Episcopal Collegiate Middle/Upper School Viewbook

the power in

promise

Jackson T. Stephens Campus Episcopal Collegiate School 1701 Cantrell Road Little Rock Arkansas 72201 501.372.1194 www.episcopalcollegiate.org

Middle School (Grades 6-8) Upper School (Grades 9-12)

live up to your

Promise

Episcopal Collegiate is developing thoughtful, inquisitive, accepting, spiritual leaders for the future—for the world. It’s an honor and privilege to be part of it.

Founding Trustee

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We believe every child holds promise.

We vow to discover your child’s promise and challenge him or her to make the most of it. There’s no better preparation for college, career, or life. You have our word.

Episcopal Collegiate is different from other independent schools.

We were created by an inspired group of local parents and community leaders who believed in the promise of an exceptional education.

We are known for outstanding academics, passionate teachers, and a strong Episcopal tradition, but there’s more to us-we promise.

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There is something satisfying about helping students make a connection, watching them solve a problem, or encouraging them to dig deeper into an issue.

7th Grade World History Teacher and Cross Country CoachÂ

9,200 hours of community service performed by senior class

Community Service Requirements 6-8 grades 9th grade 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade

5 hours 10 hours 10 hours 15 hours 25 hours

how we teach We believe there is a better approach to How We Teach than focusing on worksheets, rote memorization, and standardized assessments. Long-term success increasingly relies on a diversity of skill sets that go beyond traditional academic measure. Taking into account the ongoing technological revolution and a future global workplace we cannot yet imagine, we’ve launched the Institute for Responsible Citizenship.

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Our students learn through service, travel, and hands-on projects that reflect their individual passions. They build e-portfolios that demonstrate their growth as scholars and leaders.

College admissions staff or potential employers will easily be able to view the results.

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I love the small class size, the faculty, and the open-minded balance of faith and respect on campus.

Parent of 8th and 10th grader

Honor Episcopal Collegiate is an environment of trust and integrity that is encouraged through our student-written Honor Code and student-run Honor Council.

It’s not just a pledge we all sign, it’s who we are at school and in everyday life.

Tradition

Honor Pledge I pledge that I will uphold the Honor Code with my mind, body, and spirit, that I have neither given nor received inappropriate or unauthorized assistance on academic work, and that I will respect the personal property of all people.

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Episcopal Collegiate is a school rich with traditions. We kick off each academic year with our Bell-Ringing and Handshake Ceremonies. We also celebrate Spirit Week, Class Day, Pep Rallies, Homecoming, Grandparents and Friends Day, the King of Hearts Dance—and much more! At the all-school Watermelon Supper, there’s a watermelon eating contest, water play, food, great music, and the Green and White Football Scrimmage.

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I’m a better student by being here. I feel like I can change the world.

10th grade student

School Prayer

Respect, Reverence, Responsibility Part of becoming a responsible citizen means knowing how to contribute to society in order to make the world a better place to live.

Episcopal Collegiate is faith-based and honors the ritual and routine that is an integral part of the Episcopal tradition. Â Chapel is inclusive and affirms all faiths; it complements what a child learns at home or at his/her own place of worship.

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Chapel is led by the School Chaplain and includes a reading from scripture, the singing of a hymn, a canticle prayer for our community, and a chapel talk or performance. Senior Chapel Talks are a highlight of our week; members of our very own senior class present some of the most inspirational messages.

Almighty God, be with the Episcopal Collegiate community as we begin this new day of teaching and learning. Keep us ever mindful of the honor of our callings so that we act with integrity. Turn our eyes inward to focus on the spirit and outward to see our obligations in the world.

And bring us to the end of this day with a sense of fulfillment in our tasks well done. Amen.

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the Promise of intellectual curiosity

73 National Foreign Language Awards 7 Academic State Championships

If you want to do something, there are people at Episcopal Collegiate with the time and connections to help you get ahead. It’s not easy by any means, but if you put in the effort, you will succeed.

Alumni ’16

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We believe in the promise of intellectual curiosity—a deep, persistent desire to understand.

Many schools can offer you challenging classes and tough assignments.

We’ll get you asking questions, digging for answers, and making connections. We encourage students to tackle the most challenging material they are ready to try. We are proud of our small classes, teachers, and rigorous academics. But rigor alone is not our goal. The bottom line is this—when you’re happy and enthusiastic to learn, there are no limits to what you can achieve.

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The teachers are qualified and impassioned here.

They obviously love what they’re doing. Because of their enthusiasm, they make students want to learn.

106 highly trained

full-time faculty members

8:1 our impressive student

to teacher ratio

Mother of three (Alumnus ’14, 9th and 6th grade)

Academics our Teachers Episcopal Collegiate teachers can teach anywhere, even at the college level. Skilled in best practices, they are leaders in their academic fields. They know which student needs a new challenge and which needs extra support, always making time for both. But the main reason we hire them is their passion. Enthusiastic and full of fresh ideas, they make it their priority to know each student well.

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Academically, sixth graders are at a sweet spot, because they are able to grapple with some complex and interesting ideas, yet their sense of wonder and curiosity is delightfully intact.

Middle School Teacher Exploratory Design 6, 7, 8 Imagine a class where you design and construct a garden that grows in the air. Our Middle School students are doing just that. Why? Because it’s the best way to teach them about real-world design and engineering challenges. Other Exploratory Design classes might create an educational online game, build an outdoor pollution detector or construct a model of an earthquake-proof structure. Working in teams, students develop skills in project planning, selfreflection, and oral presentation. They also learn about programming, 3D design and fabrication, and video production and editing.

Middle School

Academics The Promise of Imagination

Teaching and Advising

In Middle School students are still exploring who they are and what fires their imagination. We offer a range of subjects, opportunities and experiences to spark their interests and uncover their promise.

Building on the solid Lower School foundation, students stretch their minds and grow. They try new things, meet new people, and take more demanding classes. They learn how to study while also mastering and applying the skills and concepts they learn in each discipline. All of this prepares them for the Upper School challenges ahead.

Middle School teachers encourage creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving. They inspire students through the use of technology, including a new Exploratory Design program, maker spaces, and robotics. Advisory groups help busy Middle School students prioritize their new responsibilities.

Every morning students check in, discussing plans for the day, weekly projects, and upcoming events. Many students say it’s the best part of their day!

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Middle School Clubs and Organizations Student Council Art Club ChessCats Diversity Club Drama Club Drone Club First Lego League Club LegoCats Green Club National Junior Honor Society Quiz Bowl Sixth Grade Choir

Middle School

Arts and Activities Art

Music

The Middle School art program develops a strong foundation in the visual elements and principles of art. Students are free to develop at their own pace, following their individual passions.

For aspiring musicians, our chorus performs regularly on campus and in the local community.

The Orchestra (violin, viola, cello, bass) is open to Upper and Middle School students. Directed by the co-concertmaster of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, our orchestra performs two concerts a year. At Episcopal Collegiate we are known for our Percussion Ensembles and our steel drum band, the Steelcats. Percussion classes are open to Middle and Upper School students.

The Steelcats have performed statewide, joining the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Pine Bluff Symphony.

Drama Our theatre courses are open to all students. In Middle School, we offer Creative Drama, Theatre 7, and Theatre 8. Middle Schoolers are invited to audition for our two major theatre productions each year. We love their enthusiasm on stage!

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Middle School Art Courses Humanities Foundations of Art Drawing Drawing II Painting Painting II Sculpture Printmaking Media Art 15

Transition Moving Up

Transition Ceremony

Upper School can be daunting, but not here. One of the benefits of an Episcopal Collegiate education is the ability of students to transition seamlessly from the Middle School to the Upper School. With older students as role models and mentors, Middle School students feel at home and know what to expect at the next level. Our teachers know students and their families so well, they help prepare each student for a smooth transition. Our curriculum is designed specifically to flow from one division to the next, preparing students for college and beyond.

We take every opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our students.

During the Transition Ceremony, each rising 9th grader is formally recognized by the Head of Upper School and Head of School. The rising seniors look forward to receiving their school blazers embroidered with the seal.

And students actually move seats in Chapel.

Seniors, of course, move to the front row.

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The teachers push you hard, but they make sure you get it. They want you to succeed.

11th grade student

Upper School

18 Advanced Placement Classes with an 80%

Academics

pass rate

Freedom and Responsibility

THE INSTITUTE

Upper School students are curious and disciplined.

At this level, teachers challenge them to reach beyond their intellectual comfort zone. They’re ready to stretch their abilities, take risks, and explore different perspectives. Motivated and ambitious, they learn to study and research independently, to communicate ideas meaningfully, and to develop the social and interpersonal skills of cooperation, teamwork, and leadership.

And because they’re ready, we give them the space to think independently, critically, and creatively. With this blend of freedom and responsibility, Upper School students thrive.

A unique part of an Episcopal Collegiate education is the opportunity to participate in additional learning opportunities, and meaningful service and travel offered through the school’s Institute for Responsible Citizenship.

Practicums, or “mini-courses,” are offered in the areas of community building, political engagement, economics, global citizenship, environmental activism, entrepreneurship, ethics and spirituality, and wellness.

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College Preparatory Have Confidence Your Student is Prepared We promise your child unparalleled college preparation. Our expert counselors proactively plan and communicate with students and families from the day they enroll in the Upper School.

We’ll help your child create a rigorous academic plan, build a strong extracurricular résumé, and explore their promise as a well-rounded student—everything the best colleges and universities look for in a candidate.

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The college application process does not have to be stressful. We’ll make sure your student and family have enough time to plan, prepare and apply. The formal process begins junior year with a series of classes covering the college search and selection process, testing, activities résumés, scholarships and financial aid, and applications.

Senior year, counselors work closely with students identifying and applying to their first-choice, best-fit colleges and universities. Our track record speaks for itself. Episcopal students reach for highly selective schools, and more often than not are accepted to those top-tier institutions.

college list

ALUMNI

University of Arkansas, Honors Brown University Dartmouth College Davidson College Duke University The University of Georgia Hendrix College Johns Hopkins University University of Missouri Columbia The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania Savannah College of Art and Design Southern Methodist University The University of Texas, Austin United States Naval Academy Vanderbilt University University of Virginia Washington and Lee University College of William and Mary Yale University

Our alumni lead international corporations, serve national nonprofits, and impact the world around them.

You will find our alumni here, too, powering Arkansas through entrepreneurship, law, medicine, research, board service, and more.

This path continues after graduation, through post-graduate studies and into the workplace. You will find our alumni around the globe leading corporations, serving nonprofit organizations, impacting the world all around them. You will find our alumni here at home, too, powering Arkansas through entrepreneurship, law, medicine, research, board service, and more.

100% of our students

graduate to attend a four-year college or university

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Upper School Art Classes Foundations of Art Drawing I-III Painting I-III Sculpture I-III Printmaking I-III Mixed Media Art I-III Intro. to Broadcast Journalism Advanced Broadcast Journalism Publication Design Orchestra Beginning Percussion Intermediate Percussion Advanced Percussion Concert Choir Acting Technical Theatre Theatre Practicum AP Studio Art AP Music Theory

Upper School

Arts and Activities CHOICE-BASED ART

Music

In Upper School, students have more freedom to drive their own artistic development. Students choose from one of eight artistic themes—social problems, art history, or math and science, for example. Students are guided to reach one of four learning targets: practice, improvement, mastery, or portfolio. Students are assessed at each level and incorporate the skills of research and writing throughout the art-making process. This unique approach to arts education is quickly becoming the model for schools around the country.

Our choral music program welcomes students from a wide range of musical backgrounds and abilities.

Our Concert Choir performs regularly on campus, in the local community, and has traveled internationally. Our string orchestra is open to Upper and Middle School students. Directed by the co-concertmaster of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, our orchestra performs two concerts a year. Episcopal Collegiate is known for percussion. Our drumming classes, Percussion Ensembles, and steel drum band, the Steelcats, are open to Middle and Upper School students.

Drama Upper School students can take Acting, Technical Theatre I, and Theatre Practicum. They can join Theatre Club and take part in two main-stage productions each year. With all this, our drama students are 22 well prepared for any collegiate theatre program.

Recent Theatre Productions Honk!

Murder’s in the Heir Once Upon A Mattress Harvey The Secret Garden The Diviners Little Women the Musical A Midsummer Night’s Dream Our Town You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Strike Up The Band 23

Upper School Clubs & Organizations

Upper School

Arts & Activities GETTING INVOLVED When the bell rings at the end of the day, our campus is buzzing with activity. Student council elections, Quiz Bowl practice, Diversity Club meetings—there are so many ways for students to explore their potential and promise. A wide variety of clubs and organizations makes it possible for every student to discover new interests, develop leadership skills, and build their college resumés. It’s cool to be involved and make the most of free time with friends, cultivating new passions that could last a lifetime.

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Art Club Chess Club Cum Laude Society Diversity Club Epiphanies (Yearbook) French Club Harry Potter Club Honor Council Interact Club Latin Club/Junior Classical League Mathletics National Honor Society Quiz Bowl Reverie (Literary Magazine) Senior Peer Leaders Spanish Club Student Congress Student Council Theatre Club Ultimate Frisbee Club

BROADCAST JOURNALISM: EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE TV In this class, students learn to write, film, and edit using the principals of broadcast news.

They are exposed to every aspect of production.

For 10 years, students working on ECTV have earned top national honors from the Student Television Network and recognition from the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association, including the All-Arkansas Award and Best of the Best.

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Upper School Teams

2 regulation basketball and volleyball courts, 1 regulation

Wildcat Pride Wildcats like to play!

middle School Teams

Teamwork, confidence, leadership, and fitness— these are the benefits of athletics at Episcopal Collegiate. We value and celebrate the sheer joy of competition.

7th and 8th grade football Basketball Cheerleading Cross Country Fishing Football Soccer Tennis Track Volleyball Wrestling

Even if you’ve never played on a team before, you can sport a Wildcat jersey and compete— 80 percent of our students are up to the challenge.

For a small school, our teams are very competitive in the Arkansas Activities Association. Many of our students play on multiple teams and stand out—some even go on to play collegiate sports.

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football field, lighted for exciting nighttime games, practice field, full locker room facilites, wrestling facility, weight room and fitness center

Varsity Football Varsity Volleyball Junior Varsity Volleyball 9th Grade Volleyball Varsity Cheerleading Varsity Cross Country Varsity Tennis Varsity Golf Junior Varsity Basketball Varsity Basketball Varsity Wrestling Varsity Baseball Varsity Soccer Varsity Softball Varsity Soccer Varsity Track

26 state and 22

conference and regional championships.

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your Promising

Exceptional Education

Want to learn more?

Why settle for an average education when you can have an exceptional one—one that will serve you well for the rest of your life. Episcopal Collegiate is a community of high expectations and aspirations, with a strong spiritual tradition. We promise small classes, individual attention, teachers who know your name, and endless opportunities for exploration and success.

The best way to get to know Episcopal Collegiate is by visiting in person. Come meet our teachers, visit our classrooms, and stroll our beautiful campus.

Our facilities are great, but our students will impress you the most!

We realize that sending your student to an independent school is a financial commitment. We promise that an Episcopal Collegiate education will be a transformative education investment in your child’s future.

We can’t wait to hear from you. Apply early because space is limited. Application, tuition and financial aid information are in the folder pocket or online at episcopalcollegiate.org

Schedule a visit or tour by calling Admissions at 501-978-4420 or online at episcopalcollegiate.org.

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Ready to apply?

Design photography: Peapod Design, New Canaan, CT; Copywriting: Tracey Palmer

Future Starts Here

Respect, Reverence, Responsibility our Mission An independent college preparatory school, grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12, rooted in the Episcopal tradition and affirming people of all faiths, Episcopal Collegiate School seeks superior academic achievement and strives to develop in its students respect for all persons, reverence of God, and a sense of moral responsibility. Episcopal Collegiate is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and joy in learning in a nurturing community that prepares our students to live principled and fulfilling lives of leadership and service to others.