Greetings From Epiphany!
Dear Friends,
At a dinner party, my host sat me next to a nice lady and explained to us both “You two will have a lot to talk about. You both work in schools.” As it turned out, this nice lady volunteered at a school, and she loved it. In fact, she could not stop talking about how great this school was and insisted I come for a visit. “Sure,” I said,” But, maybe I know it already? What school is it?” She smiled and said, “It’s called Epiphany!” She had been here two years, and we’d never met, but I was not surprised. There is so much happening at school! If you have time to read through this edition of Always Learning, I hope it brings a smile. Please remember that friends like you make it all possible.
Your Grateful Fan,
The Rev. John H. Finley IV
P.S. We hope you can join us at the Gala on Friday, May 3! Click here to become a table captain, a sponsor, or buy your ticket!
Partner Spotlight
New Commonwealth Fund
This month, we are highlighting our friends at The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund. They have an innovative approach, grounded in respect-based grantmaking, culturally relevant capacity building and fostering an ecosystem that supports robust racial equity and social justice outcomes for non-profit and foundation leaders, and we are proud to be one of their many partners in the community. NCF has supported Epiphany in a number of ways, and they are currently helping our Graduate Support team work with Leadership Brainery, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting first-generation college students as they explore, apply for, and succeed in graduate school. Please join us in saying a hearty THANK YOU to the NCF!
Epiphany Stars: Graduate Profile
Rudy Silas-Poyer ‘08
This month, we are excited to highlight Rudy Silas-Poyer, one of Epiphany's outstanding graduates in the class of 2008. After Epiphany, Rudy attended Norfolk County Agricultural High School and is now thriving as a valued member of the team at Studio Paws in New York City, where she lives with her beloved children. Recently, she came all the way back to Boston to participate in our Career Day. Our 7th & 8th graders found her personal story inspiring. At Epiphany, Rudy developed a special bond with her tutor, Rosemary Wilson. Since then, over the years, the two stayed in touch, and seeing them together at Career Day felt like watching a family gathering. Beautiful…
Learning is Cool: Epiphany Curriculum Highlights
Trip to the Museum
Our 7th-grade class loved their recent field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. The theme of the exhibit, "Looking at Self-Expression in Art Through History," encouraged them to explore various forms of self-expression from many cultures they study in social studies 一e.g., the celadon pottery from Korea and Aboriginal art from Australia. They ended the trip with the Black American art exhibits…all so beautiful.
Early Learning Center Corner
Recently during their garden time with Ms. Miguel, our Garden Teaching Fellow, our toddlers created beautiful bird feeders. With crayons in hand, they colored cups before punching holes to attach strings for hanging. Under Ms. Miguel's guidance, they filled the cups with bird seeds. These types of hands-on projects foster creativity and fine motor skills and also connect our youngest learners with nature, aligning with the Reggio Emilia aspects of our curriculum. Projects like this play crucial roles in our curriculum, encouraging exploration, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Epiphany News
Black History Showcase!
At Epiphany, we honor the many rich cultures in our community, and in February, we spotlight the remarkable contributions of African Americans in honor of Black History Month. A high point every year is the annual Black History Month Showcase. Students devote a lot of their free time to dive into the lives of significant Black figures, in anticipation of winning our "Black History Jeopardy" Competition. Over three rounds with five questions in every round, each grade went head of head. In the intermissions between rounds, students exhibited their talents—e.g., a read through of a new play being written here by an 8th graders. We also invited Jaden Pontes '15, an up-and-coming singer in Boston, to perform a piece he wrote specifically for the showcase. Finally, Callia, an 8th-grade student, designed a t-shirt for our contestants, which was printed and produced by Concepts, a streetwear store on Newbury Street which made the showcase extra special. Check out Callia's work here.
Following a spirited competition, the winners of this year's Black History Jeopardy were announced amidst anticipation and applause. Congratulations to the 8th Grade on their big win!
Congratulations Ashley and Steeve on your Pat Cooke Fellowships!
We are proud to announce that Ashley Renée, 5th Grade Lead Teacher, and Steeve Joazard '04, Lead Teacher & Dean of Students, have each been awarded a Pat Cooke Fellowship in Environmental Sustainability! This prestigious local 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. Ashley and Steeve’s projects will honor Pat's legacy, involving our students and their families in the ongoing work for sustainability. Specifically, over the summer, Ashley will travel to Aruba and Curaçao to visit the national parks in those countries to learn about the impacts of climate change on these Caribbean islands and practice nature journaling. Steeve will also head south but to Costa Rica to learn about their sustainability practices and connect with people who can partner with our students for some remote learning.
We are so proud of Ashley & Steeve and elated that they have won these awards.!
Culinary Adventures in Our Classroom Cookoffs!
Our 5th, 6th, and 8th graders had their much-anticipated class cook-offs. Divided into small groups, each team had to create a pasta dish, using only the ingredients and protein provided. With options ranging from chicken, turkey, and beef and an array of vegetables, they had to prepare a base sauce with either tomato sauce or a creamy white sauce, but after that nothing was out-of-bounds for seasoning. These cook-offs not only showcase the students' culinary expertise but also encouraged their resourcefulness and ingenuity in the kitchen. The cafeteria and kitchen were filled with excitement and good natured camaraderie as the young chefs embarked on a delightfully fun and friendly competition. It was VERY hard to pick a winner so in the end they all “won.”
Teacher vs. Student Basketball Game
Every year, the 7th and 8th graders face off against the teachers in a spirited basketball game with the rest of the school cheering them on. This year, the kids brought their A-game, boosted by the talents of Lino Jr. and Jay, Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez's sons, who are real ringers. The match was neck and neck, with both sides fiercely contesting every point. Yet, despite the formidable challenge posed by the students, the teachers once again emerged!
We are Hiring!
We are looking for dynamic people to join our community. Click here to view all job openings. Feel free to share the great news with your network.
Upcoming Events
Join us at our Spring Gala!
Click here to become a table captain, a sponsor, or buy your tickets!
