Mahika Ralhan ’26 Lilly Smolenski ’27 Stephen Morris is a dynamic figure in the Episcopal community, having worked as a coach, Head of the Middle School, and teacher for the Middle and Upper Schools. In each of these areas he has excelled and changed the lives of those around him for the better, and we are endlessly grateful for his contributions to this school. Keira Gallagher ’28: “He is such a kind and pure soul. I think anyone who has ever had him as a teacher automatically loves him. I get frustrated super easily but he has helped me calm…
Author: TECHALERT
Kyle Zhang ’27 In an effort to enhance student-administration communication and address key student concerns, the Episcopal Academy Student Council has launched a new initiative: the Student Senate. This new program aims to create a structured platform where students can directly voice their concerns and questions to Mike Letts, Head of the Upper School. The idea for the Student Senate stems from a desire to expand the role of Student Council beyond event planning and community-building activities. Andrea Yu, Faculty Advisor for Student Council, explained, “I’ve noticed a lot of our [Student Council’s] plate is filled with things that build…
Kyle Zhang ’27 In an effort to enhance student-administration communication and address key student concerns, the Episcopal Academy Student Council has launched a new initiative: the Student Senate. This new program aims to create a structured platform where students can directly voice their concerns and questions to Mike Letts, Head of the Upper School. The idea for the Student Senate stems from a desire to expand the role of Student Council beyond event planning and community-building activities. Andrea Yu, Faculty Advisor for Student Council, explained, “I’ve noticed a lot of our [Student Council’s] plate is filled with things that build…
Mahika Ralhan ’26 Last month, EA’s Model UN club participated in the 41st Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC). Model UN simulates the activities of the United Nations, allowing students to gain insight into its operations while debating real-world issues. Ninety students represented EA at the conference this year, making it one of the largest teams in attendance. Participants prepared by honing their research, public speaking, and debate skills. David Mercante, Upper School History teacher and faculty advisor for the club, discussed the team’s preparation to ensure they felt confident in their abilities, sharing, “We organized and traveled to…
Kayla Kouahou ’28 On January 20, President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term with plans to build on his first administration and implement a series of policies aimed at addressing key national issues. After outlining his priorities in his inauguration speech, Trump has already implemented nearly 40 executive orders within the first two weeks of his presidency, bringing significant change to the U.S. government and eliciting a wide range of opinions. Trump’s inauguration speech ultimately set the tone for his second term, which signaled a continuation of his previous policies while introducing new proposals to reinforce the…
Audrey Manion ’26 On January 18, TikTok went dark for its nearly 170 million American users after the Supreme Court upheld Congress’s ban on the popular social media app. Just twelve hours after being enacted, though, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to postpone the ban as the U.S. continues to debate national security concerns and TikTok’s possible connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Calls for the app’s ban initially arose due to fears that TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, would misuse TikTok’s user data and share it with the CCP. In March 2023, Singaporean TikTok CEO Shou…
On January 7, wildfires erupted and quickly spread near the Pacific Palisades, a residential neighborhood outside of Los Angeles, destroying thousands of homes and structures. While California’s wildfire season usually still poses some threats, the scale of this fire, in addition to several other fires around Los Angeles, caused extreme levels of devastation, leading to the death of 29 people and the displacement of 50,000. A defining trait of this year’s wildfire season is its severity of destruction when compared to previous seasons. Throughout the entire 2024 wildfire season, wildfires destroyed just over 1,700 structures and killed one person, in…
Stevie Combs ’25 Addison Thomas ’27 The Philadelphia 76ers have made a major shift in their arena plans, abandoning their controversial proposal to build a $1.3 billion complex in the Market East part of Center City and signing a new contract with Comcast Spectator to construct a new stadium in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex for the 76ers and Flyers. This new decision also presents a unique opportunity: the potential for bringing a WNBA franchise to Philadelphia. In July 2022, the Sixers announced their original plan to move the team to a new complex within Center City called “76 Place…
Moo Deng ’25 Karen Shi/Her ’25 Thanks to short-form content, decreasing attention spans have begun to plague our generation in the past few years. People who were once avid readers find themselves unable to pick up a book; homework is difficult to do without stopping to scroll through TikTok or Reels at least once; and flex classes become increasingly challenging to sit through. In a move to combat these issues and encourage classroom engagement, the Episcopal Academy has decided it will try a new method of retaining attention: playing innocuous videos such as those of Subway Surfers or Minecraft alongside…
Dadarian Mihalalalalakis ’27 It’s taken barely any time for the TikTok career of Michael DiMonte’s ’25 to take off to the point where random strangers are recognizing him at Wawa. His TikTok channel has already garnered an impressive follower count, and he’s had to consider wearing disguises to avoid the relentless paparazzi. To be honest, it’s not really a surprise, his humor and ingenuity have easily carried over to his TikTok career, propelling him to global stardom. The story of how DiMonte realized that he was becoming a global superstar started in an ordinary Wawa. “I was in a Wawa,…
A-money T ’25 Elizabeth Fleischer ’25 Coming as no surprise to the EA faculty and student body, many upperclassmen have recently been partaking in illegal sports betting under the guise of “no-stakes poker.” What’s more, Upper School Teacher Charles Bryant was held responsible for hosting an unknown amount of high-stakes games in his Behavioral Economics class, taking a cut of each hand. Bryant, having won a grand total of roughly $250,000 in his lifetime, hopes to carry on his legacy of poker through his F-block disciples. When asked when he first began to encourage his students to place bets with…
Sophiabulous Venneri ’26 After much anticipation, the sport of hobby horsing will finally make its debut at the Episcopal Academy this fall. Athletic Director Todd Fairlie recently announced that hobby horsing will become an official sport in the fall of 2025, just in time to participate in the highly celebrated EA/AIS/Haverford weekend. Known for its fast-paced action and physical demands, hobby horsing is a sport that requires agility and endurance. The big question is: Will the EA community rise to the challenge? David Sigel certainly believes so. He is thrilled to step into the role of head coach for this…
Lilly Smallenski ’27 Anna Strong ’09 In a stunning reversal of nearly 240 years of exclusively hiring adults for teaching positions, Episcopal Academy announced that the pre-kindergarten children of current Upper School faculty would be taking over their jobs for the remainder of the academic year. “It was a no-brainer,” said Head of Upper School Mike Letts. “These kids are more mature than their parents.” Zach Richards, V Form Dean, Religion department teacher, and varsity track and field coach, was among the first to notice that his younger son, Nico Richards ’38, might be angling to take his father’s jobs.…
Lilly Smallenski ’27 Anna Strong ’09 In a stunning reversal of nearly 240 years of exclusively hiring adults for teaching positions, Episcopal Academy announced that the pre-kindergarten children of current Upper School faculty would be taking over their jobs for the remainder of the academic year. “It was a no-brainer,” said Head of Upper School Mike Letts. “These kids are more mature than their parents.” Zach Richards, V Form Dean, Religion department teacher, and varsity track and field coach, was among the first to notice that his younger son, Nico Richards ’38, might be angling to take his father’s jobs.…
Mahi-Mahi Ralhan ’26 When New Jersey residents looked up at the sky and saw what appeared to be miniature cars, they were dismayed to discover that it was not the Weasleys’ beloved Ford Anglia, but rather mysterious drones flying above their heads. These drones puzzled law enforcement and the FBI, who have not identified their source but claim that they do not threaten national security. According to CNN, “The Department of Homeland Security and White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that many of the reported sightings are actually ‘manned aircraft’ operating lawfully.” Experts also told CNN…
Maeve Martini ’27 Not my Forte ’26 This year, the spring musical is taking a bold and unexpected turn. Theatre Department Chair Daniel Clay has announced that instead of the usual student-led production, he will be performing a one-man version of the iconic Cinderella. “After the most recent Department meeting,” Clay describes, “we collectively decided that I am just the best fit for each of these roles. Our student talent is really weak this year. Lucia just lost her flair, Fraser’s voice is shot, and don’t get me started on Reid—honestly, it’s like watching a plant wilt before your eyes.”…
Cecilia Murphy ’22 Grace Netherlands ’25 This January, Athletic Director Todd Fairlie announced that Episcopal is building new athletic facilities, including an indoor track, golf simulator, and ice rink. The construction will begin this June after closing ceremonies and is scheduled to be completed in time for fall sports pre-season, which will now begin the second week of July. However, due to a lack of space, these new facilities will be built as additions to current structures, including the Crawford Campus Center, Chapel, and campus green. Fairlie explains that these new installations will allow Episcopal Athletics to flourish. Additionally, teams…
Daniel Adibdbdb ’26 In a period of time dominated by “doom-scrolling,” “brain rot,” and “screenagers,” calls have risen to turn back to times before the advent of social media, and EA is no exception to this trend. After having a lengthy discussion about the school’s phone policy, EA’s administration has launched the broader “Simpler Times” initiative in an effort to restore its campus to a pre-digital status. The sweeping reforms, which have completely removed modern technology from campus, have faced significant backlash from students and teachers. The first stages of the initiative began with changes to EA’s phone policy after…
Ah, the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, one of the most anticipated events of the year. Freezing weather, jolly elementary children, and holiday spirit fill the campus green. The choir sings with delight, and by the dozens, cookies are eaten. If only the cold wasn’t there. The freezing winds lash at your skin, and suck the warmth from your veins, making the forty-degree weather feel like absolute zero. Hot Cocoa turns cold, cookies hard and the grass crunchy. So although the festivities are fun, they’re a grim reminder too. For nothing can conquer the weather, not food or revels or even…
Ronen Roy ‘27 Ben Wang ‘27 Every free period, hoards of students descend into the library in mass. While some have studious intent, a great majority have come to socialize with friends. With the new year’s approach, however, comes major changes. No more will the library be a wild wilderness but rather a more calm study space to help students deal with the rigors of the academic day. One such change that the Annenberg Library has made has been setting strict limits of four chairs to a table. This rule has drawn mixed reactions from students, with Micah Kim ‘27…