October 2025 News & Updates
Happy fall, dear friends of Saint Basil! We hope that you are enjoying the beauty of the season wherever you are. Although every month has its own unique beauty here on campus, October is hard to beat. The trees are in fully fall glory, the autumnal air is crisp, and the sounds of West Point football games echo regularly across the river.
The highlight of this month without question was our annual SBA Walkathon. We were blessed with perfect weather, great friends, and amazing turnout. Thank you so much to everyone who came and for those who supported the walk-a-thon from afar. It is a beautiful Saint Basil tradition and has become one of the pillars of our annual cycle.
One of the best aspects of the walk-a-thon is all of the activity on campus leading up to it. This year in particular, our entire community pitched in to plan activities, design beautiful centerpieces and decorations, and prepare our campus and grounds. Kids, moms, staff—everyone—truly played a part.
As we all know, living in community comes with significant challenges and is not always easy. Rules can be hard to follow, people can be hard to get along with, and there is no denying that living in community takes a lot of hard work. But this year’s walk-a-thon was a testament to what that work can accomplish. It was an example of community at its very best.
Earlier in the month, we had our annual apple picking trip to Hurd’s Family Farm which was a total blast. To call it just “apple picking” hardly does it justice. There were hay rides, a bounce pillow, a hillside nature slide and more! Our trip to Hurds is something we always look forward to, and we can’t wait until we get to go again!
At the beginning of October, our kids also got to take care of six juvenile chicken pullets who weren’t quite ready to live outside. The tenderness, playfulness, and joy with which the kids treated them was a sight to behold. Something that Saint Basil staff have always remarked upon is how healing and transformative working with animals can be for our children. Whether it be caring for an orphaned lamb, riding and caring for horses in equine therapy sessions, or laughing at baby chickens making a funny mess, animals truly make our kids shine.
The coming weeks and months are sure to be busy ones on campus. We are already preparing for our annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 13, so please stay posted on more details about that to come very soon!
The week before the Christmas celebration, we will be building gingerbread house table centerpieces on Saturday, December 6th at 2 PM. We would love to invite any JOY groups (or JOY aged children even if they are not in a group) to join the children of Saint Basil for a fun afternoon of decorating gingerbread houses, and maybe even possibly getting a visit from Saint Nicholas!
Looking even further ahead, we are happy to announce that we will be holding another Lenten GOYA Retreat on Saturday, March 21, 2026! Last year’s was phenomenal, and we can’t wait for this one. All GOYA groups (and GOYA-aged children not in a group) are welcome, so please save the date!
Sending you all love, gratitude, and warm fall wishes,
The Saint Basil Academy Family
Did You Know?
Saint Basil Academy is home to relics of Saint Dionysius of Zakynthos. Both the Saint Basil and the Saint Dionysius chapels here on campus contain one of the saint’s slippers. Saint Dionysius is known as a “walking saint” because the slippers on his feet continually wear down, even in his repose. Saint Dionysius is known also as the saint of forgiveness, having forgiven his own brother’s murderer and bringing him to repentance. May Saint Dionysius intercede for all of us!
Support Our Work
As a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, Saint Basil Academy depends upon the financial support of its beloved friends and donors. Our supporters contribute in many different ways, from monetary and material donations to naming Saint Basil as a beneficiary in life insurance and estate planning. Saint Basil Academy also has several earmarked funds in place for therapeutic art classes and outdoor excursions. Sponsoring a resident, becoming a host family, and/or referring a child to Saint Basil Academy are other vital ways of providing support as well. When you give to Saint Basil Academy, you are helping a child in need in a powerful way.
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