Nicholas Christos ’20 Aarushi Singh ’20 Noble Brigham ’20
Introduction
For Scholium’s first issue of the year, we wanted to thank Episcopal for everything it has done for us over the years. We truly think that Episcopal has shaped us for the better. The three of us have compiled a list of aspects of EA that we especially appreciate, things we hope the administration continues in the future. They are what make the institution so special to us.
To support some of our opinions, we sent out a survey to the entire Upper School student body on September 24th, 2019, to which we received 311 responses out of about 550 total students.
Faculty
Teachers should be the backbone of any educational institution, and at Episcopal, they truly are. Whereas many adults cannot remember their high school teachers, EA alumi light up when talking about their wonderful classes. Students benefit from the close instruction, relationships, and mentoring offered at Episcopal. “The faculty is a big part of the EA experience,” says Karissa Lim ‘20. “You can see that the teachers here are very passionate about teaching. They truly care about the lasting effect of their teaching on the students.”
Curriculum
The curriculum, with its depth and varying levels of difficulty, is another vital asset. 78.8% of surveyees agreed that Episcopal’s curriculum encourages critical thinking and collaboration. Not every school, even among EA’s contemporaries, has the range of AP and honors courses across all departments that we do. 60.5% of students also thought that AP classes and curriculum were beneficial to the EA community. This allows for students to both specialize and expand their interests.
Religious Backbone
Episcopal is less overtly religious than it once was; chapel is no longer held every day, but our Christian institutional background has shaped students and the institution. Survey results indicated that 66.6% think Episcopal does a good job of balancing its religious roots and secular education. We hope that Episcopal will maintain this balance in the future.
Holiday Chapels
We love EA’s holiday themed chapels. From the beautiful and traditional Thanksgiving Chapel and Lessons and Carols to the more light-hearted Scrooge Chapel, these help to draw the community together and create a sense of school spirit. “It’s just fun to see all the teachers in a different context,” says Sarah Huang ‘20. “Everyone bonds over the funny moments in Scrooge Chapel, and you can laugh about it even if you don’t celebrate Christmas.”
Library
In an era where some schools no longer have libraries, Episcopal’s Annenberg Library is an important resource for the community. According to our survey, 76.2% of students feel that the resources offered by the library are beneficial. Students and faculty use it for working quietly and collaborating with each other. Most freshmen have study halls there at some point. Perhaps most importantly, it has a large collection, including one of the best local history book collections in the area. EA’s resources allow the community to request books and use the school’s Inquirer and New York Times subscriptions on their personal computers.
Laptops
The one to one laptop program, piloted by the Class of 2020, is one of EA’s innovations. At this point, laptops are used universally in private schools, but we are one of the only ones to give them out. This has helped students to have a greater proficiency with technology early on, preparing them for their future college educations and careers.
Increased Support for STEM
In our opinion, Episcopal has taken many steps in the right direction in terms of increased support for STEM. This year, Episcopal has given more funding and attention to STEM activities, such as hiring a new director for and revamping the PJAS program and creating a designated room for robotics instead of putting the club in the greenhouse.
10 Year Plans
We also appreciate EA’s 10-Year Plans, a new initiative focused on improving the school. It seems that Episcopal is making an effort to listen to student feedback: in the spring of last year, one of the coordinators hired to manage the initiative met with groups of students to talk about areas in which the school can improve. “I don’t know whether the meetings were just because they wanted to show that they’re trying to improve,” says Daniel Hu ‘20, a student who attended one of the meetings last year, “but if they’re actually following through with it, I think it will be really good for the school.”
Senior Speeches
We feel that senior speeches are valuable, and according to our survey, 68.5% of the community agrees with us. The speeches are instructive or cautionary to underclassmen, and we have had our upper school experiences and outlooks shaped by the stories of seniors. They are one of the most important traditions associated with the chapel program.
Campus
It is clear that Episcopal’s campus is a beneficial asset. Our survey found that 85.9% of students agree that our campus adds to the educational experience. The campus not only provides us with the space and amenities we need, but it also promotes student interaction through lounge and collaboration spaces where students can work and study together. Also, the campus provides generous amounts of open space for athletics.
College Counseling
We believe that college counseling is extremely beneficial to students and begins at the right time. Our college counselors have been extremely helpful in selecting courses, recommending colleges, and soothing anxious students throughout the process. Furthermore, the majority of respondents to our survey who had an opinion on this topic think that college counseling begins at the appropriate time.
Coeducation
Episcopal’s co-education has prepared us well for college and our future working lives. We feel strongly that it has enhanced our view of the world and led to more interesting discussions, friendships, and viewpoints. Not all local private schools are co-ed, so this is something that really puts EA at the forefront of its peers.
Advising System
The three of us have been impressed with the individual attention and mentorship that our advisor provides.The sense of community that we feel and value at EA would not be the same without our advisors and friends in advisory.
Conclusion
We are grateful for all these things and hope that they remain for generations of students to come. We will be sorry to leave EA, but feel that it has given us a strong foundation on which we will build the rest of our lives and are very grateful.