Saint Stephens Episcopal School

Since 1970, Saint Stephen's Episcopal School has been welcoming families of all faiths to our college preparatory, independent school where we currently teach close to 800 students in grades Pre-K 3 through 12. "A college preparatory curriculum with integrity" describes the academic program at Saint Stephen's, where small classes create a learning environment where dedicated faculty can do what they do best: teach. Saint Stephen's is that rare, precious school where learning goes beyond the classroom walls, where teachers are highly motivated, and parents are actively involved in the life of the school.

History

The year was 1970 when a small group of community leaders met with their rector at Christ Episcopal Church. They dreamed of a school to provide an education with high scholastic standards and small classes. Their dream would become Saint Stephen's Episcopal School.

The first Headmaster was the Reverend Rodman Kypke (1970-1971) and the entire student body numbered 198 students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Over the next four years, a new grade was added annually and included children from both Manatee and Sarasota counties. It was during the headmastership of the Reverend Louis Hayden, Jr. (1971-1976) that the now traditional graduation ceremony at Christ Episcopal Church began. The first graduating class of 11 seniors received their diplomas in 1975.

In 1973 and 1975 respectively, an innovative, open-plan high school (now completely remodeled as the Intermediate School) and the Selby Gymnasium were added to the 22-acre campus. Additional property was given to the school for athletic fields.

A dedicated educator, the Reverend Bennett H. Barnes was appointed Headmaster in 1976. The Upper School enrollment doubled, new technology in the form of computers became commonplace and the foreign language curriculum was greatly strengthened. A site development plan for a permanent elementary building and administrative facilities emerged.

John Howard served as Headmaster from 1987 to 2003. Due to his vision and leadership, numerous advances in programs and upgrading of the physical plant were implemented over the course of 16 years. The Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year-olds was born in 1988. In 1989, student enrollment had grown to 222 and by 1995 to 447. By 1997, heavy demand from parents for admission to the Pre-K program resulted in the expansion of the existing building and student numbers were increasing rapidly. Over the years the School was fortunate to purchase additional acreage adjoining existing school property. In 1995, many of the original founders and past members of the Board of Trustees joined together to purchase seven acres for the athletic fields. Currently there are ten practice tennis courts, a practice soccer pitch and regulation soccer pitch, baseball and softball diamonds, and recreational playgrounds for the Lower and Intermediate Divisions.

Another 5.2 acres of adjacent land known as the Eckerd Plaza was acquired in 1999, bringing the total campus land area to 35 naturally-wooded acres. By 2000, the Saint Stephen's family had grown to 684 students.

To maintain small class sizes and provide up-to-date learning facilities, the largest capital campaign in the 30-year history of the school was launched to build a core-complex of three new Upper School buildings. Construction began in November of 2000; the two buildings in phase one were dedicated and in use by January, 2002. The third building opened to students in November of 2003. In total, 60,000 square feet of new, enhanced learning facilities were added to the campus. The re-design of the campus increased visibility of the school from Manatee Avenue, the main gateway into the residential heart of northwest Bradenton.

Jan Pullen became the new Head of School in 2003. She brings a fresh leadership style and new ideas combined with 17 years of Saint Stephen's experience as a faculty member, administrator and parent.

With improved facilities has come an increased demand for the type of rigorous education provided by caring and committed teachers in a small classroom setting and enrollment has increased. The faculty and administration take great care to preserve the sense of community which is a hallmark of a Saint Stephen's education. The development of our excellent elementary academic program and secondary college preparatory curriculum has proven effective over time; Saint Stephen's students continue to excel in academics, with standardized test scores at or above the independent school norms of the ERB's and SAT scores consistently exceeding local, state and national test scores.

The unique traditions and standards of excellence that embody a Saint Stephen's education remain as strong today as they were when first visualized by the founders of 1970: students who are well prepared for college through a rigorous academic program, and well prepared for a life of service for the greater good, with strong moral values of integrity, responsibility and respect.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of Saint Stephen's Episcopal School to provide a superior academic program which prepares each student for a college or university compatible with the individual's academic ability, interests, and needs.

Instill in each student a love of learning, an active respect for all members of the school community, and a fundamental sense of integrity.

Provide a nurturing environment which values independence and self-worth, physical health, spiritual awareness, and responsible citizenship.

Academics

Saint Stephen's Episcopal School is a college Preparatory institution for students from age 4 (Fledglings) through Grade 12. The School is divided into four divisions, including: Lower, Intermediate, Middle and Upper Schools.

Lower School

The Lower School at Saint Stephen's includes programs for children ranging from three years to grade 3.

Three-year-olds attend Saint Stephen's Fledgling Falcons program, a pre-school designed to provide hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities for younger children. Students learn through discovery as they experience all the senses in a curriculum that addresses individual needs, personalities, and different learning styles. Our goal is to provide a language-rich environment through a thematic curriculum involving books, music, art, and play.

Fledgling Falcons teachers strive to foster a sense of safety, self-esteem, competency and respect in their young students. Positive social interactions are encouraged through sharing, cooperating, and communicating. Children are taught to celebrate cultural diversity inside and outside of the classroom.

Beginning August 2007, the Fledgling Falcons program will also be offered atSt. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Lakewood Ranch. This satellite program is affiliated with our School's main campus.

Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten the Lower School curriculum focuses on developing fundamental skills in language arts, mathematics, social studies and science through learning projects and activities designed to encourage the natural imagination and curiosity of young students.

Lower School students learn early that community service is valued. Children visit nursing homes, go to guide dog school, and donate gifts for the needy during the holidays. School culture is also enhanced with special celebrations, such as Halloween Hootenanny, Lessons and Carols, Dads Make a Difference Day, and Afternoon in the Park. Academic field trips and Lower School chapel enrich the learning process.

During the last two weeks of each school year, classrooms are transformed into new educational environments that help each student gain a deeper understanding of a specific subject. For example, students become ornithologists as their classroom is renovated into a huge bird's nest. Others become astronauts as they learn about space exploration amongst hand-made planets, a room-sized rocket ship, and a star tunnel. The fully integrated curriculum encourages a love of learning that will endure as children reach the Middle and Intermediate Schools, the Upper School, and beyond.

Families who begin their relationships with Saint Stephen's at the Lower School level realize early that they are members of a safe, caring neighborhood. Parents are encouraged to be on campus, and students often do not want to leave when the day is over. Teachers are instructors and playmates to their students; it is not uncommon to see a teacher playing ball or eating lunch with the children. The bonds that are established between students and their teachers are ones that last throughout the children's school careers.

Intermediate School

The Intermediate School at Saint Stephen's is a special division for children in grades 4 through 6, who are in the midst of forming their academic and social identities. Since leaving childhood and accepting more responsibility can be an uneasy experience, the years spent in the Intermediate School form an important bridge over which students are carefully guided to ensure their success in the Middle School, Upper School, and college.

Each member of our creative faculty is experienced in helping students move academically from the concrete to the abstract; from primary skills to higher-level thinking. In English classes, for example, students grow from learning how to read to analyzing written material. In math, children apply their skills in working with basic calculations to solving algebraic equations.

Teachers work together to plan an integrated curriculum, where children can study one topic in each academic class. For instance, students learning about an endangered species might write a poem about it in English class, use watercolors to paint an animal in art, and calculate the rate of an animal's extinction using Microsoft Excel in math. Technology is incorporated in all academic subjects.

The social transition is probably the most challenging part of a child's development at this age. School becomes more than just a place to learn, but also a place to make friends. The faculty is trained to help students in their social discovery on a daily basis, through activity periods, chapel programs, advisory, and age-appropriate holiday activities. The Saint Stephen's community embraces each child, celebrating their successes and supporting their individual interests inside and outside of the classroom.

Middle School

Students in grades 7 and 8 attend the Middle School at Saint Stephen's, where caring teachers prepare them for the challenges of the upper grades, college, and beyond. The curriculum is rigorous and exciting, providing hands-on experience in each of the academic subjects. Students at this level begin to exercise choice in their own set of courses as they progress through the elective program, learning music, art, drama, and language.

Our faculty is a cohesive team of educators who understand with equal expertise the subject matter they teach and the students for whom they are mentors. Each student has an academic advisor who regularly checks on academic progress. Classes are small, so that each student has the opportunity to speak and be heard, and teachers adapt their lessons to the different learning styles of their students.

The Middle School is a safe community in which students' differences are respected and their successes celebrated. Our children give back to the world around them by devoting nine days each school year to community service. Small groups of Middle School students may visit with the elderly or help teach young children in local Head Start programs. They may package seeds for third-world nations or help deliver food with Meals on Wheels.

Saint Stephen's Middle School is committed to helping students develop into knowledgeable, responsible, respectful members of their community.

Upper School

The Upper School at Saint Stephen's is a traditional college preparatory school with nearly 300 students in grades 9-12. Our students have a variety of backgrounds and come from all over - from local Manatee and Sarasota counties to states all over the nation and countries across the world. Many of our students live and train athletically at IMG Academies in Bradenton.

Regardless of where they come from, our students dedicate themselves to their academic work and are surrounded by others who have accepted the same challenge. The Upper School offers a diverse curriculum designed to prepare students for college, give them experience in the major academic disciplines, develop their appreciation of and ability in the arts, and encourage athletic involvement. Members of the faculty and administration celebrate students' individual interests and abilities and encourage their growth outside the curriculum. The Upper School curriculum supports 17 Advanced Placement classes, and Saint Stephen's graduates attend a variety of colleges across the United States and around the world.

Our qualified and devoted teachers combine a passion for their subject with a love of working with teenaged students. Small classes create an environment in which each student has the opportunity to participate and be heard. Each member of the Saint Stephen's community is expected to abide by the Honor Code, promising to hold themselves to the highest ideals of integrity. Every student has a faculty advisor to consult about academic progress, course selection, and other issues that affect school life.

Upper School students are a part of the Saint Stephen's community, where their teachers and classmates know and care about them. From the time each child arrives on campus in the morning, he or she has a place to go: students may stop in to chat with a teacher about a homework assignment or meet classmates for an early study group. It is not uncommon to find a teacher and several students meeting and chatting over lunch. The richness and diversity of the Upper School curriculum, combined with community warmth, makes Saint Stephen's Upper School unique.

Dress Code

It is the policy of Saint Stephen's Episcopal School to have a dress code that reflects a positive attitude towards the School community. The way we dress reflects respect for ourselves, our School community, and for the School's educational goals. Uniforms are required in the Lower and Intermediate Schools and Middle and Upper School students adhere to a dress code. All students are expected to be neat, clean, and appropriately dressed for their learning environment. Cooperation of parents is essential as we work together to ensure that the uniform and dress code policies are followed.

Honor Code

As members of Saint Stephen's Episcopal School we hold ourselves to the highest ideals of integrity and honor.

I will not lie.I will not cheat.I will not steal.I will respect myself and others.

The Honor Code at Saint Stephen's embodies the principles of strong character and serves to guide us, enrich and elevate the quality of our lives, and lead us toward building the sort of society in which we most want to live. These principles color how we define our relationships with other individuals, our community, and ourselves.

The words of the Code are posted in each academic room as a reminder of the central role that honor serves in our community. In establishing and supporting an honor code, a trust naturally develops among students and between students and faculty. Our use of lockless "honor cubbies," rather than the traditional locked lockers, is one concrete example of this trust.

The Honor Council is an educational body composed of faculty and students whose role is to uphold the Honor Code and address honor transgressions. This group works to reinforce the Saint Stephen's culture of trust.