discover - Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

Nine buildings on 46 acres. The fifth largest private schoolin Atlanta, with 15 varsity and Middle School athletic teams, anboundless array of fine arts opportunities, 250 faculty and staffmembers, weekly chapel services and thousandsof proud members of the Alumni.The one and only 3-year-old through 12th-grade program anchored in theEpiscopal educational tradition.The Golden Bear, at left, is the symbol of Holy Innocentsʼ EpiscopalSchool pride. In the spring, our golden tulips bloom to help add to thewelcoming atmosphere our visitors so enjoy. And our Graduation Bell,centered in England Plaza, is rung proudly following Commencementexercises by our graduates who are fully prepared to face thechallenges of college and the world beyond.

Holy Innocents’[‘hO-lE in-uh-suhnts] n.1. A mission-based independent school that offers what no othereducational institution in Atlanta can offer: a 3-year-old through 12th gradeprogram anchored in the Episcopal educational tradition. 2.A special placein northwest Atlanta/Sandy Springs where approximately 1,400 studentsand 260 members of the faculty and staff gather to pursue the highestpossible levels of personal achievement in academics, athletics, arts andspiritual growth. 3. A parish’s outreach,originally founded in 1872 in downtownAtlanta to support the women widowed and the children orphaned bythe Civil War; founded as an independent school in 1959 by parishioners ofHoly Innocents’ Episcopal Church.

A Place Like No OtherThere is an undeniable sense of community, friendshipand support that exists on the Holy Innocents’Episcopal School campus. It is this one of the definingcharacteristics that makes HIES an unique andwonderful place to learn and grow.

Holy Innocents’Episcopal School is afully-accredited, coed, collegepreparatoryday school. HIES iscomprised of the Pre-School (3-Year-Olds through Kindergarten), theLower School (Pre-First through fifthgrade), the Middle School and theUpper School.Academic expectations are high.Therefore, to achieve a sense ofbalance in our students’scholasticjourney, a commitment to the arts isstrong and physical education andathletics are emphasized asimportant components of eachstudent’s development.The faculty is dedicated to encouragestudents to excel and be selfmotivated.HIES students learnthrough creative, imaginative andinventive instruction that teachesthem to communicate effectively andthink critically. Our school’s goal is toprovide an atmosphere in which allstudents are encouraged to reachtheir potential and take their place asinvolved and responsible citizens.HIES has a full range of AdvancedPlacement (AP) courses for studentswho are prepared to accept a challengingacademic workload in orderto help them get a head start on theircollege studies. Upper School studentsmust complete a minimum of 40community service hours to graduate.As an Episcopal school, HIES is bothcomprehensive and inclusive. The diversity ofreligious beliefs, races, creeds and cultures ishighly valued.A Place Like No Other 7

nurture[nur-cher] v.ulty to inspire our students.1. To support and encourage, as during the period oftraining or development; foster: 2. Tobring up; train; educate from Pre-School to 12th gradeas little ones become young men and women who aretruly connected citizens of the world. 3. To be patientwith a student as he or she works to find their own pathto knowledge, as varying learning styles amongscholars of all ages are celebrated

A Thriving CampusMany generous people and foundations, who care aboutthe educational and spiritual mission of Holy Innocents’Episcopal School, have put forward a tremendous effortto see that HIES students are given every opportunity toreach their full potential, as directed by The SchoolPhilosophy (page 31). As a result, the HIES campus isadorned with some of the finest school fields andfacilities in the Southeast, including the state-of-the-artFred Rowan Family Middle School, the South CampusFields, the Auxiliary Gym and the Golden Bears WellnessCenter.We are proud of our many wondrous spaces-- theplaces we learn, play and grow. These classrooms, fields,stages, studios and labs are the perfect physicalrepresentations of the HIES spirit.

create[krE-’At] v.1. To produce through imaginative skill under the guidance oftremendously talented teachers of the Fine Arts Department in everydivision. 2. To make memories that will last a lifetime, such as theKindergarten Nativity, the Lower School’s production of their teacher’soriginal play, and the Middle School and Upper School Orchestra’sspring concert. 3. When students are able to integrate skills andknowledge required for a comprehensive education through intellectualand expressive artistic studies.

Every student is given an equal opportunity to pursue any area of the arts they choose.

“It isnʼt just that they are qualified in their areas of study, what makes ourfaculty so good is their ability to empathize with our students, to create thatvery human moment of connection both in and out of the classroom. Wecare about our students not just as academic learners but also as people.”-Dr. Chris Swann 12th-Grade Dean of Students English teacher author poetry zealotAt Holy Innocents’Episcopal School, we believeour dedicated and accomplished facultymembers are our greatest resource. They arecommitted to the community, their professionand The School Philosophy of revealing anddeveloping the dignity of the individual student.The student-teacher ratio is low, allowingteachers to provide individualized attention. Themajority of faculty members have advanceddegrees and at least 20 years of experience.With the school’s full support, faculty memberscontinually strive to increase their knowledgeand improve their teaching abilities through onandoff-campus professional developmentcourses. HIES believes learning is both a factualand emotional experience for students. As aresult, our teachers make certain they are intune with the cognitive and emotional growthand gifts of students. Faculty become part ofstudents’lives and encourage them both insideand outside the classroom.14 Remarkable Teachers

goals[‘gOls] n.1. The many scores resulting from the amazing accomplishmentsof Golden Bears athletes on their way to region championshipsand state titles in fall, winter and spring sports. 2. An ideal levelof sportsmanship and personal achievement that all HolyInnocents’ athletes and coaches work tirelessly to obtain.3. Something that, when reached, fills the student-athlete with atremendous sense of pride and satisfaction, because he or sheknows the great sacrifices that were made by the individual, thecoaches and the entire team.The Golden Bears have wo

When you take your first walk around the Holy Innocents’Episcopal School campus, you will most certainly beimpressed with the number of activities occurring outsidethe standard “classroom.” Campus Life plays an invaluablerole in the mental, physical and spiritual development ofHIES students.

Campus LifeAs part of our thriving campus life, clubs provide the opportunity forstudents to perform community service, learn new skills, meet newfriends, share valuable ideas, compete with other schools inacademic competitions and much more.Almost 100 percent of all HIES students participate in extra-curricularactivities. There are 15 varsity and Middle School sports teams for boysand girls as well as an impressive array of opportunities in visual arts,music and drama.The possibilities for participation in athletics, thefine arts, clubs and activities are trulyinexhaustible. A young scholar’s education is notlimited to lectures, writing assignments andexams.As vital as those exercises are to academicgrowth, we know there are so many wonderfulways to connect what is learned in our textbooksto our life experiences.For instance, it’s one thing to study the equationthat explains how a space shuttle achieves orbit,it’s another thing to build your own spaceship inRocket Club and send it soaring into the deepblue Atlanta sky. Students can study the writingsof history’s great diplomats, but those words andlessons learned do not come to life until our futurepolitical scientists have actually worked forconsensus among varying and contrasting groupsat Model UN.Speaking of diplomacy, there is no greater“field” of study in which to learn the importance ofteamwork than by participating in Middle Schooland Upper School athletics. Student-athletes atHIES represent the Golden Bears with pride asthey work together to achieve a common goal.The same need for cooperation, leadership andunity are required to produce a successful play,musical or orchestra concert. And for the nonperformanceartist in all of our students, there arecountless outlets and mediums for young minds toexpress themselves through painting, drawing,sculpting and graphic design, to name but a few.The ability to apply scholastic knowledge tosolve real-world problems is what we at HIES hopeto instill in every one of our students. It is thiscapability that makes HIES graduates exemplarycitizens of their community, nation and world. Thisis Campus Life at Holy Innocents’!Campus Life 19

discover[dis-’k&-v&r] v.1. To obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time: 2. To experiencelife in any Alan A. Lewis Pre-School classroom, where each dayleads to a new milestone in learning and personal growth. 3. Toreach out to the community and the world around oneself throughHoly Innocents’ Episcopal School’s extensive outreach programsand realize there is so much that we can do for others in need, andmore to be learned about life.

Community OutreachService opportunities includeenvironmental projects, assistinglocal under-served students withsummer programs, volunteeringat local hospitals, nursing homesor clinics, going on mission trips.In keeping with the mission of theschool, Holy Innocents’Episcopal Schoolattempts to foster an intrinsic sense ofresponsibility to the community in eachof our students. Parents, faculty, staff,alumni and students work together on avariety of projects locally and nationwideas well as taking part in servicetrips overseas to Mexico and Haiti.22 Community Outreach

All HIES graduates matriculate to top-notch colleges and universities across the nation.

prepare[pri-’per] v.1. For Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School to make itsstudents ready for the next phase of their lives inthe college or university of their choice and wellbeyond. 2. To be on the verge of accomplishinggreat things in life thanks in part to thenurturing and supportive environment HolyInnocents’ Episcopal School created through itscomprehensive and extensive educational, artistic,athletic and spiritual programs, throughout all fourschool divisions.

Becoming Global CitizensMany students at Holy Innocentsʼ take advantage ofmany opportunities to travel abroad and learn moreabout the cultures they study in the classroom.Students are also engaged in on-campus activities,such as Peoples Club, where they are given aforum to discuss global issues.26 Becoming Global Citizens

“The HIES-Sapporo Program has enabled our students and teachersto learn from one another and work together to develop projects forboth groups of students. It has served as a great means to bridge thegaps in our cultures. The students are always intrigued by theirdifferences and amazed by their similarities.”-Carol Hahn, Lower School teacherHoly Innocents’Episcopal School and SapporoAsahigaoka High School in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japanare sister schools. As a result of this formal agreement(signed via online video conference) between Eastand West, both groups of students enjoy wonderfulopportunities to interact with and learn from oneanother. Students from Sapporo visit HIES once a yearand students and teachers from HIES go there almostevery summer.Becoming Global Citizens 27

HIES fosters an intrinsic sense of responsibility to the community in each of our students.

Visitors and Admissions ProcessFamilies choose Holy Innocents’for many reasons: thestrong and engaging academic programs, the Episcopalmission, the endless opportunities available in the finearts and athletics, our emphasis on community serviceand outreach--- and the incredible sense of communitythat envelopes the campus and all who reside within it.See for yourself how our students find themselves at HolyInnocents’and how our teachers guide them through thiswonderful journey.“Underneath all of the awkward stages and orthodontics, we havealways been Holy Innocentsʼ students. There is something specialabout this place, we arenʼt simply acquaintances and schoolmates, weare all friends who have and will always be there for one another. ...Our teachers have prepared us, now we will move on to the nextphases of our lives with confidence and a tremendous sense ofgratitude that we were given this wonderful experience.”-Rachel Barnhart HIES graduate alpha-omega UGA freshman outreach enthusiast30 Visitors and Admissions Process

The School PhilosophyHoly Innocents’EpiscopalSchool is a church-sponsoredinstitution with an educationalprogram shaped by adedication to revealing anddeveloping the worth of theindividual student.While the school’s religiousprogram provides a knowledgeof the teachings of Christianity,it also attempts to foster arespect for and understandingof the beliefs of others byproviding freedom to learnabout other religious heritages.The school strives toaccommodate students withvaried abilities and needs in anatmosphere of warmth andacceptance. It is a supportivecommunity that encourages theindividual’s awareness of selfand others, emphasizinglearning as a lifelong process.The climate for learningencourages the intellectual,social, and physical growth ofthe student. It emphasizesemotional, spiritual, andaesthetic development, with anunderstanding of democraticideas.Using a variety of approaches,the teachers strive to developeach student’s ability to makedecisions and assumeresponsibility for thosedecisions. Consideration ofuniqueness of the individual isa basic factor of the overalllearning program.Holy Innocents’provides anatmosphere in which eachperson is encouraged to reachhis/her potential, and thus takehis/her place as an involvedand responsible citizen.HistoryHoly Innocents’EpiscopalSchool was founded in 1959 byparishioners of Holy Innocents’Episcopal Church to providechildren with an enrichingeducational program in aChristian environment. Theschool opened with anenrollment of 70 students inPre-School through Grade 1.Today, Holy Innocents’Episcopal School is growing byleaps and bounds with therecent addition of the SouthCampus Athletic Fields, theauxiliary gym and weight roomand the state-of-the-art FredRowan Family Middle School.The same visionary spirit thatinspired others to move HIES toa higher level 34 years ago hasnot wavered in the hearts andminds of HIES students, parents,teachers and administrators.HIES continues to grow, thriveand succeed.DirectionsHoly Innocents’EpiscopalSchool is located due north ofdowntown Atlanta between I-75and I-85 off the I-285 PerimeterHighway. From I-75 you will goEAST on I-285. From I-85 youwill go WEST on I-285. Easyaccess off of I-285 is providedby taking EXIT 24 (RiversideDrive) and going south (insidethe Perimeter). Afterapproximately 1/4 of a mileRiverside Drive will end atMount Vernon Highway. Turnright onto Mt.Vernon andproceed about 1/4 mile to themain entrance of Holy Innocents’Episcopal School on your right.VisitingVisitors are welcome almostany day of the year. Call us at(404) 303-2150 ext. 276, inadvance to schedule a tour.Visitthe Admissions section of theschool website at www.hies.org,to access an online inquiryform.Contact usHoly Innocents’Episcopal SchoolOffice of Admissions805 Mount Vernon Highway, NWAtlanta, GA 30327Phone: (404) 303-2150 ext. 276Fax: (404) 847-1156E-mail: admissions@hies.orgWeb: www.hies.orgHoly Innocents’ Episcopal Schooladmits students without regard torace, sexual orientation, color,national, religious or ethnic originto all the rights, privileges,programs and activities generallyaccorded or made available tostudents at the school. The schooldoes not discriminate on the basisof race, sexual orientation, color,national, religious or ethnic originin administration of its educationalpolicies, tuition assistanceprograms, athletic and otheradministered programs.Visitors and Admissions Process 31

Office of Admissions805 Mount Vernon Highway, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30327Phone: (404) 303-2150 ext. 276Fax: (404) 847-1156E-mail: admissions@hies.orgWeb: www.hies.orgHoly Innocentsʼ Episcopal School in northwest Atlanta-- at the corner of Mount Vernon and Powers Ferry, at the heart of education.