Back to School FAQ

EHS uses Magnus Health software to collect, track and manage student health information. The service allows the school nurse and athletic trainers to securely and efficiently track health information. Health and immunization forms are due by August 1, 2022, or before the first day of fall sports practice, whichever comes first. Please log on to Magnus Health Student Records Management to update all information. Should you need assistance, please contact Tiffany Thoman, RN, Clinic Nurse at 713-512-3403 or TThoman@EHShouston.org. 

Textbooks will be available online beginning in July. Go to the EHS Virtual Store link. This will take you to the EHS bookstore on the MBS Direct site. The student schedules will already be in their system so that you can just choose “Fast Pass” to ensure that the only books the site offers you will be those that coordinate with your schedule.

• The virtual bookstore opens for next year July 18, with free shipping (on all orders over $99) from July 18 to July 31. 

New student four-digit IDs will be sent the last week of April in the placement email. This four-digit ID number will be used for ordering books online and purchasing merchandise in the Campus Store. Please note: The student ID number is what the MBS online site is requesting when they ask for the “Access ID”. The student IDs will be activated in our computer system beginning July 1, at which time charges will be allowed. Any purchases made prior to that time will require either cash, check, or credit card.

If you have any questions, contact Campus Store Manager Donna Gongora or the Campus Store Assistant, Jenilee Gobea.

Please review the Student Handbook for the approved school dress code. The 2022-2023 Handbook will be available online in August. Hard copies will be distributed to each family in Advisory.

EHS uniforms may be purchased from Lands’ End and Mills Uniform Company. For details on ordering, click here.

 

The balance due on charges on student accounts will be paid by ACH debit from your bank account on the 15th of each month.

Be aware that the September 1st billing statement will include the Laptop Protection Plan fee, membership dues for the Parents Association and Dads Club, and any August student account purchases at the EHS Campus Store.

Please review your statement by logging in to My BackPack via Parent Central and contact Kimberley Pavalock in the Business Office about disputed charges. On the 15th, confirm with your bank that the ACH was processed correctly.

Pastoral Care

Dean of Spiritual Life and Chaplain Beth Holden is always available to meet with students and their families. Whether in response to personal crisis or everyday issues, the Chaplain offers pastoral care to anyone in the EHS community. Feel free to contact the Rev. Holden directly with any concerns.

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Counseling

Mental Health Counselors are available to see students, parents, and staff for consultation and brief counseling. This service is provided free for members of the EHS community.

On occasion, EHS will recommend that a student see the mental health counselor. If you do not want your child to be seen by our Counselor or you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact them. If you prefer your child not make appointments with our Counselor, you may indicate that on your Magnus Health form. 

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Choices Program

The Choices program aims to reduce high-risk behaviors through comprehensive education and counseling. A goal of the program is to create a school culture in which peers, parents, faculty, and staff hold students accountable and provide safety and support for students who have questions or concerns. The program is a partnership between Episcopal High School and the Council on Recovery. 

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Parent Education

The parents’ job of navigating the waters of high school with their children can be daunting. Beyond Back to School Night and individual interactions with our faculty, EHS offers support and education to parents through a variety of means.

We offer monthly Parent Forums on a range of topics related to parenting, emotional and psychological development, Choices-driven topics like alcohol and drug abuse, and self-care for parents. We have a variety of speakers for these programs, using our own resources as well as bringing in occasional guest speakers. Additional informal parent coffee gatherings and book discussions provide further opportunities for parents to network and get support, and in the spring, we host an annual Distinguished Speaker Night for parents.

There are also a number of learning opportunities for parents, related to specific programs and/or specific grade levels. In September, parents for grades 9-11 will meet with their Grade Level Deans and others, to learn what to expect in the year ahead. The EHS College Counseling Office has meetings to help parents understand the college application process. The Athletics Department sponsors the Positive Coaching Alliance program for the parents of athletes each season, as part of the effort to ensure that our students have a positive, character-building experience through their engagement in athletics. At the Dads Club and Parent Association meetings, parents are treated to student presentations showcasing some of the things that our students are learning and doing at EHS.

In short, EHS offers a wide array of support and education to parents. Note that many of these are recorded and posted to the school website, so if parents cannot be present for the event, they can view the recording at their convenience. Parents can learn about upcoming events in the weekly Windows eNewsletter.
 

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Safeguarding God's Children

EHS is committed to the health and well-being of the students entrusted to our care, and our campus is a place where students are safe and treated with respect and dignity. To that end, and in keeping with diocesan requirements, parent volunteers who interact with students six or more times a year must be certified in Safeguarding God’s Children, a training designed for the prevention of child sexual abuse.
Certification in Safeguarding God’s Children involves attending a 2 ½-hour training session on campus, in addition to reference checks and background checks, which are handled confidentially. We want our parents involved in the life of EHS, and there are numerous opportunities for volunteering. Please sign up for the things of interest to you and look for notices about upcoming Safeguarding God’s Children training sessions on the school website and in the Weekly Windows e-newsletter.

EHS Parents are known for their exceptional support and their unmatched dedication to the EHS community. A look around the campus almost always leads to the discovery of EHS parents volunteering in many capacities, such as library support, projects, afternoon spirit treats, and class fundraising.

Your dues support and fund the activities of the Parents Association and Dads Club. Dues are automatically billed to your account unless you decline. Click here to decline. 

 

For parent volunteer information and to sign up online, visit the Parent Volunteer Opportunities page. A variety of volunteer opportunities accommodate work and family schedules, and we encourage all parents to get involved.

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Questions? Contact Dean of Parent Programs John Colello.

At Episcopal High School, our curriculum, the Four Pillars, stretches students in bold new directions – academically, artistically, athletically, and spiritually. Each year, Annual Giving (Annual Fund + Auction) supports the Four Pillars with integral resources to develop, foster, and hone the skills and knowledge for all students – an endeavor we don’t leave to chance.

Proceeds from Annual Giving are used in the school year in which they are raised. The Annual Fund kicks off with the start of school and concludes in early October. The Auction underwriting letters are mailed in late October and the underwriting deadline is early December.
 

Other Ways to Give: Chapel Memorial Fund

Gifts are used as needed for prayer books, hymnals, flowers, altar linens, seasonal decorations, banners, etc. These dedications in honor or memory of loved ones will be recognized in the Annual Report at the end of the year and in Chapel programs as appropriate. Click here to make a donation. 

Library Fund

Honor a teacher, student, or member of the EHS community through a donation to the Underwood Library. Click here to make a donation. 

 

 

Laptop Distribution for New Students
You will receive an email that provides important laptop details, including required pre-ordering/pre-pay policy concerning your student’s laptop.  Click here for more information. Students can request technical support to help them use their new computers effectively. The Tech Department provides loaner computers as needed and assists students in replacing lost or stolen computers.  EHS employs licensed Apple technicians and is able to fix nearly any problem that students have with their devices on site.  

Parents and students are encouraged to read through the Technology section of the EHS Student Handbook and discuss appropriate device usage.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Tech Department at technologydept@ehshouston.org. 

Parent Central
You can log in to the EHS parent portal by selecting Parent Central under EHS Central on our website menu. 

Canvas Resources
You can click to access Canvas, our Learning Management System once you’ve created an account and connected it to your student(s).  This is where all of your student’s classroom activities, homework, grades, and calendar are published.  If you need help setting up or accessing your account, connecting your account to your student’s, or using the Canvas Mobile App, feel free to check out these Canvas help videos.

Windows eNewsletter

Check your email at the first of each week for the current issue of Windows, Episcopal High School’s parent eNewsletter. Each issue features "Gentle Reminders," news, annual giving information, and student achievements.

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Parent Central

This customized portal provides parents with announcements, event information, and important links. Canvas is accessible via Parent Central.

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Canvas

Canvas is our new Learning Management System (LMS) at EHS.  Canvas allows teachers and students to communicate, assign work, submit digital assignments, and see their grades all in one place.  There is a built in calendar that helps students to manage their time and upcoming tasks.  Parents are encouraged to create their own accounts where they can follow along with their kids’ lessons, classwork, and even check their grades.

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Emergency Text Messaging

Parents will be asked to sign up via text message at the beginning of the school year. Notifications will be made via the SchoolMessenger communication system. Emergency announcements will also be posted on the School’s website and via local television stations.

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Pillars Magazine

Pillars is the School’s award-winning four-color magazine published twice each year that highlights news and features about students, faculty, and alumni.

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The Knight Times

This student newspaper is published 10 times each year in print and online. Each family receives a complimentary print edition in the mail.

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The Hexagon

The Hexagon is the School’s annual yearbook. For more information, click here. If you would like to purchase an ad, be sure to submit your request here. 

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Light & Shadow

This annual literary and arts publication is produced by the Creative Writing classes and features outstanding prose and visual art created by our students and faculty.

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KEHS

Students produce original broadcasts of news and sports throughout the year.

Advisory

At EHS, all new freshmen and transfer students are placed in a grade-level advisory group. This group is an opportunity for students to form close, familial relationships with other classmates.

Each advisory group is led by an advisor, who will serve as a mentor and role model for the students over the course of their time at EHS. Advisors are responsible for maintaining an open line of communication with parents, supervising activities related to students’ four-year plans and semester schedules, and assisting in the supervision of a class during Chapel.

To learn more about Episcopal High School’s advisory program, click here.

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Tutorial

Tutorial is a daily period, from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m., that provides students extra time for AP courses, art courses, computer assistance, meetings with advisors and teachers, or pep rallies.

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Chapel

Chapel is an integral part of life at Episcopal High School. We gather every day as a whole community, to sing, listen to the reading of scripture and a reflection upon it, and offer our prayers to God. Chapel gives us perspective, challenges us to think differently, and feeds our spirits. Grounded in Episcopal tradition and liturgical expression, we also honor the diverse religious traditions of the members of our community.

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Break

This daily 15-minute break time occurs after Chapel, where the students, faculty, and staff can socialize and enjoy a snack.

Yes, we have Orientation for all of our new students and their parents.

Orientation will take place August 16-17, 2021. All freshmen, transfer students, and parents should plan to attend Orientation to get information and answers to key questions about EHS. More detailed information will be sent out  prior to the event.

EHS has a wealth of programs, services, and, most importantly, people who are focused on every student's success.

Tutorial is a block of time offered daily for all Episcopal students. During Tutorial, teachers are available to meet with students to provide additional support for their class.

The Academic Assistance Program (AAP) provides support for students who need help with academic skills. From general difficulty with motivation or organization, to specifically diagnosed learning disabilities, AAP can step in to help students get back on track through skill training, mentoring, and/or arranging for special accommodations in the classroom. For more information, contact Director of the Academic Assistance Program Jennifer Cantrell.

The Parents Association and Dads Club are organizations established for all parents get involved in the EHS community. These popular parent organizations hold meetings throughout the year and ensure our parents’ partnership in providing the best academic environment and spirited community for our students.

If you are interested in serving the School as a parent volunteer, please complete this volunteer form in the parent packet. For questions, please contact Dean of Parent Programs John Colello, or click here to see a list of our current volunteer opportunities.

EHS and its representatives occasionally take photographs and videotapes for the School's use in print, video, and social media. This statement serves as a public notice of Episcopal High School’s intent to do so. If you object to the use of your or your student’s image in photograph or video, you have the right to withhold its release by contacting Director of Communications Jessica Morales.

EHS accepts credit card payments for specific school items and donations as disclosed. Credit cards are not accepted for student account payments, including tuition and incidentals.