Information for New Students

We are excited to have you at Episcopal! Please refer to this webpage for answers to questions and important information for all new students and families who will join us on campus this fall. Following the guidelines outlined on this website will allow you to hit the ground running in September!

We hope you find these resources helpful as you prepare for the first days of school. Please contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions. Once again, welcome to the EHS community!

Si desea esta información en español o si le surge cualquier pregunta, le invito que se ponga en contacto con Rocío Mendizábal, Hispanic Student Development Liaison (Enlace para el Desarrollo del Estudiante Hispano), rm@episcopalhighschool.org.

New Student Information

Below is a list of key information for you to review between now and August. Please watch for any communication listed in the timeline, and be sure to submit all necessary forms by the due dates listed. If you have questions regarding any of this information, please contact the person/department listed.

List of 10 items.

Timeline for New Students

Mid April	EHS Student Login Credentials	New Student EHS Credentials issued via parents' email accounts for students with signed contracts. Student EHS Gmail account set up is necessary for placement
May 27	Athletics Early Return Invitations	The athletics department will send fall early return invitations to new and returning students. (See Preseason Athletics)
May 27	Course Registration Information due	Look below for your course selection forms, placement tests, and an official transcript release form.
May 27	Summer Reading Available	The summer reading requirements will be posted online by May 27.
May 27	Fall Early Return Invitations	The Athletics Department will send out fall early return invitations to both new and returning students. New students will be asked to respond via google form by June 7. If families do not hear from Athletics on May 27, they should reach out to fall head coaches to inquire about a potential invitation.
June 1	Roommate Questionnaire due	Please submit this online form.
June 7	Fall Athletics Early Return Google Form Due
July 1	Burch Outdoor Program Forms Due (9th Grade Only)	See "Burch Outdoor Program for 9th Grade" section below for more information.
July 1	Medical and Permission Forms Due	Log in to the Parent Portal for access to the Magnus Health Forms (available in early May). See "Health & Insurance Information" section below for more.
Early to Mid July	Course List Available	Your course list, which will include electives and advanced/honors designations where applicable, will be emailed to you.
July 15	Final Report Card Due	A copy of your 2023-24 final report card is due to the admissions office. An official transcript is due in the registrar’s office when available, but as a condition of admission, the admissions office requests a copy of your final grades.
Late July	Grandparent Survey due (optional)	Please fill out this online survey with the contact information of your student's grandparents. We will use this information to communicate with grandparents throughout the year, including newsletters, invitations to special events, and mailing our magazines and brochures.
Early August	Information from the Dean of Students Office	A schedule of opening day events will be made available to you by the Dean of Students Office. Access the Student Handbook, which will be posted online, as well as additional forms that are due to the Dean of Students Office before school begins.
August 31	International Student Orientation
September 1	All New and Returning Students Arrive on Campus	Families will receive further information regarding move-in and orientation later this summer.
September 2	Labor Day; New and Returning Student Orientation
September 3	Classes begin

Communications from EHS
Summer Communications
New and returning families will receive bulletins with important reminders and information over the summer months.
- Watch for the Maroon Message in mid-June, Mid-July, and early August.
- If you do not receive the Maroon Message from EHS by Friday, June 21, email communications@episcopalhighschool.org.
School Year Communications
In addition to individual communication from your student's advisor and teachers, the School has several recurring communication vehicles designed to keep parents apprised of life on the Hill.
- EHS Weekly is a weekly parent bulletin that is emailed on Wednesday evenings and comprises important information about upcoming events and campus activities. While some standalone emails are necessary, Episcopal does make an effort to bundle messages in this weekly digest.
- From the Hill is a monthly parent newsletter that highlights stories about the EHS community and exciting campus happenings.
- EHS: The Magazine of Episcopal High School is mailed to all members of our community twice a year.
If you have any questions about communications from EHS, please email communications@episcopalhighschool.org.
Now Boarding: Destination EHS

The Now Boarding Program is a virtual on-boarding program designed for both incoming new students and their parents and guardians to help students get their EHS journey off to a great start. These live virtual sessions will cover various topics ranging from academic life to residential life and everything else in between and provide students and families with the opportunity to engage with returning students and members of our faculty. Students will also have an opportunity to connect with some of their fellow incoming classmates. If you are unable to join, the recordings will be posted shortly after each session. The link to join will be sent a couple of days prior to each session.
Residential Life (includes a packing list)

Please click here for 2024-25 Residential Life information.
Textbooks & Supplies

Textbooks & Supplies
All textbooks will be ordered by EHS and will be available for students on the first day of classes. Students' accounts will be billed for textbooks. School supplies, such as notebooks, pens, pencils, etc., may be purchased at the EHS School Store. The school store also carries a wide variety of other items – food and drinks, clothes (hats, T-shirts, athletic apparel, etc.), cards, laundry detergent, and some supplies for rooms. Students may use cash or a credit card to pay for items, or may have the charges billed home monthly. During the school year, the school store is open Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Summer hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For items not found in the EHS School Store, Bradlee Shopping Center is a short walk from campus. There, students can buy some food at Fresh Market or Safeway (remember your reusable bags!), stock up on supplies at Walgreens, get a haircut, buy a birthday card for Mom or Dad at Hallmark, or eat at a variety of restaurants.
Required Health Forms & Insurance

Required Health Forms
EHS uses Magnus Health Student Medical Record (SMR) to provide and collect all student health forms and information for the upcoming school year. Magnus Health SMR is a secure and easy-to-use web-based system for submitting health information. Access to all required health forms and your child’s Magnus SMR can be accessed by clicking the orange Magnus button found on the parent portal. **Please note that the forms are available now.**

If you have difficulties with Magnus Health SMR, contact their customer support at 877-461-6831 or service@magnushealthportal.com.

Health forms are due on July 1. Students without fully completed forms will not be permitted to participate in any school activities, including athletic, residential, and social.

All students must use the EHS health forms provided in their Magnus SMR. The EHS Health Center cannot accept forms used by other providers, health offices, schools, camps, or programs.

Directions to either electronically sign OR to submit a hard copy or upload the required health forms directly to Magnus SMR can be found in the Magnus SMR.

Once submitted, the required health forms will be reviewed and approved by the EHS Health Services staff. Families may check the approval status of the health forms throughout the summer and prior to arrival on campus in the fall by logging into Magnus SMR. Magnus will automatically and directly provide electronic reminders of missing or incomplete health forms at periodic intervals throughout the summer. Families can access or update a student's Magnus SMR any time throughout their years at EHS.

Health Insurance
All students are required to have adequate United States-based health insurance that will provide coverage for general health care in the state of Virginia while attending EHS, and are required to enter insurance information into the Magnus SMR.

For international students, Episcopal High School offers a comprehensive medical policy through Crum & Forster/Global Benefits Group Insurance. A school official will contact international families to discuss this.

Medication
The medication policy can be found in the student handbook (the 2024-25 handbook will be available in August). An electronic version of the Medication Policy can be viewed in the student's Magnus SMR. Parents/guardians are required to review and electronically sign this policy as part of the required health forms.

For questions, contact the EHS Health Services nursing and staff support at healthcenter@episcopalhighschool.org.
Making the Transition

To assist our youngest students in making the transition to boarding school life, Episcopal has instituted a special program in which a faculty team teaches, advises, and provides dormitory supervision for freshmen. Ninth grade dorms have earlier check-in and lights-out times, plus increased support and dorm supervision in the evening. To help freshmen develop good study skills, teachers closely monitor their daily progress through frequent tests, quizzes, and graded homework assignments. The ninth grade deans monitor the progress of all freshmen to ensure a smooth transition.

As an incoming ninth grader, you will also participate in the Burch Outdoor Program. The program, which began in 1998, is designed to build confidence and leadership skills, to improve the cohesion of the class, and to foster relations with EHS faculty members in a non-academic setting. Please read through the contents of the "Burch Outdoor Program for 9th Grade" tab on this webpage. Should you have questions, either general or specific, about the Burch Outdoor Program, please contact Patrick Thompson directly, at PWT@episcopalhighschool.org.

10th & 11th Grade Transition
Sophomore and junior students and their families who are new to Episcopal High School will have the opportunity to meet with the 10th and 11th Grade Deans during orientation. From there, the deans will work closely with the new sophomores and juniors, their advisors, teachers, learning specialists, and the Academic Dean in order to connect the different layers of support in place to help students with their transition. The new sophomores and juniors will also have time reserved to become acquainted with our McCain-Ravenel Center/Washington Program, College Counseling Office, Technology Office, and Library, to name a few topics. Through grade-level work during McCain-Ravenel Center programming on Mondays and in our Residential Life Curriculum, the 10th and 11th graders will get to know each other and start to forge their class identities.

Counseling Services
Episcopal counselors are available to help new students as they make their transition to boarding school life. Conversations often revolve around being away from home, making new friends, living with a roommate, and navigating new academic expectations. Counselors also provide mental health counseling for students facing obstacles to personal and academic growth and can make referrals to local mental health providers for ongoing and specialized support as needed. Director of Counseling Kristin Hosmer, Assistant Director of Counseling Joey Halm, and Assistant Director of Counseling Natasha Kollaros will be available during orientation to meet new students and talk with families. Families can contact Kristin Hosmer, at KMH@episcopalhighschool.org, with any questions or counseling requests.
Burch Outdoor Program for 9th Grade

What is the Burch Outdoor Program?
For a few days in late September, you will find yourself in the Appalachians of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Western Maryland participating actively in a wilderness adventure course run by the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School. Episcopal has chosen Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound as a proven leader in wilderness education, swayed in part by its decades of experience and stellar safety record. The particular physical and emotional challenges of Episcopal’s course have been tailored by Outward Bound to meet the needs and abilities of our group. More specifically, once at the Outward Bound base camp near Baltimore, Maryland, we will be divided into crews comprised of 11 students, one EHS faculty member, and two Outward Bound instructors. After a brief orientation, we will embark on a four-day backpacking expedition into and around the several state parks in Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Western Maryland. Crews will work closely together to accomplish all that such a wilderness experience entails: camping, cooking, cleaning, orienteering, etc. At some point during the trip, each crew member will try their hand at top-rope climbing, guided, of course, by qualified instructors. Certainly this year’s expedition will, like each expedition for over two decades, prove both challenging and memorable. Please know that we expect every ninth grade student to participate fully in this adventure, as it is an essential part of our experiential program and 9th grade curriculum. In only four days, we hope to develop trust, kindle friendships, increase self-esteem, and set a tone of constructive risk-taking for the entire academic year. Additionally, students will get to know EHS faculty members in an environment which renders them equals, and shared memories of triumphs will go a long way toward cementing friendships. It’s time to get excited. Don’t worry that you may be unable to complete the rigors of the course, though you may want to begin a regular program of aerobic conditioning in preparation for fall athletics. As long as you remain physically active between now and September, you will be equal to the challenges ahead of you. Rest assured that no one will be asked to do anything beyond their physical limitations.

Required Forms
Please be sure to complete the EHS Health Center medical form and permission forms as directed by July 1. Please note that students will not be allowed to participate in the Burch Program without these forms on file with Episcopal’s medical professionals. In addition, Outward Bound requires their own separate online medical form, as well as a liability release form. The medical form is a questionnaire which does not require a physician’s signature. The required forms can be found on the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School website. At the bottom of the page, under Select your School/Group, choose Episcopal High School. You will then see the required forms, as well as other information that will be helpful as you plan for September.

Packing List
We ask that all ninth graders arrive at EHS in September with the appropriate clothing and equipment necessary for this outing. Luckily, this does not necessitate an expensive trip to a camping supply store, as virtually all of the specialized needs of the course (tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, backpacks, etc.) are provided by Outward Bound. Still, the items found on the packing list are important to insure your child’s safe, comfortable participation. Please send your child to school prepared for this venture. Suggestions of places where you may purchase these items are Campmor and REI.

Additional Information
A Note from Outward Bound
Burch Trip FAQs
Packing List

If you have any additional questions please contact Patrick Thompson.
Preseason Athletics

Fall varsity athletic teams will return to campus prior to September 1 to begin preseason training. Attendance at "Early Return" is intended for varsity-level athletes, and by invitation only. Varsity team coaches at EHS are charged with the responsibility of contacting new students to determine who may be a good fit for Early Return. This communication will usually occur by e-mail or a phone call. Once coaches have made these determinations, the Athletics Department will issue formal invitations to incoming students via email. If a student is not directly contacted by a coach by May 27, but is interested in attending Early Return training, the student should contact Director of Athletics Jen Fitzpatrick. All students invited to Fall Early Return are expected to confirm their plans via a google form sent directly from the Athletics Department no later than June 7, 2024.

Below are the early return dates for varsity athletic teams:
Saturday, August 17: Varsity football
Sunday, August 25: Boys' and girls' varsity cross country, varsity field hockey, boys' and girls’ varsity soccer, girls' varsity tennis, varsity volleyball

For sport specific questions, please contact the head coach of that sport:
Cross Country, Boys and Girls: Kevin Potter
Varsity Field Hockey: Alex Blunt
Varsity Football: Kadeem Rodgers
Boys’ Varsity Soccer: Rick Wilcox
Girls’ Varsity Soccer: Katharine Chura
Girls’ Varsity Tennis: Hank Harris
Varsity Volleyball: Lauren Echko

Students must have completed medical and permission forms on file by July 1 in order to participate in Early Return athletics. On the first day of Early Return, students and their families will receive a packet of information including daily practice schedules, hydration protocol, and room assignments.

Students will also be given their athletic issue at this time, which includes an Episcopal tee shirt, and athletic shorts Each student is additionally given a lock for their locker and a laundry strap so that practice clothing can be washed by the athletics department in between each training session. Please visit the Athletics page on the EHS website for more information about athletic issue and what athletic equipment is and is not provided for athletes by the School.

Early Return football participants will have access to move items into their permanent rooms for the school year, but will stay together as a team in temporary rooms from August 21 - 23. All other early return athletes will move directly into their permanent rooms.

Varsity athletes may be expected to return to campus early after various breaks including Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Mid-Winter Weekend, and Spring Break. If your child plans to be involved in a winter or spring varsity sport, please make sure to check the Parent Portal for the “Important Dates for Athletics” listing before you make travel plans. These dates and details will be listed by July 1.

Please contact Director of Athletics Jen Fitzpatrick, Associate Director of Athletics Damian Walsh, or Assistant Director of Athletics Kadeem Rodgers with any questions or concerns.
Technology/Laptops

Episcopal High School has a long history as a 1:1 laptop school, and in the last few years we transformed our campus to a bring-your-own-laptop environment. This shift was met with great enthusiasm and it is our belief that when students have the opportunity to choose their own laptop, they are more comfortable using their technology, allowing them to focus on actual learning in the classroom.

As technology evolves, so does the way in which we teach and students learn. Several years ago, we implemented an iPad program in the science department geared toward the freshman class. This program has expanded, as all members of the EHS community are now currently outfitted with an iPad and accessories allowing for greater flexibility in the classroom. By providing each student and teacher with a school issued iPad for coursework, we have discovered new ways to creatively collaborate and communicate with one another while strengthening critical thinking skills.

In addition to the iPad, we recognize that every student is a unique learner and will require the need for a laptop in order to compose and publish content that may be required in the classroom. Though we no longer offer specific devices through the school, we do ask that all laptops meet a minimum specification standard. Whether you choose an Apple or Windows product, it is highly recommended that the computer have a minimum of 16GB of Memory and a minimum 256GB Hard Drive. All Apple MacBook devices should be running macOS, 14 Sonoma and all Windows computers should be running Windows 11.

Need more information? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Still curious? Contact Kim Adams in our technology office.

Course Registration, Placement Tests & Final Transcript Release

All incoming students and parents must complete and submit the following forms and assessments. We will use this important information to review placements and prepare academic course schedules for the fall semester. Course Selection, Placement Assessments, and Teacher Recommendations must be completed by May 27 as the Registrar’s Office begins the scheduling process in early June. A tentative schedule is made available to new students in mid July.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office with questions about course registration.

List of 5 items.

Academic Support and Accommodations
Academic Support
Episcopal High School faculty members are committed to serving the needs of every student. The Crosland Academic Support Center has three learning specialists who collaborate with faculty to develop and apply instructional strategies that enable each student to experience growth and progress in their academic pursuits. The learning specialists also work with individual students or small groups when extra support is needed and is identified by the classroom teacher, advisor, or Assistant Head for Academics. The focus of the ASC is to strengthen the skills needed for success in academic work and to provide assistance with areas of difficulty when identified.

Accommodations:
In addition to working with faculty and identified students, the Crosland Academic Support Team partners with students diagnosed with learning or medical challenges to create an equitable learning environment by providing an Academic Accommodation Plan.

For students seeking an Academic Accommodation Plan, a current (within three years of submission) full neuropsychological evaluation with a diagnosed and coded condition that shows how learning is impeded must be submitted to the school. Please note that pediatrician or therapist letters are not acceptable for long-term accommodations, and not all recommendations from the clinician are guaranteed. If indicated on the enrollment form that your student would like to be considered for accommodations, the Director of Academic Support will review the testing and determine what EHS can support.

If a student does not meet the above criteria but would like to pursue accommodations. The following steps should be followed/occur:
- The student shows an area of need in their academic performance identified by teachers, grade deans, or the advisor.
- The student or parent/caregiver has an area of concern about their academic performance and growth.
- Student has used all in-school supports:
- - Attending Office Hours regularly
  - Meeting with the advisor
  - Meeting with peer tutors
  - Contact from The Crosland Academic Support Center
- Once the above criteria are met, the Director of Academic Support will set up a meeting with parent or caregiver to discuss the need for testing and the process involved.
Course Selection Form

9th Grade Course Selection Form
10th Grade Course Selection Form
11th Grade Course Selection Form

All forms must be submitted by May 27.

Additional resources for course selection:
2024-25 Course Catalog
Language Teacher Recommendations

All incoming students must select a foreign language for the 2024-25 school year. If you are taking a language course in your current school, please copy the link to the appropriate Language Recommendation Form below and email it to your most recent language teacher.

Spanish Teacher Recommendation
French Teacher Recommendation
Latin Teacher Recommendation
Chinese Teacher Recommendation
German Teacher Recommendation

All recommendations should be sent to the current teacher by May 27.
Math and Language Placement Assessment
Once you have created your Episcopal High School gmail account, please sign up for a math placement test and a language placement test using this registration form. The assessments will be offered each Sunday from April 28th to May 18th from 6:00pm-7:30pm EST. Please note that you will need to take the math and language assessments on different test dates. Once you have registered for placement assessment dates, we will send further instructions and a reminder to your EHS email account. If you are beginning a new language, you do not need to take the language assessment test. All students must take the math placement test.

In advance of your math and language placement dates, please sign into your Canvas account using the following steps:
- To access the online placement tests, open up your EHS Gmail account and click on the “Google Apps” icon (it has 9 dots ).
- Scroll down through the apps until you see the “Canvas” app ( ) and click on it. You will be asked to choose an account to authenticate against, choose your EHS Gmail account.
If you are not able to log in, or have any questions about the placement tests, please email or call the Registrar at registrar@episcopalhighschool.org or (703) 933-4014
Final Transcripts

Episcopal High School needs your current school to forward your student's final transcript to our Registrar's Office no later than June 30, 2024.

Please print and complete this transcript request form and forward it to your current school.

New Student Forms FAQs

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

When are the forms due?
- Course Selection - May 27, 2024
- Math & Language Placement Assessments - May 27, 2024
- Language Teacher Recommendations - Submitted to current school by May 27, 2024; due to Episcopal as soon as possible
- Transcript Request - Submitted to current school by June 30, 2024.
What kind of academic support and academic accommodations does the school offer students?
Academic Support
Episcopal High School faculty members are committed to serving the needs of every student. The Crosland Academic Support Center has three learning specialists who collaborate with faculty to develop and apply instructional strategies that enable each student to experience growth and progress in their academic pursuits. The learning specialists also work with individual students or small groups when extra support is needed and is identified by the classroom teacher, advisor, or Assistant Head for Academics. The focus of the ASC is to strengthen the skills needed for success in academic work and to provide assistance with areas of difficulty when identified.

Accommodations:
In addition to working with faculty and identified students, the Crosland Academic Support Team partners with students diagnosed with learning or medical challenges to create an equitable learning environment by providing an Academic Accommodation Plan.

For students seeking an Academic Accommodation Plan, a current (within three years of submission) full neuropsychological evaluation with a diagnosed and coded condition that shows how learning is impeded must be submitted to the school. Please note that pediatrician or therapist letters are not acceptable for long-term accommodations, and not all recommendations from the clinician are guaranteed. If indicated on the enrollment form that your student would like to be considered for accommodations, the Director of Academic Support will review the testing and determine what EHS can support.

If a student does not meet the above criteria but would like to pursue accommodations. The following steps should be followed/occur:
- The student shows an area of need in their academic performance identified by teachers, grade deans, or the advisor.
- The student or parent/caregiver has an area of concern about their academic performance and growth.
- Student has used all in-school supports:
- - Attending Office Hours regularly
  - Meeting with the advisor
  - Meeting with peer tutors
  - Contact from The Crosland Academic Support Center
- Once the above criteria are met, the Director of Academic Support will set up a meeting with parent or caregiver to discuss the need for testing and the process involved.
Do I need to complete a language placement if I'm starting a new language next year?

If you have had any exposure to the language, we would like you to complete the language placement. If you are a novice, you do not need to complete it.
I am not sure which science/social studies/math class to select.

Just write "I'm not sure" in the space provided and, if possible, put a brief explanation. We will work together to determine the best placement for you.
My school cannot provide a final transcript by June 30. Should I ask them to mail an incomplete one?

No. We would rather have a complete transcript, even if it is later than June 30.
Where do I access information about Summer Reading?

Summer reading information will be available to new students by May 27.