Wildcat Weekly

Welcome to Episcopal Collegiate's weekly enews, where you will find campus news and announcements. Please select and expand the appropriate section below for your division news!

February 12, 2026

All School News

Re-enrollment for the 2026-27 School Year is Here!

This is a friendly reminder for families who still need to complete re-enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year. You may access your student(s) re-enrollment contract through the Online Enrollment link. We look forward to another outstanding school year together. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Education Freedom Account - 3rd Quarter Funding

Those families with Education Freedom Accounts for their student(s) the 3rd quarter funding deposit of $1,716 per student to be deposited in their ClassWallet account on February 3rd.

Your prompt response to the Payment Request in ClassWallet is appreciated.

It is important to know that the school does not receive these tuition voucher funds directly from the Department of Education. The school only receives payment when you authorize your tuition voucher funds to be used to pay Episcopal Collegiate School via ClassWallet.

Thank you!

This video walkthrough will show how to respond to a payment request in ClassWallet:

https://classwallet.storylane.io/share/jpmp1kb7jcjt

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Log into your ClassWallet account at : ClassWallet :: Login
2. Go to Payment Requests in the Link Vendor tile of the dashboard (there should be a red button showing the number of requests in your queue)
3. Select the Episcopal Collegiate School listing under the “Action” column using the eye icon.
4. Review the request and click “Accept”
5. Select the “Expense Category” …. It will always be Tuition and Fees for Episcopal Collegiate School.
6. It is not necessary to upload any documentation.
7. Make sure the amount approved equals the amount of the Payment Request. Usually $1,716.00 per quarter.
8.Click “Submit”

Pancake Supper (Support the Class of 2027) - Tuesday, February 17, 2026

The Junior Class is gearing up for the annual Pancake Supper! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 17, 2026 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased from any 11th grader or from this Google Form. The event will take place in the Middle/Upper School Dining Hall. Looking forward to fellowship and flapjacks!

Ash Wednesday Chapel Services - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Next week begins the season of Lent. For many Christians this is the period of penitence, prayer, reflection, and fasting before Easter celebrations. Many of us will give something up or take on a spiritual practice as part of our Lenten observance. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes, an ancient ritual in the Church in which the faithful reflect on their mortality and moral failings. During the service the minister marks the foreheads of the people with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. At School we will have two Ash Wednesday services on Wednesday, 2/18 that include the imposition of ashes on the forehead. The LS Ash Wednesday chapel will be at 8am in the LS gym. Our MS/US Ash Wednesday service will be at 9:15am in the MS/US dining hall. Parents and family members are welcome to join us.

David Yeager's 10 to 25 Follow-Up Conversation with Dr. Aaron Leverette - February 19, 2026

Join Upper School Counselor Dr. Aaron Leverette for a follow-up conversation to David Yeager’s 10 to 25 webinar, designed to help you apply this research to motivate and connect with your child. We will meet in Upper School Room 215 on February 19 from 8:00-8:45 am and will focus on translating Yeager's insights into practical strategies you can use at home to support your teen's development.

Parents' Auxiliary Meeting- Friday, February 20, at 8:00 am

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend our next Parents’ Auxiliary Meeting on Friday, February 20, at 8:00 am, in the Upper School Simpson Library.

Save the Date: Wild Game Dinner - March 14, 2026

Join us for a night outdoors full of delicious food, live music with the band Dial Up, and even better company on March 14, 2026, for the Wild Game Dinner! Every other year, the Episcopal Collegiate community gathers for this fun and casual event to raise money to support enhancements for the School’s outstanding fine arts and athletic programs.

Lower School

A Note from Mrs. Schuhmacher

We were proud to recognize two additional Wildcat Wow Award recipients during Chapel this Wednesday. Congratulations to Rhett Walker and Matthew Jones for consistently demonstrating the qualities of the Wildcat Pledge each and every day!

Next week, we look forward to celebrating Shrove Tuesday with class parties and our annual parade. Students are invited to wear their Mardi Gras colors and festive flair for the occasion. Please see the details below for more information about times for each grade level.

On Wednesday, February 18, we will gather for a special Ash Wednesday service during Community Chapel. Students should wear their dress uniforms with tennis shoes. Parents are also invited to join us for this service at 8:00 a.m.

We hope you enjoy your Mid-Winter Break!

Catherine Schuhmacher

Thank you, Parents!

Thank you to the Parents of Episcopal Collegiate for hosting this year’s Annual Valentine Cookie Drop. We are grateful for the time, effort, and generosity that went into making it such a special treat for our Lower, Middle, and Upper School faculty.

This thoughtful tradition is a meaningful way to show appreciation for our teachers and staff, and it does not go unnoticed. Thank you for supporting our community in such a tangible way.

Shrove Tuesday - Tuesday, February 17

We will celebrate Shrove Tuesday when we return from Winter Break on Tuesday, February 17! All students will enjoy parties in their classrooms and a slice of King Cake before joining their Shrove Tuesday parade. Parents are welcome to join during their child’s designated parade and chapel time. Pre-K parents are welcome to watch the parade from the atrium and commons as students enter the Godly Play room, and Kinder-5th parents are invited to watch the parade from the atrium, commons, and along the hallway to the gym before heading to Chapel.

Parade Times:

PreK 3 Parade and Chapel - 11:00am
PreK 4 Parade and Chapel - 11:15am
Kindergarten-5th Parade and Chapel - 2:30pm

We hope you can join us for this joyful celebration!

Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 18

Students are asked to wear their dress uniforms with tennis shoes on Wednesday, February 18 for our Ash Wednesday service. First through fifth-grade students will participate in this service that will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday and conclude at 8:45 a.m.

Chapel News

In Community Chapel this week we heard a wonderful reminder about kindness and respecting one another from Rabbi Barry Block of Congregation B’Nai Israel. In PreK and Kinder chapels we talked about the Parable of the Sower.

Next week is a special week as we return from winter break on Shrove Tuesday and then head into Ash Wednesday. We have lots of special events to celebrate the end of Epiphany and beginning of Lent.

Tuesday, February 17:

All students are invited to wear Mardi Gras colors - purple, yellow, green.
PreK 3 and 4 Parties - 10:30am
PreK 3 Parade and Chapel (Parents welcome) - 11:00am
PreK 4 Parade and Chapel (Parents welcome) - 11:15am
Kindergarten-5th Parties - 2:00pm
Kindergarten-5th Parade and Chapel (Parents welcome) - 2:30pm

Wednesday, February 18:

All students should wear dress uniform with tennis shoes.
All parents are welcome at chapel!
1st-5th Chapel - 8:00-8:45am (note later end time)
PreK 3 Chapel - 9:00am (note later start time)
PreK 4 Chapel - 9:20am
Kindergarten Chapel - 10:00am

Chapel Duties for Community Chapel on Tuesday, February 17, 2026:

Procession

Cross: Rachel Davis
Candle: June Querdibitty
Candle: Will Marshall
Assist with Putting Away the Alleluias: Henry Dake

Readers

Henry Norwood
Magnolia Cunningham

Cantors

Annie Smith
Brinkley Mitchell
Jennings Owens
Darina Dementyeva

Chapel Duties for Community Chapel on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Procession

Cross: Mykenna Kloske
Candle: Kenzie Cook
Candle: Landry Rolston

Readers

Louisa Young
Stella Mangum

Cantors

Barrett Robinson
Vivian Kalkbrenner
Jasmine Jones
Margaret Bronni

1st Grade Partners

Carter Cummings
Ford Fontes
Jack Chatham
Parker Easley
Preston Robinson
Rowen Gaillard

You can view the schedule of chapel duties for the remainder of the school year using the link here or on the Godly Play Canvas page.

Grace & Peace,

Michelle Moore
Lower School Chaplain

Pride Patrol - February 17-20

Pride Patrol is a leadership opportunity for our 4th and 5th grade students. These students should arrive by 7:30 am, help open car doors, welcome students, and walk our youngest Wildcats to their classrooms. Pride Patrol student leaders next week include:

Jennings Owens
Frankie Patton
Evie Peek
Sadie Prater
June Querdibitty
Barrett Robinson

Mark Your Calendars

February 13-16 | Mid-Winter Break, No School
March 6 | 3rd Quarter Ends
March 13 | Parent/Teacher Conference Day, No School
March 23-27 | Spring Break, No School
April 3-6 | Easter Break, No School

Helpful Links

Lower School Live Morning News

Wildcat Parent Hub

Middle School

A Note from Dr. McCormick

Dear Parents,

This week, warmer temperatures have allowed us to go outside for recess, which has buoyed student and adult spirits! During our Monday Morning Meeting, seventh grade teachers recognized students for exemplary effort and attitude in the various disciplines. Below please find those recognized. In their nominations, most teachers highlighted student resilience and the ability to keep up with their work despite the snow and illness interruptions as reasons for their selection.

Spanish 1: Beckett Beene
English 7: Austin Thomas, Clark Irwin
French 1: Katherine Brantley
History: Janelle Jones, Sarah Dalvi
Ex. Des.: Rayna Fitzgerald
Earth Science: Henry Kalkbrenner,Kathryn Koch
Leah Cook: Harry Hastings, Tanner Nevin

MS Athlete of the Week: 8th Grade Girls’ Basketball player, Leighton Campbell

The following were Coach Marsh’s words in Leighton’s nomination: This young lady really stepped up this past week when a couple of our players were out for a few games and the conference tournament. She became aggressive and took a leadership role that really helped the team stay competitive. Her attitude and effort this past week were awesome to watch as a coach. Leighton Campbell is definitely deserving of the Athlete of the Week!

Reminder: Community Service Hours completed by May1

Every middle school student needs to complete five community service hours and document them on a community service form by May 1, 2026.

Wildcat Club is Now Accepting Volunteers!

Looking for a fun way to get involved on campus? WildCat Club is now accepting volunteers! We have several opportunities available — from helping during after-school activities to supporting special events.

Take a moment to explore the form below to learn more about how you can get involved. If you have any questions, please reach out to Izzy Jackson via email at ijackson@episcopalcollegiate.org.

Upper School

A Note from Dr. Graham

If you missed it, check out Dr. Griffin’s email from February 9th. His thoughts on navigating the inevitable disruptions of school and life resonated with me.

This spring, our 10th graders are participating in some seminar sessions related to social and emotional learning. Their first session, led by Dr. Leverette, was on Wednesday, during which Dr. Leverette taught our students how to recognize healthy versus unhealthy thought patterns. You can read more about it below.

This past week, we also started talking with our 9th and 10th graders about their course selection for next year. From now until Spring Conference Day (Friday, March 13th), our students will work with their faculty advisors, teachers, and college counselors to build their schedules for 2026-27. We encourage you to discuss your child’s schedule with them at home.

Speaking of Spring Conference Day: please be on the lookout next week for an email with signup instructions and more information. As always, we ask that every 9th, 10th, and 11th grader hold a 30-minute conference with their faculty advisor and at least one parent/guardian.

Enjoy the long weekend, and please keep reading to learn more about what’s happening in Upper School.

See you out there,

Kellen

Updates, Reminders, & Action Items

Pancake Supper (Support the Class of 2027) - Tuesday, February 17th

[From Ms. London, US Learning Specialist]

10th Grade Social & Emotional Learning [Written by Dr. Aaron Leverette, US Counselor]

During this week’s 10th-grade seminar, our discussion centered on the concept of unhelpful thinking patterns (e.g. "cognitive distortions”) that can sometimes cloud our judgment. Our goal was to help students identify these patterns of thinking so they can pause and question them, rather than accepting them as fact. Common cognitive distortions include jumping to conclusions, all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, mind-reading, and emotional reasoning. If you are interested in learning more to continue the conversation with your teen, this article gives an overview of the topic.

Contact Us if Your Child is Absent, Late, or Checking Out

Parents, if your child is absent from or will arrive late to school for any reason, or if they need to check out during the school day, you must contact the School and let us know. If your child is absent, please either call us in the Main Office at 501-372-1194 ext. 3 and leave a detailed message or email Selby Boyd at sboyd@episcopalcollegiate.org. Upper School students are expected to communicate any known absences in advance with their teachers, coaches, and advisor.

Coming Up Next Week...

Mid-Winter Break:

School will be closed on Monday, February 16th in observance of Mid-Winter Break.

Chapel Schedule:

Tuesday, 2/17 - Mardi Gras Celebration
Wednesday, 2/18 - Imposition of Ashes (Ash Wednesday)
Thursday, 2/19 - Elois Moore ‘26
Friday, 2/20 - Addison Crank ‘26

Athletics Schedule

Let’s go, Wildcats!

Beyond this Week...

Choir/Orchestra Concert - Monday, March 2
End of Quarter 3 - Friday, March 6
Spring Conference Day (No Classes) - Friday, March 13

Athletics

New Athletics App!

We’re excited to introduce our new Athletics App, a convenient, mobile-friendly way to stay connected to Wildcat athletics. Designed to complement our website and existing communications, the app puts schedules, scores, team information, and athletics news all in one place. Users can also opt in to push notifications for weather delays, game changes, and important reminders—so you never miss a moment.

We encourage all athletes, parents, and community members to download the app and start using it today. Instructions are included below.

Go Wildcats!

Concessions

Parents, please check the sign up and grab your spot(s) to help support our winter sports. We still have lots of opportunities to volunteer for gate or concessions that we would love to fill. If your middle or high schooler needs service hours, bring them along. Thank you in advance! Also, a huge thank you to all of our December volunteers! (Volunteer Sign-up )

Thank you.

Laura Schnackenberg and Mary Margaret Wippo

Varsity Athlete Letterman Jacket Orders

Parents and Athletes,

Here is the order form for varsity athletes to order letterman jackets for all fall and winter athletes. These jackets are optional and you should be able to customize them on the website. Letterman's Jacket Link

Student-Athlete Recognition Updates

Dear Parents,

I hope your family is off to a great start this school year. I want to share an update regarding how we will recognize and celebrate our student-athletes moving forward. Beginning this year, athletic recognitions will take place during the school day in special assemblies, replacing the traditional evening sports banquets.

We believe this new format will create a more meaningful and spirited experience for the students, and here’s why:

Improved Attendance: Holding the event during the school day ensures that all student-athletes are present.
Celebrated by Their Peers: Recognizing our teams and athletes in front of classmates allows the entire student body to share in their accomplishments.
Fewer Conflicts: Moving away from evening events reduces scheduling challenges with family obligations, extracurricular activities, and other school commitments.

Each season will have its own recognition assembly for the Fall, Winter, and Spring, celebrating our athletes in grades 7-12. While the setting has changed, the level of recognition for our students remains the same, and the focus will be on making the experience spirited, inclusive, and student-centered. Thank you for your continued support of our athletic program and student-athletes. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Go Wildcats!
Micah Marsh

Digital Ticketing System

Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you well. I want to share an important update regarding our digital ticketing system for athletic events.

Beginning this school year, we will be transitioning to GoFan as our exclusive platform for purchasing tickets to all home athletic events. This change is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the game-day experience for our families and fans.

Here’s why we’re making the switch:

User-Friendly: GoFan offers a more streamlined and user friendly experience for purchasing and accessing tickets.
Widespread Adoption: Over 90% of schools using digital ticketing in Arkansas currently use GoFan, making it easier for families to use one platform for both home and away games.
Consistency with AAA: The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) utilizes GoFan for all postseason events, so aligning with this system creates a consistent experience throughout the season and into playoffs

Season Tickets and events are ready to purchase when you are ready. You'll receive step-by-step instructions on how to access and use GoFan with your purchase. We’re confident this transition will benefit everyone involved and we appreciate your continued support.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please note this link also includes individual game tickets.

GoFan Ticket Link

Go Wildcats!
Micah Marsh, Director of Athletics

Episcopal Wildcats Hudl Page

Wildcat Athletics has moved live streaming to the Episcopal Collegiate Hudl Fan Page. This page includes a live stream of events as well as highlights, team schedules, and rosters.

Episcopal Wildcats Hudl Page

Please note, we will no longer be using the Episcopal Athletics Youtube Page.

The Hudl Fan App is supported by Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.

Go, Wildcats!

Wildcat Club

Winter Break Update- February 13 and February 16

Wildcat Club will be open and providing childcare on Friday, February 13, and Monday, February 16, of the Winter Break for those families enrolled in Episcopal's 12-month program. Please RSVP using this link.

Summer at the E

The countdown to Summer 2026 has officially begun! Enrollment opened on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Please head to our Summer at the E webpage for additional information.

New Spring Supersessions Now Available!!

Supersessions are now LIVE! Sign up via Homeroom.

Pick-Up for Super Sessions

Should you have a student in a session please park and walk up to the LS Main Office Entrance for pick-up. We kindly ask that session pick-ups do not sit in the carpool lane in order to avoid congesting the lane for WCC pick-ups. Should you need a student early from a session please then call (501)-804-6649, notify what session your student is attending and a member from our team will go get them.

Faculty Members

Want to meet this year’s 2025-26 Wildcat Club Faculty Members? Check out the full list right here!

Reminders

Daily use of carpool signs is required — this is crucial for the safety and security of our students. We must be able to quickly and clearly identify every vehicle in the line. Please see the "Pickup Protocols" section below for additional information.

As we continue to fine-tune our program, here are a few important reminders for the weeks ahead:

Tuesday Pick-Ups - On Tuesdays, we share our carpool lane with Chorale students, who are released at 4:15 PM. Please be mindful as we merge both groups.

Homework Time in WCC - Each day, we dedicate 20–30 minutes to homework, adjusting based on grade level and student needs. We also stay in touch with homeroom teachers to help reinforce any focus areas from class. Soon, a few of our middle and upper school Wildcats will also be joining us to lend a hand — another layer of support we’re excited to roll out!

Here's What's Happening this Year

STEAM Fun Every Week
Each week, we’ll dive into an exciting, hands-on project that sparks curiosity and creativity.

Monthly Big Events
One Friday each month, we’ll go big with an interactive, themed event for all students to enjoy.

Fun Fridays
Every Friday we’ll celebrate the week’s hard work and positive behavior with a sweet treat. (We will have alternative options for students who have allergies or dietary restrictions)

For our Busy Bees in Activities

If your child participates in sports, dance, gymnastics, baseball, or any other extracurriculars that require them to change clothes and head out promptly, please let us know their schedule in advance. When we have those details ahead of time, we can make transitions smoother and help ensure our students arrive on time and ready to shine.

Pickup Protocols

For any and all pick-ups please call the WCC phone number located on either entrance of the Lower School, (501)-804-6649, notify the team of who you are picking up and wait at the door for our arrival.

Daily use of carpool signs is required — this is crucial for the safety and security of our students. We must be able to quickly and clearly identify every vehicle in the line.
PK–1st Grade: Picked up at the Main Entrance.
2nd–5th Grade: Picked up at the Gym Entrance.
Siblings in Multiple Grades: All siblings will be picked up at the Main Office Entrance for convenience.