Middle School Newsletters

One thing we want for our students is for them to step outside of their comfort zone. To be brave. To be vulnerable. We also know this. When students feel they belong, they are more likely to take those risks.

This week, we saw several examples of student bravery.

Our counselor, the FANTASTIC Katie Carpenter, is intentionally hosting "Knights Got Talent." On many Tuesdays during Morning Meeting, we will see one of our Knights shining their talent, from sharing their art, to showing us how they make videos, to dancing, singing, or proving they will not pucker on the world’s most sour candy.

This Tuesday, during Morning Meeting, we held our annual Spelling Bee, thanks to the coordination and direction of our amazing 7th-grade English teacher, Scott Stephenson. Students competed in their English classes, and the top winners advanced to the all Middle School round on Tuesday. From there, one winner advances to the city-wide competition.

All grades were represented, and though there was only one winner, 8th-grader Akari Koyama, every student who stepped up put themselves out there. That takes real courage. Think about how many of us dislike public speaking, much less spelling in public.

We also want to commend our two runner-ups, 8th-grader Mary Claire Dickerson and 7th-grader Raj Thakore.

Thursday brought another moment of bravery. Elijah Griffin, a 7th-grader who spoke his first sermon in church at age 9, blessed us with his message in chapel. He ended with this line, "Let’s remember: unity is not just about being together - it’s about being together in Christ. Amen." With community as our theme this year, Elijah said it best.

Our hope and prayer is that each and every one of you feels you belong in this community.

Finally, the winning word: "Kilimanjaro."
__________________________________

SUMMER CAMPS:

Episcopal is pleased to host a wide range of activities, we hope your children will have a fun-filled summer with us. Learn more.
__________________________________
KNIGHT UNDER THE STARS:

As our Middle Division Knights continue to grow in independence and responsibility, community support plays an important role in their development. Knight Under the Stars: Havana Knights is an opportunity for our families to come together on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in support of Episcopal’s mission and the programs that serve our students during these formative years.

Whether through attending the event, or sponsoring, Middle Division families help ensure Episcopal continues to provide rich academic, athletic, and character-building experiences.

For additional information or to participate, please reach out to our Gala Chairs:
Jacquole Johnson – (225) 303-3625 | [email protected]
Kellye Grinton – [email protected]
__________________________________

ATTENDANCE UPDATE:

Please note that, whenever a student is absent and the “Report New Attendance” form is not submitted in PowerSchool, the absence is marked as an Unreported Absence (UA). Parents have three school days to either submit a doctor’s note to the division office or complete the form in PowerSchool. This does not necessarily exempt the absence from the “more than four” rules.

Any unresolved UAs after the three-day window will result in late penalties and disciplinary consequences for affected student work. Please help us support your child’s learning by reporting all absences promptly.
__________________________________

Campus School Store Hours (when students are on campus):

Wednesday 7:30 - 8:30 am
Thursday 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Payment types: Cash, Credit Cards, and Checks

Items for sale: All sizes of white and navy crewneck sweatshirts and hoodies, navy sweatshirts, PE uniforms, everyday tee shirts, and other miscellaneous items.
__________________________________

SAES (Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools) is offering a series of six webinars for parents and educators, featuring bestselling authors and speakers. I encourage you to check out the information. The series is free for Episcopal school parents, but registration is required to attend. (Next webinar is January 16th.)

• How to Join
  • Visit the Parent Series page: isacs.ws/PS25-26SAES
  • Click Register for the sessions you want to attend
  • Add the events to your calendar after registering

Important Notes

• Registration is required to attend live or view the recordings
• Recordings will be available after each session for a limited time
• This link is for our school community only—please do not share publicly