Always Learning Newsletter - September 2021
Table of Contents
Greetings From Epiphany!
Dear Friends,
I can easily remember when the first students came through our doors, but in fact, that day was twenty-three years ago. Though it may feel like yesterday, our graduates who now walk the halls as teachers are a daily reminder of how long it really has been. (Derrick Alfama, featured in this edition of Always Learning, is one of them.) Over the decades, with support from friends like you, Epiphany has grown into more than we founders could ever have managed on our own.
So many of us from those early days are still involved with Epiphany in one way or another, but none more so Michelle Sanchez. You can read below how she has recently been recognized by the Patriots as a Community Hero, a well-deserved honor for work that goes far beyond the halls of Epiphany School. Thank God for her, and indeed for all the rest of you who sustain this ambitious community that makes such an impact in the lives of these wonderful children.
Your Grateful Fan,
The Rev. John H. Finley IV
Corporate Partner Spotlight
People’s United Community Foundation
of Eastern Massachusetts
We are excited to highlight People’s United Community Foundation of Eastern Massachusetts as this month’s Corporate Partner. They have played a crucial role in community development through the support of projects in the areas of affordable housing, arts, culture, education, low to moderate-income communities, and by supporting organizations that provide social, health, and youth services.
People’s United Community Foundation of Eastern Massachusetts is a strong Epiphany partner generously supporting our Graduate Support Program. With their help, our graduates are building on their success here at Epiphany. Thank you, People’s United!
Epiphany Stars: Graduate Profile
Derrick Alfama ‘12
As a middle school student at Epiphany, Derrick brought laughter and excitement with him wherever he was. Though he always did well, he says he did not really appreciate the significance of an Epiphany education until 8th grade. Indeed, it was only after a serious conversation with Mrs. Forrest (Director of Graduate Support) that he really appreciated how much of an impact education could have on his future. Over time, Derrick has come to decide to use his education to give back to his community as a social worker, a goal which he is now on his way to achieving.
In addition to taking advantage of the internship opportunities available to him through Epiphany’s Graduate Support Program, Derrick also participated in a community service-oriented class, City Project, during which he decided that his first step after college would be to return to Epiphany as a Teaching Fellow. He says that being back here has been a great opportunity for him. He is learning a lot on the job and is thrilled to reunite with many of the teachers who made such a lasting impression on him in his youth. Derrick is excited to work with students and pass on some of the same good advice he was given only a few years ago.
Derrick ‘12 and Jonathan, 7th grader
Learning is Cool: Epiphany Curriculum Highlights
Back to School!
The little ones in the Early Learning Center were here all summer, and now the Middle School students are back too! We’re thrilled to see again in-person, and we’re also excited to welcome our new 5th-grade class to Epiphany! They have bright futures ahead of them, and we look forward to seeing them learn and grow over the next four years.
Isabella, 7th Grade, on the first day of school.
Early Learning Center Corner
Just like their friends in the Middle School, the children in our Early Learning Center learn a lot through our Garden & Greenhouse Program! Together, teachers and students investigated seeds and how they grow. They learn how to identify the different parts of a plant and what role each part plays. Recently, the preschoolers painted the branches they gathered outside, created designs with flowers, and separated seeds by shape, size, and color to identify different types of seeds. We are so lucky to have so a big outdoor classroom. A huge thank-you to everyone who helped us acquire the space and to the many volunteers help maintain it.
Epiphany News
Summer Intensive
The 2021 summer marked the 22nd year of our Summer Intensive program to prevent “summer learning loss.” Typically, all students spend the month of July at Groton School in Groton, MA. This past summer, however, Groton’s campus was closed due to COVID-19, so we hosted an on-site summer program for all rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Under the leadership of Lead Teachers, Melissa Aybar, and her husband, Steeve Joazard ’04, students took core academic classes in the morning along with special programs like Media Studies or High School Placement. In the afternoons, they enjoyed electives like Yoga, Dance, Art, or Gardening. Beyond all this, we also offered educational field trips and provided both breakfast and lunch made on-site daily. For too many kids, summer means losing cognitive skills and forgetting some of what they learned in the previous year. By participating in our Summer Intensive, our students have a safe place to learn, play, eat, and enjoy the summer with each other.
The dance elective
Vaccine Pop-ups
Epiphany is making strides to fight COVID-19 by helping our community get vaccinated. Last Spring, we hosted four vaccine clinics with Whittier Street Health Center and Boston Medical Center, and we have started up again this month. These clinics are free and open to anyone in the community. Working with our partners, we are able to offer a range of incentives to encourage participation including gift cards and raffle prizes.
Avanteh, 8th grader, getting his vaccine
A Patriot’s Hero
On Tuesday, August 31st, on the field and under the lights of Gillette Stadium, our Principal, Michelle Sanchez, was honored by the Patriots' Foundation as a Community Hero for the countless hours she has dedicated to Epiphany throughout the pandemic. Mrs. Sanchez has been at the school since our first students arrived in September of 1998, and she continues to set a heroic example. We are honored to have her as our leader and proud to see her earning this well-deserved recognition.
Lino Sanchez and Michelle Sanchez