Maiah Islam ’21 This year EA is implementing a new evaluation process that will assess faculty and administrators to help them grow. “We [the administrators] spent all of last year talking about what this process should look like,” says Head of Upper School Michael Letts. It is “based more on the idea to help people find and achieve goals and get better everyday,” Letts continues. Process includes specific feedback. An evaluation form asks whether EA’s teachers “Maintain an active online presence as required by each division” or whether they “welcome diverse attitudes and points of view from people within and…
Author: TECHALERT
Maiah Islam ’21 This year EA is implementing a new evaluation process that will assess faculty and administrators to help them grow. “We [the administrators] spent all of last year talking about what this process should look like,” says Head of Upper School Michael Letts. It is “based more on the idea to help people find and achieve goals and get better everyday,” Letts continues. Process includes specific feedback. An evaluation form asks whether EA’s teachers “Maintain an active online presence as required by each division” or whether they “welcome diverse attitudes and points of view from people within and…
Gianna Trala ‘23 Margaret Lo ‘23 Stephania Calastri ‘23 Beginning last year, EA’s administration, working with other leaders in the community, has been creating a strategic plan for EA. The plan emphasizes five key initiatives: improving the health and well-being of students, expanding financial aid, enhancing the curriculum to incorporate life skills, introducing more professional development of teachers, and increasing student and faculty diversity, and is to be in place for the next ten years . Paul Sanders, Assistant Head of School, states that the process of creating the new plan involves “studying where we are now, studying what our…
Gianna Trala ‘23 Margaret Lo ‘23 Stephania Calastri ‘23 Beginning last year, EA’s administration, working with other leaders in the community, has been creating a strategic plan for EA. The plan emphasizes five key initiatives: improving the health and well-being of students, expanding financial aid, enhancing the curriculum to incorporate life skills, introducing more professional development of teachers, and increasing student and faculty diversity, and is to be in place for the next ten years . Paul Sanders, Assistant Head of School, states that the process of creating the new plan involves “studying where we are now, studying what our…
Gianna Trala ‘23 Margaret Lo ‘23 Stephania Calastri ‘23 Beginning last year, EA’s administration, working with other leaders in the community, has been creating a strategic plan for EA. The plan emphasizes five key initiatives: improving the health and well-being of students, expanding financial aid, enhancing the curriculum to incorporate life skills, introducing more professional development of teachers, and increasing student and faculty diversity, and is to be in place for the next ten years . Paul Sanders, Assistant Head of School, states that the process of creating the new plan involves “studying where we are now, studying what our…
Noble Brigham ‘20 In 1968 Tom Dalzell ‘69 and Van Kalbach ‘69 wrote a long editorial for Scholium entitled “Commentary and Proposal for Reform at Episcopal Academy.” This article changed the course of EA history; many of their suggestions have been implemented over the 50 years since their graduation. In Charles Latham’s book,The Episcopal Academy, he calls it the “opening gun” that inspired schoolwide reform. In fact, Jay Crawford ‘57, Head of School from 1974-2002, can still quote from the editorial and kept a copy of it in his desk drawer and often referred to it when making important decisions.…
Noble Brigham ‘20 In 1968 Tom Dalzell ‘69 and Van Kalbach ‘69 wrote a long editorial for Scholium entitled “Commentary and Proposal for Reform at Episcopal Academy.” This article changed the course of EA history; many of their suggestions have been implemented over the 50 years since their graduation. In Charles Latham’s book,The Episcopal Academy, he calls it the “opening gun” that inspired schoolwide reform. In fact, Jay Crawford ‘57, Head of School from 1974-2002, can still quote from the editorial and kept a copy of it in his desk drawer and often referred to it when making important decisions.…
Noble Brigham ‘20 In 1968 Tom Dalzell ‘69 and Van Kalbach ‘69 wrote a long editorial for Scholium entitled “Commentary and Proposal for Reform at Episcopal Academy.” This article changed the course of EA history; many of their suggestions have been implemented over the 50 years since their graduation. In Charles Latham’s book,The Episcopal Academy, he calls it the “opening gun” that inspired schoolwide reform. In fact, Jay Crawford ‘57, Head of School from 1974-2002, can still quote from the editorial and kept a copy of it in his desk drawer and often referred to it when making important decisions.…
Kevin Sporici ‘20 Every EA student knows the experience of sitting in the corner of a dark classroom, awaiting the PA announcement ending the lockdown drill. These drills can seem quite uneventful and students are often oblivious to the real challenges and the sheer level of coordination that it takes to lock down an entire school campus. It is safe to say that the general preconception regarding lockdowns is that they are a response to an active shooter situation. While this is definitely true, there are actually a variety of situations that would warrant a lockdown. Michael Letts, Head of…
Amelia Cabral ‘22 | Gianna Cilluffo ‘22 | Abigail Gallo ‘22 Teenage suicide rates have been steadily increasing. Although it may seem like a major problem nationally, it’s hard to conceptualize events like this in our community. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer issue from the spring of 2019, “Suicide now is the second-leading cause of death among teenagers.” This same article states, “Research shows that in communities where someone kills themself—whether it’s a school, military unit, or close-knit town—everyone else is more at risk for suicide too. In recent years, clusters of suicide deaths have been seen in schools across…
College application season is underway yet again, and many high school students feel anxious that one little number could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. In order to attain these high scores, many students turn to outside test preparation programs. The following are student responses to the question of whether or not EA should offer standardized test prep courses in its curriculum. Affirmative: Caroline Vander ‘20 EA should offer standardized test prep courses to help students achieve high test scores, without the drawbacks of expensive and time-consuming off-campus programs. Students are constantly busy, whether they’re playing sports, acting in…
Episcopal Academy offers its students numerous opportunities to serve their community alongside friends, peers, and teachers throughout the entirety of the school year. These activities range from ones on Episcopal’s campus, like Science Saturdays or the Casserole Blitz, to other locations nearby, like the Hub of Hope in Center City. Episcopal’s community service activities and programs are led by Rebecca Brinks, Episcopal’s Community Service Coordinator. She organizes many events and is the faculty advisor of the Community Service Corps, a body of students from 10th to 12th grade who strive to get 10-20 hours of community service and coordinate many…
Alexandra Gobran ’23 | Caroline Swell ’23 Energetic, loud, and excited: the atmosphere during the pep rally accurately represents student anticipation for Spirit Week, a week that cumulates with one of Episcopal Academy’s most important athletic competitions: AIS/Haverford Weekend, a deeply rooted tradition in EA’s history. Class of 2020 Class President, Reagan Snyder, states, “Episcopal and Haverford’s rivalry started in 1889 with the first football game between the schools. Since then we’ve expanded the breadth and depth of the weekend to a whole new caliber.” Although the games themselves have been happening for quite some time, Spirit Week in its…
Some, however, believe that art can be separated from the artist. Ryan Dankanich, Middle and Upper School band teacher, says, “Art in the general sense—visual, music, dance, et cetera—elicits feelings and emotions from people: it’s why we consume it. Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 music, just to use one example, still sounds incredible, is musically impressive, and makes me feel good despite the personal issues that Michael Jackson had. I understand how some people can’t experience art the same way after knowing the personal issues of any given artist, but to me, that is experiencing their art through a different…
Many believe that listening to an artist’s music or consuming their media, even when their criminal history is known and well-documented, is to value your own enjoyment over the trauma experienced by the artist’s victims. Others also believe that in many cases, the popularity of the art itself is what enables misconduct in the first place. This past March, Heidi Stevens of the Chicago Tribune wrote: “Jackson’s access to young fans and pliable parents was a direct result of his fame, which was a direct result of his art. His music brought children into his orbit. Same with R. Kelly.…
Kathleen Mark ‘21|Michael Zhou ‘21|Morgan Bramwell ‘21 To many viewers, the scene in the new Joker movie in which Joaquin Phoenix’s character prances down a staircase with Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2” provides a triumphant moment for the dark lead. However, to those familiar with Glitter, the scene is dark in its own way. Glitter is a notorious pedophile who is currently serving a sixteen-year sentence for various sexual crimes against minors. Some condemn the movie’s use of the song, while others argue that the movie is not to blame. This story is part of a larger debate…
Caden Collins ‘23 | Eshika Tangri ‘23 EA students who passed through the Middle School will recognize this month’s faculty spotlight, Valentina Rafaelli, Middle School teacher and choir director. Rafaelli has recently expanded upon her career outside of EA. Rafaelli explains, “I’m mainly a singer-songwriter and independent artist; and I actually just recorded a new album called Bring On The Fire. I also record for other people if they need back up vocals, and teach private piano and voice lessons.” Describing the process of making Bring On The Fire, Rafaelli states, “It was a make-it-or-break it kind of process, I…
Anjali Bose ‘20 Kemi Odeyemi ‘20 is October’s Artist of the Month for her exemplary skills in photography. With some experience prior to high school, she discovered her passion when she came to Episcopal Academy. “So I took Foundations of Art the second semester of my freshman year and I really liked the photography section. Sophomore year, I decided to take honors photography I and II, and junior year I took III, and this year I’m taking honors IV,” Odeyemi began. “With foundations of art, it was my first time actually taking a class dedicated to photography. I’d done some…
Grace Barton ’21 | Giles Elliot ’21 As co-captain of the football team, quarterback Maurcus McDaniel has led his team 8-0 thus far in his final season. As coaches Fairlee and Yespelkis speak of him as a “great leader,” “a vital part of the teams success,” and “really tough player, mentally and physically,” his crucial role in rushing, passing and touchdowns greatly contributes to the teams undefeated record. Beginning as a running back in seventh grade for the Springfield Youth Club, McDaniel began to play football eventually transitioning into the quarterback position. Starting as quarterback since his sophomore year, McDaniel…
Maddy Mitchell ’22 | Ashley Kennedy ’22 Senior Cara Harty ‘20 may be known to many as a basketball star, but her tennis abilities have contributed to the success of EA’s Varsity Tennis team. Harty has contributed to Episcopal’s tennis team since her freshman year and has been a dominant force at first doubles for the past three years on the varsity team. Harty has always had a passion for tennis and it has shown while being on the team. She adds, “I started playing tennis in the lower school at camps during the summer. No one in my family…