The friendly greeting, accompanied by a musical tune, echos through the hallway as St. Thomas’s Music Teach, Mrs. Lee, arrives in first grade to escort the students to the music room: “Hello, First Grade,” followed by, “Hello, Mrs. Lee.” It’s a familiar and beloved sound at our school.
Mrs. Lee started at St. Thomas’s in the fall of 2015 as the second grade assistant teacher before she moved into the music teacher position full time. Her two daughters, Eleanor and Greta, also started at St. Thomas’s in 2015 and now are in high school and college.
In addition to teaching music, Mrs. Lee is front and center for every Morning Gathering, which offers an interactive space for students to come together to sing, share school happenings and deepen their understanding of holidays, traditions, beliefs, and cultures from around the world.
“My favorite part of the school day is without a doubt Morning Gathering. Whether my drive to school had a lot of traffic, or my coffee was cold, greeting every member of our St. Thomas’s community fills me with joy. I love to hear about what is going on in classrooms and hear presentations from guests. Most of all, I love that we sing together every day,” comments Mrs. Lee.
At St. Thomas’s music is more than just notes—it’s the universal language that connects our entire school community! We believe that music is a powerful tool for self-discovery and connection, helping students find their unique voice while becoming a part of our harmonious family.
“I hope my students leave my music class feeling that the music they all have inside them can make the world a better place. Whether through singing, playing instruments, or listening, we are all musicians who can change the world when we sing with each other and listen to each other’s song,” she adds.
Mrs. Lee enjoys jazz, bluegrass, and 17th century classical music like Claudio Monteverdi. “My favorite band when I was a teenager was U2 followed closely by the Dave Matthews Band. And feel free to stop by the music room for Steely Dan Fridays!”
Mrs. Lee is “Reelin’ in the Years” at St. Thomas’s and we can’t wait to see what the next decade brings.
