The Gateway Spring 2022

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A P U B L I C AT I O N O F C H A R L E S TO N DAY S C H O O L

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Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute

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Annual Dottie Rhett Speech Contest

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Strategic Plan

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S CHOLAR SHIP | IN TEG R I TY | R ES P EC T | R ES P ONS I BI L I TY

Excellence in Teaching Award

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From the Head of School Dear Charleston Day School Families,

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s we head into the final stretch of the 2021-22 school year, activity abounds at 15 Archdale Street. Our fifth-

grade class just returned from their signature overnight field trip to Williamsburg, VA, and the smiles on the children’s and parents’ faces as they reunited on a sunny Friday afternoon spoke volumes. The students were tired, yet exhilarated, recounting the adventures of the last four days and all that they had learned. The parents were delighted that their children had been afforded the opportunity to bond with

Judith Foley Arnstein

their classmates as they were immersed in the history of our country. The chaperones quietly congratulated themselves

on a successful trip that would become a treasured memory for the students.

Teaching and learning is a delicate dance between teacher and student, and it is something that is expertly choreographed by our talented faculty and staff. Each day at Charleston Day School marks an opportunity for students and teachers to engage in deep learning with the

Table of Contents Letter from Head of School

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Colonial Charleston Teachers Institute

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The Annual Dottie Rhett Speech Contest

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Sixth Grade Bebop with Aesop

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Decoding the School’s New Strategic Plan

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Fourth Grade Invention Convention

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Excellence in Teaching Award

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Alumni Spotlight: Cole Shubert ’11 16 Alumni Notes

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goal of preparing each student to move on to the next step in their educational journey with curiosity and passion, propelling them forward on a path of life-long learning.

Our faculty and staff are the backbone of the school, and every one of them is encouraged to continue their own educational journey through professional development. Just one example of this is highlighted in the following pages as you learn about five of our teachers, each from a different grade level, attending the Colonial Charleston Teaching Institute. Every person brought a unique perspective and gained something different from the experience, yet they all shared in the knowledge that the city of Charleston is indeed an extended classroom for our students. Not only did they attend the Institute, but they shared what they learned with the entire faculty at an in-house professional development session, extending life-long learning to all.

As you read through this magazine, you will learn more about some of the events and activities that make Charleston Day School special – Fourth Grade Invention Convention, Sixth Grade Bebop with Aesop and the Fifth Grade Dottie Rhett Speech Contest. We’ll celebrate

First, second and third place winners of the Dottie Rhett Speech Contest stand with the judges and Head of School, page10

our faculty, including 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award winner Coach Gigi Wallace, and highlight Alum Cole Shubert’s exciting work at SpaceX. Finally, and as a result of the hard work and dedication of the Board of Trustees, we’ll share the School’s Strategic Plan, which charts a course for the future of our School that is solidly rooted in the Mission of Charleston Day School – to foster scholarship, integrity, respect and responsibility in our students. Strategic

The Gateway Contributors Kathleen Buckley

Editor, Writer, Photographer

roadmap for the future was an invaluable exercise.” And one that will benefit the School greatly

Caitlin Tobin

Contributing Writer

in the years to come.

Jessica Mischner

Contributing Writer

Tim Coffey

Photographer

Rob Daniel

Graphic Design

Planning Committee Chair and Board Vice Chair Ross Hostetter shared, “setting aside the time to step back and evaluate the status of the School and to formally define a set of goals or

The future at Charleston Day School is as bright as the sun that is shining outside my office on this clear March Day. As always, I am grateful for your support and partnership as we continue to honor the work that Ms. Tenney and Ms. Stuart began 85 years ago.

Warmly,

Thanks also to several faculty and staff members for contributing content.

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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute Graduate Course Teachers Become Students Again At Charleston Day School, we encourage our teachers to pursue professional development opportunities. As lifelong learners, our teachers seek academic programs that inspire them, and as a result, inspire our students. This year, five of our teachers attended the Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute.

Mr. Wascom: “The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute experience was extremely illuminating for me.

All of the sites we visited had great historical significance that have helped enhance my teaching of the colonial era and the American Revolution.

If I had to choose one site that was most enjoyable, it would be the Old Exchange Building. I am fascinated by the economics of history, and the Old Exchange tour provided tremendous insight into the economic activities of South Carolina and the fulcrum Charleston served economically in the colonial era. The tour also did an excellent job discussing the history of the Old Exchange building during the Revolutionary War, helping to expand my understanding of Charleston’s role during the American Revolution and the impact the war had on the city.

The CCTI program did a wonderful job in providing insight on colonial Charleston, and I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the institute!”

The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute (CCTI) is a graduate course designed to connect educators with a variety of historic locations as well as exclusive educational experiences and content. Our teachers Ms. Bullard, Mrs. Shortridge, Ms. Ladue, Mr. Newer, and Mr. Wascom completed the 2

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CCTI Masters Course at The College of Charleston this past November.

The Goal of the Course The goal of the course was to ignite a passion for the Colonial History of South Carolina. The nonprofit organization, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina (NSCDASC) accomplishes this goal through its Powder Magazine Museum and in partnership with other colonial sites.

At The Teacher Institute, graduate students learn to develop a crosscurricular, experiential lesson/unit plan on South Carolina’s Colonial History.

Ms. Ladue: “The Colonial Charleston Teacher Institute was an exceptional experience that allowed me to take a deep dive into the history of Colonial Charleston. My favorite experience was at Colonial Dorchester where we learned about an entire planned community of Congregationalists who moved to Carolina from Dorchester Massachusetts. They created a thriving trading center that was occupied until the Revolutionary War. We were able to participate in an archaeological dig and personally interact with history.”

Lectures and Locations Visited The teachers dedicated their time over a three-month period, attending both Zoom and on-site field trips, to learn our rich history in South Carolina.

Mrs. Shortridge: “It is hard to pick one field trip I enjoyed most, but if I had to, it would be Middleton Place. It fits so perfectly with the colonial unit we study in 3rd grade.

Middleton Place has a wonderful educational program to teach the students about what life was like during that time, including the process of growing Carolina Gold, our cash crop. I enjoyed the program so much that we went on a 3rd-grade field trip there a month later.”

The site visits included Charles Towne Landing, The Powder Magazine, The Gibbes Museum of Art, The Old Exchange Building, HeywardWashington House, Middleton Place, The Charleston Museum, Colonial Dorchester, Fort Moultrie, and the Charles Pinckney Site.

The Zoom lectures were on “Charleston’s Colonial History” with Peg Eastman, “The Yamasee Wars” with Jon Marcoux, “The Walled City” with Katherine Pemberton, “HistoryMaking Women of Charleston” with

From left to right: Ms. Bullard, Mr. Wascom, Ms. Ladue, Mr. Newer and Mrs. Shortridge

Valeria Perry. “Using Primary Sources” with Bailey Knight, “Using Technology to Teach History” with Brian Day, and “Teaching and Interpreting Sensitive History Topics” with Leah Worthington.

✏ Demonstrate how the teacher will involve his/her students to cross curricular subject areas through the development of the lesson plan on SC Colonial History.

Learning Outcomes

Off-campus trips are a fun way to take learning outside of the classroom.

We are fortunate that we are able to use Charleston as our extended classroom

✏ Document the data of historical sites while discussing goals for the historian and how the activity was presented. ✏ Analyze, internalize, and develop student-based learning activities that are reality based to help students internalize how Colonial Charleston developed. ✏ Develop a project-based lesson or unit, using the SCETV lesson plan template that will engage students in activities to learn about life in SC Colonial History.

Mr. Newer: “As someone born and raised in another state, I really appreciated the chance to learn more about the history of Charleston, the city that I’ve lived in and come to love over the past nine years. What I most enjoyed about this learning opportunity was the chance to visit some of the many historic sites our city has to offer, which included several of my favorite historic places to visit along with a few that were new to me.”

as there are many preserved historical sites and resources to be enjoyed by all ages.

Ms. Bullard: “The Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site proved to be my favorite “field trip.” This secluded site near Summerville showcases the remains of a New England-style township that served as a trade center for almost one hundred years (1698-1788). Visitors can walk among the ruins of an Anglican church belltower, a brick powder magazine within a tabby fort, a dock that served boat traffic to the far reaches of the Ashley River, and active archeological digs. This trip takes you beyond the crowded downtown tourist sites. It’s a great place for a family outing where the kids can run and explore!”

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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

The Annual Dottie Rhett Speech Contest

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he Dottie Rhett Speech Contest is a time-honored tradition of Charleston Day School. For almost 40 years, the contest, originally developed by Mrs. Dottie Rhett, has focused on developing public speaking skills in our students. In fifth grade, students choose a topic of interest to them, research it and write a speech to be delivered in front of their class and in-house judges.

Students learn skills such as taking notes, forming outlines, and citing sources following MLA style. All students present their speeches to a panel of in-house judges and from there, six finalists are selected to present their speeches in front of three external judges and the entire school.

Each fifth-grader plays an important role, whether making formal introductions, acting as the Master of Ceremonies or giving a dramatic reading while the judges deliberate.

The judges had a difficult time determining the winner. First place went to Eugenia Burtschy on the topic of Lying, second place went to Trip Lind on the topic of Nightmares, and third place went to Rhetta Rutledge on the topic of The Downfall of the Mayan Civilization.

We were honored to have Dottie Rhett’s husband, the Rev. Dr. William Rhett, Jr. in attendance again this year and are grateful to our esteemed judges.

Scan this QR close to watch all the speeches in the 2022 Dottie Rhett Speech Contest.

Quotes From This Year’s Speeches “A liar can portray himself in many different ways, and it is important to know how to spot one. Please remember, just like the boy who cried wolf, lying of any kind will eventually catch up with you. Nobody believes a liar, even when they are telling the truth.”

Eugenia Burtschy On the topic of Lying

“The most interesting nightmare, in my opinion, is hypnopompic sleep paralysis. Try to say that three times fast. Hypnopompic sleep paralysis is also known as nighttime paralysis. Nighttime paralysis is when you are feeling conscious, but you are unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of being awake and asleep.

Some periods of sleep paralysis can last one to two minutes, but others can last a few seconds. Just trust me, you don’t want to be caught in one of these types.”

Trip Lind On the topic of Nightmares

“Although no one knows what happened to the Mayan people that used to roam in South America, researchers realized that large numbers of people can go down in a short matter of time through civil strife, warfare, starvation, and sickness. This mystery will hopefully be solved in the future for everyone who is eager to know what actually happened to the Mayan people.”

Rhetta Rutledge On the topic of The Downfall of the Mayan Civilization 4

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This Year’s Finalists Eugenia Burtschy, on the topic of Lying Duncan Grant, on the topic of The Bubonic Plague Evie Lail, on the topic of Smiling Trip Lind, on the topic of Nightmares Marlowe Murdough, on the topic of Do You Hear What I Hear? Mondegreens, Eggcorns, and Spoonerisms Rhetta Rutledge, on the topic of The Downfall of the Mayan Civilization Lydia Blessing provided introductions and Whit Shealy was Master of Ceremonies.

This year’s Dottie Rhett Speech contest.

Our Judges Mrs. Charlotte Williams taught Ethics at CDS for 9 years. She and her daughter, Charlotte Grimball, own a home-based bread business called Knead It. Mr. John Blincow is a 2010 graduate of CDS. He is a sales engineer for Four Corners Building Supply and participated in the Dottie Rhett Fifth Grade Speech Contest.

Ms. Katie Turner joined News 2 in June of 2019 and is the host of their lifestyle show, Living Local.

The judges congratulate this year’s winners.

BELOW: Back Row: Ms. Katie Turner, Rev. Dr. William Rhett Jr., Judith Foley Arnstein, Head of School, Mrs. Charlotte Williams and Mr. John Blincow; Front Row: Eugenia Burtschy, Rhetta Rutledge and Trip Lind

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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

Traditions – Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day

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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

Tradition Meets Technology in Sixth Grade’s Annual Bebop with Aesop Charleston Day School loves traditions. Beloved traditions connect our alumni to current students. When we speak with graduates, they often recall Around the World memories, The Dottie Rhett Speech Contest, and, of course, Bebop with Aesop.

The History A favorite tradition in sixth grade is the annual Bebop with Aesop musical production.

Ms. Marianne Clare with the help of music teacher, Mrs. Chrystal Hawkins, first introduced the play in 2005 as a dinner theatre event to enrich the sixth grade Greek Mythology unit of study. Over the years, the play evolved to meet the needs of the students and school.

In the 2020-2021 school year, COVID prevented in-person events, so the school needed to be creative in transforming signature events. Under the direction of sixth grade language arts teacher, Mrs. Caitlin Tobin, the project morphed into a video-based stop

Students created a Greek Chorus member.

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Students rehearse songs for the voice tracks in music class.

motion animation project that could be shared via Zoom. The innovation continued this year, culminating in a family-friendly movie night on campus with a documentary video encore.

Benefits of Change Mrs. Caitlin Tobin notes that the new format allows for expanded student involvement because the project requires students to plan the production of the story, design characters, develop character voices, and work within teams to accurately portray the stories.

“I always enjoy project-based learning because it covers so many different skills and learning styles.

Every student benefits,” Mrs. Tobin enthuses.

and props. The next step is to design characters and accessories the group needs to make the scene come alive.

Students use black photo boxes with a fixed background and begin taking photos. As Gretchen Dawson remarked, “It’s a tedious process.”

Students take one photo, move a piece on the background, take another photo, and repeat the process…many times.

The Process

According to Wills Walldorf, “Really, it was just a lot of patience and slowly moving the pieces a little bit. But in the end, the more pictures you took, the better it looked.” Through trial and error, the students figured out ways to make characters appear as if they were talking. They created ways for organizing title and closing sequences to make them come together as Rory Green said, “Like magic.”

The process starts with a storyboard. Each group uses their Bebop scripts to pinpoint the main events in their assigned story and brainstorms options for capturing that scene with clay characters

The final phase is to record voice tracks in music class and edit the videos to match the voices with the animated videos. Emily Manuel commented on the steps for recording the voice parts.

“Mr. Getter had an iPad, and he would

The students designed personal invitations in their technology class for their families. The project culminated in a family movie premiere night at the school with a concession stand fundraiser.

The Learning Experience

Students patiently take photos.

press record. Then we started singing.

When we were finished, he would stop it, and he’d play it, so we could listen.” It was vital to check the clarity and sound levels. Since students were in face masks, there were additional challenges with the sound recording.

Students compared recordings when their faces were looking down at the scripts versus projecting voices up.

Every step of the project presented challenges that asked students to tap into critical thinking skills. Sam Rowe summed it up perfectly. “It’s sort of like a puzzle. It’s fun, and you have to really use your brain in it.” The student-focused project encouraged innovation and promoted collaboration among the sixth-grade class.

Best of all, everyone sensed the pride and ownership the students felt in the finished videos that night. As one parent exclaimed, “The amount of learning, creativity, cooperation, and patience the Bebop with Aesop production took is truly impressive!”

Mrs. Tobin presented the Bebop project and other video-based lesson ideas at the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English (SCCTE) conference in Myrtle Beach, SC this past January. This year’s Conference theme was “Renewing our Passion and Reinvigorating our Practice.” South Carolina English teachers shared ideas about innovative classroom lessons in a COVID climate. Congratulations, Mrs. Tobin!

☛ ☛

Scan this QR code to watch the 2021 Bebop with Aesop on YouTube.

Scan here to see the Making of Bebop with Aesop documentary video.

Each student designed and personalized clay characters.

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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

Decoding the School’s New Strategic Plan in 9 Questions As CDS approaches its 85th birthday this year, Judith Foley Arnstein, Head of School, and Board of Trustees Vice Chair Ross Hostetter, who chairs the Strategic Planning Committee, share some behind the scenes insights on how our school’s latest master vision for the future came to be.

1. First and foremost, what exactly is included in the Strategic Plan and why is it important to have one?

The strategic plan focuses on five areas: Board-related activities, Development and Enrollment-related activities, Faculty and Staffrelated activities, Student-related activities, and Facilities-related activities. This plan is important because it supports the mission of the school and provides the Board and school administration with a clear path and vision for the future, allowing us to direct resources and efforts efficiently and effectively. Most of all, it ensures that the focus of the school remains on providing the best possible education and school environment for our students while upholding and maintaining the strong legacy of excellence and character development that the school enjoys.

In the area of Board-related activities the plan focuses on: • Building endowment and long and short term financial flexibility to ensure the enduring financial stability of the school.

• Being proactive and forward-thinking with respect to facilities to support the growth and standards of the school.

• Maintaining strong and supportive relationships between the Board and the school community, which is a fundamental component of CDS’s culture.

• Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals to enhance our children’s education and to prepare them for the next steps in their educational journey.

• Supporting the school’s philanthropic efforts.

In the area of Advancement-related activities, the plan focuses on: • Refining and sharpening marketing and school branding to better spread the word about the great legacy of Charleston Day School and the kindergarten through 8th grade experience.

• Creating a defined and proactive philanthropic effort, including a robust alumni program.

• Maintaining focused goals for annual fundraising to allow for continued investment in the school for the future of all students.

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In the area of Faculty and Staff-related activities, we will: • Build a culture of professional development to support our teachers and staff.

• Evaluate employee benefits and salary.

• Assess overall staffing needs.

• Strive to be an employer of choice and to attract and retain the best teaching talent.

In the area of Program-related activities, we will: • Expand STEAM and coding initiatives in order to provide our students with the skills necessary to compete in an everchanging technological landscape.

• Further expand the lunch program to provide greater choice and an even broader selection of balanced, healthy offerings.

• Review the current schedule in order to provide additional focus on social and emotional wellness initiatives.

• Grow summer programs and after-school offerings with a view of continuing to enhance the overall educational experience for our students.

In the area of Facilities-related items, we will: • Develop a long-term property, facilities, and technology plan to effectively steward the use of our physical spaces and review current space utilization in order to maintain the high standards required of our school community and to prepare for continued growth in enrollment.

2. When was the seed of the Strategic Plan planted?

In the summer of 2019, the Board of Trustees began researching and interviewing firms to assist the school in creating a five-year strategic plan. Under the leadership of the Strategic Committee Planning Chair Ross Hostetter, the school spoke with three different firms. In choosing a strategic plan facilitator, it was critical that the firm have experience with independent schools.

3. Who facilitated the plan?

Ultimately, the school chose Independent School Management (ISM) to work with the Board of Trustees on this important project.

Utilizing input from the school community, ISM focuses on working with boards to create a strategic plan document that encompasses financial planning (the strategic financial plan), facilities planning and management, enrollment management, development, and marketing. The school was fortunate to work with Terry Moore, ISM’s most tenured consultant.

4. What was the process for creating the plan?

The Board came together as a group to work on the strategic plan, which also included feedback from faculty, parent, and staff surveys, as well as benchmarks from comparable schools.

The information provided became the basis for discussion and assessment of the school’s current position.

7. Have any of the recommendations been put into place already?

Yes! 8. Could you share a few and how they’ve played out so far?

Last spring, Cap Dev, a philanthropic advisory group conducted an analysis of CDS’s current development activities and recommended re-focusing on relationship-based fundraising, which has been instituted this school year. The school partnered with the Social Institute to provide enhanced social emotional wellness programming in the middle school. We worked with Flik to reevaluate and improve the lunch program and offerings.

Increases in the endowment and in giving levels have occurred.

The school is hiring a Technology/STEAM/Coding instructor for the 2022-23 school year.

This plan is important because it supports the Mission of the School and provides the Board and school administration with a clear path and vision for the future, allowing us to direct resources and efforts efficiently and effectively.

-Ross Hostetter, Vice Chair of Board of Trustees

The plan ensures that the focus of the school remains on providing the best possible education and school environment for our students while upholding and maintaining the strong legacy of excellence and character development that the school enjoys.

-Judith Foley Arnstein, Head of School

5. How did you incorporate this information?

ISM utilized a series of deep-dive iterative discussions with the Board to clarify goals and plans. Through a series of workshops, discussions, and independent review, each Board member was tasked with evaluating and prioritizing key objectives. The culmination of this feedback provided the basis for defining the shared goals and vision for Charleston Day School as reflected in the strategic plan.

6. How many years does the strategic plan cover, and how often will it be reviewed?

9. What has the Board learned from this process?

Setting aside the time to step back and evaluate the status of the school, and to formally define a set of goals or roadmap for the future was an invaluable exercise. Charleston Day School has a strong and enduring legacy and a mission that has served the school well. As we approached 85 years, it has been exciting and invigorating to spend time thinking about what ‘could be’ while also celebrating the successes of all those who came before.

The plan extends through the 2026 school year and is reviewed consistently throughout the year. Each Board committee has been tasked with monitoring and advancing portions of the strategic plan.

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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

Fourth Grade Invention Convention 2021 Solving Problems Through Creation

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he Invention Convention is a special event designed for This process allowed them to discover problems and our fourth-grade students to promote problem-solving, receive encouragement from Mrs. Hughes and their parents stimulate creative thinking, and practice engineering skills. as they developed their own solutions to refine their design.

The students brainstorm and design solutions for everyday In the end, they were all rewarded with the immense pride problems. Fourth-grade students began working on their that a student feels at the completion of his/her invention inventions on October 15 and and display. presented them on November 11 at The Process and Lessons Learned How the Invention Convention the 2021 CDS Invention Convention Judging Took Place • Brainstorming common everyday in the Gym. To encourage students to work problems The planning, writing, and research independently of adults, grades • Applying creative problem-solving were completed at school. The only and awards were not influenced by strategies to develop ideas to solve these at-home part of the project was the effectiveness of the invention problems the collection of materials and the created. Students were assessed on construction of the actual invention.

• Researching to prove their ideas were the invention process as evidenced Parents were only asked to participate if new and improved their designs in their invention logs, participation there was something unsafe for students in classroom discussion and • Logging descriptions of their invention to do on their own. Students could activities, and efforts in preparation • Building, testing, and re-engineering also ask parents to take them to the and presentation. prototypes to produce a final working hardware, fabric, or craft stores to find materials. If items had to be purchased, the cost could not exceed $25.00.

prototype

Judges included local defense contractors, a pharmacist, two entrepreneurs, a statistician, a medical student, an endocrinologist, and an MUSC HR executive.

• Creating their display board Students used a form to help them • Presenting to judges, teachers, friends, with designing and planning their and family inventions.

They learned many It was not easy for the judges as lessons, one being that sometimes there were so many amazing creations from the great minds things don’t go as planned. As they found flaws in their of these young inventors. Congratulations to all of our original plan during the inventing process, they had to fourth graders for a job well done! rethink their plan and move forward to complete their invention.

This Year’s Winners

1st Place - Delta Ayotte “Lit It Slip It”

2nd Place: Charlie Baarcke The “Not My Dad” Golf Alignment

3rd Place: Millie McFadden “Feet Sweep!”

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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

Excellence in Teaching Award C

ongratulations to our Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher, Ms. Gigi Wallace, who was named the 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award.

The Excellence in Teaching Fund was established in 2016 by a Charleston Day school alumni family who wanted to recognize and thank the wonderful teachers and staff at Charleston Day School. Our school is filled with exemplary educators, and each year the school seeks nominations from parents, current and former faculty members, and alumni for this prestigious award.

Coach Wallace has been a PE Teacher for 31 years and is in her 16th year with CDS. Coach said, “One of the many things I love about CDS is how all of the disciplines work together.

Each and every classroom has a sign stating our mission, and the kids know what it is.” One of her favorite memories was the rainy-day Field Day eight years ago.

Coach Wallace plays an important role at CDS by showing good sportsmanship and representing the school in a positive light. She has the opportunity to help empower her students to take the risk to throw, catch or hit the ball which spills over into the classrooms with gaining self-confidence.

Whatever curve ball she is thrown, she swings at it for the CDS team. Every day, Coach Wallace inspires students to try harder and be better, whether in the classroom, on the field, or on the court.

“Coach Wallace was an incredibly positive and encouraging presence during my time at CDS. Though I was the last of my family to

graduate from CDS, we have all continued to talk about our great memories in her class over the years.” ~ a former student “Coach Wallace went out of her way to create new opportunities for the students during COVID. The students respect and admire her as she remains such a positive role model on campus. She is a vital part of the CDS faculty.” ~ a colleague “No one is a better fit for this award because no one impacts the daily lives of Charleston Day School Students like Coach Wallace. From interactions in her class to just encouraging students around campus, she is a shining star of the CDS Community.” ~ an alum

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BEYOND THE GATES:

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Cole Shubert ’11 1. What did you learn at CDS that helped prepare you for your career at SpaceX? At CDS, I learned how to work hard. I learned that putting in the time and effort, it’ll pay off immensely. At the time, I worked my behind off (especially in math, science, and Spanish). At CDS you are forced to work hard, but there’s a safety net there for you to fail. They’ll pick you back up again and again until you gain independence.

2. Was there a CDS teacher that influenced your interest in math and science?

My math teacher Mrs. Finch! She helped spark my love for math (which we use every day in engineering). Those classes were hard, but extremely worth it. She helped teach me problem solving, critical thinking, and helped prepare me to love math in high school and college.

3. What led you to believe that you could do this and follow your dream? What was the ah-ha moment when you realized that you could do this and sent your résumé?

It was kind of a leap of faith to upload my résumé. Graduating high school and starting college, I had no idea what I wanted to do within the field of engineering. It took me several years of college to finally figure out I wanted to work in the space industry.

I didn’t really have a definite ah-ha moment, but just the thought to not sell myself short. Don’t tell yourself no; don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way of chasing your dreams.

4. Did you have planes or rockets as a child? Did you enjoy watching movies like Star Wars or NASA shuttles going to space?

As a child I really liked military planes, like fighter jets and the C-17 cargo planes that they build right in Charleston. I remember seeing the Blue Angels fly by my house and was just amazed at how cool they were. When I was a little older, I was reading a book about the modern technological wonders of the world, and the space shuttle was one of them. Since then, I have had an interest in space and wondered how I could work on something like the

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shuttle. When SpaceX started to appear in the news more and more when I was in college, I saw it as an opportunity to apply and see where a job with them could take me.

5. Did you ever take a family trip to a space museum that piqued your interest when you were young? If so, where did you go and what do you remember?

My family and I visited the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. when I was in second or third grade. It’s this huge building with planes everywhere: out front when you drive in, around every corner inside, and hanging from the ceiling. I just remember how large everything was and wondered what allowed them to even get off the ground, much less stay in the air or make it to space. Now I get to dive deep into understanding what makes rockets fly and how to make them better, cheaper, and more accessible to people like myself.

6. What is it about working on rockets that you like?

I like the raw power and spectacle of the rocket tests that I help direct. I get to work daily on one of the most advanced space systems the world has ever seen.

It is extremely exciting to troubleshoot problems and make the testing process more efficient.

7. Do you have a project you’re working on that you can share with us?

I am currently working on the next rocket that is going to take people to the International Space Station. This includes rigorous testing to ensure that the rocket is safe enough to fly astronauts hundreds of miles above the earth. I have to make sure the rocket and engines work by test firing them at our test site in Texas. Then we will troubleshoot any problematic hardware and send it to Cape Canaveral, Florida for launch.

8. What role, if any did your parents play in identifying your interest in your profession?

13. What words of wisdom would you have for future Scorpions?

They gave me the tools and encouragement to pursue whatever I wanted. I didn’t have a specific career in mind while growing up, but they supported every single one of my interests and pushed me to work hard and succeed. I wouldn’t have gotten where I am today without their support and their excitement for the things I did, from being in the CDS science fair in 6th grade to getting into USC to starting work at SpaceX!

Find something you like to do and stick with it! Whether it is sports, reading, art, or math, find your niche and stick with it. I know this is for a school publication, but school is not everything. If you find your passion outside of school too, you can eventually apply what you learned in school to become better at your “thing”.

9. What’s your favorite part about going to work each day?

RED!!!

I like that I never stop learning and that, while it can be frustrating, I encounter new problems that I have to solve every day. We are constantly striving to improve our tests by writing new automation, upgrading our ground equipment, and streamlining our process. I have one of the most exciting jobs I can think of, and I never get tired of watching an engine test or working on a 150 foot tall rocket.

10. When did you start dreaming about a career with the Space X program?

10. RED or BLUE team?

Cole Schubert’s 2011 class mural.

Scan this QR code to view photos of all the class murals

Honestly, it wasn’t until college that I started to become interested in SpaceX. I dreamed about a lot of different professions but not a single one for very long. It would have been encouraging to know that not everyone has their career or life path figured out fully and that it is never too late to determine what you want to do.

11. What advice would you give to a young person that has the same love for space but might be intimidated they couldn’t get into the field?

Do not put your dreams on hold or convince yourself that you cannot do something. You are your own best supporter, and only you know what you are truly capable of. So, get out there, learn new things, work hard, and follow what makes you happy.

12. What things do you enjoy doing for fun when you are not working?

I like to go dirt biking, play golf, and go rock climbing. I played golf at CDS and still play pretty frequently. I took up rock climbing in high school and have found several places to go around Texas.

I also just recently took up dirt biking, which I am learning to get the hang of on my weekends. I prefer to spend my free time outside, whether it is doing any of those activities or just hanging out in the backyard with my dog.

Hiking in Kauai, HI in 2021. Pictured left to right: Cole, Scott, Carter (’13) and Amy Shubert

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BEYOND THE GATES:

Alumni Notes

Do you have news you’d like to share in the next Gateway?

Contact Mary Baarcke at mary.baarcke@charlestonday.org or submit your alumni news online at www.charlestondayschool.org/submit-class-note/.

Class of 1996

Class of 2005

Congratulations to Sallie Scott Johnson who married Sam Barrera on March 11, 2022 at Combahee Plantation.

Congratulations to Courtney and Richard Cutler (’96) on the birth of Samuel Louis Cutler on November 26, 2021.

Baby Sam enjoyed meeting his dad’s CDS friends, Jimmy Breazeale and Ruston Forrester at Ruston’s birthday celebration in February.

Class of 1997

Will Cathcart was on assignment in Mariupol, Ukraine at the start of the Russian conflict in February 2022. Scan this QR code to read an article in his own words from the front lines in the Charleston Mercury newspaper.

Class of 1999

Kathleen and Andrew Hagood (‘99) welcomed Henry Hay Hagood on 2.22.22 at 11:57am. He weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 21 inches long. He has been showered with hugs daily from big brother James (almost 3)!

Class of 2004 Lawson Johnson (’04) & Emily Wyche plan to marry in Greenville, SC October 2022. Lawson is with The Bank of South Carolina, and Emily is an environmental attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center of Charleston. In their free time, they enjoy hiking adventures with Charlie. Lawson is the son of CDS alum Joseph L. Johnson, Jr. (’59), nephew of alum William E. Johnson III (’64), and the grandson of Lois Middleton Stoney, CDS’s 1st graduate.

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Class of 2010

Hannah Clarke married Matthew Campbell on Jan 29, 2022 at St. Andrews Church in Mt. Pleasant with the reception at the Cedar Room in the Cigar Factory.

CDS alumni who were there: Madison McNeill Griffith (’10), Fleetwood Brown (’10), Madeline Leadem (’10), Anthony Leadem (’16) and Hannah’s brother Ross Clarke (’14).

Madison McNeill Griffith welcomed her baby, Joseph Parkwood Griffith IV. “Parks” was born on December 12, 2021 – 9 lbs 2 oz. and 20.5 inches long.

Class of 2013

Julia Lofton Walpole graduated in May of 2021 from UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. She earned a BFA in film making with a concentration in Producing and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship.

She won the school’s “ArtPrenuer” award and grant upon graduation.

While in school, Julia helped to crew many short films that were accepted to Film Festivals across the country, including the Austin Film Festival. Julia and two former film student collaborators have founded Quiet Frame, a film production company that does both commercial advertising and narrative filmmaking. Quiet Frame had a short film win Best Cinematography in the 2021 “Made in Carolinas Film Project”.

Look for Quiet Frame’s name around town and in future feature films.

CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL

Thank You to Our Scorptastic Parents’ Council Class of 2014

Virginia Howell has worked for the College of Charleston’s baseball team for three years and completed an internship with the Charleston RiverDogs this past summer. She also held a role with the Tampa Bay Rays this summer and has just accepted a role with the Cincinnati Reds as Baseball Operations Trainee. She is moving in May right after graduation. Congrats, Virginia!

Class of 2016 Our Parents’ Council volunteers gathered for a photo in front of the Scorpion’s Den.

It is with great sadness that we share that former CDS Class of 2016 student, Ellis Barry Ross, Jr. passed away in March 2022. His former CDS fourth grade teacher, Julie Tonks, described how she “will always remember his soft spoken kindness, work ethic, and devotion to family. What an immeasurable loss to what might have been.” It is in difficult times like these that we cherish our Charleston Day School community, and know you will join us in continuing to send our thoughts and prayers to Ellis’ parents and family.

This school year, the CDS Parents’ Council has again gone above and beyond to support not only the school and our students, but our amazing faculty and staff! Each month they take time out of their busy schedules to meet, plan and come up with ways to fundraise, order delightful swag for all ages, bring treats for our teacher work days and holidays, host Spirit Days for the students, plan and execute the annual Halloween Carnival, have used uniform sales, just because they want to spread their sunshine. Thank you for all you do!

RIGHT: Valentine’s Day treats from our Parents’ Council

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Celebrating 85 Years

Alumni, show your scorpion spirit!

Join your fellow scorpions for Alumni Giving Week! Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.

Honor the spirit of CDS and give to the CDS Spirit Fund today!

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Because once a Scorpion... always a Scorpion!

ALUMNI GIVING WEEK

Mark your calendar: May 10 - 13 Here’s how you can participate:

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Gift+Challenge

Earn Some Swag

Spread the Word

Make a gift & challenge friends and classmates to do the same.

Earn fun CDS swag by becoming a Giving Day Scorpion Advocate!

Get points for Red Team or Blue Team!

Learn more at charlestondayschool.org

Share on social media why you support CDS with #scorpionspirit & follow the fun by commenting, tagging friends and sharing posts by CDS.

New for 2022!

Start Giving Now! While our Alumni Giving Week starts officially on May 10th, any gift given now until May 13th will be included in our goal.

This year, in honor of its 85th birthday, CDS has added the 1937 Circle, a new giving level of The Gateway Giving Fund, to pay homage to its founding year. Families who donate or pledge $1,937.00 or more by May 16th, 2022 will receive a special invitation to attend a 1937 Spring Cocktail Party on Tuesday, May 17th to celebrate their generosity.

Please consider joining the 1937 Circle.

Donate online at: charlestondayschool.org/makeagiftnow

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equest and other planned gifts have a lasting impact on Charleston Day and serve as a continuing source of support. The correct plan balances what you wish to accomplish for yourself, your family and your charitable interests in your overall estate and financial plans.

There are innovative and creative ways to include Charleston Day School in your plan. To learn more about giving strategies that allow you to make a meaningful charitable gift, please contact the Advancement Office at 843.266.9797 or Caroline.Moore@charlestonday.org.

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15 Archdale Street | Charleston, SC 29401

Non-Profit Organization Charleston, SC Permit No. 180

Dates to Remember: May 3–6 8th Grade Trip May 9 Spring Sports Assembly May 10–13 Alumni Giving Week May 16 2nd Grade Around the World May 23 Day of Service May 25 Awards Assembly May 26 Class of 2022 Commencement

8th graders stopped for a quick photo on the way to lunch.

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