Feb r u a ry 2 0 1 1 N e w s l e t t e r
Spirit Week
2010 HOM ECOM I NG Spirit Week concluded on Friday, October 29th with a rousing Middle and Upper School pep rally, a bar-b-que tailgate before the game, recognition of Senior athletes, a win for the Wildcats and the crowning of the Homecoming Court.
Wildcat Roundup
FALL F E STIVAL On the evening of Thursday, September 30th, the Wildcat Round-up served up loads of fun for our Lower School students and families as the practice field was transformed into a “wildcat corral� full of games and activities.
STU DE NT I NVOLVE M E NT & AWAR DS Our students continue to serve the greater community and to gain recognition for achievements. > CLINTON VOLUNTEER AWARD Senior Jodi Schmidt received the Bridge Builder Award from the President Clinton Foundation at the annual Clinton Foundation Volunteer Appreciation Gala. Andrew Kessel of the President Clinton Foundation, recognized Jodi’s efforts to promote and provide ongoing support to the Homes for Haiti Project and to bring the project to Little Rock schools. President Bill Clinton publically praised the ongoing efforts of the Episcopal Collegiate Art Club students.
NATIONAL M E R IT HONOR E E S Seniors Douglas Kessel, Grant Slatton and Austin Daily have been named among the 16,000 National Merit Semi-finalists (out of approximately 1.5 million entrants to the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program), representing the top 1% of entrants in the state of Arkansas. In addition, Senior Robert Murphy has achieved recognition as a National Merit Commended Scholar. Left to Right: Douglas Kessel, Grant Slatton, Robert Murphy, Austin Daily
> CANNED FOOD DRIVE Students in the Middle and Upper Schools collected cans and other non-perishable foods for the Quapaw United Methodist Church food pantry.
Community Service > KIDS COOKIN’ FOR A CAUSE! Nearly 50 students, community volunteers, teachers and administrators made 860 pasta suppers, which were picked up by Potluck Food Rescue and delivered to Kids’ Pantry program sites throughout Pulaski County and underserved communities in Chicot, Union and Ouachita counties.
> HOMES FOR HAITI In partnership with the Clinton Museum Store, which is providing materials and art construction space, Joy Schultz and a number of Upper School art students are continuing their work in creating artistic “house” pins in order to raise funds for housing relief efforts for displaced Haitians. The Clinton Museum Store is selling the pins for $5.00 each; 100% of the funds raised are being directed by the Clinton Foundation to relief efforts in Haiti. Over $22,500 has been raised thus far.
> MITTENS FOR DORCAS HOUSE Middle and Upper School students collected new or gently-used mittens, scarves and caps which were donated to Dorcas House, an organization which provides food, shelter, clothing and a safe haven to women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Culinary Club
> LACROSSE SUPERSESSION This fall, the Lower School Wildcat Club learned to catch and throw the ball with finesse during Wildcat Club Supersession lacrosse lessons.
> UPPER SCHOOL CULINARY CLUB FIRES UP A FEAST! Andrew Hauge and the Upper School Culinary Club fired up the grill and created a tailgate bar-b-que extraordinaire before the home varsity game against Harding Academy.
TE N N I S STATE CHAM P S The Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team earned the State Champion title for the 4th year in a row with stellar play by State Individual Champion Trent Brandon and State Doubles Runners-up, Marshall Jones and Bo Turney. The Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team achieved their third consecutive State Champion title with the play of State Individual Champion Maggie Beetstra; State Doubles Champions, Katie Bridges and Laura Lanier; and State Individual Runner-up, Steele Strauss.
Athletics > VARSITY BOYS’ GOLF TEAM FINISHES 2ND IN STATE! The Varsity boys’ golf team finished the season in fine form with Conley Hurst ending his round with an even par 72 and earning the title of state medalist. Excellent scores by teammates Edward Thompson, Foster Pollock and William Pollock brought the team a 2nd place in the state competition.
> LEGOCATS Episcopal Collegiate’s Legocats brought home the First Place trophy! Our Lego Robotics team, Jackson Bridges, Kelsey Claybrook, Caleb Dowell, Ezra Feldman, Adam Hall, Harrison Shelnutt, Madeleine Rector, Pamela Rogers, Adrian Rogers, Lily Warren, and Kory Winning traveled to Mountain Home on Saturday, December 4th to compete in the 11th Annual First Lego League Tournament.
> CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM RACES TO A FINE FINISH The Cross Country team traveled to Rogers for the 3A State Championship and performed better than ever; the Varsity Boys’ team finished 4th overall and Anna Wilbourn finished 2nd overall!
Faculty Focus > KAREN CLARK Karen Clark holds two degrees in vocal music and completed a 2-year musical theatre conservatory program in New York City. As an Equity (union) actor she has performed across the country in musicals and plays. She currently leads our Lower School music program and co-directs the Upper School Concert Choir with Charles Stanley. Karen
also serves as one of the music directors at The Rep for the Summer Musical Theatre Intensive Young Artists’ Program, and she directs the acapella performance group “The Four Reps,” featuring our own Junior, Jack Dowden.
LOWE R SCHOOL CH R I STMAS P ROG R AM S On December 9th, pre-kindergarten through first grade students provided a charming performance of “Guess Who’s Coming to Bethlehem: A Musical Manger Mystery” and students in second through fifth grades reminded the audience that Christmas is for everyone with a delightful performance of “Christmas Hang-ups.” > PERFORMING ARTS
> READ-TO-FEED
Students are encouraged to tap into their inner “performing artist” through a variety of artistic pursuits: Like rythym? Intro. to Advanced Percussion may be the ticket. Prefer melody and harmony? 5th or 6th grade Chorale, MS Chorus, US Concert Choir or Orchestra may fill the bill. Prefer the bright lights? Theatre may be the venue of choice.
Over the course of their five-week Read-to-Feed service project, Episcopal Collegiate Lower School students met reading time goals and raised over $5,000 for Heifer International, enough to purchase an ark with 15 pairs of animals ranging from geese to goats to water buffalo!
Senior Spotlight > ALEX GEIGER Senior Alex Geiger had a very productive summer. Alex attended Boys’ State along with 582 of his Arkansas peers and was elected Mayor of the fictional Gibson City and then was elected Lieutenant Governor. Based on his performance during Boys’ State, he was selected to represent Arkansas as its Senior Senator at Boys’ Nation in Washington, D.C. in July. His successes continued as he was
appointed Senate Chaplain and then secured the nomination for Vice-President, representing the Federalist Party. Alex was elected Vice-President, receiving over 78% of votes cast. While in Washington, D.C., he met Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, Congressman John Boozman, and President Barack Obama.
ALL ABOUT LEAR N I NG
SAVE THE DATE!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
• ADVISORY-LIFESKILLS
• FCD EDUCATION SERVICES
• READAK
Demonstration of Learning Students are encouraged to learn new topics in an interdisciplinary manner, incorporating reading, writing, measuring, analyzing, creating, and sometimes performing, too!
WILD GAME DINNER
Save the Date for the first ever Wild Game Dinner! Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 6:30-9:30 in The Quad. Proceeds will support Episcopal Collegiate’s Fine Arts and Athletics programs. Tickets $75 each. 8
During January, we incorporated into the curriculum for all 5th and 6th grade students a nationally recognized academic achievement program, one of the most comprehensive and thorough courses of its kind, developed by Readak. In addition to improving reading speed and comprehension, the Readak course fosters more efficient time management, better note-taking, and improved listening. These are extremely valuable skills that have an immediate and positive impact in the classroom, in daily homework assignments, and in preparation for standardized tests such as the CTPIV, ACT, PSAT and SAT. The course was being offered outside of class time and for a fee to any interested 7th-12th grade students.
GRANDPARENTS’ AND SPECIAL FRIENDS’ DAY
Grandparents and special friends are invited to attend student performances and to participate in tours/classroom visits on Friday, February 25th. Watch for your invitation. 8
FCD educators were on campus for four days beginning on January 18 to address issues related to prevention of substance abuse. FCD’s highly-trained educators, having achieved long-term recovery from alcohol and/or other addictions, teach from an “I’ve-been-there” perspective. This not only enhances the credibility of the message, but also provides students with role models for successful, healthy, drug-free living. FCD’s intensive classroom education program was offered to our 8th and 10th graders for an hour each day. In addition to the classroom component, there was a chapel presentation for students in grades 7-12, a parent presentation, and a faculty educational opportunity.
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Our advisory program in the Middle and Upper Schools continues to develop in its second year. Faculty/staff advisors meet weekly with their advisees as a group, using this time to discuss positive peer relationships, conflict resolution techniques, and school values such as honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, civility, and cooperation. Advisors also meet with advisees individually to discuss academic performance.
DICKEY-STEPHENS PARK
The 2010-2011 Annual Fund Celebration hosted by the Parents’ Auxiliary and Foundation will be at Dickey-Stephens Park. Join us for FUN at Dickey-Stephens Park on Thursday, April 14, 2011 Enjoy a hot dog, chips and drinks with your friends from Episcopal Collegiate. Admission is free if you RSVP no later than March 30 or $5.00 per person if you choose to pay at the gate.
MONARCH MIGRATION
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All of Mrs. Bridges’ first grade science students were successful in their annual Monarch migration from Little Rock to Mexico! They used their art skills to create and decorate their beautiful butterfly wings, learned geography as they studied the migration pathways to their destination in Mexico, and studied the biology of development from caterpillar to chrysalis through metamorphosis to become a magnificent butterly.
HAIRSPRAY FUNDRAISER
SAVE THE DATE!! Episcopal Collegiate School Parents’ Auxiliary will host a night at The Rep with Hairspray! on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Private reception at 6:00 p.m.; curtain at 7:00 p.m.
ALU M N I EVE NTS 11.22.10 ALU M N I PAR E NTS’ AS SOCIATION < On Tuesday, November 22, a special chapel was held for the Alumni Parents’ Association. Students read comments from their fellow classmates on what they were thankful for at Episcopal Collegiate. The Middle School choir also performed two seasonal songs.
1.6.11 ALU M N I PART Y < On Thursday, January 6, our Alumni gathered at The Buffalo Grill for a holiday party.
JACKSON T. STE P H E N S C AM P U S | 1701 C ANTR E LL R D. | LIT TLE ROCK, AR 72201 | 501.374.1192 | E P I SCOPALCOLLEG IATE.ORG