| Parish Episcopal School | |
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Wisdom, Honor, and Service
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| Location | |
| Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent School, Episcopal |
| Established | 1972 |
| Head of School | David Monaco |
| Faculty | 150 |
| Number of students | 1,182 |
| Campus | 50 acres (200,000 m2) |
| Mascot | Panther |
| Athletics | 13 varsity sports, 3 club sports |
| Website | www.parishepiscopal.org |
The Parish Episcopal School is a co-educational preparatory day school located on two campuses in Dallas, Texas, USA. The school enrolls students in grades Pre-K-12.
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The Parish Episcopal School was originally founded as the Parish Day School in 1972 enrolling students between Pre-kindergarten through the 6th grade. It was founded by Mary Loving Blair, who served as the first head of school until 1980, when she was replaced by Gloria Snyder. It was under the administration of Gloria Snyder that the school would be expanded up to grade 12 and renamed to "The Parish Episcopal School" in 2002 (source). It was during this expansion that the school also purchased their second campus on the intersection of Midway Road and Alpha Road in Farmers Branch, Texas, which would house students from grades 3 to 12 (source). The current head of school is Dave Monaco, who replaced Snyder in 2009 (source).
Parish graduated its first high school class of approximately 46 students in May 2007; it graduated a second class of 75 students May 2008. From 2003 to 2008, the Upper School had grown from 50 students to 380, and from 5 teachers to more than 45. The Upper School curriculum includes basic college preparation classes in math, English, history, the sciences, world languages (Spanish, French, and Latin), fine arts and computer science. Honors and AP courses are also provided for students who wish to learn at a more accelerated pace. Students are expected to take a course of study which meets the entry requirements of major colleges and universities. [1]
The Parish Midway campus is centered around a 337,000-square-foot (31,300 m2) academic building designed by the renowned architecture team of I.M. Pei & Henry N. Cobb. A former ExxonMobil office complex, the building and its 50 acres (200,000 m2) have transformed from research center to independent elementary and secondary school. The building’s atrium has become the cafeteria. Many of the classrooms overlook Farmers Branch Creek that flows along the north side of the campus. The two-story library has been retrofitted to better fit the needs of a student population. The new Upper School includes science labs, a teaching darkroom, Smart Boards in many classrooms, world languages labs, and a counseling center. Each faculty member enjoys an individual office. Surrounding this central building are new athletic facilities complete with a gymnasium, playing fields, and a stadium. The original Hillcrest Campus is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Midway Road on the grounds of The Church of the Transfiguration. The Hillcrest campus houses the school's pre-k through grade 2 program. [2]
Senior privileges are never the same between graduating classes, and are always proposed and negotiated by the senior class student government before every school year. The only exception to this rule is the senior parking lot, which has been guaranteed by the school and does not need to be asked for. Almost all classes, however, have asked for off-campus lunch the privilege for boys to wear a tie of their choice instead of the plaid school tie.
Middle school students perform a countdown to the end of the school year in the gymnasium. Middle school students may also, at the end of the final day of the school year, receive awards for their achievements in particular subjects.
The school colors are red, white, and blue. The lower school uniform consists of a red plaid jumper with a puffy, white dress shirt underneath and simple white and black Keds for girls, and a white dress shirt with navy blue pants or shorts complete with a belt and black tennis shoes for boys. The current school uniform for middle and upper school consists of saddle-oxfords complete with knee socks, white dress shirts or polo shirts, and a red and navy plaid skirt for girls. The exception is the senior class, who gain the privilege of wearing navy blue shirts and knee socks. For boys, the uniform consists of the same that is worn at the Hillcrest campus until sixth grade when the choice to wear a polo shirt is available. Upon reaching upper school, boys wear khaki slacks instead of blue pants. For upper-schoolers, part of the Eucharist dress uniform is a navy blue blazer and traditional school-plaid ties. The girls in grades kindergarten through six wear ties that form a bow, while girls in grades seven and eight must wear traditional navy men's ties. Girls in upper school do not have to wear a tie.
A Christian school rooted in the Episcopal tradition, Parish makes numerous efforts to be an inclusive community grounded in respect and honor for each of its members. The religious pluralism of the school community provides an opportunity to foster the spiritual formation of its students from a variety of faith traditions. The phrase a “Christian community of service and worship” is incorporated into every aspect of student life and community service is required of each student. There are daily enriching chapel services and a weekly formal Eucharist service, which takes place every Thursday. This service is complete with dress uniform, choral offerings from the Upper Elementary, Middle School and High School Choirs and student servers who help to provide the communion. The chapel services at the Hillcrest campus take place in the Church of Transfiguration. Beginning in 8th grade there is a world religions study which is required and lower grades take part in age-appropriate religion classes. [3]
From pre-kindergarten through high school, Parish students are encouraged to express themselves through a variety of visual and performing arts. In a competition sponsored by The Dallas Morning News, Parish students won six awards for major productions in 2009-10. Class of '10 Meredith Moore (now at Barnard College) had her review of Mame printed in The Dallas Morning News. Parish offers its lower school students a chance to explore music, colors, art materials and techniques, shapes, patterns, and textures. As students move into the upper elementary and middle school grades, they are introduced to art and music from different cultures, as well as theory concepts. Students also receive continued choral training and are encouraged to audition for school productions. Middle and Upper School students learn photography, ceramics, studio art, sculpture, and theatre. Some productions include Flowers for Algernon, Footloose and Steel Magnolias, the school's first Student-directed play.[4]
Parish's fourth graduating class had two National Merit Scholars and its 96-member graduating class went to colleges across the country ranging from UVA to Pepperdine. In spite of its young years, the Upper School has realized significant achievement from its students. Seven of the 2007 seniors received recognition through the National Merit Scholarship competition. Student performance has been rewarded with successful achievement on 81% of AP exams. [5] In athletics, teams won championships in golf, tennis & swimming/diving through TAPPS state competitions. [6] Numerous district and regional championships have also been won. Middle school students received an article in the Dallas Morning News for their performance of the play, The Diviners. Student leadership is a high priority at the school with Student Government, Honor Council, the Community Service Leadership Board, yearbook, the student newspaper (The Pen), the student literary and arts magazine (P.A.W. Print), Multicultural Club, Parish Singers, and National Honor Society among the many formal offerings to students. Also, the 5th grade baseball team in 2007 won the DPL championship because of a no hitter thrown by the pitcher. In 2008, the same team won the DPL championship again defeating Mary Immaculate 15-0. The pitcher threw a one hit shutout.
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