The Episcopal Academy

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The Episcopal Academy
Image:ealogo.jpg
Esse Quam Videri
("To Be Rather than to Seem")
Location
Merion, PA, USA
Information
Religion Episcopalian
Headmaster L. Hamilton Clark
Faculty 164
Average class size 15 students (Upper School)
17 Students (Lower and Middle School)
Student:teacher ratio 7:1
Average SAT scores (2005) 646 verbal
652 math
Type Private
Campus Suburban
Athletics 30 sports teams
Athletics conference Inter-Academic League
Mascot Churchmen
Color(s) Blue and White
Established 1785
Enrollment 1162 total
452 Upper School
263 Middle School
232 Lower School (Devon)
447 Lower School (Merion)
Homepage www.ea1785.org

The Episcopal Academy is a private, co-educational school for grades pre-k through 12. Its main campus is currently situated in Merion, Pennsylvania, with a satellite campus located in Devon. The school plans to relocate both campuses to a newly purchased campus in Newtown Square by the fall of 2008.[1] The original campus was bought by Saint Joseph's University and will be called the "Maguire Campus."[2]

Contents

The Episcopal Academy began operations in 1785, and has undergone many changes to become the school that it is today. Building on the pillars of 'Mind,' 'Body,' and 'Spirit,' The Episcopal Academy seeks to cultivate and train students in the full range of their selves.

The Episcopal Academy was founded in 1785 by the Rt. Rev. William White at Old Christ Church in Philadelphia, PA as an all-boys school focusing on education in Greek, Latin, religion, mathematics, and business. It was also a pre-missionary school. Its first campus was located on the east side of Fourth Street and was directed by Rev. John Andrews,D.D., the Academy's first headmaster. However, when Dr. Andrews and several of his faculty members left to teach at the University of Pennsylvania in 1798, The Episcopal Academy was reconstituted as a free school. In 1816 it became a Second Classical Academy and a free school again in 1828, but at some points the Academy did not operate as an educational entity.

In 1846 the school was reconstituted yet again, this time as a Third Classical Academy, and has operated continuously ever since. In 1850, the school moved to a building at Juniper and Locust Street, and remained there until its 1921 move to its present day location in Merion, PA.[3]

While female students did attend the Academy between 1789 and 1818, a plan for co-education was not implemented until 1974. In 1974, females were admitted to kindergarten, and then to one higher grade each year thereafter. The class of 1984 was the first co-educational class to graduate from the Academy. The female students were admitted when the Devon lower school campus was added to the Academy. [4]

Some notable alumni of the Academy include:

literary scholar and critic]", Yale Bulletin and Calendar, 2002-06-08. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. 

EPISCOPAL! EPISCOPAL!
Thy spirit now be o'er us.
With one acclaim we praise thy name
In song and lusty chorus.
Then hail Episcopal, our School
May all obey thy kindly rule,
And may our ardor never cool,
Episcopal, Episcopal!

EPISCOPAL! EPISCOPAL!
Our dear and honored mother.
In class or field, we'll never yield
A place to any other.
Then let us strive, whate'er the game,
To add new lustre to thy fame,
And loyal be to thy dear name!
Episcopal, Episcopal!

-Written by Jefferson Shiel and Curtis R. York[19]

Almighty God, you who have
Given to us an example of
human life in your son,
Jesus the Christ,
Come among us in Spirit.

Give to us
hearts of flesh with which to love,
minds filled with wisdom that we may serve others,
bodies fit to play and work in your service,
That we may become your loved ones as He is.

Amen.

-Written by The Rev. James A. Trimble[20]

The Episcopal Academy today is a highly prestigious school boasting a 100% four-year college matriculation rate, numerous athletics teams, and a chapel program that meets every other day during the school day. The Academy's motto is "mind, body, and spirit," and it strives to enrich these three sectors in every student's life.

  • Gretchen Burke -- Chair, Board of Trustees
  • L. Hamilton Clark, Jr. -- Head of School[21]
  • Cannie C. Shafer -- Acting Assistant Head of School[22]
  • Geoffrey Wagg -- Head of Upper School[23]
  • Stephen Morris -- Head of Middle School[24]
  • Mark Luff -- Interim Head of Lower School at Merion[25]
  • Nancy Reinhard -- Interim Head of Lower School at Devon[26]
  • Maude Kent -- Dean of Faculty[27]
  • Mindy Hong -- Academic Dean[28]
  • Sidney Buck -- Business Manager[29]
  • The Reverend James Squire -- Chaplain[30]
  • Regina Buggy -- Director of Athletics[31]
  • Ellen Hay -- Director of Admission[32]
  • Courtney Portlock -- Director of Diversity and Community Life[33]
  • Anne Hall -- Director of College Guidance[34]
  • Paige Peters -- Director of Capital Campaign[35]
  • Margaret Hollinger -- Director of Special Projects[36]
  • Len Haley -- Director of Plant and Operations[37]
  • Catherine J. Hall -- Director of Technology[38]
  • Clayton Platt -- Director of Alumni[39]
  • Michael Letts -- Director of Communications[40]

Episcopal Academy's 'form system', similar to 'grades' in the United States, comes from the school's colonial (and therefore British) roots. The form system uses letters A-F for grades one through six and then changes to Roman numerals for grades eight through twelve.

  • Kindergarten
  • F Form- First Grade
  • E Form- Second Grade
  • D Form- Third Grade
  • C Form- Forth Grade
  • B Form- Fifth Grade
  • A Form-Sixth Grade
  • I Form- Seventh Grade
  • II Form-Eighth Grade
  • III Form-Ninth Grade
  • IV Form-Tenth Grade
  • V Form-Eleventh Grade
  • VI Form- Twelfth Grade

In the Upper (High) School, The Form Dean serves as the administrator responsible for ensuring academic, social, and disciplinary well-being of the form’s individual students and form as a whole. The Form Dean follows each class until graduation, then receives the incoming III Form the following school year.

The current deans for the 2007-2008 school year are:

  • III Form- Cheryl McLauchlan
  • IV Form- Justin Brandon
  • V Form- Holly Johnston
  • VI-Tim Gavin

The Academy is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools under the Academy's "Accreditation for Growth" protocol. The Academy's mission statement is:

"The Episcopal Academy educates qualified, motivated students to grow intellectually, physically, and spiritually, and to share their talents generously. We are a coeducational community of learners and teachers working to achieve excellence through a strong academic program, comprehensive athletics, and vibrant arts. Our school's Episcopalian heritage with its respect for all faiths forms the basis of our life together."

The Academy also maintains a Beliefs Statement, which is required by the Middle States Association. The Academy maintains the following beliefs:

  • The pursuit of learning is a work for a lifetime. Learning emerges from and builds on experience and discovery.
  • A healthy lifestyle, including appropriate education and lifelong physical activity, enhances individual mental and spiritual health. Athletic competition and sportsmanship contribute to the mental and spiritual well-being of individuals and communities.
  • Everyone has inherent worth as a creation of God.
  • Every individual shares responsibility for the community.
  • Individual moral integrity and a core of common values are essential to every community.
  • Mutual respect among people of varied backgrounds and perspectives leads to positive, beneficial relationships.
  • Individuals thrive in a safe, nurturing environment where they can be comfortable in taking risks and where they can develop their talents.

The Episcopal Academy's upper school is a college preparatory program. It operates on a 12-day schedule, designed by Headmaster Clark at his previous school, Sewickley Academy in Sewickley, PA. Each period or "block" is assigned a letter from A-F or Z. G Block was renamed to Z Block in the 2003-2004 school year to favor time for lab periods. Except for Science classes and AP US History, each class 'drops' once every twelve days. This drop always occurs during the period before lunch, and unless currently under disciplinary sanctions or in their freshman year, students have a "free" during this block, where they are neither required to be in class nor in a study hall.

The year is broken into two semesters, with each semeseter representing one-half of a credit (a one-credit long course will meet during both semesters). Unless they have special permission from their form dean, students are required to take six classes a semester.

The middle school schedule also consists of twelve days, but Math and English have a less chance of dropping than other classes. Furthermore, the year is broken down into three trimesters, as compared to the Upper School's two semesters.

Graduation requirements are as follows:

  • 4 Credits (4 years) of English (senior spring semester elective included)
  • 3 Credits of Math (including Algebra 2 and Geometry)
  • 3 Credits of Laboratory Science
  • 3 Credits of History (including U.S. History)
  • 2 Credits of the same Foreign Language (the Academy offers French, Spanish, Mandarin, Ancient Greek, and Latin)
  • 1 Credit of Religion (1 Credit = two semester courses)
  • 1 Credit of Arts in at least two of the three areas; music, theater, and visual art. (1 Credit = two semester courses)

Students begin meeting with their college guidance counselors during the winter and spring of their junior year. These meetings are "kicked-off" with one large class meeting in late January, where students find out who their counselor is and are lectured by a member of a college admissions office. Generally, each student is required to attend at least three one-on-one college guidance meetings, including one with the student's parent(s).

The class of 2006 continued the Academy's 100% matriculation to four-year colleges 'streak'. In 2005, 21 of 111 students (19%) matriculated to Ivy League schools, with two other students matriculating to the United States Naval Academy. In 2005, the Academy's average SAT scores were 646 verbal and 652 math. In that same year, 146 students took 266 Advanced Placement exams. 100% of students who took the Calculus BC, Spanish Language, Latin Vergil, and Physics B exams received what the college board considers a "passing" score (a 3 or above).

The school honored 27 National Merit Scholars in 2006: 9 Commended, 8 Semi-Finalists, 8 Finalists, and 2 Scholars.

In addition to its stellar academics, the Academy also boasts a stellar athletics program. Both boys and girls teams compete in the Inter-Academic League. For boys, this league includes The Haverford School, Malvern Preparatory School, Chestnut Hill Academy, Penn Charter, and Germantown Academy. For girls, this league includes Penn Charter, Germantown Academy, Notre Dame Academy, the Baldwin School, and the Agnes Irwin School.

The Academy has a sports requirement, which requires all students to participate in athletics during each of the three seasons. Freshman are required to participate in three inter-scholastic sports, while sophomores and juniors may elect to participate in the "Fitness" option for one season. "Fitness" consists of organized athletic activities three days a week, and community service two days a week. Seniors are permitted to take a "Senior Cut," that is they do not have to participate in any athletics for one season so long as they never received an "unsatisfactory" effort grade in any sport during their four years in the Upper School.

Signs that the new administration (that arrived at the Academy in 2003) may be considering making changes to the athletics requirement appeared during the 2005-2006 school year. In the spring of 2006, all upper school students completed a survey of their opinion on the current athletics requirement.

The Academy has the following sports teams at both the Varsity and Junior Varsity levels:

Fall Sports

  • Cross Country (boys and girls)
  • Field Hockey (girls)
  • Football (boys)
  • Soccer (boys and girls)
  • Tennis (girls)
  • Water Polo (boys and girls)
  • Crew (boys and girls)

Winter Sports

  • Basketball (boys and girls)
  • Ice Hockey
  • Squash (boys and girls)
  • Swimming/Diving (boys and girls)
  • Winter Track (boys and girls)
  • Wrestling
  • Fencing (after school program)
  • Ultimate Frisbee (boys and girls)

Spring Sports

  • Baseball (boys)
  • Crew (boys and girls)
  • Golf (boys and girls)
  • Lacrosse (boys and girls)
  • Softball (girls)
  • Tennis (boys)
  • Track (boys and girls)

Every November, three great Inter-Academic rivals (Episcopal's male students play Haverford, while its female students compete against Agnes Irwin) meet to compete against each other in cross country, football, soccer, field hockey, girls' tennis, and water polo. The venue alternates each year between the schools. The 2005 EA/Haverford/Agnes Irwin Weekend took place at the Episcopal Academy. At the Academy, the weekend is preceded by "Spirit Week." Spirit Week is marked by different dress days, including an "80's Day", a "Clash Day", and a "Blue and White Day." There is also usually an activity during lunch throughout the week, such as a tug-of-war and a school "Wing Bowl". Every year Episcopal students design a tee-shirt bashing Haverford and Agnes Irwin (and vice-versa), which is sold to the student body during Spirit Week. Recent years' ideas have included spin-offs of the "D.A.R.E" program and MasterCard commercials.

Spirit Week concludes with an Upper School Pep Rally on Friday. Classes end for the day at 12:40 and students converge on the football field for skits, music. Varsity sports practices immediately follow this Pep Rally, and students not involved sports help decorate the campus for the upcoming event.

On Friday, Episcopal and Agnes Irwin (female competitors) compete in cross country, soccer, field hockey, and tennis. On Saturday, Episcopal and Haverford compete in soccer, cross country, waterpolo and one of the oldest football rivalries in the nation. The girls compete for the "banner" and the boys compete for the "sweater," which is presented to the school which wins 3 of the 4 competitive events. In the event of a tie, the schools split ownership of the banner or the sweater for the year.

EA/Haverford/Agnes Irwin Weekend, and the week preceding it, is a time of immeasurable school spirit and comradery. Teams often meet on the Thursday night before for a team dinner. The actual events are attended by virtually the entire student body, and a large number of parents and alumni. The weekend concludes with the "Can Dance," which is a dance that takes place at the school where the day's competitions did not.

In addition to the pep rally, a pump up video is made by Marc. T. Mandeville and his video crew consisting of select upper school students. This video is played before the pep rally, and encompasses all the sports that will be played at EA/Haverford/AIS day. The video is made on professional film programs, such as Final Cut Pro. It usually takes around four to five weeks to create, including the filming process.

More colloquially referred to as "EA-GA day", this day was started in the Spring of 2005 and features a Saturday of competitions, both varsity and junior varsity, of Episcopal Academy versus Germantown Academy.

The boys basketball team, coached by Daniel Dougherty, gained national attention in 2005 and 2006, with full team effort including players Gerald Henderson '06 and Wayne Ellington '06. Both were nationally ranked high school basketball players. Henderson signed to play for Duke University while Ellington signed to play for the University of North Carolina. The team played at the Palestra twice during 2006, and the first of those two games was nationally broadcast on ESPN.

To celebrate the success of the Boys Basketball Team of '05-'06, JP Galib ('06) documented the moments, in full dedication to the 2005-2006 Basketball team, and their coach, Dan Dougherty. Each senior of the graduating class received a copy of the video, as well as many teachers (Dan Dougherty) and friends.

The Academy prides itself in the community it has created, and believes that its Chapel program is the central point of the community.

Upper School students meet once every other day for a morning chapel service in Christ Chapel. Middle School Chapel also meets once every other day for a morning chapel service in Christ Chapel. Lower School Chapel meets once a week, with each Lower School campus having a morning gathering in the campus' respective Chapel. The Chapel service at each Unit level of EA is typically thirty-minutes long and consists of hymns, prayers, and an address by the chaplain, a member of the faculty, a student, or a guest. An elected student vestry plans most aspects of the chapel program.

The Academy also runs an extensive community service program, and organizes weekly visits to a soup kitchen in Philadelphia, and monthly visits to a nursing home and to a facility for adults with AIDS. The Academy also participates in a tutoring program where students help younger children with their homework after school. In addition, the Community Service office sponsors other special events throughout the year, including a clothing drive, a toy drive, and a blood drive.

In conjunction with EA-Haverford-AIS Day, the three schools run a can drive from late October through Thanksgiving. The can drive is sponsored by the student vestry, and each year is a huge success. In 2005, Episcopal Academy alone collected well over 20,000 cans.

The unprecedented growth and development of the Academy has led the Merion, Pennsylvannia campus feeling cramped. In June, 1998 with the inauguration of the new Head of School, Hamiliton Clark, the Episcopal Academy Board of Trustees directed the "active pursuit of a large tract of land in the western suburbs to serve as a long-term asset and a means of preserving future options." With a $20 million donation, the Board purchased a 123 acre tract of land in Newtown Square, Pennslyvania on Darby-Paoli Rd. (PA Route 252). The new campus is planned to have "the best day school facilities in America," as the $212.5 million project is underway and planned to be open for the 2008-2009 school year.

Some highlights include:

  • Rowing Tank
  • 14 Tennis Courts
  • 10 Squash Courts
  • Campus Center
  • Stadium Football Field
  • Black Box Theatre
  • Stadium-seating Theatre
  • Fields for all varsity sports with turf

  1. ^ The Future of Episcopal Academy. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  2. ^ Lunardi, Joseph. Saint Joseph's University Annonces Naming of Episcopal Campus After Alumnus James J. Maguire '58. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  3. ^ US Handbook: History and Traditions. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  4. ^ US Handbook: History and Traditions. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  5. ^ Ask Art Carey. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  6. ^ Gammage, Jeff. "Episcopal Academy Prepped for Big Change", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2007-10-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. 
  7. ^ Davis, Richard. Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  8. ^ Santoliquito, Joseph. "Barrage's Dougherty Still Saving the Day", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2007-07-25. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. 
  9. ^ Wayne Ellington Profile. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  10. ^ Inside Lacrosse - 1984 Boys' High School All-American Team. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  11. ^ Gerald Henderson Profile. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  12. ^ Tom Page 1956-2001. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  13. ^ {{cite web } title = Sarah Steele | url = http://imdb.com/name/nm1511685/ | accessdate=2007-12-19}}
  14. ^ "Fitting Philly Pigs for Wings" (Reprint), Columbia Journalism Review, 2007-07-19. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. 
  15. ^ "Venturi's Venture" (Reprint), The Wall Street Journal, 2006-08-09. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. 
  16. ^ The Future of Episcopal Academy: About the Move. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  17. ^ Stephen Decatur Biography. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  18. ^ Kyle Eckel - Official New England Patriots Biography. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  19. ^ US Handbook: School Song. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  20. ^ US Handbook: School Prayers. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  21. ^ EA Faculty: L. Hamilton Clark, Jr.. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  22. ^ EA Faculty: Cannie Shafer. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  23. ^ EA Faculty: Geoffrey Wagg. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  24. ^ EA Faculty: Stephen Morris. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  25. ^ EA Faculty: Mark Luff. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  26. ^ EA Faculty: Nancy Reinhard. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  27. ^ EA Faculty: Maude Wood Kent. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  28. ^ EA Faculty: Mindy Hong. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  29. ^ EA Faculty: Sidney Buck. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  30. ^ EA Faculty: James Squire. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  31. ^ EA Faculty: Regina Buggy. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  32. ^ EA Faculty: Ellen Hay. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  33. ^ EA Faculty: Courtney Portlock. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  34. ^ EA Faculty: Anne Hall. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  35. ^ EA Faculty: Paige Peters. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  36. ^ EA Faculty: Margaret Hollinger. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  37. ^ EA Faculty: Len Haley. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  38. ^ EA Faculty: Catherine Hall. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  39. ^ EA Faculty: Clayton Platt. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  40. ^ EA Faculty: Michael Letts. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
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