Amid a global pandemic that has upended longstanding approaches to education, Epiphany School students have proven their awe-inspiring resilience. From the creativity they exhibit in their (socially distanced) recess play, to the patience they show as they navigate new technologies and tools, our students amaze us every day with their thoughtfulness, care, and joy. Whether learning on campus or virtually from home, Epiphany School students are thriving. Learn more about our school’s response to COVID-19 on page 14.
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
I hope this edition of UPDATE magazine finds you and your loved ones safe, well, and enjoying winter. What a wild ride since our previous issue, published in March 2020! Looking through that magazine now, with its photos of students cozied close together and arms flung around each other, evokes so many emotions—joy, gratitude, and no small measure of nostalgia—after all, hugging at school was okay back then!
COVID-19 has changed many things in the past ten months. School looks different today. But despite these changes—students and staff in masks, small cohorts isolated across campus, specialists delivering lessons via Zoom, and myriad high-tech sanitizing gadgets— many essential things remain the same at Epiphany School. The close relationships our students develop with each other and with their teachers. The eagerness with which students engage in learning, whether on campus or from home. The ability of our faculty to meet each student where they are and to support and challenge them to reach their full potential.
We feel extremely fortunate that we were able to reopen campus this fall to all students who could attend in person, while simultaneously running a robust remote learning program. Not many schools in Seattle managed to bring all grades back on campus full-time. This achievement is a result of the tireless and dedicated work of our faculty, staff, board of trustees, and pandemic advisory team. It is also thanks to our school’s financial health. The generosity of our extended community and the success of this year’s and past Annual Fund campaigns allowed us to make the necessary strategic investments—in our physical facility, new technology, and additional faculty and staff—to reopen campus as safely as possible amidst a global pandemic. You can read more about our COVID-19 response on page 14. We are so grateful for the commitment of past and present families, grandparents, alumni, and friends. Together, we are delivering on Epiphany School’s vision, mission, and values even amid this most challenging year.
Thank you for being an important part of the Epiphany School community! We look forward to welcoming you back on campus as soon as we’re safely able. In the meantime, I hope this issue of UPDATE offers a glimpse into our nimble yet steadfast school today, as we continue to navigate this dynamic time.
Warmly,
Jenn Elkin Head of School
U P D A T E
EDITOR
Jaime Gillin
CONTRIBUTORS
Gemma Alexander
Jenn Elkin
Tyler O’Banion
Grace Pak
Nick Peyton
Andrew Schafer
Alexa Sparks
Kirsten Wiggers
PHOTOGRAPHY
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.
VISION
Inspiring every child to discover meaning and purpose in a life of learning
MISSION
Epiphany School challenges and supports all students to become confident, curious, and courageous learners through innovative teaching in a caring and inclusive environment.
VALUES
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.
Dear Epiphany School Community,
We know that this year is going to continue to look very different than any other, but one thing that remains the same is the strength of our school community. It has been terrific over these past few months to see new and returning families making connections and supporting our school, whether in person at drop-off or pick-up, during school events over Zoom, or participating in the Annual Fund. In addition to the many firsts we’ve all been experiencing, this year we are sharing the Epiphany Parent Council (EPC) President duties. We are very thankful to be approaching this important role as a team.
The EPC is the connection point that ties together our amazing families, talented faculty and staff, and our dedicated Board of Trustees. Our number-one goal this year (as in every year) is to allow for all families to feel they are a part of, and have a voice in, our wonderful community. All current parents are automatically members of the EPC and are welcome and encouraged to engage with the school in any ways they are able. Though on-campus volunteering is off the table for now, there are other ways to help support our students and our school, such as helping organize virtual events like the ice cream social and Carnival. We will continue to work hard to find ways to bring us all together and celebrate our community. Please reach out to epc@epiphanyschool.org with any ways you’d like to be involved or ideas you have.
We wish you all a fulfilling, engaging, and safe 2021. With so much uncertainty this year, our strong community and school environment at Epiphany School is more important than ever.
Carnival: Heidi Wadsworth, Lauren Rolfe, Danielle Green
Grace Pak and Kirsten Wiggers EPC
Co-Presidents, 2020-2021
Fall & Spring Faculty Luncheon: Paige Pratter
Service Learning (Holiday): Kainaz Byramjee, Eva Puri
Uniforms: Ann Riederer, Jen Falck
Epiphany Merchandising Committee: Kirsten Wiggers, Grace Pak, Nikki Putnam
Follow Along
Engage with Epiphany School on social media for a window into our community and daily life on campus!
@epiphanyschool
Check out our new ZONO sanitizing cabinet in action! Teachers load it up with blocks, LEGOs, art supplies, electronic equipment, and much more— and in 30 minutes everything is fully disinfected and sanitized. This game-changing piece of equipment is just one example of the Annual Fund in action. YOUR support enables us to make important strategic investments during this unprecedented time, and it ensures we can continue to deliver at this high level for our students today and long into the future. Thank you!
Our 5th graders had a lot of fun this week with their hands-on environmental science experience, NatureBridge in the city. It was great to get out of the classroom, stroll through Madrona Woods, and test the water quality in the creek, the duck pond, and Lake Washington. Students visited with NatureBridge educators and explored various resources to learn about watersheds and ecosystems in the Olympic Peninsula and in our own neighborhood.
Thank you, Epiphany School families, for donating your Family Game Night Buy-In baskets to Seattle Children’s Hospital! Fourth grader Bheem delivered them this past weekend and as his mom writes, “The timing of this is incredibly meaningful. Bheem took the last chemotherapy pill of his 2+ years of treatment for leukemia on Sunday. Hurray! What a wonderful way to celebrate Bheem’s end of treatment.” Congratulations, Bheem & family sending so much love.
A behind-the-scenes look at remote learning from the teacher side... Big smiles, warmth, and genuine connection radiating beyond the screens. Our faculty are so happy to be back with students again— and teaching from their classrooms!
How lucky are we to have math specialist Marilyn Henry and her amazing garden so close by? In the garden students apply math concepts to the natural world, from measuring pumpkins to tallying the bugs they find in a patch of dirt.
day walk
A “mystery reader” (our beloved former faculty member Mr. A!) read “The Raven” to all of 5th grade today. Spooky! The students were transfixed.
Ms. Kniffin took her 1st grade class outdoors for English Language Arts yesterday. Loving the weather this week! The doors and windows are open wide and we are taking advantage of our beautiful campus.
This week, many grades have been honoring and discussing the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Third graders talked about advocating for oneself and others and read the excellent book I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark.
Big thanks to alumna Izzy F. (‘14) who shared her passion for service learning with our fifth graders, who are in the midst of selecting an organization to support with their annual school-wide coin drive.
Our 1st graders are rocking school safety practices and good hygiene.
With all that is uncertain in the world right now it’s reassuring to know that if you plant seeds in an earth buddy and tend to it, it’ll grow an impressive mane. Pre-K students even got to try their hand at haircuts!
Rainy
to visit our duck neighbors!
Hellos & Goodbyes
Faculty & Staff
Development Coordinator Tyler O’Banion helps Epiphany School with major fundraising initiatives. Since graduating from Florida State University, Tyler has focused her career on early education and education access. She has primarily worked in the education nonprofit setting, including a previous role as the Development Assistant at UCDS.
Samuel Barnes joins us as a long-term substitute working with Karen Ybarra in 2nd grade. He has both a Masters in Teaching and a BA in Early Childhood and Family Studies from the University of Washington. In addition to his prior experience as a substitute teacher at Epiphany School, Mr. Barnes also worked as an Instructional Assistant in Seattle Public Schools for several years.
Instructional Assistant Emily Seiller comes to us with a variety of experiences working with neurodiverse students, including as a social skills group coordinator at Aspiring Youth, a coach for Girls on the Run, and as a behavioral technician for students on the autism spectrum.
Instructional Curriculum Specialist Kendall Ferree comes to us with six years of teaching experience, including as a lead teacher in first and third grades at Cambridge Friends School and a visual arts teacher at the Mosesian Center for the Arts and the Sanderlin IB World School. Kendall has a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a teaching certificate from the state of Florida.
Erica Kniffin joins us as a long-term substitute teacher for First Grade after substitute teaching across Epiphany School last year. Erica’s educational background includes a MA in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University and a BA in Communication from University of Montana.
Celeste Gearhart is Epiphany School’s first full-time School Nurse. Celeste previously worked at Swedish Ballard Hospital as a registered nurse and charge nurse and was actively involved with her unit’s Shared Leadership Committee to develop COVID-19 policies. Celeste graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Nursing.
We were excited to welcome two new Kindergarten teachers to our team this year! Jacqueline Hammar comes to us from Berkeley Hall School in Los Angeles, where she spent the last six years as a lead Kindergarten teacher, seven years as an Early Childhood teaching assistant, and ten years prior to that as their assistant director of Admission. Jacqueline has prior experience with many of our math, reading, and writing curricula. Sophia Sneep comes to us with a MA in teaching from Seattle Pacific University and experience as a lead teacher at Sweet Pea Cottage School of the Arts where she taught Pre-K for three years. Sophia brings a range of skills from her time working with Seattle Public Schools as a math and literacy tutor and remote summer school teacher.
We hired many new instructional assistants to support our small-group cohorts in the 2020-21 school year. First Grade Instructional Assistant Sofia Piel worked as an Instructional Assistant and Art Teacher at Valley School for five years, and as an arts instructor in theater and photography. Sofia has a BA in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire and an MA in Cultural Studies from UW. Second Grade
Kindergarten Instructional Assistant Nani Trias most recently worked at St. Joseph School in their Extended Day program and as a student teacher. She was also an instructional assistant at Bright Water School. Nani graduated from Seattle University with a BA in Humanities for Teaching with a Spanish minor. Tess Carges, Pre-K Instructional Assistant, is a recent graduate from Whitman College, having earned her BA in English. She has several years of experience in education, interning as an Arts and English teacher at an elementary school in Walla Walla and teaching with America Reads America Counts.
GOODBYES
After nine years at Epiphany School, Fit for Life Specialist Josh Arsenault has moved on to a teaching position at an elementary school closer to his home. Beloved by students, parents, and colleagues alike, Josh is missed for his creative and caring teaching style, his bright and engaging personality, and his warm and witty demeanor.
We thank Assistant Development Director Lauren Pitt for her demonstrated commitment to philanthropy, her detail-oriented approach to projects, and her devotion to students. Her boundless positive energy is certainly missed!
After serving as the school’s Extended Day Manager, Julian Maynard has left Epiphany School to spend more time with his family.
Julian’s creative approach to engaging with students before and after school, as well as his commitment to working closely with teachers and families, set a high standard for this critical position.
Chelsea Heizer worked as an Instructional Assistant in kindergarten last year. Having completed her MA internship, she has moved on to a full-time teaching role at Hamlin Robinson School. We know Chelsea’s caring approach to student instruction will serve her well in her future endeavors!
Board of Trustees
HELLOS
Jenny Cummins is a familiar face to many in the Epiphany School community, having taught Pre-K for 30 years before retiring in 2019. Upon her retirement, she and her husband Dr. Richard Cummins established the Jenny Cummins Childrens’ Opportunity Fund to provide tuition assistance to under-represented students at Epiphany School. Jenny and Richard are also active members of Epiphany Parish and the Madrona community. The Board’s Development Committee is proud to have Jenny in its ranks.
A University of Washington alumnus, Mark Callaghan is the owner of Blue Sky Cleaners, Washington’s first ecologically friendly dry-cleaning service. Mark’s career as an executive also includes roles in the telecommunications industry. Additionally, he served as Treasurer for two local independent schools before joining our Board’s Finance Committee. He and his wife, Erin, are parents of 3rd grader, Juliet.
Jay Goyal is the co-founder and CEO of Actively Learn, a Seattle-based online literacy and content platform for educators,
where he serves as President. The company recently launched across all New York City schools and Las Vegas (Clark County) schools to help them with the needs of remote learning. Jay serves on the Board’s Master Use Committee. He and his wife, Tonia, are the parents of Bheem (4th grade) and Arjun (2nd grade).
Kylee Shintaffer is the founder and CEO of her own Seattle-based interior design firm and her work has been featured in numerous prestigious publications. She is also a founding member of The Madhouse Project, a non-profit organization that has raised nearly two million dollars for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She and her husband, Kurt, are parents of 5th grader, Macy. Kylee has served on the Master Use Committee for two years.
Grace Pak worked at Microsoft for ten years before moving to Uber Technologies, where she works on the Intellectual Property team. She and her husband, Perry, are parents of 3rd grader, Afton. After serving in many volunteer roles at Epiphany School, she joins Kirsten Wiggers as co-president of the Epiphany Parent Council.
Kirsten Wiggers and her husband Mat settled in Seattle in 2016 after a 10-year stint as expatriates in Tokyo, Paris, and Singapore. Since their son Sebastien (3rd grade) entered Kindergarten, Kirsten has enjoyed volunteering at school and fostering the connections it has provided. She joins Grace Pak as co-president of the Epiphany Parent Council.
GOODBYES
Dan Crouse (2016-2020) brought considerable leadership and acumen to the Board. He chaired the Governance Committee and took a keen interest in trustee training and development. In addition to serving as the Chief Intellectual Property
Officer and Senior Managing Director at Aon IP Solutions, he is also active in many social investment organizations. He, his wife, Kristy, and their son, Max (an Epiphany school alum) enjoy spending time outdoors, with a special fondness for mountaineering. Trustees will miss Dan’s patience and wisdom.
Will Ketcham (2014-2020) brought his skills and experience as an investor and manager to the Board, where he served as chair of the Finance and Investment Committees. Will was greatly admired by his fellow trustees for his integrity and attention to detail. A managing partner at Serafin Investments, Will has served on many corporate and non-profit boards. He played a key role in helping steer the school through an executive transition and was a scrupulous steward of its resources. He and his wife, Beth, are parents of two Epiphany School alumni, Will and Sally.
Heidi Windels (2019-2020) served one year on the Board of Trustees as an advisory member during her tenure as president of the Epiphany Parent Council. Heidi’s energy and insight were valuable to both the Board and the school, where she helped launch the school’s lunch program. A former educator herself, Heidi’s work ethic and common sense remain an invaluable asset to our Board as she continues to serve as a non-Trustee on the Development Committee. She and her husband, Gary, are parents of 3rd grader, Beatrice.
An Epiphany School alumna (’97) herself, Alana Bell (2015-2020) brought her skills as a facilitator and educator to the Board. Like her daughter, Riley Anderson, ’19, Alana easily made connections with students, teachers, and families, and her grace and charm enabled many friendships. Among other roles, Alana served as a member of the Governance Committee and helped organize the annual Board/Faculty dinner. A composer, singer, poet, and tireless advocate for equity and diversity in education, Alana will be greatly missed by the Board.
Friendship 101
Teaching students the skills they need to make and keep friends.
By Gemma Alexander
This article was originally published on ParentMap.com in October 2020.
Helping children navigate friendships can be one of the stickier challenges of parenthood. Our own relationship troubles are rarely as painful to experience as watching our kids struggle to make friends or lose one to classroom drama. But such challenges are an opportunity for kids to
build social skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, these skills can be taught.
At Epiphany School, friendship skills are integrated into the curriculum through weekly social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons and practiced daily as part of the school culture. “It’s fundamental to our purpose as a school. Because, without that foundation of belonging to a community, your brain isn’t as ready to learn, no matter
how old you are,” says Celia Russo, lower elementary division head at Epiphany School.
Setting expectations
“A lot of our [SEL] curriculum is focused on what a friendship is, what qualities we need to nurture a good friendship, and skills for making and then keeping friends. Those skills are not only crucial to feeling like you belong at school, they are also crucial later in life. We’re teaching them how to sustain meaningful relationships for a lifetime,” says school counselor Sara Tebeau.
These lessons are particularly emphasized at the beginning of each school year when teachers establish expectations for behavior. Making expectations explicit takes time up front but is more efficient in the long run, and it’s especially important in an unusual year like this one.
“As adults, we forget that we once learned things that now seem intuitive,” says Russo. In the classroom, explicit expectations allow teachers to skip the lecture and refer back to established guidelines when a student misbehaves. In friendships, framing behavior in terms of what is expected vs. unexpected teaches kids not to make assumptions about their friends’ knowledge or motives.
Making friends
For the youngest students, making friends is a major focus of SEL, but it’s often valuable to revisit those lessons as kids approach middle school and other transitions. “All children, regardless of age, have the capacity to be kind, empathetic, cooperative friends. We really respect the knowledge that our kids already have,” says Tebeau. Following the Socratic method of asking students probing questions, even preschoolers can get from defining a friend as someone to play with to understanding friendship as a relationship of mutual trust.
But SEL is not just about discussing big ideas. For example, in a lesson on joining play, students learn four practical steps:
1. Observe: Notice what’s going on, who is playing and how the game works.
2. Approach: Put your body in the space instead of watching from a distance.
3. Engage: Say hello and show curiosity with a question like “What’s going on?”
4. Ask: Ask to join the game.
“A lot of our SEL curriculum is focused on what friendship is, what qualities we need to nurture a good friendship, and skills for making and then keeping friends. Those skills are not only crucial to feeling like you belong at school, they are also crucial later in life. We’re teaching students how to sustain meaningful relationships for a lifetime.”
—Sara Tebeau, Epiphany School Counselor
As with any other skill, social skills require practice. Using demonstrations and role-playing, students learn skills in the classroom that are reinforced in real-life interactions. “Math is a great example,” says Russo. “You can learn it in isolation, but you find out if you truly learned it when you start trying to apply it. So, the lessons that we’re teaching really come to life most often at recess.” Whenever “teachable moments” pop up, adults can remind kids to apply the lessons they’ve already practiced.
Keeping friends
“Keeping friends is all about communicating the stickier stuff like our emotions and our needs in a friendship — being able to say when we’ve been hurt, being able to listen and accept responsibility when we’ve done something that hurt someone else,” says Tebeau.
The problem solving and conflict resolution involved in maintaining friendships becomes the SEL focus for older grades, but the approach—discussion and roleplay followed by in-the-moment coaching—stays the same. “We talk a lot about asking curious questions and showing interest in others,” says Tebeau. “If people don’t feel like you’re interested in them, that’s not going to sustain a very meaningful friendship.” Students learn active listening skills such as asking open-ended and follow-up questions and showing that you remember what others have said before.
For conflicts and problem solving, Epiphany School teaches the STEP approach:
1. Say the problem without blame. This is hard, but blame makes people feel defensive, so it is unproductive.
2. Think about all the possible solutions. This helps
validate emotions by acknowledging impulses (such as never speaking to someone again) while also encouraging creative thinking about other options.
3. Explore the consequences. Better solutions rise to the top once people think about the likely outcomes of each choice.
4. Pick the best solution. After weighing the pros and cons of solutions and the possible consequences, choose an option that meets everyone’s needs.
This approach can be applied to all kinds of problems. It often raises big questions like “What do healthy boundaries look like?” and it can help with difficult choices, whether that means where to sit at lunch or whether to end a friendship.
Try this at home
During social distancing, navigating friendships is harder than ever and there is not a lot of precedent for maintaining connection in a remote environment.
“I think it looks different for all families,” says Tebeau. Families are trying virtual playdates, physically distanced playdates, or learning or social pods. When your kids are lonely or missing their friends, Tebeau says, “It’s normal as a parent to feel sadness or frustration or worry. Before you jump into fix-it mode, just sit with them and listen. After that, don’t just try to solve their problems for them. Ask the right questions and empower them.”
Brainstorming together, you can generate ideas of things families and friends can do right now within the boundaries of social distancing. You might be surprised by how creative and effective your kids can be at solving their own social challenges.
Have you seen our new SEL video series for parents and kids? Check out “Counselor’s Corner”—short videos covering everything from coping skills to feel-good plans—at epiphanyschool.org/campus-life/counselor.
A Nimble School
For more than 60 years, Epiphany School has excelled at teaching children—in person, in classrooms, on our campus. What happens when a pandemic forces an entirely new educational model?
By Jaime Gillin
“Siblings, parents, grandparents, and caretakers often joined our online classroom this past spring, and it felt as though each student benefitted from the expanded sense of community watching over them during this tricky time. And from a diversity, equity, and inclusion standpoint, I think it was an amazing opportunity for students and teachers to see one another’s families and home environments in the most authentic way possible.”
—Alan Barta, Pre-K Teacher
“I have always known that being an educator is all about continuing to learn and grow in my craft. Teaching virtually proved to me that I can be even more flexible and innovative than I thought was possible.”
—Sarah Abbott, 1st Grade Teacher
In the early days of the pandemic, Epiphany School shifted all teaching and learning exclusively online. Our goals were to deliver an excellent academic program, to allow faculty the time they needed to learn and practice essential digital technologies and tools, and to offer families flexibility as they juggled the new demands of remote learning (and, often simultaneously, remote work). As such, the school day included periods of both synchronous learning (live lessons over Zoom) and asynchronous learning (pre-recorded lessons and independent projects students could compete on their own). Based on feedback from families, we steadily increased real-time learning with teachers as the 2019-2020 school year drew to a close.
For those familiar with Epiphany School anytime in its previous 63 years of history, or even ten months ago, school looks different now. So many things that were inconceivable pre-pandemic—kindergarteners wearing masks all day, socially distanced recess games—are practically mundane today. Specialist teachers deliver their lessons in three classrooms simultaneously via Zoom. Students sit at desks 6 feet apart and share their work with each other across an expanse of carpet. Classroom schedules include designated time for handwashing. Health and safety protocols infuse nearly every moment of the school day.
And yet… in other essential ways, little has changed. The Epiphany School spirit we all know and love is alive and well—thriving, in fact. The 3 Cs and 3 Rs, so integral to our school’s culture and our students’ character, continue to inform the work we do together every day. Students show respect and responsibility as they diligently follow COVID-19 protocols and practice good digital citizenship. They exhibit courage and resourcefulness as they navigate virtual and in-person learning. They exude curiosity and confidence as they grow and learn.
When COVID-19 swept King County last March we had to pivot quickly, inventing ways to expand our exceptional in-person education into a new virtual frontier. After a week of intensive teacher collaboration and training we launched our at-home learning program, then collected feedback from families and faculty at regular intervals: what was working? What could improve? We stayed virtual through the end of the school year, continually refining our approach along the way.
All along our goal was to bring students back on campus if we could. Throughout the summer our leadership team and other administrators worked steadily, following COVID-19 transmission rate data while developing new campus health and safety protocols, creatively relocating classrooms all across campus (and into neighboring Parish buildings) to isolate cohorts and reduce the risk of transmission, and onboarding new technologies and tools for learning, communication, and sanitizing surfaces. We hired a full-time school nurse to serve as our COVID-19 Coordinator and a bevy of teachers and instructional assistants to support the additional classes we created in each grade. Our head of school met regularly with the Board of Trustees and members of Epiphany School’s Pandemic Advisory Team, a coalition of medical and legal experts who analyzed the available data to guide our school toward a path that would keep our students, staff, and families as safe as possible.
By the time fall approached, we felt confident in our ability to reopen campus with the highest levels of risk mitigation in place. We began phasing-in our youngest
students first, then our Upper Division. By October 15 we had all grades back on campus full time, with a contingent of students continuing to learn from home. Our ongoing remote learning program continues to prove its value, not only for families who need to learn from home but for all of us. It allows for continuity of education even when students need to stay home due to a potential COVID-19 symptom—or, most recently, to aid us in instituting a mandatory week-long quarantine period for all students after Thanksgiving and winter breaks. Our hard work as a community continues to pay off: not only are we one of the few Seattle schools that have managed to fully reopen our campus to all grades, but we haven’t had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus to date.
This strange and unexpected period of our school’s history has challenged all of us—faculty, staff, students, and families alike. Yet despite the masks, the screenings, the isolation from colleagues and peers, and so much else that’s new and sometimes hard, we are all incredibly grateful to be together. Learning in person is a rarity and a privilege right now. We are so thankful for the hard work and strategic investments that have made it possible for Epiphany School to maintain the high standards of educational excellence that have buoyed our school and our students for 63 years, even amid a pandemic.
“What did I learn from this experience of teaching through a pandemic? That when things get challenging you need to think outside the box and rely on creativity, input, and sometimes trial and error.”
—Tina Larabee, Physical Education Specialist
The new school year began in September with all students learning from home. Based on guidance from the state, and with the knowledge that we met or exceeded criteria for reopening, we began phasing in our youngest students for partial days of in-person instruction. Once Pre-K and Kindergarten proved their proficiency with the new on-campus health and safety protocols, we brought in 1st and 2nd grade. By October 15 we had all grades on campus for full days of school. Students who could not be on campus for health or family reasons continued to learn from home, with their schedules fully synchronized with their cohort classroom’s schedule.
“There are many silver linings to students having had to learn from home for periods of time. I think many students learned how to be more flexible in their thinking. I think they became more resilient and independent. They learned to be better problem-solvers and academic risk-takers. They learned to be better self-managers.”
—Charlie Burkland, 4th Grade Teacher
Students and staff have quickly adapted to the “new normal” and continue to find creative ways to keep most elements of the Epiphany School curriculum intact despite the strictures of physical distancing and mask-wearing. Students work independently when possible and collaborate with peers from a distance. Lessons occur outside when feasible. Specialists broadcast their lessons into the classrooms live via Zoom while cohort teachers and assistants work with students in person. Meanwhile, faculty have been supported by a steady stream of professional learning opportunities and time to collaborate (virtually) as a team. This has never been more important, as staff and students remain physically isolated in small-group cohorts across campus.
The Event Pivot
By Alexa Sparks
As anyone familiar with our school knows, events are a pivotal way that our Epiphany School community connects and celebrates. Whether through our grade-level performances, GATHER, or the cherished Grandparents and Special Friends Day, community gatherings are central to our school culture. So, how did we retain the spirit of these key events while keeping our students and families safe over the past year? Here are creative ways we reimagined some of our school’s most beloved happenings in 2020:
GATHER, March 2020
Our GATHER team of staff and parent volunteers worked hard to create an inclusive fundraising event to benefit our financial aid program. While we missed out on the chance to connect and raise a glass in-person, our virtual event was a success. Most elements, including Raise the Paddle, the live auction, exclusive GATHER merchandise sales, and Epiphany Experience Buy-Ins, were easily conducted virtually. We met our fundraising goals and even set a new record for the highest level of family participation in Raise the Paddle!
Day of Caring, May 2020
On Day of Caring all grade levels give back to our community through service learning. Last May, students brightened our community from home by safely delivering flowers on neighbors’ porches, delivering food to those in need, and writing messages of love on sidewalks, posters, and rocks.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day, May 2020
More than 250 grandparents and special friends typically gather on our campus every spring to enjoy breakfast and spend time with students in their classrooms. In lieu of an in-person gathering, we celebrated our grandparents and special friends with a special acknowledgement during our virtual morning meeting and made a video to share with our loved ones.
Class of 2020 Graduation and Car Parade, June 2020
When we had to reimagine Graduation Day as a virtual event, we decided to include many familiar elements as well as new additions to make the celebration extra-special. A graduation video, shared the morning of the event, featured faculty honoring each individual student, remarks from our head of school and others, and a high-tech (and tear-jerking) rendition of the Epiphany School song’s last verse, performed by the Class of 2020 over Zoom and seamlessly edited together by 5th grade teacher Anthony McGrann. And who could forget the bagpiper? He made an appearance as well, keeping that cherished graduation tradition alive. Epiphany School staff hand-delivered care packages to every fifth grader, which included yard signs and special gifts. We capped off the week with a celebratory car parade around campus and a family photo booth to ensure it was truly a graduation to remember!
Carnival, September 2020
On Carnival Day the excitement and joy is palpable on campus. This year was no exception as our Carnival team created a fun virtual carnival that really honored the spirit of the event! Fifth grade families sent in videos of their students getting soaked with water so we could compile them into a virtual dunk tank video. All students received surprise gift bags filled with carnival treats. On the designated afternoon, students gathered on Zoom, opened their gift bags, enjoyed a virtual magic show, learned a few tricks of their own, and watched the fifth grade dunk tank video (hilarious!).
New Family Coffee, October 2020
While normally members of the Leadership Team, EPC, and new families connect over morning coffee at the beginning of the year, this year we opted to meet in the evening to accommodate more schedules. More than 25 new families met virtually to build connections, share highlights of the year so far, and ask and answer questions. We have new families in every grade from Pre-K to 5th this year, and their positive energy and excitement were uplifting for all!
Classroom Favorites, September 2020 - present
In a “normal” school year, we invite families and friends into the classroom frequently. Though we cannot have visitors in school buildings this year for health and safety reasons, family and friends still participate in classroom life remotely when possible, whether reading story books, sharing cultural traditions, or demonstrating professional expertise. A highlight of second grade science is always the cow-eye dissection. For the fourth year in a row, Epiphany School parent and ophthalmologist Lisa Olmos de Koo led the dissection along with science specialist Davis Bell—this time, in all three cohort classrooms simultaneously via Zoom (photos at left). “Unexpectedly, I think it might have been the best anatomy demonstration yet because of the way we were able to use technology,” she says. “Usually I do a live demo with many kids crowded around the table watching. This time I did it at home with two live cameras to ensure every student could get a good view of the demonstration. Even if I can be in the classroom next year, I’d like to still use cameras in this way.”
2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT
We extend our deepest appreciation to our Epiphany School community. Your generous support strengthens and sustains our dynamic academic program and plays a vital role in shaping the experiences shared by all Epiphany School students, faculty, staff, and families. Among those listed below are trustees, current families, faculty and staff, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, former trustees, former faculty and staff, and friends. To each and every one of you: Thank you!
ENDOWMENT FUNDS
The Epiphany School endowment was created in 1983 to ensure the long-term financial stability of the school. At the close of the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the total of all endowment funds totalled nearly $12 million. The corpus is kept in place, while up to 5% of the accumulated endowment earnings provide funds for special projects, including: financial aid, faculty and staff professional development, arts enrichment, technology, Learning Skills, and campus improvements.
General Learning Skills
Robert Spock Learning Skills
$9,054,805 $9,147,554
$61,152 $61,778
$69,821 $70,536
$40,000 $40,410
Jenny Cummins Children’s Opportunity Fund
Willard Smith Buildings & Grounds
General Buildings & Grounds
$51,037 $51,560
$3,439 $3,474
Fund $166,318 $167,921
2019-2020 Annual Fund
The Annual Report acknowledges gifts received between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. We make every effort to ensure our lists and records are accurate and up to date. If you believe there is an error or omission, please contact the Development Office at development@epiphanyschool.org or 206-323-9011.
2019-2020 ANNUAL FUND LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Epiphany School deeply appreciates our community’s generous support. Thank you!
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Baty
Stan and Kristine Baty***
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation*
VISIONARY SOCIETY
($7,500 OR MORE)
Meredith and Brandon Baty*
Lee and Jennifer Falck*
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund*
Brad and Mandy Gandt*
Chris Larson**
Ben Magnano and Effie Toshav*
Mary Kay McCaw****
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc.
Jamie Morris and Simon Moore
FOUNDERS' CIRCLE
($5,000 TO $7,499)
Ted and Dani Ackerley**
John and Alicia Alberg*
Elias ’87 and Karyl Alvord*
Andy and Kim Baker**
ANNUAL FUND GIVING COMMITTEE
Thank you to our volunteer leadership team!
Lee Falck, Chair
Matt Barrett
Brent Beecher
Roger Chalfont
Mandy Gandt
George Haddad
Katherine Hallen
Drew Hilen
Tim Johnston
Caitlin Kearney
Erin Lea
Nicole Lipton
Jonathan McCullough
Simon Moore
Aaron Perrine
Corrie Rosen
Joanna Smith
Mat Wiggers
Henry Burden
Emmett and Amanda Doerr
Peter Dull and Judith Tsui*
Julie ’79 and Beau Gould
Doug and Lisa Grandstaff
Ben and Katherine Hallen
The Helen Clay Frick Foundation
Aaron and Elizabeth Hinojosa
Sally and Tim Johnston*
Amy and Jonathan McCullough*
Ken Miller and Chris Pepin
Julie and Mark Okerstrom*
Alex and Lauren Rolfe
Schwab Charitable Fund**
Kylee and Kurt Shintaffer*
Ingrid Zhu
HEAD'S COUNCIL
($2,500 TO $4,999)
Kirsten Morbeck Backus ’84
Jeffrey and Julie Bahnmiller
Sanjay Balakrishnan and Vanessa Rodrigues
Jessica and Matthew Barrett*
Jennifer B. Elkin and Ross Elkin
Kris Engskov and Kara Westhusing
Ann and John Felton**
Dana and Megan Ferestien
Fine Mark National Bank & Trust
Elissa and Stan Fink
Brent Beecher ’87 and Ara Greer
Brian and Emilie Hansen
Brian and Michelle Hayden
Jessica and Tom Hughes*
Mr. Ronald Koo and Dr. Lisa Olmos
de Koo
David and Melanie Kosloff**
Alexander Kutner and Gail
Manuguid*
Richie and Leah Lai
Erin and Clive Lea
Jeremy Malasky and Vanessa Benavidez
Matthew and Amanda Rosauer*
Scott and Joanna Smith*
Jeremy and Lucy Wacksman
Ashleigh Walls
Sarah ’88 and Andrew Watts**
Betsy and Allen Webb*
Mat and Kirsten Wiggers
Jeremy Woland and Corrie Rosen
HONOR CIRCLE
EPIPHANY ADVOCATES
($1,500 TO $2,499)
Justin and Kimberly Allen
Michel Bastien and Jennifer Christensen
Michael Brown
Mark and Erin Callaghan
Jessica and Alan Cantlin*
Jackson and March Chao
David and Maureen Clough
Jayne Coe
Ted and Pat Collins***
Jonathan Cook and Anbrit Long
Peter and Yeon Cramer*
Effendi and Shannon Dufford
Jim and Mary Dunnam
Imad and Oksana Elkhamri
Frink Family Fund
Lloyd ’77 and Janet Frink
Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
Lily and Drew Hilen*
Shayan Irani and Kainaz Byramjee*
Brent Kehl and Trudi Slater
Ross Kessler and Cristine Agresta
Will and Beth Ketcham*
Tony and Janet Landers**
Jaime and Kymberly Lee
Clay and Anne Nielsen**
Paige Prill*
Zachary and Nikki Putnam*
Larry and Cathy Rodden
Ned ’84 and Allison Sander***
Epiphany School Privacy Policy: Epiphany School values its donors and takes their privacy seriously. Information concerning donors or prospective donors is made available to staff, board members, and volunteers on a “need-to-know” basis only. All such information shall be kept strictly confidential unless permission is obtained from donors to release such information or disclosure is required by law. Please direct comments or questions to development@epiphanyschool.org or call 206-323-9011.
Starbucks Partner Giving Programs
Aaron and Melyssa Suzuki
Paul Thompson
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
Troy and Heidi Wadsworth
Tony and Linda Whatley****
David and Mary Williams***
Ms. Deehan M. Wyman
Linda Wyman
EPIPHANY SOCIETY
($500 TO $1,499)
Nathan and Ruby Alexander*
Dean and Vicki Allen
Anonymous (3)
John and Alex Arnold*
Karl and Anne Aschenbach
Christopher Backus ’83
Mrs. Richard E. Bangert***
Alan and Sally Black
Ragnar and Karen Bloom
Bright Funds Foundation
Amy and Duff Bryant*
Jennie ’79 and Phil Carter
Cetera Financial Group
Julius Chen and Cristina Lane
Laurie Lootens Chyz and Grant Chyz****
Chris Cluett
Nate and Vivian Cluett
Thomas and Beth Colombo
Colette Courtion
John Cramer and Suzanne Poppema
Adam and Alison Dreiblatt
Gregor and Nicole Dunham
Jack Egan and Sara Coe ’90*
Kathy Enright*
Expedia Gives Matching Gifts Program**
David and Rebecca Fausel
Matthew Garson and Robyn Hagle
Nick Glassman and Mariam
Sughayer
Kevin and Effie Gleason
Years of consecutive participation in the Annual Fund or other philanthropy:
* 5 – 9
** 10 – 14
*** 15 – 19
**** 20+ years
ANNUAL FUND PARTICIPATION
Aaron & Elizabeth Hinojosa
YEAR 1
What inspired you to give to Epiphany School this year?
Every single faculty and staff member at Epiphany School demonstrates heartfelt dedication to and love for our kids on a daily basis. We also very much appreciate the school’s commitment to powering through the complexities of the public health guidance and making in-person instruction this year a reality.
What feels good about giving to Epiphany School?
Seeing how happy our children were when they returned to the classroom. The positive impact is obvious.
Your 2019-2020 gift to the Annual Fund supported a myriad of important initiatives at the school. Is there any particular initiative that you are especially passionate about supporting? Making sure the school continues to attract, develop, and retain dedicated and talented faculty and staff.
What would you want to tell other families that are considering supporting Epiphany School for the first time?
What philanthropic priority is more important than investing in your child’s education and development?
Tonia and Jay Goyal
Holly Hagens ’83 and Todd Sisitsky
Patchen Haggerty and Jim Smith
Bridgitt Arnold Harmon and Tad Harmon**
Mark Harrast and Robb Ginter
Jim and Jane Hawkanson****
Jamie and Jason Hunt
Joel Janda and Anne Janda
Shannon and Lars Johnson**
Mr. Joshua Green
David Kolner and Dave Erickson*
Sean and Colleen Kreyling
Kye and Beth Lee
Scott Lindsay and Courtney Gregoire
Nicole and Shawn Lipton*
Lucky Seven Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Magnano
Scott and Louisa Malatos
Markham and Alexa McIntyre
Nate and Stephanie McLemore**
Bryce and Sean Meeker
Mr. Ricardo A. Mestres
Tony and Laurie Mestres*
Mike Moghaddas and Mercedeh Fasaei
Joey Mukherjee and Preetha Chatterjee
Lafe Myers and Hanni Crissey
John and Karen Myhre*
Perry and Grace Pak
Blair and Melissa Payson
Pine Street Group LLC*
David Potts**
Aaron Perrine and Paige Pratter
Eva Puri
Fred and J’May Rivara
Mr. and Mrs. J. Thurston Roach
Bill and Jeannie Ruckelshaus
Jack and Janice Sabin
Mr. Stephen P. Sander****
The Seattle Foundation***
Chirag Shah*
Cristobal and Tonya Sierra
Jian Sun and Tracy Zheng
Jane Talbot ’79
Andrea Thoreson**
Alex Uslontsev and Annya Uslontseva*
Nikki and Mike Van Nimwegen**
Valerie Voss and John Houlihan**
Walls Property Management LLC
Preston Walls
Adam and Kirsten Wardell
Julia Whatley ’06*
Lauren Whatley ’01*
Dave Wilkes and Nikki Block*
Aaron Wilson and Courtney Ryan-Petterson
Gary and Heidi Windels
Jeff and Michelle Woerner
Charles Wyman ’03
FRIENDS OF EPIPHANY (UP TO $499)
Sarah Abbott**
Aetna Foundation
AmazonSmile Foundation*
Martin and Somany An
Jodi and Justin Arnold*
Tyler Arnold and Paula Simon
Josh and Brigid Arsenault*
Bonnie Bangert ’02***
REB and Kaitlyn Bangert****
Steve and Jan Barrett
Alan and Staci Barta***
Jeannette Bastin
Odin and Alison Bazeley
Michelle Beebe*
Alana Bell ’97*
Davis and Stacy Bell**
Teryn Allen Bench ’98 and Andy Bench
Matthew Bennett
Karen Benson
The Boeing Company Gift Matching Program****
Eric Branner and Alyson Scadron Branner*
David and Joyce Brewster****
Barbara Buchman****
Greg and June Buren**
Charlie Burkland
David Bush*
Roger Chalfont*
Stacy Chalfont*
Vijay Chemburkar and Jenny Wang
Mr. Caspar C. Clarke
Jonah and Amy Cohen
Sam and Helen Colombo
Wilfred and Suzanne Connell
Vicki Conrad
Bob and Ann Crouse*
Dawn Crownover and Heather Shaw*
Jenny and Richard Cummins****
J.D. and Cecile Delafield***
Barbara Denis
Ms. Wendel B. Donoghue
Ed and Sue Falck
Elizabeth Kolb Farr and Christopher Farr***
Jerome Farris
Charles Finkel
Sarah Folnia
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip F. Frink, Jr.****
Gates Ventures, LLC*
Michael and Emily George
Jaime and Calder Gillin
Mrs. Laura B. Gowen*
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Danielle Green
Devon Gualtieri
Dan and Wendy Guy**
Lawrence and Hylton Hard**
Marilyn and Bob Henry****
Lonnie Herring**
Judy Hewitt
Ben and Pamela Hillard
Alison and Mark Holmes
Candice Houghton and Akhil Pate*
Max Hunter and Risako Tanaka
Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Hutcheson
Eva Jensen
Greg Jones and Keith Klein*
Yonathan Kahssai and Etesgent Gebreselassie
Gregory and Rachel Kakas
David and Caitlin Kearney
Bob and Carolyn Kitchell
Wiley and Marianne Kitchell
Kelly Kursteiner
Tina Larabee**
Jay and Leslie Larkin****
Amber and Jacques Le Jeune
Beth & Tom Colombo
What inspires you to keep giving to Epiphany School?
This is such an interesting question as for the past four years we thought it was required (insert laugh here)! We give because we care not only for our children’s current educational growth and social-emotional learning, but also for the longevity of the school. Our inspiration derives from the joy and pride our children have of attending Epiphany each day, and the stories they share about their friends. The “shine in their eyes” is a constant reminder that they are part of a unique educational experience.
Your 2019-2020 gift to the Annual Fund supported a myriad of important initiatives at the school. Is there any particular initiative that you are especially passionate about supporting?
We’re firm believers in creating, building, and enhancing relationships. For us, we see Epiphany’s social-emotional focus as a critical component to our children’s growth; its exceptional educational aspects are just a bonus. The world is diverse, and our children are going to run into many different personality types – we’re hoping they learn through the school’s philosophy to respect everyone.
What would you tell a donor who is considering renewing their commitment to Epiphany School?
It’s easy to say “we’re all in this together,” but it’s an entirely different statement when you can prove it. Reaching a 100% family participation rate would be an important statement to the public and future parents that we ALL care and want to help.
“When we think about the Annual Fund, it’s not ‘what will it do for us today,’ but rather ‘what will continue when our children have moved on?’ We know that our contributions today allow for a legacy of learners.”
—Beth & Tom Colombo
Emily Lewis
Matt and Chris Lewis*
Melanie Lindsay
Dennis and Lydia Mascarinas*
Julian Maynard
Mike and Heather McAdam**
Louise Wesselhoeft McConkey
Julie McCullough*
Anthony McGrann and Paul Williams***
Brendan and Juanita McLaughlin
Becky Melonson****
Microsoft Giving Campaign*
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program***
Craig Miller and Rebecca Norton
Kate Moen
Jack and Sally Morbeck**
Mr. and Mrs. Gartha J. Morgan
Furman and Susan Moseley
Geoffrey Movius
Dianne Nicholson*
Northern Trust Charitable Program at the Chicago Community Foundation
Steven and Holly Overman
Ian and Katie Peacock
Mr. Nicholas Peyton and Dr. Alexandra L. Adame
Lauren Pitt
James and Sallie Ragsdale
Michael and Lauren Reyes
Anne Riederer and Tom Darlow*
Matthew Rivara and Amelia Dubovsky
Mr. and Mrs. Robin Rosauer
Celia and David Russo***
David and Deborah Rutherford*
Angelique and Michael Sabin
Ms. Anne Q. Sander
Lindsay and Michael Sanders**
Andrew Schafer
Paul Schneiderman
Betsy Sensenbrenner ’09*
Bo Sensenbrenner ’11*
Frances Sensenbrenner ’06*
Melissa Shaw
Mark Shone
Michael Soliman and Rochelle Ballena
Alexa Sparks
Andrew Stamm ’00
Scott Starkoski*
Peter and Sandy Stern
Brenda and Tom Stonecipher*
Chuck and Jane Stonecipher****
Stephen and Carol Szender**
Mary Szlachetka
David and Daphne Tang
Sara Tebeau
Carlye Teel*
Sandra Tennyson
Rob and Ellie Tobkes
Angela Typolt**
Bernhard Uhl
Cathy Underwood
Anne and Robert Van Cleve*
Kelley Washington ’84 and Bill Hooe*
Paige Baublitz-Watkins and Daniel Watkins
Pierce and Elizabeth Webb*
Tom ’81 and Kelly White****
Erik and Annika Wicklund
Jennifer Wilkinson
Felicia Wilks
Brian and Evie Winters
Lise and Tom Wolken****
Karen Zehnder-Wood and Richard Wood
Karen Ancheta Ybarra*
Laura Zoeller and Maxime Prat*
Years of consecutive participation in the Annual Fund or other philanthropy:
5 – 9
10 – 14
15 – 19
20+ years
CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS
Epiphany School acknowledges the organizations that promote and offer their philanthropic support to educational institutions.
Aetna Foundation
AHT Insurance
AmazonSmile Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Boeing Company Gift Matching Program
Bright Funds Foundation
Brown & Brown Insurance
Capital Group
Cetera
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Expedia Gives Matching Gifts Program
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Fine Mark National Bank & Trust
Garde Capital, Inc.
Gates Ventures, LLC
Ginger & Barry Ackerley Foundation
Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Helen Clay Frick Foundation
Leslie Larkin (Epiphany School Music Specialist) & Jay Larkin
You have contributed to the Annual Fund for 21 years running. What inspires you to keep giving after all these years? I am so lucky to be able to come to this amazing place every day and see, first hand, the phenomenal work that goes on here. Whether they are “on stage” like the teachers, “behind the scenes” like our administration and staff, or “cheering from the audience” like our families, every adult affiliated with Epiphany School gives 150%. I know that any amount of money I give will be used for a great purpose.
How does the opportunity to leave such a remarkable legacy at Epiphany School make you feel? Honestly, it just feels like the right thing to do, especially now that I have experienced Epiphany School as both a teacher and a parent. Jay and I are honored to give what we can to support such a rich program.
Your 2019-2020 gift to the Annual Fund supported a myriad of important initiatives at the school. Is there any particular initiative that you are especially passionate about supporting? As a family who makes use of financial aid, I would say that I am especially excited about making contributions to this program. One of the hallmarks of Epiphany School’s strategic plan revolves around making an Epiphany education available to all students. What would you want to tell a donor who is considering renewing their commitment to Epiphany School? First, I would say “Thank you!” on behalf of faculty, staff, students, and families. I would also reiterate that any amount makes a difference and encourage them to look at the strategic plan (epiphanyschool.org/strategicplan) – a terrific example of the thoughtfulness and caring that makes Epiphany School such a unique and special place.
SPECIAL AND RESTRICTED GIFTS
Thank you to those who strengthen specific programs, endowments, our campus, and funds at Epiphany School.
InCity Properties Holding, Inc.
J.A.S Design Build
Joshua Green Foundation, Inc.
Lucky Seven Foundation
Microsoft Giving Campaign
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc.
Northern Trust Charitable Program at the Chicago Community Foundation
PayNorthwest
Pine Street Group LLC
Schwab Charitable Fund
The Seattle Foundation
Starbucks Partner Giving Programs
T-Mobile Matching Gifts
Vanguard Charitable Endowment
Program
Walls Property Management LLC
Wyman Youth Trust
GIFTS TO ENDOWMENT FUNDS
We are deeply grateful to those who ensure the financial stability of Epiphany School, both now and for future generations.
Chap & Eve Alvord, General Endowment
Jenny and Richard Cummins, Jenny Cummins Children’s Opportunity Endowed Fund
Gary Malasky, Technology Endowment
GIFTS TO THE JENNY CUMMINS
CHILDREN’S OPPORTUNITY FUND
We are so thankful to those who wish to honor Jenny Cummins’ career at Epiphany School.
Sally and Bart Amey
Andy and Kim Baker
Matt Barnes and Lesa Sroufe
Rich and Sarah Barton
Anne and Robert Van Cleve
Candi Coe
Jenny and Richard Cummins
Expedia Gives Matching Gifts Program
Marilyn and Bob Henry
Dwayne and Andrea King
Carole and James ’70 Kitchell
Glen and Colleen Kiyonaga
Becky Melonson
Ken Miller and Chris Pepin
Steve and Thanne Moore
Elizabeth and Timothy O’Shea
Terry and Kathy Proctor
Fred and J’May Rivara
Matthew and Amanda Rosauer
Schwab Charitable Fund
Shawn and Margaret Starkoski
Nikki and Mike Van Nimwegen
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
Tony and Linda Whatley
GIFTS TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL AID
Nathan and Ruby Alexander
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Class of 2013 (Virtual!) Reunion
The Class of 2013 reunited over Zoom on June 17 for its first Epiphany School reunion. The typical festivities—a student meet-up in the Pigott Library in Madrona Hall and a family get-together in an alumni parent’s home—had to be reimagined this year due to Covid-19. “Zoom was a good substitute, but we missed being together on campus which always stirs up lots of memories,” says former Latin specialist and current 5th grade teacher Lise Wolken. That said, alumni and faculty had plenty to reminisce about and the conversation was energetic and enthusiastic. As Morris Gabriel Vasser-Campbell recalled, “I remember how we were always talking about the 3 Rs and how I never wanted to hear about them again. But now I find myself coming back to them all the time.” This fall, the Class of 2013 headed to colleges, universities, and other experiences both in person and virtual. Here’s what they’re up to...
Are you or someone you know missing from this list? We love to stay in touch with our alumni and their families but if your email or phone number has changed in recent years, we may not be able to reach you. Let us know your updated contact information at development@ epiphanyschool.org!
CLASS OF 2013 UPPER SCHOOL 2020-2021 PLANS
Anabelle Ackerley The Hotchkiss School University of St. Andrews
Rhoads Amadon Seattle Academy University of Colorado Boulder
Josie Barton Lakeside School Deputy Manager on Tarra Simmons' campaign, interning for Civil Survival, then Stanford for 2021-22
Russell Barton Lakeside School Duke University
Hannah Bennett Garfield High School University of Alabama Women's Rowing Team
Daniel Bor Roosevelt High School Undecided
Sophia Carnevali Eastside Preparatory School & West Seattle High School University of Southern California
Zachary Cohen Seattle Academy Pitzer College
Iona Duncan The Northwest School Vassar College
Isabella Fonseca Seattle Academy Barnard College
Elizabeth Gladden University Prep Parsons School of Design
Jad Gorman Lakeside School Occidental College
Lauren Hanauer Seattle Academy New York University
Wes Harkins
Bishop Blanchet University of Puget Sound
Ben Heymann Seattle Academy New York University
Emi Hoffer
Louis Hoffmann
Liam Hyde
Holy Names and EF Academy McGill University
Stevenson School Santa Clara University
Garfield High School California Polytechnic State University
Hayden Janssen Seattle Academy University of Utah
Georgia Joers Lakeside School Middlebury College
Tad Koenigsbauer Berkshire School Bates College
Saoirse Landers Eastside Preparatory School University of Richmond
Ava Letterie Northwest High School Occidental College
Emma Leventhal Seattle Academy University of Southern California
Jackson Miller The Bush School Loyola Marymount University School of Business
Will Mueller Seattle Academy Lafayette College
Kedar Nagaraj The Overlake School Amherst College
Ella Powell Lakeside School Chapman University
Elyse Roberts
Ava Robertson
Garfield High School Seattle University
Garfield High School Boston College
Helen Ruckelshaus Seattle Academy New York University
Audrey Sander
Ian Scott
Alexander Smith
Garfield High School University of Washington
Garfield High School Carleton College
Garfield High School University of Washington
Morris Gabriel Vasser-Campbell Seattle Academy Claremont McKenna College
Posy Vogt
Garfield High School
Accepted at Colorado College & Brown University, taking gap year and traveling
Lucy Waggoner Seattle Academy Software Engineer at the Center for Tech and Civic Life, then Scripps College
Alumni Spotlight: Greg Aikens, Class of 1970
By Gemma Alexander
Today, Greg Aikens ’70 is the COO and CFO of Healthy Smart Homes, a Seattle and Boston-based nonprofit that works to support economic equity and improve the social determinants of health in communities of color and low-to-moderate income households. But in 1967, he was a fourth grader in public school who purposely got himself sent to the principal’s office to escape the boredom of the classroom. Seeking a more rigorous academic environment, his parents enrolled him in Epiphany School.
“They liked the fact that the school taught us how to listen to the other side and voice our opinions. We were allowed to say anything we wanted as long as we did it in a respectful manner,” he recalls. “At a very early age Epiphany School taught us how to separate the idea from the person voicing the idea.”
Like all students transferring from public schools back then, he had to repeat a grade. But he didn’t mind. “Fourth grade at Epiphany was totally different than fourth grade at Brighton Elementary,” he says. “It wasn’t one size fits all. Teachers took the time to find out what interests you, then they would present the curriculum in terms of your interests.”
The knowledge and skills Greg learned at Epiphany School gave him a head start at Lakeside School, where high academic standards coexisted with the philosophy that “there’s more to life than opening a book,” as he puts it. After discovering University of Washington wasn’t a good fit for him, he spent years in the business world. Then in 2010, Greg decided it was time to finish his education and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and then a master’s degree in finance at Harvard. Juggling work and rigorous academics, Greg drew on the organizational skills and study habits established early on. “All the old skills I learned at Epiphany served me extremely well when I got to Harvard. Harvard was fun!” says Greg.
Last year, Greg moved back to Seattle and visited Epiphany School for the first time. He was impressed
by the school’s growth and new resources. In his day, the school didn’t even have its own playground. But then and now, amenities are secondary to what matters most at Epiphany School: children discovering—per the school’s Vision statement—“meaning and purpose in a life of learning.”
In just three years at Epiphany School, Greg went from a kid who actively tried to escape the classroom to a lifelong learner with the skills to tackle any subject. “As students, we didn’t know Epiphany School was preparing us for rigorous, competitive schools like Lakeside and Harvard,” he reflects. “We were just enjoying being there.”
SPOTLIGHT: Class of 2014
“Although this project was born out of a crisis, I think it fulfills a need that transcends the current situation,” says Logan Spoonemoore ’14, who in April 2020 launched Students Helping Students Seattle, a free tutoring service that pairs high-school tutors with elementary and middle school students. The Northwest School senior now coordinates volunteer tutors from over 35 schools and was profiled in the Seattle Times this past summer. Fellow alumna Fiona Bor and Elizabeth Baker (both ’14) are also very involved with the program.
Mackenzie Guy ’14, a senior at Holy Names Academy, is president of the school’s Reign Robotics team, one of a few all-female robotics teams worldwide. Last year she was nominated to the Dean’s List for her leadership and dedication to FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology), the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education. After being interviewed by judges she was chosen as one of 36 finalists and was selected to compete at the 2020 World Championship. She hopes to pursue Mechanical Engineering or Chemistry in college.
Evan Kato ’14, returned to the Epiphany School campus this summer to receive his Eagle Scout promotion for Boy Scouts. A senior at Seattle Lutheran High School, he is in the National Honors Society and on his school’s varsity basketball team. His mother, Madeline Kato, reflects on some takeaways from his elementary years: “The biggest lessons he learned at Epiphany School go back to the core values of being respectful, responsible, and resourceful. He is all of those. We often hear from his teachers that he is a great kid and as his parents we couldn’t ask any more from him.”
One side benefit of Epiphany School events going virtual this year? Alumni siblings got in on the action! We loved seeing many familiar faces pop up in the videos and photos families sent in.
A favorite part of Carnival every year is the Fifth Grade Dunk Tank, a much-anticipated 5th grade rite of passage. In lieu of an in-person event this year, we asked families to film their 5th graders getting soaked. Alumni siblings were all too happy to do the honors. Left to right: Jack Webb ’18 gets ready to dump a bucket of water (or 3!) on his brother,
Edward; Margo Van Nimwegen ’17 soaks her sister, Kate, in a dunk tank they re-created in their bathtub; Emmett Arnold ’18 pours water over his sister, Anya. Watch the full dunk tank video at bit.ly/2020dunk-tank. Edie Branner ’18 serves her brother, Huck, a 3rd grader, a treat at our virtual ice cream social at the end of the first week of school.
