The Ellis School

Infobox_School
name = The Ellis School


motto = Esse Quam Videri
("To Be Rather Than To Seem") [cite web |url=http://www.rkdn.org/tobe.htm |title=Esse Quam Videri |accessdate=2006-12-15 |work=Real Knowledge Data Network Web Site ]
established = 1916
type = Independent, All Girls
affiliation = Pittsburgh Consortium of Independent Schools, Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, National Coalition of Girls’ Schools [cite web |url=http://www.theellisschool.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?page=30221 |title=Acreditations and Affiliations |accessdate=2006-12-15 |work=The Ellis School Web Site]
district =
grades = Pre-K–12
president =
principal =
head of school = Dr. Mary Grant, PhD.
dean =
faculty =
staff =
students =
enrollment = 470cite web |url=http://www.theellisschool.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?page=19797 |title=About Us | accessdate=2006-12-15 |work=The Ellis School Web Site]
athletics =
conference =
colors = White and Forest Green
mascot = Tiger
free_label =
free_text =
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
location = 6425 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
country = USA
contact number = 412-661-5992
website = [http://www.theellisschool.org The Ellis School]

The Ellis School is an independent, PreK-12 college preparatory school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1916. The school is a private all-girls institution with the current enrollment around 470 students.

Mission Statement

Founded in 1916, The Ellis School is dedicated to excellence in the education of girls and young women. Inspired with a passion for learning in and beyond the classroom, students actively pursue the opportunities of a rich and challenging curriculum and develop the wisdom and courage to lead in local and global communities

Athletics

Ellis joined the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) in 1998. The cross-country team frequently wins awards and is known throughout the state for its exceptional skill. Ellis sports not associated with WPIAL sports include crew, swimming, and track and field.The Ellis teams' mascot is the tiger.

Clubs and Extracurricular Activities

Ellis offers a wide range of clubs. The Ellis Athletic Association (EAA) strives to promote school spirit in all students and faculty. The EAA also promotes all the school sports teams and acts as a "booster" club for most sports. Clubs such as Guild seek to help those in need. In 2005, The Freshmen and Junior classes raised over 9000 dollars to benefit tsunami victims. There are many other pro-active clubs as well as clubs dedicated to interests or hobbies such as Math Club or History Discussion Group. Clubs at Ellis are generally organized by students and have a faculty sponsor.

Ellis' Hometown High-Q team made it to semi-finals in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Ellis' GSA was formed in 2001 after much discussion and objection from teachers and parents. In the beginning the school proposed that they simply make it a "Sexual issues" club, but the teachers who supported the founding understood that there needed to be more to it than having a venue for discussing sex in school. When it was formed the students were clear that the more important part was to encourage openness in discussing homosexuality, and to quell some of the homophobia which is inherent in a single sex environment. At first, due to objections from parents and faculty, the club was called "alliance" and not formally associated with the national GSA.

Notable alumnae

*Janice Burgess (Class of 1974), Creator of "The Backyardigans" Cartoon Series. [Owen, Rob. [http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/06281/727734-237.stm "Q&A with Janice Burgess"] , "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", October 8, 2006. Accessed January 18, 2008. "Landing Keys was a treat for series creator Janice Burgess, a Squirrel Hill native and a 1974 graduate of The Ellis School."]
* Annie Dillard, writer, Pulitzer Prize recipient. [cite web |url=http://www.anniedillard.com/ |title=Official Annie Dillard Web Site |accessdate=2006-12-16]
*Elsie Hillman, "a major force (some even say "kingmaker") in the Republican Party, both locally and nationally, Hillman stepped down in 1996. She helped elect John Heinz to the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Richard Thornburgh and Tom Ridge as Pennsylvania governors and George W. Bush as president." [cite web |url=http:http://www.spongobongo.com/em/nm/eme9924.htm|title=Notes on Elsie Hillman |accessdate=2006-12-16 |]
* Amy Rosenzweig, biochemist, MacArthur Grant recipient. [cite web |url=http://www.amherst.edu/~pubaff/news/news_releases/03/rosenzweig03.html |title=Amherst College Graduate Amy Rosenzweig Receives MacArthur "Genius Award" |accessdate=2006-12-16 |work=Amherst College Web Site]

Trivia

Annie Dillard's memoir, "An American Childhood", describes her experiences while attending the school.

In order to recruit male talent for the school musicals, several theater majors from nearby Carnegie Mellon University have been hired in years past. Several of these students went on to become major actors, such as actor Patrick Wilson.

References

External links

* [http://www.theellisschool.org The Ellis School homepage]
* [http://sara.theellisschool.org/shipwreck Virtual Bronze Age Shipwreck] site for students, created by Ellis faculty members. (See Uluburun.)