Our 2020 "Yes, Virginia," Celebration was a historic virtual evening, with over 100 participants in attendance, including special guests, spanning four generations of the O'Hanlon family. Studio School student eight-year-old, Codie, read Virginia's letter and Virginia's own great-grandson, Michael Temple, read Francis Pharcellus Church's editorial response. The O'Hanlon family shared their memories of Virginia and we in turn, expressed the impact she has had on our lives.
We left the celebration inspired by Francis Pharcellus Church’s lasting belief in “the eternal light with which childhood fills the world…” and strive to nurture that light. This year, during the pandemic, the words faith, love, poetry, and romance are particularly important and have carried us through.
Hi Janet,
Thank you. Thank you so much for the wonderful work you do for the amazing Studio School. The approach of the school truly embodies my great-grandmother’s devotion to education and children. It is incredibly kismet for our family to know her home houses such a beautiful approach to expanding the minds of such a diverse community of students in such unique ways.
Thank you for hosting this celebration of Virginia every year and especially allowing our family to participate via zoom this year. It is so heart-warming to share in the love my family feels for our Virginia, and to share what she means to us with your community. I was honored to be asked to read Francis Church’s editorial this year. I read it every year myself, as the words are profoundly meaningful to me, not only in my relationship to Virginia through my mother, but in the path I’ve made for myself as an actor and a writer. Poetry, love, and romance, all the unseen and unseeable magic Mr. Church highlights which gives to our lives the highest beauty and joy are what I feel to be true stronger than anything.
Thank you again for all that you do, for your students, your staff, and the world. Virginia would be very proud, as all our family is, that you are helping make glad the heart of childhood.
With Warm Wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Michael Temple
Great-Grandson of Virginia O’Hanlon
