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Dear Friend,
The recent epidemic of violence in our city sounds depressingly familiar. The "Boston Miracle" feels like a distant memory. For too many children, there is no escaping the danger. There are many, many innocent victims. Consider the 4-year old boy shot nearby Epiphany on Talbot Ave July 1st. More surely must be done, but it is worth noting that something is being done. Thanks to you, Epiphany is able to host not only its rising sixth graders here in July, but also 80 other local children through the B-Safe summer program. Also, all our rising 7th and 8th graders are out at Groton School, growing academically, socially, and spiritually in Epiphany's "Summer Intensive." God bless you all. Your support makes all this possible. Let us hope the rest of the summer is more peaceful, and let us also remember that in the midst of so many problems we can be part of the solution. Thank you! The Rev. John H. Finley IV 
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Summer at Epiphany
Walking into Epiphany on a summer morning, you'll find the school buzzing with just as much vitality as during the school year. Students are working in the classrooms, playing in the gym, and performing in the assembly hall. For the past three years, the B-SAFE program has used Epiphany as one of its six sites. The summer program runs from 8:30-4:00 for six weeks and is located in Episcopal-affiliated churches and schools. It concludes with an optional five-day, four-night overnight camp experience at the Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center in New Hampshire. B-SAFE also employs and supports more than 90 teens as Counselors-In-Training (CITs).
The 23 CITs at Epiphany create and run activities for the students and maintain the general upkeep of the school as well, making sure the classrooms, cafeteria, auditorium, and gym are put back together at the end of every day. CITs come from Boston-area high schools and are introduced to the program in various ways. One counselor is Michael Medina, an Epiphany graduate and second-year CIT from Matignon High School. Michael, like many of our graduates, is drawn back to Epiphany because of his intense desire to serve the community that once helped him. He's in his second year as a CIT, and the decision to come back wasn't a hard one for him: "Once you start, it's easy to keep volunteering in the program helping students, especially because I was one of them." As the Epiphany site supervisor in charge of the lead counselors and the CITs for B-SAFE, Tracey Litthcut knows firsthand the energy and commitment these counselors give to the children. Tracey is the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night. He has been involved with B-SAFE for just over two years and was introduced to the summer program through Greater Love Tabernacle Church. Tracey explains, "It was the mission of the program as it was described at church that first attracted me." Tracey's been fantastic for the students and the school, and we're so glad to have him in charge!
 B-SAFE hosts over 80 elementary and middle school children at Epiphany every summer. From site supervisors to CITs to students, the program at Epiphany has a lasting effect on everyone, during the summer and into the school year soon ahead. It's also great to have our school teeming with energy and excitement! |
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Summer Intensive at Groton
The following is the mid-summer report on our students' progress.
"What's the difference between simple and compound interest?" "Create an excel spreadsheet to budget your expenses including a major purchase goal." "Conflict, after conflict, after conflict, leads us to the CLIMAX of the story, what is yours?" "Deal or no deal, do you want to purchase a CD with 1% interest?" "What are the different parts of the food pyramid?" "Give me some words using the prefix, trans-, hyper- and sur- ?"
This is some of the questions you hear at the Groton Summer Intensive, not your average summer camp. Don't worry; it's not all work and no play. The students are swimming and taking part in Physical Education every day. We are almost at the end of our second week and we have had no students in designated discipline rooms or in suspension. We believe there are two major reasons for this behavioral success. First, all the teachers are either current or former Epiphany staff members. Second, we have instituted a reward system, which allows students to accumulate points to earn fun trips that we take over the summer, as well as use them to partake in extra events and activities.
This summer, other exciting activities are taking place. We have a small number of students working with Tucker Smith, a long-time Epiphany supporter, to learn about gardening and growing food that we eat at meals; Ms. Davis is running her step class and Mr. Bonner has a group of motivated students up at 6am running! A group of Epiphany graduates who are working at Groton have been studying together for the SAT and ACT. Even one of our graduates - a Boston College High School senior who has always been afraid of the water- has finally learned to swim!
Thursday night was an especially memorable Epiphany moment. Each student needed 150 points to earn a trip to Water Country. Many of our students had over 180 points and some have as many as 210 points. Last night, we tallied the numbers (those who knew they were in jeopardy of not going were working extra hard to earn extra points and praying!) and by the end of the night, almost every student made the 150 mark.
The total amount of points needed to get everyone to 150 was 87. The staff collectively agreed that it had been a great two weeks and all students should be able to go. We also did not want to send the wrong message - that you didn't have to earn all your points and still be rewarded. So we compromised yet came up with a great plan. We talked to everyone about how at Epiphany, we serve consequences individually for the entire community. This time we offered an opportunity for the community to come together and help each other out. We told students we were 87 points short for everyone to attend the field trip. We asked if those with extra points would be willing to give some out to help a classmate, without mentioning who needed them. The hands shot up - "I'll give 20, 30, even 50." It was incredible. We went down the line and every child was willing to give points. We didn't need to go very far before we had enough.
The students who were in need of points will need to re-pay the community pot next week by doing extra chores. They will replace not only the missing points from this trip but also earn enough to get them to Six Flags. For the first time ever every child who is here was able to go to Water Country! Let's hope the great work continues. Thank you Summer Intensive Staff!
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Please consider donating to Epiphany today!  The Epiphany School and The British School of Boston raise money each year for Epiphany through Julie's Fund. We are very grateful of this ongoing relationship with The British School of Boston. This picture is from our 2010 Julie's Fund Swim-A-Thon.
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