Middle School Newsletters

Two years ago, I put on a bracelet that I haven't taken off since. In fact, I’ve since added to my collection. The bracelet I cherish the most was a gift from a parent at the school where I was serving; it features the word "resilience." Brene Brown, in her book "The Gifts of Imperfection," explores resilience as "the ability to overcome adversity." By practicing resilience, we express our desire to live full lives despite challenges. We want the same for our students.

While we wouldn't wish adversity upon our children, we understand that it is an inevitable part of life. For many years, I’ve hoped that our children encounter struggles, especially at this age. I wish for them to grapple with unexpected grades and navigate complicated feelings and friendships. These experiences can lead to stronger relationships and greater personal growth. It’s essential for them to face these challenges now, with lower stakes and our support, so they can learn and find joy on the other side.

How can we support our children, ourselves, and each other? From “The Gifts of Imperfection,” here are some key points:

- Be resourceful and practice problem-solving skills.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
- Believe that we can do things to help manage feelings and cope.
- Seek social support.
- Stay connected and engaged with our community.

Your children are deeply loved and supported. As they encounter challenges, please remind them that the faculty and staff at Episcopal are here for them, cheering them on and ready to help them navigate their experiences. We’re always available to support them - and you.

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ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER

Middle School students are encouraged to utilize the Academic Resource Center! ARC is a free-of-charge, Upper school-student-run operation that offers peer-to-peer tutoring and studying. It is located upstairs in Aldrich Library and is staffed by 10th-12th grade Fellows (peer tutors) throughout the school day. 

Fellows specialize in all subject-areas and can help students with a number of tasks, including writing, revising, studying for an upcoming assessment, working a tricky math problem, or even speaking a foreign language! The Fellows are here to lend a helping hand to any student who comes to visit us.

Middle School students can access ARC during their Flex period by appointment. If students ever have questions about utilizing ARC or are having trouble booking an appointment, they can simply email Mrs. Sutcliffe at [email protected]. Our booking page can be found on the ARC Canvas Page, as well as here: https://calendly.com/episcopalpeertutoring 

We look forward to having another successful year of this meaningful collaboration between US and MS!

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LEARNING LAB:

The Middle School Learning Lab is our equivalent of the Lower School’s Homework Helper. This program is offered by Ms. Stickle on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 in MS 209. Students will have dedicated time to study, develop executive function skills, and receive homework support from a Middle School teacher. The deadline to sign up for the first quarter is August 22. For more information or questions, please contact Ms. Stickle. To sign up, please do so here. This opportunity is open to all Middle School students.
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8th-GRADE FAMILIES:

Please make sure you have read the Mo-Ranch communication sent in July. This trip is a fantastic opportunity for students to bond, learn, and create lasting memories. To ensure an accurate count, if your student chooses not to attend, please notify me by September 8 via email. After this date, refunds cannot be offered for the trip cost.

*If you missed your opportunity to purchase this special 8th-grade sweatshirt, we have reopened the store. 

Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, they will have an additional optional uniform choice. This will help our 8th-graders feel special and celebrated during their important final year in middle school! They will be available here until August 24th.

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ATTENDANCE:

Please remember that all absences must be reported through PowerSchool.

Looking ahead into the semester, please also know that we will be emphasizing our attendance policy this year; students who miss more than four sessions of any one class will be required to make up the minutes.  This is to comply with Louisiana state law.  You may hear this policy referred to as “No More Than Four” and, while there are some exceptions for school-sanctioned absences and for unavoidable absences (hospitalizations, natural disasters, etc), both reported and unreported absences count towards this limit. For more information, please refer to the handbook.
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MEDICATION:

If you need to turn in medications, please drop them off with our MS/US Nurse Amy Johns in the infirmary.  As with any campus visit, we kindly request that you stop by the Alumni House first to check in.  This is one of our most important security protocols, and we appreciate your help.

Please also be sure that your student has up-to-date information in our Magnus Health system.  This needs to be completed for every student, every year. 

Please note that if these updates are not received by September 2, 2025 (Tuesday after Labor Day), your student will not be permitted to attend school until the forms are completed.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Nurse Amy at [email protected]. 

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CONTACTS:

Feel free to reach out to any of us—we're here to help and support you. If we're not the right contact, we’ll connect you with someone who can assist you best.

Anne Dalton
MS Division Head
[email protected]
225-755-2724

Stephen Anderson
MS Dean of Student Life & Director of Campus Security
[email protected]
225-963-9904

Katie Carpenter
MS Counselor
[email protected]
225-755-2735

Dana Heuvel
MS Assistant 
[email protected]
225-755-2725

Upcoming Dates

*Monday, September 1st. Labor Day. No School.

Coffees provide a great opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and ask any questions you may have as the year begins.

*Friday, September 5th at 8:00 am. Join us for a 6th-Grade Parent Coffee in Quest.

*Friday, September 12th at 8:00 a.m. Join us for a 7th-grade parent coffee in Quest.

*Thursday, September 18th at 8:00 a.m. for an 8th-Grade Parent Coffee in Quest.

*Wednesday, October 15th. No School for Middle School Students. Middle School Parent-Student-Conferences. More information and sign-up instructions forthcoming.

All School Calendar

Keep track of school holidays, major events, and important dates across all divisions—updated year-round for your planning needs.

MS Resources

Find supply lists, summer reading logs, orientation info, required forms, club sign-ups, and more—all in one place.

Lunch Menu

See what’s being served in Webster's Refectory. Updated every Friday with daily options