The Birth of Team 2234 The Birth of Team 2234 - Episcopal Academy

scrim to complete and submit. A blind
sampling was arranged (all entries were
identified by number, not name) and the
best entries were selected. Only those
needleworkers who demonstrated proper
techniques and a consistent stitching
tension were asked to participate.
Work Begins
By February 1, 1979, the designs were
drawn on the scrims and color-coded
with numbers corresponding to wool
yarns. Lisa Cox assembled all the materials
at cost through her needlework
store in Bryn Mawr. Gabby Haab offered
her guild-certified canvas-work
expertise to prepare stitching instructions
for the group. A copy of Gabby’s
instructions that were dutifully typed
up and distributed by Elaine Mastroi-
Fisher Dixon Chapman
cushion was sub-divided into two smaller
sections (a rectangular piece and a
corner piece); each one contained its own
titled scene. As the sections were divided
among the needleworkers, Carolyn
Langfitt remembers she was “so disappointed
when Flopsy Borda got to work
the ‘Jesus Walking upon the Water’ section
because I just loved that gorgeous
red sail.” (Note: Carolyn’s ‘Flight into
Egypt’ section turned out beautifully.)
Stitching had to be similar and precise
to have a unified appearance when
the rectangular and corner sections
were stitched together to make a single
long cushion top. Every volunteer also
worked the two-inch pale green needlepoint
sides of the cushions, and “signed”
her first, middle, and last name and
“1980” in dark green stitching along
The camaraderie among the committeewomen
was strong. “We were all
enthusiastic and single-minded about
the project,” recalls Meredith Jones.
Many met monthly to stitch, chart
their progress, and to bolster each other’s
spirits; the project was demanding
and seemingly endless. One industrious
committee member calculated that there
are 146,608 stitches in each large kneeler
averaging about 690 hours of work
per kneeler.
There may have been some self-imposed
pressure felt by those involved.
As Kitty Blenko remembers: “Although
it was not a race, you certainly didn’t
want to be the last one to finish! It was
a wonderful project, consumed our lives
for two years but we all knew it would
be a legacy that would remain with the
A Piece of History
The kneelers have been part of Episcopal
Academy’s history through several
terms of leadership. Headmaster James
McK. Quinn and Reverend James
Trimble were involved in the project’s
beginning. Head of School Jay Crawford
and Chaplain Squire led the 1980
dedication ceremony and witnessed
their uninterrupted use in school activities,
and current Head of School Ham
Clark remarked: “We look forward to
their continued presence at the Newtown
Square campus. We are excited to
move the best of our history with us and
the kneelers are at the top of that list.”
In fact, Bob Venturi and his architectural
team were asked (and enthusiastically
agreed) to rework the plans so that the
communion cushions are employed
Transportation to the New Campus
The Episcopal Academy is committed to supporting the transportation needs of its students.
Outlined below is our transportation plan for the 2008-2009 school year. As with any
significant change, we know we may encounter situations we have not anticipated in our
transportation planning. This will be a work in progress for the 2008-2009 school year as
we all settle into new routines and a new location.
Public School District Busing
The following public school districts
have confirmed they will transport
students residing within their district
to the Newtown Square campus:
(Please contact the transportation
1
department of your local school
district for details on hub locations
and schedules)
3
R5
Chester-Upland, Garnet Valley,
Thorndale
Dowingtown
2
Whitford
Exton
Great Valley, Haverford, Interboro,
Malvern
Paoli
Daylesford
Lower Merion, Marple Newtown,
Berwyn
Devon
Strafford
Wayne
Methacton, Philadelphia,
St. Davids
Schuylkill River
Radnor
Phoenixville, Radnor, Ridley,
Villanova
Rosemont
Bryn Mawr
Rose Tree /Media, Southeast Delco,
Haverford
Ardmore
Wynnewood
Springfield Delaware County,
Narberth
Merion
Tredyffrin/Easttown, Upper Darby,
Overbrook
Wallingford /Swarthmore,
30th Street Suburban
Station Station
West Chester
Transportation on SEPTA/Paoli Shuttle
Shuttle service to the new campus from the Paoli SEPTA station will be provided in the
morning and at regular intervals after school. Students should plan to board westbound or
eastbound trains that will arrive in Paoli by 7:45 a.m. After school riders will be able to make
departing trains at 4:00 p.m. and again at 6:00 and 6:30 p.m.
The shuttle to and from the Paoli SEPTA train station is provided at no cost to families.
Philadelphia Options
Students residing in Philadelphia are encouraged to use the SEPTA R5 and the shuttle
service described above . Using monthly, unlimited-use passes, students can ride from
Center City to Paoli for $90 a month or $810 a year. Families wishing to use SEPTA, and that
qualify for financial assistance, will have the monthly train pass costs factored into their aid
package.
For younger students and those not choosing to ride the train, Episcopal will make available
a daily shuttle service from a hub in Society Hill and another hub in West Philadelphia. Pick
up in Society Hill will be @ 6:45 a.m. and pick up in West Philadelphia will be @ 7:00 a.m.
The shuttle will return to the same hubs in the afternoon @ 4:45 p.m. in West Philadelphia
and @ 5:15 p.m. in Society Hill. If there is interest from Upper School students for a later
return shuttle, we will add a run that departs Newtown Square at 6:10 p.m. We will add
vehicles, as necessary, to this route as families commit to the service.
We are in the process of securing hub locations that offer easy access for parents, safety for
children waiting, as well as shelter for bad weather. The cost for this service will be $2,850
per student for the 2008-2009 school year. Families wishing to use this service, and that
qualify for financial assistance, will have the shuttle costs factored into their aid package.
Transportation by Car
The new campus will feature a Lower School drop-off area and a drop-off location for
all other students. Student drivers in V Form and VI Form will be given assigned parking
spaces. We will be able to accommodate parking for all student drivers.
anni still exists and includes guidelines
such as, “The center is on horizontal
lines #10 thru 15 (inclusive) with nine
above and nine below” and “Use 18"
lengths of yarn. To decrease twisting:
Separate all of the triple strands into single
strands before starting. Pull out two
strands from the pile and check to see
that you do not have two thicks or two
thins. Check strands to see they each
turn in opposite directions.”
With this much attention to detail,
there is a specialized language and technique
that the untrained needleworker
might not appreciate.
All cushions contained side edges with
45-degree angles so that when two such
edges were aligned they would effectively
‘turn’ the corners on the altar. Every
Meredith Jones
the back of her cushion. The pieced needlework
was sewn together, edged with
green piping, and backed with an unbleached
linen. A long zipper down the
center of the linen backing allows access
to the pillow form inside.
The project was so successful that
even before the communion kneelers
were completed, it was decided to create
five smaller needlepoint kneelers for the
altar steps (each highlights a single flower
found within the large communion
cushions), a seat cushion for both the
Bishop’s chair and the Chaplain’s chair,
and two seat cushions for the benches
near the pulpit. The seating cushions
contain a beautiful geometric pattern
that, through a combination of stitches
and shading, creates an optical illusion
of rows of parallel stairways.
school long after our children graduated.”
The Mothers Association gave the
completed set of needlepoint cushions
to the school in May 1980 and, as Lois
Susskind Muscheck recalls, “they were
dedicated as part of a special chapel
service.”
Twenty-six years later, the needlepoint
cushions are an integral part of
all services performed in the Chapel.
The EAPA’s Altar Guild has assumed
the responsibility of their care. At the
end of every academic year, the cushions
are removed from their positions in the
sanctuary, wrapped in cotton sheeting,
and placed in the sacristy’s drawers to
protect them over the summer months.
Every fall, they are back in place for the
school’s opening chapel service.
Jane Thompson
as kneelers in the new chapel. The
smaller kneelers, the Chaplain’s and
Bishop’s chairs, and the benches and their
cushions will also find a home in the
new chapel.
The needlepoint kneelers are an
important part of Episcopal Academy
history and will help create a bridge
between the Merion and Newtown
campuses. n
6 Connections spring 2007 7