What Defines an EA Student?

EA student /ē•ā•stū•dent/ noun

A multi-talented individual engaged in learning who refuses to be defined.

When prospective families visit campus, they often ask, “What defines a typical EA student?” In truth, it’s an impossible question to answer. EA students represent a wide breadth of different backgrounds, talents, passions, and perspectives. They are curious learners, kind friends, thoughtful leaders, courageous teammates, and visionary artists. They are fearless in the pursuit of their many interests, and cannot be defined by any singular label.

We asked six EA students about how their EA experience helps define them. Their answers were as varied as their individual personalities.

Saiyan Patel Kindergarten

With energetic music playing overhead, Saiyan Patel and his classmates quickly work to bounce a tennis ball, catch it in their buckets, and then race to the next tire. Physical Education (PE) teachers Mr. Ed Silvi, Hon. and Mrs. Colleen Bernabei, Hon. look on, shouting words of encouragement to each student. The curriculum is designed to help students develop fundamental gross and fine motor skills, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, strength, and muscle coordination. Most activities focus on cooperative learning, student self-reflection, interpersonal skills, self-confidence, challenge, and risk in a safe environment.

While PE is Saiyan’s favorite class, he loves every aspect of his first year at EA. Mrs. Kempley Bryant, Hon. greets students each morning and invites them to join “Morning Meeting.” They learn about what the day has in store for them and participate in a fun community-building activity that helps them get to know their classmates better.

Saiyan enjoys going to all of his “specials” classes. He often brings home drawings from art class or a new library book that he got to pick out on his own. During recess, he loves visiting the playground and playing with all of his new friends.

The weekly trip to the Class of 1944 Chapel is always a special treat. Saiyan loves practicing sign language during all of the hymns, an activity that replaced singing during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains today due to popular demand.

“He loves school and is excited to go every day. The teachers do such an amazing job of making the educational experience fun that the kids don’t even realize they’re engaged in a carefully thought-out curriculum,” shares Saiyan’s mother, Dr. Geeta Patel. “Every day, Saiyan comes home and is doing something new that he wasn’t doing the day before, whether it is related to a story he read in class or a song he sang in Chapel.”

Saiyan and his brothers, Krish (3rd grade) and Dev (5th grade), love running into each other in halls. He cannot wait to be just like his older brothers one day. “I want to be on the soccer team and to play the trumpet like my brothers!” exclaims Saiyan.

All three Patel boys quickly established a circle of friends at EA. Dev’s friends have fondly nicknamed Saiyan “Little Little Dev” and run to give him a big hug when they see him at games and school events. That sense of community has been felt by the entire Patel family. Geeta shares that everyone has been warm and welcoming and that EA Parents’ Association events and programs helped them get to know other families quickly.

“I feel that EA’s ‘mind, body, and spirit’ philosophy has everything a child needs to develop into a well-rounded and resilient person, while also fostering a deep sense of generosity and service to others. We want our children to be part of a supportive community and develop strong core values that will guide them throughout life,” says Geeta. “When they face a challenge, they can draw strength from the community. When they are at a crossroads, they can think back to living the Stripes. All of this will help them become more resilient, and EA delivers this at every level.”

Saiyan’s Favorite…

Subject: Physical Education

Sports:

Soccer, tennis, and basketball

Recess Activity: Swings and monkey bars

School Day Activity: Picking out library books

Chapel Hymn: “Shalom, My Friend”

Tradition: Christmas Tree Lighting

Ella Christie 5th Grade

Lower School experience. Now in 5th grade, she and her fellow classmates serve as the leaders of their school, and they have ample opportunities to hone their leadership skills.

Each homeroom is assigned a day to volunteer to help at morning carline drop-off, which is one of Ella’s favorite activities. “We get to help open car doors and help all of the little kids with their backpacks and with finding their way to class,” explains Ella. “It is so fun to help out and get to say ‘Good morning!’ to everyone.”

Students also have the opportunity to help design the Lower School yearbook and serve on Chapel Council, another activity for which Ella eagerly volunteered. Students assist in leading Chapel services by setting up the altar, carrying in the cross and offerings, and delivering the readings.

Ella enjoys playing the drums for the Lower School Pep Band, which performs regularly at athletic competitions, pep rallies, and admission events. Additionally, as new families visit to learn more about EA, teachers and members of the Admission Office rely on the 5th graders to welcome parents who stop by their classrooms.

“I get to help out during PE class a lot. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly what we are doing,” shares Ella. “I get to run over to say hello, introduce myself, and explain what activity we are working on. I love meeting new people and telling them about how much I love EA!”

According to Ella, there are many things that make EA special. First and foremost is the unique Chapel program, followed by the opportunity to explore different passions. An aspiring thespian, she was excited to perform in a recent production of Willy Wonka Jr. and looks forward to joining the Harlequin Drama Club in Middle School next year. She is also a competitive athlete and enjoys playing lacrosse and tennis.

“There are so many different things to try here,” she shares. “Even if someone is not that great at something, EA gives you the chance to try it out and to practice and get better. And, everyone cheers for you!”

Finally, Ella credits EA’s teachers and staff for creating positive experiences for each student. She has seen first-hand how much they care and how they are always willing to take time out of their day to help students.

While there are countless examples, the most recent for her came as she worked on the 5th grade’s Wax Museum project. Students complete research on a prominent figure from history, develop a poster, speaking notes, and costume, and then take on the persona and deliver a short presentation as visitors walk through their museum.

Ella found so much interesting information about Harriet Tubman during her research that she was finding it difficult to condense it all into the most salient points. She signed up for the after-school “Homework Help” program, and she finalized her project in two quick sessions through assistance from her teachers.

As she lists a few of her favorite people at EA—“Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Welch, Mrs. Berry, Ms. Tierney, Mrs. Cangi, Ms. Fitz, Nurse Garrity”—she smiles fondly while thinking about the positive impact they have had on her life and how they have inspired her love for learning.

Ella’s Favorite…

Stripe: Sportsmanship

Subjects: Art and Drama

Sport: Lacrosse

Chapels: Christmas and Thanksgiving

Place on Campus: Art room

Tradition: Halloween Parade

Hobby:

Singing

EA Memory: Performing in Willy Wonka Jr.

Luke Wright 6th Grade

When Luke Wright first started at EA in fall 2019, he quickly felt at home in his new environment.

“I remember that on the first day of school in 3rd grade, people invited me to sit at their table when I didn’t know anybody,” he says. “That was really nice.” The generosity extended to Luke on his first morning has been something he has never forgotten. In fact, he says it is his favorite memory. “I was at two smaller schools before EA, but I feel like I fit in better here because there are so many different types of people,” Luke shares.

Now a 6th grader, Luke is enjoying the new opportunities and freedoms that Middle School has to offer. “In Lower School, there was less homework and you didn’t switch classes as often, so it’s definitely been a little different,” he explains. “But my favorite part [of Middle School] is the freedom to walk to classes on your own.”

Besides the people, Luke thinks that the best part of being at EA has been having the ability to participate in classes and activities that nurture his Mind, Body, and Spirit. “Being involved in so many different things gives me many opportunities to try new things and see what I enjoy,” he says.

Academically, Luke has most enjoyed getting to pursue his love of writing in English class. “EA has given me all of the tools I need to succeed,” he said. “My teachers allow me to challenge myself as much as I need to.” He also has found a new love of robotics in his FIRST LEGO League class, an elective that involves building LEGO robots and then programming the robots to move, push, and lift, as well as participation in a FIRST LEGO League robotics challenge competition. “The FIRST LEGO League competition was enjoyable but challenging,” he explains. “In fact, the robotics room is one of my favorite places to be on campus.”

Athletically, Luke is excited to continue pursuing the sports he loves. This year, he is excited to participate in soccer, swimming, and tennis, though he admitted it was a tough call to decide between participating in swimming and squash during the winter season. “EA has so many different types of sports, and I really enjoy being a part of that team community,” Luke says. He also loves the tradition of Aurora/Vesper Day, which combines his love of school spirit with competitions and games.

Luke is also an active–and talented–musician. Though he played piano and drums when he was younger, he found a love for the tenor saxophone in 4th grade. “This year, I’m in both the regular band and the [auditioned] jazz band,” he explains. “Both have been so fun to be a part of, and I really enjoy playing saxophone, so that’s been a great experience for me.” Luke even had the opportunity to use his sax to accompany his classmates during the Middle and Upper School Winter Choral Concert.

While there is no telling what Luke might try next, one thing is for sure: he has an undeniable enthusiasm for being a part of the EA community.

Luke’s Favorite…

Stripe: Generosity

Subject: English Sport: Swimming

Chapel Hymn: “Go Down Moses”

Place on Campus: Robotics room or Burke Natatorium

Tradition: Aurora/Vesper Day

Dining Hall Delicacies: Grilled cheese and pumpkin pie

Teachers: Miss Maggie McGill and Mrs. Becky Eckberg

Julia Griffin 7th Grade

Julia Griffin came to EA in 2020 as a curious, spiritual, athletic, and driven 5th grader. Despite the challenges of attending a new school in the middle of a pandemic, like being unable to meet classmates in person due to remote learning, Julia tried many things and excelled academically and athletically. As she began 7th grade, Julia wanted to try something new—or, rather, something that was sparked years ago.

When Julia was nine years old, she went to see Matilda at the Walnut Street Theater and watched in awe as another nine-year-old girl took the lead. “It was awesome,” says Julia. “I was so inspired by all the lines the actress had to memorize!”

“My dad’s friend was a manager at the theater and showed me backstage after everyone left. He asked if I wanted to go on stage and sing a song for fun, and I said, ‘I’m going to do this someday.’”

With that memory in mind, Julia began this academic school year by auditioning for, and later landing, the lead role in the Middle School Harlequin Club’s production of Annie Jr

To Julia, Annie is more than a plucky lead character—she is someone with whom Julia can relate.

“Annie is a character who grows a lot throughout her story. I like playing her because it reminds me of my own experience of growth here at school,” she says. “EA has helped me grow as a person, giving me the freedom to make and stand by my own decisions, distinguish between right from wrong, and build confidence.”

Julia has grown a lot in her three years at EA, now serving on the Middle School Chapel Council and writing for the school newspaper in addition to her academics and her role on stage.

One of the most important values Julia learned from her parents at home and the religious sisters at her previous school is the importance of a “generous heart, a selfless spirit, and service to a cause or person outside of one’s self.”

It is clear that Julia’s future is bright, and we can only imagine what someone with her determination and confidence will accomplish at EA and beyond.

For now, though, she will channel her creative energies into the theater, enjoying the moment on stage that she has dreamed about since she was nine years old. However, she will have to share it—her three-year-old Australian Labradoodle, Ryder, is playing the role of Annie’s dog, Sandy.

Julia’s Favorite…

Stripe: Respect Subjects: English, Spanish, and Math

Activities: Chapel Council and Newspaper Club

Sport: Golf Chapel Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”

Place on Campus: Chapel Tradition: Christmas Tree Lighting

Dining Hall Delicacies: Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Teachers: Mrs. Bert Howlin, Hon. and Mr. Mark Luff, Hon.

Saige Forbes 11th Grade

Saige Forbes has been off and running since she arrived at EA her freshman year. Intellectually curious and energetic, Saige knew EA was the school where she could hit her pace both academically and athletically.

“My transition was a little abnormal because I started during the COVID year. But unlike other schools, EA managed to have in-person classes, which made a huge difference for me as a new student.”

Saige quickly settled into life at EA, joining the field hockey and indoor and spring track teams and exploring her interest in computer science. “My favorite word is create. I just like the idea that you can create anything when you are programming, and I just like that openness and possibility.”

She quickly connected with her teacher, Mr. Matthew Davis, who helped feed her passion for computer science. “He is an essential piece. He really helps me dig deeper, ask more questions, and want to know more. I like that there is a concept you learn and then turn it around to program and create something of your own.”

This year, Saige is taking AP Computer Science A after tackling Introduction to Computer Science and CS Principles her sophomore year. She is a passionate member of the Girls in STEM club and was one of eight female students to win the prestigious NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award last year.

Saige is also a big fan of her Honors English class led by Mr. Tony Herman. “Being around the Harkness table, which is new for me this year, I feel so insightful. It allows me to dig deep into what we are reading, ideas flowing, I love that class!”

Adding to her rigorous six-course load, she is taking graphic design through EA’s partnership with Global Online Academy. “Since creating things and computer science are my two favorite niches, I wanted to see how they fit together before I go to college because I would like to incorporate both into a potential job in the future,” says Saige. “Most work is asynchronous, and I use my free periods. I really enjoy collaborating through discussion and working with students from all over the world.”

Saige has come to appreciate attending Chapel every other day, saying it forces her “to be present.” This year’s theme, Become What you Believe, is especially impactful. “The theme is close to me because I struggled when I was younger with who I am and what I believe,” says Saige. “I am a bunch of things in one. Hearing the speakers is helping me understand that I am not one thing, I am multiple things.”

This multi-talented student-athlete has also found tremendous success on the track. She currently holds nine school records that include the indoor 55m, 60m, 100m, 200m, Long Jump, and 4x100m and 4x200m Relays. Outdoor Saige holds records in the 200m and Long Jump.

EA’s teacher-coach-mentor; model has been life-changing for Saige. “Everything here connects for me; it’s amazing,” reflects Saige. “The academics and athletics and having coaches that understand and support the academic rigor is unique. It really helps you manage both; you don’t have to pick because both are nurtured and supported equally.”

Saige’s Favorite…

Stripe: Sportsmanship

Subject: Computer Science

Sport: Spring Track

Place on Campus: Coote Honor Hall and the Annenberg Library

Tradition:

EA/Agnes Irwin Day

Dining Hall Delicacy: Brownies—“All day, every day!”

EA Memory: Going to the Penn Relays with the track team

Teacher: Mr. Matthew Davis

Thomas “TJ” Cadden 12th Grade

When asked what he believes he and his fellow classmates will reminisce most about one day, the indisputable answer for TJ Cadden is their senior football season.

To say TJ played a pivotal role in the team’s successful 9-1 season would be an understatement. As a wide receiver, he notched 49 catches for 659 yards and six touchdowns. With 1,527 all-purpose yards on the season, he also had two kick return touchdowns and returned two punts for touchdowns. As a defensive back, he returned one interception for a touchdown and logged 31 tackles and five pass break ups.

TJ’s contributions earned him many accolades, including Inter-Ac League co-MVP, First Team All Delco, and First Team All Inter-Ac. He was one of only 55 students across the state to be honored with the Mini Max High School Football Award, and he is committed to play Division I football for Bucknell University.

TJ’s fond memories focus less on his individual success, however, and more on the collective team. He is a staunch believer in the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. From their summer workouts, to time together in the team room, to their exciting victory against Malvern Prep, the theme of togetherness is apparent.

“The biggest lesson I will take away from the football program and my time at EA is the importance of working as a team,” he says. “When I was an underclassman, the seniors mentored us and always treated us as true members of the team, and we made sure to continue that this year.”

That sense of community is what drew TJ to EA. After participating in EA’s Meehan All-Stars developmental youth football program, he scheduled a visit to learn more about Upper School.

“The student who hosted me kept telling me about how helpful all the teachers were and how they really get to know you and make time for you,” he recalls. “The whole community felt so inclusive and welcoming. It just felt right.”

Four years later, TJ can attest that everything he experienced during that visit is absolutely true.

When asked to select a favorite teacher to present his jersey to on senior day, he had a hard time because his list was so long. Ultimately, he chose to honor and thank Mrs. Anna McDermott, Hon., who served as his freshman-year history teacher.

Described by coaches and teachers as a “rock star,” TJ is a natural-born leader. He described being nominated by his classmates to serve on the Esse Quam Videri Society as “a huge honor since only a few students are chosen.” This year, the student leadership group has focused efforts on celebrating EA’s teachers and reminding students to “Live the Stripes.”

TJ is also a talented baseball player and is excited for the spring season. The program had a successful 8-2 season last year, and TJ hopes the team can keep that momentum going and bring home a league title. He is thrilled to share one more high school athletic season with younger brother Michael, who also plays football and baseball.

With Commencement a few short months away, TJ reflects and knows that joining EA was the right decision. “There aren’t many schools like this,” he shares. “EA has so much to offer, and I hope future students will take advantage of every opportunity here.”

TJ’s Favorite…

Stripe: Gratitude

Subject: Math

Sport: Football

Chapel Hymn: “Episcopal, Episcopal”

Place on Campus: Football team room

Tradition: EA/Haverford Day

Dining Hall Delicacies: Nachos and cookies

EA Memory: Victory over Malvern Prep

Teacher: “All of them! I’ve never had a bad teacher at EA.”