A newsletter for the families and friends of Westchester Country Day School From the Head of School “The Play’s the Thing”: Building Community in the Arts For the second year in a row, I was invited to play a small role in our fall musical production. When I joined the cast last year, I took the role knowing that, apart from a six-week acting workshop in graduate school nearly twenty years prior, my theatrical experience was limited at best. In fact, my role as the Emperor in Mulan was the first time I had been in a play since my highly regarded grade school performance as a sheep in the Christmas Pageant at church. It should go without saying that I was completely terrified. This year, much to my relief and, I’m certain, the relief of all three nights’ worth of ticket holders, this year’s part in Honk! Jr. did not call upon me to sing. This fact, along with my sophomoric confidence, allowed me a certain level of peace during both rehearsals and performances, and I was able to appreciate more immediately and vividly the joyous and miraculous achievement that these productions represent. My own anxiety somewhat abated, I watched each day as Debby Noyes carefully and deliberately pulled the play and the cast together, urging them to push themselves, to work together, and to lean into their roles. I saw Ann Parks, our Director of Arts, imagine, sketch, design, and construct the set for this year’s play by leading, teaching, and collaborating with the twelve Upper School students in her theater production class from start to finish. I listened to the nearly fifty student cast members singing a challenging score with great skill thanks to the wonderful guidance of Shelley Jennings. Staging these plays is an incredibly complex and challenging team effort, and our community rises to this occasion in extraordinary ways. Ann, Debby, Shelley and representatives from the Friends of the Fine Arts organized a veritable army of parent volunteers to build set pieces, paint and construct the proscenium, sew costumes, and supervise children (some as young as five) during rehearsals, before the performances, and backstage between appearances. An incredibly well-organized and disciplined group of Upper School student stagehands managed all of the sets, props, and scene changes on their own. These plays are certainly powerful testaments to the talent, commitment, and generosity of our arts staff, students, and parent volunteers; but this year, perhaps more than most, I was able to see the many ways in which our older student performers teach, care for, connect with, and embrace the younger actors in the play. At every turn I saw Upper Schoolers helping younger actors with their costumes, makeup, entrances, or choreography. As I watched, it wasn’t hard to imagine our older actors, now playing leading roles, having once looked up to the older student actors during their time as Lower School members of the cast. All of this happened quite naturally, a natural extension of who we are as a school community. As I stood backstage waiting to deliver my brief, off-stage lines, everyone hidden from the audience’s eyes danced and sang along to “Warts and All”: student actors, stagehands, the director, and, yes, even a somewhat clumsy Head of School. As we did so, I felt a part of something special, something bigger than myself, and something that all of us Wildcats should be proud to call ours. December 2014 Newsletter In This Issue... Headlines Middle School News Welcome New Wildcats Update from the Admissions Office Upcoming Events Meet Your Wildcats Arts Update Athletics Update For the College Bound
Transcript
A newsletter for the families and friends of Westchester Country Day School
From the Head of School“The Play’s the Thing”: Building Community in the ArtsFor the second year in a row, I was invited to play a small role in our fall
musical production. When I joined the cast last year, I took the role knowing that, apart from a six-week acting workshop in graduate school nearly twenty years prior, my theatrical experience was limited at best. In fact, my role as the Emperor in Mulan was the first time I had been in a play since my highly regarded grade school performance as a sheep in the Christmas Pageant at church. It should go without saying that I was completely terrified.
This year, much to my relief and, I’m certain, the relief of all three nights’ worth of ticket holders, this year’s part in Honk! Jr. did not call upon me to sing. This fact, along with my sophomoric confidence, allowed me a certain level of peace during both rehearsals and performances, and I was able to appreciate more immediately and vividly the joyous and miraculous achievement that these productions represent.
My own anxiety somewhat abated, I watched each day as Debby Noyes carefully and deliberately pulled the play and the cast together, urging them to push themselves, to work together, and to lean into their roles. I saw Ann Parks, our Director of Arts, imagine, sketch, design, and construct the set for this year’s play by leading, teaching, and collaborating with the twelve Upper School students in her theater production class from start to finish. I listened to the nearly fifty student cast members singing a challenging score with great skill thanks to the wonderful guidance of Shelley Jennings.
Staging these plays is an incredibly complex and challenging team effort, and our community rises to this occasion in extraordinary ways. Ann, Debby, Shelley and representatives from the Friends of the Fine Arts organized a veritable army of parent volunteers to build set pieces, paint and construct the proscenium, sew costumes, and supervise children (some as young as five) during rehearsals, before the performances, and backstage between appearances. An incredibly well-organized and disciplined group of Upper School student stagehands managed all of the sets, props, and scene changes on their own.
These plays are certainly powerful testaments to the talent, commitment, and generosity of our arts staff, students, and parent volunteers; but this year, perhaps more than most, I was able to see the many ways in which our older student performers teach, care for, connect with, and embrace the younger actors in the play. At every turn I saw Upper Schoolers helping younger actors with their costumes, makeup, entrances, or choreography. As I watched, it wasn’t hard to imagine our older actors, now playing leading roles, having once looked up to the older student actors during their time as Lower School members of the cast. All of this happened quite naturally, a natural extension of who we are as a school community.
As I stood backstage waiting to deliver my brief, off-stage lines, everyone hidden from the audience’s eyes danced and sang along to “Warts and All”: student actors, stagehands, the director, and, yes, even a somewhat clumsy Head of School. As we did so, I felt a part of something special, something bigger than myself, and something that all of us Wildcats should be proud to call ours.
December 2014 Newsletter
In This Issue...
Headlines
Middle School News
Welcome New Wildcats
Update from the Admissions Office
Upcoming Events
Meet Your Wildcats
Arts Update
Athletics Update
For the College Bound
Update:
Faculty - 100% Participation
Board of Trustees - 86% Participation
Parents - 35% Participation
Goal - 100% Participation from all groups!
Pledge now, pay by June 30, 2015.
Click here to make a pledge today!
The Annual Fund
Supporting Wildcat Nation
This was just another moment in which the power of our community came into focus; in it I saw countless examples of students challenging themselves, confronting and learning from failure, collaborating, solving problems, and so much more. Most powerfully to me, however, I saw everyone involved rallying around our students, celebrating their accomplishments, and helping them to understand the transformative power of community.
The arts have an incredible capacity to bring us together and teach us all powerful and lasting lessons. My brief time as an actor at Westchester has convinced me that when we gather as a school family to see a play, listen to a choral program, watch a talent show or recital, or hear AP Art students present their portfolios, we’re teaching and learning in critically important ways, and we’re giving our students and children a wonderful, life-long gift.
The U.S. House of Representatives has designated December 8-14, 2014, as Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) in recognition of the transformative role of computing and necessity of rigorous computer science education at all levels. During that week, students in computer classes in grades K-12 will participate in a grassroots campaign for tens of millions of students nationwide called Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.
Mr. Burns Wins DAR Award
Middle School history teacher Jeb Burns was selected as the region’s Daughters of the American Revolution History Teacher of the Year. He will be honored at a luncheon on Tuesday, February 10. One of the objectives of the DAR is to recognize notable teachers of American History and related fields, such as social studies, government, and citizenship, in grades five through twelve. The candidates must have an incisive knowledge of American history and foster a spirit of patriotism and loyal support for our country and constitutional government.
Headlines
WCDS Students Go Far
The cold weather did not deter more than 50 determined WCDS Lower School students (or Wally the Wildcat!) at the GO FAR 5K on Saturday, November 15. Congratulations to all the Westchester students, parents, and teachers who competed in the High Point race. WCDS was represented by over 50 runners and, of course, Wally. The students trained for 10 weeks on the fields and trails at school, and, for many of them, this was their first 5K race. Look for details to come about the Spring GO FAR season starting in early March!
Teachers Hear from Love Languages Guru
Sara Britt Grein (left) and Lisa Meyer-Braun took a moment to snap a photo with Dr. Gary Chapman, the author of the Love Languages books, during the November 14 meeting of the TILR (Triad Independent (Schools) Learning Resource Network). Dr. Chapman spoke to the group, which is comprised of learning specialists from independent schools in the Triad area, about his book, The Five Love Languages of Children.
Middle School News from Mrs. Keever For some reason, the Middle School hall has been filled with humming and singing recently; it sounds like
quacks and honks, but the harmony is delightful! We adventured through November with much enthusiasm and excitement.
The highlight of the month was the play, Honk! Jr., which was directed by our most marvelous Swan of Drama, Debby Noyes, and showcased many Middle Schoolers as lead actors and actresses.
Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Huggins travelled to Chapel Hill with the eighth graders to enjoy a creative version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Playmakers Theater. Shakespeare was brought to life indeed!
Mr. Burns, Mrs. Jenkins, and Mrs. Noyes invited the seventh graders to march into history with a journey to the Guilford County Courthouse and Battlefield, as well as a local cemetery, which was a thrilling field trip. Students enjoyed actively learning and exploring these venues.
We witnessed hope and endurance in a unique Holocaust presentation brought to us by Julie Kohner of Voices of the Generations (see photo). Students were attentive and demonstrated empathy and compassion as they witnessed the effects of devotion and concern for all humanity.
In an attempt to explore and demystify Middle School, fifth graders paraded into our advisory groups and spent part of a day experiencing fun and excitement in Middle School.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Middle School Wildcats have
blazed a path. Students and faculty alike are joining the rest of the school to donate books for students at Fairview Elementary. During our C.A.R.E.S. Crew event, we wrapped the hundreds of books we have collected.
We are thankful for all our Middle School Wildcats!
Welcome New Wildcats
7th GradeMiss Grayson C. Rosser (Grayson)Mr. and Mrs. Clarence P. Rosser II (Pat and Lesley) 8th GradeMr. Lucas L. Antinori (Lucas)Ms. Mary B. Lohr (Mary Berkley)Mr. John Antinori (John) Mr. Griffith Z. Smith (Griff)Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. Smith (Ted and Nina)
From the Admissions OfficeMY TRIP TO CHINABy: Kerie Beth Scott
As I am writing this, I am sitting at a school fair in Nanjing, China, waiting to interview six nervous students. At this point I have done two other school fairs (Beijing and Wuhan) with about six to ten students each, so I know they are coming to me anxious to learn more about WCDS/American schools in general, and, of course, to speak English. What a daunting task - not to meet me - but to speak in English. It is extremely difficult for some of these students as they are just beginning their journey to study in the U.S.A. While they are nervous, I am just as nervous about whether they can understand me! I have really gotten a sense of how our international students feel when arriving in the U.S.A.
Let me back up. I was very lucky to be asked to visit China with our Chinese international student exchange partners - New Oasis International Education. I was with a group of nine of my colleagues from a variety of independent schools. The point of this 2-week adventure was to learn about the Chinese culture, visit schools, and meet students interested in studying abroad. I certainly did all that and much, much more. What I experienced was amazing. Although we stayed busy and worked hard, it was fascinating to learn about China’s long history, its rituals, and how the Chinese live compared to Americans. Of all the events we experienced - the Great Wall of China, visiting public and private Chinese schools, speaking one on one with students - my favorite was having dinner with a Chinese family.
The Wang family opened their home for 3 hours to completely strange Americans who asked all sorts of dumb questions and gave us one of the most amazing experiences of our whole trip! The Wangs are a family of three. Mom teaches English at the local university, which was a huge bonus as she understood us with no translation! The son spoke decent English, and the dad none. The first thing we did after entering the 7th floor of the Wangs’ gated apartment building (one of millions) was to take off our shoes. After introductions, Mom put us to work making dumplings. It was really neat and hard! Our menu consisted of salad, steamed pork dumplings, rice, baked pumpkin and potatoes, and a tomato beef stew. The food seemed very similar to what we would eat at home, but with a Chinese twist. This was welcome after so many meals of very traditional banquet style Chinese meals. We talked for hours, asking each other questions and getting to know the differences and similarities of our cultures. If I had only done this one thing on this trip, I would have been completely satisfied!
What I also got out of this trip was an amazing camaraderie among my nine other counterparts. We all knew of each other, or at least each other’s schools - Charlotte Country Day School, Ravenscroft, Providence Day School, Gaston Day School, St. David’s School, Greensboro Day School, Augusta Preparatory School, and Westminster Schools of Augusta. We are all administrators who deal directly with international students, looking to understand more about the Chinese students and their journeys. Someone mentioned before we left that this was going to be like camp, and it was exactly that. We had a blast getting to know each other, laughing at silly jokes, making fun of each other as we tried to speak Chinese, and getting through each meal of traditional Chinese dishes together. The experience I had with each and every one of these folks was priceless!
I feel very lucky and honored to have been able to go on this trip! It has definitely changed the way I think about international student exchange, how sympathetic I am to the students entering a new culture, and how I will help educate our host families about exchange students. I could not have gone on this trip without the support of everyone who kept the Admissions Office running smoothly! Not to mention my husband and children who made this trip possible! Thank you for this fantastic opportunity that I will cherish always!
Please consider hosting an exchange student for the 2015-2016 school year. Believe it or not, we are already receiving applications from a variety of European and Chinese students. For more information contact me or Ashley in the Admissions Office.
Above is the group with students in Wuhan. Below is Mrs. Scott with a student and his 3-D printer in Hangzhou #2 School.
2014-2015 Yearbooks
This year one yearbook per family is included in the activities fee. If you would like to purchase an additional yearbook which may include personalization, click here.
Upcoming EventsHUBS Deadline ExtendedWAPA will take HUBS orders until Thursday, December 4! Please send in to Mrs. Argo in the Front Office.
PAWS No Homework NightWednesday, December 3
WAPA Book Club8:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 3, Library. We will be discussing The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsberg. Everyone is welcome!
Friends of the Fine Arts Meeting8:00 a.m. Thursday, December 4, Library
Booster Club Meeting7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 4, Blue Rock Pizza
Middle School Service DayFriday, December 5
Christmas Tree/Wreath Sale Pick-UpSaturday, December 6Wesley Memorial UMC
Upper School Semi-FormalSaturday, December 6
Middle and Upper School Holiday ConcertMonday, December 8, 7:00 p.m., Rives Hall
HUBS Delivery and Pick-UpThursday, December 11
Lower School Holiday ConcertThursday, December 18, 6:30 p.m., Rives Hall
Holiday BreakFriday, December 19 - 11:30 a.m. dismissalMonday, December 22 - Friday, January 2 - no schoolClasses resume on Monday, January 5
Meet Your WildcatsName: Samantha Hauser
Title: Lower/Middle School PE Teacher
Family: Husband - Dan Hauser (Athletic Director at HPU)Covington Hauser - 3rd GradeWhit Hauser - Kindergarten
What was your favorite subject in school? I loved all subjects except Chemistry!
What book are you reading? Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
Name of the last movie you watched: Dolphin Tale 2
Favorite Restaurant: Haven’t been in High Point long enough for a favorite, but I love Blue Rock!
Dream Vacation: Italy
Something most people don’t know about you: I grew up in the 80’s but never had braces or a perm.
Favorite thing about Westchester:Interacting with students from Pre-K all the way to seniors and the safe, family environment.
During our C.A.R.E.S. Crews event on November 25, students gathered with their buddies to wrap books (above) and make math fact cards (right) for the students at Fairview and Northwood elementary schools and to write cards to our troops overseas. We also celebrated Native American Heritage Month by making beaded bracelets and contributing a leaf to our dream catcher created by Mrs. Meyer-Braun, which will be on display in front of the library. Last, but not least, we enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast (above right) courtesy of Mrs. Evans and our amazing kitchen staff.
K i n d e r g a r t e n students created turkeys to celebrate the season.
The Freshwater Ecology Pond was dedicated to longtime science teacher Jane Bowie on November 11. Ms. Bowie taught at WCDS for 32 years, and the science faculty was on hand to honor her (above). At left is the plaque which now sits on the side of the pond on the WCDS campus.
Arts Update from Ann ParksDecember is a time of sharing our gifts. In the
Arts, we share our gifts of harmony in song, our gifts of dance and imagination, and our gifts of colorful imagery. The Arts allow us an avenue for sharing time and helping others. Through the Arts, we have an opportunity to spend time together as a community. Though we are all busier than we may want, take the time this season to share your talents and to enjoy the gifts of others.
“Out there, someone’s gonna love ya…warts and all!”
What a great lesson the Bullfrog, played by Daniel Ayodele, taught us in our production of Honk! Jr. Many thanks to the over fifty students and staff on the stage, the many stage crew members backstage, and the parent volunteers who minded children, popped popcorn, and constructed costumes and scenery. The Arts faculty cannot continue to present these fine productions without the many helping hands and gifts of time and talent. Honk! (Thanks!)
We’ll continue our celebration of the Arts with our Winter Concerts and community events. These are wonderful opportunities to see and hear our young talented students and to share in the joy of music. Let’s come together both to be entertained and to be a part of what makes the Arts at Westchester so special!
• December 6, Footnotes and Ensemble will perform at the Briles House for the Uptowne High Point Holiday Stroll.
• December 8, the Middle and Upper School Winter Music Program will feature our seventh and eighth grade music classes and the Upper School Vocal Ensemble.
• December 9, Footnotes will perform at Westchester Harbour.
• December 18, the Lower School Winter Music Program, “Holiday Windows.”
This time of year the visual arts transition from images of harvest pumpkins to wintry mittens! The colors and patterns of the season help us celebrate the Arts and all that we enjoy. The Theater Art Gallery in High Point is featuring the selected artworks of our Lower School students now through mid-January. While at the theater, visit the Kaleidoscope Youth Gallery on the second floor to see our talented young artists’ works.
Early in December, the Upper School Art Club will serve our Westchester Community by helping their kindergarten friends with their gingerbread house building. This in-school activity will take the place of our after-school fundraiser.
Celebrate the season with a song; create a holiday card for someone you love! Share your gifts!
Fifth grade teacher Vicki Sloop recently attended a seminar at the NC Museum of Art on “Exploring Materials,” which provided back-ground and mod-eling for lessons on using clay, paper, and cardboard to integrate the Arts into the regular classroom. Participants created three-dimensional letters spelling North Carolina (see photograph). Mrs. Sloop intends to use this concept when her students study the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright as part of their reading of The Wright 3, a mystery involv-ing Wright’s architecture. Their understanding of design, spatial organization, and the contexts of Wright’s work will be heightened by this project.
Arts Integration Spotlight
In the Middle School, history teacher Jeb Burns integrates the Arts into many of his lessons. The portrait of George Orwell (right), created in eighth grade, uses collaged imagery and words to communicate the complex issues of World War II. “The Many Faces of Queen Elizabeth I” (below) was a reflective e x e r c i s e completed by this year’s 7th graders after watching the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
Winter sports are under way, and we are excited to watch all of our student athletes in the pool, on the court, and cheering in the stands! Some other news and notes:
David Couch has been selected as the 2015 Westchester Country Day School Athletic Hall of Fame award winner for his extraordinary support of WCDS and our athletic program for so many years. He will be recognized on Homecoming Night on Friday, January 9, 2015.
Meet Rives! She is an 8-week-old yellow lab puppy who was generously donated to WCDS Booster Club by Cindy and Bruce Thomas (thank you!) The Booster Club will be auctioning her off to the highest bidder via an online auction site beginning Monday, December 8. Watch your email for more details soon!
Happy Holidays to all of our Wildcat athletes, coaches, and families! 2014 was an awesome year on the fields, courts, tracks, courses, and pools! We are all looking forward to a wonderful 2015!
Athletics Update from Coach Schwartz
Photo courtesy of Michael Lindsay, High Point Enterprise
Photo courtesy of Michael Lindsay, High Point Enterprise
Wildcat seniors Thomas Walsh (top) and Chelsea Eley signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers.
Thomas will play golf at the University of Virginia starting in the fall of 2015.
Chelsea will compete in gymnastics at Bowling Green State University starting in the fall of 2015.
Congratulations to Thomas and Chelsea, as well as their families, on this huge accomplishment!
For the College BoundThe College Office is a very busy place these
days as seniors meet early deadlines at various colleges and universities. It is a good idea to submit applications to college early for a host of reasons. For example, not only do students receive admission decisions earlier in the year, reducing the anxiety and uncertainty of having to wait until the spring for an answer, but they also in some cases increase their odds of being admitted by being in a smaller pool of candidates rather than in the larger group of regular decision applicants. Furthermore, at many schools, to be considered for merit-based scholarships and/or an Honors College program, a student must apply early, well before the regular admission deadline.
For those of you new(er) to the college admissions process, it is helpful to have an understanding of the different admission plans offered by colleges and universities so that each student, when given the choice, can select the one that best suits his or her level of interest in the school. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers the following explanation of the most common admission plans:
There are two main categories of admission options: non-restrictive and restrictive. Non-restrictive application plans do not restrict students from applying to other institutions. You’ll have until May 1 to consider your options and confirm enrollment. There are three application plans under non-restrictive:
• Regular Decision • Rolling Admission • Early Action—this is an “early” option
Regular Decision means that you turn in your application by the college’s deadline, and they let you know by a specified date.
For Rolling Admission, schools review applications as they’re submitted and make decisions throughout the admission cycle (usually within four to six weeks of submission of the application). It is usually wise to send your application as soon as possible since some colleges will fill their class by early winter.
With Early Action, you send your application by the early deadline, and the college sends you its decision earlier. Some colleges do have additional restrictions on their early action programs, though, so make sure to read carefully the instructions from each college.
There are two types of restrictive application plans:
• Early Decision• Restrictive Early Action When you decide to apply Early Decision, you are committing yourself to going to that school. Early Decision is for those early-bird students who already have a clear first-choice college. If you’re still comparing colleges and don’t want to limit your choices yet, Early Decision is not for you. Why? Early Decision is a contract between you and the college. You agree that if the college accepts you, you’ll withdraw all other college applications and attend the early decision college. Because of this commitment, you can apply Early Decision to only one college.
The other restrictive option is Restrictive Early Action. This one means that you apply to your school of choice and get a decision early. Be aware, though, that some schools restrict applicants from applying to any other early plans at other schools. If you go this way, you’ll have until May 1 to confirm that you’ll be attending.
These early options can be confusing—some schools even have more than one of these options—so talk to your guidance counselor if there’s anything you don’t understand.
Colleges respond to early applications in one of three ways: acceptance, rejection or holding applications over to regular decision.
Given how many early applications have been submitted by the Class of 2015, many seniors will learn of admission decisions in December and January. Please join me in being supportive of them during this important time!
And, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Be An Ambassador for WCDSShow your support for our amazing school by becoming an
auction sponsor! There are many different levels:
AMBASSADOR Sponsor – $10,000 – 1 opportunity• Banner in the Finch Center Gymnasium for one year• Your corporate logo on the cover of the Auction catalog AND on the invitation• Logo on the Westchester Country Day School website• Banner on the baseball field for one year• Up to 8 reservations and priority seating at Auction OR a combination of reservations and
raffle tickets totaling $800 • One Grand Raffle ticket guaranteed to be in the last ten to be drawn• Sponsor of 6 faculty members for the Gala (random drawing)
DIPLOMAT Sponsor – $5,000 – 4 opportunities• Half-page advertisement in the Auction catalog• Logo on the Westchester Country Day School website• Banner on the baseball field for one year• Six reservations and priority seating at Auction OR a combination of reservations and raffle
tickets totaling $600 • Sponsor of 4 faculty members for the Gala (random drawing)
EXPLORER Sponsor – $1,500 – multiple opportunities• Sponsor recognition on the WCDS website• Logo recognition in the catalog• Four reservations / priority seating at Auction • Sponsor of 2 faculty members for the Gala (random drawing)
TRAVELER Patron – $500 – multiple opportunities• Two reservations to the Gala • Recognition in the catalog
For more information or to share ideas, contact the Development Office or Tina Elsayed.
The Blue and White Gala Auction - Passport to Wildcat Nation - will be Saturday, March 21, 2015, in the Finch Center for Academic and Athletic Excellence.
Westchester Country Day is a college preparatory school that seeks to educate each child toward moral, academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in a nurturing, family environment where students, teachers, and parents support one another. By respecting the student and honoring learning, Westchester aims to cultivate informed citizens who are ready for a rapidly changing world and to graduate students who view the pursuit and wise use of knowledge as a lifelong joy.
