— Continued from page 44
broader number of families here in
Houston and from around the world.
So our plan, in partnership with the
church, we’re putting together a 20
David: We adopted the Interna- year master plan for the campus as
tional Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma a whole. Where we are right now
Programme in 2014. It is a two-year is the beginning our Phase 1 which
educational program that is geared includes a new building that will be
toward ages 16 to 19 that encourages a new entry point into the campus.
students to think broadly, beyond It will also house new high school
their communities and see them- classrooms, new meeting rooms as
selves as members of a global society. well as on the third floor a new gym/
The IB program has higher emphasis parish hall. In addition, we are movon writing and developing critical ing our campus around a little bit so
thinking skills as opposed to teaching that we can accommodate 410 stustudents specific content and testing dents by 2023. It’s a very exciting
their knowledge through multiple- time here at St. Stephen’s!
choice to meet content goals.
Anita: What would be the easiest
Anita: It seems like St. Stephen’s is
way for someone to learn more about
a globally focused school.
St. Stephen’s?
Anita: This is great! What program
do you offer for high school students?
David: Yes we are! One of the
nice things about St. Stephen’s High
School is that we have a 100% college
graduation rate and so the majority
of our students go on to college and
majority of that graduate from college. So we are very proud of that!
The Montessori, the IMYC and the
IB are very global and then to top it
all off our high school students travel
internationally every academic year.
Students have gone to Spain, Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica,
Mexico, Greece, and Canada so that
international component applied on
top of the curriculum really gives
them that edge in global prospective
of learning.
Anita: There are two things, I understand the school is small now but
it looks like it’s expanding you have a
20 year plan. Tell me about that.
David: We recently launched a new
website which gives visitors the opportunity to see what we are all
about. Our website shows in-depth
detail on the curriculum offered, tuition rates, admission procedures and
much more. We are also active on
social media, documenting all our
events happening on this busy campus.
We are also on the Niche website
where St. Stephen’s was recently
ranked 27 in the top private schools
in the state of Texas as well ranked
ninth locally in Houston. That is
quite unique for a school of our size.
Anita: So I understand that you also
have an arts program as well.
David: A couple of years ago we
launched a Fine Art’s Program and
wanted it to not just be seen as an
enrichment program, but have it as
David: The school has a seven year part of the core curriculum. Which
plan to grow up to 410 students by is really unique these days because so
2023. It’s a strategic move on our many schools are doing away with
part to keep the school an intimate, fine arts or just making it part of an
nurturing environment yet offer to a after school program. We’re not that
46 iF Magazine | January 2017
way. Our Fine Arts curriculum is
weaved through into every student
on campus. We have a very strong
visual arts program, a film department and a music program. So students are exposed to the different areas. This year we are putting on our
third musical, we are doing “Annie”.
Our film program debuts films at the
River Oaks Theater. And then we
have a fine arts evening end-of-year
celebration at Discovery Green.
Fine arts here are an integral part of
our core curriculum. Finally, for our
after school program in fine arts, we
launched the da Vinci Lab for the
Creative Arts and Sciences. It is a
Maker’s Space. St. Stephen’s is one
of the few Maker’s Spaces in the city
and it offers our students in the after school program the opportunity
to go and be creative, work with staff
in regard to 3D printers, laser cutters
and different things like that. This
year we have integrated the Maker’s
Space into our science program in
grades 7 and 8. Our middle school
science teachers take our students
over to the da Vinci Lab and they
learn to integrate what’s happening
in the da Vinci Lab and integrate it
into the science curriculum.
Anita: This all sounds amazing.
Anything else you’d like to add?
David: I would like to add that St.
Stephen’s Episcopal School is a hidden gem in Houston. We have the
finest educators, sound and proven
curriculums and are a safe and progressive environment for all students.
It is a privilege to work with such
caring staff and faculty as we all work
together to help each student discover their best self.