Upper School News
Monthly Overview
- September 22–24, 2026: Last Call to Purchase Homecoming T-Shirts (Optional/Benefiting Student Council) in the Eagles Nest
- September 22–25, 2026: Homecoming Week
- September 25, 2026: All School Convocation (9:30 a.m.) and Homecoming Pep Rally for Grades 3–12 (10:00 a.m.) (students only); Community Picnic (5:30 p.m.); Homecoming Varsity Football Game (7:00 p.m.)
- September 26, 2026: Homecoming Dance (7:30 p.m.)
- September 29, 2026: "Go Gold" Shirt Day (or any shirt that is majority gold/yellow; worn with uniform bottoms/uniform shoes) for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - PURCHASE HERE (Optional)
- October 7, 2026: ESDPA Uniform Resale Shop is Open (8:00 – 10:00 a.m.)
- October 9–12, 2026: Fall Break (No School)
For grade-level-specific information, check the individual drop-down in the Grade-Level Information section below.
View your customized family calendar in your MyESD Parent Portal. View the 2026–27 Academic Calendar.
Monthly Highlights
| September 22–25, 2026: Homecoming Week Spirit Dress |
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*Normal uniform is always an option! Tuesday, September 22, 2026: Myths and Monsters
Wednesday, September 23, 2026: Lost at Sea
Thursday, September 24, 2026: Gods and Goddesses
Friday, September 25, 2026: Homecoming Spirit
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| September 25, 2026: Sixth Annual Community Picnic (5:30 p.m.) |
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Enjoy family fun and games for all ages, and favorite foods from SAGE. We hope you will stay to cheer on our Varsity Football and Cheer Teams! Friday, September 25, 2026
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| September 29, 2026: Go Gold Day for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month |
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ESD will recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in partnership with Team Izzy Foundation with a "Go Gold Day" on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. We encourage the Middle and Upper School community to wear a "Go Gold" T-shirt or a majority yellow/gold shirt with uniform bottoms and uniform shoes. If you wish to purchase an optional Team Izzy "Go Gold" shirt, you can find more information below: |
Grade-Level Information
| Ninth Grade |
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Grade-level Dates:
Heather Cernoch | Dean's Letters:For any questions, please reach out to your grade-level representatives: Courtney Stovall and Jennifer West |
| Tenth Grade |
Grade-level Dates:
Natalie Webb | Dean's Letters:For any questions, please reach out to your grade-level representatives: Stephanie Fine and Tami Meng |
| Eleventh Grade |
Grade-level Dates:
Tim Woodward | Dean's Letters:For any questions, please reach out to your grade-level representatives: Amelia Boisseau |
| Twelfth Grade |
Grade-level Dates:
Marcela Garcini | Dean's Letters:For any questions, please reach out to your grade-level representatives: Meg Berg and Diane Nealon |
All School Information
| The ESD Fund: Passing the Torch and Looking Ahead | ||
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Dear ESD Community, We wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to every family who gave to last year’s ESD Fund. A full list of last year’s donors can be found here. Because of your incredible generosity, our school had a record-breaking year that directly impacted our students, faculty, and daily campus life. With the 2026–2027 ESD Fund Campaign officially underway, we have passed the torch to the Davidsons, who are setting their sights even higher. The goal this year is to beat last year’s raise and achieve record parent participation. Every gift, regardless of size, counts toward this collective effort. Let’s keep the momentum With gratitude, Kate and Ryan Kneipper ’99 P’31, ’34
Kelsey and David Council Davidson, Jr. ’05 P'37,'39
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| Parent FYI: Grandparents Day | Save-the-Dates Arriving | ||
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FYI for Parents: Save-the-date postcards will be mailed in September to Grade 9 and Grade 12 grandparents for the upcoming Upper School (Grades 9 and 12) Grandparents Day on November 19, 2026. |
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| Parent Badges and Vehicle Stickers | ||
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To volunteer, please visit esdallas.org/parents.
| Division Coordinator Welcome Message |
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Hello Upper School Parents, I’m excited to be your Division Representative for the 2026–27 school year! Throughout the year, you can look forward to important dates and event details in each edition of News You Can Use. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to me or your grade reps at any time. Go Eagles! Caitlin Hyatt |
Pondering Purpose and Impact
| This Week's Activity |
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| This video captures some of the ways our Homecoming celebrations ignite lives of purpose. |
| Pause and Ponder: The Purpose of Community |
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Join us for our Sixth Annual Community Picnic and Homecoming Celebration!
