Spirit Magazine | Summer 2024

S PI R I T SUMMER/FALL 2024

A PUB L I C AT I O N F O R T H E H OLY CO M FO RTER EP IS CO PA L S CH O O L FA M I LY & CO M M U N ITY

A Letter from the Head of School Dear Holy Comforter Families,

Head of School Peter Klekamp Middle School Head Amy Vernon Lower School Head Brenda Hagen Director of Early Learning Michele Proctor Director of Finance Lorie Frederick Director of Technology Paul Fitzgerald Director of Advancement Ida Thompson Director of Admissions Meghan Wilson ‘02 Director of Human Resources Janet Parrish Athletic Director Jeremy Barlow Director of Extended Day Chelsi Blankenship

It has been great to bring our “school family” back to campus and begin another fantastic school year! We are excited to welcome over eighty new students this year with an overall enrollment of 570. There is much to be thankful for in the Holy Comforter Episcopal School community as we embark on another inspiring journey together.

The summer months allow for us to rest, relax and rejuvenate for the upcoming school year. Several of our teachers and administrators traveled to Orlando to participate in Get Your Teach On & Get Your Lead On Conference which allow for educators to share their enthusiasm and passion for education and provide tips and best practices to building engaging and rigorous classrooms. We are so grateful to the Annual Fund which supports and allows us to continue to grow and shape our craft as lifelong learners and educators. We are excited to welcome our children back and implement what we have learned and work with your families in carrying out our mission which is to nourish the spirit, challenge the mind and strengthen the body of each student so they are inspired to be the difference in our world.

Our children and families made a difference earlier in the summer as we participated in the 12th annual “A Full Summer,” food event where they packed 9,000 snacks that will feed kids in need during the summer months and raised over $40,000. In June our middle school students participated in Crusaders in the Community by lending a hand at Second Harvest, Echo Outreach Ministries, Redemptive Love Farm, Villas at Killearn and with our own summer camp. For two weeks they served others and made a difference in Tallahassee.

This past spring, we invited our high school senior alumni back to campus for our annual chapel service/program and an opportunity to reconnect with HCES. As a school we take great pride in staying connected and acting as “proud parents” when we learn about their next steps in life and have the opportunity to see them “all grown up.” It is a true blessing to remember our alumni as young students developing into confident young adults in the classroom. It is even more rewarding to witness the incredible individuals they have become as they head off into a new chapter in their lives.

It is a true blessing to be a part of the Holy Comforter Episcopal School family and I look forward to seeing you on campus!

Most Sincerely,

Director of Buildings and Grounds Charlie Williams Director of Communications and Marketing/Editor Vanessa Culpepper ‘02

Peter M. Klekamp Head of School

Call today to schedule your personal or virtual tour PK3 - 8th Grade • 383-1007 • www.hces.org

2

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

Holy Comforter Episcopal School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Holy Comforter does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school administered programs.

features Key Dates for the 2024-25 School Year August

Front Cover

Back to School | August 14th Middle School Open House | August 29th

September

Labor Day Holiday* | September 2nd Lower School Open House | September 5th Mother Son Night | September 13th Spirit Week | September 30th - October 4th

October

Crusader Cup Golf Tournament | October 7th Fall Festival | October 18th Episcopal School Celebration | October 18th Teacher Workday* | October 21st Fall Book Fair | October 22nd - 25th Lower School Halloween Parade | October 31st

November

Ready for the start of a new year!

Students stand in front of our iconic Bell Tower.

2

Letter from the Head of School

4

Camp Crusader

6

Community Outreach / Springtime Tallahassee

8

In the Classroom

9

New Faculty and Staff

Conference Day* | November 1st Veterans Day Holiday* | November 11th Grandpeople’s Day | November 26th Thanksgiving Holidays* | November 27th - 29th

10

70th Anniversary Capital Campaign

11

Professional Development

Fall Music Concert | December 9th 1st Grade Nativity | December 13th Christmas Programs | December 20th Christmas Holidays* | December 23rd - January 6th

12

Class of 2024

14

Lower School Highlights

15

Middle School Highlights

16

Athletics

18

Arts

20

Parent Association

24

Alumni / Families of Alumni

December

January

Students Return | January 7th Meet in the Middle | January 16th MLK Jr. Holiday* | January 20th

February

18

Gala | February 8th Daddy Daughter Dance | February 14th Presidents’ Day* | February 17th

March

Talent Show | March 6th Spring Break* | March 10th - 14th

April

Middle School Sport Banquet | April 15th Easter Holidays* | April 18th & April 21st Alumni and Families of Alumni Week | April 24th - 28th Faculty / Staff Appreciation | April 28th - May 2nd

May

Spring Music Concert | May 5th Conference Day* | May 7th 8th Grade Graduation | May 22nd Last Day of School | May 23rd

Back Cover

We’re back! Faculty and staff gather for the start of a new school year.

* No school for students

Spirit Magazine is published fall/winter and summer/fall by the HCES Office of Advancement. Every attempt is made to be as accurate and inclusive as possible in our coverage of campus news. Recognizing that to err is human, we hope that you will notify our office of any errors and/or omissions and accept our sincere apologies.

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

3

COVER STORY

Dancing Through

This year’s Camp Crusader took campers on adventures through the decades with a completely reimagined camp experience! Campers enjoyed fan favorites such as water day and the weekly field trips, but this year’s theme brought fun competitions such a the weekly lip sync battles (shout out to the 50’s -90’s music themes!), Christmas in July activities, Pirate day, Mini Mad Scientists, fun curriculum each week and much more. Camp Director Chelsi Blankenship and Hope Zagar, Alyssa House and all of the camp counselors created special experiences for families all summer. In addition, many specialty and sports camps offered activities through out the summer, taught by our teachers and coaches - such as baseball, skateboarding, Lego camp, volleyball, Cheerleading, art camps, food truck frenzy and much more.

4

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

SUMMER CAMP The HCES Kindness Camp hosted a lemonade stand and raised $124.25 for the Leon County Humane Society. A check was presented to the Humane Society by 2nd Grade teacher Laura Mills and Ida Thompson, Director of Advancement.

h the Decades Camp Crusader Field Trips and special activities were a highlight - from Urban air to Wakulla Springs to firefighter visits, water days, cooking and more, our campers got out and about and enjoyed many hands-on activities.

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

5

CAMPAIGN

Springtime Tallahassee Races 2024 We love our school and we love our city! Thank you Gulf Winds Track Club for choosing to support us through the Springtime Tallahassee run! We look forward to seeing you again next year on March 29, 2025!

On Saturday, April 6th, our HCES families and members of the track and cross country teams came out to support and run in the Annual Springtime Tallahassee races. This year, Gulf Winds Track Club (GWTC) selected HCES and our new 8-lane collegiate track as one of two not-for-profit beneficiaries of the 2024 Springtime Tallahassee Races. In June, Jerry and Jackie McDaniel, on behalf of GWTC, presented HCES with a check for over $8,000 from the 2024 races. We are so grateful to GWTC for choosing to support HCES through the Springtime Run. We are excited the ongoing partnership between GWTC and HCES will continue to next years Springtime Races, as well!

Come run with us on March 29th, 2025!

Thank you Gallegos family for getting us running on a new track, to the Zander and McDaniel families for initiating this partnership and to the Ungru family for volunteering your time and efforts to next year’s race!

6

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

A FULL Summer Spreading the LOVE through the City In June, members of the HCES family gathered to participate in the 12th annual, A Full Summer, food packing event. It was a huge success! The event welcomed teams to pack over 9,000 snacks that fed kids in need in our community over the summer months. The opportunity was part of the “Spreading the Love through the City” initiative to find ways our HCES parents can serve alongside their children in our local community.

Crusaders in the community Again this year, Middle School teachers, Mrs. Butera and Mrs. Cheesborough joined together to offer a unique summer camp experience for our middle school students. Over the course of 2 weeks this summer, students participated in the Crusaders in the Community summer camp. Over 20 students attended each week and spent their time giving back to various organizations around Tallahassee. They partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank, Villas at Killearn Assisted Living and Memory Care, ECHO Outreach Ministries, Redemptive Love Farm and our very own HCES Summer Camp. Students worked on whatever projects the organizations needed and earned service hours in the process. It was a wonderful way to experience faith in action. We are proud of these Crusaders and their heart for our community!

Middle School students volunteer during Crusaders in the Community week.

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

7

IN THE CLASSROOM 1ST GRADE Dioramas Our 1st graders, created their very own animal research projects. They chose an animal to learn about, read about their animals, took notes, completed a research workbook and made dioramas showcasing the habitat. In April the 1st graders presented their projects to families, friends and fellow students. It was a fun hands-on way to learn and share!

7TH GRADE STEM Fair Our 7th graders, as part of the science curriculum created STEM Fair projects this spring, recording data, testing their hypothesis and analyzing the results. In April the 7th grade students presented their STEM Fair projects to families, friends and fellow students.

The students have been hard at work on their research and experiments, testing and analyzing results, and they were excited to share their findings! Several lower school classes visited and enjoyed learning from the middle schoolers.

8

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

L to R: Jordan Walton - MS HOPE and PE, Irene Engelbrecht - Registrar, Heather Minnick - 2nd Grade Teacher, Charlotte Irons - PK4 Teacher, Chelsey Chaney - Kindergarten Teacher, Sarah Brown - Kindergarten Asst., Kala Homan - PK3 Teacher, Alex Long - Guidance, Dana Hill - 3rd Grade Teacher, Libby Hale - Art, Not pictured: Sherri Cox - MS Latin

Welcome to HCES Meet the new faces on campus Welcome our new faculty members and some familiar faces in new places for the 2024-2025 school year!

Ms. Martinez & Mr. Washington This year, two very special members of the HCES community retired after years of dedicated service to the faculty, families and students of HCES. Ms. Martinez joined HCES in 1999 as a Spanish teacher and member of the Middle School faculty, impacting many HCES students and alumni. She returned in 2010 as our Director of Admission and has done a phenomenal job transforming the department and leading the admission team over the past 14 years. She is a beloved member of our HCES family and we are so grateful for her leadership.

Mr. Washington, an adored member of our maintenance team for 16 years, retired this spring. He could be seen all over campus, helping and pitching in however needed. His joyful spirit, contagious smile and love for his Crimson Tide, made him a favorite fixture on campus where you were often greeted with “Alright” and “Roll Tide.” He will be missed in these halls and we are so grateful for his years of dedication.

Join us in wishing Ms. Martinez and Mr. Washington all the best on their retirement! Ms. Martinez and Mr. Washington - make sure to come back and visit!

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

9

We are so blessed to be a part of the culmination of building this beautiful campus that began over 25 years ago and celebrate our rich 70 year history.

Please join us as thousands have done before you as we get to build a school for this generation and the next and we invite you to play your part.

Announcing the 70th Anniversary CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Capital campaigns are fundraising efforts that allow us to make necessary additions and upgrades to our beautiful campus.

The 70th Anniversary Capital Campaign will launch in the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year honoring our upcoming anniversary - a nod to past donors and now to the future. This Capital Campaign will offer opportunities to support the new track and infrastructure needed to complete the project, as well as The Commons Building - a building used by every child, every day for lunch and performing and classroom space for musicals, Opening Nights, awards programs for students and parents as well as special events, such as the annual Gala, board meetings and parent educational offerings.

You can help advance HCES through contribution to this special capital campaign, as donors have done in the past - envisioning and building the beautiful 80 acre campus we know and love today. There are naming opportunities around campus; columns, classrooms, plaques, outdoor chapel pews, buildings and more. We are excited to unveil a new naming opportunity in the entrance of The Commons, more details to come- sneak peek in the image above! We hope you will join us during this exciting time!

Annual Fund 2024 -2025 The Annual Fund benefits all aspects of campus life - each and every student and teacher at HCES - providing the essential, unrestricted support to our operating budget.

Our Annual Fund now encompasses a new Corporate Sponsorship Program for parents who would like to participate and benefit from advertising exposure through a corporate donation at 3 levels; $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500. Individuals and local companies, parent owned or not, can benefit from their business being advertising in 1, 2 or 3 areas of the campus to parents, students, away game families and the general community who uses our HCES facilities for a variety of organizations such as i9 for children athletics, AAU Basketball, Special Olympic athletes and more. Visit www.support.hces.org/hcesannualfund to learn more about this tax deductible opportunity to help advance HCES.

10

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

If you would like to participate in this important Capital Campaign for HCES or learn more about corporate sponsorships and annual giving, please email Ida Thompson, Director of Advancement at ithompson@hces.org. Naming Opportunities available.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Get Your Teach ON!

Amy Vernon (Head of Middle School), Brenda Hagen (Head of Lower School), Jenn Bonell & Kristen Korepanov (4th Grade), Brooke Spicer (3rd Grade), & Katie Cowart (Reading Specialist) all attended the incredible summer workshop!

In July, several of our teachers and admin attended the “Get Your Teach On” National Conference in Orlando.

This interactive and engaging professional development conference focuses on inspiring and equipping teachers and leaders with new and innovative strategies. Our team is learning all about interactive teaching methods, technology integration, and more ways to create engaging classroom environments. Professional development is directly supported by your Annual Fund donations.

2024 Get Your Teach On National Conference in Orlando was a high-energy “ The professional development experience. We spent four days hearing from education experts and learning how to engage students while igniting their love for learning. The “Get Your Lead On” track focused on various ways administrators can empower teachers as they implement research-based strategies in their classrooms. The entire conference was truly the ultimate education celebration!

“

- Brenda Hagen, Head of Lower School

FCIS Annual Leadership Conference Our Advancement Team, Ida Thompson (Director of Advancement) and Emily Lockard (Associate Director of Advancement) attended the annual Florida Council of Independent Schools Leadership Conference - Fundraising Institute.

The conference was led by the FCIS team pictured here - Barbara Hodges, FCIS Executive Director and Bob Weston, Senior Vice President of CCS Fundraising.

Ida and Emily soaked up information on the philanthropic landscape for Independent Schools, Annual Giving, and Capital Campaigns. Our team returned ready with knowledge and passion to inspire our culture of giving at HCES.

SMART Boards New this year, every 5th through 8th grade classroom will be equipped with BRAND NEW Smart boards! In July, our teachers received hands on training straight from Cleartouch on how to harness the most out of these incredible smart boards for their classrooms and students!

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

11

Congratulations, Class of 2024 On Monday, May 22nd, the Holy Comforter Episcopal School 8th grade class graduated in a ceremony held in the Student Center. The service welcomed hundreds of parents, families, and friends to a traditional chapel service followed by the presentation of awards and diplomas. They took a trip down memory lane as they watched the much-anticipated annual “8th Grade Slideshow” and closed the evening singing our beloved song, “The Lord Has a Will.” After the ceremony, graduates and their families gathered in the courtyard for a special reception organized by the Parent Association.

Prior to graduation, the eighth graders wrapped up their final months at Holy Comforter with a myriad of activities and exciting moments (see next page). Students and their families attended a Baccalaureate Ceremony where Penny the Bell was rung once for each student as their name was read aloud, a yearly tradition that has become especially meaningful to the students and their families. 8th graders walked through the buildings on campus one last time as hallways were lined with all of our students and teachers. Congratulations to the Class of 2024, our newest Holy Comforter alumni!

12

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

Baccalaureate Reception in May

Surprise Breakfast Camp Weed

Camp Weed

End of Year Events for the Class of ‘24 Each year, 8th graders celebrate their time at HCES with many end of the year traditions leading up to graduation. They were surprised with a special snack and shirt from the Alumni Association, marking their induction as new HCES alumni. During the month of April, 8th graders enjoyed special activities as a countdown to graduation, such as spontaneous playground time!

In May, students and families gathered for a Baccalaureate service and bell ceremony and as a last goodbye, 8th graders ventured to Camp Weed for two days of fun and fellowship together reminiscing and reflecting on their time as students at HCES.

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

13

HIGHLIGHTS

Lower School Highlights 1. PK4 Rocked and Rolled for families and friends! 2. Fourth graders wrote friendly letters to people around campus and we had the full range of emotions from laughter to tears.

This picture captures the impact on both those who gave and those who received!. 3. Our 4th graders took on the role of safety patrols while our 5th graders were away in Tremont 4.

Kindergarten Egg Drop - a fave Easter tradition! 5. A favorite preschool event, Mr. Quincy Q and Miss Letterlight U are wed! 6. Eucharist with Mother Beth. 7. Annual Idiom Day in 3rd grade - when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! 8. 5th grade auction - the students save up 5th grade bucks all year long for a fun end of the year auction. 9. PK students ended the year with a musical performance for families and friends. 10. The annual talent show showcased the many talents of our 3rd - 5th graders! 11. The Kindergarten Author’s Tea welcomed families to a special book preview and tea. Each student wrote their very own story and read it for their classmates and families and then celebrated with a reception.

3

2

1 4 6 14

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

9

7

5 5 8

11

2

1

3

4

5 5 6

7

8 9

9

1. Allie Winsor made it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in late May after winning at HCES and then regionally! 2. Latin students brought home plenty of hardware from the Annual Latin Forum. 3. 8th grade Civics classes played Presidential March Madness. Starting with the Play-in Round, through the Sweet Sixteen, and all the way to the National Championship, our 45 former Presidents had the chance to advance through the bracket based on how 100+ historians ranked their performance on categories such as Crisis Management, Pursuit of Equal Justice for All, and Public Persuasion. Students learned about the qualities needed to be an effective President and had fun rooting for their favorites. The Championship game featuring President Abe Lincoln and President Franklin D Roosevelt went to overtime, and Lincoln won on a buzzer beater! 4. Our 8th grade students crossed the courtyard for a visit in our 2nd grade classrooms. The middle schoolers organized games, crafts and spent time reading with their younger peers. There were lots of laughs and new friendships were formed by the end of their time together. 5. 8th graders spend their last days together at Camp Weed. 6. 7th graders view the 2024 solar eclipse. 7. Middle school TARGET classes held their can castle competition using items they collected that were donated to the Holy Comforter Church food pantry. They had approximately 10 minutes to build their can creations. 8. TARGET Regatta Races! 9. Congratulations to the newest members of the Middle School National Junior Honor Society. Students were inducted during a special ceremony.

Middle School Highlights S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

15

Meet our new Athletic Director and learn about her vision for the program

Crusader Athletics A YEAR IN REVIEW We had a great 2023-2024 Athletic year! We celebrated 9 championships this year and one of our teams competed at the state level and finished in the top 5!

2023-2024 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS Boys Soccer - Undefeated Season Golf Girls Basketball Volleyball Boys Basketball Girls Cross Country - 4th Place State Finish

Sweet Summertime! I hope you all have enjoyed a nice slow paced summer and took this time to rest your mind and bodies and enjoyed time with your families!

We have had our student athletes on campus for preseason training to get ready for the 2024 Fall season.

Soon you will be able to see your Crusaders in action!

As we went through a year with much success on the field, we are extremely proud of all of the hard work our student athletes have put into their respective sports. Our student athletes compete at a high level

16

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

Baseball Beach Volleyball - Undefeated Season Tennis

on the field and off the field. A big part of our athletic program is the inclusion of all of our students, as a part of our no cut policy. This helps us build relationships and build confidence in each and everyone one of our students outside of the classroom! We had 147 student athletes participate in our program, which is 93% of our middle school student body.

We look forward to the continued growth of our Athletic program. I hope to see everyone around campus throughout the year watching our Crusaders compete on the game field! - Jeremy Barlow, Athletic Director

ATHLETICS

Athletic Banquet 2023-2024

On Tuesday, April 16, we celebrated the culmination of the HCES athletic year with an incredible evening of fellowship and awards at the annual banquet. Over 400 students and their families attended as we recognized 147 middle school student-athletes for their hard work this year across 12 sports in Crusader Athletics. Awards were given for each sport and two 8th grade students, Nicky Fiore and Bailey Dyke spoke, reflecting on their time as Crusader athletes. The final award of the night is the Timothy award.

The origins of the Timothy Award can be traced to the Book of 1 Timothy, Chapter 4, Verse 12. The Timothy Award is the highest honor that is given from our Crusader Athletic Department. It requires the nomination and support of faculty members, and is voted on by our entire middle school student body. The Timothy Award is given annually to one male athlete and one female athlete who exhibit the qualities which the Apostle Paul witnessed from his young protege Saint Timothy of Ephesus.

In spite of their youth, these Crusaders represent themselves, their families, their school and their teams in a positive way through their actions, their words, and their sportsmanship.

Male Winner: Caleb Knipple Female Winner: Harper McKee Thank you to everyone involved in putting together an unforgettable night for our student-athletes and their families, including our banquet chair, Colby Lindsay, and co-chair Katherine Boland! Thank you to all the parents and coaches for their time and effort each day on and off the fields. Go Crusaders!

2023-2024 IRON CRUSADERS Lilly Scott Anway Vivi Beckley Day Brown

Ford Brown Joshua Butera Kynley Cheesborough

Charlie Coughlin Bailey Dyke Nicky Fiore

Logan Inglese Caleb Knipple Bo Long

Gavin McVay Andrew Nordby Johnny Papuchis

Abbie Rose Shiver Kelan Yoshikawa

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT Our Iron Crusader award goes to student athletes who participate in a sport all 3 seasons for all 3 years of their time in middle school.

17

Matilda, JR. the musical Our middle school Opening Night class is a year-long elective that helps students develop skills crucial to musical theatre production and performance. These skills included acting, dancing, vocal production, singing, directing, design of props and costumes, publicity, working cooperatively as a team, and implementing time management skills. These performers, alongside their directors Mrs. Ogden and Dr. Spengler, worked all year to bring this performance to life. They had the opportunity to showcase their work for our students in several showings and performed live for families in sold out shows in The Commons.

18

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

ARTS

Kindergarten Circus Come one, come all to The Greatest Show on Earth! The Kindergarten Circus has been and HCES tradition for almost 50 years, beginning on the playgrounds off Miccosukee road years ago. The show continues to be a beloved moment and memory for our Kindergarteners as they get to choose their part and perform for families and friends. From tight rope walkers, to strong men, clowns, dancing monkeys, snake charmers and more, it truly is the greatest show!

Traditions these are the moments Middle School 3D Art

May Day The annual tradition, beloved for over 40 years, serves as a meaningful celebration for families and friends as they prepare to send the 5th graders across the courtyard to middle school. The may pole dance is performed by the girls as the 5th grade boys put on a fun dance for families each year. A special thank you to Jo Marie Olk and Cassie Brooks for organizing the beautiful reception following the special morning as part of our Parent Association.

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

19

Gala Committee Members

Holy Comforter Episcopal School

Gala 2024 400 guests were welcomed to campus for a spectacular evening in Viva la Mexico!, celebrating the exquisite culture & cuisine to benefit our beloved school.

On Saturday, March 2, we hosted the annual Gala and live auction on our beautiful campus. This event is a time-honored tradition which positively impacts our children and teachers through monies raised each year. We gathered to celebrate ¡Viva la México! as parents, teachers, friends and families of alumni enjoyed a themed evening moving from the Commons for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to dinner in the beautifully transformed courtyard and ventured back to The Commons for dancing and ending entertainment. The night was truly memorable and offered incredible trips, experiences, one of a kind student art and more. This year’s fundraising efforts supported The Commons Building.

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors and gala committee. Without you, none of this would be possible. Mark your calendars and save the date for Gala 2025: Celebrating 70 Years on February 8th.

2024 Gala Committee Leaders: Molly Bader, Amanda Bell, Katherine Boland, Brandi Brown, Lauren Carpenter, Ashley Chaney, Gina Coffas, Sheesley Crilow, Lindsey Farrell, Dana Giove Holly Hensarling, Nazarae Holcombe, Kelly Jaap, Meghan Kennedy, Amanda Lewis, Randi Mackintosh, Mary-Kathryn Malphurs, Ksenia McKinney, Courtney Munroe, Megan Neal, Kathryn Rippee, Ashley Ross, Sara Santos, Robin Vernon Amy Wells, Kelton Wester, Courtney Whalen 20

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

PARENT ASSOCIATION

Thank you to the following sponsors and to all who contributed for their support of the 2024 Gala.

We raised over $400,000!

MEXICO CITY Better Living Solutions

GUADALAJARA Rohan Joseph and Beth Medley

OAXACA TECHNOLOGY First Franklin Financial Services & Hi-Tech System Associates, Inc.

OAXACA BAR Canopy Roads Advisors Market Square Liquors

OAXACA ENTERTAINMENT Tallahassee Ford, Jennifer and Jack Fulford, Malarie and Eric Barineau and Erika and Patton Pennington, Heather and Chris Lowery Lauren and Chase Carpenter, Dana and Gian Carlo Giove

OAXACA AFTERPARTY Brittney K. Craig, DMD

OAXACA LIVE AUCTION C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc

CORPORATE SPONSORS Tallahassee National Bank San Juan Inc.

The Gala Art Gallery This year, the art gallery was transformed into an incredible work of true art with the many handmade pieces from our classes, ranging from PK3 to middle school. Art teacher, Sarah Myrick brought the vision to life and created a one of a kind experience for guests with true treasures that were auctioned during the event.

“My vision for the Gala Art Gallery was threefold: to have students think and make like famous artists of the past and now, for students to see their artwork having a greater purpose in the world, and for students to collaborate to create an artwork together. I started with an artist per grade, learned about their why and how behind creating, and shared with the students their purpose and process.

Each student was able to create their own artwork and also contributed to the collaboration. It was really neat to share with students what Gala was and how their creations would contribute to the community they loved! Finally, I wanted students to feel the community-oriented nature of collaborative artwork. This opportunity gave students the ability to think and make like real artists, create with greater purpose in mind, and come together to make something they could not on their own.” - Sarah Myrick

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

21

PARENT ASSOCIATION

End of Year Cookouts

Pickleball Tournament

Author’s Tea

Spring PARENT ASSOCIATION HAPPENINGS

This year’s Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week was incredible, led by Kelly Jaap and her committee who were at school all week to make everyone feel so special. From coffee trucks to flowers, gift cards, lunches, treats and more - the week spoiled our HCES teachers!

We would also like to thank our parent owned business sponsors who made the week possible Nikky Manausa, REALTOR at Joe Manausa Real Estate, Dr. Tiffany Malone at Big Bend Eye Care, Brown and Brown Insurance (Greg Jaap and Doug Saunders), Canopy Road Cafe (David Raney), Randi Mackintosh Psy. D., Tallahassee Memorial Health Care and Lemon & Thyme.

Thank you Appreciation Week Committee (above): Megan Neal, Mary-Kathryn Malphurs, Lauren Carpenter, Kathryn Rippee, Kelly Jaap (Chair), Malarie Barineau, Jessica Potts, Kristen Barstow. Not pictured: Megan Hansen, Rhea Oaks, Ksenia McKinney, Ashley Cote, Molly Bader, Gina Coffas, Cassie Dirks, Anna Jowers, Nazarae Holcombe, Kelton Wester, Kaley Hartman, Taylor Anne Short, Jennifer Ford, Cassie Brooks, Brandy Simmons, April Mitchell, Sheesley Crilow

Faculty Staff Appreciation Week Father Daughter Dance

Low Country Boil and Blues

22

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

HCES COMMUNITY

Spring JAMBOREE The 2nd Annual Spring Football Jamboree and Powderpuff Game held on Thursday, May 2nd was a beautiful afternoon full of food, games, fellowship and football for the whole family!

From the Lower School cheerleaders to the middle school announcers, there was something for everyone. The 6th - 8th grade Powderpuff game, coached by Middle School football players was a huge success and 8th grade walked away as the 2024 CHAMPIONS! School of Rock recording for the Winter Concert

8TH GRADE BACK TO BACK CHAMPS! 7th Grade Team

6th grade powderpuff players

Little Cheerleaders

Middle School announcers

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

23

ALUMNI

Alumni & Families of Alumni Events Members of Holy Comforter Episcopal School’s 8th Grade Class of 2020 reunited at the annual Senior Alumni Night. The event welcomed the high school seniors to campus one last time for a traditional chapel service and reception before they begin their next chapter! Alumni ventured around campus playing on playgrounds, visiting old classrooms and leaving surprise notes for teachers.

One of the best parts was seeing the parents have their own reunion of sorts. Congrats to the class of 2020, you are always part of the HCES family!

Senior Alumni Reunion

save the date 2024-2025 alumni events MARCH 25 | High School Alumni Night MARCH 27 | Alumni Family Social Hour, 5-7pm MARCH 28 | Legacy Breakfast and Alumni Chapel APRIL 28 | Senior Alumni Reunion 24

SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T

Stay in touch! Send us your latest news to alumni@hces.org or send us your email address so we can invite you to upcoming alumni events!

ALUMNI

H OLY CO M FO RT E R

Class of 2020

Senior Alumni Reunion 2024 Holy Comforter’s 8th grade class of 2020 graduated from local high schools. We are so proud of their accomplishments.

Class of 2020 | college matriculation Auburn University, Daytona State, Duke University, FAMU, Flagler College, Florida State University, Florida State University, Florida State University Honors, Furman, Hillsdale College, Louisiana State University, Southern Union to Auburn, TCC to, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, United States Air Force Academy, University of Alabama, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Georgia. University of South Florida, University of Virginia Honors. Wake Forest University, William & Mary / St. Andrews

High School Spirit Night

In March, we welcomed high school alumni for a special afternoon on the athletics fields cheering on the Crusaders. We loved seeing so many of you back on campus and hearing about high school!

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

25

ALUMNI

Alumni Class Notes Eric Epting ‘09 is is a PGA Golf Professional at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, GA. Eric and his wife Rachel had their first child, William Brooks Epting on June 1, 2023.

Tommy Scarlett ‘10 Tommy is an Electrical Residential / Commercial Superintendent with Walsh Consulting and Electrical and has been with them 12 years Porter Crapps ‘11 is starting his fourth year at FSU Medical School.

Catie Scarlett ‘11 graduated from FSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety and Security - Crime Scene Investigation program. She received her Master of Science degree in Law Enforcement Intelligence in 2022. She is currently employed as a Crime Scene Investigator with Chattanooga Police Department.

Sarah Bradford ‘12 is currently working as an Associate Relationship Manager at Prime Meridian Bank in Tallahassee. She is also a student in the Master of Business Administration program at Florida State University.

Grace Crapps ‘13 is starting her 3rd year at Emory and has a fellowship in Charleston, South Carolina.

Ann Marshall Weeks ‘13 graduated from the University of Florida in 2021 with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. She married Palmer Barton Bannester Weeks III on November 10, 2023. She is currently working for Michelin and living in South Carolina.

Julianna Heuchan ‘14 graduated from Randolph-Macon College (Class of 2022) as a Student-Athlete with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of South Carolina (Class of 2026).

Attention Alumni: We want to hear from you! Use the QR code to submit your alumni 26 SUMMER 2024 | S PI R I T updates and information!

Jared Pichard ‘14 is the United States Army newest paratrooper on a special forces contract called 18X. He began his special operations preparation course in July. He graduated summa cum laude in 2022 from Texas Christian University with a degree in supply chain management.

Jordan Pichard ‘15 started basic training in July and is on a special forces contract called 18X. He graduated summa cum laude in 2023 from Texas Christian University with a degree in Finance.

Brecht Heuchan ‘16 graduated from Randolph-Macon College (Class of 2024) Summa Cum Laude / Phi Beta Kappa as a Student-Athlete with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He is currently enrolled in the Florida State University College of Medicine (Class of 2028).

Claire Ellen Burton ‘17 will graduate from Florida State University on August 2, 2024. She is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology. During her time at Florida State, Claire was on the Dean’s or President’s List every semester.

Carson Hobbs ‘17 graduated from Florida State University this spring, joining his older brother and sister, Clayton and Hailey, as a family of FSU grads!

Mercy Crapps ‘18 is a National Scholar and biological sciences major at Clemson University This summer, she did cancer research at George Washington University. She (along with 2 fellow students) recently designed a STEM education initiative for a mobile STEM academy toolkit providing resources, volunteer support and community outreach to students in rural South Carolina winning the statewide competition.

Caleb Heuchan ’19 graduated from Maclay High School (Class of 2023). He is currently attending Savannah College of Art and Design, pursuing a degree in Animation (Class of 2027).

Beverly Elaine Ford ’20 Lainey graduated with honors from Maclay School and will be attending Wake Forest University this Fall. On her desired path to medical school she will be pursuing a degree in Health and Exercise Science.

William Proctor ‘21 was one of two representatives from Leon High School at the 2024 session of The Florida American Legion Boys State in June.

ALUMNI

L to R: Austin and Haylee Hobson, Karen and Marion Lamb

L to R: Stuart Nagy-Kato and Mairin Moore, owners of Hummingbird Wine Bar who sponsored the evening

Alumni Family Social Hour

Above, L to R: Joseph McCann, Molly McCann, Logan Kinch, Sella Kinch, Scott and Sydney Epting.

L to R: Ida Thompson, Josie Ciliberto and Nancy Proctor

On Wednesday, March 27th, we hosted a social hour for our HCES alumni and families of HCES alumni. The evening welcomed so many wonderful members of the HCES community back to campus! Guests enjoyed jazz music by the Nygel Anderson Quartet, wonderful food by Chef Erik Fisher (an alumni parent) of Simply Entertaining and the event was sponsored by Hummingbird Wine (owned by Mairin Moore and Stuart Nagy-Kato ’00) - a very special thank you to them for their generous contributions! This was the first event to welcome families back to campus in preparation for our 70th anniversary that will kick-off next year and run through 2026! We loved seeing so many familiar faces and look forward to doing it again in the future!

Top Left, L to R: Selby Proctor, Mike Thornal, Nancy and Tom Proctor; Above, L to R: Mary Kathryn Malphurs, Tassie Kontos Sheridan, Sheesly Crilow.

S U M M ER 2 0 2 4 | S PIR IT

27

Non-Profit US Postage PAID Tallahassee, FL Permit No. 1074

2001 Fleischmann Road Tallahassee, FL 32308

Families of Alumni: Please Forward this Publication

If your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office (850.383.1007) of the new mailing address as well as cell phone numbers.

Follow us @holycomforterschool (instagram), Holy Comforter School (facebook and youtube) and holy_comforter (twitter)

5th grade May Day is a beloved HCES tradition for over 50 years.