The Path - Fall 2020

PAGE 2

2301 Trent Road New Bern, NC 28562 2201 Henderson Avenue New Bern, NC 28560 252.638.0122 www.epiphanyglobalschool.org Head of School Dr. Dwight Carlblom Assistant Head of School and Director of Middle and Upper School David Wang Director of Lower School Dr. Heather French Director of Admissions Tahira Copland Director of Advancement Brittany Spear Director of Athletics Matt James Director of Finance Tara Hughes Director of Learning Services Dr. Morgan James Director of Spiritual Life Rev. Ed Koffenberger Director of Student Life Ryan Seeger Director of Technology Peter Williams Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement Molly Ostmann College Counselor Michele DeCamp

In This Issue: From Dwight's Desk...................................3 50 Days of Giving ......................................4 Student Senate ............................................6 Adjustments We've Made ......................8 19-20 Highlights ..........................................9 Teaching in a Pandemic ........................14 College and COVID .....................................15 Class of 2020 Recognition ...................18 Falcons Spread Their Wings ............20

Want to be featured in future issues?

Send in your story ideas, travel photos and alumni updates to mostmann@epiphanyglobalschool.org.

The Epiphany School of Global Studies, anchored in the JudeoChristian commandment to Love God and Your Neighbor as Yourself, is a comprehensive college-preparatory and globally-focused school where dynamic and innovative learning is stretched beyond the classroom walls, emphasizing the knowledge, skills, creativity, adaptability, curiosity, and international experiences students will need to flourish in an increasingly globalized 21st century.

PAGE 3

FROM DWIGHT'S DESK

Hello, Epiphany!

We are really excited to present to you this new, collaborative effort at keeping you informed about everything Epiphany. Our Advancement Office has been working at making the connections required to get this to you, and before that they were gathering the articles and pictures and data that make this magazine such an informative and interesting document. All of the efforts that

went

into

this

edition

are

truly

appreciated!

We trust that this magazine will give you a view into the path that our students are on.

So much will remind you of what took place last year… the “Year of COVID!” The 20202021 school year is shaping up to look so different from our previous fourteen years,

but one thing we know for sure… Epiphany students are Epiphany students, and they will always find a way to make this year special!

You can look forward to seeing

how the year is going in coming editions of The Path!

God's blessings,

Dwight Carlblom, PhD Head of School

PAGE 4 GIVING

It was fifteen years ago that Nicholas and Cathy Sparks brought together all the components of what became The Epiphany School of Global Studies. quality

From day one, we have provided a education,

importantly

we

but have

maybe

even

more

provided

a

caring

environment that has encouraged our students to “Love God and Your Neighbor as Yourself” and promoted the qualities of Respect, Responsibility, Service, and Integrity. Great parents send great students to us, and we get to work with them in

We understand that circumstances this year are

the process of becoming great neighbors, great

different

citizens, and great family members.

We are

appreciate your consideration of support. Your

blessed to have this opportunity and this amazing

participation – in the form of a tax deductible gift –

responsibility.

is very important; this is an opportunity to support

With this responsibility comes an opportunity

every aspect of the school’s mission and provide

we’d like to share with you.

Epiphany with the resources to enrich the learning

The cost of

in

many

being

faculty

low as possible in order to keep the school more

development; technology; special programs; tuition

affordable for a wider range of students and to

assistance; arts and athletics; and facilities and

provide community members with opportunities

maintenance.

to

provide Epiphany with the resources to continue to

school

with

philanthropic commitments.

tax-deductible, We

supplement

student

by and

helping

we

environment

salaries;

recruitment

said,

tuition. The school intentionally keeps tuition as

the

each

That

educating each student at Epiphany exceeds

support

of

ways.

fund

professional

By donating before June 1, 2021, you

plan an enriching school year.

funding for our educational and co-curricular

advantage

programs each year with money generated from

website at www.epiphanyglobalschool.org/give and

special gifts to the school and to the Epiphany

clicking on “Donate Now.”

Fund. This year, we are running a 50 Days of

Your gift to the Epiphany Fund is an expression of

Giving campaign that began on September 15 and

your

will continue until November 3.

commitment to support all students in uncovering

It has been

belief

of

this

in

the

opportunity

You can take

school’s

by

visiting

mission

and

our

your

inspiring to see the many ways in which our staff

his/her gifts for the journey.

We thank you for

and the entire TESGS community have embraced

thoughtfully considering a gift to the Epiphany

new challenges! We successfully reopened our

Fund and, more importantly, for entrusting your

school, designed new learning spaces, turned the

children’s education to us each and every day.

gyms into classrooms, and engaged faculty to provide both in-person and virtual learning. The

With Gratitude during these 50 Days of Giving,

generosity and support of all members of our community has ensured that Epiphany is not just surviving but thriving as we continue to fulfill our mission. We have seen families support us in amazing ways which enables us to continue being bold and innovative.

Director of Advancement

PAGE 5

PAGE 6 STUDENT SENATE

STUDENT SENATE

by Allison Potter '23 Student Senate Secretary

S

tudent senate is a bond of sixteen

students

to

Whether members excel in writing,

twelfth grade. These sixteen students

public speaking, decorating, planning,

contain twelve senators (two senators

cooking, creativity, organizing, or just

in

overall

each

across

grade),

seventh

and

grade

environment outside the classroom.

four

officers

being

a

sociable

or

hard-

(treasurer, secretary, vice president,

working person, there is always a job

and president). The officer positions

or task for a senate member to do.

are filled by Upper School students,

Senate is known for crazy morning

with the president being a senior. All

announcements, fun dances, creative

student senate members join together

Spirit Weeks, intriguing pep rallies, a

and combine their unique, individual

wild all campus steeplechase relay

talents to make a connected school

race, and many school-wide events.

PAGE 7 STUDENT SENATE This year, announcements are made over Zoom by way of video.

Spirit

Weeks,

school-wide

Dances,

and

many

in-person

events

are

currently

unable to happen due to the contagion, fear, and risks of COVID-19. However, Senate is going to new heights and new amounts of creativity to connect with the student body, even through the struggles and complications of COVID19. Student Senate has brought chips around to students and teachers during brain breaks and has made walking tacos

for

lunch. struggles

the

student

body

during

COVID-19

brought

great

to

student

body,

the

teachers, and even parents. Student Senate is working on plans for the future to interact with the student body and make this year the best, most memorable year it can be, even though we are all experiencing a pandemic.

PAGE 8 COVID-19

"Our family was absolutely thrilled to have our three children return to In-Person learning at Epiphany this fall, and our children were equally as happy! We realize that the administration and staff put in a tremendous amount of planning and effort to safely open their doors in accordance with state requirements, etc. We feel extremely blessed by all of the phenomenal teachers at Epiphany, and we feel strongly that our children learn best by being in the classroom. As parents, we also feel that socialization is extremely important, and our children need to be around their peers and in a social setting. Even with all the new rules and protocols put into place this year (temperature checks, very small class sizes, mask-wearing, one-way walking direction), our children are still very content and appreciative to be back in the classroom. We sincerely thank Epiphany for all of their hard work and continued dedication to providing a superior educational experience and continued leadership in the community. " McKenzie and Patrick Hall - Epiphany Parents

PAGE 9 HIGHLIGHTS

S T H G I L H G I H 0 2 19 Second Grade Butterfly Release

Odyssey Day of Service aland Trip and New Ze lia ra st u A r e Summ

Fourth Gra de Colonia l Day

Spirit Week

We w elc

omed

twent

y-thre e Chil for a ean E week xchan in Oc ge Stu tober dents

Seniors win the 2019 Powderpuff football tournament!

ip

Yellowstone Tr

Mali Vibes Concert

Ep ip ha ny st ud en

ts pa ck ag ed ov er 30 ,0 00 m ea ls fo r pe op le in ne ed du rin g Ri se Ag ain st Hu ng er

Buddies

Christmas Ca roling in New Bern

PAGE 10 HIGHLIGHTS

Feast of Epiphany

Third Grade Living Museum

Enrichment Day

Grandparents Day

Scholastic Golden Key Award

Scuba Club ame Night Sixth Grade G

piad Science Olym

d the M" artwork aroun New permanent "IS us mp Ca Henderson

ment Convention Youth and Govern

Service Partners

cience Fair Regional S

Senior Love in Action Project

PAGE 11 HIGHLIGHTS

Virtual Learning

PAGE 12

Men's swimming Back-to-Back State Champs!

F A L C O N

Cheerleading National Champions!

Women's Swim team takes second in State Meet

Conner Wang '20 Signs with the Queens University

JV Volleyball earned CIC Conference

Men's Swim Team

Regular Season and Tournament Championships!

Middle School Boys Basketball finished as co-regular season conference champions!

Athletic facility improvements continue to be made. New chairs and scoring table in the gym. Wind screens added to tennis courts and soccer field, as well as a new scoreboard!

A T H L E T I C S

PAGE 13 ALUMNI

TEACHING IN A PANDEMIC

By Hannah Blackerby '12

A

Miss Blackerby waving to her online students

long with many other things in our lives,

COVID-19

directly

impacted

teaching

and

Starting

school

in

August

brought

new

challenges. Beginning kindergarten is a special,

learning. I was in my 4th year of teaching

unique

kindergarten this March when I was asked to

Kindergarten is many children’s first experience

create some consumable learning packets to

with school, and starting it online was not ideal. I

send home with Pitt County’s kindergarteners

spent a lot of time thinking of ways to make

to cover two weeks of instruction. I assumed

kindergarten engaging online, as well as ways for

that after those two weeks, we would be back in

students to form positive relationships with each

school teaching and learning again. Little did I

other. I continue to learn more each day, and I

know, we would still be teaching and learning

am so proud of my new kindergartners for

from home in late September! Teachers across

beginning school virtually! I am thankful for my

the country have stepped up to the plate by

time at Epiphany for teaching me the importance

completely reinventing teaching to suit an

of adaptability and perseverance. Though most

online environment in a matter of days. For my

educators

kindergarten team and myself, this looked like

uniquely challenging, especially for elementary

learning

finding

students, we have worked diligently to make the

innovative ways to reach students and their

best of the situation. I am so proud of my

families, and working around the clock to make

profession for being innovative and personal, and

online learning personal and relatable for my

for always working to do what is best for kids. I

families and students.

am proud to be a teacher!

new

technology

tools,

time

for

agree

students

that

learning

and

parents.

remotely

is

PAGE 14

15TH ANNIVERSARY

PAGE 15 ALUMNI

COLLEGE AND COVID

By Mary Grace Brinson '18

I

f college is supposed to be the best four

this socially distanced education is being

years of your life, this is turning out to be… a

forced to be away from the community I had

little stranger than expected. I was not

formed

expecting to have a security guard at the Old

Epiphany,

Well, preventing students drinking from it

second nature, something I worked hard to

on the first day of class. I did not expect to

reconstruct in a large university setting.

be delivering Legal Spanish presentations in

Inspired by some of Epiphany’s ideals of

slippers to my professor on the other side of

service and integrity, I came to understand

the country. And when I agreed to work for a

that

digital marketing agency, I did not think it

pandemic when built on a good foundation.

would be so digital.

As

It doesn’t take long to find someone else

Panhellenic Executive Council, my role took a

drowning in the digital world and missing

drastic turn when in person events no longer

the community that is so much easier to

seemed to be a thing. A $15,000 fundraiser

foster in person. The most daunting part of

and a week of activities dedicated to eating

around

at

community

strong Vice

me

and

friendships

President

Chapel

of

Hill.

At

friendship

is

can

weather

Events

on

a the

PAGE 16 ALUMNI disorder awareness quickly shifted to more personal interactions and programs dedicated to our members’ wellbeing. Completely changing what my role looked like gave me the chance to build something for myself and for my successors to use.

Epiphany taught me how to aspire to leave my mark on the things I care about, especially the things that provide something for someone in need. Anxious to prove myself at my summer internship, I found the learning curve difficult and the completely virtual training to be overwhelming. But instead of cowering away from the challenges, I have been encouraged to tackle them, using challenges as an opportunity for growth and a chance to figure out how to optimize a webpage, create marketing content and be published on a website.

Maybe it takes a pandemic to realize many of the things that you didn't realize shape you. So, as I continue to navigate my best four years from my desk, I’m not scared or upset anymore. I am excited to see what part of the challenge I can conquer next.

Mary Grace and her sister Olivia '23

Mary Grace her Senior Year at Epiphany with her Little Buddy Kate '29

PAGE 17 ALUMNI

Welcome to Epiphany's Alumni Portal

Last year Epiphany launched its alumni portal. The alumni portal is a way for Epiphany to keep up with you, and for you to keep up with Epiphany. The more alumni who take advantage of this portal, the more engaging and useful it will be. I encourage you to visit www.epiphanyalumni.org and update your information. Only verified Epiphany alumni will have access to the portal, and Epiphany does not share your information with any outside groups.

Through this portal, you will find a directory to help you reconnect with old classmates and friends.

Advertise and search for jobs. Network with other alumni. Stay up to date on school news and alumni events. Give to the Epiphany Fund. And stay connected to your alma mater.

Epiphany is also in the process of creating an Alumni Board who will meet throughout the year to plan events and opportunities to keep you all connected to the school. The portal will be a platform for the Alumni Board to communicate with the greater alumni community about events and opportunities for engagement.

If you are interested in serving on the Alumni Board or have questions about the Alumni Portal, please contact me at mostmann@epiphanyglobalschool.org.

Molly Ostmann Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement

Visit www.epiphanyalumni.org to update your contact information

PAGE 18

CLASS OF 2020

"The rise of the Coronavirus has shown the full depth of the dedication found in the Class of 2020. Not only did we face the challenges associated with online learning but we also had to adapt to not being able to see each other everyday. To not be able to experience the milestones that we thought were coming. . . We found a way to stay together, and I am so grateful to have been a part of a group of people so focused on forming stronger relationships."

-excerpt from Alex Dalrymple's Valedictorian address.

PAGE 19

PAGE 20 TRAVEL

FALCONS SPREAD THEIR WINGS

2

1

3

6 4

7

5 1. Hutch '20 and Kirby '22 Smith in San Francisco. 2.

Blake Spear '32 in Western NC.. 3. Tara '21 and Mrs. Thurman (staff) in Paris. 4. Caleb '19, Katie '25 and their brother Zachary Myers in Israel. 5.

Marisa Kelly '18 front of the Puente Romano that goes over the Guadalquivir River in Cordoba, Spain. 6. Cadence Crowe '26 traveled to meet two of her favorite authors R. Beatty and K. DiCamillo.

7. Tara '21, Mrs. Thurman (staff) and Drew Maune '17 in Colombia.

PAGE 21 TRAVEL

10 9

8

13 12

11

8. Sydney Kitchen '18, sophomore at University of Edinburgh, in front of the Edinburgh Castle. 9. Ryan Crowe '29 and family at a Buffalo Sabers game at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY. 10. Ben '28, LIz '31, Tahira (staff) and Jim Copland in the Bahamas. 11. Charlie Knowles '20 in New Zealand. 12. Charlotte Antry '21 and Tara Thurman '21 in Barbados. 13. Caroline '26 and Addison Strickland '29 and parents in the Painted Desert in Arizona. 14. Caleb '19, Katie '25 and their brother Zachary Myers in Death Valley., CA

Board of Trustees Nicholas Sparks - Chair Cathy Sparks Missy Blackerby Isa Gratacos Ken Gray Erin Hartman John Hawkins George Oliver Phil Pritulsky Chris Richey

On the Cover:

Second grade butterfly release September 2020

14 The Path The Epiphany School of Global Studies Magazine Published twice each year

Editor:

Molly Ostmann Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement

Contributors:

McKenzie and Patrick Hall, Parents Allison Potter '21 Hannah Blackerby '12 Mary Grace Brinson '18