Nik Bonney ’27
Every fall, Episcopal welcomes over one hundred new students to the Upper School. They come from a variety of places and yet they are brought together and begin to form bonds before the year even begins. It’s all thanks to a complex and well-thought-out orientation process that begins before the old school year is even over.
Tanuja Murray, Dean of the Class of 2028 explains that new students to the school begin to meet their future peers in May. She states, “It all starts with a picnic in May, which is the first opportunity for the new students to meet their future classmates. Then, later in the summer, the new students have an orientation and then a trip to Dorney Park.”
Keehan Petock ’28, a new 9th grader, reflects that the trip to Dorney Park was instrumental to smoothly melding into the EA community. “The visit was of course fun, but it also helped build community within my class. It was a lot easier to go into Outward Bound already knowing a good number of students, most of whom are experiencing the same thing I was,” he says.
Many students see Outward Bound as a crucial learning experience; it is the cornerstone of the orientation process. Murray explains that it is “a really fun and important experience for all of the students. There are about ten to twelve people in a group, all in your advisory. It’s a bonding experience and a chance to see someone in a different light. Looking back, you might think that this person was really helpful, or that person was really funny.” The trip serves to bring together both new and returning students and foster a sense of community. Marek Allen ’28, another new student in the 9th grade, describes Outward Bound as “super helpful. It was new and fun and showed me that I could do things I didn’t think I could. It took me out of my comfort zone.”
Photo courtesy of EA Communications
Though each student has unique experiences, many new 9th graders can find common ground at EA. One experience is the course load, which often takes time to adjust to. Petock says, “The workload is much tougher than at my old school, but my unscheduled and study hall blocks really help. Sometimes I’ll use them to get ahead on work or study; other times, I’ll just hang out with my friends. They help with having a good work-life balance.” Charlie Megosh ’28, another new student in the 9th grade, agrees: “A big part of the reason why I chose Episcopal was the challenging academics. The free time I have really helps manage the homework and studying I have to do.” Jackson Nerney ’28, who has been a student at EA for several years, actually describes the Upper School as “easier, because we have more time to get work done than in middle school.” There’s no doubt that the free time the 9th graders have is important in their transition into the Upper School.
Episcopal also gives students many opportunities to explore their interests. Allen says, “My favorite part of school so far has been my Computer Science and Engineering class where I learned to code. A big part of why I wanted to come to EA was because of its engineering curriculum.” Meanwhile, Keehan and Charlie have both enjoyed playing their fall sports. “JV soccer has been awesome…The bond within the team has made it easier to make friends,” says Charlie. “So far I’ve been playing football, which has been fun,” says Keehan. “I’m getting a buzz cut for Haverford Day, which I’m looking forward to.”
When asked for her best advice for new students, Murray advises, “Get involved. Join clubs; talk to people you wouldn’t talk to. Try to be present, in class, at lunch, in Chapel.” Now, as Thanksgiving break approaches, the new 9th graders seem to be fitting into the 2028 class quite nicely. Whether it be Outward Bound, computer science classes, or football games, every student is beginning to find their place in the EA community.