Convocation Marks the Beginning of an "E-Mazing" Year

The start of the 2019-2020 school year officially got underway with the annual Upper School Convocation. There was excitement and anticipation in the air as students, faculty and staff gathered in the Chapel. School officers were sworn in and new members of the Episcopal community signed the school’s Honor Code. Division Head Tom Forti welcomed everyone back to campus. You can read his address below.

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​Thank you for the opportunity to deliver remarks that signal the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. Recognizing the importance of this occasion, I spent a great deal of time thinking about what to say and how to say it. Should I find a bunch of quotes about education and beginning a new school year? No. How about a powerpoint or presentation that allows you to follow along - word for word - with what I am saying? Nope. What say we put up a bunch of pictures that depict school life here at Episcopal? Not bad, but I feared it would take away from the undivided attention I’m asking you for during the next few minutes. So, I decided to go it alone.

Here at Episcopal, we use the letter E to brand ourselves in a number of ways. The small-cap e represents our e-Fund fundraising efforts. The old English E can be seen on our athletic uniforms, as can the block style E. And they all stand for and represent Episcopal.

What I’m asking you to do, as we dive into this new school year is to think about the E in a slightly more personal way. Think about these words and their meaning - energy, enthusiasm, empathy, effort and earnestness. I ask you to bring these to the table each day.

From my perspective your mere presence on campus gives us energy and enthusiasm. Please let that carry over into all you do. Be empathetic - care for and about one another. Put forth maximum effort - in the classroom, on stage, on the athletic fields and in the community. And be earnest in the things that require you to be. It is this quality that I ask you to pay particular attention to as we celebrate this morning with our Convocation Ceremony.

​Episcopal has many beautiful and meaningful traditions, but none may embody who we are as a community more than this one. Signing the book and pledging your willingness and desire to abide by the Episcopal Honor Code is what Convocation is all about. It’s ironic that Convocation has long been associated with graduation - the end of a year, but here at Episcopal it signifies a beginning, a fresh start - one down the path less taken.

I am honored and humbled to be the Head of Upper School here and I sincerely hope that all of you, students and faculty, share my joy in what is sure to be an “E-mazing” year.

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The Episcopal Honor Code​

• I shall be honest in all matters regarding the life of the School. My word may always be trusted, and I will always strive to be fair. 
• I will always respect others. 
• I will not undermine our life together. 
• I will not steal or deface that which belongs to another. 
• I will ensure that my actions do not infringe upon the rights of others, particularly the right that others have to learn. 
• I will do all I can to defend and uphold this Code and will always be ready to explain to others, especially those new to the School that its existence is at the heart of the quality of our life together. 

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Head of Upper School
​Tom Forti

Tom joined Episcopal after serving as the Head of Upper School at St. Andrew’s School in Savannah, Georgia. During that time, the school was named one of the nation’s most challenging high schools by the Washington Post and acquired the Apple Distinguished School Award.  Prior to his time in Georgia, Tom served as the Principal, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Oceanside High School in Maine. During his 10 years at Oceanside, Tom facilitated the successful accreditation of the school, organized anti-bullying and harassment workshops for students and faculty and introduced a community service requirement for graduating students. Throughout his 22 year career, Tom has been involved in every aspect of school life from coaching and teaching to peer mentoring and strategic planning. He was a Teach the Future Fellow, a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and has served on numerous community organizations.

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​​For more information on the Episcopal application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.

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