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The Lower School Bids a Fond Farewell to Beloved Director Denise Pearsall
Below is the prepared text by Headmaster Dr. Leonard Kupersmith from the Lower School Chapel Service on May 15th, 2017, in recognition of Lower School Director Denise Pearsall.
It is an honor to be a part of this recognition service and a privilege to have served side-by-side with Denise Pearsall for the past 11 years. I speak for legions of families, students, staff, and teachers in recognizing Denise’s 29 years of dedicated service to CCES. As a teacher, a reading specialist, an admission director, and for the past 19 years leading the Lower School, Denise has been unflappable and steadfast. Denise has regaled us with stories of collecting glass shards and transforming them into jewelry when she and Ben take their cherished trips to dive in tropical waters. The allegory of this favored recreation is irresistible: with her creative imagination, she takes individually beautiful elements and molds them into an exquisite unit. This process reflects her leadership of a faculty with diverse, individual talents. It also symbolizes the maturation of children in a school devoted to the whole child: all of the parts-academic, artistic, physical, spiritual, social, emotional—come together as a seamless tapestry in each child.
Denise warmly chides me about my hedgehog mentality about the need for meetings (she doesn’t like them) and my reluctance to call snow days. She sends me telepathic messages, does snow dances, gives me children’s books with snow themes, and snow globes that sit on my desk to remind me of the beauty and distraction of snow. Maybe if I stare often enough and shake the globe vigorously enough, I will yield to the allure of snow.
Lower school students, before the end of the year, you must ask Mrs. Pearsall to do a classic snow dance. But, be prepared, we might get snow in May!
For you, our students in the Lower School, Mrs. Pearsall considers you her number one concern. Mrs. Pearsall has always looked after you and wanted the best for you. She cares for each of you daily and deeply.
Because Denise is so fond of meetings, we have resolved that the ideal lasting tribute to her is to name a meeting place in her honor. Denise’s legacy will permeate the Denise Pearsall Conference Room and promote efficient and productive meetings. I hereby present Denise Pearsall with the plaque that will hang in front of her current office, soon to become a conference room, and preserve our memory of her countless contributions to the betterment of CCES.
Denise, we love you and wish you and Ben boundless blessings.
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It is an honor to be a part of this recognition service and a privilege to have served side-by-side with Denise Pearsall for the past 11 years. I speak for legions of families, students, staff, and teachers in recognizing Denise’s 29 years of dedicated service to CCES. As a teacher, a reading specialist, an admission director, and for the past 19 years leading the Lower School, Denise has been unflappable and steadfast. Denise has regaled us with stories of collecting glass shards and transforming them into jewelry when she and Ben take their cherished trips to dive in tropical waters. The allegory of this favored recreation is irresistible: with her creative imagination, she takes individually beautiful elements and molds them into an exquisite unit. This process reflects her leadership of a faculty with diverse, individual talents. It also symbolizes the maturation of children in a school devoted to the whole child: all of the parts-academic, artistic, physical, spiritual, social, emotional—come together as a seamless tapestry in each child.
Denise warmly chides me about my hedgehog mentality about the need for meetings (she doesn’t like them) and my reluctance to call snow days. She sends me telepathic messages, does snow dances, gives me children’s books with snow themes, and snow globes that sit on my desk to remind me of the beauty and distraction of snow. Maybe if I stare often enough and shake the globe vigorously enough, I will yield to the allure of snow.
Lower school students, before the end of the year, you must ask Mrs. Pearsall to do a classic snow dance. But, be prepared, we might get snow in May!
For you, our students in the Lower School, Mrs. Pearsall considers you her number one concern. Mrs. Pearsall has always looked after you and wanted the best for you. She cares for each of you daily and deeply.
Because Denise is so fond of meetings, we have resolved that the ideal lasting tribute to her is to name a meeting place in her honor. Denise’s legacy will permeate the Denise Pearsall Conference Room and promote efficient and productive meetings. I hereby present Denise Pearsall with the plaque that will hang in front of her current office, soon to become a conference room, and preserve our memory of her countless contributions to the betterment of CCES.
Denise, we love you and wish you and Ben boundless blessings.
Date Posted 
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Marti Pearce5/17/2017 @ 10:03 PMOur son had the privilege of having Denise as a teacher, and I had the privilege of serving as a teacher with her in the same school. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Her lunch be of the sea lives on in our son. We share a love of gardening. She also cultivated young minds watching them grow, feeding them with wonderful experiences, providing sunshine in their lives. As she treasures the precious gems of the sea, I treasure our friendship.
Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.