The Good News Summer 2017
A FOND FAREWELL
School Administration Mr. John Morvant Headmaster Dr. Carol Barlow Junior High Division Head Mr. Jeff Brock High School Division Head Mrs. Reina Gardner Early Childhood Division Head Mrs. Molly Heurtin Lower School Division Head Mr. Jerry Henson Director of Advancement Mrs. Pam Perry Admission Director Mr. John Pousson Director of Finance and Operations
In His Own Words Excerpts from Greg Homer’s Headmaster Letters in The Good News, 2000-2009
“It is possible, difficult and time consuming, but possible, to react to each child as an individual in order to personalize the learning dynamics between adult and child.” (2000) “Even in disagreement we can forge trust - trust which allows us together to be mirthful about the mundane, have fun with each other’s foibles, and always be ready for the robust to break out during the day.” (2005) “Lately, I have been thinking about both Steinbeck and Faulkner in relationship to Katrina and her aftermath: specifically, how these powerful American authors both acknowledge in their works the existence of a profound pathos in the world yet remain redemptive in spirit.” (2005) “To act in earnest is to undertake a task with a spirit of deep seriousness and sincerity, and with deep feeling. It also makes one transparent; it has no guile and is forthright in action. Earnestness is predicated upon integrity.” (2006) “Implicit in our orientation is again, I hope, a sense of servitude in humility, graciousness, and gratitude.” (2009) “All these thoughts swim in a pool of rich memory, from a time of innocence and a time of consequence in so many children’s lives, which we have been privileged to experience. I truly cannot imagine a richer reverie. My deepest hope is that many a mustard seed got stuck in their pant cuff along the way that somehow subliminally fortifies them today.” (2009)
Mission Statement
Christ Episcopal School is an ISAS member. We seek to enroll all qualified students regardless of race, creed, or ethnic background.
The philosophy of Christ Episcopal School reflects the reasons for its origin: to provide a superior academic opportunity within the framework of a warm and nurturing Christian environment. Each child is special, an individual. Therefore, at the heart of Christ Episcopal School is the belief that the development of the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of each child must be tailored, to the greatest extent possible, to the individual child. We seek to give our children an awareness of God’s love and, through such an awareness, to foster those ideals - self-esteem, independence, and self-motivation - which will prepare each child for the continuing educational process. Our goal is to prepare our children for living in God’s world, with all their rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities.
In This Issue 2. 3. 4. 8. 9. 10. 12. 16. 18. 20. 24. 26. 27. 28.
From the Headmaster From the Board Class of 2017 Teacher Feature Booster Club Episcopal Identity Around Campus Art at the Park CESPA A Fond Farewell CES Theatrical Season Go Wildcats! GiveNOLA Day Remembering Leah
From the Headmaster The Best of Times and the Worst of Times... The final week of any school year is an emotional time for teachers and administrators. The typically demanding end-of-year routine of exams, report cards, award ceremonies, special activities, performances, and graduations is not only physically exhausting, but also emotionally draining for many of us. But I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like the final week of this school year. On Friday, May 19, we celebrated the graduation of our high school seniors. By any measure, the class of 2017 was outstanding: 25 strong, they were easily the largest high school class ever to graduate and they were certainly among the most talented. And as we celebrated and honored them for their considerable accomplishments, we also lamented their departure. We will miss their academic drive, their involvement, their school pride and spirit, their leadership, their generosity, and their sense of humor. As they head to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, they leave behind a legacy of achievement which will be a challenge for subsequent classes to match. So although we celebrate their success and are excited about their futures, it’s just not easy to say goodbye to such a wonderful group of young men and women. The following day, on Saturday, May 20, we attended services at Christ Church celebrating the life of Leah Bell, the beloved 2014 graduate of CES who died tragically in early May in a boating accident. The euphoria of graduation quickly gave way to the profound sadness of losing Leah. Leah was a brilliant scholar and National Merit Commended Student, and served as president of her senior class. She loved Christ Episcopal just as she loved her classmates and teachers. She possessed a radiant smile and an infectious sense of humor, and she found joy in everything around her. The emotion in Christ Church that day was palpable, as our school and church communities said goodbye to a truly exceptional young woman, so full of life and promise. There was absolute joy in remembering all that Leah represented, but intense sadness in her passing. And finally, on Friday, May 26, we closed the school year. At our annual faculty social to mark the end of the year, even as we celebrated the final day of school, we also bade farewell to Mr. Greg Homer, who was retiring after 25 years of service at CES. Again, the moment called for both celebration and lamentation. As we rejoiced in his incredible career in education, as we recognized his part in shaping the unique character and culture of this school, as we recounted so many tales from the vast Greg Homer catalog of stories, and even as we thanked him for all he had done – we were still saying goodbye. The school has lost a consummate educator, who, in my opinion, possesses an unparalleled ability to read kids and to recognize the goodness in every life he touches. I will surely miss his enduring presence on campus every day, and I treasure his loyal friendship and wise counsel. So we bid farewell to the members of the Class of 2017, to Leah, and to Greg. Christ Episcopal is a better and stronger school for their time here. As Garrison Keillor would say: “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” John Morvant Headmaster 2
From the Board Resolution of the Board of Trustees of Christ Episcopal School
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Class of 2017 Congratulations to the Class of 2017
Christ Episcopal School celebrated the graduation of the 25 members of the Class of 2017 with two special events. A Baccalaureate Service was held on Thursday, May 18 at Christ Episcopal Church in Covington. The Commencement Exercises took place in the Center of Inquiry on Friday, May 19. The class Valedictorians were Cove Geary and Theresa Leith, and the Salutatorian was Austin Willis. Other major award winners included: American Legion Award - Martha Ann Croxton and Marshall Ponder Greg Homer Award - Ashley and Emery Gilly Headmaster’s Award - Martha Ann Croxton and Andrew Newberry Leah Bell Episcopal Identity Award - Cove Geary The Class of 2017 is a tight-knit group with myriad interests and accomplishments. Of our 25 CES seniors, seven, Martha Ann Croxton, Cove Geary, Ashley Gilly, Emery Gilly, Theresa Leith, Davis Levine, and Alexander Preau, have been at Christ Episcopal since Pre-kindergarten, our so-called “lifers”. This class and its achievements give Christ Episcopal School so many reasons to be proud. As this group leaves CES, we wish them well and hope that they stay in touch and visit often!
College Acceptances American University Baton Rouge Community College Boston College Chapman University College of Charleston College of William and Mary Colorado College Colorado State University Cornell University Delgado Community College Duke University Emory University Fordham University Georgia Institute of Technology Hawai’i Pacific University
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Loyola Marymount University Loyola University of New Orleans Louisiana State University Louisiana State University, Honors College Louisiana Tech University Millsaps College MiraCosta College (California) Mississippi State University Niagara University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern Louisiana State University Northwestern University Occidental College Rice University
St. John’s University (New York) St. Petersburg College Santa Clara University Seattle University Southeastern Louisiana State University Southern Methodist University Tulane University University of Chicago University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Denver University of Louisiana, Lafayette University of Miami University of Mississippi University of New Orleans University of Rochester University of South Florida University of Southern California University of Southern Mississippi University of Virginia Washington University Yale University
Senior Night On Wednesday, May 17, Christ Episcopal School celebrated the 70 students who comprise the Class of 2017! If that number appears large, that’s because it is. We are used to hearing about the 25 seniors, our fifth high school graduating class. But 70 is the number of students who have attended CES at some point between Pre-kindergarten and 12th Grade. They are alums, but not graduates, but we still count them as members of the Class of 2017. It was great to catch up with so many former students, who provided updates on their high school experiences and plans for the fall.
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Baccalaureate
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Commencement
Valedictorian Cove Geary
American Legion Award Marshall Ponder
Valedictorian Theresa Leith
American Legion Award Martha Ann Croxton
Headmaster’s Award Martha Ann Croxton
Greg Homer Award Ashley and Emery Gilly
Salutatorian Austin Willis
Leah Bell Episcopal Identity Award
Cove Geary
Headmaster’s Award Andrew Newberry
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Teacher Feature In appreciation of our dedicated faculty and staff
Five Years of Service
Carol Barlow
Jeff Brock
Missy Broussard
Melinda Domingue
Susan Ellis
Suzanne Freret
Leah Mumford
Sara Pellegrini
Melanie Todd
Genie Waite
Ten Years of Service
Lynn Demelo
Julie Estep
Fred Hosch
Therese Kwiecien
Amy Morris
RevĂŠ Pounds
Bobbie Vicknair
Gina Keaton
Twenty Years of Service
China Coleman
Dawn Cox
Leslie Dudley
Sandra Lorando
Twenty-FiveYears of Service
Joan Boyer
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Greg Homer
Sarah Sparkman-Boyd
Booster Club The Athletic Booster Club’s goal is to develop athletic facilities and programs that match the caliber of the academic opportunities available at Christ Episcopal School. Our outstanding Physical Education teachers and coaches deserve facilities that are representative of their commitment to our students and that will best enable them to succeed. There are now four annual Booster Club fundraisers to help us achieve that goal, so thanks to everyone for your help in making the fishing rodeo, golf tournament, 5K, and tennis tournament unprecedented successes. From our four events, the Booster Club raised $79,733. Add to that funds from concessions and banner sales, and the Booster Club grossed $92,511! Those funds are already at work for students in every division and in our athletic department. The Early Childhood Campus received new playgroup equipment from the 5K proceeds, which has been met with great excitement by those students. At the Christwood Boulevard Campus, the track and field facility and the new tennis center have been outfitted with equipment that includes benches, outdoor tables, soccer goals, pole vaulting and high jump equipment, and weather-proofing material for all of our outdoor sports equipment. Booster Club funds have helped to ensure that the track and field was ready to host Physical Education classes, team practices, games, and tournaments. The concession stand has been fully outfitted with shelving, food preparation and serving equipment, and coolers, and has been a great source of revenue for the Booster Club.
Save these dates for the 2017-2018 Booster Club events: Second Annual Fishing Rodeo is September 9; Seventh Annual fore! Wildcats Golf Tournament is October 19; Fourth Annual King Cake 5K is January 27; and the Fifth Annual Wildcat Tennis Tournament is March 25. Thank you for your support of our Athletic Booster Club!
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Episcopal Identity Newly ordained to the priesthood, Mother Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles will return for another year as the full-time Chaplain at Christ Episcopal School. Her work involves continuing to define and deepen our identity as an Episcopal school, and in this article she describes for us the intent, function, and future of our Christian Education program. What is the responsibility of the Christian Education Department? With chaplains, to work closely with the administration and faculty, and to listen to CES students and families, to make sure we do “our Episcopal best”: • To make sure the school is caring for the mind, body, and soul of students, families, and faculty • In keeping with our Episcopal identity • So that this environment is one of spiritual growth and engaged learning
What informs our way of life at CES? Because the school is a mission of Christ Church, everything we do is rooted in our Baptismal Covenant. The Baptismal Covenant asks that we examine ourselves and answer these charges: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? I will, with God’s help.
What is the ideal Christian Education curriculum for CES? • • • • •
Christian Education has its place in every grade level It also reflects the artistic and intellectual nature of the school We begin with “wondering” in the Godly Play model, ECC-5th Grade All teachers are responsive to the experiences and questions students have about our Biblical heritage and traditions In all things, we are rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and Reason
What are Christian Education’s main goals? The goal of Christian Ed is to respond to the phenomenal growth the school is seeing! 1. Worship spaces and services that fit the needs of our growing student body 2. Keep classes small for chaplain/student relationships 3. Increase the presence of ordained chaplains for pastoral care and instruction 4. Offer more support groups, Bible studies, book clubs to families and faculty
Worship
Maundy Thursday Eucharist at the CBC
1. Worship spaces and services that fit the needs of our growing student body Worship currently meets on Mondays and Thursdays in the Outdoor Chapel for Lower School Chapel, and on Mondays and Thursdays in the COI Theatre for Junior High and High School Chapels. You are always warmly invited to attend with your children. Improvements to Worship, 2016-2017 • First Bilingual Chapels for Hispanic Heritage Month • First Martin Luther King, Jr. Chapels for all grade levels • Chapel opening Athletic Awards ceremonies • First High School Pilgrimage to Spain to walk and pray the Camino Ingles to Santiago de Compostela Save the Dates • High School Opening Eucharist at the Church: August 17 • Grandparents Day Chapel: October 20 • Episcopal School Sunday: October 22 • 10th Grade Mission Trip to New Orleans: November 5-10 • Lessons and Carols: December 8
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Chaplaincy
2. Keep classes small for chaplain/student relationships 3. Increase the presence of ordained chaplains for pastoral care and instruction Good News • All Christian Education teachers, including chaplains, are trained in Godly Play • One full-time, M-F ordained chaplain, one part-time, M/Th ordained chaplain • Continued relationship with clergy at the church for special and shared events • Mother Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles was ordained to the priesthood on June 28. Curriculum Guide 2016-2017 Grades 1-5: Godly Play once per week, Old Testament, New Testament, and major Episcopal sacraments Grades 6-7: Follow-up to Godly Play, further Biblical literacy 8th Grade: Teen Faith and Wellness, using the Living Compass Guides 9th Grade: Social Justice in the Old Testament 10th Grade: New Testament: Mission and Outreach Next mission trip to New Orleans: November 5-11 11th & 12th: The Episcopal Church: History and Sacraments Ethics: Making Decisions Future Electives in development • World Religions • Contemporary Christian Literature • The Bible as Literature • Teen Faith and Wellness in the High School
Nurture the Nurturers
4. Offer more support groups, Bible studies, and book clubs to families and faculty Help us discern the needs of our student body, families, and faculty! Let your chaplains know about your interest in any of the following examples from other Episcopal Schools: • Student Vestry • Student Peer Groups • Divorce Support • Grieving through Artwork • LGBTQ+ • Yoga • Centering Prayer • Luncheon Bible Study • Parent/Student Book Club • Welcome to the Episcopal Church/Discovery Group • Quiet Days, Retreats, Spiritual Journaling • Bystander Awareness Training • Diversity Training
Full-time Chaplain Mother Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles is on campus teaching, leading worship, and taking pictures with Willie the Wildcat, Monday through Friday.
Part-time chaplain Morgan MacIntire teaches on Mondays and Thursdays.
Upcoming Opportunities and Visions Partnerships with the church, guidance counselors, and student groups Events: • Wellness for Parents, a Living Compass event October 2017 • Jazz in January, featuring musicians from Cuba January 2018 • Greg Garrett, Literary Week author and guest preacher February 2018 • Becca Stevens, author, founder of Thistle Farms, and guest preacher Lent 2018 Projects: • Literary Club producing Advent devotionals from student submissions • Increase suicide prevention work in the high school with Mental Health First Aid
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Early Childhood Campus
Early Pre-K “Snow Day”
Kindergarten Circus
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Lower School
Fourth Grade State Capital Visit
First and Fifth Grades Buddy Books 13
Junior High School
Seventh Grade Camp Carolina
Eighth Grade P. E. at the YMCA
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High School Field Day
Senior Speak
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Art at the Park Art at the Park has been a fixture at Christ Episcopal School and in Covington since 1986. Cindi Raymond, one of our school’s founders, and to this day an avid supporter and sponsor, created Art at the Park as the inaugural fundraising program for our school. The innovative and creative event capitalized on the interest in the visual arts that permeated the Covington community and the proximity of Bogue Falaya Park to the campus. Art at the Park remains the Christ Episcopal School Parent Association’s largest fundraiser, bringing in significant funds that go toward supporting the school’s most pressing programmatic concerns. This year’s 31st annual celebration of the arts was a record-shattering success thanks to the efforts of co-chairs Ashley Barrios, Shauna Johnson, Danielle Ragas, Lynne Bordelon, and Robyn Williams. Along with CESPA President Kelli Blessey and a great corps of volunteers, sponsors, donors, and supporters, the co-chairs mounted an event that was successful in every regard and exceeded everyone’s expectations in terms of sponsorships, participation, community engagement, creativity, and enthusiasm. In terms of the event’s financial success, Art at the Park 2017 was incredible. Our preliminary accounting of the different fundraising aspects of the event gives us an astounding new fundraising record for Art at the Park of $234,012. To put that into perspective, our record had been $180,791. Along with thanking our co-chairs and volunteers, and you, we want to extend a huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for helping to make this our most successful event ever. If you would like to get involved by chairing a committee or volunteering for an event, please contact the Advancement Office. Your time and talents are appreciated and will be put to good use.
The next Art at the Park Opening Night Party is April 14, 2018, so save the date!
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CESPA
Dear Christ Episcopal School Families, It’s hard to believe that the 2016-2017 school year is at an end! I read an old saying recently that has really stuck with me---the days pass slowly, but the years fly by. Never does that feel truer than this year. The year has flown by, but what a year it has been. It has been my pleasure to serve this year as President of the Christ Episcopal School Parent Association (CESPA) alongside so many generous and dedicated parents at Christ Episcopal School. What a memorable year we have had, full of many great accomplishments. I am so proud to be a part of making it happen. We started the year off strong with our annual welcome back dinner for parents: Blues, Brews, and Barbecue. I hope you will save the date for this fall’s upcoming barbecue on Friday, August 18. This event is always a wonderful way to catch up after the summer with parents that you know, and to start friendships with new parents at the school. Throughout this past school year, CESPA was able to provide so many great opportunities for our families to enjoy time together. Among them, CES families enjoyed not one, but two, exciting Bingo nights, a special celebration with grandparents and special friends in the fall, and the much anticipated and festive holiday shopping experience at Mistletoe Market. CESPA also helped support the traditional events that make our school such a special place, including Literary Week, Kindness Week, and Breakfast with St. Nicholas. Rounding out the year, CESPA’s very own dynamic Art at the Park (AATP) leadership team put together and pulled off one of our school’s most profitable fundraising events ever. Though we stayed true to our traditional Saturday children’s event and our one-of-a-kind Box Parade, our fearless AATP team proposed big changes to our Opening Night and Patron Party, and their bet paid off. Art at the Park was a huge success this year! A big thank-you goes out to all of our CES parents for rallying around our AATP team as they worked their way through some uncharted waters. Our school would not be successful without the involvement and support of our parents. On behalf of CESPA, I would like to say thank you to all who volunteered this year, to the classroom coordinators, to my committee chairs, and especially to the CESPA Board for giving their time, interest, and love to enhance our efforts here at CES. Thank you also to the teachers, staff, and administration for your efforts in spreading the word and supporting our activities. Have a fantastic summer and be safe! I have enjoyed the opportunity to lead CESPA over the past year, and I look forward to supporting our new incoming president for the 2017-2018 school year, Christine Devraj.
Warmest regards, Kelli Blessey CESPA President, 2016-2017 18
CESPA Events
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A Fond Farewell Our Mr. Homer
About the Headmaster, Mr. Greg M. Homer (Published in the April 1998 Christ Episcopal School Good News) The original premise of this article was to capture a glimpse into a day in the life of Greg Homer. The faculty and staff were asked to take notes about their encounters with Mr. Homer on Tuesday, February 17 (1998), a day on which he was scheduled to be on both campuses and everyone would have an opportunity to see him. Pam Perry gathered the notes and threw them in the bottom of her purse, not bothering to read them until she was cornered by Lucie Thornton and told what the word ‘deadline’ meant. Once Pam read the notes, she was surprised to be so moved by what she read. While it was no surprise how busy and full Mr. Homer’s day was, Pam said, “I never fully realized that the one thing Greg has the least of is time and this is what he gives the most.” In recognition of Mr. Homer’s natural shyness, this is not written as a tribute, but as a look into a typical day in the life of our somewhat offbeat, but always reliable pathfinder to the students, faculty, staff, and parents who make up the community of Christ Episcopal School. Mr. Homer arrives before morning childcare and immediately makes a pot of decaf. Pam’s computer is on and he works at her desk with his broken reading glasses hanging off of his face, banging away at some poetic missive that is added to the world’s longest word processing document. It contains correspondence for parents, faculty, Board, or staff, as well as science and social studies tests. Yeah, yeah, he will let Pam teach him how to create individual files on the computer, but a preschooler is in tears because her mom cannot attend a field trip to Christwood; he comforts her. Sally Cromwell needs to discuss a student and Joan Boyer has some observations. He listens and offers advice. There is a timing problem with the Christwood field trip: Pre-K classes are planning to leave at 8:30, but Christwood residents are not expecting them until 10:00. No problem: Greg gathers the children and decides to fill the time with a Middle School campus tour. Before he leaves, several parents stop him in the hallway and he visits with them. Meanwhile, the distressed Pre-K girl is now smiling and she races toward him for a hug. Lana Dessauer greets him at the Middle School and he requests a conference with her. (“Let’s talk, follow me.”) As he sweeps water off of the gym floor, they walk back and forth, discussing wilderness trips and boys’ basketball. The seventh graders entertain the Pre-K students with scooters. A child is hurt, but Greg handles it. It is 9:15 and time for him to teach his Science and Social Studies classes. When he is done with that at 11:55, Antionette needs his help with serving Middle School lunch and he obliges. It is believed that she mentioned something about teaching him how to drive the bus. You never know when he will need to drive her route, and this is the final phase of his formal education. After lunch, he is back at the Lower School campus where once again he is greeted by excited shouts of “Mr. Homer!” He goes to the playground and visits the kids. Each time someone tries to get some time and attention from him, he gives it. Now it is carpool time and on his way out to help, he sees Robin Cardinale. He mentions to her that he noticed she took a philosophy and ethics course and he is curious to know what knowledge she gained. A faculty meeting is scheduled after carpool and then Mr. Homer will be back at Pam’s desk to continue that ongoing document before the evening’s meetings, basketball game, and finally, a well-deserved rest at home.
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“We truly appreciate your tireless effort of giving to this school! You have impacted so many lives for so many years.”
A Fond Farewell
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“Your understated presence on our campus is indicative of a man whose primary purpose is not ‘self-driven’ but ‘others-driven’. ”
“Every day I drove by Christ Episcopal School this summer, I thought of pulling in, finding you, and thanking you for all you have done for our family.”
“What a tremendous gift to be such a great listener!”
“Day after day, all the millions of small ways you are physically present in our children’s lives add up to nothing less than a spiritual process.”
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CES Theatrical Season Our very talented high school, junior high, and lower school students presented six performances of “Annie” this spring. A very special Broadway Matinee was held on March 19, with audience members encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character from a Broadway show. All of the performances were completely SOLD OUT! Congratulations to all of the students and teachers involved. On October 14 and 15, “Antigone”, written by Jean Anouilh with music by singer/songwriter Birdy, was presented by the high school drama team and cast. Jean Anouilh’s famous play captures the incredible spirit of one of the very first Girl Power characters. On April 13, the Christ Episcopal High School Theatre Class in collaboration with the Theater Tech class presented Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (as re-imagined by Dr. Fox and her students). The scholar Faustus is offered the ability to know all things, go anywhere, and have absolute power. At what cost? Her very soul. But even Faustus must reckon with time, and the audiences decided her ultimate fate. Plot spoiler: Faustus was granted redemption and saved from damnation.
Antigone
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Annie
Faustus
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Go Wildcats!
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On May 2, Christ Episcopal School participated in GiveNOLA Day for the first time. GiveNOLA Day is a 24-hour, online charitable event mounted by the Greater New Orleans Foundation designed to inspire people to give generously to nonprofit organizations that are making Southeast Louisiana better for our entire community. Thanks to the support of our generous donors, Christ Episcopal School raised an incredible $12,210 on GiveNOLA Day! A huge THANK YOU for helping Christ Episcopal School raise more money than any other participating educational institution in St. Tammany Parish! Cheryl Andrus Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Brian Becker Michelle Braswell Melissa Cambre Donna Canalizo Charlie Caplinger Melissa Chandler Michele Cooper Kim Coughlin Steve Croxton
Leslie Dominguez Cameron Doyle Tanya Curtis Jill Fenn Suzanne Freret Brandi Frolich William Gahagan Elizabeth Gambel Bradley Goodson Jennifer Grabiner Stephanie Harrison Clark Heebe Molly Heurtin Charlotte Jackson Liz LaSalle
Melissa LeJeune Jamie May Vanessa Mayfield Heidi McGehee Jace Miller Chanse and Alison Mortensen Kris Muntan Chesha Oliver Deborah Phillips Lawrence Plunkett Gayle Pounds Jane Slatten George Tennison Cheryl Wild-Dondeville Michael Willis
Save the date! GiveNOLA Day 2018 is May 1. 27
Remembering Leah On May 20 at Christ Church, we celebrated the radiance of young Leah Bell’s life. Leah Elizabeth Bell, a beloved member of the Christ Episcopal School Class of 2014, lost her life in a tragic boating accident in Copenhagen, Denmark two weeks earlier. She was in the last week of a study abroad program associated with Pomona College, where she studied psychology on a pre-health track, planning to become a neonatal intensive care nurse practitioner. One of her professors remembered, “Leah was kind and thoughtful. She had an excellent mind and an even deeper heart. She was a delight.” Another said, “Leah was a lovely young woman and very kind. She was a student who was delighted by working with children. She found that she loved the experience of caring for premature babies, of helping families learn to bond with them and have hope for their future as a family.” We in the Christ Episcopal School community join together in supporting the Bell family during this difficult time. We recall Leah’s smile, her infectious sense of humor, and the joy she found in everything around her. She was a brilliant student, recognized in her senior year as a National Merit Commended Student. She was an accomplished member of the Speech and Debate team, served as Senior Class President, and was generous in her service to others. She was a natural on stage, very involved in our theater program (and many other activities.) Her faith and her church were extremely important to Leah, as were her school, teachers, and classmates. At Commencement on May 19, Christ Episcopal School presented the first annual Leah Elizabeth Bell Episcopal Identity Award in her memory. Each year, it will be given to a student closely connected to and actively engaged in the Christ Church community. Leah’s light shines on.
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Non-Profit Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid Covington, LA 70433 Permit No. 80
80 Christwood Boulevard Covington, LA 70433 (985) 892-9156 Early Childhood Campus (ECC) (985) 871-9902 Christwood Boulevard Campus (CBC) www.christepiscopalschool.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Admission to Christ Episcopal School is open to all qualified students regardless of race, creed or ethnic background.
August 16 August 16 August 17 August 17 August 18 August 24 August 25 August 31 September 5 September 7 September 9 September 14 October 3 October 3 October 4 October 6 October 16-20 October 19 October 20 October 22 October 25 October 27 November 9-10
High School Book Day New Student Orientation Meet the Teacher (ECC) (half-day) First Day of School (CBC) Blues, Brews, and Barbeque Parents’ Night (ECC) Founders Day (half-day) Parents’ Night (LS/JH) Labor Day Holiday Parents’ Night (HS) Booster Club Fishing Rodeo Bingo! Family Fun Night Greens and Poinsettias Sales Begin Individual Pictures (ECC) Individual Pictures (CBC) Parish Fair Holiday Book Fair Booster Club fore! Wildcats Golf Tournament Grandparents’ Day (half-day) Episcopal School Sunday Admission Open House (ECC) Parent/Teacher Conferences (no school) Mistletoe Market
November 17 November 20-24 December 8 December 15 December 20 - January 2 January 12 January 15 January 18 January 27 February 5-9 February 12-16 March 25 March 30 April 2-6 April 14 April 20 April 21 April 30-May 11 May 17 May 18 May 23 May 25
Stay in Touch with CES!
Faculty In-service Day (no school) Thanksgiving Holiday Lessons and Carols (CBC) Lessons and Carols (ECC) Christmas Break Faculty In-service Day (no school) Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Bingo! Family Fun Night Booster Club King Cake 5K Literary Week Mardi Gras Holiday Booster Club Wildcats Tennis Tournament Good Friday Holiday Easter Break Art at the Park Opening Night Party Art at the Park Box Parade (full-day) Art at the Park Advanced Placement Exams Baccalaureate High School Commencement Last Day of School (ECC) Last Day of School (CBC) (half-day)
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