Knightly News

One of the many characteristics of the Episcopal school family I love the most is the value placed on belonging. All of our students and families belong to our school family. It’s their school and it’s your school. The Episcopal school culture and climate fosters a strong sense of belonging and reflects the core of our spiritual identity as an Episcopal school. It all begins with a welcoming and inclusive spirit for all … the Spirit of Episcopal! 

Throughout the school year, we strive to provide students with the opportunity to celebrate their individuality and each other in the books they read, the songs they sing, the stories they write, and the art they create. While holding tight to special Episcopal traditions, such as gathering together in Morning Meeting and chapel services to worship together as a community, we also welcome families from all faiths to share their special traditions. 

Joyful music fills the Lower School during Morning Meeting and chapel services. These treasured community gatherings provide us with dedicated time to worship together, honor our country with the Pledge of Allegiance, re-commit ourselves to the school Honor Code, celebrate birthdays, and showcase students. The songs we sing together represent our Christian faith and honor the faiths of all children who attend our school. As an Episcopal school, all are welcome. Join us and you’ll hear students sing Christian songs such as "Goodness of God," "Things I am Thankful for," "Go Now in Peace," "The Lord's Prayer," "Walk in the Reign," and "The Garden Song." Prepare for goosebumps as you hear our students pour out these lyrics with passion and joy! We also recognize other special holidays and cultural seasons by singing songs such as the "Cherry Blossom song," "Shalom, Siyahamba," and "Pescador de Hombres." Periodically, individuals or groups of students showcase special presentations about recent in-class learning. Other presentations, led by students, families, and teachers, take place during Hispanic Heritage Month, National French Month, Black History Month, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. Students also learn about special holidays celebrated by our diverse school community, such as Diwali, Hanukkah, and Kwanza.

Our classrooms are designed to welcome all students. Visuals around each classroom represent student birthdays, recently completed student projects and art, and information about people from various races and cultures who have made important contributions to the world. You’ll find posters and books celebrating famous female and male scientists, artists, athletes, mathematicians, and so on. Classroom libraries are filled with a wide range of high-interest books about various holidays, nonfiction topics, and interests unique to students. Bulletin boards and wall space are filled with student work to support a strong sense of ownership and a welcoming spirit. Episcopal teachers take careful time throughout the year to build relationships that foster knowing and nurturing each student well and make sure the classroom remains a place where students see themselves and can easily access learning that is personally meaningful to them.

Students see themselves in the books they read and grow a deep respect for the wider world around them. Growing our book collections that represent “mirrors,” rather than “windows,” has been an important initiative over the past few years. Students should see themselves, like mirrors, and their lives should be represented in literature they enjoy. Stories that depict all races, cultures, and families invite students into the lives of characters that both match their own lives and teach them respect for the world around them. Through our cherished Reading Workshop time, students grow as readers and are highly motivated to push themselves to strengthen their reading muscles. Couple this with large volumes of books to choose from that match their lives and interests, and one will often hear our avid readers plea for more reading time when Reading Workshop time wraps up for the day.

Our students write about topics of special interest and personal importance to them. PreK-3 and PreK-4 Bookmaking and K-5 Writing Workshop are also cherished times within the school day. Through various genre studies, students are nudged to grow their writing skills while writing about topics most important to them. Individual choice is a huge motivator for strong writing. Choice fostersbelonging. Because choice is valued, students quickly understand that what they have to say is important to a wider audience and are given the opportunity at the end of each unit of study to celebrate their writing with others.

Student artwork reflects individuality. Both in the classroom and the art room, we embrace opportunities for students to create visual art that celebrates how we are alike and different. Students learn about the elements of art that foster creativity and individuality. Students explore various art mediums and are given choices in their artistic works to reflect what matters most to them. At the ready are materials to create work that reflects the many different beautiful skin tone shades in our school community. Students mix paints to discover a just right match and celebrate the differences in our appearances. Picture books such as "All the Colors We Are" serve as wonderful springboards for

 inspiration and the celebration of diversity. 

All are welcome! We so enjoy having our families on campus with us and I hope you’ll join us. Families are always welcome to join our Morning Meetings and chapel services. Throughout the year, there are numerous opportunities to join students for special end-of-unit events, field trips, and classroom parties. Parent Coffees are offered each month to learn about topics of interest and what’s happening around the Lower School. Pep Rallies, The Halloween Parade, Veterans Day Parade, Santa Brunch, Mardi Gras Parade, and Karnival Knight are other exciting times to join us at school. And of course, be sure to join your child for a birthday lunch together in the Webster Refectory. I invite you to reach out to me or any of our teachers anytime. We place great value on our family partnerships and hearing from you. You belong!

Beth Gardner

Beth Gardner is the Episcopal Lower School Division Head. Before that she was the Assistant Lower Division Director at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida. Berkeley is an independent Episcopal school and was ranked as the top private school in Tampa Bay and number six in the state of Florida by Niche.com. Prior to her time at Berkeley, Beth was the Lower School Director at Columbia Independent School in Columbia, Missouri. Beth brings extensive experience in education with a career spanning back to 1993 when she taught Pre-kindergarten, first, second,fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Beth trained at Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and has led book studies in the Responsive Classroom method. She is Apple Certified and trained in both Google Apps for Education and Singapore Math. Beth is a National Board Certified Teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with a certification in PK-8 grade from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in education, curriculum and instruction from William Woods University.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.