Gooden Blog

At The Gooden School, the season of Advent offers us something rare, an invitation to pause. In the midst of December’s bustle, with performances, projects, family commitments, and year-end deadlines, Advent gently calls us back to the heart of the season. It reminds us that this time of preparation is not merely about counting down the days until Christmas morning, but about making space, space for meaning, for reflection, and for hope.
 

This week in Chapel, we turned to the powerful story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Scripture tells us that while Zechariah, a priest, was offering incense in the Temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him with astonishing news: his wife, Elizabeth, elderly and long thought unable to have a child, would give birth to a son. This child, to be named John, would prepare the way for the Lord.
 

Zechariah’s reaction was deeply human. Faced with something unimaginable, he doubted. And in response, he was rendered silent until the day his son was born. But this silence was not simply a consequence; it became a space for transformation. When the moment arrived to name the child, Zechariah faithfully wrote “John,” and immediately his voice returned. His first words? Words of praise.
 

There is something profoundly relevant about this story for us at Gooden as we move through December. Zechariah’s silence, like Advent itself, invites reflection. It reminds us that sometimes we need to step back from the noise in order to hear what truly matters.
 

The Rev. David A. Madison, Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, captures this beautifully:
“So in these remaining days before Christmas, perhaps the most countercultural thing we can do is pause. Not to abandon our work, but to remember its meaning. To ask ourselves not just ‘What needs to get done?’ but ‘What am I being called to?’”
 

Those questions do not magically clear our calendars. They will not make December any less busy. But they can transform how we move through the season, helping us walk with presence, grounding us in purpose, and opening us to a hope that does not rely on immediate results.
 

At Gooden, we want Advent to be a season that shapes our hearts as much as our schedules. A season that encourages our community, students, families, faculty, and staff to pause, listen, and reflect. To remember that behind every task and tradition is a deeper calling.
 

As Christmas approaches, may we find opportunities to step away from the hurried pace and into the quiet invitation of Advent. May we hold space for gratitude, for wonder, for faith, and for the possibility of being changed, just as Zechariah was, by a moment of stillness.
 

At The Gooden School, “Great Minds, Gooden Hearts” is brought to life every day through curiosity, compassion, and creativity. Students are not only growing academically but also learning to approach challenges with integrity, kindness, and purpose. This season, classrooms across campus have been filled with examples of Great Minds and Gooden Hearts in action.

From our youngest learners to our middle school leaders, innovation and discovery are thriving.
 

In art, students are studying influential creators such as Paul Klee and Leonardo da Vinci, using their works as inspiration for projects that blend imagination with technique. Whether experimenting with color theory or sketching inventions, students are learning to see the world through both an artist’s and a scientist’s eyes.

Our drama students showcased their creativity and teamwork through participation in the DTASC (Drama Teachers Association of Southern California) competitions. Their performances not only built confidence and collaboration but also highlighted the power of storytelling and expression, which are hallmarks of a Gooden education.
 

In second grade, young explorers brought geography to life by building 3D maps of mountains and rivers, connecting hands-on craftsmanship with real-world understanding of landforms and ecosystems. In middle school science, students investigated the different stages of matter, observing solids, liquids, and gases through engaging experiments. To deepen their understanding of how matter changes from one state to another, students even made pancakes, a delicious, hands-on way to explore how heat transforms ingredients and demonstrates the properties of changing matter.
 

Meanwhile, in middle school math, students combined creativity with real-world problem solving by exploring financial responsibility through pet ownership. Each student proposed the type of pet they would like to own, researched the costs associated with caring for it, from food and supplies to veterinary visits, and then used the 3D printer to create a model of their chosen pet. This interdisciplinary project blended budgeting, research, and design thinking, making mathematics meaningful and memorable.
 

Our 7th graders also put their hearts into action through community service, volunteering at the local food pantry, Friends in Deed. They helped unload trucks of food and supplies that will be donated to families and individuals in need, demonstrating compassion and civic responsibility in a tangible and meaningful way.
 

Kindergarten and third grade each held their first publishing party of the school year. Kindergarteners hosted a special event for staff to share their emerging writing and drawing skills, while third graders dazzled parents and teachers with imaginative stories about fictional pets, proudly showcasing their creativity and growing confidence as authors.
 

Across all grade levels, students are thinking deeply, creating boldly, and leading with heart. At Gooden, academic rigor is paired with joy, empathy, and purpose, reminding us that when Great Minds and Gooden Hearts come together, learning truly knows no bounds.