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Always Learning
| August 2011
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Dear Friend,
On a recent Sunday morning in my office here at school, I paused to reflect on something the Mayor had said at a recent event honoring great programs (including Epiphany). He said that Sunday was the most dangerous day in the city because so many institutions were closed. Well, not at Epiphany. Even at that early hour, there were 30+ folks worshiping in the Jarvis Assembly Hall and 50+ children working out in the gym. The truth is that this building is humming from early in the morning until late at night, even during the summer. It has been a great summer so far. Our rigorous academic programs for 40+ children at Groton School and another 100+ here through B-Safe finally wrapped up on August 5th. All of our incoming students just completed their orientation program, and our returning students are wrapping up their summer brief summer vacation; many at either Camp Harbor View or at the Barbara C. Harris Camp. They're certainly kept engaged! Recently, I had lunch with a few former students of mine. One's a teacher, another just finished a summer at an investment bank. Now I know in Washington debate rages over whether things like Federal stimulus spending or QE2 worked. I do not know much about those things, but I know the time and money invested in these children pays huge dividends. Thank you! Your GRATEFUL Head of School, The Rev. John H. Finley IV 
Epiphany students gardening at Groton School this summer with Groton staff and students. Photo Credit:Tucker Smith |
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10 Weeks at Epiphany
Each year Epiphany relies upon 150+ volunteers to help keep the school running along with our faculty and staff. The school would not function without the support of these very special friends to Epiphany. The same is true for the summer, and this issue of Always Learning highlights one.
Aria Miles is a rising sophomore at Princeton University. She is part of the Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) program through the Pace Center for Civic Engagement. Each year PICS partners with 70 organizations throughout the country and provides each of them with an intern for 10 weeks in the summer. Ms. Miles was Epiphany's lucky intern this summer, and we were thrilled to have her.
Ms. Miles spent her 10 weeks in Boston living first at Mather Court and then at 232 Centre Street with other interns. She was invaluable this summer, as our front line person at the reception desk, coordinating the intern move to 232 Centre Street, scheduling home visits for incoming 5th graders, and supporting the B-SAFE summer program among many other tasks. In Ms. Miles's own words, "I try my best to meet whatever needs are expressed by Epiphany, B-SAFE, and the community members who walk through Epiphany's doors." Ms. Miles was a shining star this summer for Epiphany, and we sure did keep her busy!
Ms. Miles was drawn to the Epiphany School internship because she plans pursue a career in education and thought it would be interesting working in a school for the summer. She said she accomplished this goal and learned a lot about the operations of a school outside of the classroom. She left us after 10 weeks with this reflection of the school, "Epiphany provides a very unique opportunity to the children of Dorchester. The concept of a tuition-free private school with 12-hour school days and such a great sense of community amazes me. The staff are all dedicated to providing the students with the best that they have to offer, and I think that it is nice for the students to see that they go to a school where staff is so caring, giving, and committed. Seeing graduates come back to the school to work and visit on a regular basis shows me that the bonds formed at Epiphany last longer than their four years here."
We thank Ms. Miles for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to Epiphany School. As she returns to Princeton to start her sophomore year and looks forward to becoming a math teacher, we know she will always be a part of the Epiphany family.
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100 Miles for Epiphany Students
It takes a great deal of strength, training, and determination to run 100 miles. Peter Christie, one of Epiphany's Trustees, has all this and more! On August 20th, Peter took part in an ultra-marathon in the back country terrain of the Colorado Rockies. During a 30 hour span, Peter participated in the Leadville 100 Mile Trail Run at elevations from 9,200 feet to 12,600! To learn more about the race visit www.leadvillraceseries.com. This type of athleticism is certainly admirable; however, what Peter decided to do for Epiphany is even more remarkable.
Peter knew that he could finish 100 miles, in less than 30 hours, and in elevations higher than he has run in before, if he did it for the students at Epiphany. In the month prior to his race, he turned his efforts to asking his friends and family to support him through making a donation to the Epiphany School. When asked "Why run 100 miles and why Epiphany?", Peter replied "I wanted to run the Leadville 100 to understand what a race like this takes to complete, what it is like to run that many miles overnight and at high altitudes. I think the Epiphany students come from situations that are much more challenging than running 100 miles in Colorado. The students persevere and never give up in their own challenges giving me the motivation to finish. You have to be tough to do this type of race but the students at Epiphany are infinitely tougher than I am."
Peter raised over $4500 for the Epiphany School through his run! We are grateful for his commitment and dedication to the students of Epiphany. We are also pleased to report that Peter finished the race successfully in 29 1/2 hours and is recovering well!
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Epiphany's doors are always open for visitors. If you have not visited the school before or have not been here in a while, please email Ashley Conners at aconners@epiphanyschool.com to arrange a visit. There is no better way to get to know the school and the work we do than seeing it first hand! |
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