2013-14 Episcopal High School Academics Brochure

Academics at Episcopal High School

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CONTENTS

English 2 Science 4 Social Studies 6 Mathematics 8 Interdisciplinary Studies 9 Modern and Classical Languages 10 The Arts 12 Theology 14

Academics at Episcopal High School An Episcopal High School education is more than just acquired knowledge – it is also discovery, exploration, and creativity. Students and faculty work together in a learning community to make the most of each subject, whether engaging in lively classroom discussions and debates, analyzing the meaning behind a poem or work of art, or working together to make a scientific discovery.

Learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Our teachers take full advantage of the many opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area to enhance classroom work. Students might read “Macbeth” and then see it performed on stage, or study environmental science in the lab and then carry out field work on the Potomac River.

Episcopal attracts students with a wide variety of academic talents, and the School strives to address each student’s needs. Regular, Honors, and Advanced courses in each department allow students to tailor their learning track. In addition to traditional, discipline-specific courses, Episcopal offers a variety of interdisciplinary courses that enhance students’ ability to think critically across disciplines. If students wish to explore a subject not offered in the curriculum, there is opportunity for independent study.

Our faculty is committed to providing a challenging academic curriculum that helps students live up to their full potential, producing independent, thoughtful graduates who are well prepared for the world beyond Episcopal’s gates. The EHS campus is a community built around education, where faculty and students live, work, and play together. And, because more than 85 percent of our faculty live on campus, they continue to work with students long after the final bell has rung.

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English

Creative writing assignments balance with analytical writing throughout the four-year curriculum, allowing students to find their voices and understand their experiences. Two literary magazines are published in the spring, featuring poetry and stories written by students throughout the year. The best analytical writing of the year is featured in “English Bays,� a departmental publication that highlights awardwinning student pieces.

Students are required to complete four credits in English and must be enrolled in an English course during each of their years at EHS.

Episcopal’s English program is designed to instill a lifelong love of reading and to assist each student in developing his or her unique writing voice. Through classroom discussions, public speaking exercises (such as formal speeches, debate, and student-led class discourse), literary research, and analytical writing, students cultivate critical and creative thinking skills.

Our English program encompasses a wide range of literature, from classic to contemporary, and students engage in discussion and analysis of the works, the authors, and the lasting impact of literature on the human consciousness.

Each year the English curriculum challenges students and helps them to experience the impact literature can have on their lives. All classes attend at least one related performance per year at professional theaters in Washington, D.C.

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A N A P P R E C I AT I O N F O R S H A K E S P E A R E EPISCOPAL PLACES A HIGH VALUE ON THE STUDY OF THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. EACH GRADE LEVEL STUDIES AT LEAST ONE OF HIS PLAYS AND THEN ATTENDS A LIVE PERFORMANCE SO THAT CLASSROOM STUDY IS INTEGRATED WITH ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE BARD’S WORK. WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS BECOME A PREMIER LOCATION FOR SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICA, AS IT IS HOME TO THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY AND THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY (WHICH HAS ITS OWN THEATER COMPANY). STUDENTS HAVE RECENTLY ENJOYED ACCLAIMED PRODUCTIONS OF “THE TAMING OF THE SHREW,” “TWELFTH NIGHT,” “MACBETH,” “HENRY IV,” “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM,” “ROMEO AND JULIET,” AND “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.” FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, EVERY SENIOR HAS TAKEN THE SHAKESPEARE EXAM, A CULMINATION OF THEIR FOUR YEARS OF SHAKESPEARE STUDY. THE WILLIAM GARRETT BIBB MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN SHAKESPEARE IS AWARDED AT COMMENCEMENT FOR THE BEST ESSAY SUBMITTED AS PART OF THIS EXAM. SENIORS MAY APPLY FOR THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY HIGH SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, A HIGHLY SELECTIVE, SEMESTER-LONG PROGRAM. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ATTEND SEMINARS WITH NOTED SCHOLARS, WORKSHOPS IN PERFORMANCE, AND PRODUCTIONS OF THE PLAYS BEING STUDIED. FIFTEEN EPISCOPAL STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP SINCE 2000.

“English studies help us recognize the universal in the particular. Literature dramatizes the conflicts and moral choices of individual characters. Caring about protagonists’ struggles, we come to know them well enough to love them as ourselves, and we can partake of the spiritual health that they have earned through story and image.

We can rejoice that Huck Finn has glimpsed a state of grace when he is willing to risk going to hell for the sake of his friend’s freedom.

“EHS has always valued good writing.

Teachers are committed to listening carefully to student expression, not only what is said but also how it is said. Constructive comment encourages students to wrest new meaning from the framing of words. By teaching at EHS, I participate in a family in all the best senses, old and new, from honoring traditions to stirring new consciousness of our crucial relation to the global village. Of course, transformation is never complete. All of us, teachers and students, are still becoming, and wrestling with questions remains more important than settling for answers.”

W. PE R RY E PE S I I I ’6 5 E NG L I S H, T H E OL O G Y FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S I N C E 19 8 7

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Science

technical knowledge, lab skills, and engineering ability across the scientific disciplines.

Our science program is greatly enhanced by our outstanding facilities, including stateof-the-art laboratories and classrooms with sophisticated computer technology housed in the LEED-certified Baker Science Center (2005).

Each course has an integrated laboratory component that allows students to further explore their scientific discoveries. EHS maintains a focus on environmental sustainability and extracurricular scientific activities, made possible by the myriad field sites accessible to our students – from Anderson Pond and Laird Acres on campus to the nearby Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. Students are required to complete two credits in laboratory science but are encouraged to take more.

In today’s complex and technical world, a comprehensive understanding of the scientific process is imperative. Our science curriculum provides our students with that understanding, teaching the skills and concepts of a variety of scientific disciplines while instilling a working knowledge of the scientific process and the decision-making skills necessary to navigate their future. Students begin their journey with physics in the 9th grade and build upon that foundation with chemistry and biology. Upperclassmen have access to a variety of electives to satisfy their scientific curiosity, including subjects such as forensics, environmental science, human genetics, engineering, and global energy.

Students also may participate in the Science Olympiad, which competes in both regional and statewide tournaments. Science Olympiad is composed of 23 events that test team members’

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ACADEMIC SUPPORT EPISCOPAL IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION, AND SOMETIMES EVEN THE BEST STUDENTS FIND THAT THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. THE SCHOOL HAS A NUMBER OF WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO GET EXTRA HELP OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, NO MATTER WHAT THE SUBJECT. FACULTY ASSISTANCE

OUR FACULTY IS DEDICATED TO HELPING EACH STUDENT REACH THEIR FULL ACADEMIC

POTENTIAL. AT THE END OF THE ACADEMIC DAY, TEACHERS MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE DURING A TUTORIAL PERIOD. SINCE 85 PERCENT OF OUR FACULTY LIVE ON CAMPUS, THEY ALSO FREQUENTLY MEET WITH STUDENTS BEFORE THE SCHOOL DAY AND DURING FREE PERIODS. TEACHERS ALSO MAY MEET WITH STUDENTS IN THE EVENINGS IF THE STUDENT ARRANGES A SESSION IN ADVANCE. TUTORING AND PEER MENTORING PROGRAMS EPISCOPAL ARRANGES TUTORS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED SUPPORT IN INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTS. STUDENTS MAY BE MATCHED WITH PROFESSIONAL TUTORS OR PEER TUTORS DEPENDING ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. PEER MENTORING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP NEW STUDENTS ADJUST TO BOARDING SCHOOL AND THE ACADEMIC DEMANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL. THE WRITING CENTER

ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL’S WRITING CENTER, WHICH OFFERS A FULL

COMPLEMENT OF TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENT WRITING. THE CENTER IS STAFFED BY ONE ENGLISH TEACHER AND 10 STUDENT TUTORS WHO MUST APPLY TO BE TUTORS AND ARE SELECTED FROM AMONG THE TOP ENGLISH STUDENTS IN THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLASSES. TUTORS ASSIST WITH EDITING, PROOFREADING, AND CITATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING GRAMMATICAL AND STRUCTURAL ASSISTANCE ON WRITTEN WORK. THE WRITING CENTER, LOCATED IN THE LIBRARY, IS OPEN DURING EVERY CLASS PERIOD OF THE ACADEMIC DAY AND FOR ONE HOUR OF STUDY HALL. LEARNING SPECIALISTS

EPISCOPAL’S LEARNING SPECIALISTS PROVIDE ACADEMIC AND STUDY SKILLS TUTORING

TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL HELP. THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TEACHING, THEY DEVELOP A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO WORK WITH EACH STUDENT’S ACADEMIC STRENGTHS WHILE ADDRESSING WEAKNESSES.

“At Episcopal, we strive for an experiential approach, teaching students about science in the same manner as scientists would perform research experiments. Our goal is to ensure that students not only learn factual content in the sciences, but also the process required when asking big questions. It’s satisfying when our graduates leave Episcopal curious about the world around them and knowledgeable about the never-ending process of scientific inquiry.

“Working at a school that is 100 percent boarding, true education does not stop in the classroom, and teachable moments arise in a variety of situations throughout our time together at Episcopal.

I’ve spoken with students about copper oxidizing to a beautiful green patina on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial; explained the physics of sound while listening to a water glass musician in Old Town Alexandria; and discussed DNA fingerprinting while watching ‘CSI’ at my house after dinner. The relationships students build with faculty help them to realize that the true manifestation of knowledge occurs when you apply facts and data to the world around you.”

K I M BE R LY G . OL S E N C H A I R OF S C I E NC E FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S I N C E 2 0 0 4

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Social Studies

one in U.S. history – but it also provides ample opportunities for students to study human behavior through a wide variety of subjects, including government, art history, economics, psychology, geography, and interdisciplinary topics such as global energy. Social studies electives explore the history of specific regions and cultures, such as the American South, the Middle East, Modern China, Latin America, and Africa.

Students also have the opportunity to examine current events, and some have the opportunity to publish their analysis and opinion online.

Students are required to complete two full years of social studies, which must include U.S. History and Global History 2.

Because the study of human history is an essential part of a liberal arts education, Episcopal exposes its students to a vast cross-section of world cultures. Through the study of history, our students examine the societies and events that have shaped the world in which they live and learn to better understand that world and their role within it. Through research, discussion, and debate, our students analyze other civilizations and cultures and form their own opinions about the sources of conflict, resolution, and change. EHS graduates leave the School as global citizens, cognizant of the world around them and the context in which geopolitical issues develop.

Our social studies curriculum is built upon three basic courses – two in global history and

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM THE WASHINGTON PROGRAM

EPISCOPAL’S LOCATION JUST OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, D.C., ALLOWS STUDENTS TO

EXPERIENCE ALL THAT THE NATION’S CAPITAL HAS TO OFFER – AND BRINGS THOSE RESOURCES INTO PLAY TO ENRICH THE CURRICULUM. THE WASHINGTON PROGRAM AUGMENTS CLASSROOM STUDY BY EXPOSING STUDENTS TO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. STUDENTS DON’T JUST STUDY GOVERNMENT; THEY DISCUSS POLICY WITH SENATORS AND SUPREME COURT JUSTICES. OUR THREE-PRONGED APPROACH INCLUDES THE TOUR PROGRAM, CULTURAL CONNECTIONS, AND SENIOR SEMINAR. TOUR PROGRAM ON MOST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS, AND ON OPTIONAL EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS, STUDENTS EMBARK UPON FACULTY-GUIDED TOURS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C., METROPOLITAN AREA. RECENT TOURS HAVE INCLUDED: • DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF U.S.-PAKISTANI RELATIONS AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE • VISITING THE MIRANT POTOMAC RIVER GENERATING STATION TO DISCUSS ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT • MEETING WITH THE CHAPLAIN OF THE U.S. SENATE • EXAMINING WASHINGTON, D.C., LANDMARKS FOR GEOMETRICAL SHAPES AND PROOFS • STUDYING PHYSICS AT THE NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER • V ISITING THE SCHEIDE LIBRARY, A PRIVATE RARE BOOK COLLECTION HOUSED WITHIN PRINCETON’S FIRESTONE LIBRARY • LEARNING POLLING TECHNIQUES AT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

WE INVITE TALENTED PERFORMERS, ARTISTS, AND SPEAKERS TO CAMPUS, AND OUR

STUDENTS TAKE FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE CITY TO EXPLORE THE CAPITAL’S CULTURAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING D.C.’S MANY ART GALLERIES AND MUSIC VENUES, THE KENNEDY CENTER, NATIONAL THEATRE, FORD’S THEATRE, AND FOLGER THEATRE, TO NAME A FEW. SENIOR SEMINAR

AS THE END OF HIGH SCHOOL APPROACHES, EHS SENIORS HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE

THE WORLD BEYOND CAMPUS THROUGH THE SENIOR SEMINAR PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM RUNS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN MAY, DURING WHICH TIME SENIORS WORK AS INTERNS 35 HOURS PER WEEK. (EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE AS NEEDED FOR AP EXAMS AND VARSITY ATHLETICS.) STUDENTS PRESENT PAPERS ON THEIR EXPERIENCE TO A FACULTY PANEL AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

“Social Studies is a central component of an Episcopal education, and the School offers students a diverse curriculum that enables them to grapple with the essential questions of human history. They have the opportunity to explore geography, history, economics, psychology, art history, government, and current events, and this diversity is a major reason why I teach at Episcopal. Smaller class sizes allow us to take time to go into depth on topics of interest to the students.

Through our global history classes, students gain a strong understanding of the non-Western world early in their high school careers. As seniors, they have the opportunity to pursue particular topics, including a number of wonderful electives that focus on specific regions of the world and current events.

For an educator, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing students enthusiastically jump into their social studies work and embark on this academic journey at EHS.” H E I DI R . H U N T L E Y S O C I A L S T U DI E S FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S I N C E 2 0 0 6

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Mathematics

skills that allow for later expansion into more advanced concepts. Episcopal offers regular and Advanced courses and does not designate fixed learning “tracks” for students. They may move between Regular and Honors or Advanced classes as their level of mathematical thinking matures. EHS strongly believes that technological aids, such as computers and graphing calculators, are necessary problem-solving tools that allow students to explore ideas more efficiently in conjunction with traditional learning.

Students are required to complete a minimum of three credits in mathematics, including trigonometry.

EHS believes that mastering the art of problem solving is the overarching goal of mathematics study. Facts and techniques are useful tools, but it is most important that students are able to apply those techniques to new and unfamiliar problems. Our curriculum challenges students to develop their manipulative and problemsolving skills and to enhance their logical and critical reasoning, teaching them the best ways to apply their knowledge meaningfully to “realworld” situations.

Our mathematics teachers avoid a directlecture format, encouraging discussion and give-and-take in the classroom. Students build a strong base of fundamental concepts and 8

Interdisciplinary Studies

opportunity to think critically in a much more effective way because they are pulling information from more than just one compartment of knowledge. It makes them more flexible thinkers and more powerful and persuasive in their arguments.”

Recognizing that understanding our complex world often requires synthesis of knowledge from more than one discipline, EHS offers a number of interdisciplinary courses. Through such courses as Advanced Global Energy, Advanced Engineering, African-American Studies, and Ethics and Aesthetics, juniors and seniors have the opportunity to sharpen their problemsolving skills and thoughtfully investigate how information is integrated into a fuller understanding of a problem, issue, or concept.

“Students are able to see that knowledge is not compartmentalized by discipline,” said Assistant Head for Academics Mary Fielder.

“Interdisciplinary programs give students the

CURRENT INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSE OFFERINGS INCLUDE: • ENGINEERING • ETHICS AND AESTHETICS • GLOBAL ENERGY • LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY • SOUTHERN LITERATURE AND ETHICS • VOICES OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

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Modern and Classical Languages

Students speak the language with their teachers and classmates, and assignments, such as papers, are presented in the language of study. Advanced courses include a study of literature, and students also have the opportunity to participate in faculty-led excursions to other countries or in student exchange programs.

While students are required to complete a minimum of three years’ study in one language, many choose to pursue more than one language while at EHS. Each language extends instruction to include a fourth or even a fifth level, and there are many Advanced, college-level course options as well.

Episcopal seeks to instill within its graduates a sense of global citizenship – an understanding of and appreciation for cultures and societies outside of the U.S. Language study is a core component of an EHS education, offering courses not only in speaking and grammar, but also in literature and culture. Our Modern and Classical Languages Department offers students the chance to pursue the study of six languages: Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Latin, and Greek.

The goal of studying a language at Episcopal is to achieve fluency, and our language faculty employ a variety of techniques to help students achieve that goal. In the classroom, teachers use multimedia presentations, visual aids, and even original translations to enhance comprehension.

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C U LT U R A L I M M E R S I O N TO FURTHER CULTIVATE LANGUAGE STUDY AND IMPROVE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF A LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, EHS PARTICIPATES IN SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO STUDY ABROAD. EACH SUMMER, EPISCOPAL FACULTY MEMBERS LEAD PROGRAMS THAT TAKE STUDENTS TO SPAIN, FRANCE, AND ITALY, IMMERSING STUDENTS IN DIFFERENT CULTURES AND LANGUAGES. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS MAY TRAVEL WITH FACULTY MEMBERS ON SUPERVISED SPRING BREAK TRIPS TO COUNTRIES SUCH AS AUSTRIA AND ITALY. EHS ALSO HAS ESTABLISHED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WITH SCHOOLS IN AUSTRIA, FRANCE, AND SPAIN. THESE PROGRAMS BRING STUDENTS FROM ABROAD TO STAY ON CAMPUS WITH EPISCOPAL STUDENTS, WHO LATER TRAVEL TO VISIT THEIR NEW FRIENDS IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR IN-HOUSE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, EHS STUDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD, A WELL-RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL STUDY ORGANIZATION. SYA FEATURES YEARLONG PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE HOME-STAYS WITH FAMILIES AND ACADEMIC STUDY IN FRANCE, SPAIN, CHINA, ITALY, JAPAN, AND VIETNAM. “I WAS EXPOSED TO AN ENTIRELY NEW WAY OF LIFE AND THINKING. THE YEAR COMPLETELY CHANGED MY GERMAN LANGUAGE SKILLS. I CAME TO GERMANY HAVING STUDIED ONE YEAR OF GERMAN AND LEFT COMPLETELY FLUENT AND EVEN THINKING IN GERMAN,” SAID KELLSEY BEAL ’10, WHO STUDIED ABROAD AS A RECIPIENT OF THE CONGRESS-BUNDESTAG SCHOLARSHIP.

“With the threads of a new language, we weave together a fabric that leads to a wealth of new experiences, exploring the world together and teaching students how to communicate, discover, and express themselves in another language. We venture out from the comfort of the classroom to find places and make contacts that bring the languages and cultures of our world to life.

“I enjoy teaching at EHS because of the many opportunities for language study, both classical and modern. Being able to help students see the fabric of cultures through the lens of language allows all of our department members to develop and strengthen the passion we have for our respective languages and cultures. With exchanges and study-abroad programs, both students and teachers benefit by broadening their worlds. Students can pursue many directions in their study and can put their talents to use in the world beyond. Helping them achieve that ability is the driving force behind my passion for teaching at EHS.” E L E A NOR C . MO OR E F R E NC H FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S I N C E 19 9 9

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The Arts

the scenes, from stagecraft to costuming, in these productions. Our musicians have performed with the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and participated in regional honors bands. Our choirs travel to other cities to share their music with audiences large and small. EHS artists also have shown their work in local and national youth competitions.

Students may participate in one of Episcopal’s a cappella groups, sing or play in chapel, or entertain their peers at one of the campus “coffee house” performances sponsored by the Student Association for the Performing Arts.

Students entering as 9th graders are required to take Introduction to the Arts and one additional arts course. Students entering as sophomores or juniors must complete at least one arts course.

Episcopal incorporates the arts into each student’s academic journey, seeking to nurture within each boy and girl an appreciation for artistic expression and a lifelong connection to their own creativity. Our arts teachers, both fulltime and adjunct, are all active practitioners in their fields. They educate by example, through a creative partnership with Episcopal students.

Each student will take at least one arts course during their time at EHS, and many discover a passion for photography, acting, ceramics, music, or painting that will last a lifetime. Episcopal students may develop portfolios for college submission and may select from several Advanced, college-level arts courses.

Outside the classroom, students have many opportunities to expand their artistic experience. Episcopal stages at least three plays each year; students may work as actors or behind

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M U S I C A L PA R T N E R S H I P S EPISCOPAL OFFERS MANY WAYS FOR STUDENT MUSICIANS TO HONE THEIR SKILLS AND GAIN EXPERIENCE PLAYING IN A VARIETY OF MUSICAL SETTINGS. EVERY ORCHESTRA STUDENT TAKES PRIVATE LESSONS WITH OUR ADJUNCT MUSIC FACULTY, AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS WHO HAVE PLAYED WITH WORLD-FAMOUS ENSEMBLES SUCH AS THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE U.S. AIR FORCE, ARMY, MARINE, AND NAVY BANDS. THESE LESSONS PROVIDE EHS STUDENTS WITH A COURSE OF CONCENTRATED STUDY FROM A PERFORMING PROFESSIONAL WHO SPECIALIZES IN THEIR PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT, TAKING ORCHESTRA STUDENTS BEYOND A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND ALLOWING THEM TO SHARPEN THEIR MUSICAL SKILLS TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL. EPISCOPAL STUDENTS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM WITH WASHINGTON, D.C.-AREA ORCHESTRAS, SUCH AS THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA (WMYO). THE WMYO IS THE ORCHESTRA-INRESIDENCE AT EHS AND ONE OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION’S PREMIER YOUTH ORCHESTRAS. YOUNG PERFORMERS REHEARSE EACH WEEK AND PRESENT FOUR CONCERTS EACH YEAR. IT IS AN EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE FOR DEVOTED INSTRUMENTALISTS TO PLAY WITH THEIR PEERS, AND PARTICIPATION IS BASED ON A COMPETITIVE AUDITION PROCESS. OUR STUDENTS ALSO AUDITION FOR AND PERFORM WITH THE VIRGINIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION DISTRICT 10 HONOR ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING THE STRING ORCHESTRA, CONCERT BAND, WIND ENSEMBLE, AND JAZZ ENSEMBLE, AS WELL AS THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE REGIONAL ORCHESTRA. STUDENTS SELECTED FOR THESE HONOR BANDS MEET FOR A SINGLE WEEKEND WITH A GUEST CONDUCTOR AND THEN PRESENT A CONCERT TO SHOWCASE THEIR HARD WORK. STUDENTS ALSO MAY COMPETE IN THE ANNUAL DISTRICT 10 SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL EACH SPRING, AS WELL AS CLINICS, COMPETITIONS, AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

“At Episcopal, the arts are an essential part of the academic process. The arts – whether visual or performing – help you interact with the world and discover who you are. Being creative enables you to tap into what it is to be human. It is essential in the development of all people, young and old, and it can bring great joy.

“It is my job to help these students discover their own creativity. Using the language of the arts, we help our students capture and communicate their world.

Making art is intellectual, but it is also charged with emotion. Art allows you to take in the world, break it down, rebuild it, and show it to others in a different way.

A really powerful painting is similar to a really powerful poem, and in the same way that one plus one communicates two, a painting or a piece of music communicates an idea.”

DAV I D A . D OUG L A S V I S UA L A RT S FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S I N C E 19 9 4

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Theology

philosophical traditions, as well as in-depth studies of Christian theological concepts, such as salvation and Christology.

Students are required to complete a minimum of one credit in theology. Entering 9th and 10th grade students must complete Biblical Theology before the end of their sophomore year. The second half of the requirement is completed through a half-year elective taken during senior year.

An EHS education includes the study of theology as an academic discipline, exploring the JudeoChristian-Islamic heritage that is the foundation of Western civilization. Students analyze the history of humanity’s quest for meaning and examine classical and contemporary religious and philosophical models. Through discussions and writing assignments, our students appropriate the perspective of these models and learn to think for themselves. The curriculum also includes studies of various religious and

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INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS EPISCOPAL ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO PERSONALIZE THEIR EDUCATION, AND THE SCHOOL OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF ELECTIVES TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO TAILOR THEIR COURSE OF STUDY. HOWEVER, STUDENTS WHO WISH TO PURSUE TOPICS OF LEARNING THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE COURSE OFFERINGS AT EHS MAY APPLY FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY. STUDENTS WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE WILLING TO SPONSOR THEIR ENDEAVORS. TOGETHER THEY DEVELOP A COURSE OF STUDY THAT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE ASSISTANT HEAD FOR ACADEMICS. THE STUDENT AND TEACHER THEN PURSUE THAT COURSE OF STUDY OVER A SEMESTER, FOR WHICH THE STUDENT IS AWARDED A LETTER GRADE AND EARNS ACADEMIC CREDIT. RECENT INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES HAVE EXPLORED THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS: • 2 -D PORTFOLIO

• D IFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

• P ORTFOLIO ART: PAINTING

• A + CERTIFICATION

• D ISCRETE MATH

• P ORTFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY

• A DVANCED CHINESE WRITING

•F RANCOPHONE LITERATURE AND FILMS

• P ORTFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY 2

• A DVANCED CHINESE WRITING 2 •A DVANCED DATA STRUCTURES IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

• G ERMAN ART: GOETHE’S WORKS

•S TUDIO ART: DRAWING PORTFOLIO

• G ERMAN LITERATURE SURVEY

• S URVEY OF JOURNALISM

•A DVANCED WRITING STYLE IN GERMAN

•H ERMANN HESSE: LIFE AND WORKS

• T HE ROLE OF ART IN RELIGION

• C ERAMICS 3

• N UMBER THEORY

• C OMBINATORICS

• O PERATING SYSTEM DESIGN

•T HE CREATION: NARRATIVES IN WORLD RELIGIONS

• P ORTFOLIO ART: DRAWING

“If all there is to an academic subject is a series of facts to be memorized, then what has taken place isn’t really learning at all. The goal here is to bring those facts to life, to see the ‘big picture’ of mathematics, so that the potential of the discipline is made clear – and, perhaps, even a little bit exciting. Though the teacher may lead the discussion, learning is a ‘we are all in this together’ experience at EHS. “It is the fact that there are so many students at EHS who strive for a bit more that makes teaching here such a pleasure. Each day these students arrive in class with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose – and a sense of humor! I work with teachers who recognize that we teach students more than we teach math, and we work closely together to best serve our students. It is the joy of working with young people with this kind of spirit that keeps me looking forward to the start of the school year each September.”

R IC H A R D M . S T U BB S M AT H E M AT IC S FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S I N C E 19 7 7

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A N A C A D E M I C PA R T N E R S H I P EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY WHERE CLOSE CONNECTIONS AMONG STUDENTS AND FACULTY FLOURISH AS A CHALLENGING AND ENGAGING CURRICULUM UNFOLDS. STUDENTS

JOIN

THE

FACULTY

IN

PURSUING

QUESTIONS,

NOT SIMPLY ANSWERS; IN DISCOVERING IDEAS, NOT MERELY FACTS; AND IN APPRECIATING THE JOURNEY, NOT SOLELY THE DESTINATION. IT IS A COLLABORATION. THE EHS FACULTY OFFERS STUDENTS SUPPORT, ENTHUSIASM, AND OPPORTUNITY. EPISCOPAL STUDENTS BUILD A FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. EPISCOPAL ASPIRES TO GRADUATE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF INTEGRITY WHO WILL ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, SERVE THE WORLD, AND PERSEVERE IN THE CHALLENGES OF HEART AND MIND.

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1200 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302 Telephone 703-933-4062 • Toll-free 877-933-4347 admissions@episcopalhighschool.org

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