Gooden Blog

At The Gooden School, February invites us to reflect deeply on our Character Trait of the Month: Love. While love is often associated with kindness and affection, at Gooden we understand it as something far richer, broader, and more powerful—a way of living, learning, and being in community together.

Love takes many forms. There is self-love, the confidence and dignity we encourage in every student as they grow into who God created them to be. There is love of neighbor, shown through compassion, empathy, and respect for those around us. There is friendship, family love, community love, and there is agape love, which is the selfless and unconditional love that calls us to care for others without expecting anything in return.

As an Episcopal school, love is at the heart of our identity. Jesus’ commandment to “love one another” is not just a guiding principle but a daily practice. Through chapel, classroom conversations, service, and reflection, we encourage our students to see love as an action by welcoming the stranger, standing up for justice, listening with empathy, and honoring the dignity of every human being.

Love shows up in the way our teachers patiently guide students, the way staff members support families, and the way students learn to care for one another, especially when it’s challenging. It is in these moments that love becomes transformational.

February is also Black History Month, a time to honor the resilience, creativity, leadership, and love that Black individuals and communities have poured into shaping our nation and our world. At Gooden, we recognize that love has often been an act of courage seen in the fight for justice, the preservation of culture, the strength of families, and the commitment to community uplift.

As we learn about Black leaders, artists, educators, and change-makers, we reflect on how love has fueled movements, inspired hope, and sustained generations. These stories remind us that love is not passive. It is brave, enduring, and deeply rooted in faith in action.

One of the most visible expressions of love at Gooden is our Buddy Program, where older and younger students are intentionally paired to build relationships across grade levels. Through shared activities, mentorship, and simple moments of connection, students learn responsibility, kindness, and empathy.

Watching a younger student light up when greeted by their buddy, or an older student proudly stepping into a leadership role, is a beautiful reminder that love grows when it is shared. These relationships strengthen our school community and help students understand that love often looks like showing up for someone else.

Love at Gooden is not limited to a single classroom or program. It lives in the collective spirit of our students, teachers, and staff and is reflected in collaborative learning, restorative conversations, joyful celebrations, and moments of support during difficult times.

As we move through February, we invite our entire community to continue practicing love in all its forms:

• Loving ourselves and others
• Honoring our shared humanity
• Celebrating history and culture
• Living out our Episcopal values
• Choosing compassion every day

At The Gooden School, love is more than a word—it is who we are.