Teacher Growth and Learning
Authentic Student Engagement: Why it Matters
Learning in the field: Pre-K students and their families hunt for sea life in the tide pools of Me-Kwa-Mooks in West Seattle. See page 19 for more.
We are so pleased to share our summer/fall edition of Update magazine with you. As we wish our graduating Class of 2019 great success on the start of their middle school journey, we reflect on a year of growth and learning for students and adults alike at Epiphany School. Our vision—inspiring every child to discover meaning and purpose in a life of learning—reflects the tremendous opportunity we have to help our naturally curious students grow in confidence and courage.
By providing a rich learning environment where each child feels safe to take risks, students engage deeply and take ownership of their own unique path as a learner.
This ownership, also known as “agency,” is fundamental to children developing as independent thinkers and responsible citizens. “Agency is the capacity and propensity to take purposeful initiative—the opposite of helplessness,” writes Ronald F. Ferguson in a 2015 report from the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University. “Young people with high levels of agency do not respond passively to their circumstances; they tend to seek meaning and act with purpose to achieve the conditions they desire in their own and others’ lives.” This type of active, authentic involvement is a key indicator of both academic success and personal satisfaction.
Epiphany School is wholeheartedly committed to providing the critical foundational skills that support and challenge students to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally, both in school and beyond.
In these pages you will see our vision, mission, and strategic plan come to life through stories about student engagement, community building, and the remarkable commitment to learning by our faculty and staff. This issue highlights our school’s dedication to providing an outstanding academic experience in a nurturing environment. We hope you enjoy this in-depth view into Epiphany School today, and we encourage you to take a close read of our strategic plan insert for an overview of our hopes and plans for the future.
Jennifer B. Elkin Head of School
ABOUT OUR COVER IMAGE: In the last week of school, kindergarteners reflected on personal highlights of the year. After they wrote their “favorite part” on a chalkboard, their teacher snapped a picture— and then surprised each student with a photo magnet as an end-of-year gift.
EDITOR
Jaime Gillin
CONTRIBUTORS
Paige Baublitz-Watkins
Jenn Elkin
Anthony McGrann
Lauren Pitt
Celia Russo
Andrew Schafer
Heidi Windels
Lise Wolken
PHOTOGRAPHY
Melissa Baerwald
Libby Lewis Photography
DESIGN
Beans n’ Rice
PRINTING
Capitol City Press
Printed on 10% post-consumer waste paper with vegetable-based inks. Visit our website epiphanyschool.org
The Epiphany School Update is published biannually by the Advancement team. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information presented. If you find an error, please notify us at communications@ epiphanyschool.org or 206-971-3061.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Epiphany School promotes and cultivates a diverse community as essential to academic success, social and emotional growth, and the development of good character. Engaging diverse perspectives stretches the mind and requires critical thinking, intellectual courage, and creativity. It takes careful listening and thoughtful expression, and manifests itself in cultural competency. Thinking beyond oneself and seeing the world through the eyes of others is the foundation of fairness and empathy, and thus prepares our students to live respectfully and lead responsibly in our pluralistic democratic society.
Inspiring every child to discover meaning and purpose in a life of learning
Epiphany School challenges and supports all students to become confident, curious, and courageous learners through innovative teaching in a caring and inclusive environment.
Epiphany School actively cultivates an awareness and respect for diversity in all forms. We strive to create a positive, joyful, and inclusive community by embracing the following values:
RESPECT: We encourage empathy through the strength of our differences, awareness of our global surroundings, and adherence to high standards of conduct.
RESPONSIBILITY: We build integrity and trust by understanding our choices and owning our actions.
RESOURCEFULNESS: We foster resilience and expect all to search and find, to fail and learn, to risk and succeed in a changing world.
Heidi Windels, EPC President
In 2017, my daughter began attending Epiphany School, and our family was quickly welcomed into the Epiphany community. I have fond memories of attending our first Epiphany Parent Council (EPC) sponsored events; the ice cream social and Carnival were filled with enthusiastic volunteers who made a point to welcome and include us. Those early experiences made us feel as though we had joined a large family and showed me just how important EPC is to Epiphany.
Each year, new families join our school, and EPC rises to enfold them into our community. Epiphany’s Parent Council is special because our main job is to celebrate and connect all of the people who are part of our school — our talented students, outstanding faculty members, and supportive families.
Every parent is a member of EPC and, as such, there is always a place for you at every event, EPC meeting, and celebration. Please jump in and join us! This community stays strong when everyone contributes, and your support, feedback, and volunteerism is so appreciated. If you’re unsure how to get involved, please reach out so that we can find a way to participate that feels right for you.
From my family to yours, best wishes for an enjoyable summer, and I look forward to seeing everyone walking the halls of Epiphany in September!
2019-2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Betsy Webb, President
Ann Felton, Vice President
Amy McCullough, Secretary
William Ketcham, Treasurer
John Alberg
Meredith Baty
Alana Bell
Dan Crouse
Lee Falck
Jessica Hughes
Ronald Koo
Ben Magnano
Ken Miller
Jamie Morris
Julie Okerstrom
Andrea Thoreson
Kara Westhusing Engskov
Felicia Wilks
Heidi Windels (EPC President)
ADVISORY BOARD
Chap Alvord
Karl Aschenbach
Jane Hawkanson
Mark Hutcheson, Sr.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Head of School: Jennifer Elkin
Lower Elementary Division Head: Anne Balicki
Upper Elementary Division Head: Paige Baublitz-Watkins
Director of Finance and Operations: Karen Benson
Director of Enrollment
Management and Admission: Greg Jones
Director of Marketing & Communications: Jaime Gillin
2019-2020
EPIPHANY PARENT COUNCIL (EPC) OFFICERS
President: Heidi Windels
Vice President/Community
Engagement: Grace Pak
Vice President/Welcome Committee: Kirsten Wiggers
Vice President/Communications: Alicia Alberg
Secretary: Nikki Putnam
2019-2020
EPC COMMITTEE CHAIRS
All School Celebrations: Meredith Baty, Erin Callaghan, & Kirsten Wiggers
Back to School Coffee: Nadine Chan/Witt & Mimi Girma
Carnival: Danielle Green, Lauren Rolfe, Heidi Wadsworth, & Karen Z-W
Set-up: Eric Branner & Karen Z-W
Food Booth: Danielle Green & Karen Z-W
Bake Sale: Jodi Arnold & Alicia Alberg
Raffle: Kara Westhusing Engskov & Jennifer Christensen
Toys and Books: Shelly Hutcheson & Amanda Rosauer
Curriculum Night: Heather Shaw & Kim Allen
Fall Faculty Luncheon: Paige Pratter
First Friday Cocoa: Michelle Woerner & Jeff Woerner
Grade Level Performance Receptions: Ann Felton, Mandy Gandt, & Jessica Hughes
Graduation Reception: Meredith Baty, Kylee Shintaffer, Kara Westhusing Engskov, & Lily Hilen
Grandparents/Special Friends Day: Ruby Alexander, Effie Gleason, & Sally Johnston
Ice Cream Social: Sally Johnston, Megan Bassetti, & Jessica Barrett
May Faculty Appreciation: Jessica Cantlin & Amanda Rosauer
Parent Lecture Series: Erin Lea & Ian Peacock
Service Learning/Halloween
Drive: Erin Lea & Effie Gleason
Service Learning/Holiday Drive: Kainaz Byramjee & Eva Puri
Spring Faculty Luncheon: Eva Puri & Jen Falck
Uniforms: Jen Falck & Anne Riederer
Yearbook: Lucy Wacksman
Wow! We met some fascinating people this morning at the Third Grade Wax Museum— Sir Edmund Hillary, Cleopatra, Stan Lee, Julia Child, and Queen Elizabeth among them. Bravo students! #courage #confidence
Thanks to our families and faculty, who donated generously— and the hard work, organization, and collaboration of our 3rd graders— we were able to pack 448 teen snack bags for King County’s Emergency Feeding Program. #servicelearning #communityservice
Picking up some new skills in sewing club... #extendedday
So many architectural innovations in these Pre-K-designed “dream houses”! Max explains “this pom pom bridge is special because when you go across it the sparkly gems will shoot out, and you think that they are frisbees but they are actually candy.”
Follow Epiphany School on social media for an inside glimpse of day-to-day life on campus. From Pre-K art projects to after-school Extended Day fun, you won’t want to miss a moment.
Don’t miss a thing!
instagram.com/epiphany_school
facebook.com/epiphanyseattle
twitter.com/epiphanyschool
After working in several key roles at Epiphany School over the past eight years—Learning Skills Specialist, Director of Student Learning, and Kindergarten Assistant—Candice Houghton has been hired as a Pre-Kindergarten lead teacher. She holds a B.A. in English from UC Davis, a Masters of Arts in English from Cal State, and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, K-8 from Western Governors University.
Annie Kim joins our Third Grade teaching team with 13 years of teaching experience, most recently from Seattle Country Day School where she taught Second Grade for three years and played key roles as a member of the admission, hiring, and DEI committees. Prior to that, Annie worked at Community Partnership School in Philadelphia where she taught Third Grade and Pre-Kindergarten. Annie’s deep background in early childhood and elementary education is complemented by her commitment to developing strong relationships with students and families.
outreach, creating and implementing major and planned gift programs.
After welcoming her new daughter to the world this summer, former Third Grade teacher Karen Ybarra will return to Epiphany School in January 2020 in the role of Upper Division English Language Arts Specialist, providing support to students and teachers across grades three through five with a focus on language arts and humanities. Karen will work part-time in this role in the 2019-20 school year, and full time beginning September 2020. Epiphany School is grateful to be able to bring this role back to our faculty roster and to have such a talented teacher take it on!
We are excited to welcome Nick Peyton as our new Director of Development. Nick has extensive experience managing gifts and donor relations at several area nonprofits, most recently spending five years as an Associate Director of Advancement at the University of Washington and serving as a board member at Seattle Works. In addition to overseeing our fundraising efforts and working on campus as part of our Leadership Team, Nick will focus on donor
Berhard Uhl, our new Facilities Manager, originally hails from Germany and has over 35 years of experience in project management, general contracting, and the construction and building trades. He additionally has a background in security and emergency preparedness, having recently co-organized a community emergency hub in Seattle and, many years ago, working as a police sergeant. We are excited to benefit from his technical expertise and hands-on construction skills.
Welcome, new Lower Division assistant teachers! Pre-K Assistant Melanie Lindsay earned her BA in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies at the University of Washington after several years working in preschool settings and volunteering in her children’s elementary schools. Devyn Grendell joins us as Pre-K Assistant after two years as Epiphany
School’s Extended Day assistant, Interim Extended Day Manager, and substitute teacher. Previously an Assistant Teacher at Northwest Montessori School, Devyn studied Theatre at Cornish College of the Arts and is an actress at theatres throughout the greater Seattle area. Kirsten Wardell comes to her Pre-K Assistant role with 12 years of teaching experience, having taught French and Italian across all grade levels in Australia and England and most recently substitute teaching in the Epiphany School Pre-K program. She is also a trained musician and vocalist, and incorporates music and French to enhance learning with younger students. She is the mother of Sophia (rising second grader) and Chloe (rising kindergartener). Kindergarten Assistant Kate Moen joined Epiphany School last year as a substitute teacher and Extended Day Assistant. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater and has spent the last five years teaching and directing elementary age students in a theatrical setting. She plans to continue her teaching education and is looking forward to expanding and applying her skill set to the more formal classroom setting. Kindergarten Assistant Chelsea Heizer has spent the last two years teaching at an outdoor preschool in North Seattle. Prior to that, she volunteered as an assistant in a kindergarten classroom. Chelsea is enrolled in SPU’s Accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching program and will receive mentorship through the kindergarten team this year.
Facilities Manager Andrew Rauch has moved on to lead the facilities development for the new $30 million educational facility being opened by Giddens School and Lake Washington Girls Middle School—a project with personal significance, as his three children attended both schools.
Upper Division Math Specialist Kristen Sadler has taken a position with Curriculum Associates as their Professional Development Specialist in Math. Her skill working with teachers to create personalized learning plans for students has expanded faculty knowledge while significantly improving math achievement at Epiphany School.
Several members of the Pre-K team are moving on to other endeavors in the 2019-20 school year. Lead teacher Ali Foss is planning to stay home to spend more time with her new daughter, Mabel. Pre-K assistant Carole Kitchell is taking advantage of a momentary lull in family demands (no weddings, no grandchildren) to follow a dream of living and studying in Italy. Pre-K assistant Alicia Smith is moving to Dallas with her husband, Brad, who has taken a new job in that city. And Jenny Cummins is embarking on a much-deserved retirement after 30 years of teaching at Epiphany School. See page 26 for more.
After so capably serving as a long-term substitute teacher in Pre-K, Jackie Hubenet is moving on to a new role as Kindergarten teacher at The Little School in Bellevue. Justina Fitzgerald, after a year-long stint filling in for teachers across the grades, will continue her career as a Pre-K teacher at Villa Academy. And part-time Third Grade Instructional Assistant Alison Sagliocca will be teaching chemistry in New York City. We thank all three for their great help!
Andy Baker (2011-2019) brought his business experience and warm, personable
demeanor to his eight-year role as an Epiphany School Board of Trustees member, including three years as Treasurer and two years as Board President. Fellow Board members have described him as conscientious, calm, and measured; a good listener with a sense of humor, “he loves to laugh.” Andy chaired the Search Committee for our current Head of School and played a key role on the Strategic Planning Task Force, developing and realizing the new strategic plan which will guide our school over the next five years. Andy has served as trusted advisor to Jenn Elkin since she came on as Head of School in 2017. He is the CFO of Columbia Pacific Management and a parent, with his wife Kimberlee, of four daughters: Elizabeth ’14, Katherine ’16, Claire (fourth grade), and Natalie (second grade).
Jessica Barrett (2018-2019) joined the Board as an advisory member during her one-year tenure as the Epiphany Parent Council President for the 2018-19 school year.
The Board is so grateful to Jessica for the generosity of spirit, warm sense of humor, and great common sense she brought to her many volunteer positions, including Admissions Representative, Auction Committee Member, and most recently Development Committee member, a role she will continue in the 2019-20 school year as a non-Trustee. She and her husband, Matt, have two children: Jane (fourth grade) and Cruson (first grade).
David Kosloff (2013-2019) served on the Board for six years, during which time he chaired the Governance and Master Use committees; served on the Financial Aid
Committee, Executive Committee, and the Base+ Compensation Task Force; and helped identify, recruit, and hire our current Head of School as a key member of the Search Committee in 2016. He is the CFO of Abode Healthcare, a provider of hospice and home health services, and the parent, with his wife, Melanie, of Maddie ’16, Ryan ’18, and Julia (second grader). Fellow board members laud him as “unflappable,” “steady,” and “bedrock,” with a “great perspective.”
Clay Nielsen (2015-2019) has been a generous supporter of Epiphany School through both time and resources. Clay brought his keen insights and expert knowledge to his work on the Board and the Finance and Development committees. He was admired by colleagues for his quick wit, initiating productive conversations, and expressing well-respected opinions about challenging topics. Outside of Epiphany, he is a Managing Director at JLL, a commercial real estate services firm. He and his wife, Anne, are parents of Henry ’18 and Will ’16.
Valerie Voss (2012-2019) wore many hats over the years at Epiphany School— staying deeply involved even after her son, Jack, graduated in 2014. She says she and her husband, John Houlihan Jr., have remained active participants in the Epiphany School community because they strongly believe in the school’s vision, mission, and values. In addition to chairing the Development Committee twice, Valerie served on the Governance Committee, Executive Committee, participated in two Strategic Planning Task Forces, and was EPC President in the 2012-13 school year. Outside of Epiphany, Valerie is active in community-based fundraising for numerous non-profits. Her fellow board members will miss her honesty, passion, and tenacity.
Ian Alberg
James Alexander
Riley Anderson
Sarah Chen
Tyler Cluett
Brooks Crownover
Genevieve Danskin
Kian Davidge
Maya Flory-Barnes Salas
Maya Harmon
Evan Hooe
Lila Hutcheson
Delana Irani
William Ketcham
Marius Kolner
Catherine Lilleness
Lillian Mack
Collin Mascarinas
Ramsey Mokhtar
Lauren Rosauer
Jameson Sanford
Piper Schmitz
Sai Shah
Cole Skotdal
Stella Snyder
Adelaide St. John
Peter Straley
Lila Struss
Harlan Wise
Darby Wygal
In one of our favorite read alouds, Wishtree, Red said, “Different languages, different food, different customs. That’s our neighborhood: wild and tangled and colorful. Like the best kind of garden.” You are a group of mathematicians, writers, singers, engineers, dancers, athletes, problem solvers, scientists, and so much more. You are indeed the best kind of garden.
With you as the protagonist and Epiphany the setting, the first chapter of your story is complete. And now you have the opportunity to write the next part.
Thank you for being part of our story. Thank you for the music. But mostly, thank you for all the joy you’ve given.
Warmly,
Anthony McGrann and Lise Wolken, Fifth
Our Fifth Grade class together received 52 acceptances to middle school and will be heading to the following institutions this fall:
Assumption St. Bridgitt
Billings Middle School
The Bush School
Catharine Blaine K-8
Eastside Preparatory School
Odle Middle School
Lake Washington Girls
Middle School
Lakeside School
The Northwest School
Piedmont Middle School
Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences
Seattle Country Day School
University Prep
Darby Wygal at the “Letters About Literature” awards ceremony in Olympia with former Secretary of State Sam Reed, State Librarian Cindy Aden, and Secretary of State Kim Wyman.
WOW! Congratulations to Piper Schmitz, Sarah Chen, and Peter Straley for being recognized as semi-finalists in the Washington Center for the Book’s 2019 “Letters About Literature” writing contest. And congratulations to Darby Wygal, whose letter to author Cece Bell received an honorable mention—one of just 32 letters recognized as such out of 1,327 submissions!
Epiphany School students are often commended for their confidence, poise, and leadership. These traits are noted by middle school directors who meet our outgoing fifth graders; by prospective Pre-K and Kinder parents who tour our school; and by the many grandparents and special friends who flood our campus for performances and special events (see page 30).
These shared qualities, evident even in our most naturally shy students, are no coincidence. Our school’s faculty and administrators intentionally build leadership experiences into each student’s educational journey—opportunities for students to stretch and grow, to find their own unique voice, and to challenge themselves to take risks. This past year, with the rollout of the school’s new
strategic plan and first-ever vision statement—”inspiring every child to discover meaning and purpose in a life of learning”— faculty and staff explored additional ways to let students take the lead.
To that end, Upper Division Head Paige Baublitz-Watkins worked with students to expand the Student Ambassador Program. Now, in addition to fifth graders serving as guides and greeters at Open House and school tours, students in grades three through five have year-round opportunities to build their leadership skills and make a positive difference in their school community. At lunchtime meetings, teacher- and self-nominated student ambassadors meet to discuss, plan, and realize projects surfaced by themselves and their peers. This past
Alara Champagne ’20, Evan Hooe ’19, and Miles Baty ’21 were founding members of Epiphany School’s newly expanded Student Ambassador Program. “As a student ambassador, I have learned that it’s not only about what the teachers and adults say, but that students can have input in what happens at school, too,” says Champagne. “Being in the program has made me feel like a grown up, and that I have power to make things change.”
“Research on independent schools shows that expanding students’ ability to advocate for themselves and others and feel their impact in the world around them is key to success as they move into adulthood in this new world.”
—Paige Baublitz-Watkins, Upper Division Head
school year, they oversaw the schoolwide Valentine-writing project; planned and led Upper Division assemblies; piloted a “Kindness Board” with anonymous brag tags in the Third Grade; and developed a concept for interest-driven Morning Meetings that will help build deeper relationships across the grades this fall.
The Student Ambassador Program will continue to grow in the 2019-20 school year, with any students who “consistently exhibit the 3Cs and Rs” welcome to participate. But beyond that, “it’s hard to say where it will go, since the ideas come from the kids,” says Baublitz-Watkins—and that’s precisely what makes it so exciting. “There’s a natural momentum that builds as students begin to see they can start things on their own.”
Photos by Melissa Baerwald
This past May, Epiphany School students fanned out across the city to engage in service learning and community service for our fifth annual Day of Caring. Our second graders made a difference even closer to home by hosting Seattle’s first annual Second Grade Summit, inviting peers from neighboring schools—Bush School, the Valley School, St. Therese, and Madrona Elementary—to join them for a morning of celebration and community building. As part of the “CommUNITY” theme, students from different schools mixed together to explore the meaning of “community,” bond over shared interests and values, and paint “kindness rocks”—stones emblazoned with bright colors and positive messages. After snacks and an energetic dance party, students dispersed back to their own campuses, placing their painted rocks along their route to spread kindness and joy into the greater community. “This was a great opportunity for our students to forge new friendships and become leaders beyond the walls of our classroom,” says Second Grade teacher Jess Carley, who helped organize the event with fellow teacher Alison Holmes and Lower Division Head Anne Balicki. “Our students still talk about the summit. They see their new friends at the library, at baseball games, and even pass them walking to school. To open each student’s world, even just a little, was our goal—and I believe it was a success!”
By Celia Russo, Math and Professional Learning Instructional Coach
Learning and growing is not just for students at Epiphany School. It is essential that teachers and staff members continue to develop and evolve professionally as well. When adults take on the role of student, they not only learn new ideas and approaches to bring back to the classroom, but they model lifelong learning for their students.
Throughout its history, Epiphany School has been an institution committed to teacher professional development. Teachers and staff have regularly attended national conferences, presented workshops, published professional articles, completed graduate degrees, and more, all with the enthusiastic support of the school. On his retirement in 2008, former Head of School George Edwards provided ongoing commitment to this work by creating a
pool of funds, the George O. Edwards Faculty Enrichment Fund, exclusively for the professional development of the teachers at Epiphany. With this deep support for teacher growth already in place, the goal now is to expand this successful model of professional learning and make it even more effective for improving student learning into the future.
One way the school is moving towards this goal is through a new opportunity called Summer Professional Growth Grants. Using the qualities of effective professional learning for educators (see sidebar), these grants are designed to provide integrated and timely professional learning for teacher teams on strategic and relevant topics. In the spring, teachers and staff were offered the chance to apply for one of eight “learning pathways” for the
According to a review of research by the Learning Policy Institute, effective professional development for educators...
• is content focused
• incorporates active learning
• supports collaboration
• uses models of effective practice
• provides coaching and expert support
• offers feedback and reflection
• is of sustained duration
summer: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Mathematics; English Language Arts; Social-Emotional Learning; Academic Diversity; Professional Learning Communities; Technology; or Arts Integration. Each of these topics link with the school’s ongoing initiatives for growth and our new strategic plan.
Summer Professional Growth Grants financially support faculty and staff attendance at conferences, workshops, or classes—including many prominent national events (see sidebar)—as well as post-event time for team reflection and planning. For example, this August ten Epiphany educators will attend the three-day Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute in Seattle, exploring how to build a more collaborative school culture to enhance student learning. After the institute, the team will spend a day together to process and reflect on how to best implement at Epiphany what they’ve learned. Then, in the fall, the team will present to the full staff and begin the process of integrating Professional Learning
“Well-designed and implemented Professional Development should be considered an essential component of a comprehensive system of teaching and learning that supports students to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to thrive in the 21st century.”
—from
“Effective Teacher Professional Development,” published by the Learning Policy Institute
Community (PLC) best practices into our daily work at school.
Truly effective professional development has a lasting impact. As staff gain new insights, skills, and practices, the benefits are passed on to the students. The Professional Learning Communities pathway is no exception. One way we plan to implement PLC work in the 2019-20 school year is to better integrate the school’s drama and musical performances into classroom curriculum. Music and Performance Specialist Leslie Larkin will meet with teaching teams to collaborate and spend multiple days in each classroom in the lead-up to each grade’s all-school performance. This new model will ensure connections between classroom learning and the performance are even more organic and meaningful for students. This is only one example of how the student learning experience will be enhanced due to our underlying work on PLCs this summer. For every learning pathway, as the staff share new knowledge with each other, student learning is transformed, too.
Though applying for a Summer Professional Growth Grant is optional, 100% of the teaching staff are participating in this opportunity this year. Their commitment to taking time out of summer vacation for continued education is powerful evidence of how much our staff value this work. We are all learners at Epiphany School. After all, building a growth mindset in our students starts with fostering a growth mindset in ourselves.
This
summer, Epiphany School faculty and staff participated in the following learning opportunities thanks to Summer Professional Growth Grants:
• National Summit for Courageous Conversations
• Math Plus Conference
• Summer Institute on Academic Diversity
• Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute
• Responsive Classroom Core and Advanced Courses
• Mindfulness for Educators
• Level Up: Grow Your Makerspace Skills Workshop for Educators
• Learning Without Tears: Handwriting and Keyboarding
• Learning Ally: Spotlight on Dyslexia
• Independent Study on Phonics
• Independent Study on Responsive Classroom for Specialists Teachers
• Independent Study on Math Assessment
• Independent Study on English Language Arts Standards
• Independent Study on Math Enrichment and Number Talks
Sometimes Epiphany School runs in the family. As our school approaches its 62nd birthday, we continue to see many alumni returning to our community as Epiphany School parents and grandparents. Our most recent graduating class is emblematic of the school’s rich history: five parents of the Class of 2019 are themselves Epiphany School alumni. In what will likely be a recurring feature in Update, we captured their portraits on Graduation Day: grandparents, parents, and students for whom red sweaters symbolize much more than just school pride.
WHO
Riley Anderson ’19 and Alana Bell ’97, member of the Epiphany School Board of Trustees and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team
WHY EPIPHANY?
“Epiphany teachers are one of the most vital and magical components of our school. Their passion for their craft and their dedication to children is unmatched. I am forever grateful that both my daughter and I were able to build lasting relationships with incredible teachers at Epiphany.”
—Alana Bell ’97
EPIPHANY IN A WORD
“Dedication. Epiphany has always been, and will always be, dedicated to excellence in education, kids, families, and community.”
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE SCHOOL’S FUTURE?
“I am most excited about Epiphany taking stronger strides toward creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. I look forward to seeing Epiphany reflect more of what the world looks like to prepare our students in navigating how complex—and beautiful—this world can be.”
WHO
Mark Hutcheson, Sr., Mark Hutcheson, Jr. ’83, Lila Hutcheson ’19, Julie Hutcheson, Evelyn Hutcheson ’22, Shelly Hutcheson, Mira Hutcheson ’17
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE SCHOOL’S FUTURE?
“Epiphany, like any good school, will continue to metamorphosize. The curriculum, the students and teachers, and even the buildings will always be in a state of evolution. It’s part of learning and growing, and that really excites me. I am confident that with the core values the school holds to, it will continue to produce well adjusted, inquisitive, mindful kids who value and appreciate learning and community.”
—Mark Hutcheson, Jr. ’83
EPIPHANY IN A WORD
“Friendship. Epiphany created an amazing community where I was able to foster such incredible friendships. Years later, those same friends were in my wedding, the godfathers of two of my girls, and even provided a roof for my family during a remodel.”
—Mark Hutcheson, Jr. ’83
WHO
Grayson Schmitz ’17, Peder Schmitz, Piper Schmitz ’19, Jaime (Scates) Schmitz ’87
WHY EPIPHANY?
“In our ever-changing and increasingly complex urban environment, Epiphany School continues to feel like a haven of learning, support, fun, community, and progression for our children.”
—Jaime (Scates) Schmitz ’87
WHY EPIPHANY?
“Epiphany School teachers not only guided me in class, but truly shaped who I have become today. Mrs. Murdock, Mrs. Jennings, and even Mrs. Augustine were all patient, encouraging, and created a nurturing environment where I began my career with dyslexia. They taught me early on the importance of learning and to never give up.”
—Mark Hutcheson, Jr. ’83
“Epiphany is a values-oriented school where kids are taught to be respectful of one another and other people. I have always loved the performances the kids put on. The drama program teaches kids how to stand up in front of an audience and throw their voices while articulating a song by memory, which I think helps them talk to people outside of the performance as well.” —Mark Hutcheson, Sr., parent of three alumni, grandparent of five alumni and two current students
“I really enjoyed my time at Epiphany. I learned so much, but the most important thing I learned is how to be safe, kind, and respectful to others and myself.” —Lila Hutcheson ’19
“If I have kids one day and I am still in the Seattle area I would consider sending them to Epiphany School because of how much I learned from my time there. It created a strong foundation for the rest of my life, and I would want that for them.” —Mira Hutcheson ’17
Ben Straley ’83, Peter Straley ’19, Linda Straley, Hugh Straley (not pictured: Kari Straley, Maggie Straley ’16)
“Epiphany taught me to take on challenges head-first. In fourth grade, I was really self-conscious and worried that all of my work had to be perfect. Mr. Burkland taught me that making mistakes was okay and if you get something wrong you actually learn from it. Now I feel more confident trying new things.” —Peter Straley, ’19
WHY EPIPHANY?
“Our two sons and two grandchildren have all had a wonderful primary education at Epiphany. I think the school prepares its students well for the future—not only for middle and high school and even college, but also by helping them build strong relationships with their teachers and classmates. Getting along with people and being sensitive to other people’s needs is an invaluable skill for children to build.”
—Linda Straley, parent of two alumni, grandparent of two alumni, former Epiphany School Learning Skills teacher
“I’ve always thought the advantage of Epiphany was the teaching; the teachers are just uniformly wonderful. The kids get a wonderful education and the values of this school are consistent with our own, such as the importance of community service and inclusiveness. Our children grew up to be successful, happy, and engaged community members, and I think part of that is due to the strong primary education they received at Epiphany School.” —Hugh Straley, parent of two alumni, grandparent of two alumni
WHO
Michael Washington, Carol Washington, Evan Hooe ’19, Blair Washington ’85, Alexis Hooe ’23, Kelley (Washington) Hooe ’84, Max Hooe ’23, Bill Hooe, Marc Washington ’93 (not pictured: Brooke [Washington] Howell ’90)
WHY EPIPHANY?
“Epiphany
was great when
here, but it is
phenomenal
I
was a student
now. It’s
definitely Epiphany 2.0! Much has remained consistent and positive about the school including a commitment to educational excellence, amazing professional teams, innovative teaching, and an inclusive community.”
—Kelley (Washington) Hooe ’84
EPIPHANY IN A WORD
“Balanced. There is a beautiful and unique balance to the Epiphany School community. This balance culminates in a rich curriculum and inspired students, with teachers and families working together to ensure that our children are provided a strong start to their academic lives.” —Kelley (Washington) Hooe ’84
“Growth. I grew and learned so much at Epiphany. It was amazing!” —Evan Hooe ’19
Epiphany students know that scientific exploration doesn’t happen only in the classroom. Our youngest learners began their journey of educational expeditions in the tide pools of Me-Kwa-Mooks. Using self-made field guides and working alongside naturalists and parents, Pre-K’ers identified chiton, anemones, geoducks, sea slugs, and more.
By Paige Baublitz-Watkins, Upper Division Head
In his seminal 1916 book Democracy and Education, the educational leader John Dewey pondered the necessity of student engagement in making meaning. “Education is not an affair of telling and being told, but an active and constructive process,” he wrote. Today the field of education offers a wide variety of research-based models, all designed to positively impact student learning. Yet Dewey’s concept underlies most instructional designs, a bedrock of education. When students are authentically and actively engaged in synthesizing learning, they create connections
in their thinking. As neural pathways grow, so does the capacity to engage in tasks of increasing complexity, allowing students to stretch beyond expectation.
Across every grade level at Epiphany School, students experience the joy of learning. Whether a Pre-K exploration of the circulatory system or a fourth-grade immersion into the Puget Sound ecosystem, students are actively engaged in what they learn. And, we know that when learners create, imagine, and innovate, they share their best selves with the world.
TOP: Guided by experts in the field, fourth graders spend a full day on Puget Sound immersed in a study of marine biology, from the microscopic to macroscopic. ABOVE: Four-year-old children fully embody the concept of curiosity. This was evident as simple wonderings about blood evolved into an in-depth exploration this past winter. Using red-tinted water as their medium, Pre-K students probed three essential questions: What does blood do? How much blood does each person have? Where does blood come from?
LEFT, TOP AND BOTTOM: Epiphany fifth graders eagerly anticipate their capstone trip to NatureBridge. During this four-day excursion to the Olympic Peninsula, students learn about geology, conservation, erosion, and flooding through hands-on experiences and connect not only with nature but with each other.
Long time Epiphany educator Marilyn Henry brings her love of all things green to mathematics instruction. In the campus garden and her personal garden nearby, students apply math concepts to the natural world, whether they’re finding the Fibonnacci sequence in a pine cone, developing number sense as they sort potatoes, tallying the bugs they find in a patch of dirt, or measuring the weight and circumference of pumpkins they’ve grown and harvested themselves.
“Any time a student feels they’re solving a real-world problem, they feel engaged. In the garden, students are highly motivated to explore, learn, and discover their own connections.”
—Marilyn Henry, Lower Division Math Specialist
Investigating the beauty of the human heart creates many emotions for second grade students during a unit on the circulatory system. While the task was identifying the chambers and valves of this organ, students got to the “heart” of the matter as they took on the role of lab scientists.
The mind can take you many places but a journey back in time is our third graders’ favorite. For the Wax Museum, students imagine the life of a notable historic figure and bring that person temporarily back into existence through creative costumes, backdrops, and spoken narratives.
What a celebration! Epiphany School families, faculty, and staff gathered this past March to celebrate our wonderful community and support our school’s educational and professional development programming for students and teachers. From the beautifully staged surroundings to the amazing generosity of so many through auction purchases and donations to financial aid, our gratitude as a school is boundless. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, to those who supported us online, and to each and every person who helped make the night such a success! We sold more than 300 tickets and raised well over $400,000. We truly appreciate the incredible support shown by all through the many contributions of time, talent, resources, and community spirit.
Special thanks go the entire auction team of volunteers who planned, prepared, and executed every detail so diligently, including the coordinators for the following:
Chairs: Chris Lewis and Rachel Greene
Venue Coordination: Jamie Lampitt, Jodi Arnold, Megan Bassetti
Buy-Ins: Erin Callaghan, Kirsten Wiggers, Lars Johnson
Silent Auction: Angelique Sabin, Heather Shaw
Marketing and Communications: Emily George
Technology: Melissa Baerwald, Gail Manuguid
Creative: Hannah Wygal
Inclusion: Danielle Green, Paige Pratter
Raffle: Ann Felton
Wine: Justin Arnold, Emmett Doerr
Dessert Dash: Jen Falck, Sephi Coyle
Grade-Level Art Coordination: Heidi Wadsworth
Advisors: Alicia Alberg, Joanna Smith
Watts Media
Columbia Pacific
Epiphany School Board of Trustees
John & Alicia Alberg
Andy & Kimberlee Baker
Jessica & Matthew Barrett
Meredith & Brandon Baty
Alana Bell
Amy & Jonathan McCullough
Dan & Kristy Crouse
Ann & John Felton
Jessica & Tom Hughes
William & Beth Ketcham
David & Melanie Kosloff
Matthew Levinson
Ben & Effie Magnano
Ken Miller & Chris Pepin
Jamie & Simon Morris
Clay & Anne Nielsen
Julie & Mark Okerstrom
Andrea Thoreson
Valerie Voss & John Houlihan
Betsy & Allen Webb
Tom Alberg & Judi Beck
Justin & Kimberly Allen
Martin & Somany An
Justin & Jodi Arnold
Stan & Kristine Baty
Brent Beecher & Ara Greer
Ragnar & Karen Bloom
Greg & June Buren
Tom & Marilene Bysshe
Jessica & Alan Cantlin
Roger Chalfont
Ingrid Zhu Clark
Andy Comer & Rachel Greene
Tom & Sephi Coyle
Dawn Crownover &
Heather Shaw
Thomas Deem & Melissa
Baerwald
Emmett & Amanda Doerr
Kris Ensgov &
Kara Westhusing Engskov
Dana & Megan Ferestien
Stan & Elissa Fink
John Fuhrman & Gerrarda O’Beirne
Brad & Mandy Gandt
Kevin & Effie Gleason
Tonia & Jay Goyal
Doug & Lisa Grandstaff
Dan & Wendy Guy
Brian & Emilie Hansen
Jason & Jamie Hunt
Joel & Anne Janda
Lars & Shannon Johnson
Tim & Sally Johnston
Brent Kehl & Trudi Slater
Jonathan & Pamela Kil
Ronald Koo & Lisa Olmos de Koo
Joe & Jamie Lampitt
Matthew & Chris Lewis
Dennis & Lydia Mascarinas
Michael & Lisa Miller
Justin & Anne Moon
Ian & Katie Peacock
Aaron Perrine & Paige Pratter
Christopher & Katharina Poad
Paige Prill
Zachary & Nikki Putnam
Alex & Lauren Rolfe
Matthew & Amanda Rosauer
Michael & Angelique Sabin
John Sampson
Ned & Allison Sander
Peder & Jaime Schmitz
Chirag Shah
Scott & Joanna Smith
Annie St. John
Brad & Lynanne Struss
Chris Sudore & Megan Bassetti
Dustin & Stephanie True
Jeremy & Lucy Wacksman
Troy & Heidi Wadsworth
Jas Walia & Diane Lee
Andrew & Sarah Watts
Erik & Annika Wicklund
Brady Williams
Jeff & Michelle Woerner
Richard Wood & Karen Zehnder-Wood
John & Alicia Alberg
Justin & Kimberly Allen
Martin & Somany An
Justin & Jodi Arnold
Andy & Kimberlee Baker
Mike & Anne Balicki
REB & Kaitlyn Bangert
Matthew & Jessica Barrett
Chris Sudore & Megan Bassetti
Meredith & Brandon Baty
Brent Beecher & Ara Greer
Ragnar & Karen Bloom
Eric Branner & Alyson
Scadron-Branner
Shayan Irani & Kainaz Byramjee
Alan & Jessica Cantlin
Roger Chalfont
Joseph Witt & Nadine Chan/Witt
Nate & Vivian Cluett
Jayne Coe
Adam & Alison Dreiblatt
Gregor & Nicole Dunham
Jennifer & Ross Elkin
Kris Engskov & Kara Westhusing Engskov
Lee & Jennifer Falck
John & Ann Felton
Dana & Megan Ferestien
Stanford & Elissa Fink
Phillip & Mandy Gandt
Michael George & Emily Hoober
Kevin & Effie Gleason
Benjamin Godfrey & Abbey Kennedy
Tonia & Jay Goyal
Douglas & Lisa Grandstaff
George & Mary DePaolo Haddad
Benjamin & Katherine Hallen
Thomas Hamrock & Sarah McMillan
Brian & Emilie Hansen
Michael & Alicia Hatch
Brian & Michelle Hayden
William Hooe & Kelley Washington
Jessica & Tom Hughes
Jason & Jamie Hunt
Max Hunter & Risako Tanaka
Mark & Shelly Hutcheson
Joel & Anne Janda
Lars & Shannon Johnson
William & Elizabeth Ketcham
Jonathan & Pamela Kil
Carole & Jim Kitchell
Ronald Koo & Lisa Olmos de Koo
David & Melanie Kosloff
Alexander Kutner & Gail Manuguid
Joe & Jamie Lampitt
Clive & Erin Lea
Matthew & Chris Lewis
Shawn & Nicole Lipton
Ben Magnano & Effie Toshav
Jeremy Malasky & Vanessa Benavidez
Amy & Jonathan McCullough
Anthony McGrann & Paul Williams
Tony & Laurie Mestres
Ken Miller & Christopher Pepin
Jamie Morris & Simon Moore
Shubhabrata Mukherjee & Preetha Chatterjee
Julie & Mark Okerstrom
Elizabeth & Timothy O’Shea
Ian & Katie Peacock
Christopher & Katharina Poad
Paige Prill
Zachary & Nicole Putnam
Alex & Lauren Rolfe
Ned & Allison Sander
Lindsay & Michael Sanders
Scott Sanford & Tina Skidmore
Scott & Joanna Smith
Scott Starkoski & Geoffrey Abel
Vanessa & Patrick Thompson
Dustin & Stephanie True
Nikki & Michael
Van Nimwegen
Troy & Heidi Wadsworth
Adam & Kirsten Wardell
Michael & Carol Washington
Erik & Annika Wicklund
Matthew & Kirsten Wiggers
Jeff & Michelle Woerner
Jeremy Woland & Corrie Rosen
Bryan & Hannah Wygal
Karen Zehnder-Wood & Richard Wood
Past and present students, families, and faculty packed the Great Hall this spring to celebrate Jenny Cummins and honor the meaningful work and significant impact she’s had over the course of her 30 years at Epiphany School. Former students shared their humorous and heartfelt remembrances, and former and current board members and colleagues thanked Jenny for her service to so many along the way. Jenny spoke, too, and regaled the crowd with poignant and hilarious vignettes from three decades of teaching in Pre-Kindergarten.
Jenny also spoke about why she and her husband, Richard, have chosen to create the Jenny Cummins Children’s Opportunity Fund for future Epiphany School students. “Epiphany School has changed the trajectory of so many children’s lives. With this fund, we can offer this superb education to an even wider array of children and their families.”
Here, a glimpse into the unique retirement celebration and its enthusiastic attendees…
Started in honor of Jenny Cummins after 30 years of service to the Epiphany School community, the Jenny Cummins Children’s Opportunity Fund will provide tuition assistance to under-represented students. In her 30 years as an Epiphany School teacher, diversity was a focus of Jenny Cummins’s work.
The Jenny Cummins Children’s Opportunity Fund will offer access to an enriching experience to a diverse array of students and families, in turn strengthening and enhancing our greater school community. Developing a school environment that better reflects the world around us—with diverse perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds—allows all students to grow skills of empathy, collaboration, compassion, and cultural agility, essential traits for success in today’s increasingly global and relational world.
A huge thank you to Jenny and Richard Cummins for their tremendous generosity in initiating this fund. A big thank you as well to our early contributors. This includes the Class of 2019 and their families, who pooled resources to make the Fund’s first donation—a philanthropic Class Gift that will ensure even more students benefit from an incredible Epiphany School education.
Together with Jenny and Richard Cummins, we thank the following early donors for their generous support!
The Class of 2019
Rosalie Alhadeff
Barton and Sally Amey
Mike and Lisa Anderson
Andy and Kimberlee Baker
David Bennett and Kim Lavacot
Yahn Bernier and Beth McCaw
Ken and Jan Block
Tom Bingham and Patricia Char
Brian Bruininks and Allisa Sweet
Candi Coe
Jayne Coe
Rich Coyle and Sherilyn Peterson
Rich and Martha Draves
Jennifer and Ross Elkin
Lee and Jennifer Falck
Paul and Penny Fredlund
Albert and Susan Fuchs
Hugh and Bethany Furubayashi
Michael George and Emily Hoober
Laura B. Gowen
Jim and Kristi Greenfield
Marilyn and Bob Henry
Mary Henry
Lonnie Herring
Judy Hewitt
Mary Anne Howard
Richard and Sheila Jensen
Tom and Mary Kelly
William and Elizabeth Ketcham
David and Melanie Kosloff
Scott and Louisa Malatos
Jim McHugh and Mary Lane
Keith and Mary Kay McCaw
Mark and Christina Merkelbach
Louis and Sandra Milard
Ilene Moe
Jack and Sally Morbeck
Clay and Anne Nielsen
Lauren Pitt
Terry and Kathy Proctor
Robyn Ramsey
Stephen and Kristin Ratzlaff
Al Robertson and Sally Clarke
Martha Sampson
Stephen P. Sander
Steve and Anne Sarewitz
Linda Spear
Sally Stafford
Brenda and Tom Stonecipher
Chuck and Jane Stonecipher
Doug and Janet True
Valerie Voss and John Houlihan
Michael and Carol Washington
William and Meggan Weir
Hunter Wessells and Bokgi Choi
Tom and Lyn White
Make a difference today! Consider a multi-year pledge, a one-time gift, or an annual gift distributed over several payments. Learn more and donate at epiphanyschool.org/cummins-fund.
On Sunday, June 9, twenty members of the Class of 2012 gathered on campus for our annual alumni reunion. They shared their favorite Epiphany School memories, including “science class with Davis,” “Marilyn’s garden,” “our kinder-buddies,” and “meeting lifelong friends.” Current faculty took them on a tour of the campus, where they encountered many familiar places—although several alumni commented that everything just seemed smaller! The students shared their plans for next year, which included attending colleges all over the country and even abroad.
Front row: Ginny Barnes, Lauren Baty. Second row: Ella Kodjababian, Leila Adams, Meredith Lipman. Third row: Peyton Goodwin, Grey Goodermote, Hailey Gray, Jack Kane. Fourth row: Callista Wessells, Grace Clarke, Isabella Holmes, Julia Nordstrom. Fifth row: Lucas King, Van Senseney, Alex Gray. Standing: Sam Zivin, Rainer McDonald, Graham Dyette
Leila Adams Garfield High School
Ginny Barnes The Hotchkiss School
Lauren Baty
Grace Brem
Seattle Academy & Roosevelt High School
Seattle Prep
Molly Cadman Convent of Sacred Heart
Grace Clarke Lakeside School
Lauren Donoso
Graham Dyette
Annie Wright
Nova High School
Ethan Fink Lakeside School
Grey Goodermote
Garfield High School
Peyton Goodwin Lakeside School
Alex Gray
Hailey Gray
Garfield High School
Garfield High School
Isabella Holmes Holy Names Academy
Washington State University
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Bucknell University
Williams College
Gap year
St. Edward's University
Santa Clara University
Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School
University of Washington
Seattle Central College
UC Berkeley
University of New Hampshire
Jack Kane Mercer Island High School University of Colorado Boulder
Lucas King
Ella Kodjababian
Meredith Lipman
Jackson McCloskey
The Northwest School
Seattle Academy
Peddie School
Bush School
Santa Clara University
Chapman University
University of Southern California
Colorado School of Mines
James McCormick U Prep University of Washington
Rainer McDonald
Julia Nordstrom
Abigail Potts
Georgia Robinson
Van Senseney
Callista Wessells
Sam Zivin
Elsa Andrews
Connor Brennan
Jack Kane
Mercer Island High School
Mercer Island High School
Seattle Preparatory School
Seattle Academy
Seattle Academy
Lakeside School
Seattle Academy
Holy Names
Northwest & Mercer Island High School
Mercer Island High School
Chloe Margarones Holy Names
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
University of Colorado Boulder
Lancaster University
UCLA
University of Utah
Cornell University
University of Colorado Boulder
Harvard University
DigiPen Institute of Technology
University of Colorado Boulder
Loyola Marymount University
Parents, grandparents, and special friends are always welcome to visit the school, take a tour, and spend time with their students on campus—eating lunch in their classrooms, serving as a reading buddy, or playing with them at recess.
Contact development@epiphanyschool.org to set it up!
Mark Your Calendars for the 2019-20 Performances
DECEMBER 12 First and Second Grade Performance and Reception
JANUARY 30 Kindergarten Performance and Reception
MARCH 6 Third Grade Wax Museum Performance and Reception
MARCH 18 Fifth Grade Performance and Reception (evening)
APRIL 9 Fourth Grade Performance and Reception
MAY 8 Grandparents and Special Friends Day
Grandparents and special friends are honored guests at Epiphany School, and we’ve dedicated a school day to welcoming them and offering a unique experience. From 8:30 to 12, you’ll enjoy breakfast, attend a class and recess with your student, and watch a rousing all-school performance. Last year’s event drew over 260 attendees from across the globe. Save the date—this is an event worth traveling for!
Epiphany School
3611 East Denny Way Seattle, WA 98122
206-323-9011
office@epiphanyschool.org epiphanyschool.org
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
SEPTEMBER 2 SCHOOL
CLOSED: Labor Day
SEPTEMBER 3 First Day of School! Family Welcome Coffee and Volunteer Orientation at 8:30 am
SEPTEMBER 6 Ice Cream Social at 3:00 pm
SEPTEMBER 3-6 Pre-K Slow Start; dismissal at 1:00 pm each day for Pre-K only
SEPTEMBER 12 Curriculum Night
SEPTEMBER 27 Epiphany School Carnival
OCTOBER 11 NO SCHOOL: Faculty/Staff In-Service Day (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 1 NO SCHOOL: Family/Teacher Conferences (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
NOVEMBER 11 SCHOOL CLOSED: Veteran’s Day
NOVEMBER 21 Open House for prospective families
NOVEMBER 25-26 NO SCHOOL: Faculty/Staff In-Service Day (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
NOVEMBER 27-29 SCHOOL
CLOSED: Thanksgiving Holiday
DECEMBER 12 First and Second Grade Performance and Reception (family and friends)
DECEMBER 13 First and Second Grade Performance (school audience)
DECEMBER 23-JANUARY 3
SCHOOL CLOSED: Winter Break
JANUARY 6 Classes Resume
JANUARY 20 SCHOOL
CLOSED: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
JANUARY 21 NO SCHOOL: Faculty/Staff In-Service Day (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
JANUARY 30 Kindergarten Performance and Reception (family and friends)
JANUARY 31 Kindergarten Performance (school audience)
FEBRUARY 17 SCHOOL CLOSED: President’s Day
FEBRUARY 18-21 NO SCHOOL: Mid-Winter Break (Extended Day Camps open)
FEBRUARY 24 NO SCHOOL: Faculty/Staff In-Service Day (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
MARCH 6 Third Grade Wax Museum Performance and Reception (family, friends, and school audience)
MARCH 18 Fifth Grade Performance and Reception (evening, family and friends)
MARCH 19 Fifth Grade Performance (school audience)
MARCH 20 NO SCHOOL: Family/Teacher Conferences (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
MARCH 23 NO SCHOOL: Family/Teacher Conferences (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
APRIL 9 Fourth Grade Performance and Reception (family and friends)
APRIL 10 Fourth Grade Performance (school audience)
APRIL 13-17 NO SCHOOL: Spring Break (Extended Day Camps open)
MAY 1 Day of Caring
MAY 8 Grandparents and Special Friends Day (noon dismissal, Extended Day open)
MAY 25 SCHOOL CLOSED: Memorial Day
MAY 26 NO SCHOOL: Faculty/Staff In-Service Day (Extended Day open 8:00 am-6:00 pm)
JUNE 11 Last Day of School for Pre-K-Second Grade; 11:00am dismissal Pre-K, full day K-2
JUNE 12 Fifth Grade Graduation; last day of school for Third to Fifth Grade; 11:00am dismissal
