Holy Comforter Episcopal School

Don’t forget to join us at the Jersey Mike’s in Market Square for Spirit Night, tonight!

What a game! The Crusaders fought hard to come back not once but TWICE, with the final touchdown scored to win with less than 30 seconds on the clock! Congrats to the team and our coaches for an incredible win last night!

It’s Game Day, Crusaders! Come out and support tonight- 6pm in the Crusader Bowl 🏈

Fifth graders had an exciting time at the instrument petting zoo during music class! They had the opportunity to try a flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and a bell percussion.

It was a beautiful morning for outdoor chapel! What a way to end the first full week of school. ✝️

Sweet Treat Meet and Greet with all of our HCES families and friends ❤️! We loved seeing everyone back on campus and we are ready for the 1st day! Thank you for supporting this afternoon’s Meet and Greet!

Back to School - 90's style! We can't wait to see you this afternoon.

2023 Back to School Video

Welcome Mrs. Kristen Korepanov to our 4th grade team! Kristen grew up in Naples, Florida and attended the Community School of Naples. She holds two Master’s degrees, one in Elementary Education and one in Educational Leadership. She had a daughter who will be entering PK4 this year. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and going to Disney!

Welcome Heather O’Steen to the Middle School Math Department! She will be teaching middle school math and pre-algebra. Heather is an HCES alumni parent - her daughter Ella graduated in 2018 so she is a familiar face on campus! She loves to travel, near and far, enjoys baking, Disney and all things Gator sports! We are excited to welcome her back to HCES!

Today, we welcome our new PK3 friends and families to campus to meet and greet and of course, play! We can’t wait to welcome these newest Crusaders to school next week.

Welcome Mr. Carl Jean-Pierre to our Middle School Science Department. He’s from South Florida and moved to Tallahassee 5 years ago with his wife. He’s a musician, playing the piano and drums. He enjoys sports, computers, great tv shows and movies and of course, music!

Welcome Mrs. Brooke Autrey to 1st grade team! This is her 13th year in the classroom and will graduate this fall with her Master’s in Educational Leadership. She and her husband Travis are proud parents to Baker (3) and Madison (3 months). They are Seminole fans and love to attend FSU sporting events. Fun Fact: She loves to run and has run 5 half marathons!

Welcoming PK4, K and 6th grade parents back on campus this evening!

-PK4 Parent Orientation (Classrooms) at 6pm
-Kindergarten Parent Orientation (Media Center) at 6pm
-6th Grade Parent Meeting (Commons) 6pm
See you then✨

Welcome Mrs. Alyssa (Fontela) House to the Middle School as our 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher! Alyssa is an HCES grad (class of 2007) and recently moved back to Tallahassee with her husband and 3 children - 3 under 3! She attended Springhill College and received her Masters in Secondary English Education from the University of Georgia. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and kayaking. Welcome back home, Alyssa!

Teachers are beginning to come back to campus and, today, Mrs. Cowart, our Reading Specialist hosted a professional development workshop for our PK through 2nd grade teams. We love seeing them back on campus!

The countdown is on and we can’t wait to see you back on campus! 💙❤️💙

Attn Parents! Back to School packets were mailed last Wednesday. Please check your mailbox for all of the important info! You can also check https://www.hces.org/back-to-school. See you soon!
💙❤️🤍

Holy Comforter Alumni and Alumni Parents: Share your news with us!

We are working on the next edition of the Spirit Magazine and would love to hear what our alumni are up to: career moves, athletic superlatives, academic accomplishments (especially college or masters programs), marriages, new additions to the family, etc. Pictures 📸 are welcomed and encouraged! Complete the form https://form.jotform.com/231925504006044

Rest in it, nest in it, fully be blessed in it 🎶

We are saddened to share Jane D. Mooney, former HCES Head of School from 1983 – 1993, passed away surrounded by her family on May 31, 2023. Jane Mooney, one of just five HCES Heads of School, provided incredible leadership to advance HCES from a small parish school to a successful private lower and middle school in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Jane Derden Mooney, “GrandJane” was born on September 2, 1930 in Athens, GA.  She was a well-known educator and taught at multiple Tallahassee schools including HCES, Leon High School and Tallahassee Community College, amongst other schools throughout Florida in her illustrious career. She was beloved by her students and touched the lives of so many.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2:00pm at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, where Jane and her husband Neil were active members and leaders in the church. A private family interment service was previously held at the National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Holy Comforter Episcopal School or the Big Bend Hospice in memory of Jane Mooney. Gifts may be made at www.hces.org/support or https://bigbendhospice.charityproud.org/Donate.

Last week, several Middle Schoolers participated in the Crusaders in the Community summer camp. 26 students attended and volunteered, giving back to various organizations around Tallahassee. They partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank, sorting food; Grace Mission, cleaning, yard work, and organization projects; Family Promise of the Big Bend - HOPE Center, a Homeless shelter for families, students organized the clothing closet, picked up trash and made Father's Day cards for the residents; Villas at Killearn Assisted Living and Memory Care, delivering newspapers, and playing games with the residents; and ECHO Outreach Ministries providing emergency relief and family sustainability to impoverished Leon County residents and the homeless. Next week we will host week 2 of Crusaders in the Community. We are proud of these Crusaders and their heart for our community!

School Supplies Kits are being fulfilled now through July 1st! Order here https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=23787

Attn Parents! If you are ready to shop for uniforms, here is a code for 20% off + 1 cent logo application for June 16-July 21!

We loved welcoming alum, back to campus today to visit! She is a member of our newly formed Alumni Committee. More information on that coming soon! Alums, we always love to see you - stop by anytime!

Thank you for an incredible year!

Thank you for being part of our HCES family! What an incredible year ❤️

On Monday evening, we had the honor and privilege to gather and celebrate the HCES Class of 2023. It was a joy to recognize these graduates as we are so proud of their hard work and accomplishments over the years. We cannot wait to watch and cheer them on as they journey to high school and beyond. To the class of 2023, remember, you are always welcome back home to “Holy Comfortable.”

End of year middle school bowling fun!

It was a special morning for the annual 5th Grade Celebration and May Day with families and friends. The beloved traditions are a beautiful and meaningful way to end the year and send our 5th graders off to middle school!  

8th graders are spending their final days together as HCES students at Camp W**d reflecting on their years together and having fun!

1st graders presented their Animal Research Diorama projects with families and friends, today. The students read about their animals, took notes, completed a research workbook and made dioramas showcasing the habitat. It was a fun hands-on way to learn and share!

This morning, members of our 8th grade class presented a check to from proceeds raised at the Thursday Night Lights Football Jamboree. Service is part of the mission at HCES and students are given opportunities to give back to the community each year. This year, during their last year at HCES, 8th grade students researched several local non-profits and as a class voted on one to support. The Kearney Center was the winning non-profit and our 8th graders were thrilled to support them.

Just over a week left and we’re still learning! 7th graders analyzed several types of data from World War I to be able to explain the “why” behind the “what”.

Thank you, SunBlest Gardens for such a wonderful hands-on learning experience for our 2nd graders!

Our 4th graders did a great job filling in as safety patrols while the 5th graders were in Tremont this week!

Congratulations to the newest members of the Middle School National Junior Honor Society. Students were inducted during a special ceremony this morning. Student officers of NJHS led the ceremony while parents and friends watched. Congratulations new members!

This morning, our 8th graders and families gathered for their last HCES chapel and the traditional Baccalaureate service. At the end of the ceremony, Penny the Bell rang as each graduate’s name was read aloud, a beloved tradition each year. Families gathered in the courtyard for a special reception and enjoyed food and fellowship together.

This weekend some of our students celebrated a special honor! These students attended the book launch of Charlie’s Song by Susan Koehler at Midtown Reader. They were presented autographed copies of the book and recognized in front of the audience as they had the special opportunity to be beta readers, write reviews, and have their quotes printed on the back of the published book! Thank you for giving our students such a wonderful opportunity that they will remember for years to come!

8th graders got a surprise “recess” back on the lower school playgrounds. They enjoyed a little free time after exams during their last few weeks!

The Kindergarten Author’s Tea welcomed families to a special book preview and tea over the past 2 days. Each student wrote their very own book and read it for their classmates and families and then celebrated with a reception! Thank you to our homeroom moms for all of their work making it so special. 

This morning, 2nd graders took a field trip to . SunBlest Gardens is a family owned, local commercial greenhouse that grows for our local retail markets. The students toured the grounds and greenhouses, learned all about plants and even got to take one home!

We had a special lunch today chosen by one of our 2nd graders, Mila! She was able to set the menu as part of an auction item from this year’s gala… and chicken lo mein was a hit!