Always Learning Newsletter - October 2017
Table of Contents
Greetings from the Head of School:
Dear Friends,
Embedded in this edition of Always Learning is a link to i-tunes where you can listen to a The Power Of Good podcast with Emily Centeio Bautista ’02 and Michelle Gomes Sanchez. As most of our readers know, Mrs. Bautista is an Epiphany graduate and Director of Student & Family Support, and Dr. Sanchez is a founding teacher and Epiphany’s Principal. Listening to them explain about how Epiphany pushes each students and knows each student and loves each students can remind us all of why we have chosen to be part of the Epiphany family. Whether you are a financial supporter like our friends at Wellington Management or Rockland Trust or a volunteer or a teacher or a parent or a graduate, we all have a hand in making this school possible. Thank you! (And, a special thank you here to everyone who helped with Sunday In The Schoolyard. What a fun party!)
Your Grateful Head of School,
The Rev. John H. Finley IV
P.S: Our giving season has just begun, click here to make a donation for our 20th anniversary!
Partner Spotlight: Wellington Financial
The Wellington Management Foundation has been a longtime supporter of the Annual Fund, which ensures we can indeed “never give up.” This summer, we were thrilled to be awarded a Catalyst Grant of $250,000 to support the launch of our Early Learning Center. Thank you, Wellington Management Foundation! Your generosity makes a HUGE difference.
About the Wellington Management Foundation:
“The Wellington Management Foundation was founded in 1992 in Boston, Massachusetts and supports programs and organizations that improve the education and educational opportunities of economically disadvantaged youth. Through annual grants and Catalyst Gifts, the Foundation supports more than 60 education-focused nonprofits in eastern Massachusetts and 10 global cities where Wellington Management has offices.
The Catalyst Giving Initiative was launched in 2015 to help education-focused nonprofits that are showing meaningful and sustainable academic outcomes move forward in a significant way towards their strategic vision. We are proud to be one of five grant recipients in this special grantmaking category this year. Additional grantees are: 10,000 Degrees, San Francisco; Bottom Line; Breakthrough Greater Boston; and Generation Citizen.”
Graduate’s Profile:
Nikkia Andrade
A brilliant student, a caring sister, and a young activist. These are a few attributes that describe our graduate, Nikkia Andrade ‘15. Nikkia started Epiphany as a silly and goofy student, but she quickly turned it around after a tragic incident in her family. She focused on academics and became one of the top students at Epiphany. Her passion for gardening and food justice lead her to the Food Project where she has been working since her 9th grade year. She quickly moved up the ladder and became one of the lead counselors. As a counselor, she trains the new students, spends her summers at the Food Project farm in Lincoln, and you can find her at the Roslindale Farmers Market every Thursday afternoon. Nikkia is an inspiration to all of us.
Nikkia (middle) photographed with the other counselors at the Food Project Farm in Lincoln.
Epiphany News
Barbara C. Harris
On August 31st, to start the school year off right the entire school went to Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center in New Hampshire. This all-school retreat has been a tradition at Epiphany for eighteen years. So many memories have been made of the kids running, swimming, dancing, making tie-dye t-shirts, lighting up a campfire, the scary stories told by the fire.
It is an incredible time for all the students to meet and break the ice with the new Teaching Fellows, build new friendships, enhance their leadership skills and HAVE FUN!
We always look forward to this trip and it would not be possible without the camp’s incredible generosity. .
- Generation Citizens Elective Goes to the Statehouse
Generation Citizens is an elective offered to students as part of the Epiphany Arts Program. A program active in schools across America, Generation Citizens teaches “action civics” in which students learn hands-on how to participate in democracy. This semester, our students elected to examine racial discrimination in education and media.
On Friday, May 19 the group went to the State House for Civic Day to present their project. Civics Day is the semi-annual culminating event of each Generation Citizen semester. Each school brings 5 student representatives on a field trip for a day of speeches by civic leaders, project presentations to judges, lunch activities, and a class awards ceremony.
Generation Citizens gave Epiphany students an opportunity to discuss and think critically of some of the most difficult topics facing our world today and to find creative ways to take action. We are extremely proud of their work and dedication!
- Two Podcasts over the summer
- Over the summer, Mr. Finley was invited to be part of a podcast at Webb Innovation Center for Dyslexia. During the podcast, Mr. Finley spoke about his personal journey with dyslexia and how he’s been able to live with and maybe even benefit from his experience. Please click here to listen to the entire podcast!
Mr. Finley wasn’t the only one to get a spotlight this summer. Mrs. Sanchez and Mrs. Centeio Bautista ‘02 were also part of a podcast, Power of Good, where they talked about the history of Epiphany and their journeys here. They set inspiring examples. Please click here to listen to their podcast!
● Let’s Put a Stop to Community Violence
We are saddened by the recent spike in violence in our community. Please take a moment to read about the great work that the Louis D. Brown Peace Initiative is doing to bring peace to this neighborhood.
We are proud of the work that Sandra Centeio, Nevaeh’s mom, is doing to bring awareness to this issue, and we applaud her for the contribution she and her family make on a daily basis.
- 7th Grade goes to the Hindu Temple
7th Graders at the Hindu Temple
On September 15th, the 7th graders took a trip to, Braj Mandir Hindu Temple in Quincy. As part of the Religion Curriculum in 7th grade, students learn about different religions both in classroom and through field trips to various houses of worship. The students were able to chant, share stories, and eat the delicious food that was prepared for them.
Religious illiteracy fuels prejudice and antagonism. It is important, therefore, to promote respect for diversity, peaceful coexistence, and cooperative endeavors.
In addition to Hinduism, the curriculum also covers Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.
- 8th Graders show leadership
Lilli, a new 8th grader this fall, approached Ms. Celius and the rest of the 5th grade team to ask if she could spend some time with the new 5th grade students to get them to know better and share sentiments of wisdom.
Once the time and place was decided, Lilli gathered a few other 8th graders, purchased some treats, and organized a game of tag. The 5th grade was extremely excited to spend time with the older kids. “It was precious watching them out there having fun”, said Ms. Celius.
- Yellow Barn at Epiphany
Yellow Barn is located in Putney, Vermont and is an international center for chamber music that “encourages diversity in the studio, classroom, and concert hall; explores the craft of musical interpretation; and illuminates our world through the unique experience of music.”
Yellow Barn also has the Yellow Barn Music Haul, a mobile concert hall that brought Yellow Bar magic to Epiphany last year. Their musicians came back again this year, on September 19th. They gave the 5th and 7th graders a music workshop and performed a concert for the entire school.
We are incredibly grateful to Torin Koester, Mike McKenzie, Seth Knopp and Catherine Stephan for this opportunity. Thank you! Thank you! Thank YOU!
- Rockland Trust Cooks Dinner for Epiphany
We are blessed to have people like our friends at the Rockland Trust who came and cooked dinner for us on September 19th. Our volunteers literally can roll up their sleeves and get to work, and that is what the Rockland Trust did on September 19th. Thank you!
- Thank you Team Dunstan for Riding for Epiphany!
On September 23rd, five parishioners from St. Dustan’s Church in Dover rode bikes between 25 and 50 miles in support of Epiphany School at the 27th Annual Rodman Ride for Kids--175 miles total! Our friends at St. Dunstan’s have been riding for Epiphany since our inception, and we can’t thank them enough for their abiding support! A special thank you to George Motley who has participated in the Rodman Ride every year since Epiphany’s founding 20 years ago!
George Motley and Carol at the finish line!
● Thank you for coming to Sunday in the Schoolyard!
Thank you so much for coming to our 2nd Annual Sunday in the Schoolyard in support of the nutrition and wellness program at Epiphany School! It was wonderful to be with you.
By all accounts the event was a huge success. The food was amazing, and most importantly the room was filled with a warm spirit because of YOU! We look forward seeing you next year!
An extra special "thank you" to the many chefs and restaurateurs from:
- Lucy's American Tavern
- Lyndigo Spice
- Porto
- Saloniki Greek
- Season to Taste Catering
- The Blarney Stone
- Trade
- Ashmont Grill
- Blue Dragon
- Chill on Park
- Dorset Hall
- Homestead
- Loyal Nine
Beverages were generously donated by Harpoon Beer.
Thank you to our fabulous Host Committee Members:
Jody Adams * Holly & David Ambler * Tess & Sam Atkinson * Sue Bielamowicz * Carol Brayboy * Ed Burley * Stephanie Cave & Haley Freeman * Liesl & Peter Christie * Kristin & John D'Agostino * Donna Farrell & Charles Jobson * Claire & Adam Forkner * David Foster * Beth Kressley Goldstein & Dennis Goldstein * Victoria Graboys * Karin & Gilbert Herrera * Leah Hoover & Ellen Theriault * Sarah & Rawson Hubbell* Jackie Jenkins-Scott & Jim Scott * Louisa Kasdon * Mike Kendall & Alexandra Haagensen * Lonsdale & Torin Koester * Sonja Plesset * Polly Tsai
Jody Adams and Ming Tsai (Photo Cred: KEN RIVARD)