Overview

 When children are baptized in the Episcopal Church, we pray that God will “give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works”  (Book of Common Prayer).

The religious goals and objectives for each child at Good Shepherd Episcopal School include:

The child’s careful exposure to appropriate stories from the Old and New Testaments and to the seasons of the church calendar.
The child’s experience of God’s presence in the peaceful setting of the church during worship.
The child’s experience of God’s love through daily interaction with caring and empathetic teachers in a secure and loving environment.

Ms. Charlotte Trafton

Ms. Trafton has a very special way of teaching Bible stories to the students each week. Shared in age-appropriate, fun and creative ways, these stories help the children learn about God’s abundance and never ending love.

Ms. Trafton joined the GSES family in 2001 as an Assistant Teacher while working on two master’s degrees – a Master of Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master of Divinity from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Ms. Trafton became a Fours Lead Teacher and the school Chaplain in 2006. She served as Assistant Head of School during construction of the new school from 2013 to 2015. She returned to the classroom as the Lead Kindergarten teacher in 2015. Ms. Trafton is ordained by the Presbyterian Church, and also serves as the Children and Family Minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Program Highlight

Chapel and Birthday Blessings

Every Wednesday morning (Thursday morning for our 2- day students), teachers and students gather in the sanctuary to be reminded of how much God loves us all. Rev. Trafton, our school Chaplain, helps us to quiet our minds and hearts so that we can share our love with God. Through stories and music, the children learn the ways in which God teaches us to be loving, kind and compassionate people.

The life of every child at GSES is special and to honor each life, we have a  birthday chapel service each month. Children who have had a birthday in the previous month come to the altar to receive a special blessing and everyone sings a special version of “Happy Birthday.”

Birthday Blessing

Watch over your children, O Lord, as their days increase. Bless and guide them wherever they may be. Keep them strong when they stand. Comfort them if they are sad. Pick them up if they fall.

And in their hearts, may your peace which passes all understanding abide with them all the days of their lives.

In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen