The Small Moments That Tell a Big Story
Dear Hill-Murray Community,
Every morning when I walk through the halls of Hill-Murray, I’m reminded why this place is so special. The laughter in the Commons, the sound of a choir warming up down the hall, a teacher working with a student in between classes to offer encouragement – these small moments tell a big story… They remind me that what happens here every day is about so much more than academics or activities. It’s about the transformation of hearts, minds, and lives.
This past month has been filled with moments that capture exactly what it means to be a Hill-Murray Pioneer. Our students have achieved incredible things on the field, on stage, in classrooms, and out in the community. Our boys’ football team beat South St. Paul on Halloween, and they are now the Section 3AAAA Champions!! The Pioneers made it to State! Congratulations to Coach Reeves, our boys, and their amazing coaches – Come support our PIONEERS on Thursday in the Class AAAA Quarterfinal! Our girls’ soccer team advanced deep into postseason play, embodying teamwork and perseverance. Last week, their coach, Simbo N’diaye, was named the Section 4AA Coach of the Year. Congratulations Coach!
The girls’ tennis team advanced to the State Tournament for the first time in 41 years, with the girls playing their hearts out, and seniors Brooke Gabel and Sedona Stumpf winning the 2025 Class AA Individual Doubles State Championship! Calista Berkley and Eva School represented Hill-Murray at the State Cross-Country Meet, and numerous students excelled at the Minnesota Cycling Association State Championship recently. Our fall musical brought audiences to their feet, and our future healthcare students truly shined at the Minnesota HOSA competition. This week, a group of our students is serving on a mission trip at De La Salle Blackfeet School, located on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. There are countless Pioneers leading and serving in HM Clubs and area competitions – this is just a small percentage of the students who are positively impacting their communities.
Recently, I’ve read essays, seen art, and heard reflections from students that reveal not just intelligence, but wisdom, the kind that comes from a place of faith and purpose. But perhaps what has moved me most hasn’t been the trophies, performances, or accolades. It’s been watching our students live out our mission in quiet, powerful ways.
In classrooms across campus, students are delving deeply into learning that connects their mind, heart, and faith. Our seniors are preparing for college with a sense of purpose that reflects Hill-Murray’s commitment to forming leaders who think critically, act with compassion, and serve others. Service projects this month have taken our students beyond the classroom by volunteering at local food shelves, tutoring younger children, and raising awareness for important causes. These acts of generosity and leadership reveal what truly sets Hill-Murray apart: the integration of faith into every dimension of student life.
In a time when the world can feel uncertain and divided, the need for a Catholic education like ours has never been greater. Here, students learn to lead not just with their minds, but with their hearts. They are grounded in faith, guided by values, and encouraged to see Christ in every person they meet. We teach them that success means more than grades or accolades, it means being a person of integrity, dedication, and service.
When I see our students walking out the doors at the end of the day, laughing with friends, carrying backpacks full of possibility, I can’t help but feel hopeful about the future. The world needs leaders who listen before they speak, who act with kindness, and who bring light wherever they go. And that’s precisely who our Hill-Murray students are becoming.
To our students, families, faculty, and alumni, thank you for being part of this mission. Your faith, support, and partnership make everything we do possible.
Together, we are shaping not just great students, but great people.
And in today’s world, that is something truly worth celebrating.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.
With gratitude and pride,
Melissa Dan, Ed.S.
Hill-Murray School President