Andrew Ahn ’28 At the center of Episcopal’s modern language department is Erin Bilbao, who came to the school nine years ago with a deep passion for guiding students and fostering a meaningful connection to language learning. Currently teaching Honors Spanish II to freshmen and sophomores, Bilbao balances her role as an educator with a broader responsibility to the department and school, helping to create an environment where students are encouraged to contribute to the community in their own way. Bilbao’s enthusiasm for teaching is evident not only through her words but also in the energy she brings into the…
Author: Lucia Forte
Julia Griffin ’28 Each winter, families around the world prepare to celebrate Lunar New Year, a holiday focused on rejuvenation, unity, and continued hope for the upcoming year. For communities and families across Asia, the holiday represents the start of a new lunar calendar year, and an opportunity to reconnect with friends and relatives. At Episcopal, Lunar New Year allows students and staff alike to recognize cultural traditions within the community and learn from those who celebrate them. Widely considered the most important holiday in Chinese culture, Lunar New Year is known both for its historical roots and its emphasis…
Kayla Kouahou ’28 With the joy of a double snow day subsiding and the reality of winter beginning to set in, a truth has come about. The graceful white flurries that bestowed upon this EA community a break from the usual 8 AM-6 PM schedule have become a vex for all. Roads remain piled with the icy substance and, perhaps worst of all, it seems like they’ll never be cleared. Over a week has passed since the double-day delight, and yet, the mountains seem not to have decreased in size. Worse, they appear to have contracted the disease of being…
Abby Whitman ’26
Ellie Rheam ’27 Regan Finlay ’26 is more than just a student: she puts her all into everything she does, whether that’s academics or dance. She’s currently preparing for her final performance with the EA Dance Team this February, and will be dancing in the jazz, hip-hop, and modern pieces, along with her solo choreographed to Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good” in the concert. Finlay has been dancing for sixteen years, starting at the age of two, when her grandmother got her pajamas with ballerinas printed on them. After receiving the gift, she says that she “begged [her] mom to do…
Vivian Jiang ’27 In the 1960s, an awkward assistant, a sweet coworker, and a brusque shop owner get caught up with the infamous plant, Audrey II, in Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s Little Shop of Horrors. This campy satire blends horror and comedy, along with excellent music, creating a show that’s consistently ranked among the top-produced musicals in high schools around the U.S. The Domino Club finally partakes in this statistic, presenting the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors as this year’s spring musical. Student actor Charlie Casey ’27 praises the musical choice for both its story and songs. “I’ve…
Keira Gallagher ’28 The dance concert is consistently the arts event of the season, and this year is meant to be the best yet. With organized coaching staff who are committed to their craft, dedicated dancers who are determined to put on an amazing show, and everyone working behind the scenes to make the concert technically possible, Moving Masterpieces’s components of afrocaribbean, hip-hop, modern, and jazz are sure to impress. Months of preparation are underway before the first week of dance even begins. As the coaches finalize intricate details, dancers are only just starting to transition from fall activities to…
Michael Venneri ’27 Leading the EA Boys Squash Team in another competitive season, Senior Captain Rubens Schwarz ’26 takes the spotlight as our December boys’ athlete of the month. Known for his speed and determination, Schwarz has helped guide EA squash to success in the Inter-Ac and on the national level, while also setting a standard of excellence for the entire program. Schwarz was first introduced to squash when he was nine, as his mom signed him up for a variety of sports. In sixth grade, he began playing in school tournaments for EA’s middle school team. By his Freshman…
Grace VanderWaag ’26Ryan Wen ’27 Entering this winter season, both the Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity basketball teams at the Episcopal Academy have hired new interim Head Coaches. Both coaches are former assistants of their respective teams, and have already hit the ground running since stepping into their new positions. Coach Ryan “Fitz” Fitzpatrick leads the boys with his enthusiasm as one of Episcopal’s youngest head coaches, and Coach David Kalman’s calm leadership aids the girls to become more focused and determined players. Kalman didn’t have the typical path to becoming a head coach, as his youth career looks different from…
Liam McDermott ’29Madeline Husain ’29 Come to any girls’ winter track team practice and you’ll always be able to spot Co-Captain Ryann Newcomb ’26. Whether she’s leading warmups or setting the tone in brutal workouts, Newcomb’s presence has been indispensable for her team. Known for her steady leadership and fierce determination, Newcomb continues to help the girls’ track program reach unprecedented heights. A student at EA since pre-school, Newcomb began running track when she was in sixth grade. Track had always been a crucial part of Newcomb’s life, as she grew up going to the Penn Relays, one of the…
Ryan Wen ’27Kyle Zhang ’27Will Patterson ’27 In 1986, Microsoft’s Windows 1.0, the first ever edition of the operating system, had only been out for 1 year. The same year, Mikabel Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s last General Secretary, had just taken office. Much has changed in the 40 intervening years between 1986 and 2025, yet one thing has remained constant: Mr. Farrell’s presence at the Episcopal Academy. Whether as a geometry teacher, cross country head coach, or assistant athletic director, Farrell has been a cornerstone of the EA community. His humility, positivity, and ceaseless dedication to this school have impacted…
Ellie Rheam ’27 On November 10, 2025, the United States Supreme Court made the monumental decision to turn down an appeal seeking to re-assess the constitutionality of same-sex marriages. The appeal was filed by a former county clerk from Kentucky, Kim Davis, who is currently facing charges for not issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples. She reasoned that her religion didn’t allow her to issue the licences in question and is now facing major charges and large fines. Due to those repercussions, she appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking support of her beliefs and requesting that the ruling in the…
Sean Reagle ’27Darian Mihalakis ’27Lilly Smolenski ’27 Following unprecedented demand for limited May Term trip offerings that brought chaos into this year’s May Term, EA was forced to add last minute trips and reject many students. May Term trips are a popular annual tradition at EA that frequently has to deal with large levels of interest but this year was different. As a result of a multitude of factors, including how there weren’t athletic conflicts and great word-of-mouth, demand overwhelmed the process. Even after adding more trip offerings, only seniors and juniors who hadn’t already been on a trip were…
Lucas van Binsbergen ’27 The United States penny, long the quiet backbone of cash drawers and coffee-can savings, has finally reached the end of its lifespan as an actively minted coin. After more than 230 years of service, the U.S. Mint has confirmed that it will no longer be producing new one-cent pieces—closing a chapter of American history with measured dignity rather than fanfare. Over the last decade, the price for production of the penny, which costs over 3 cents to produce, has not resulted in a net profit. These losses have accumulated into tens of millions of dollars annually.…
Jack Janczyk ’28 In early November, as part of his Lilley Fellowship Advanced Independent Study, Mason Jiang ’26 led an electronic-waste drive at EA in an effort to recycle and dispose of electronics properly. Electronic waste, or e-waste, encompasses the disposal of any electronic or electric device. The project was a response to the growing problems posed by a lack of proper discarding of the products, which have become especially prevalent as society relies increasingly reliant on technology. Currently, the U.S. alone produces roughly 8 million tons of e-waste annually, and only 15% of it is recycled properly. When e-waste…
Vivian Cook ’27 This fall, Tulane University placed Colorado Academy, a private college preparatory school, along with three other unknown high schools, under a year-long early decision (ED) suspension following incidents in which students violated their early decision agreements. The highly unusual suspension essentially means that students from the Colorado Academy class of 2026 were not able to apply to Tulane through the early decision route. By applying through early decision, students are bound to their enrollment should they get in, unless the student’s financial situation prevents them from doing so. Applying to universities through early decision can have major…
Meghan Limaye ’28Danity Pike ’27 This past November saw the election of new officials to executive and legislative offices, including the millennial mayor-elect of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. Starting in 2026, Mamdani joins a minority of other young politicians, such as 29-year-old Pennsylvania Senator Joe Picozzi, elected in November 2024. The victories of these millennial candidates help amplify the voice of younger generations in government and highlight the need for greater representation of Millennials and Gen Z in our political landscape. Dr. Topher Row, Upper School History teacher and faculty advisor for Young Independents, quotes his father, a member…
Maggie Sgaramella ’26 The language program plays a crucial role in celebrating culture at Episcopal. Outside of the classroom, however, these cultures take on a new light through clubs. This month’s Club Connect highlights the Hispanic/Latinx Student Union Club, which embraces, celebrates, and shares Hispanic culture with the EA community. Club leader Ava Munoz ’26 says that the main goal of the club is to “create a welcoming space where students can connect, learn, and take pride in the diversity and importance of Hispanic/Latinx heritage.” In a community as tight-knit as EA’s, it is of the utmost importance to respect…
Sophie Liu ’28 As the weather gets colder and the holiday season grows closer, the Episcopal Academy’s holiday spirit is beginning to show through our annual festivities. There are many things to look forward to this December, as this month is filled with fun activities and events to help get the EA community into a joyful spirit. Whether it’s gathering at the tree lighting with a cup of hot chocolate or giving gifts through ACLAMO Angels, every tradition finds its own way to spread the holiday spirit across campus. The holiday season starts with the annual tree lighting event. Happening…