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We hope you enjoy our latest issue of Connections, a quarterly newsletter brought to you by The Epiphany School Foundation.
We thank you for reading and we welcome you to share your feedback and suggestions by emailing
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A MESSAGE FROM KEVIN GREANEY
Chairman, Foundation Board of Trustees
Dear Epiphany Families and Friends,
I hope you all have enjoyed the first weeks of the school year. Fall is a very busy and exciting time at The Foundation and we're currently getting ready to kick off our 2016 events with The 7th Annual
Walk and Fall Festival coming up on Sunday, October 16th. Please mark your calendars for our 4th Annual
Hall of Fame approaching on Saturday, November 5th as well as
Giving Tuesday on November 29th. Read on to find out more about these events in this issue of
Connections.
If you have a child in grades TT - K, you should have received a Paperless Post invitation to your class cocktail party. I encourage you to attend these outings and meet your fellow class parents who will journey with you through Eighth Grade. A very special thank you to Epiphany parents, Bruce and Cathy Caulfield, who are generously hosting these parties for us this year at their lovely establishment, The Harp Raw Bar & Grill.
We're looking forward to a great year at The Foundation and we're off to a phenomenal start! I want to thank all of our parents and friends who have already sponsored, registered and signed up to
volunteer at The Walk. There are many opportunities to get involved with our initiatives, and your efforts help us make our
great school greater. We could not execute this fun, family event without your help and support.
I want to remind everyone to please check with your employers to see if they have a matching gift program. All donations to the Annual Fund are eligible to be matched by such programs, and if your company is able to match your donation, it is an excellent opportunity to double or even triple your gift to Epiphany. We're aiming to receive 100% participation from our current families in The Annual Fund this year. Whether you make a substantial gift before June 30th or donate $1 on Giving Tuesday, please show your support and help The Foundation reach our goal.
Enjoy our latest issue of Connections and I look forward to seeing you soon as we Walk The Walk and enjoy the afternoon with our families at The Fall Festival on the 16th!
Sincerely,
Kevin G. Greaney, KM
Chairman, Board of Trustees
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THE 2016 EPIPHANY WALK
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors
Dear Epiphany Parents,
We're looking forward to
walking the walk with you on Sunday, October 16, 2016!
Please remember, walk t-shirts are available for pre-sale only this year and today is the last day to purchase them!
Click on the button below to register and buy your shirt today!
We'd like to thank all of our families and friends who have generously stepped up to sponsor The Walk this year! We could not execute this great event without you.
The Hoecherl Family
The Joye Family
The Landwalkers
The Larson Family
BRONZE SPONSORS
The Annunziata Family
Clarence & Ben
Don't forget to bring in your canned and non-perishable goods for our Catholic Charities Feeding Our Neighbors Food Drive to help provide over 6,000 meals to those in need. Click on the button below to purchase your food donations from Amazon.com, which will be delivered directly to The School!
The Fall Festival, which begins following The Walk, is filled with fun games, face painting, pumpkin decorating and more! The grill will be fired up and refreshments will be flowing. This year, we will be adding new games, food options, baked goods from local farms, and collectable steins to commemorate this wonderful event!
Invite your friends and family members, too! We hope you can join us for a fun-filled day celebrating the Epiphany community! We could not execute this great event without the help of our volunteers. Click on the button below to sign up today!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Christina White & Eileen Pino
2016 Walk Co-Chairs
Agnes Teng & Sonaly Aditya
2016 Fall Festival Co-Chairs
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NEWS FROM 22ND STREET
Mary Jane Higgins '80, Vice Principal
The school year is off to a great start at 22nd Street!
Chef Chad has been offering the students delicious tastings from our new WITS menu, and the children are enjoying trying new food items.
Our students are learning rhythm and playing instruments in their Music classes with Sr. Rebecca.
The Kindergarteners are building friendships in their new classrooms. In their Science investigations, the K students are exploring with their five senses. With her songs and games, Mrs. Jones makes learning to read fun!
Both the Kindergarteners and First Graders are looking forward to their trip to Green Meadows Farm where they will touch live animals and ride ponies.
The First Graders have started using the
IXL program on their iPads to strengthen Math skills.
They love their hands-on Science Labs with Ms. Hernandez!
The Second Graders are looking forward to their visit to the Museum of Mathematics where they will be doing some hands-on cooperative learning projects that integrate teamwork and Math practice in fun and exciting ways! In Social Studies, Second Graders are learning about different types of communities. They had their first Atrium class and are very excited to prepare for First Communion and Reconciliation!
The Third Graders are now the oldest students in the school and are excited to mentor the younger students. Third Graders have been building on their Math skills and are now practicing multiplication. Our 3rd Grade scientists are experimenting with force and simple machines.
All of the students in The Lower School are very excited for Halloween and cannot wait for our Ragamuffin Parade!
Mary Jane Higgins '80
22nd Street Vice Principal
The Epiphany School
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WELLNESS IN OUR SCHOOL
October Community Letter
Dear Epiphany Partners:
Greetings for the 2016-2017 school year! Our names are Gisselle Madariaga and Chad Goslee. We are the new Wellness in the Schools (WITS) Chefs at Epiphany Upper and Lower. It was great to meet many of you at the parents night and we are thrilled to be a part of Epiphany's dedication to wellness and feeding children healthy food. We look forward to working with you all this year!
This October, we begin our WITS Labs and will be working with your children to make a simple tomato sauce. WITS Labs are cooking classes taught in the classrooms. Please be on the lookout for the WITS Lab brochure that we will send home with this recipe. If you are interested in volunteering to assist during the WITS Labs, please
contact
us to let us know.
We are a daily presence in the cafeterias and have had a great time meeting your children. We have already provided tastings of some new dishes such as a vegetarian chili, some new salads and a fresh homemade salad dressing - the recipe is below! We're looking forward to more tastings as we help the students become familiar with the salad bar and new menu offerings.
We have had an initial meeting of the Wellness Committee and will continue to meet monthly to discuss ways in which we can support the wellness at Epiphany. The next meeting is on October 18th at 8:45am in the cafeteria. We invite you to join us and the rest of the Wellness Committee!
We look forward to a productive, collaborative year. Meanwhile, here is a taste of what's happening in the cafeteria.
Tangy Fall Apple Salad Dressing
Ingredients
2 cups apple juice
2 oz cider vinegar
2 oz honey
1 ½ cups salad oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Whisk together apple juice, cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Slowly stream oil into mixture while whisking until dressing is formed. Enjoy!
All the best,
Gisselle Madariaga &
Chad Goslee
Epiphany WITS Chefs
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NEWS FROM 28TH STREET
Kiernan LaGuardia, 28th Street English Language Arts
From all accounts, the school year is off to an auspicious start at the 28th Street Campus. The fourth through eighth graders are engaged, enthusiastic and energized by what each school day brings.
Fourth graders are going to have a lot more to say at the dinner table these days! They have begun writing and presenting opinion speeches during their ELA classes.
The fifth graders' math skills are growing exponentially as they make numerical expressions and tackle the daily math minute challenge.
While cultivating their technological skills and creativity, the sixth graders are using their iPads to make iMovies about the Story of Creation.
The seventh graders have begun the year exploring the concept of identity, in both ELA, as they read The Outsiders, and in Art class where they are making self-portraits.
And finally, as the eighth graders
embark upon their final year at Epiphany, they are exploring various future career options! In Spanish, the students are about to become TV weathermen and women and film a weather report for a fictitious Spanish weather channel! Additionally, in Science, the eighth graders are trying their hands at being fishermen and women in the Hudson River - a fun field trip that complements their science unit on the water crisis around the world!
As you can see, Epiphany teachers have begun the school year with high expectations and the Epiphany students are meeting those expectations with excellent effort!
Kiernan LaGuardia
28th Street English Language Arts
The Epiphany School
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JOIN US FOR THE 4TH ANNUAL
HALL OF FAME
Regan Murphy, 2016 Hall of Fame Chair
Greetings! I am excited to be assisting the school with coordination of the 4th Annual Hall of Fame Induction and Cocktail Reception. In one month's time, we will be honoring members of our community that span a spectrum of roles and contributions to Epiphany. I've enjoyed attending the event the past two years because it is an opportunity to see familiar faces (young, old, and seemingly ageless), enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in a beautiful setting to celebrate an institution that continues to play a impactful role in the lives of so many, all while also supporting a great cause: the mission of The Epiphany School Foundation.
This year's inductees include Bob Benya '73, Jane R. Crotty, Rose and Joe Falzon, and Fritz Favorule. The breadth of their impact is difficult to summarize and I know for certain we'll have a great turnout like last year! I hope to see you on November 5th and if you cannot make it, consider congratulating this year's inductees with an ad in the program. For your convenience, journal ad templates are available on The Hall of Fame page of The Epiphany School Foundation website.
I hope you will be able to join us for this memorable evening!
Regan Murphy '99
2016 Hall of Fame Chair
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NEWS FROM 29TH STREET
Eileen McLoughlin, Early Childhood Administrator
Welcome back to school! The Epiphany School Early Childhood Center is off to a great start with some exciting changes.
First, we'd like to welcome Theresia Tice, our new receptionist. Her kindness and warmth make her a wonderful addition to our school.
Next, we are very excited about our new Toddler Twos program, led by head teacher Megan Grant. Megan has been with Epiphany for nearly ten years and is the proud parent of Molly Grant, a recent graduate, and Ryan Grant a current student. Kathy Bettigole, also an Epiphany parent, and Meghan Weafer, an Epiphany graduate, assist Megan in this new endeavor. Students work with teachers, parents and caregivers using a variety of music, art, and language activities that promote a love of learning in a nurturing, warm and fun-filled environment. In September students learned "All About Me" through art, language, literature and song. We look forward to an amazing year watching our toddlers grow and thrive!
Our Nursery students, led by Kathleen Crimmins and assisted by Alison Liotti and Jean McCleskey, have settled in quickly and can be seen hard at work! (A Nursery student was overheard telling his sister he was in the "big kid class," which is now true due to our Toddler program!) Students have been working on fall related topics in art, literature, math and music. We look forward to watching their progress this year.
Next, our "senior" Early Childhood Center students in Pre-K's 1 and 2 continue to develop academically, socially and emotionally with the guidance and support of Beth Ann Janis, Jenna Moser, Joan Silhan and Regina Fitzgerald. The teachers are excited to continue working with a visiting teacher from The New York Historical Society, who visits weekly throughout the year to work with students on fun, hands-on activities. Students will explore "olden times" learning about homes, clothing, jobs, and transportation through art, music, language, and literature.
Finally, the Early Childhood Center looks forward to visits from several outside cultural and educational programs. All Early Childhood students will participate in a workshop given by The Art Farm in the City, a program that teaches children about nature, animals and how to better care for our planet. We also look forward to the return of NYC Kids Project. This program is a fun, interactive introduction to disabilities presented by an educator using puppets, storytelling and sign language.
In addition, Monica Murphy, our Early Childhood Center Art Teacher, will continue to work with teachers and students on art projects throughout the year.
We thank all teachers, parents, and caregivers for their support in helping make this another happy and productive school year!
Eileen McLoughlin
Early Childhood Administrator
The Epiphany School
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Q & A With Principal Kate McHugh
Connections Spotlight
By Courtney Huang, Communications Chair, Board of Trustees
Congratulations to Kate McHugh on her recent appointment as Principal!
Mrs. McHugh succeeds Jim Hayes who is taking on a new chapter at Epiphany this year in The Foundation as President of The Epiphany School.
An Epiphany alumna, Mrs. McHugh began her career in education here at The School. After spending six years in the classroom, she made the switch to the administrative role of Vice Principal. Mrs. McHugh and her husband, Peter, have two children, Maeve and Conan, both of whom are enrolled at Epiphany.
In the first weeks of the school year, I connected with Mrs. McHugh to hear more about her background and her aspirations for The School as our new Principal. On behalf of The Board of Trustees for The Foundation, I want to welcome Mrs. McHugh. We look forward to working with you and following your guidance as you embrace your new position at Epiphany!
Q: WHAT MADE YOU BECOME A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR?
A:
I became interested in administration in my first few years as a teacher when I realized that there are so many factors that influence a child's school experience outside of the classroom teacher's control, including aspects from curriculum standards to school culture. As I began to work on small projects and faculty committees here at Epiphany, I saw the impact our decisions made on so many students and families and hence, my interest in school leadership grew.
Q: HOW HAS LEARNING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED AS AN EDUCATOR?
A: The curriculum has become much more rigorous, even for our youngest students. However, the kids have proven that they're up for the challenge and produce work that we would not have thought possible 10-15 years ago. The use of technology has also increased dramatically. The support of the Epiphany School Foundation has enabled us to bring the most current technologies into our classrooms -- engaging students, facilitating blended learning opportunities, increasing the efficiency of teaching and preparing our students for high school and beyond.
Q: WHAT PROGRESS ARE YOU HOPING TO MAKE THIS YEAR?
A: The Toddler Twos program is one of our greatest initiatives this year. It may not have a direct impact on many of our families, but I believe that its success is key in growing our school community. Ensuring that the Toddler Twos feel safe and secure in their new classrooms as they build their first friendships and learn new skills is something that we'll keep a close eye on throughout the year. We'll also be working to make a few programs more efficient and successful, but the changes will be minor.
Epiphany is an amazing school and I am truly blessed to be able to continue my career here!
Q: WHAT IS THE GREATEST NEED FROM OUR PARENTS APART FROM FINANCIAL FUNDING?
A: The best part of Epiphany is our sense of community. Epiphany is our second home and we're all working together to ensure the best for our children. Volunteering for a committee or special event, chaperoning a class trip, being a parent reader, sharing your questions or concerns with us, and attending Family Mass to worship together are all wonderful, yet simple ways to foster the Epiphany experience.
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JOIN US FOR ALUMNI HAPPY HOUR
October 27, 2016 at McFadden's
Please join us for an Epiphany Alumni Happy Hour on Thursday, October 27th at McFadden's Saloon from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
Alumni ages 21+ are welcome to attend! Click
HERE
to purchase your discounted advance purchase ticket today!
If you are interested in becoming involved with The Epiphany Alumni community, please contact the Epiphany School Foundation at 212-473-6158 or email
alumni@epiphanyschoolfoundation.org. We will soon be sharing Alumni News. Click
HERE to share your updates!
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NEWS FROM THE EFA
Updates from our Family Association
Dear Epiphany Community,
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome both new and returning families to The Epiphany School for the 2016-2017 school year.
We are so proud and honored to work with an amazing group of parents this year on the EFA Board and it is with great enthusiasm that we invite you to get ready for another exciting and successful year.
The EFA is an organization that is committed to making a strong and vibrant Epiphany community. We partner with our parents, teachers, staff and community on many levels to bring fun programs, events, services, and opportunities to our children to enrich their experience. With your support, we can continue to make Epiphany amazing for our children. Your contribution, whether it is your time, knowledge, or resources, makes a difference. Please get involved...you make the difference!!
Here are some of our fall events:
UNIFORM/COSTUME EXCHANGE - October 5th
Don't miss it! Collection boxes have been set up at all entrances to donate your gently used uniforms. Clean out those closets and save yourself some cash! Come shop for free in Parish Hall after drop off at 8:30am this Wednesday. You do not have to donate to shop!!
NEW FALL FUNDRAISER - October 3rd - November 10th
Packets were backpacked home on October 3rd. Please help support the EFA's many events by ordering some cool kitchen gadgets or some wrapping paper for the season...even one item purchased is appreciated. The money raised helps to underwrite all of our events.
TOWN HALL - October 20th (Date change from calendar)
Please join us for an information session with the school administration as well as a question and answer session. Suggestion boxes have been placed at all entrances. Parents are encouraged to communicate any questions or concerns.
HALLOWEEN PARTY - October 28th
The 2nd annual Halloween Evening Party with a haunted house walk is back. Don't miss an opportunity to get more use out of those costumes. If you have little ones, come early & have dinner. For the older kids come and test your nerves in our haunted house. Adults are encouraged to get in the spirit and dress up too!!
HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES- OCTOBER 31ST
HALLOWEEN PARADE - Toddler two's to 3rd Grade
Everything is in place to hold our annual costume parade in Gramercy. The kids will parade around the block to the police station where they will "Trick or Treat"! Our friends at the police department will be giving out goodie bags to all the kids. Don't miss it!
CRAZY HAT & HAIR DAY - 4th to 8th Grades
All students in the upper school are encouraged to create a crazy hat or hairdo. They will be judged by the school administration and 3 lucky winners will receive cash prizes!
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA - December 4th after 10am Mass
Don't wait on line at Macy's to see Santa...He's coming to Parish Hall!! On December 4th we will have breakfast with Santa and you can get your photos here. In addition, you can do some holiday shopping at our Bazar.
EPIPHANY YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
This year at our Breakfast with Santa our students in 4th - 8th grades will have an opportunity to hone their business skills and sell products or services of their own! Start thinking about what you can do!
Sincerely,
Linda Fox, Caroline Maher (Co-Chairs)
2016-2017 Epiphany Family Association
Cathy Caulfield, Lina Mati, Lauren Minardo, Aleona Nyamgavaa-Sencion, Julie Palumbo, Kerry Shimaitis, Gen Towzell
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GIVING TUESDAY
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Dear Epiphany Families,
We are very excited to be participating in Giving Tuesday this year! The spirit of giving has always been strong here at Epiphany, and what better way to show our strength than by participating in this international day of giving. Do you support Epiphany? Show us that you do by making a gift to The Annual Fund on Tuesday, November 29th. All donors will have their names displayed on The
Giving Tuesday Page of
The Foundation website. Stay tuned for a very special video launching on this day with a message from our students, faculty and friends!
All gifts are meaningful and will count towards parent participation in The Annual Fund. Last year, 47% of our current families made annual fund donations and we would love to see 100% participation for the 2016-2017 school year. Make a gift of any size for this special occasion and help us reach our goal!
Thank you for your support and please feel free to reach out to The Foundation Office with any questions. Samantha, Mary Jean and I welcome your inquiries, your feedback and as you know, we are always looking for volunteers! Contact us anytime by emailing
development@epiphanyschoolfoundation.org.
Warm regards,
Lindsay Carr
Director of Development
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THE EPIPHANY SCHOOL FOUNDATION | 234 EAST 22ND STREET | 212-473-6158
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