Greetings From Epiphany!
Dear Friends,
These opening remarks of mine usually preview the contents of Always Learning, and I do really hope you will take a second to see what might peak your interest. As usual, the Epiphany community continues to dazzle me with what we can accomplish, but what I really want to do now is to talk about the gala. Whether or not you can attend, please consider making a contribution to the event either through a donation or by buying a ticket for someone who might otherwise not be able to afford it. Every member of this community contributes meaningfully to make this school possible. Money alone is not enough, but it is critical. If you can please make a special gift toward this 25th Anniversary.
With love and prayers, I remain as ever,
Your Grateful Fan,
The Rev. John H. Finley IV
Partner Spotlight
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, we want to honor those who have been with us since the very beginning, and from Day One Priscilla and Richard Hunt were terrific Epiphany cheerleaders along with their family. Though Mr. & Mrs. Hunt are sadly no longer with us, through the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, their children and grandchildren continue to be loyal and generous supporters of the wonderful children here at Epiphany. Their foundation does so much to help "organizations that strive to improve the quality of life," and since 1998 they have championed our students and their families along with our amazing graduates. Please join us in a hearty THANK YOU to everyone at the Foundation for their abiding support.
Epiphany Stars: Graduate Profile
Yohannes Bekele ‘20
This month we are proud to highlight the achievements of Yohannes Bekele, a gifted student who found his way to Epiphany thanks to one of our founding Board members and long-time supporters, the inimitable Derrick Evans. Having only recently immigrated from Ethiopia, Yohannes started out shy, but, with time and a lot of support from his teachers and classmates, he blossomed into a confident and gifted student. Eventually, Yohannes’s great test scores earned him a spot at the O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, where he has continued to excel.
Beyond all that, Yohannes was also recently accepted into Thrive Scholars, a competitive program to help students of color interested in STEM be admitted to and then excel at elite colleges. As a Thrive Scholar, Yohannes will have meaningful academic, social, and financial support, and we could not be more proud of him. He is a shining example of the power of education and the transformative impact it can have on the lives of our students.
Learning is Cool: Epiphany Curriculum Highlights
Fences Project
In the past few weeks, our 8th graders dove into the important and rich history of the Blues. As a uniquely American genre of music, the students learned about how Blues came to be and why it is so important, especially for Black Americans. For many of our students, this was the first time they engaged with Blues academically, and many were deeply impressed. As a capstone project, each student wrote an essay connecting the Blues to a part of the play Fences by August Wilson and created a diorama of whatever scene they focused on. This project challenged our 8th graders to use their analytic and creative skills, and we were deeply impressed by our student's ability to take this challenging assignment as passionately as they did.
Early Learning Center Corner
Valentines Day Parade For Black History Month
In honor of Black History Month and Valentine‘s Day, our preschool class spent February 14 learning the special qualities Black people can bring to the world. The class discussed not only how far Black folk have come but also how far they have to go.
Since Valentine’s Day at Epiphany is about taking time to show people in the community that a little kindness can go a long way, the preschoolers then sang, marched, and “shared their love” through the ELC, middle school, and neighborhood.
Here’s a friendly reminder from your fellow preschool friends…“You are nice. You are beautiful. You are respectful. You are smart. You are loved. Be kind. Hearts are for love. We love everyone!”
Epiphany News
Two 8th Graders and a 7th Grader win the “Celtic for a Day” Competition
Arbella Insurance and the Boston Celtics recently hosted a contest with the opportunity to enter a Spoken Word, Writing, or Art piece with the prize being an honorary “Boston Celtic” for a day.
Students were challenged to create a piece that represents someone who inspires them—e.g., a family member, a teacher, an historical figure, or even a Celtics Player. The winners were then selected on originality, relevance to the theme, and creativity. The prize is an opportunity to experience a little of what it’s like to be a member of the Boston Celtics on game day, maybe by walking into the arena with a player or even becoming the ball kid on the parquet during warmups.
We are proud to announce that two 8th graders, Reymi and Taniyah, and one 7th grader, Nathan, won the contest each writing something on one of their parents. Bravo and congratulations!
Sista Sista goes to the Museum of African American History
Many of our readers will be familiar with two wildly popular clubs, Sista Sista and the Brotherhood. They each have many special events throughout the school years, and last month the Celtics invited Sista Sista to the Boston Museum of African American History to learn more about the rich history of Black Bostonians. The girls especially loved learning about many influential and inspiring black women including Harriet Tubman, Harriet Louise Smith, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, and many others. From teachers to freedom fighters, nurses to abolitionists, these women were essential in shaping Black history and culture throughout Boston and American history. Learning more about these role models was a great experience for our students, and the trip was also fun. For example, the girls loved a T-shirt-making activity so much that we brought all the materials back to Epiphany so they could continue to create. We are grateful to the Celtics for all their support, and who knows? Maybe there will be an exhibit of an Epiphany graduate at the museum someday!
UA Schools
Epiphany has been more than just a school to countless individuals who are part of our community, and Lino Sanchez is a prime example. Starting as a volunteer coach 17 years ago, Lino has had many jobs including Graduate Support Director, Director of Groton’s Summer Intensive Program, Director of Student Leadership and Development, and now, for several years, Director of Athletics. Amidst all these responsibilities, Lino also founded Urban Achievers - a sports and enrichment program initially to give Epiphany students support during the weekends. The success of the program has been nothing short of remarkable, and now Lino is ready to take things even further by creating a tuition-free, independent high school. (Some of that sound familiar?)
Initially sponsored by Epiphany, on February 1st, 2023 Urban Achievers (UA) achieved federal nonprofit status, which will enable them to branch out on their own with their Scholar-Athlete Focused Education (SAFE) program for young scholars with a passion for sports. This will be the first high school in Massachusetts dedicated to serving this unique population of students, a groundbreaking milestone in our educational landscape. Lino's vision for the school goes beyond academic and athletic excellence. UA’s new school also aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will use their success to have a positive influence in society. (Think Jim Brown or Kareem Abdul Jabbar.) To learn more about Urban Achievers SAFE School, please visit their website at: www.uasafeschools.org. You can also watch WBZ-TV’s interview on Lino's journey, which provides further insight into the organization's mission and vision.
Celebrating Black History Month
At Epiphany we celebrate the diverse cultures that binds us together, and during February – Black History Month – we are especially excited to amplify the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the formation of our nation and to the ongoing work to ensure a more perfect union.
A big part of that is our annual a Black History Month Showcase, in which the whole school uses their free time to study important Black figures in hopes of winning at “Black History Jeopardy.”
This year, there were 3 rounds with 5 questions each for every class, with a break at the end of each round so students could showcase their various Art Minors. For example, the Cooking and Gardening Club shared some recipes they cooked, and the 7th and 8th grade Theatre students recited August Wilson’s monologues after they had been trained by professional actor and producer, Keith Mascoll.
After a lively competition, this year's winners of Black History Jeopardy are (drum roll please)....7A!
Pat Cooke Fellowship in Educational Sustainability
We are proud to announce that Ash Inglis, Director of our Garden & Greenhouse program has been awarded a Pat Cooke Fellowship in Environmental Sustainability! This prestigious award is given to individuals in the Boston community who have demonstrated a clear commitment to environmental sustainability.
Pat Cooke, in whose name this award is given, was a leader and advocate in Dorchester who fought for affordable housing, community gardens, and greater access to healthy and fresh food here in Dorchester. Ash’s work will honor Pat's legacy, building up our garden program and involving our students and their families in the ongoing work for food access, gardening, and sustainability.
With this grant, Ash will pursue a project at Epiphany related to sustainability and food access. We couldn’t be prouder of Ash’s hard work, and we’re elated that they are getting recognition they deserve.