Knightly News

On any given day, visitors might find Episcopal Middle School students solving math problems in the rain garden, Upper School classmates throwing a frisbee in the quad and Lower School students wearing handcrafted bat headbands. There is a hustle and bustle on a campus dedicated to curiosity and learning. The best way for potential students to get a feel for that energy is to spend A Day as a Knight.

“Every day is open house at Episcopal,” says Admission Director Dana Messina. She says these Day as a Knight experiences, otherwise known as Shadow Days, offer students a truly authentic Episcopal experience. “It is the best way to really understand what life will be like every day,” says Messina. “It’s the ideal way for students to understand the relationships between students and teachers, the benefits of small class sizes and the flow of block schedules.” Messina points out that it also provides students the opportunity to hear directly from those in their peer group, which is critical to discovering the culture.

Showcasing Positivity and Unity

“I love hosting shadow days because it gives me the opportunity to share my unique perspective on the positivity and unity within the Episcopal community, whether it’s through academics, extracurriculars, or everyday activities,” says sophomore Natalie Reimann. “Shadow days are essential for prospective students, as they provide a chance to experience a typical day at Episcopal and gain detailed insight into daily life here.” Fellow shadow day host, junior Wynn Turner, recognizes the importance of being a part of a family’s school decision. “One thing that I would want a student to know would be that we have a very strong school community and we all help each other out,” he says. He says shadow days provide that help and support to students considering the school. “There is nothing staged or anything like that. They are just going to a couple classes with you and meeting your teachers. Also, when they are getting toured by a kid that actually goes to the school I think it allows that kid to talk to other students and meet new people so that they could make relationships with people at the school before they even start to go.”

A Day Organized to Welcome and Engage Students

As admission season gets underway, Day as a Knight experiences begin, and Middle and Upper School students are invited to spend half of a regular school day among the Knights. Messina says the admission team uses the Student Statement and application forms to match prospective students with an Episcopal student with a similar interest. Prospective students can also request an Episcopal student they know. The Episcopal student hosts are trained to manage the day and ensure the prospective student feels welcome and engaged.

Prospective families work with the admission team to schedule the Day as a Knight. See below for a glance at what to expect.

Day as a Knight At-A-Glance

Middle School

Arrive at 7:30
Meet host at 7:40
Class at 7:50
Community time/break at 9:15
Class at 10
Lunch at 11:30
Meet with Ann Dalton, Middle School Division Head, at 12:00
Depart

Upper School

Arrive at 7:30
Meet host at 7:40
Class at 7:50
Community time/break at 9:15
Class at 10
Meet with Tom Forti, Upper School Division Head, at 11:30
Depart

 Upper School Alternative if the student wants to have lunch

Arrive at 8:55
Meet host at 9:10
Community time/break at 9:15
Class at 10
Class at 11:30
Lunch at 1:00
Meet with Tom Forti, Upper School Division Head, at 1:30
Depart

What is the dress code?

Prospective students should wear their current school’s uniform.

Should my child bring money or food?

All snacks and lunches (for students attending lunch) are provided. Students do not need to bring money.

After the day

Messina advises parents to talk to their student after the experience. Ask questions like, What class did you attend? Who did you meet? She says the admission department is always available to answer questions as well.

Admission season is exciting as prospective families consider the excellence of an Episcopal education. Episcopal students are proud to share their experiences, and it is an opportunity for them to truly stand out. We look forward to welcoming students to campus this fall and appreciate our students and faculty for supporting a Day as a Knight.

To learn more about Episcopal, check out the Admission brochure here.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 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.