News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
August 2018
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
New leadership changes mark start of year
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 33, Issue 1
Web-based gradebook enhances communication between teachers and parents
EHS adopts open gradebook policy
BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer As is the case with most high schools nationwide, Episcopal experiences annual changes in administrative positions and responsibilities and in faculty and staff membership. Along with the many new teachers and staff members that we welcomed this year, some familiar leadership faces have taken on new positions and duties, all in the ongoing effort to ensure school effectiveness and maximize employee talents. One of those in a position of leadership that took on a new title and assignments is former Dean of Arts Mr. Jay Berckley, who was recently appointed the new Dean of Arts and Innovation. Mr. Berckley commented, “As the newly appointed Dean of Arts & Innovation, I am honored to help lead and support Episcopal High School’s ongoing efforts to excel in all of our artistic offerings and practices centered around innovation.” His new job calls for him to continue to oversee over 50 different arts courses offered at Episcopal while leading new programs that support the faculty in their pursuit of cultivating unique approaches to increasing and growth in student knowledge, especially through the new innovative spaces making their debut in the new student center later this school year. He is excited about his new position and added that “one of the aspects of this new position that most interests [him] is the growing number of conversations already happening around campus surrounding how current research might continue to guide our teachers as leaders of learning. “The body of evidence that we now have access to about the effects of teachers on learning and how to maximize the unique and wonderful research happening in the cognitive behaviors of adolescents has recently been referred to by some as a golden era for learning,” Mr. Berckley voiced. “EHS isn’t simply a part of this golden era; we’re helping to lead it. We’re aiming for extraordinary… by innovating!” Another senior staff member taking on a new role is Mr. Kim Randolph, who moves from his Dean of Students position to that of Principal. Throughout the year he will be heading the Academic Pillar while relinquishing some of his Dean of Students duties to the class deans installed last year.
INSIDE Freshman Retreat The Class of 2022 bond at Camp Allen before the beginning of school
PAGE 3 News ............................. 2 Features ........................ 3 Culture .......................... 4 Opinion ......................... 5 Sports ............................ 6 Entertainment ................ 7
Freshman Reid Turlington utilizes the new online gradebook feature to check his grades. Access to the grade book can be found in the “My Backpack” tab on the portal. Photo by David Framel. LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief
One of the new changes for the 2018-2019 school year focuses on the gradebook. The new open gradebook policy will allow parents and students to access course gradebooks anytime. Students and parents will be able to log on to My Backpack and view performance for every assignment. The new policy is based on research that shows it will help students excel in the classroom and further their academic growth. Learn more about the EHS gradebook policy on Features Page 3
New Underwood Student Center nears completion ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer The new Underwood Student Center continues to look amazing as construction has progressed over the summer. With the exterior of the building nearly complete, teams and crews are working diligently to complete the interior soon. According to Mr. Robert Buckelew, Director of Facilities, the student center should be finished sometime in the late fall or early spring semester. The USC will feature many new attributes that will benefit both students and faculty. The first, and most notable, is the dining hall. With twice as much seating as the original, both inside and outside, a more spacious server, and a small lounge area, everyone will be able to sit and eat comfortably. A coffee bar is also a highly anticipated and exciting part of the new Underwood. Named after 2017 alumnus Forest Pressler, the bar will offer a warm cup of coffee, tea, or other beverage. The coffee bar is located next to the main seating area as well as the art gallery, a unique feature of the Under-
The new Underwood Student Center is projected to open at the beginning of the second semseter. Photo by David Framel. wood Student Center. The art gallery will hold notable paintings, photographs, and sculptures created by students. This “active gallery” will change out the art work regularly to display current pieces. This will also be the main show area for future Fall and Spring Art Shows. The second floor of the USC will hold two innovation centers and additional of-
fice spaces. The innovation centers are new spaces where students can expand their creativity and continue to work on things that they might not be able to in a normal academic class, such as robots or a car. The Underwood Student Center is one of many things students and faculty members are looking forward to this year, and they cannot wait to start using it in the near future.