The first day of school is almost here! The faculty and staff at The Episcopal School of Knoxville are busy preparing for that first day! Everyone is excited for the upcoming year and can't wait to have our students back on campus. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13!   

AUGUST EVENTS AT ESK

8/13                 First Day of School (LS dismiss at 11:30/MS dismiss at 12:00)

                        All School Chapel - 9:30 a.m.

8/18                 Back to School BBQ - 5-7 p.m. ($5/person)

8/21                 Parents' Association Meeting - 8:15 a.m.

8/23                 Holy Eucharist

                        School Picture Day

8/27                 Ordination of Father Josh Hill - 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

8/28-30            MS Trip (Doe River Gorge)

Safety First!
Our doors are locked during the day, so please use the main entrances of the Lower School and the Middle School. There the receptionists will buzz you in. Please note: This is a non-smoking campus at all times.

Traffic Safety

In the morning, when parking to walk your child to class, please do not park along the inner carpool circle. For safety reasons, we ask that you not cross a lane of traffic with your children. Instead, park in the spaces provided on the outer edge of the traffic circle. Please drive in a counter-clockwise direction only, bearing to the right as you drive around the circle.

Please drive to the farthest point in the carpool circle. This means that Lower School parents may be directed to drive past the entrance of the Brewington Lower School to a place on the curb directly in back of the auto stopped in front of you. Be assured that a member of our faculty or administration will be on hand to open your car door and make sure that your child is headed on his or her way to the lower school steps. Likewise, Middle School students are asked to disembark at their vehicle's stopping point. This may mean a longer walk to Googe Hall; however this will allow us to keep up the pace of our car line. Once you arrive at the carpool circle, please make sure that your child (ren) are ready to leave your auto. This means that they are wearing their coats and have their backpacks ready. Also, please do not pass stopped cars in the line unless directed by a member of our staff. All of this is our attempt to ensure that your child arrives in class safely and without delay.

In the afternoon, Carpool Director Pansie Evans asks that drivers prominently display carpool folders on their passenger visors. Please be patient as we learn to recognize cars and family members!

KidZone!

Please pre-register for KidZone, even if you have no immediate plans to use the program. Pre-registration is free and will save you money later, should you decide you need it. The registration form is available in the forms section of Renweb.  

The start of a new school year brings a lot of new faces both in the student body and administration. This year brings 12 new faculty and staff members to the ESK family. Those new faces include: Cameron Basden (5th Grade Assistant), Miranda Clark (LS Librarian), Macqueline Foss (MS Math and Social Studies), Gay Hall (5th Grade Assistant), Meagan Langford (Choral Assistant), Carol O'Donnell (MS Language Arts), Morgan Payne (4th Grade Assistant), Ann Ramsey (MS Science), Sally Riley (1st Grade Assistant), Ryan Sparks (Director of Development), Carrie Tedder (Band) and Ed Wing (String Band). Please make these folks feel welcome!

The 5th annual LemonAid Stand, started by current ESK eighth grader Damon Rodefer, raised $22,000, as of Wednesday, for FISH Hospitality Pantries. With the special purchasing opportunities, this will translate into over $500,000 worth of food for those in need in Knoxville.

Damon has received tremendous support from friends, family and the business community over the past four years. Many businesses served as corporate sponsors and more than a dozen restaurants helped out, as well. This year in addition to Damon, the following current and former ESK students helped out: Brenna Cox and Zach Stivers.    

Kindergarten Parent Orientation

Parents of Kindergarten students should keep in mind that a brief parent orientation meeting will take place on the first day of school. After arriving at 8 a.m., students and parents will participate in a scavenger hunt to help become acquainted with the classroom. Following this activity, parents will move to the library for the meeting. Teachers will go over policies and procedures that will be important for the school year.

Also, keep in mind that the first week will be staggered and the first full day for all kindergarteners will be Monday, August 19.

Back to School Barbecue

Make plans to join the annual Back to School Barbecue on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 5-7 p.m. Faculty, staff and school families will gather in a white tent in front of Googe Hall. Dinner will include hot dogs, veggie burgers, barbeque, homemade buns, cole slaw, baked beans, and brownies and cookies, along with lemonade, tea and water. About 500 are expected. Please RSVP on RenWeb. The cost is $5 per person.

Ordination

All ESK family and friends are invited to join the school, along with several special guests, for the ordination of Father Josh Hill on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the Kline Gymnasium.

PA News

Hi Parents!

Our new Parents' Association President is Debbie Martin. Please join Debbie on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 8:15 a.m. in the Bishop Center Dining Hall. Please come and hear about the exciting events planned for the year, as well as meeting some new friends and staff.

Athletic News

Fall Athletics Information Meetings

ESK Athletics Director Red Waller will host a series of information meetings during the month of August regarding many of the fall sports offered by ESK.The meetings will take place as follows:

**MS Flag Football - Tuesday, Aug. 13 @ 6 p.m.

**MS Tennis - Thursday, Aug. 15 @ 5 p.m.

**MS Volleyball - Thursday, Aug. 15 @ 5:45 p.m.

*LS Cross Country - Monday, Aug. 19 @ 6 p.m.

*LS Dance Team - Monday, Aug. 19 @ 6:15 p.m.

**MS Cross Country - Monday, Aug. 26 @ 6 p.m.

**MS Dance Team Parent Interest - Monday, Aug. 26 @ 6:15 p.m.

*Meetings in Mrs. Jenkins' Classroom (LS)

*Meetings in Mrs. Quaint's Classroom (MS)

Volleyball Placement

Placement for the Middle School volleyball teams will take place on from Tuesday, Aug. 13 through Thursday, Aug. 15 from 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. in the Kline Gymnasium.