Congratulations to Camie Carlock and Steele Burrow, both from the Class of 2009, for their achievements and graduation from Washington and Lee University. Carlock graduated magna cum laude and received the Frank J. Gilliam award for her contributions to the university's Student Affairs program. Her classmate, Burrow, served as President of the Executive Committee of the university's student body and delivered the undergraduate commencement address on Wednesday, May 22.

Holly Fetter '09, a senior in comparative studies in race and ethnicity and a coterminal master's degree candidate in sociology, won the 2013 Dinkelspiel Award from Stanford University.  This prestigious annual award recognizes exemplary contributions to undergraduate education or to the quality of student life.  Fetter was cited "for her efforts to include and empower all students, engaging and helping everyone feel part of the Stanford community" and "for her vision and leadership in a number of organizations – including Stanford STATIC, the First-Generation, Low-Income Partnership and the ASSU Community Action Board." 

Fetter was also noted "for her grace, empathy and compassion – and for inspiring others to work to improve the Stanford experience."

The award will be presented at Commencement, Sunday, June 16. For more information about the 2013 Stanford University Commencement Awards, click here.  

The Episcopal School of Dallas 7-on-7 football team won the Glenrose State Qualifier game over the weekend. The team will now move on to play in the State Championships on July 11 and 12 in Round Rock, Texas. This will be the Eagles second consecutive trip to the state 7-on-7 tournament. 

Congratulations!

Upper School students can sell back their textbooks on May 30 (Thursday) and 31 (Friday) from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Daryl Johnston Family Dining Commons.

Congratulations to the Class of 2013 for receiving more than $12 million in collegiate scholarship offers. The 105-member class has been accepted to 160 colleges and universities from all over the U.S., including  American University, Carnegie Mellon, Clemson, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, New York University, Pepperdine, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Texas at Austin. For a complete list of the colleges that have accepted students from the Class of 2013, please click here.

Due to the forecasted inclement weather and its predicted severity, school will close today at 12:30 p.m.  Please make arrangements to pick up your student, using normal carpool routes, at 12:30 p.m.

- Lower School parents may pick up their child any time prior to 12:30 p.m. 

- PM Pre-K and Kindergarten classes, Kids on Campus, the 2nd grade trip to the DMA, and Class of 2013 graduation rehearsal have been canceled.

- We strongly encourage you to pick your child at your earliest opportunity and as close to 12:30 p.m. as possible.  If you are unable to retrieve your child at 12:30, we will supervise them in a safe location until you can arrive.  Please watch the website for any updates.

- For students preparing for exams, teachers will be actively monitoring First Class for any questions and concerns.

Thank you.

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Mary Hansell will be ESD’s Technology Innovation Specialist, serving Pre-Elementary through Upper School, beginning June 1.  Hansell will be responsible for developing an environment which encourages creativity and collaboration and models effective uses of technology in the 21^st century classroom.  She will act as a guide for faculty by encouraging, inspiring, and supporting them in the exploration of purposeful technology use. Hansell will demonstrate and promote student-centered instructional practices and take a lead role in the coordination of strategically-aligned professional development.  She will work closely with the Assistant Head of School to ensure the Excellence in Learning and Teaching technology-based goals of ESD Tomorrow are achieved, including interfacing with the faculty and staff, IT department personnel, Division Heads, and program leaders.

Mrs. Hansell brings enormous experience to the Technology Innovation Specialist position. This year, she served as the ESD Tomorrow Tools and Resources Chair, through which the team researched and developed a plan that is now resulting in a faculty-wide pilot program utilizing iPads.  Her classroom experience, including ESD’s Lower School computer teacher and a member of Upper School History Department, has always included the integration of technology to foster a deeper understanding.  Representative examples are using, starting in 2004, Skype for cultural and collaborative learning with Lower School-aged Chinese e-pals; quadblogging with students in England and the U.S.; and monitoring live Twitter feeds during the Egyptian revolution (#tahrirsquare) so that students could experience a powerful historic moment.  Before coming to ESD in 2004, Hansell taught Middle School math at Parish Episcopal and Lower School math, science, and reading at Greenhill. She also developed and implemented the LOGO program in the Lower School and was a computer teacher at Greenhill, grades 1-12, from 1984-1986.  Hansell served as a graduate teaching assistant in Humanities: British History, Egyptian History, Medieval History, and Islamic History.  She earned her Master of Humanities from the University of Texas, Dallas, and her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Dallas. 

Effective July 1, Eric Boberg will join the Episcopal School of Dallas faculty as the Learning Innovation Specialist, Pre-Elementary through Upper School.  Boberg’s primary responsibilities will include ongoing review of ESD’s curriculum, modeling and promoting best practices in 21^st century learning, coordinating strategically-aligned professional development opportunities for faculty, and measuring the effectiveness of the pilot programs associated with ESD Tomorrow. His role is largely collaborative, working closely with the Division Heads, Technology Innovation Specialist, Department Chairs, Assistant Head of School, faculty, and other academic and co-curricular program leadership. 

Since 2001, Boberg has worked at Fort Worth Country Day School as an Upper School English teacher, Honor Council advisor, basketball coach, debate coach, and, for the past two years, as the K-12 Curriculum Committee Chair.  He began his teaching career in 1992 at the Pine Crest School in Florida after earning his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of North Florida. Later, he served as a philosophy graduate assistant focused on logic, philosophical writing, and contemporary ethics at the University of Florida. Boberg earned his Master of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and his MBA from TCU’s Neeley School of Business. He is presently working towards the completion of his doctoral degree (ABD) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, is a Golden Key International Honour Society member, and is a 2012 Distinguished Research Award recipient at the University of Texas, Arlington.

Lili Clark `15 has been accepted into the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra's Philharmonic. Clark started playing the viola four years ago and was quickly invited to join the GDYO's Dallas String Ensemble; two years later she moved up to the GDYO's Sinfonietta where she was the principal viola for two of the organization's three concerts this year.

The GDYO Philharmonic is a 90-member orchestra comprised of woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments. High school students from all over the Dallas area perform concerts three times a year, including one at the Meyerson Center.

Congratulations, Lili.