Greetings From Epiphany!
Dear Friends,
While we may be teaching remotely, we have never been closer to our students and their families. With your help, our existing food distributions have expanded from hundreds of pounds to thousands, and we are doing emergency cash grants for families in need. For the middle school students, we prepared well for the closure, safeguarding the Chromebooks and moving classes online. They have not missed a day. For the infants and toddlers in the Early Learning Center, we are sending home packets of materials (Play-Doh, watercolor sets, construction paper, etc.), and their teachers connecting with them daily. Your support makes all this possible, and we will get through this. God bless you, and thank you for ALL you are doing to help.
Your Grateful Fan,
The Rev. John H. Finley IV
Corporate Partner Spotlight
Liberty Mutual Foundation, Wellington Management Foundation, & Wisdom Lotus Foundation
During this uncertain time, the commitment of our loyal friends to our students and families has never been stronger. This month we would like to thank and recognize our corporate and foundation partners at Liberty Mutual, Wellington Management, and the Wisdom Lotus Foundation for reaching out proactively to help. With their support, we are providing high quality remote learning for students and meeting the immediate needs of our families with access to healthy food, household supplies, and emergency financial awards for help with rent, utilities and transportation.
We cannot do this work alone. Thank you for all you do for the Epiphany School community!
Epiphany Stars: Graduate Profile
Theresa Devarieux ‘15
This month's spotlight goes to a graduate we’ve highlighted before but needs to be mentioned again...TheresaDevarieux ‘15. During this pandemic, she’s been a hero to her family, and we are in awe of her strength, resilience, and positive spirit despite the challenging circumstances.
After a semester at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, Theresa, like many students, had to leave campus and come home. A few weeks into quarantine, Theresa’s mom was rushed to the hospital with COVID-19 like symptoms. Theresa became “mom” for her two younger brothers, ensuring they continued their online learning and providing all their support. She also returned to her old job at Stop & Shop in order to help the family financially. Thanks to you and your support, Epiphany has provided her family with supplemental groceries each week, secured access to Wi-Fi, and helped out financially to ensure Theresa and her brothers have what they need.
The good news is that Theresa’s mom has recovered and is now back at work. We are proud of you, Theresa!
Learning is Cool: Epiphany Curriculum Highlights
The Learning Continues
As we enter week 12 of online learning, we are grateful for how quickly our students have adapted to their new reality. Despite the challenging circumstances, all grades are on track with the curriculum goals set out in September. We are proud of the hard work our students put in during these weeks -- from their commitment to joining Zoom calls, to participating in virtual social activities like “the social hour” or “Fun Friday”, to completing assignments on time and in good form. We are also proud of our amazing teachers who have gone the extra mile to be creative with their lessons and accommodate all our students' learning and social-emotional needs.
Early Learning Center Corner
Our infants and toddlers are growing very quickly, and we are sad that they are not on campus. However, they are all doing very well. We are sending home packets of materials (books, play-doh, paint, etc.) and staying connected to our youngest learners and their families with daily calls via FaceTime and Zoom. Here is one of our favorite videos of the kids singing with their teacher, AJ:
Epiphany News
Gardening and Greenhouse
Ash Inglis and Ella Kotner have kept the Garden & Greenhouse programing humming these past weeks. Working with volunteers and faculty members, they have constructed new raised beds, built other beds with leftover cobblestones, created a home gardening program, handed out dozens of fresh basil plants, and created adorable My Little Sprout Houses for the toddlers to grow peas in plastic sleeves that can hang in any window. They have also raked, weeded, pruned, spread mulch, and done so much more to keep the grounds and our gardens in great shape and ready for summer.
Food Distribution
During the pandemic, we have expanded our existing food distribution program and now offer thousands of pounds of food and supplies to our families on-site every Thursday. We are grateful for Lovin’ Spoonfuls and Church of the Redeemer who donate produce every week. Please click here if you would like to send or deliver food or hygiene products to Epiphany.
Staying Connected while Staying at Home
In addition to all the academic work on Google Classroom, via FaceTime and Zoom, we host exercise classes and social get-togethers like those for our students in The Brotherhood and Sista Sista. Mr. Wilson ‘04 and Mr. Deleveaux also started “Sunday Vibes,” a virtual party through Instagram Live where students and families can join to have fun, play trivia games, and show off some of their talents.
Albeit online, we have still been able to provide a safe space for students to be vulnerable and honest and share their thoughts about the current global crisis that is having a huge impact in their lives.
