T H E 2 0 1 2 -1 3 F I R S T S E M E S T E R N E W S THIRTY STUDENTS NAMED AP SCHOLARS Based on their performances during the Advanced Placement Exams in 2012, 30 of our current or recently-graduated students achieved Advanced Placement honors. Eight of these students were named AP Scholars with Distinction and two, Maggie Beetstra ‘12 and Sam Thoma ‘12, were named National AP Scholars (scoring at least a 4 on all exams and receiving a 4 or higher on at least 8 exams.) Congratulations students!
Left to right: Desiree Fletcher, Jennifer Saccente, Edward Thompson, Sonia Helen Pascale, and Blair Johnston
FIVE STUDENTS HONORED AS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS Out of a class of 53, five Seniors in the Episcopal Collegiate School Class of 2013 have been recognized as recipients of National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors. Three students (Sonia Helen Pascale, Jennifer Saccente, and Edward Thompson) achieved National Merit Semi-finalist status. Desiree Fletcher was named a National Achievement Semi-finalist. In addition, Blair Johnston and Sonia Helen Pascale were named College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars.
Quiz Bowl Team members pictured in top right are (back row, l to r): Coach Stan Whittlesey, Sonia Helen Pascale, Jacob Dowell, Ben Winter, Nicholas Simmons, Alan May, and Coach Bruce Hall; (front, l to r): Jackson Bridges, Colin Clemmons, Houston Downes, Dylan Wright, Ezra Feldman, and Victoria Jones.
QUIZ BOWL TEAM ACHIEVES HISTORIC FIRST At the North Little Rock Invitational Tournament on Saturday, January 12, the Quiz Bowl team won two trophies in one day for the first time in team history. The team split into two squads, as is normal procedure at invitational tournaments, and the two teams ended up on opposite sides of the afternoon bracket. The drama was heightened when the teams not only reached the final four, but played each other in the championship game. Schools that were defeated by the two teams included Central, defending 5A champions Watson Chapel, Fountain Lake, Conway Christian, and Arkansas Baptist.
Left to right: Ben Winter, Martene Mourning, Susan Tucker, Houston Downes, Laura Dunnagan, Jacob Rowell, Ned Garrett, Ned Curran, Gus Powers
WILDCATS TAKE TOP HONORS AT STATE STUDENT CONGRESS COMPETITION Students Ned Curran, Laura Dunnagan, Houston Downes, Ned Garrett, Sonia Helen Pascale, Gus Powers, Jacob Rowell, Edward Thompson, Susan Tucker and Ben Winter along with coach Martene Mourning attended the state Student Congress competition on November 4th, 5th, and 6th in Little Rock. Student Congress is a mock legislative event, so in advance of the competition, the students worked diligently writing bills and researching proposed legislation. At the competition, they ran for legislative offices and debated bills using parliamentary procedure. This group of students represented Episcopal very well and did an outstanding job. They won the following awards: • Overall Best Delegation- 1st place • Best Delegation House I- 2nd place • Best Delegation House II- 2nd place • Excellent in Committee- Ned Garrett • Superior in Committee- Edward Thompson, Sonia Helen Pascale, Houston Downes, Jacob Rowell, and Ben Winter • Excellent in Caucus- Ned Garrett and Ben Winter • Superior in Caucus- Sonia Helen Pascale, Edward Thompson, Jacob Rowell, and Houston Downes • Excellent in Parliamentary Procedure- Edward Thompson and Jacob Rowell • Superior in Parliamentary Procedure- Ned Garrett, Ben Winter, Sonia Helen Pascale, and Houston Downes • Superior in Floor Debate- Sonia Helen Pascale, Jacob Rowell, Ned Garrett, Houston Downes, Ben Winter, and Edward Thompson • Superior Page- Ned Curran, Laura Dunnagan, Gus Powers, and Susan Tucker • Best Delegate for Episcopal- Houston Downes and Sonia Helen Pascale • Best Bill 3rd place House I- Jacob Rowell • Mary Ingalls Award- Houston Downes
Left to right: Foster Pollock, Edward Thompson, Jerry Reese, Conley Hurst and William Pollock
BOYS’ GOLF TEAM CAPTURES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE For the third time in four years, the Episcopal Boys’ Golf Team won the 3A State Championship! Senior Conley Hurst scored a 74 and made All State, as did Junior William Pollock, who also scored a 74. Senior Foster Pollock also made All State with a score of 75. Senior Edward Thompson scored a 78 to round out the Championship-winning match. In addition, Conley Hurst qualified and finished in 2nd place in the AAA Boys’ Overall Championship held at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
NOTED CHILDREN’S AUTHOR VISITS LOWER SCHOOL
ETHAN STRAUSS WINS GEOBEE
Excited Lower School students piled into the Braunfisch-Stella Boyle Smith Lower School Library on Friday, October 26, to hear famous children’s author Sarah Frances Hardy read her book Puzzled by Pink. Described as “Wednesday Addams meets Fancy Nancy,” Hardy’s book is published by Viking Children’s Books and is a hit among young readers. After a fun morning in the Lower School, Hardy extended her time on campus to meet with Middle and Upper School students. Hardy shared her experiences with students and answered questions about the writing and illustration processes. A writer, illustrator and fine artist, Hardy’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries throughout the Southeast. She studied fine art at Davidson College and at the Parsons School of Design in New York and Paris. Hardy’s first children’s novel is due out this year. Thanks to our parent, Mark Lee, for extending an invitation to Hardy to join us on campus. CLASS IN ACTION: MONARCH MIGRATION Every year our 1st graders discover the amazing process of metamorphosis firsthand as they watch Monarch eggs hatch into caterpillars, make chrysalises, and emerge as adult butterflies. They also explore the incredible seasonal migration of these tiny creatures. Students learn about the treacherous fall journey to Mexico and the return trip home in the spring. The students create their own butterfly wings and wear them in a migration throughout the Lower School.
Episcopal Collegiate 6th grader Ethan Strauss is the winner of the 2013 School-Level National Geographic Bee Competition. After a semester-long competition that included written geography tests and four rounds of oral competition, the field was narrowed from an original group of more than 150 students down to 10 finalists. On January 8, a final elimination round resulted in an intense tie-breaker between two very talented competitors. The Middle School History teachers would like to congratulate all the GeoBee participants, and to especially recognize Ethan for his victory. Ethan will have the chance to compete at the State Level Geography Bee after submitting a final qualifying written exam. Results of the qualifying exam will be announced later this year. “WILDBOTS” CELEBRATE TOP FINISH IN STATE ROBOTICS COMPETITION The Episcopal Collegiate Robotics Team, also known as the “WildBots,” is celebrating a special achievement. The team took 8th place out of 17 teams in the 2012 FIRST Tech Challenge State Robotics Competition held recently in Mountain Home. The WildBots rose as high as 3rd place over the course of the competition, which included six matches over four hours. To compete, the WildBots had to design, build and program a robot using FIRST Tetrix parts – aluminum beans, motor controllers, motors and C++ based programming. Robots go through a rigorous components and software inspection by a panel of judges. “DovahBear,” the name of the team’s robot, was driven expertly by Zac Nichols and Rory MacNichol, and programmed by Nichols, Jackson Bridges and Ezra Feldman. Pit coaches were Turner Kennedy and Nicholas Simmons. After a strong finish at state, the team is gearing up for the 2013 competition. If you have an interest in metal working, engineering, advanced programming and robotics, contact Christian Rogers, the faculty sponsor of the WildBots.
EPISCOPAL HOSTS WU MAN, WORLD’S LEADING PIPA VIRTUOSOS
CHRISTMAS AT EPISCOPAL December is always a special time on the Episcopal Collegiate School campus and this year was no exception. The month included a flurry of activities as our students celebrated the coming of Christmas. The season began with our amazing Lower School Christmas Program and continued with some of our favorite school traditions: Senior Tree Trimming, the Choir and Orchestra Concert, Kindergarten/Senior Buddy Christmas Exchange, and the Lesson and Carols Chapel Service. Festivities also included cookie decorating in the Lower School sponsored by the National Honor Society and performances at the State Capitol by our Choirs. See more photos in the ‘Episcopal in Action’ section.
Wu Man, the leading ambassador of Chinese music, performed at Episcopal Collegiate School on November 9. Her performance was made possible by a gift from the Stella Boyle Smith Trust. Playing the pipa, a lute-like instrument with a history of more than 2,000 years, Wu Man has sought to preserve Chinese musical traditions and the artistry of this ancient instrument. Man is a respected expert on Chinese musical history and a Grammy Award-nominated artist for her hundreds of recorded and live performances. Wu Man has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s major orchestras, including the Austrian ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Moscow Soloists, Nashville Symphony, German NDR and RSO Radio Symphony Orchestras, New Music Group, New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. SINGING ZOOLOGIST CONNECTS STUDENTS TO NATURE Lucas Miller, a teacher also known as The Singing Zoologist, visited the Lower School on Nov. 9, thanks to a generous gift from Judith and Dr. Tim Goodson. Miller is well known in the educational community for his “eco-music” that teaches kids about animals through scientifically accurate songs. Although it would be hard to pick, one song that seemed a favorite among our young students was Miller’s “Metamorphosis.” The song was a top five finalist in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition. Miller’s visit was a big highlight for our Lower School students this fall.
BOSTON POPS-NEIL GROVER PERFORMS DURING PERCUSSION WEEK Episcopal celebrated all things drumming during Percussion Week Nov. 5-9, 2012. The celebration included three amazing student performances, including one performed only with tambourines. Special guest Neil Grover of the Boston Pops gave a special presentation during Chapel, Nov. 8. The week concluded with the Steelcats performing in the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s street party at Robinson Center Music Hall.
CLASS OF 2012
NINTH GRADERS STUDY SCIENCE IN THE OUTDOORS AT TETON SCIENCE SCHOOLS
Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Parks serve as onsite learning labs What more perfect setting to learn about science than in two of America’s most beautiful national parks - Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks. That was the fortunate assignment of 62 9th graders who began the year with a school-sponsored learning adventure to the Grand Teton Science Schools in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Amber Raneem Alley Class Treasurer College of the Holy Cross
Anne Morley Gonzalez Class Vice President Yale University
Jackson Taylor Rawlings University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Caitlin Sarah Allison University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Mareece Dior Griffin University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Logan Nolan Ray Southern Illinois University in Carbondale
Taylor Elizabeth Barton University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Michael Brandon Hairston University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Austin Reinhart Schoessel Oklahoma State University
Margaret Anne Beetstra Washington University in St. Louis
Devin Lenard Hall Williams Baptist College
Katherine Ann Bowen University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Led by Episcopal Collegiate instructors Charles Compton, Debbie Pettibone, Vivian Blair, Heather Benton, Micah Marsh, and Stephen Evans, the students spent three nights and four days investigating topics such as thermophiles, geothermal features, and wildlife adaptations by exploring the landscape of Yellowstone National Park. Students spent two days in Grand Teton National Park studying scientific water quality. The trip offered a rare opportunity to experience first hand what students traditionally learn inside the walls of a classroom. With no textbooks or handouts, students enjoyed hiking and canoeing at scenic String Lake, located in the heart of Grand Teton National Park with spectacular views of the Teton mountain range.
Kelsey Erin Brass Grinnell College
Animal tracking and wildlife observation took the place of typical classroom duties. “They liked seeing the different wildlife - black bear, elk, moose, mule deer, chipmunks and osprey – and canoeing on String Lake with the Teton mountains as our background,” said Debbie Pettibone.
James Jackson Dowden Texas Christian University
Katherine Bailey Brown University of Mississippi Jack Andrew Bunce Arkansas State University Erin Elizabeth Campbell University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Teneal LaVette Charles Henderson State University Chelsey Breanne Copas University of Central Arkansas Claude Chapman Cousins, Jr. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Team building was an important part of the experience as well. “I enjoyed watching the students bond while they learned about a truly unique and refreshing environment,” added Pettibone. Episcopal Collegiate students are among more than 3,000 students who visit the Teton Science Schools annually to study science and connect to nature. To learn more about the Teton Science Schools’ programs, visit www.tetonscience.org. Episcopal Collegiate School wishes to thank the following families and organization for supporting the Teton Trip: Traci and Albert Braunfisch, Josephine and Robert Covington, Stacy and John Fletcher, Kristie and Joe Hadden, Kristen and Cliff Lee, Leslie and Mark Lee, Kim and Russ McDonough, Cara and Jeffrey Nolan, Ellis and Briant Noland, the Parents’ Auxiliary, Anna and John Riggs, Christy Snowden, Judith and David Snowden, Denise and Scott Tabor, and Laura and Kyle Winning.
FOOTBALL RECAP: WILDCATS ADVANCED TO STATE PLAYOFFS
James Rogers Eubanks University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Cindy Lillian Henriquez University of the Ozarks Laura Katherine Hildebrand Hendrix College Zana Lovell Horne University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Del’Juan Tavaviqus Jackson University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Kristen Roselie Kent Class Secretary University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Mary Caitlin Mahaffy Southern Methodist University Jack Edwin McCoy University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Elizabeth Grace McDonough Class President Vanderbilt University Jeffrey Jackson McIntyre Duquesne University Olivia Cates Patton University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Mary Scarlett Sherwood University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Kelly Ellen Singer University of Arkansas at Little Rock Robert Jeffrey Staten, Jr. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Jordan Thomas Stepka University of Tulsa Matthew Howard Stewart Hendrix College Steele Strauss College of Charleston Kendal Alan Strayhorn University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Samuel Edward Thoma University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Sarah Elizabeth Throckmorton Elizabethtown College Howard Moose Turney, Jr. Hampden-Sydney College Maddie Warwick Vollers Loyola University Chicago Anna Elizabeth Wilbourn Georgetown University Claire Alle Worley University of Mississippi
CLASS OF 2012 HIGHLIGHTS • The Class of 2012 with 44 students will enroll in 28 different colleges and universities across 15 states. • 31 students representing 70% of the class, generated merit-based scholarship offers with one and four-year values totaling just over $3,390,000. • The Class of 2012 contributed over 6,000 hours of community service during their four years in Upper School.
ORCHESTRA ANDCROSS CHOIRCOUNTRY RECOGNITION TEAMS MAKE STRIDES IN STATE COMPETITION Episcopal Collegiate’s orchestra won Sweepstakes and Superior
(1) ratings at the Region I Concert Contest in March. Abby The Episcopal Collegiate Boys’ Cross Country Team celebrated a 3rd place finish out of Harkins, violinist and orchestra concertmaster, was selected 11 Orchestra, teams in which the state meet as a member of the All-State is a first forthis year. The 2012 football season Episcopal Collegiate. Kiril Laskarov, orchestra director, was The boys were paced by Senior Captain Zack McGinnis, who took the state was a success on many named as conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Prelude runner-up title for the second consecutive year. McGinnis was joined in the levels. The team ended with Orchestra. Mr. Laskarov participated in the final concert of topwith 10 two by Junior Noland (8th). McGinnis and Noland were both a 4-7 overall record, going the symphony’s season along students:Conner Cole Hartsell named to the All-State team. 3-4 in the conference and (far right), violinist, and Owen Hadden, cellist. Our Upper School Concert Choir received Superior ratings at the Regional Choral Performance Assessment, which allowed the choir to perform at the State Choral Performance Assessment. making a trip to the playoffs. The Episcopal Collegiate Girls’ Team finished in 6th place and was led by Concert Choir earned Excellent ratings at the State Assessment, placing in the top five performance groups in their According to Coach Kip Kruger, “the overall record does not reflect theThe dedication, Sophomore Shelby Powers (15th place). classification. The Middle School Chorus earned a Superior Rating at the Regional Choral Performance Assessment.
hard work, and teamwork put into the season.”
The offensive line, while being one of the smallest in size, helped the running game SUPERIOR ACCOLADES FOR BROADCAST put up well over 1,000 yards on the season. The defense showed great improvement JOURNALISM STUDENTS from last year and tied an Arkansas high school record with six interceptions in one game against Brinkley. The season turned around at Bald Knob where the Wildcats At the 2012 Arkansas Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) contest, were down 31-21 with less than three minutes to play, and pulled off aEpiscopal dramaticCollegiate’s student-produced news magazine, “ECTV News,” earned comeback to win 35-31. The Wildcats also made a terrific showing at Barton. There,a Superior award in the General Excellence category. they were able to give a bigger, faster, stronger Barton team all that they could ECTV was also honored with the All-Arkansas award, which is the highest distinction a broadcast program can receive handle. At Barton, the Wildcats ended up a little short of a win. from ASPA. The staff also earned five Superior awards and three
The rest of the season was plagued with injuries, but the team was still Best ableoftoASPA awards for their stories. Staff members pictured (left to right) are Clayton Cunningham, Turner Kennedy, Steele Strauss, make it into the playoffs where they faced perennial powerhouse Prescott. Prescott Benseason, Winter,the Mareece Griffin, Austin Schoessel, Katie Mowery, Sheffield Spence, Ned Curran, Ellie McDonough and, claimed the win and advanced further into the playoffs. After a tough 2011 horizontal, Michael Hairston. Other staffGIRLS membersRETAIN include Hans Braunfisch, Jackson Bridges, James Eubanks, EPISCOPAL Wildcats exceeded expectations with a playoff appearance. “We will come back in William McCastlain, Madison Moody, Carly TITLE, Roberts, Amanda Russell, Robert Staten, and Claire Worley. STATE TENNIS 2013 bigger, faster, stronger, and even more hungry for success in the playoffs.” BOYS FINISH AS STATE WRESTLING RUNNERS-UP WILDCAT VOLLEYBALL SUCCESS CONTINUES
The Wildcats had another successful year in volleyball. The team finished second in the conference, and once again qualified for the state tournament. The team was led by All-Conference players Olivia Rawlings, Brooke Davis, and Kristin Barnes. Olivia Rawlings and Brooke Davis were also selected for the All-State team.
The Episcopal Collegiate wrestling team won 10th place in the state
competition this year.tourExcellent performances by two of our team members After sweeping the conference medals: nament thisbrought fall, thethem Varsity Girls’sophomore Will Griffin (left) captured 3rd place junior Jason Tennis teamand continued theirGiordano winning(right) placed 4th. streak all the way through the 3A state tournament.
Episcopal’s Laura Lanier won the girls’ state singles title and Elsie Pugh placed 2nd in WILDCAT BASEBALL state singles play. girls’ for doubles team of Sonia Pascale Senior baseball player Robert Staten (right) willThe compete a starting position as anHelen outfielder this and Madeline Tabor took home 2nd place. fall at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Robert holds 13 of the 14 all-time offensive category records at Episcopal Collegiate. He ranks andspot 10thin(.550) all-time in the state of Arkansas The boys also 9th took(.552) the top the conference tournament and went on to take 2nd for single-season batting average, ranks 6th (.496) all-time in the state of Arkansas in career batting place in state. Kihwan Yoo and Scotty Nichols won the state title in boys’ doubles. average, and ranks 4th all-time in the state of Arkansas for single game RBI’s (7)!
EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE IN ACTION
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PICTURED FROM TOP: 1-5 BUDDY TIME: Seniors and their Kindergarten buddies celebrate the holidays with cookies, story time and tree decorating. 6 – 7 WELCOME HOME: Mary Jane Briggs and Mary Lou Entzminger catch up with alumni at a holiday party Jan. 8. 8-9 RAH-RAH: Cheerleaders get the Wildcat spirit going during a fall football game. 10 VOLLEYBALL: The Lady Wildcats on the road to the state tournament. 11 MARIO: Senior Edward Thompson with his Kindergarten buddy, “Mario,” on Halloween. 12 HOMECOMING: Princess Olivia Rawlings is escorted by her father, Scott. 13 TAKE A BOW: The cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream enjoys the audience reaction after an amazing performance. 14 ALL REGION CHOIR: (l to r) Jameson Miller, Hannah Hooper, Katie Mowery, Katharine Edwards, and Serena Hanson were awarded All Region Choir honors. 15-16 ANGEL TREE: Lower School students helped Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe launch the Angel Tree Program during the holidays. 17 CHILI: Seniors spend a Saturday cooking 300 pounds of chili for their "Chili-to-Go" prom fundraiser. 18-19 SPIRIT WEEK: Dressed up for "Tacky Tourist" and "Kentucky Derby" theme days during Spirit Week. 20-21 FALL FESTIVAL: parent volunteers put on an amazing Fall Festival for our Lower School students and families. 22 HALLOWEEN: Spiderman, Minnie Mouse, and General Grevious were just a few of the characters who showed up in the Lower School on Halloween.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
FACULTY FOCUS
Episcopal’s Own Renaissance Man
First grade teacher uses iPads for more personalized learning
CONLEY HURST
Whether on the golf course competing as one of the top junior golfers in the country or playing Chopin on his Steinway grand piano, Conley Hurst is a man of many talents. At the age of 17, he’s competed in nearly 100 golf tournaments, qualifying last summer for the prestigious Southern Amateur Championship. He is one of only 12 young men in the country named to the Hewlett Packard Scholastic All-American Team. Conley’s performance in the Southern Amateur was a milestone. He says it was “the most extraordinary golf experience” of his life, as he beat 50 of the best amateurs in the world. “Making the cut at the Southern Amateur has to be one of my proudest accomplishments as a golfer,” he said. Conley led the Episcopal Collegiate Golf Team to three state championships, and he was a medalist in the state tournament as a junior and sophomore. He qualified for the High School State Overall Tournament and placed in the top five three years in a row. Conley seemed to know from an early age that golf was something he was going to enjoy. He didn’t set out with high expectations, but felt a “real connection with the game,” he says. Those expectations changed when he watched Phil Mickelson win the Masters Tournament in 2006. After that, he began to practice and play golf almost every day. The discipline and focus that have made Conley a great golfer have certainly benefited him in other areas of his life. Golf isn’t his only passion. He is an accomplished, classically-trained pianist and can play a tune by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, or Mozart as flawlessly as he can hit a golf ball. How many young men Conley’s age could identify Chopin’s music if they heard it, much less say that Chopin is their favorite composer. “His music is absolute poetry for the piano,” he said. “There is no more satisfying experience for a pianist than mastering a Chopin piece.” Conley is not sure whether he could choose between golf and piano, if he had to. Both have been important in making him who he is today. “Early on a sunny October morning, there is absolutely nowhere I’d rather be than on the golf course, period. It would literally drive me insane to be anywhere else! On a rainy winter evening, however, spending hours at the piano would be pure heaven on earth.” An exemplary student, Conley was one of only five rising seniors to receive a junior book award prize - the Harvard Book Award. Conley is also an Advanced Placement Scholar, Vice President of the Honor Council, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Student Congress, and Interact Club. These days, though, the soon-to-be graduate is looking forward to attending Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia in the fall. He will continue to play golf and the piano in college, but has many scholarly interests, including history, literature, political science and philosophy. He plans to major in history and attend law school.
LEIGH KEENER
If you have a child in the Episcopal Collegiate Lower School, chances are you know Leigh Keener. And she probably knows you, too. She is one of the most friendly and approachable people you will ever meet. As a new teacher, Leigh made her mark at Forest Park Elementary. In 2008, she was recognized as Forest Park Teacher of the Year. She earned her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification that year, an achievement only about three percent of teachers nationally ever earn. Only 30 percent of applicants earn National Board Certification their first year. Leigh did it on her first try. Leigh and her sister, Laura Scanlon Hum, also a Lower School teacher at Episcopal, grew up in Little Rock. Leigh attended Mount St. Mary Academy and graduated from Central High School. She earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She is married to Justin Keener, a builder and real estate agent. “I can remember my dad first telling me about Episcopal and knew this would be a special place to work,” she said. “I understood the need for a place like Episcopal and was excited to be part of a school with such strong support from people in my community.” Episcopal is certainly a perfect fit for Leigh. She enjoys the small class sizes and appreciates the School’s commitment to teacher professional development. But more than that, Leigh thrives on the opportunity to use new technologies to enhance learning. Take iPads, for example. Funded by gifts to the Annual Fund, Leigh uses iPads to create innovative and exciting lessons for her students, and she’s definitely seeing the benefits. One of her favorite iPad lessons uses an interactive whiteboard application called ShowMe. The application allows students to record their own lessons using their voices. She uses it to teach phonemic awareness. “It encourages more genuine, higher-order thinking because each child is creating a lesson of his or her own using their fingers to spell and their voices to explain,” she says. “I can go back and review their saved lessons and better identify and address misconceptions. Plus, they love getting to record and play back their voice and work.” Leigh chooses a student to present his or her recorded lesson to the class on the Apple TV. “It motivates them to always do their best because they each want the chance to present. It totally eliminates any classroom management issues because every child is engaged at all times,” she adds. Leigh recently made a presentation to the Episcopal Collegiate School Foundation Board of Directors. “What Leigh is doing with the creative use of technology in her classroom is very exciting. Using technology in this way to give our young people a more personalized learning experience goes to the very core of the School’s mission to know every child well,” said Warren Stephens, President, Episcopal Collegiate School Foundation Board of Directors. As technology changes the way we work and live, Leigh has an instinctive understanding about the role of technology in teaching and learning. “We have different learners than we did ten years ago,” she said. “My students don’t remember a time without iPads.” That means that the approach to teaching has shifted from filling a student with rote knowledge to developing students who know how to learn and problem solve. Why this approach? “We don’t know what the jobs of the future will be, so our job is to prepare them for anything.”
Visit our website at www.episcopalcollegiate.org for the latest school news, and more photos of your favorite fall semester events. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for more Wildcat news!
ART STUDENTS HOST FIRST CURBSIDE COUTURE FASHION SHOW CARE FOR ANIMALS HOSTS PET PARADE Episcopal Collegiate School’s Care for Arkansas Animals group is dedicated to educating our community about animal needs and to supporting local animal shelters. The group sponsored ‘Pet Parade in the Heights’ on Sunday, Nov. 11. With a $5 admission per pet, participants were also asked to bring blankets, towels and pet food to donate to local shelters. The event was featured in a story on KARK Channel 4. LOWER SCHOOL WILDCAT ROUND-UP A ROOTIN’ TOOTIN’ GOOD TIME Cowgirls and cowboys (with parents in tow) danced, climbed, slid, munched, dunked, played and cake-walked the evening away at our 4th annual Wildcat Round-up!
Recycled fashion is fast becoming a national movement, and Little Rock designer Connie Fails wanted to bring it to Little Rock. She was aware that Episcopal students were active in the community, so she reached out to Upper School Art Instructor Joy Schultz with the idea of hosting a recycled fashion show. On December 2, a group of Upper School students premiered the Curbside Couture Fashion Show at the Clinton Library. The event was an instant hit! The show featured 11 Upper School art students as designers and models of fashions using completely recycled materials. Student designers were Jade Pfeifer, Olivia Rawlings, Desiree Fletcher, Ivy Cox, Celeste Jennings, and Catherine Babin. Models were Anna Daerr, Olivia Rawlings, Courtney Ross, Sydney Davis, Caroline Davis, Julianna Williams and Catherine Babin. Students also sold handmade fashion accessories following the runway show. All proceeds were donated to the Picture Perfect Summer Camp at Our House. Special thanks to Joy Schultz who helped the students create seven original dresses, and to Anna Wingfield and our Middle School Art Club. An encore presentation of Curbside Couture is scheduled for Sunday, April 21, 6 p.m. at the Clinton Library Great Hall. STUDENTS SPONSOR FOOD DRIVE FOR 14TH YEAR
EPISCOPAL TO WELCOME GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS ON MARCH 8 Episcopal Collegiate School will celebrate Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day campus-wide on Friday, March 8, 2013. The Lower School event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will include a program in Erwin Hall Performance Center and Gymnasium, as well as classroom visits. The Lower School will dismiss that day at approximately 12 p.m. The Middle and Upper School programs are scheduled from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Dining Hall. Please let us know if you plan to attend by emailing Tara McDaniel at tmcdaniel@episcopalcollegiate.org. JOIN US FOR TreasureIsland AT THE REP!
Episcopal Collegiate Night at The Rep will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Join us for a musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Set to a thrilling musical score and full of action, adventure and excitement, treasurehungry pirates and mutinous crew battle to discover the coveted Isle of Treasure. Reception will be held at 6 p.m. Performance begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 for adults and $20 for children 18 & under.
From October 29 to November 9th, the Upper School Student Council sponsored the ArCANsas food drive. The food drive benefited the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Food Bank. Episcopal Collegiate has supported this project with food for the holidays since 1998. A competition between grades was held to see which grade could bring in the most cans. GREEN CUP RECYCLE CHALLENGE Episcopal students campus-wide participated in International Green Cup Recycle Challenge in October to raise awareness about recycling and waste reduction. During the four-week challenge, classes competed for “bin points” by filling recycling bins stationed throughout the campus with recyclable materials. Bin points could also be earned by composting and using paperless communications. Schools around the world participate in the competition, which is sponsored by the Green Schools Alliance.
- SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. Food, Music, & Friends Episcopal Collegiate School Quad Tickets $75 each Entertainment by Lagniappe Proceeds will benefit Episcopal Collegiate’s Athletics and Fine Arts Programs. Purchase tickets online at EpiscopalCollegiate.org or email Micah Tarrants at mtarrants@episcopalcollegiate.org to charge your FACTS account, or mail a check to Episcopal Collegiate School, Attn: Micah Tarrants.
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