a positive example, offering guidance, and helping younger students navigate expectations with kindness and patience. Recently, we’ve seen older students gently redirect their buddies during chapel, encouraging them to listen and behave respectfully, not out of obligation, but out of care. These moments remind us that leadership is often quiet, consistent, and rooted in empathy. Every Gooden student will one day step into this role, learning that responsibility includes looking out for others.
Responsibility has also been shining through in our co-curricular spaces. In cheer, students have stepped up in remarkable ways, supporting teammates who are having a tough day, pulling them aside to give space to share their feelings, and helping them work through challenges while still holding one another to high expectations. This balance of compassion and accountability is a powerful example of responsible leadership. We’ve also seen students reflect on their own growth, recognize past mistakes, and take ownership by apologizing and learning from those experiences. That kind of self-awareness is a huge part of responsibility.
In the classroom, our 4th graders have been practicing responsibility in a simple but meaningful way. Over the past few weeks, students have been asked to reflect on their behavior after each co-curricular class. Together, they decide whether they earned a class heart (over-the-top amazing behavior), no heart (solid but unremarkable), or a broken heart (not our best effort). Students are encouraged to be honest and thoughtful, sometimes celebrating their success, and other times acknowledging where they could do better. Hearing them say things like, “We were the best class of the day,” or “We didn’t do our best and need to own that,” shows just how much they are growing.
Responsibility is also taking root, quite literally, in our Kindergarten. Our youngest students are now fully responsible for caring for the Kinder-garden, and they take this role very seriously. Led by a weekly class Botanist, Kindergarteners work together each day to water the plants and identify and pull weeds. Through this shared responsibility, they are learning that even small, everyday tasks matter and that caring for something outside of themselves requires consistency, teamwork, and pride. It’s a wonderful reminder that responsibility can be nurtured at every age.
While these moments may seem small, they add up. Responsibility is built through daily choices, taking accountability for actions, supporting peers, and striving to do better tomorrow than we did today. We are proud of our students for embracing this character trait and for showing us, again and again, that responsibility is not just taught, it’s lived.
Reflections on Welcoming and Caring for the Whole Child at Gooden
January 23, 2026
Recently, the National Association of Episcopal Schools invited school leaders into a conversation about student well-being, which is an increasingly urgent and deeply meaningful topic in education today. The discussion offered both research and reflection, affirming something we live every day at The Gooden School: children thrive when they are known, seen, and heard within a community that honors their whole selves.
As an Episcopal school, we understand education as more than academic preparation. Learning happens most fully when students feel emotionally safe, spiritually grounded, and genuinely connected to the adults around them. This belief shapes our classrooms, our advisory relationships, and the way we approach discipline, support, and growth.
One theme from the NAES conversation especially resonated with us: the power of relationships. Research continues to show that a young person’s life can be profoundly shaped by the presence of even one caring adult. At Gooden, this truth comes alive in the daily interactions between students and teachers, advisors, coaches, and staff who listen carefully, notice quietly, and show up consistently.
These relationships are not built through grand gestures. These relationships are formed in moments that might seem small: a check-in at the start of the day, patience during a hard moment, encouragement when a student doubts themselves, curiosity about something that matters to a child, and yes, even in moments of correction. When guidance is offered with respect, clarity, and care, students learn that accountability and belonging can exist together. Over time, these moments create trust. They tell students, You matter here.
Our Episcopal identity also invites us to consider the role of spirituality in student well-being. At Gooden, we make space for reflection, questions, gratitude, and purpose. We honor students’ inner lives and encourage them to think about who they are becoming, not just what they are achieving. This spiritual grounding helps students develop resilience and empathy, qualities that serve them far beyond their years at Gooden.
Most importantly, our work is rooted in the belief that every child is beloved. When we welcome students into our community, we commit to seeing them fully: their strengths, their struggles, their potential. This commitment is both a responsibility and a gift. It reminds us that education, at its heart, is relational and deeply human.
We are grateful for the broader Episcopal school community that continues to reflect, learn, and grow together. Conversations like these affirm our mission and renew our commitment to the children entrusted to us. At The Gooden School, we remain dedicated to welcoming every child with care, intention, and hope, knowing that in doing so, we live out our values in the most meaningful way.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Reflection, Service, and Community at Gooden
January 16, 2026
Each year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers our community a meaningful pause. A time to reflect, to listen, and to recommit ourselves to the values of justice, dignity, and love that Dr. King championed throughout his life. At The Gooden School, we observe this day not only as a national holiday but as an essential extension of who we are as a welcoming, inclusive Episcopal school.
Dr. King believed deeply in the power of education to shape hearts and minds. His vision of a beloved community, one grounded in respect, equity, and compassion, aligns closely with Gooden’s mission to nurture the whole child and to foster a community where every individual is known, valued, and supported. Taking this day off from our regular school schedule allows us to honor his legacy thoughtfully, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and service beyond the classroom.
A cherished tradition at Gooden is our Middle School Martin Luther King Jr. writing reflection, led each year by Mr. Williamson. Through this assignment, students are invited to engage deeply with Dr. King’s legacy, his words, his actions, and his enduring relevance in today’s world. As part of this work, student essays are submitted to the Pasadena MLK Community Coalition Essay Contest, a regional opportunity that encourages young people to think critically about social justice and community impact.
This year’s contest theme, “Resilience and Renewal: Social Justice, Equality, and Community Empowerment,” challenged students to reflect on how Dr. King’s teachings continue to guide and inspire meaningful change. Gooden students rose to the occasion with thoughtful, powerful writing that demonstrated both academic excellence and deep moral reflection.
We are proud to share that this year, Odin Lee, an 8th-grade student whose essay stood out for its insight, clarity, and heartfelt connection to the theme, will be honored with an award. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Odin will read his winning essay at a special ceremony in Pasadena, giving the broader community the opportunity to hear how Dr. King’s legacy continues to inspire the next generation of leaders and changemakers. We will hold a special chapel service honoring the Rev. Dr. King on Wednesday, where Odin will share his essay. We warmly invite families and community members to join us for this special moment of reflection and celebration.
At Gooden, we believe that honoring Dr. King means more than remembering the past; it means living out his values every day. Through our commitment to inclusivity, service, and respect for the dignity of every human being, we strive to build the beloved community he envisioned. MLK Day reminds us that this work is ongoing, and that even our youngest voices have the power to lead, inspire, and create change.
We are grateful for the opportunity to reflect together as a community and to celebrate the voices of our students who carry Dr. King’s message forward with hope and purpose.
A New Year at Gooden: Remembering, Renewing, and Moving Forward Together
January 09, 2026
The beginning of a new year invites us to pause; to reflect on where we have been and to look ahead with hope. At The Gooden School, this moment feels especially meaningful. A new year is not simply a turn of the calendar; it is a reminder of the growth, grace, and possibility that live within our community.
As we step into this year, we do so with intention. We reflect on our goals, renew our commitments, and set resolutions not rooted in perfection, but in purpose. We resolve to nurture curiosity, lead with kindness, and remain faithful to the values that guide us: learning, compassion, and character. Each new year gives us another opportunity to walk more fully into who we are called to be, both as individuals and as a school community.
This season also calls us to remember.
As we mark the anniversary of the Eaton Fire, we pause in gratitude and remembrance. The fire profoundly impacted our broader community, reminding us how fragile life can be and how strong we must be together. In the face of loss and uncertainty, we witnessed resilience, generosity, and an outpouring of care that reflected the very heart of Gooden.
We remember the challenges, the fear, and the disruption, but we also remember the courage of those who stood firm, the hands that helped rebuild, and the spirit of unity that carried us through. From the ashes rose a deeper sense of connection and a renewed commitment to caring for one another.
At Gooden, we believe education is not only about academic growth, but about shaping hearts. The lessons learned during that time continue to guide us: to show empathy, to serve selflessly, and to trust that even in the hardest moments, hope endures.
As we move into this new year, we do so prayerfully.
We pray for peace for our community, strength for those still rebuilding, and healing for all who carry lingering scars. We pray for wisdom for our leaders, joy for our students, and grace for our teachers and staff. And we pray that our school remains a place of safety, belonging, and light.
May this new year bring renewal to our hearts and clarity to our purpose.
May it remind us that God’s faithfulness does not waver, even when circumstances do.
And may we continue to grow, rooted in faith, strengthened by community, and inspired by hope.
As we begin this year together, we give thanks for all that has shaped us and for the promise of what lies ahead. At The Gooden School, we step forward united, grateful, and ready, trusting that God is still at work, making all things new.