V i rg i n i a E p i s c o pa l S c h o o l T o w a r d
F u l l
L y n c h b u r g ,
S t a t u r e
V i r g i n i a
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l ve s . o r g
individual attention rigor community honor relationships
V i rg i n i a E p i s c o pa l S c h o o l T o w a r d
F u l l
St a t u r e
O u r f o u n d e r, R o b e r t C a r t e r J e t t , s e t o u t t o e s t a b l i s h a s c h o o l t h a t wo u l d s u p p o r t r i g o r o u s a c a d e m i c preparation with extraordinar y individual attention. Here s t u d e n t s m a k e t h e j o u r n e y Tow a r d F u l l S t a t u r e , s t r iv i n g f o r t h e i r b e s t a n d m a k i n g c o n n e c t i o n s b e t we e n what they lear n and what they wish to become. These are the pillar s of Virg inia Episcopal School that s e r ve a s t h e u n d e r p i n n i n g s o f t h a t j o u r n e y.
L y n c h b u r g ,
V i r g i n i a
“This is my second home. T h e c a m p u s i s s o b e au t i f u l a n d s a fe , yo u c a n ’ t h e l p b u t f a l l i n l o ve w i t h i t. P l u s , w e a r e o n ly m i n u te s away f ro m a l l t h e o p p o rt u n i t i e s ly n c h b u r g h a s t o o ffe r .” k a t h e r i n e
m c w a n e
L y n c h b u r g ,
V a
’ 1 2
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
4 - 5
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l ve s . o r g
“ If I h ave a q u e s t i o n — o r eve n i f I j u s t wa n t t o ta l k — t h e r e ’ s a lway s s o m e o n e t o t u r n t o. T h e fee l i n g o f s u p p o rt h e r e i s 2 4 / 7 .” r o c k y
b i L l b r e w e r ’ 1 2 m o u n t , n o r t h c a r o l i n a
Rigor
[individual attention]
At VES, your learning will take place in small classes— generally, no more than students. You’ll work closely with teachers who always make themselves available. You’ll find that same kind of attention on the playing fields, in the art studios, the music rooms, and wherever else your interests lead you. Your teachers will come to know you in a broad range of contexts and this multi-layered perspective means that they can help you realize your full potential. Your science teacher might also be your lacrosse coach and will
t o w a r d
know just how competitive you can be. Your art teacher might double as your dorm parent and will recognize that you’re the type of person who needs your private space. Your English teacher who drives you to the mall on a Saturday to buy soccer flats understands that you sometimes let things slide. When successes are achieved, it’s cause for celebration. When obstacles are encountered, the problem solving is collaborative. The attention is always individualized because you’re always seen as an individual.
f u l l
s t a t u r e
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
6 - 7
B o b Le a k e A . P .
g o ve r n m e n t a n d e c o n o m i c s te a c h e r s o c c e r a n d s w i m m i n g c o a c h f a c u l t y A d v i s o r t o h o n o r c o m m i ttee
M r . Le a k e h a s b ee n a m e m b e r o f t h e V E S f a c u lt y s i n c e 1 9 8 4 . R i g h t o u t o f c o l l e g e , h e p l ay e d i n t h e B l e ag u e s o f n a s l s o c c e r a n d t h e n m ove d i n t o a c a r ee r o f te ac h i n g, b oy s ’ a n d g i r l s ’ c oac h i n g, a n d a dv i s i n g. He r e at V E S h e h a s b ee n a m a j o r p l ay e r w h o h a s i n f l u e n c e d s eve r a l g e n e r at i o n s o f yo u n g m e n a n d wo m e n. He w e a r s m a n y h at s a s h e f o c u s e s h i s atte n t i o n o n h i s s t u d e n t s , s u p p o rt i n g t h e m a s t h e y ta k e o n n e w c h a l l e n g e s .
i n d i v i d u a l
a tte n t i o n
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
8 - 9
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
“ Wa l k i n g o n c a m p u s , I ’ l l s t o p a n d h ave c o n ve r s at i o n s w i t h a d o z e n s t u d e n t s . T h at k i n d o f c o n ta c t m a k e s a l l t h e d i ffe r e n c e .” b o b
“I’ve been at VES a long time and while it’s certainly undergone change, being coeducational and more diverse than ever, in its heart it’s the same place it’s always been. We’re invested in helping students become their best selves—uncovering who they are and who they strive to be—and that really has to do with the individual attention each student gets. If you look at the responsibilities of our faculty members—teaching, coaching, serving as dorm parents and advisors to clubs and organizations—you can see how powerfully we transcend the basic teacher/student classroom
i n d i v i d u a l
l e a k e
relationship. There’s a huge amount of layering here. You get to know your students in different environments so that you see different sides of their personalities. I take kids to the movies, out to dinner, to NASCAR races, and sometimes we’ll go on weekend trips to New York City and D.C. Over percent of the faculty lives here on campus and that creates this incredible family feeling. Some of the teachers even hold classes in their homes. And the individual attention extends to parents as well. I have my advisees’ parents’ telephone numbers programmed into my cell.”
a tte n t i o n
“ V E S h a s tau g h t m e t o s t r i ve a n d s u c c ee d a s a l e a r n e r i n o r d e r t o p r e pa r e f o r c o l l e g e a n d b e yo n d. m y te ac h e r s s et t h e b a r h i g h , e n c o u r ag i n g m e t o ta k e o n g o a l s a n d w o r k t owa r d r e a l i z i n g t h e m .� c h r i s a n d e r s o n ’ 1 2 L y n c h b u r g , V A
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
1 2 - 1 3
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l ve s . o r g
“ O u r s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u lt y a r e committed to excellence and they collaborate c l o s e ly t o a c h i eve t h e i r b e s t.” A . P .
C h a d H a C h e m i s t r y a n d b o y s ’ l a c r o d i r e c t o r o f c o
n n i n g r e l i g i o n te a c h e r s s e c o a c h m m u n i t y l i fe
[rigor]
We expect a lot of our students—and they expect a lot of us. That’s exactly as it should be, for such mutuality breeds respect and ultimately achievement. We want students to learn in as many ways as they can, and so we embrace the philosophy that learning extends to athletics, the arts, and community service. A typical day here might best be described as deeply engaged. You’ll be busy well into the evenings, applying yourself to your studies, developing athletic abilities you may not even have known you had, and exploring yourself and the world through many
t o w a r d
rewarding extracurricular activities. We believe as well that some of the best learning happens outside the classroom. Our A.P. Environmental Science students spearheaded a citywide Extreme Stream Makeover, planting trees to counter erosion on the James River. Our English students traveled to the American Shakespeare Center, to see The Bard’s plays performed just as they would have been in Elizabethan times. Here at Virginia Episcopal School rigor implies not only discipline, but also the commitment to doing your very best—as a learner, a teacher, and a doer.
f u l l
s t a t u r e
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
1 4 - 1 5
i fe o l a y i n k a u n i o n ,
n e w
je r s e y
B o r n i n G r ee c e o f N i g e r i a n pa r e n t s , Ife b e c a m e awa r e o f V E S t h ro u g h h e r i n vo lve m e n t w i t h t h e Ne w J e r s e y See d s, a n e n r i c h m e n t p ro g r a m t h at h e l p s p r e pa r e q ua l i f i e d s t u d e n t s f o r p l ac e m e n t at t o p s c h o o l s. He r e at V E S Ife h a s b ee n a n ac c o m p l i s h e d s t u d e n t a n d at h l ete , i n vo lv i n g h e r s e l f i n m a n y e x t r ac u r r i c u l a r ac t i v i t i e s. F o r Ife , r i g o r i s n o t j u s t a va l u e b u t a way o f l i fe t h a t h o n o r s c o m m i t m e n t a n d c h a l l e n g e .
r i g o r
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
1 6 - 1 7
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
“ I ’ ve r e a l ly c h a n g e d a s a p e r s o n s i n c e c o m i n g to V E S. I ’ ve b e c o m e m o r e i n vo lve d, m o r e awa r e , a n d m o r e r e a dy t o h e l p.” i fe
o l a y i n k a
“Coming to VES has made a big difference in my life. My school back home was so big and impersonal. Here I can connect more easily to people and focus much more than I used to. The teachers demand a lot, but they always find a way to make things fun and interactive. And what’s really nice is that the students all want to do their best and so we motivate each other. That kind of motivation extends to all aspects of life here at VES. I play volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, and run track in the spring. I’m in the Glee
’ 1 1
Club and give tours to prospective students and their families. I’m a member of the Diversity Club and colead Operation Christmas Child, which is a program that collects and wraps toys for needy children. This year, I decided I wanted to try acting so I signed on for the fall play, The Girlhood of Shakespeare’s Heroines, playing Miranda from The Tempest. That’s the feeling at VES—that if you want try something, you can. All that’s asked is that you do your best at whatever you take on. That seems fair to me.”
r i g o r
“ T h e r e i s a n o l d I r i s h p ro ve r b t h at s tate s , ‘ It i s i n t h e s h e lte r o f e a c h o t h e r t h at p e o p l e l i ve .’ I n m y e x p e r i e n c e , I c a n h o n e s t ly s ay t h at n o t h i n g d e s c r i b e s V E S b ette r t h a n t h at.” F o r m e r
j i m m y b a r b e r ’ 6 3 B o a r d o f T r u s tee s G r ee n s b o r o , NC
c h a i r
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
2 0 - 2 1
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l ve s . o r g
“ N o m atte r w h o yo u a r e o r w h e r e yo u c o m e f ro m , t h e r e ’ s a p l a c e f o r yo u at V E S . He r e yo u fee l s a fe , c o n n e c te d, a n d e x c i te d a b o u t a l l t h e o p p o rt u n i t i e s .” v i n c e n t c h a n ’ 1 1 t a o y u a n , t a i w a n
[community]
For close to a century, VES has served as a second home to its students. Here young men and women find valuable mentors and lifelong friends. At VES we all share a common goal, first expressed by our founder, Robert Carter Jett, to draw out that which is noblest and finest in each person. We integrate community service into our lives in many important ways because we recognize that we are part of a broader community. Ideally located in the beautiful Blue
t o w a r d
Ridge Mountains, we are just five minutes from the thriving downtown of Lynchburg, home to five colleges that offer extensive opportunities for enrichment. We also see ourselves as members of the great global community. Our international students who come from eight nations expand the awareness of their classmates, and all our graduates come away with a big picture perspective that allows them to function effectively as citizens of the world.
f u l l
s t a t u r e
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
2 2 - 2 3
merrill andrews m i d d l e b u r g ,
v i r g i n i a
W h e n Me r r i l l f i r s t v i s i te d V E S , s h e wa s s t ru c k b y h ow wa r m a n d w e l c o m i n g eve ryo n e wa s . It s ee m e d l i k e j u s t t h e s o rt o f s c h o o l s h e wa s l o o k i n g f o r . B u t W h e n h e r pa r e n t s d ro p p e d h e r o ff i n t h e f a l l s h e pa n i c k e d. Wa s s h e r e a dy t o l e ave h o m e ? I n f a c t, i t d i d n ’ t ta k e Me r r i l l a n y t i m e at a l l t o f o r m f a s t f r i e n d s h i p s — t h ro u g h h e r te a m s , h e r c l a s s e s , a n d i n h e r r e s i d e n c e h a l l . S h e i s ve ry m u c h at h o m e h e r e n ow.
c o m m u n i t y
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
2 4 - 2 5
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
“There’s no one in t h i s s c h o o l I wo u l d n ’ t g o t o i f I n ee d e d h e l p. We ’ r e a l l i n t h e s a m e b o at, a fte r a l l .” m e r r i l l
a n d r e w s
“At my previous school, I had the same friends for nine years, which was nice, but there were no surprises. Being at Virginia Episcopal School makes me feel so much more grown up. I’m friends with kids from China and Germany. It’s just so easy to make friends here. And my involvement with athletics has opened up a whole other dimension of community. I play three sports—field hockey in the fall, basketball in winter, and lacrosse in spring. Everyone here does afternoon activities. It’s required and I think that really works. No one judges you for not being as good as somebody else. If you can’t do sports,
’ 1 3
then you can manage a team or do art or dancing and no one judges that either. I guess I’d have to say VES is just not a judgmental kind of place. Really, we’re all like one big family here. We’ll go to a teacher’s house and cook ourselves dinner if we want. We all hang out together on the weekends. There’s no divide with day students. In fact, some of my best friends are day students and I’ll often spend time at their houses on the weekends. And I love the connection with the upperclassmen. I live next to two seniors and they always help me when I don’t know what to do or where to go.”
c o m m u n i t y
“Honor is not just a concept here but a way o f l i fe . W h et h e r i t ’ s i n t h e c l a s s ro o m , t h e d o r m , o r o u t o n t h e f i e l d, yo u m a k e a p o i n t o f d o i n g t h e r i g h t t h i n g b e c au s e i t ’ s t h e r i g h t t h i n g t o d o.” c o h e n h o w a r d ’ 1 2 f a r m v i l l e , v a
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
2 8 - 2 9
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l ve s . o r g
“ B y p l a c i n g h o n o r at t h e h e a rt o f i t s i n te r a c t i o n s , V E S h a s c r e ate d a c o m m u n i t y t h at i s r e s p e c tf u l , wa r m , a n d e m b r a c i n g .” M i m E n g l i D o r c o l l e g
i C s a t l o s s h te a c h e r m P a r e n t e c o u n s e l o r
[honor]
At VES, honor is no mere buzzword but a living force—meaningful, powerful, and dynamic. By placing honor at the very center of our community we ensure that VES is a safe place for all. In this home away from home, our students deserve to feel as comfortable and secure as they would in their own homes. They need to know that if they leave a backpack, laptop, or other personal belonging somewhere, it will be there when they return. Students must understand
t o w a r d
as well that they have to own their knowledge, not borrow someone else’s or otherwise look for shortcuts. Honor is internalized as a value that our students can draw on throughout their lives, pursuing careers and relationships as ethical individuals. Many of our alumni report that the sense of honor that was strengthened for them at VES still acts as a beacon today, helping them navigate their busy and challenging lives and pointing them toward the right choices.
f u l l
s t a t u r e
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
3 0 - 3 1
zach wright l y n c h b u r g ,
v i r g i n i a
I n h i s f o u r y e a r s h e r e , z ac h h a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d h i m s e l f a s a s c h o l a r - at h l ete . W h i l e m a i n ta i n i n g a n a b ove - 9 0 ave r ag e , h e h a s pa rt i c i pate d i n f o o t b a l l a n d l ac ro s s e a n d h a s s e rve d a s c o c a p ta i n o f t h e w r e s t l i n g te a m . Z ac h h a s a l s o h o n e d h i s l e a d e r s h i p s k i l l s o n t h e H o n o r C o m m i ttee , to w h i c h h e wa s e l e c te d i n h i s s e n i o r y e a r . H i s n e x t d e s t i n at i o n i s t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f V i r g i n i a , w h e r e h e p l a n s to r e a dy h i m s e l f f o r a ca r ee r i n m e d i c i n e .
h o n o r
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
3 2 - 3 3
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
“ T h e a s p e c t o f t ru s t h e r e i s pa l pa b l e . It ’ s pa rt o f eve ry day l i fe at a s m a l l s c h o o l l i k e t h i s, w h e r e w e a l l k n ow e a c h o t h e r .” z a c h
w r i g h t
“I ran for the Honor Council not only because I think it’s one of the most important things you can do at VES but because, for me, honor is one of the most important aspects of life in general. As we understand honor here at VES, there’s a part of it that’s strictly by the book, meaning no lying, stealing, or cheating is tolerated. But then, when you start to think about it, the idea of honor goes way beyond those prohibitions and you become aware of a lot of other meanings. It’s about being the best you can be at whatever you take on—meeting your responsibilities and fulfilling
’ 1 0
expectations. Every student at VES signs a pledge to uphold the honor code. We have a formal signing during Chapel in which the entire school participates. Then, if a student is accused of violating the code, we go back to the pledge when we start our review. It’s a very serious business because we have to make a decision about how to discipline that student. Sometimes we’ll administer a warning and other times the punishment is more severe. It’s hard. You might be friends with the person standing before you and that’s really tough but you can’t cut corners when it comes to honor.”
h o n o r
“ T h e r e l at i o n s h i p s I ’ ve b ee n a b l e t o f o r m w i t h c l a s s m ate s a n d te a c h e r s w i l l l a s t f a r b e yo n d m y h i g h s c h o o l y e a r s . He r e t h e b o n d s yo u b u i l d a r e l i fe l o n g a n d t h e s e n s e o f c o n n e c te d n e s s n eve r e n d s .” m o r g a n
o p p e n h e i m e r
B o c a
R a t o n ,
F l
’ 1 2
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
3 6 - 3 7
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l ve s . o r g
“ T h e f r i e n d s h i p s I ’ ve m a d e h e r e a r e ve ry s t ro n g a n d i m p o rta n t. I fee l l i k e a l l o f m y f r i e n d s h ave b e c o m e pa rt o f m y f a m i ly.” m a r j o r i e b a k e r ’ 1 3 f o r e s t , v i r g i n i a
[relationships]
When you come down to it, a school is really about the people. Yes, facilities are important, and we’re proud of ours, but in the years ahead, when you think back to where you’ve been, it won’t be the swimming pool you remember or the fitness room. It will be the teacher who helped you understand probability or iambic pentameter or the Platonic ideal. It will be the classmate who made you laugh when you were feeling down or who got stuck with you on the ski lift at Wintergreen. Here at Virginia Episcopal School,
t o w a r d
the connections you make will be many and meaningful. No one falls through the cracks. No one sits alone in the dining hall.Your connections with friends will open up new worlds for you and will help you become a person who feels good inside. Your connections with teachers will enhance your capacity to learn and to trust adults. Your connections with your college counselor will clear away any confusion about that giant next step and guide you to the right choices. It’s that simple…and profound.
f u l l
s t a t u r e
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
3 8 - 3 9
t o m m y b a tt l e ’ 8 3 h e a d m a s te r
A V E S g r a d uate i n 1 9 8 3 , M r . B att l e l e a r n e d l e a d e r s h i p f ro m h i s te ac h e r s, c oac h e s, a n d o l d e r s t u d e n t s w h o e n c o u r ag e d a n d p u r s u e d e x c e l l e n c e . Ret u r n i n g t o V E S a fte r c o l l e g e a s a f a c u lt y m e m b e r , M r . B att l e r e l i e d o n te a c h e r - m e n t o r s t o h e l p h i m b e c o m e p ro f i c i e n t i n t h e c l a s s ro o m . A s s u m i n g t h e h e l m at V E S a fte r s i x y e a r s a s T ru s tee , h e w i l l f o r eve r va l u e t h e l i fe l o n g r e l at i o n s h i p s t h at a r e h i s V E S l e g ac y.
r e l a t i o n s h i p s
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
v i r g i n i a
e p i s c o p a l
s c h o o l
p a g e s
4 0 - 4 1
t o w a r d
f u l l
s t a t u r e ve s . o r g
“ W h e n w e ta k e a c c o u n t o f o u r l i ve s , w h at r e a l ly m atte r s a r e t h e r e l at i o n s h i p s w e h ave f o r m e d a n d t h e i m p r e s s i o n s w e h ave m a d e . V E S tau g h t m e t h e p ow e r o f t h i s i m p o rta n t l i fe p r i n c i p l e .” t o m m y
b a tt l e
“I came to Virginia Episcopal School from a big public junior high school, wanting to start out fresh in a new place. It wasn’t an easy introduction. I was insecure and didn’t seem to have much in common with my peers. In fact, I was all set to return home, when one of my teachers called me in for a heart-toheart. This teacher found out I was thinking about leaving and, as hard as it was to hear, he told me I had to quit blaming others for my problems. That was a real wake-up call but, in fact, it was at that moment
’ 8 3
that I began to realize I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to. I aimed high, and managed to achieve a lot of my goals, but none of that would have happened if it wasn’t for that teacher. Those kinds of relationships have continued to influence me and have, in fact, prepared me for my current position. I am profoundly grateful to have this chance to lead Virginia Episcopal School and to have this school I so value play a leading role in my life as I continue my own personal journey Toward Full Stature.”
r e l a t i o n s h i p s
“ I w i l l a lway s c h e r i s h m y t i m e at V E S . I e x pa n d e d m y h o r i z o n s a n d m a d e f r i e n d s f ro m a ro u n d t h e wo r l d. t h e y w i l l f o r eve r b e a pa rt o f m y l i fe a n d m y e x te n d e d f a m i ly.” J a n i e F l o w e r s D o t h a n , AL
’ 1 0
“ v i r g i n i a e p i s c o pa l s c h o o l o ffe r s i t s s t u d e n t s a s a fe a n d s t i m u l at i n g e n v i ro n m e n t i n w h i c h t o g row a n d sends them out into the wo r l d, r e a dy t o m eet a n y c h a l l e n g e .” T OMMY BA T T L E ’ 8 3 He a d m a s te r
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