​Episcopal congratulates the following six students who have advanced to National Merit Finalist status. These students have not only performed at one of the highest academic levels of scholarship, but have contributed to our community in other aspects through leadership, service, creativity and athletics. 

Mary Beth Barksdale
Alex Dunbar
Matthew Garrett
Joseph Leo
Gavin Perkins
Richard Whitehurst

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)—a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year—and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

In February, some 15,000 Semifinalists are notified that they have advanced to Finalist standing. All winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments—without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. 

Learn more at the National Merit Website

Mardi Gras break was a great opportunity for travel! Students took trips to New York City, Costa Rica, Rome Italy, and Quebec.

Costa Rica
Mr. Ramos and Mrs. Clouatre took eleven eighth grade students on an educational language immersion trip to Costa Rica during the Mardi Gras break. In addition to daily Spanish lessons, students experienced the rich Costa Rican biodiversity through a walking tour and a zip line tour in the tropical rainforests often referred to as “jewels of the earth.” They also explored the culinary traditions of Costa Rica by attending an exciting cooking class and having dinner with a local family, and also enjoyed a salsa lesson! These activities allowed the students to enjoy genuine immersive experiences and interactions with local people, sparking global connections and a lifelong love of language and travel.

Italy
Teacher Michael Posey took 12 travelers to Rome, Italy, on an 8-day odyssey of the "Eternal City." Sites toured included:  the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, visits to the Baths of Diocletian, the Borghese Galleries, and several basilica and churches.  Additionally, students traveled to Pompeii to see the ruins there and explored Vatican City, a walled sovereign state within the city of Rome.  The Vatican is also the home of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. You can visit their blog for daily journals: traversingrome.wordpress.com.

New York City
Drama Teacher, Paige Gagliano, and Choir Teacher, Carter Smith, escorted the Thespian club members to New York City over the Mardi Gras break. The group toured Times Square, stopped by Fun Home and spent time with its star, Tony nominee, and Mrs. Gagliano's good friend, Beth Malone! Other highlights included breakfast at the Galaxy Diner, a private tour of CBS studios thanks to Jamie Wax of Baton Rouge, who also gave the group a tour of Central Park where an epic snowball battle took place!

​While in New York, the group also saw, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, a performance at the  Metropolitan Opera,  Matilda, Les Miserables, the 911 Memorial, The Statue of Liberty,  Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick Cathedral and The Drama Bookshop.

​The group was treated to a very special dance class conducted by  Amanda who plays several different roles in Matilda. She worked with students on the finale of Matilda and was very impressed with what quick learners the students were! We love New York!


Quebec City and Montreal
Mrs. Lemoine and Dr. Breaux (Sevie Breaux's father) took 15 eighth grade students  to Quebec City and Montreal. Their activities included dog sledding, tubing/slides, circus school, space camp, waterfall, basilica, Winter Carnival and ice skating!

8th Grade students in Mrs. Clouatre, Mrs. Flanders, and Mr. Latuso's advisories have come together to work on a service learning project benefitting Fostering Hope; a pet fostering collaboration with  Survivorship Services of Mary Bird Perkins Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, the Companion Animal Alliance (CAA) of Baton Rouge and the Louisiana State University (LSU) Veterinary School Tiger Hats (pet therapy) program. Having a dog by your side during illness can help distract patients from pain, lessen anxiety and provide emotional support as well as create a sense of purpose and hope for the cancer survivor.

These Episcopal advisory groups plan to raise enough money to sponsor 2 or 3 families in treatment, who wish to foster a dog. One startup kit per dog is $250 and includes food, a leash, a crate, and other essential items a new pet, dog would need. 

The students will not only raise money to support this cause, but also be able to visit one of the families in the program who will be receiving a dog. The students will also tour Mary Bird Perkins Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center where they will receive educational information about the cancer center and more about how pet therapy aids families.

The creation of the Fostering Hope program, combining pet therapy and pet fostering, is a unique and innovative model that is expected to trend well throughout the rest of the country.  
 
How you can help:
Come hungry to the Nacho Sale on March 10,
from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in Ms.  Clouatre's room (Penniman 9). The cost will be $3 for chips and $1 for drinks.

​We will have a donation box for anyone who would like to donate but may not want nachos or a drink. All proceeds will go towards the Fostering Hope-Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake project.

Please contact Mrs. Lezlee Flanders for more information at flandersl@ehsbr.org

Students, families, teachers, and guests enjoyed Wednesday evening's STEAM events with hands on science, technology, engineering and art. Fun and discovery were around every corner! The food trucks were also fabulous!

"Thank you to Betsy Minton and Melissa Estremera for your amazing work and coordination! The magnitude and quality of the night's experience was impressive. Thank you to everyone who shared their talents across the curricular spectrum and to the wonderful student volunteers as well!
- Sarah Pulliam, Science Chair 

Bailey Stevens and Ashtyn Henderson

Ashtyn's collage/acrylic painting, Hamlet

Bailey's oil painting, Snorkeling

Photos: LC Harper and Diamond Spears, Accolade

Please join our athletic department in congratulating TJ Wisham who signed this past Friday with  Army and Rashaad Jenkins with Jackson State - both in the sport of football. 

Thank you for helping us celebrate and cheer these young men on! 
 
"We are so proud of TJ and Rashaad and appreciate their leadership in sports at Episcopal!" - Myra Mansur 
 
Go Knights!

Friday night, Episcopal hosted Dunham with both the girls and the boys teams victorious after two exciting games!

Game highlights include Chelsea Singleton and Mary Beth Barksdale scoring 14 points each, Tera Snell 6 points, Shannon Ahmad 4 points, and Jill Ahmad, Corinne Talbot and Diamond Spears each scoring 2 points.

​Seniors Mary Beth Barksdale, Julia Powell, Chelsea Singleton and Diamond Spears celebrated senior night and received a signed ball and poster from their teammates along with well wishes from their parents and family.  

​Congratulations Knights!
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