Knightly News

Knight School returns this fall with the opportunity to dance in Mamou, learn Nonna’s family sauce recipe and play the ukelele. Episcopal educators will offer seven exciting and inspiring classes that showcase the depth of knowledge, expertise and excellence that have served students well for six decades.

Middle School history teacher Julie Weaver introduced the Knight School concept to the Episcopal community last year. She says the classes are an excellent opportunity for teachers and families to connect beyond the parent/teacher relationship. After last year’s success, she recalls Knight School participants appreciating the chance to see their child’s teacher in action and learn more about them as a person. Incredibly, several of Weaver’s seventh grade students even recommended that their parents take the class this year.

This fall, Weaver’s course will cover the history of the Holocaust with several new components added. “I thought I was well educated on the Holocaust, but each year as I prepare to teach this unit, I find that there is so much more to learn,” she says. For example, Weaver knew that music was a part of the daily life of camp prisoners, but she just learned of the discovery of fragments of sheet music composed by prisoners of Auschwitz that have now been restored and performed as recently as November of 2023.  She looks forward to discussing and sampling the sounds with class participants.

New Opportunities for Learning and Returning Favorites

For those interested in delving deeper into the history of religion and learning more about new Head Chaplain, Father Patrick Edwards, the new Survey of US Religious History course is an ideal option. Always a popular topic, Madame Runge returns to Knight School to offer instructions on family recipes and French and Italian culture. In addition, Dr. Elizabeth Lewis will offer tips to nurture creative talents, and Lower School music teacher Jordan Tupper will help aspiring ukelele and guitar players develop their musical skills. Coach Dupe will once again offer Cajun dance lessons, with several new moves on the agenda. To show off what they learn, students will join him in Mamou for dancing and Cajun cuisine.

Knight School is the perfect opportunity for families and the community to experience firsthand the excellence offered by Episcopal educators. Whether you take one course or all six, you are sure to learn something new and leave with a host of new friends and connections.

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from Episcopal educators. Knight School will only be offered in the fall this school year to accommodate the busy event schedules of the spring.

Check out the list of this semester’s courses and register online here. 

“Adult Ukelele and Guitar Club” by Jordan Tupper

The adult ukelele and guitar club for beginners is a warm, welcoming community where music enthusiasts of all backgrounds gather to explore their passion. Set in a cozy, relaxed environment, the club is perfect for those just starting their musical journey and those who have wanted to find new folks to jam with. Members meet regularly to learn basic chords, strumming techniques, and simple songs, with a very patient Mr. Tupper guiding the way. The atmosphere is casual and supportive, encouraging everyone to progress at their own pace. Whether you're looking to play classic folk tunes on the guitar or strum cheerful melodies on the ukelele, this club offers a fun and engaging space to develop your skills while connecting with fellow beginners. All experience levels are welcome. Come share your gifts and talents with us!

Course Details:
This club will meet on Monday evenings for six nights from 7:00-8:30 (October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, and 18). The course is $180 per participant. ($145 for alumni.) We will have a few ukeleles and guitars available for your use, but if you have one of your own, please bring it!

“Behind Every Number:  A History of the Holocaust through Stories” by Julie Weaver, Middle School History

This course will cover the history of the Holocaust, including the long history of anti-Semitism, the rise of the Nazi Party, the implementation of the Final Solution, the role of ordinary people, and the American response, with the goal of understanding the processes that led to the Holocaust and leading to reflection on our personal roles in society.  We will use Holocaust literature as a guide to investigating true personal stories and learning about individual experiences within the context of the history of World War II and the Holocaust.  Attendees will follow the story of and analyze artifacts related to an individual involved in the Holocaust to understand the effects of various events occurring in Europe during World War II.  The course will culminate in an optional trip to Auschwitz in Poland at the beginning of the summer of 2025. Attendees should plan on a small amount of reading prior to each session and should bring an iPad, computer, or some other device to access information online during class.

Course Details:

This course will meet from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. for five nights (October 15th, 22nd, 29th, November 5th and 12th). This course has a minimum enrollment requirement; if the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, participants will receive a refund. The cost for the course is $150.00 per participant. ($120 for alumni.)

Cajun Dancing by Coach Dupe, Cross Country/Track & Field Coach

Allons danser! Let’s go dancing! Join Coach Dupe for an evening of joie de vivre with friends, family, and Cajun culture. In this class, you will learn the basics of the Cajun jitterbug, Cotton Eye Joe, Cajun waltz, electric slide, the freeze, and some modern line dances. This class will culminate in an optional outing to Fred's Lounge in Mamou for a day of dancing and a Cajun lunch. So, grab a partner (or come solo!) and laissez le bon temps rouler! 

Course Details:

This course will meet from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. for one night (December 5), and participants will visit Fred’s Lounge in Mamou on Saturday, December 7 (optional) to show off newly learned Cajun dance skills. This course has a minimum enrollment requirement; if the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, participants will receive a refund. The cost for the course is $50 per participant. ($40 for alumni.)

 “Creativity: The Importance of Identifying and Nurturing Creative Behaviors” by Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, first grade teacher

Participants will learn how creativity is measured and why nurturing creative strengths is so important for students of all ages. Strategies for developing creative strengths will be shared in each session.

Course Details:

This course will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. for four nights (October 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th). This course has a minimum enrollment requirement; if the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, participants will receive a refund. The cost for the course is $100 per participant. ($80 for alumni.)

 A Survey of US Religious History by Father Patrick Edwards

This survey course is an abridged examination of a course previously taught by Fr Patrick in the Upper School studying how faith and religion were evident and crucial in the history of the United States. We will examine chronologically and thematically the impact of what began primarily as Protestant Christianity but later expanded to include Judaism, Islam, and all the faiths of the world. We will see how religion and faith acted as catalyst, inspiration, and motivation for the seminal stages of our nation’s development and look to how decline in religious adherence might impact our future.

Course Details:

This course will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 for seven nights (October 9, 16, 23, 30, November 6, 13, and 20). This course has a minimum enrollment requirement; if the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, participants will receive a refund. The cost for the course is $262.50 per participant. ($210 for alumni.)

 "Tartes et Tagliatelle: A Culinary Love Affair between France and Italy” by Isabella Runge, French teacher 

Calling all foodies! French charm to Italian delight cuisine. A variety of Italian and French dishes, such as fresh pasta, my "nonna" tomato sauce, tiramisu, French King Cake, and more! All dishes can be adapted for dietary restrictions. Lessons will include videos, games, and cooking! 

Learning French and Italian is a complex process, but cooking French and Italian food is a fun and “easy” activity that is rewarding in the end!  

Ciao! Salut! 

Course Details: 

This course will meet from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday nights for five nights (October 16th, 23rd, 30th, and November 6th and 13th).  This course has a minimum enrollment requirement; if the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, participants will receive a refund. The cost for the course is $187.50 per participant. ($150 for alumni.)

"Unlock Your Creativity with AI: Art and Music Creation Night School Class by Patrick Stephens, Upper School teacher

Have you ever wanted to have truly personalized artwork for your house but either don’t have the artistic skill or don’t want to pay a high cost to commission a personalized painting? Or perhaps you’ve dreamed of composing your own music but felt limited by your musical knowledge? In this current age of AI, you no longer have these roadblocks!

In this class, you will learn how to use AI tools and techniques to generate, transform, and customize images, such as portraits, landscapes, abstract art, or any other artwork or home decor you can think of. You will also learn how to personalize your digital art and portraits to reflect your own style, preferences, or personality. Additionally, you will explore the exciting world of AI-generated music using Suno AI, enabling you to create unique soundtracks and compositions that perfectly complement your visual art or stand alone as original pieces.

By the end of this class, you will be able to:

• Use AI algorithms to create or modify images
• Apply different styles, filters, or effects to your images
• Customize your images to be as photo-accurate as possible
• Discover options for finalizing and printing your customized art
• Utilize Suno AI to generate and customize music tracks
• Integrate your AI-generated music with your visual art projects

This class is for anyone who is interested in digital art and AI and wants to express their creativity in a fun and easy way. No prior experience or knowledge of AI, digital art, or music composition is required. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a sense of adventure. While we will go over some editing techniques that use subscription-based tools such as Photoshop, much of the instruction will focus on how to create digital art and music using only subscription-free web-based tools.

Join this class and discover the amazing possibilities of digital art and AI. You will be surprised by what you can create and how much you can learn. This is art and music that any Knight can do!

Course Details:

This course will meet on Monday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 for six nights (October 14, 21, 28, 30, November 4 and 11). This course has a minimum enrollment requirement; if the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, participants will receive a refund. The cost for the course is $225 per participant.

Register for Knight School!

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.