Greetings From Epiphany!
Dear Friends,
Even though the Early Learning Center runs all year round, September still feels like the start of school, though technically the new 5th graders started mid-August and the rest of Middle School returned on August 28th. After over 25 years, we have built a strong team here, and so much good is happening at Epiphany. Please scroll down for the latest edition of Always Learning to learn more, and please know your support is deeply appreciated. God bless you.
Your Grateful Fan,
The Rev. John H. Finley IV
Partner Spotlight
Cambridge Savings Bank
We are honored to highlight Cambridge Savings Bank as our Partner Spotlight this month. They are relatively new to the Epiphany family but have already made their mark through their generous sponsorship of our food program and by showering us with much needed supplies for the new school year. Their commitment to giving back is inspiring, and we are so grateful to be a beneficiary of their generosity. Please join us in saying a hearty THANK YOU to Cambridge Savings Bank!
Epiphany Stars: Graduate Profile
Polo Brice ‘21
We are excited to highlight Polo Brice ‘21 this month! Polo was exceptional as a student with a lively and curious mind and was the fifth in his family to attend Epiphany. We are proud his family chose Epiphany and honored to be part of their life.
Currently, Polo attends Belmont Hill, where he particularly enjoys the world of STEAM. For example, he recently designed and built a boat using corrugated plastic as a Conceptual Physics assignment. By combining design software with kinematics and advanced arithmetic, the course provided Polo and his classmates with the building blocks to interpret physics concepts. STEAM, of course, includes the arts, and this past May, Polo visited Ireland for a week to take part in YouthInk, a program that connects passionate young creators with creative professionals, providing a safe, encouraging, and nurturing space for mentorship and artistic expression. During that week, he also visited Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, and went horseback riding. As if that wasn’t enough, Polo returned to Camp O-At-Ka as a counselor. He has been going to O-At-Ka since 6th grade at Epiphany and is one of many young men who have loved their time there.
We are wildly proud of Polo and cannot wait to see what his next chapter will bring!
Learning is Cool: Epiphany Curriculum Highlights
Back to Groton!
Our residential Summer Intensive effectively replaces “summer learning loss” with meaningful academic progress. When the rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders spend July on the campus of Groton School, in Groton, MA. Our students, graduates, teachers, and administrators leave for Groton each Monday morning and return to Epiphany on Friday afternoons so they can spend the weekend at home then return to Groton on Monday. In addition to their academic classes, students work with counselors and mentors, in small groups and one-on-one, on skills such as collaboration, conflict resolution, critical thinking, and independent decision-making. They also love the healthy meals prepared by Groton’s outstanding kitchen team while feeding their minds with a curriculum incorporating math, reading & writing, media studies, health, technology, and high school placement—e.g., essay writing—for rising 8th graders. Outdoor activities include swim classes, a range of outdoor sports, and field trips throughout Nashoba Valley. As one student put it “There's so much to do here like swimming, track racing, and even making friends with the high school kids that go here.” Here’s a quote from Astrid:
“The impression that I had about Groton was that it was very fancy, but I feel at home, and it's very comfortable. Being with all my friends feels like they are my siblings, except that my friends at Epiphany are much kinder. Lol!"
Early Learning Center Corner
The ELC Follows The “Epiphany Model”
Epiphany is deeply committed to the health and well-being of our community, and we take immense pride at the ELC in extending essential services to our children and their families just as we do in the Middle School. These services encompass a range of offerings including speech therapy sessions through our partnership with Emerson College, comprehensive dental care, the convenience of the Whittier Van (a van that delivers medical attention and vaccinations to our staff, children, families, and all members of the Epiphany community), and so much else.
We are also proud to provide enriching experiences to our children, such as the annual farm animal play event and bicycle lessons, generously sponsored by our esteemed collaborator, Neighborhood Villages. We firmly believe that a well-rounded childhood profoundly contributes to the emotional and psychosocial well-being of our young learners' inner worlds.
Epiphany News
Two Graduates Become State Police
At Epiphany, we respect what the Jesuits describe as being men and women for others, and it’s rewarding when a graduate accepts the responsibility for protecting our communities. After 6 months of intense training, Johnny Wilson ‘04 and Alex Leite ‘01 crossed the finish line on August 2nd and are now serving the Commonwealth as State Police. We are impressed that they passed through the rigorous training and could not be more proud of both of them.
Graduates Barbecue
At the end of the summer, graduates flocked back to Epiphany for our second annual Graduate Barbecue. The event was a great opportunity for graduates and their families to catch up and learn about the exciting improvements to the Graduate Support Program, as well as pick up school supplies for the academic year ahead. As you may know, the Graduate Support Center is open until 6:30pm, and there are events every month.
A big thank you to the Graduate Support Team for their work organizing the BBQ! It was a joy to see so many graduates in attendance.
YouthInk Boston Launches at Epiphany
In August, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Youthink program to Boston via Epiphany! Founded by Christy Cashman, YouthInk connects passionate young creators with leading professionals, providing a safe, encouraging, and nurturing space for mentorship and artistic expression. This summer’s initiative featured 23 kids; 6 Epiphany graduates, 3 from Ireland, and 14 from Boston Casting, and consisted of three days of workshops where the kids delved into the theme of decision-making, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's Macbeth, exploring how a protagonist might face critical choices that shape their destiny. An unforgettable highlight was a panel with esteemed Shakespearean actors, Faran Tahir and Joanne Kelly. The kids were able to pitch their own performance ideas and then attended Macbeth on the Boston Common on their last day.
We thank Christy for providing this amazing opportunity! Here’s what one of our students had to say about YouthInk:
“It's been an honor working with you guys. This was an amazing experience I'll never forget. I met a lot of people, had a lot of laughs and fun, and was just in general a legendary experience. Hoping to work with y'all in the future."
Upcoming Events
Celebrating our Roots at Epiphany!
Fall is a time of change and restoration for Epiphany, and as the leaves fall off the trees, our campus grounds require some love and care.
Please join us for our third Annual Fall Clean Up Day on October 28, 2023, and unite with family and friends to help us clean the campus grounds. Tasks include weeding, mulching, and raking.
Your reward? Cider and Donuts!
Click here to sign up for a shift!