Jospehine Buccini ‘21: Following in the footsteps of the visual arts curriculum, the Episcopal theater faculty has added a prerequisite Foundations of Performing Arts course to its roster this year. Theater and Dance teacher Cara Lavallee, Theater Department Chair and teacher Daniel Clay, and Theater and Dance teacher Kelly Leight-Bertucci teach the class. Foundations of Performing Arts’ breakdown imitates Foundations of Art, which rotates students through 2D art, 3D art, photography, and woodworking. The final project for Foundations of Art is an identity box, where students display the knowledge and skills they learn throughout the course. Similarly, Foundations of Performing…
Author: TECHALERT
Owen Maier ’20: This winter, flu season has hit the Episcopal Academy hard. Many student and faculty absences have led to prolonged periods of missed work, compounding upon the already limited class time of the new schedule. Mike Letts, Head of the Upper School, says the flu has definitely been more intense compared to prior seasons. He states, “Clearly it has impacted the students as well as the faculty and I think it has just placed a little more pressure on the students to try and just get healthy but also make up work that was missed. It just disrupts…
Justin Chen ‘20, Sejin Park ‘20: A recent rumor regarding the possibility of a second Outward Bound trip for seniors with the same group from their freshman year Outward Bound experience, ultimately replacing senior projects, has been confirmed false by Upper School faculty. The same groups that once went to Outward Bound with during freshman year would be the same groups in this second trip. Its purpose would have been for seniors to reminisce about memories and experiences they have had as a class the past four years. In addition, it would demonstrate how much each individual has matured since last…
Anjali Bose ‘20: Catherine Spellman ‘19 is February’s Artist of the Month. During her time in Middle and Upper School at Episcopal, Spellman has developed strong skills in both 2D and 3D design. “I took Foundations of Art freshman year, so I got a little bit of everything. Then each year after that, I’ve always just liked and been better at 2D and 3D. I took 2D my sophomore year and this year I’m in Honors 3D,” she explained. Throughout both of these classes, Spellman has made a variety of oil paintings, prints, and sculptures, one of which won her…
Morgan Rees ‘21, Morgan Bramwell ‘21: The construction plan featuring an open cafeteria space and the all-inclusive food plan for EA’s dining services have been confirmed for the 2018-2019 school year. The construction of the dining hall was funded by a generous donation from the alumni association to improve the campus. Dr. TJ Locke, Head of School, says, “We felt this was the most pressing need for space,” and decided with a number of people to renovate the cafeteria. When the cafeteria was originally built, it allowed space for fewer than 270 children, which is now inadequate even for Middle School.…
Morgan Rees ‘21, Morgan Bramwell ‘21: The construction plan featuring an open cafeteria space and the all-inclusive food plan for EA’s dining services have been confirmed for the 2018-2019 school year. The construction of the dining hall was funded by a generous donation from the alumni association to improve the campus. Dr. TJ Locke, Head of School, says, “We felt this was the most pressing need for space,” and decided with a number of people to renovate the cafeteria. When the cafeteria was originally built, it allowed space for fewer than 270 children, which is now inadequate even for Middle School.…
Parisa Afsharian ’19: In light of the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 students and staff dead, the Women’s March Youth Brand “EMPOWER” has organized and sponsored a National School Walk-Out to be held on March 14 at 10AM for 17 minutes, each minute representing one victim’s precious life that was lost. Head of Upper School Mike Letts stated, “It’s a school decision, [EA students and teachers] can walk out of class at 10AM for the 17 minutes.” “However,” he continued, “It should not be required for any student or teacher to…
Dhilan Lavu ’21, Peter Woodville ’21, Michael Zhoe ’21: Steve Morris will be stepping down from Head of Middle School to be replaced by Imana Legette, the current Director of Diversity at Penn Charter. Morris will assume a teaching role at Episcopal. Head of School T.J. Locke explains that he was not surprised about Morris’s decision to step down to a teaching role as he comments, “I know he’s wanted to do this for several years now and he just loves being with the students so much, … that’s his real passion. I think he’s really done an amazing job as our…
Dhilan Lavu ’21, Peter Woodville ’21, Michael Zhoe ’21: Steve Morris will be stepping down from Head of Middle School to be replaced by Imana Legette, the current Director of Diversity at Penn Charter. Morris will assume a teaching role at Episcopal. Head of School T.J. Locke explains that he was not surprised about Morris’s decision to step down to a teaching role as he comments, “I know he’s wanted to do this for several years now and he just loves being with the students so much, … that’s his real passion. I think he’s really done an amazing job as our…
Phoebe Barr ’19: J-Term, the two-week program following winter break, will next year be moved to the end of May and replace senior projects. Head of Upper School Mike Letts elaborated on the reasons behind this change as well as its ramifications. Letts said, “The two primary reasons are, one: I don’t feel that a month off from the normal academic rotation is good. Two, I think in May the course options and the creativity that can go behind those course options will increase exponentially because the weather is favorable.” Letts pointed out that this year’s…
Billy Hoy ‘18: The Boys’ Athlete of the Month for December is Vlad Puskovitch ‘20. After winning the Inter-Ac last year as a freshman, Puskovitch, a sophomore member of the Varsity Diving Team, has something to prove this season and he expects nothing less than success. Puskovitch feels “confident this upcoming season.” However, he mentions an upcoming threat in this season’s competition. “Malvern has a good diver, Nick Harris. He is only in eighth grade but he is still a competitor.” Explaining how he became a top diver in the Inter-Ac, Puskovitch references one of the factors that has allowed…
Billy Hoy ‘18: The Boys’ Athlete of the Month for December is Vlad Puskovitch ‘20. After winning the Inter-Ac last year as a freshman, Puskovitch, a sophomore member of the Varsity Diving Team, has something to prove this season and he expects nothing less than success. Puskovitch feels “confident this upcoming season.” However, he mentions an upcoming threat in this season’s competition. “Malvern has a good diver, Nick Harris. He is only in eighth grade but he is still a competitor.” Explaining how he became a top diver in the Inter-Ac, Puskovitch references one of the factors that has allowed…
Devon Whitaker ‘20, Raina Kuzemka ‘20: The Girls’ Athlete of the Month for December is Caroline Burt ‘20 due to her contributions to the varsity squash team. As a freshman last year, Burt started the season as number eight on the ladder, but hard work and many victorious challenge matches propelled her to number two on EA’s ladder. Outside of school, Burt trains for a program called Scozzie, which is at Fairmount in King of Prussia. Burt was was ranked 7th in the country in U15 before aging up to U17. She is currently ranked 26th in U17. Burt is an…
Theo Vadot ‘19: This year, the walking team is an available option for students who do not play an Inter-Ac sport and choose not to partake in the traditional fitness program. The walking team has practice on either Mondays and Wednesdays, with ACLAMO on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or the other way around. Years ago, the walking club existed at EA’s Merion campus. When Episcopal moved to Newtown Square and had more space, the walking team was not considered a viable athletic option. However, Cheryl McLauchlan, member of the Mathematics Department and V Form Dean, along with Anne Ravreby, MS/US school…
Cara Harty ‘20: Robotics is a unique opportunity offered to EA students. “What is great about Episcopal is that it offers robotics and other STEM initiatives to students outside of its class offerings,” Middle School Technology Coordinator and co-head of Robotics, Linda Lew, states. Episcopal Robotics has two teams: 2095 is for those new to robotics or new to EA’s program and 2234 is for those who have prior experience. These team numbers are assigned by FIRST Robotics, the organization in which EA competes. Edward Mathisen ‘02, Linda Lew, Chris Shane ‘02, and Diane Radov compose the coaching staff of…
Christopher Bassett ‘18: Harvard Admissions Discrimination: After allegations that Harvard University discriminated in admissions for years, it has agreed to turn over years of confidential applicant records and information to the US Justice Department. Harvard has been accused of systematically discriminating against Asian-American applicants, making this the first time that Harvard conceded to give access to sealed records under conditions that both sides have agreed upon. One of these terms was that the Justice Department.’s lawyers have to look at the records in the presence of Harvard’s lawyers. Harvard’s reasoning behind this condition is that the school does not want…
Mary Cipperman ’21: “It’s the notes you don’t play that matter,” says Philadelphia artist, Benjamin F. Weaver. His gallery, Color Equations, ran in the Crawford Campus Center Gallery from January 30 to March 2 and closed with a jazz performance from EA musicians. With its vibrant colors and striking optical illusions, the exhibit exemplifies the energy that is characteristic of Weaver’s work. Susan Coote, the gallery coordinator, explains, “I thought these painting would be perfect for February with all the bright color.” She adds that Weaver’s experimentation in geometric forms also allows for discussion among students. To accomplish these profound…
Amanda Jones ‘20: The holiday season always brings with it many special traditions, such as cutting down a Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, and visiting loved ones. For the past 20 years, the holiday season has also brought the arrival of the much-acclaimed Starbucks holiday cup. Beginning in 1997, the famed cup was not the now classic red, but instead was available in a bright magenta, covered with white designs. They made the switch to the staple holiday red in 1999, because it was a more “joyus color,” said the manager of Creative Design of Starbucks, Jon Cannell, in Dustin…
Cayla Beaulieu ‘20: Plaid kilts worn by Episcopal Academy students two years ago will soon be worn by students halfway around the world in Syria, where those in need will receive and continue using these donations. Allison Lee ‘19 has taken the initiative to collect kilts and donate them to the Norristown-based Narenj Tree Foundation. According to their website, the Narenj Tree Foundations is “a non-profit organization, founded in November of 2013” with the intention of aiding Syrian refugees who are in need of clothes, food, and medical assistance. Their main goal is to “rebuild Syria with donations in…
Abby Baggini ‘18, Tess McMullin ‘18: John Yoo is an Episcopal alum, having graduated in ‘85. He is currently a law professor at University of California, Berkeley. Yoo worked at the US Justice Department under the Bush Administration as Deputy Assistant Attorney General. He has authored several books, including most recently, Crisis and Command: The History of Executive Power From George Washington to George W. Bush (Kaplan, 2010); and Taming Globalization: International Law, the U.S. Constitution, and the New World Order (Oxford, 2012). Yoo is perhaps most famous for his writing of the so-called “Torture Memos,” which legally justified the use…