Phoebe Christos ’18, Abby Hogan ‘18: WNBA player Elena Delle Donne from the Chicago Sky will be speaking here at the Episcopal Academy to kick off spirit week. Delle Donne famously left the prestigious basketball team at the University of Connecticut and instead went to the University of Delaware in part to be closer to her older sister was born blind and deaf with cerebral palsy and autism. “My family means the world to me,” said Delle Donne in an interview with the WNBA. “She is amazing . . . It’s all hugs, kisses, and laughter with Lizzie and I.”…
Author: TECHALERT
Nina Stavropoulos ’17: As one looks across the Episcopal Academy Campus, they will see flashes of various pink and green gear labeled, “Team Evie,” to commemorate the life of Evie O’Brian ‘14. O’Brian was a member of the EA Field Hockey team, and described by Athletic Director, Gina Buggy, as “A great teammate, extremely unselfish, and always looking to contribute energy, enthusiasm, and selflessness.” In order to remember and celebrate the life of O’Brian, the field hockey team decided to dedicate this season to her. Their game against Notre Dame on October 24th was played in her honor and the…
Kaitlin Kan ’18, Isaac Zhang ’18: Unlike almost every other EA student and faculty member who sees Episcopal school life exclusively as a daytime activity, a few community members reside on campus for the entire day, viewing school as a 24/7 commitment. Dr. T.J. Locke, Head of School, Rev. James R. Squire, Upper School Chaplain, and Mark Notaro, Director of Facilities and Operations, reside in homes on the EA campus. Locke and Squire offered their insights on what proves to be a unique living position. Both Locke and Squire commented on how on-campus living has heightened their ties to the EA…
Jenna Lotsis ’17: Former FBI agent and Head Operator of the 9/11 investigations at FBI headquarters in 2001, Thomas B. Locke, delivered a heartfelt chapel speech for this year’s annual September 11th chapel service. Throughout the speech, Locke depicted his experiences of working so closely on the 9/11 investigation and asked thought provoking questions. He focused on the more positive side of 9/11 including the tremendous acts of heroism. Tom Locke also presented to the school a very special gift: a flag that flew on the USS Cole, a missile destroyer named in honor of Marine Sergent Darell S. Cole…
Will Phillips ’16, Matt Depillis ’16: Leaders are typically experienced and older than the people they lead, but sometimes a younger player steps up into the leadership role on a team. Molly O’Brien ‘17, the starting center midfielder on EA’s Girl’s Varsity Soccer team, has taken up this role in only her second year in the program. As a freshman, she became a regular starter alongside impact player, Meredith Manley ’18, and she feels that her previous experience on the team will help her become a leader on the field this year. In response to her role on the team, she…
Conner Delaney ’17: He plays “Dee-fense” and scores “T-Dee’s.” He is a force on the defensive side of the ball but can also break out for 200 yards rushing on offense. His two-way ability and breakout performance this year makes Dee Barlee ‘16 October’s Athlete of the Month. When watching the NFL, there are superstar players that only play one position. Even in college, it is a rarity when a player starts at two different positions or plays both defense and offense. In high school football, every team needs a couple of guys that can play both sides of the…
Alex Burman ’16, Cole Testaiuti ’16: The Episcopal Academy Football team has had a very productive start to its season. Not only have they exercised this productivity on the field, but they also proved to be exemplary within Episcopal’s non-athletic community. As far as athletics go, they have achieved numerous feats already this season – namely, beating Interboro High School and routing The Hill School, 42-20. As for off the field, they continue to impress. The morning following the win against Interboro, Todd Fairlie, Head Coach of the Football Team, had his team clear the trash in the bleachers of…
Meghan Manley ’16: EA has recently signed on to its second three-year contract with Nike and Kelly Sports, supplying EA Athletes with their uniforms and apparels. Michael Herron, Equipment Manager, stated, “We have a 3 year contract with Nike and we use Kelly Sports as a go-between to get Nike gear instead of us dealing directly with Nike.” This arrangement allows EA to receive significant discounts on uniforms and apparel, estimated at a discount of 40% off. Before Nike, all EA sports had different providers, ranging from Adidas to Reebok. Using Nike through Kelly Sports allows for a quicker and…
Maddie Hughes ’16: Teens are always on the lookout for new music and interesting movies, but sometimes it can be hard to find something new. The purpose of this cloumn will be to introduce all members of the community to new music and movies they may not have thought of before. The music and movies may be new relases, or they could be something slightly older. The point is, hopefully after reading each column, you’ll have new music to listen to and movies to watch! Music of the Month: Check out the band Bleachers, an indie pop band from New…
Laura Zecca ’16: While EA sports teams began practice during preseason, another group of students has been hard at work since the summer, auditioning, memorizing lines, and learning choreography. This year’s Domino Club’s fall play, The Witches, includes representation of all grades in lead and supporting roles, making it a new and interesting mix. Marina Rivera ’16 described the show as “interesting in that it’s about a group of witches but it’s not a fairy tale by any means. The witches don’t fit the ‘green witch pointy hat’ stereotype and while the play isn’t meant to be scary, it’s very…
Brian Seam’16: A new team of talented dancers will perform during half-time at EA’s home football games this fall. EA dance, commonly known as “EAnce” by EA student dancers, has expanded into the fall season this year. In the past, dance opportunities have only been offered as a winter sport and as a club. Cara Lavallee, EA’s Head Dance Coach and Middle and Upper School teacher, has added the Fall Dance option to allow student-dancers more opportunities to perform. “The Fall Dance option was started more formally this year. I wanted to make it an actual fitness option for those…
Will Patterson ’16: Jim Erwin, the new Music Department Chair, has big plans for the Episcopal Academy music department. Coming from the Murray School in Washington DC and a two year stint in the New Orleans charter school system, Erwin has returned to the East Coast to bring his passion and love for music to the Episcopal community. Scholium: How did you find EA? I was actually looking for a school just like EA after I left the Murray School. EA has this larger program, and I didn’t have a string program before. I just thought, “What would a larger…
Nadiyah Browning ’16, Sonam Saxena ’17: The Episcopal Academy has often prided itself on its small class sizes. However, many are feeling worried that class sizes are increasing. While the statistical data remains unknown, we have seen certain class sizes go from an intimate seven to a crowded seventeen-plus. If class sizes increase, it will negatively affect the way students are learning and interacting with teachers. Smaller class sizes are credited with allowing more interactive learning between teachers and students, as well as between students themselves. Smaller numbers in the classroom create a more open environment for students to speak up…
Dear Editor, Aurora-Vesper day should be retired from the Upper School. My purpose in saying so is not to be controversial. Rather it is my observation that the day doesn’t seem to fulfill much purpose and assuredly has costs associated with it. I’ve heard students describe the day with disparaging remarks. When I compare Aurora-Vesper Day to Spirit Week and Haverford/AIS weekend, Aurora-Vesper Day pales. How strange that we split our community down the middle in a largely arbitrary way and then believe we do this to “bring us together.” Bringing the campus at large together is a worthy goal,…
Alec Frey ’16: John Famileti, Director of Food Services, and the dining staff are doing their part in the global cause of trying to cut back on waste and its associated cost by instituting new reusable to-go containers as a carryout option for students and faculty this year. The global phenomenon of waste has especially affected Episcopal Academy recently, as just last year we went through 25,000 biodegradable cardboard takeout boxes. There is little doubt that this trend of wastefulness, particularly at Episcopal, should stop. It is clear that the transparent takeout containers Famileti and his staff have implemented this…
Isabella Sanchez’16, Meredith Warchol ’15: From small private institutions to large public schools across the country, the growing presence of social media on campuses is causing an array of problems among students. The Episcopal Academy is now joining other schools in choosing to take what happens to students online as seriously as they take incidents that occur in person. With regards to both minor infractions as well as other more serious incidents of online bullying, most schools have begun creating stricter policies. EA is rightfully stepping up their 24/7-discipline policy and honing in on harassment over social media. Some students…
Hayley London ’16, Claudia Teti ’16: This year, Episcopal has the pleasure of welcoming five friendly new faces to various teaching departments in the Upper School. Jim Erwin, Steven Schuh, Andrew Newton, Ahsley O’Connor and Annemarie Strange are all new members to the Episcopal community. As Chair of the Music Department, Erwin is taking on many new responsibilites, including advising the Upper School’s vocal ensemble and playing the organ in chapel. Before assuming his teaching role, Schuh coached for EA and is now ready to begin his career in the classroom. Newton and O’Connor have both joined the Math Department…
Emily Beinkampen ’17, Nina Stavropoulos ’17: As the Upper School is nearing its second year of J-Term, the question of how students are chosen for international trips is still lingering on a number of students’ minds. Kim Piersall, Director of Experiential Learning, is crucial to the development of each group for J-Term. Piersall explained that international J-Term trips are encouraged, as they allow the school to provide students with various opportunities to experience different cultures and “have a real world experience with their peers.” As a teacher at Episcopal, Piersall believes that “self reliance and independence are huge,” and the…
Lexi Fischer ’17, Lily Giordano ’17: “On my honor, in my work I have neither given nor received unauthorized help.” For students at the Episcopal Academy, writing this on top of papers, quizzes and tests has become second nature. Each time a student signs their name next to this statement, they make a promise. However, the true meaning of this promise sometimes differs in the minds of students and teachers. This year, many teachers, as well as Dr. Delvin Dinkins, Head of Upper School, have begun the semester by stressing the importance of maintaining academic integrity. The struggle between receiving…
Brooke Kelly ’18, Abby Baggini ’18, Tess McMullin ’18: The ESF organization will be running the Lower School after-care program this year. ESF, which stands for Education, Sports, and Fun, has run summer camps at Episcopal for the past eighteen years, fostering creativity, athleticism, and individuality in its campers. According to ESF’s website, they “provide carefully designed programs and activities, a dedicated, experienced and well-trained staff, along with a caring, safe environment with premier facilities.” In past years, Episcopal has run its own after-care program in the Lower School, which provided supervision for younger students after the academic hours. Children…