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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
RED VS. BLUE: TRADITIONS CONTINUE Field Day 2020 Goes “Virtual”
4 6 14 18 Learning to Adapt
Class of 2020 Commencement
Visual Arts Showcase
Alumni Spotlight
S CH OLARSHIP | INTEGR I TY | R ES P EC T | R ES P ONS I BI L I TY 1
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2019-2020
ANNUAL REPORT
Happy to be back! Bee Dawson enjoys a snack break in the play area at the front of the school. Regular mask and exercise breaks are an important part of students’ schedules on campus in the fall of 2020.
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From the Head of School Dear Charleston Day School Families,
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s I write this letter to you, I am looking out my office window at what was formerly the parking area at 15 Archdale Street. No longer a place for parking, it has been repurposed as an additional outdoor play space and is currently filled with two ping pong tables, several corn hole sets, hula hoops, jump ropes, a small putting green and a class full of energetic students. Despite being in masks and remaining the recommended six feet apart, there is joy in the air and it puts a smile on my face. The pandemic has brought many challenges to our educational institutions. Fortunately, Charleston Day School is a place that prizes perseverance and persistence. We regularly talk to students about the importance of being flexible and creative as they face challenges. There has not been a time in recent memory that required these traits more and our community has risen to the occasion. As a school that was founded from the sheer will and persistence of Emily Tenney and Mary Stuart, Charleston Day School continues to value and balance both tradition and innovation. Last spring, our students and faculty moved into remote learning with a speed and facility that was extraordinary. Guided by the school’s mission to foster respect, responsibility, integrity and scholarship in our students, we created and refined a remote learning plan that allowed our students to continue to engage with their teachers while providing a solid connection to the Charleston Day School community. With those changes came some silver linings — our art program flourished in the online format, allowing students the opportunity to be both creative and self-directed. Field Day went virtual and we were entertained and delighted by the students’ dedication to representing their red and blue teams. Our graduating eighth graders marked their entry into alumni status with a virtual graduation and a car parade, making their way down Archdale Street to the cheers and well-wishes of the faculty members who lined the street. We celebrated the successes of everyone who pulled together to make 2020 a year to remember. The 2019-20 school year ended with all of the students off campus, learning remotely. The 2020-21 school year opened with students back on campus for in-person learning. The constant between those two times is the dedication and support of our entire school community. The last half of this magazine contains the school’s Annual Report, and it is incredibly gratifying to see how many individuals, businesses and organizations support our school with their time, resources and talents. We extend our sincere thanks to all. Our community is strong and dedicated. In the face of all the challenges that the pandemic has posed, we will continue to build upon the strong foundation that Ms. Stuart and Ms. Tenney laid so many years ago. We will continue to be Scorpion Strong. With Gratitude,
Table of Contents Letter from Head of School
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Lower school science teacher Kate Brundrett makes remote learning fun with videos, pages 4-5. Learning to Adapt
4-5
Class of 2020 Commencement
6-10
Awards and Accolades
11-12
Visual Arts Showcase
14
Former third grader Torrin Robinson shares his artwork in the Remote Learning Gallery, pages 15-17. Remote Learning Gallery
15-17
Alumni Spotlight: Robert Baxter Russell III ’93
18-19
Alumni Pandemic Perspectives
20-21
2019-2020 Annual Report
22-35
About the Cover Jackson and Whit Shealy show their school spirit for the Blue Team during the 2020 Virtual Field Day events.
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CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL
Learning to Adapt Education in the Classroom and Remote
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n February, CDS administrators had been watching closely the quickly-changing situation with COVID-19, so when it became necessary, the school was ready to shift swiftly to a different approach to learning in order to maintain our standard of excellence in education. By mid-March, our faculty and administration met over several days, working tirelessly to prepare materials for our Remote Learning Plan, which was promptly posted to the LMS (Learning Management System). The plan was activated with students on Thursday and Friday before Spring Break. Ready to adapt to changing circumstances, everyone at Charleston Day School pulled together to provide families with the tools and materials necessary to implement Remote Learning. Students were sent home with either a laptop or an iPad, depending on the grade level, to assist in online learning. And students and families responded! Zoom classes filled up daily with smiling children and eager teachers. Videos from teachers and the Head of School let students know how much they were missed. Although “staying home” became necessary for all, unexpected opportunities arose to display flexibility and do things differently, such as practicing spelling on the sidewalk with chalk, drawing rooms in linear perspective in sketchbooks and going outside to practice Coach Whetzel’s exercises. As we moved forward, we continually assessed how the remote curriculum was delivered and made adjustments and improvements accordingly. For example, Zoom meetings were added in the lower grades and Advisory was added in the upper grades. Our goal was to deliver meaningful instruction while maintaining and promoting strong and resilient connections between students, peers and teachers.
Focus on the Positive Charleston Day School students responded to the changes with resilience and fortitude. They pressed forward, taking ownership of their learning, even as their social connections had moved to the screen instead of in person. The synchronous Zoom calls allowed students to remain on a schedule. As a result, we heard from many parents and Spring Zoom Meetings per 4-8 Grade Student
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others in the community that our Remote Learning Plan was optimal for student success. As well as we all fared in the spring quarter, we longed to be together again on campus, face to face. We know that students and faculty in the classroom together brings about the best learning enviroment for growing children and adolescents. As we closely followed guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the S. C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the CDS COVID-19 Task Force that had been formed in the spring began carefully outlining our Return to School Plan. The goal: to bring everyone back on campus safely in the fall.
Back to School - Fall 2020 Created by working closely with MUSC’s Back to Business program advisors and our new school nurse, the CDS Reopening Plan includes many important changes to our everyday routines in order to safely accommodate our community in person: the requirement of facemasks on students and faculty, increased handwashing and new handwashing stations, students remaining in their classroom and teachers moving from class to class, social distancing measures to remain six feet apart, new PikMyKid app for daily health screenings, revised carpool procedures and more outside breaks for students during the day. One major component of the Return to School Plan includes the new Alternative Learning Plan (ALP) in which students at home can join in with their peers in the classroom via Zoom, an iPad and tripod. While all of the changes brought about by this unusual season take some getting used to by students and faculty alike, most students are just happy to be around their peers and the teachers around their students. Spending the spring at home brought about a true appreciation for the privilege of learning on campus. We are now many weeks into “the new normal” at Charleston Day School, and we remain committed to partnering with our families to continue to provide not only an exemplary education, but a sense of community and connection.
☛ OPPOSITE PAGE,Top Left to Bottom Right:
Eight grade math teacher Laurin Shealy prepares a lesson; then-fourth grade LA teacher Caitlin Tobin prepares letters for each of her students; the faculty sends their love (with pets) to students in a faculty meeting; middle school Spanish teacher Michael Catlett hard at work; lower school science teacher Kate Brundrett films a teaching video; second graders in a Zoom class; a Teacher Appreciation Day poster; thenseventh grader Spencer Edgerton makes ear savers for local frontline workers; and fifth grade teacher Dave Oyama gives his students a thumbs up.
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The eighth grade class mural is a tradition that began with art teacher Jan Welborn.The Charleston Day School gym is filled with class murals from1993 to 2009. When space became limited, eighth grade classes began to paint their collective portraits on large canvases. The CDS campus is filled with these canvases and will now house this newest edition —The Class of 2020.
“We really aren’t just a class of students. We are a family — a very large family of 31 brothers and sisters.” ~ Anna Sinkler ’20
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Number of New Alumni
31
CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL
In This Together 2020 Commencement Speech by Anna Sinkler
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rs. Arnstein, Trustees, faculty, parents, family and friends, thank you all for joining us for graduation today. First and foremost, I hope all of you and your families are safe and well. These are incredibly challenging times, but my hope is that today we can pause for a moment…because today is the day to celebrate the Charleston Day School Class of 2020.
Charleston Day we didn’t just learn to read and write and solve impossible algebra problems. We learned, over time, to accept each other’s differences. We learned forgiveness. And we learned to stand together.
out. And we don’t just know each other. We know each other’s parents and grandparents. We know each other’s siblings and pets. We know each other’s favorite football teams, most embarrassing pictures and funniest inside jokes. We really aren’t just a class of students. We are a family—a very large family of 31 brothers and sisters.
Personally, I will never forget this winter how the gym exploded in applause for Lawton’s basket in the season’s final game. Little did we know then, that that fantastic and spirited night would be one of the last moments we would spend together with our classmates, teachers and families under one roof.
Like all brothers and sisters, we have had our differences. Truth be told, we earned the reputation as a challenging class. Maybe it was the basketballs intentionally tossed over the fence. Maybe it was the untucked shirts, silly girl drama or the fact we insisted on wearing hoodies. Whatever it was, by sixth grade, our teachers and parents were a bit worried about our fate. But we weren’t worried at all. We were just growing up together. And in that process, we sometimes stepped outside the lines and broke the rules. And sometimes, we even hurt each other’s feelings. But the truth is, at
These eight years of experiences—the laughter, the mistakes, the learning and the growing—were all made possible by the tremendous network of CDS teachers, coaches and administrators. Every single day each of you welcomed us warmly at the gate, eager to help us learn and committed to our success. Thank you all for your patience, your kindness, your talent and your neverfailing belief in us. And Mr. Willits, a special shout out to you. We didn’t make it easy, but somehow you not only got us through The Odyssey, but you got each of us into amazing high schools. Thank you.
Together we also created some pretty amazing memories. I remember well how on the fourth grade barrier island trip, we terrified Mrs. Forbes with a fake I believe I can say with one-hundred percent certainty snake from the gift shop. In fifth grade we said we dreaded that none of us would have chosen these circumstances. but secretly liked Mrs. Hotchkiss’ family meetings. And However, with some time to reflect, while it was scary at the time, I am so what I am beginning to understand is proud of how our entire class united for “These next years will be that the CDS Class of 2020 is perfectly our beloved Ms. Clare and Ms. Loretta the most exciting years of suited for these times because we are when they faced serious health issues, smart, strong, and as the COVID-19 our lives, and no place could and to this day we remain grateful for saying goes, we are “in this together.” their continued good health. Thanks have prepared us better than to Mr. Kerkstra, we not only learned Collectively, my classmates and the value of science, but we will forever Charleston Day.” I have been “in this together” for remember the stories of survival on the what seems like forever. Some of us tough streets of Chicago. In Kanuga we belted out camp have known each other since birth. Some students, like songs, and the girls made a pretty hilarious attempt at me, came in third grade. Keenan left after second grade powder puff. And luckily we will never forget Spanish— but thankfully came right back, and we were happy to how could we? Because it is literally the most challenging welcome Henry Ramsey in the seventh grade and Fiona Spanish curriculum in the entire United States. And in the eighth. My point is that unlike at other schools, we don’t forget the nicknames like Bark, Law Dawg, Pava, have spent an incredible amount of time together. Eight Yougen, Foo Foo, and, of course, there is BR . . . aka Mr. years, five days a week, seven hours a day, under a very Schulte . . . who will always be remembered. small roof, which means we know each other inside and
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Commencement Speech continued from page 7
And to our parents and families, this graduation day is your moment too. You were there for it all: the chaos of Lil’ Scorps, the donuts with dads, the crazy field days, our missed layups and our made three-pointers. You helped us with our homework, our everyday struggles and our high school applications. And don’t forget carpool after carpool after carpool. We know it is a privilege to attend Charleston Day, and we are grateful beyond words. Now for our next chapter, high school. These next years will be the most exciting years of our lives, and no place could have prepared us better than Charleston Day. For each of my classmates, I wish you new friendships, exciting adventures and all of the happiness and success in the world. And I hate to say it, at this point I really just hope we all can actually go to high school in the fall.
It’s tempting to think the pandemic ruined the longawaited celebration we earned and deserved. But I believe COVID-19 is just another remarkable chapter in our story, and the Class of 2020 will forever go down in history as a class with courage and strength. If we can get through this, we can get through anything. So with that, I conclude as I began. Congratulations to the class of 2020. This was not the normal graduation we hoped for. Today we are physically separated, but through Charleston Day we will always remain connected. And as we go our different ways, may our time together at Charleston Day be an unbreakable bond, keeping us “in this together” forever. It has been an honor to be your classmate. I miss you and thank you.
Anna Sinkler delivers her 2020 Commencement speech remotely.
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Class of 2020 High School Acceptances Academic Magnet High School Asheville School Bishop England High School Chicoutimi Seminar - Quebec Christ School Edmund Burke School Episcopal High School First Baptist School
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Lucy Garett Beckham High School McCallie School Porter-Gaud Saint Mary’s School St. George’s School Taft School Wando High School Woodberry Forest School
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2020 CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL
Awards & Accolades Head of School’s Award: Elizabeth Clifton Manuel Established in 1998 by Gregory J. O’Melia and Edgar S. Jaycocks, this prize recognizes a member of the graduating class who has exhibited a genuine love of learning through commitment and hard work at Charleston Day School. This award underscores the belief that true academic scholarship should be judged not only by one’s grade point average, but also by the student’s diligence, effort and sincere desire to learn. Faculty Award: Sarah Rutledge Kuhl This award is given to the student in grades 6-8 who, in the faculty’s opinion, best exemplifies the ideals of good manners, neatness in appearance and work, and good character. The Archdale Achievement Award: Anna Huger Sinkler This award is given for outstanding academic achievement in all areas, and for willingness to serve others. Esprit de Corps Award: Margaret Heatherington Smith This award, established in 1996, recognizes the eighth grader who epitomizes devotion to and enthusiasm for the common spirit of the entire student body. The Gordon Scott Gillespie Prize: Thomas Lawton Harper III Established by Mrs. Gillespie and her daughter Brook, this award is in memory of Brook’s father, who died while she was an eighth grader. In a year in which it is given, it is awarded to the student who shows special interest and a desire to delve deeper than is required into his or her schoolwork and projects. The Thomas W. Alexander Creativity Award: Henry Wilson Ramsey The Thomas W. Alexander Creativity Award was established in 2003 by the family and friends of Tom Alexander, a successful advertising executive and proud CDS alumnus, parent and grandparent. This award is given to a student in grades 6-8 who best demonstrates creativity in his/her life, schoolwork or hobbies. The Josephine Little Townsend Award: Elizabeth Vining Hood This award was established in memory of Jody Townsend after her death, during her fifth grade year at Charleston Day School. Recipients should display intelligence, love of reading, well-roundedness, ability to get along with others, optimism, and should be a top student in his or her class. It is awarded only to fifth graders.
Fourth Grade Award: Margaret True Dieck Established in honor of Noel Kunes, this prize recognizes a student’s effort, attitude and positive relationships with his or her peers. The Braveheart Award This award was established by the Class of 1996. It recognizes students whose strong work ethic, optimism and strength of character best exemplify the spirit of Charleston Day School. Grades 1-4: James Burnham Hood Grades 5-8: Spencer Pierce Steele Edgerton The Brendan O’Shea Citizenship Award: Catherine Morrow Hagood Established in honor of Brendan O’Shea, whose 13-year tenure as Head of School was marked by a culture of civility, this award recognizes a student who has demonstrated service, leadership, responsibility, character and discipline. French Society Award: Simons Katherine Collins Presented by the French Society of South Carolina to the student who demonstrates excellence in the French language and interest in promoting French culture. The Julia Mayrant Rees Simonds Award: Michael David Catlett-Fernandez Established in 1999, in memory of Julie Simonds, Class of 1987, this award is presented to the student who embodies a spirit of openness and a desire to learn more about France, its language and its people. Spanish Award: Anna Huger Sinkler Presented to the student who demonstrates excellence in the Spanish language and interest in promoting Spanish culture. English Award: Catherine Tremblay Lapointe Established in 1998 to recognize particular excellence in English. The Harriet C. Wilson Award: Ava Lily Kempinski Established in 1995 by an alumna of Charleston Day School, this award honors Miss Wilson’s contributions to our community as a history teacher. Her standards were very high, but she was always able to inspire a sense of selfconfidence in those with whom she worked. She strove to make the past come alive for her students, and she imbued them with a love of history. To reflect her spirit, this award is Continues on page 12 FALL 2020
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Awards & Accolades continued from page 11
presented to an eighth grader who exhibits the enthusiasm, the interest and the potential to become a genuine scholar in the study of history. Justine Finch Math Award: Elizabeth Clifton Manuel Established in 1998 as the Math Award, this award was renamed in 2014 to the Justine Finch Math Award and is presented to the student who displays excellence in mathematics as well as a desire to achieve at the highest level. The award is named in honor of Mrs. Finch, who taught math at Charleston Day for 26 years, from 1988-2014. Her exacting standards coupled with her expectation that each individual student perform to his or her highest capability helped establish Charleston Day’s math program as the best in the area. Countless students benefitted from her emphasis on organization, checking work, daily preparation and review, as well as her high expectations for each child. Science Award: Thomas Rhett Hastings Established in 1998 to recognize particular excellence in science. John Winthrop History Award: William Edward Applegate Established in 2013 by the generosity of Mr. John Winthrop of Charleston. Each year the award is given to a seventh grader who is distinguished in the study of history of our country and the world. Marcia E. West Technology Award: Faisal Al Gadban Established in 1998 to recognize particular excellence in computers. Audrey Elizabeth Grice Art Award: Margaret Heatherington Smith This award was established in 2002 in memory of Audrey Grice, member of the Class of 2006. Audrey was an exceptional art student, whose energetic spirit and love for life were reflected in her 2020 Visual work. This award recognizes particular excellence in art. Showcase
Artworks
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Music Award: Thomas Lawton Harper III Established in 1983 to recognize especially noteworthy achievement in music.
Athletic Director’s Award: Eliza Drake Halford Established in 2003, the Physical Education Award recognizes a student who exemplifies good sportsmanship, enthusiasm for all activities, honesty, cooperation with others, and a positive attitude. 12
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Athlete of the Year Award Awarded to an accomplished athlete of strong character who has shown exemplary sportsmanship, concern for fellow teammates, and a strong work ethic. Female Recipient: Anna Huger Sinkler Male Recipient: Theodore Edward Brisson, Jr. Barry D. Gumb. Jr. Scholarship Award: Faisal Al Gadban Established in 2002 in memory of Beau Gumb, this award recognizes a CDS student who is strong in character and integrity, shows empathy, and reflects the qualities embodied in Beau – a love of learning and respect for education. Sarah Huger Jervey Award: Elizabeth Clifton Manuel Established in 1947 in remembrance of Miss Sadie Jervey, whose school for grades 1 and 2 was the parent school of Charleston Day School. In 1939, she merged her school with the Day School, and taught there until 1945. It is awarded to the eighth grader with the highest cumulative academic average over the past three years. Charleston Day School Scholar: William Edward Applegate To the sixth, seventh or eighth grader with the highest academic average for this year. Fifth Grade High Honors: Elizabeth Vining Hood Sixth Grade High Honors: Robert Tazewell Gamble Seventh Grade High Honors: William Edward Applegate Eighth Grade High Honors: Thomas Lawton Harper III
CHARLESTON DAY SCHOOL
2020 Visual Arts Showcase T
o celebrate the amazing artwork created by Charleston Day School students in the 2019-2020 year, art teachers Ms. Hopkins and Mrs. Seitz created a website with galleries for each grade, K-8. Just as in last year’s all-school art show on campus, every CDS student is represented. The showcase features a video compilation of the middle school famous art recreations as well as a video of the making of the eighth grade class portrait. There is even a Remote Learning Gallery in which a sampling
of the student artwork created remotely in the fourth quarter is on display. An exciting aspect of remote learning for the visual arts was the challenge of creating assignments that could only be done at home. Artworks included photography, family members, homes and pets…even things found in the kitchen. Famous artists were also studied closely. Some impressive artworks were done remotely! Well done, Scorpions! Visit the showcase at cdsart.online.
An exciting aspect of remote learning for the visual arts was the challenge of creating assignments that could only be done at home. Remote Learning Gallery
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Over the next two pages, enjoy a sampling of the artwork created remotely in the Spring by CDS students in grades K-8.
7:40 AM
This spring, K-5 art teacher Ms. Janet Hopkins painted her rendition of the bustling mornings at the walker’s gate, “7:40 AM.” The oil painting was completed in front of a camera, and an instructional video was made for Charleston Day School alumni. Ms. Hopkins, newly retired from her second stint at CDS as an art teacher, donated the painting to the school along with a limited number of art prints. For the past couple of years, Ms. Hopkins has been teaching many of the children of the students she taught in the 1980s. She looks forward to spending more time painting, enjoying photography and her new grandson, Hugo. FALL 2020
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Lower School Remote Learning Gallery
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Middle School Remote Learning Gallery
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BEYOND THE GATES:
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Robert Baxter Russell III ’93 1. Working on film and TV productions, what is your job title, or does it vary? Please describe some of the most interesting productions you’ve worked on in your career. I have performed many jobs in the production industry since getting started in 2002. My very first job was as a production assistant for the marketing arm of ESPN College Gameday in 2002. It was an amazing opportunity which I received through a friend’s older sister. We flew to Chicago for an interview and got the job. After my first tour, I spent four more years on the road with various tours. Most of this time was with fellow CDS alum Chase Jones ’93. We worked for two different marketing companies on four different tours including Budweiser Flickball and Bud Light Maxim Tours. My role switched from production assistant to tour manager. This took me all over the country and to the Superbowl for the first time. I have worked in 42 states. Tired of being on the road, I moved to Atlanta in 2007. My production career began in earnest. I spent several years doing stage work, including the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and worked on various productions—ballet, opera, rock and roll, traveling theater and corporate events. In 2009, I joined the circus and worked as an electrician and follow spot operator for Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza. Later that year, I broke into the film and television industry. A stroke of good fortune occurred when the Georgia tax incentive was put into place shortly after my arrival in Atlanta. It was off to the races after that. What I consider to be my big break was getting hired as the Lighting Console Programmer on The Walking Dead Season One. After that experience, word of mouth led to every other job I was offered. 2. After studying Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University, what did you do next? I received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in May 2002. My engineering co-op was at the Oconee Nuclear Power Plant in Seneca, SC. I was a systems engineer. When I graduated, I took a position as a project manager for Palmetto Pile Driving in Charleston. My engineering career was short lived as I started with ESPN after only two months. My career has been anything but a straight path. I would say I have one of the most non-linear paths of anyone I know. My interest for the entertainment industry grew out of my love of 16
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LEFT: Rob finds himself on the Class of 1993 mural in the CDS gym. ABOVE: Rob’s brick in the Alumni Walk. going to live concerts, which is my absolute favorite thing to do. I had rock and roll dreams, which were quickly met with the reality of how difficult a job I was actually seeking: 100+ hour weeks, 24 hour work days, many overnights and hard, sweaty physical labor. I call this rock and roll reality. Interestingly enough, my career has revolved around electricity. So in that regard, there has been some consistency. 3. You were an honor marshall in the seventh grade at CDS. What are your favorite memories as a Scorpion? How did Charleston Day prepare you for what you are doing now? I loved my time at Charleston Day. I started riding my bike on my own to school in the fifth grade, and that was amazing. So much freedom. My grandmother, Grandpie, lived on Poulnot Lane, and every morning she would wave to me on my way to school, which took me by her house. After school, I would stop by her house for grilled cheese sandwiches and a myriad of other treats. Other favorite memories include playing basketball for coach Pat Harrington. Basketball became one of the great loves of my life, and I was well prepared to make the JV team at Porter Gaud. Another standout memory was when my parents chaperoned the fifth and sixth grade trip to Quebec City. The group had a snowball fight on the Plains of Abraham, which was amazing, and I learned to snow ski. Also, my family hosted the eighth grade French Soiree. (This event later achieved some infamy, but it was a truly memorable event.) Learning to speak French was definitely something that stuck with me from CDS. As a result, I did a student exchange in France the summer after my freshman year in high school. My French teacher at CDS, Mrs. Sheppard, introduced us to the family I stayed with in Normandie. Pringle Claypoole ’94 also went to France with
me but lived in a different Family Feud came to Atlanta in 2011, town. My French education and I worked on the show for seven actually led to several jobs seasons until it moved to LA for in the production industry, 2018 and 2019. It was definitely the one being several stints with best production experience of my Cirque Du Soleil. The other career. The crew becoming a family was with a theater company is a cliche, but in this instance, also in Atlanta called Theatre an understatement. An interesting du Reve where I served as phenomenon occurred when LA the technical director for crews first started coming to work on Rob and his wife, Rebecca, on the set of Ant-Man with several performances of big shows in Atlanta in 2011. There Paul Rudd. French plays, including a was often friction between the locals short residency with the and the LA crews. However, Family French department at Emory University for the performance of Feud was the opposite. The LA crew became some of my closest Le Monologue d’Adremalech by Valere Novarina. We then took the friends, and we showed them an amazing time while they were in show on the road to Georgetown University where Novarina, Atlanta. himself, was in attendance. I would say that all of my Francophile Family Feud truly was the job that opened my career up to the larger experiences relate directly back to CDS! world of production outside of Georgia. To bring this all around 4. Recently, you returned to the Charleston Day School full circle, I am currently on week two of production of Family Feud campus to assist in the remote commencement ceremony for back in Atlanta for 2020. We are really the first major show to start the Class of 2020. How would you describe that experience? back up in Georgia. We are shooting at Tyler Perry studios, and What was it like to be back at CDS? What had changed and it is absolutely insane. I have had three COVID-19 tests, and my what was the same? Was it important to you to “give back” next one is at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. We wear masks all day long. to your former school? We’re a litmus test to see if a production can work under these conditions. I feel very excited and also I truly enjoyed coming back to CDS for the commencement very nervous to go to work each day, ceremony. I enjoyed meeting Mrs. Arnstein and the rest but I felt like it was important to be a of the staff. I received a warm welcome and and a tour part of this experience. of the campus. I loved seeing the mural from our class. We were the first class to paint one. I had forgotten that 7. Last question: Red or Blue William Prioleau had painted himself in gray to represent which are you?! his colorblindness. I was on the Red Team! Charleston Day has certainly changed, but definitely still feels familiar. I was extremely excited about the opportunity to give back to CDS. My career has taken me far away from Charleston, and it was nice to reconnect with my past. It was a unique opportunity to participate, and I am thankful for the experience. 5. What advice would you have for a CDS student? If you have a dream, you can make it a reality. Those dreams morph and change over time, and then idealistic concepts become reality, maybe just slightly differently than you had imagined. I had inklings that I wanted to be in show business, but I didn’t have a clue what that meant. I loved music, movies, comics, fantasy literature and most of the things that were not as cool back then as they are now. I read tons of comic books when I was a kid. Spider-man was always one of my favorite characters. Being on a live set with actors and stunt people in a Spider-man costume was a tremendous thrill. Being on stage and throwing a baseball with Eddie Vedder was another high point. I would suggest making your dreams more specific than mine were though.
ABOVE: A masked Rob stands on an empty production lot at Tyler Perry Studios in 2020. RIGHT: Rob stands with Family Feud host Steve Harvey.
6. You are back in production for Family Feud. Why has that experience been so impactful? FALL 2020
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BEYOND THE GATES: ALUMNI on the Frontlines
Pandemic Perspectives Class of 1972
Mary Dallas Carter Moore 1. What is your current profession? I am a concierge at the main building of Bishop Gadsden. I deal typically with the Mary Dallas Moore independent residents, but during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, every team member has jumped into new roles. 2. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect you? As we had a lockdown for the whole campus, it was necessary to make changes in our daily routines. Since the independent residents were no longer able to go to stores to buy what they needed, we had a plan to help them. They ordered what they needed with our team picking up the items and delivering to their doors. We also had to deliver three meals per day to approximately 500 residents. These are just a couple of examples. It is absolutely amazing to me what a caring community we have at Bishop Gadsden. Everyone is willing to do anything that is asked of them. Both the residents and team members are a community with much love for eachother. 3. Did the pandemic produce any unexpected silver linings? I have been so happy to work at Bishop Gadsden to see what extraordinary measures have been taken to keep the residents safe. My father is one of the residents. There is nowhere I’d rather him be now that I have witnessed the care. An example of the incredible organization from our community leaders is that there has been a written communication and a video from our CEO every single day since midMarch. This communication has definitely been a source of encouragement for all residents. They have been willing to follow the rules, even though it has been very tough. 18
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Do you have news to share in the next Gateway? Contact Mary Baarcke ’94 at Mary.Baarcke@charlestonday.org
or submit your alumni news online at www.charlestondayschool.org/submit-class-note/.
4. Has the year 2020 changed your 5-year plan or plans for the future? I hope I am in the same place in five years after witnessing the incredible care and concern for residents and team members.
Class of 1997
Richard M. Cutler III 1. What is your current profession? Veterinarian/Owner at Cutler Animal Hospital
2. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect you? Business slowed down for the first week of the city-imposed stayat-home order, but it Richard Cutler increased after that and has been consistently busy since. We have not allowed clients in the building since March because it is impossible to social distance in the exam rooms. All staff wear masks when interacting with clients, and appointment slots were increased to 30 minutes to minimize overlap between clients in the parking lot. 3. Did the pandemic produce any unexpected silver linings? The biggest silver lining was an increase in new clients due to a nationwide surge in pet adoptions. A lot of people adopted new puppies while they were in quarantine at home.
Class of 1997
Julia Darling Gore 1. What is your current profession? I have been a nurse for almost 11 years, and I am so thrilled to have started as the new school nurse at Charleston Day School in August! 2. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect you? When the quarantine began in March, I was in a transition period in my career after a relocation from North
Carolina. I feel so fortunate that I was able to put my job search on hold to stay home with my children, Liza and Pickett. Daily life changed drastically, but I was able to adapt to the demands of remote learning fairly seamlessly. Homeschool with a kindergartener and second grader has truly been one of the most difficult tasks as a parent. I have even more respect and admiration for elementary school teachers after the experience. 3. Did the pandemic produce any unexpected silver linings? The pandemic forced a slower pace at home versus the normal hustle and bustle. I feel blessed to have the idyllic location to quarantine. Liza and Pickett got to experience a gorgeous spring in Charleston which felt like a throwback to my childhood. They seemed to forget about the iPads after Zoom learning and spent endless hours outside riding bikes with neighborhood friends, building forts and playing manhunt. Technology has allowed the world to continue to operate during quarantine to avoid transmission of the virus. Businesses can continue to operate via Zoom. Instacart can deliver groceries in an hour. Zoom yoga can allow moms to keep their sanity at home. Google Classroom can help teachers stay in touch with their students. Telemedicine virtual visits allow patients to be seen without exposure in the office. Although these applications do not replace human interaction, it can allow for some sense of normalcy during the pandemic. 4. Has the year 2020 changed your plans for the future? I am taking the pandemic one week at a time at this point! Our community must social distance, wear a mask and follow all of the CDC guidelines in order to move forward in planning our future! More to come in my role as school nurse...
Julia Gore
Class of 2006
Elizabeth Verdier Dougherty
1. What is your current profession? I am a Registered Nurse on the Bone Marrow Elizabeth Dougherty Transplant/ Immunosuppression Unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennesse. I have been here for about 4.5 years. 2. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect you? COVID-19 has had quite an impact on how I live my day-to-day life. As a nurse to patients with no immune system, it is extremely important to stay away from potential exposure. I have been out to maybe 2-3 restaurants since March and have been extremely cautious going to anything involving large groups. I have many friends who are taking care of COVID-19 patients on a daily basis, so I have not seen them except once since the beginning. This may be on the extreme side, however, it does not seem worth the risk of exposing people who have no chance of living if they catch this virus. 3. Did the pandemic produce any unexpected silver linings? For me personally, the only thing that I have found to love is the app “Shipt.” This app existed prior to COVID, but I only just discovered the beauty of ordering my groceries on the app and having them delivered to me. 4. Has the year 2020 changed your 5-year plan or plans for the future? The year 2020 has had an unfortunate potential to change my 5-year plan. I am in grad school part time earning my Family Nurse Practitioner degree. I am due to graduate from the program in August ’21, however COVID has created a huge problem when it comes to finding clinical sites. To graduate from this program I have to have completed a certain amount of hours working in various specialties. For this to occur, I have to find places who are willing to accept a student. Since the beginning of COVID, almost every clinic has decided they do not want to take in students of any kind. If this continues to be a problem I will have to take semesters off and not graduate as planned. The other option to on-site rotations is online clinical. As anyone can imagine, learning a hands-on profession online is not only difficult but potentially unsafe for the future of
healthcare. Unfortunately, this is the reality we live in currently, and one can only hope and pray that with time, things will change for the better.
As for now, I will continue to do my part to be here and care for patients. After all, 2020 is the year of the nurse!
Class of 2008
Delaney Canton
Liddy Blincow 1. What is your current profession? I am currently a nurse at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina on the hematology oncology unit. 2. How did Liddy Blincow the COVID-19 pandemic affect you? The corona pandemic has definitely impacted not only my profession but my day-to-day life. Working on a cancer unit during a pandemic has brought about several changes to keep immunocompromised patients safe. We do not allow visitors at this time, and patients with any symptoms must be tested negative in order to be admitted to the unit. This keeps the unit COVID free, and I am so thankful my exposure within the hospital is limited by working here. As a nurse, I am screened at the doors of the hospital for any symptoms or fever, and wear a mask and goggles my entire 12-hour shift. The hospital as a whole did take a hit when COVID-19 first came around. Many units had to become strictly for patients with coronavirus and as numbers increased, more nurses were needed throughout the hospital. Policies were constantly changing, and resources were limited. Everyday I would check my email to look at the rise in numbers of cases in NC, SC and GA and the number of patients in the hospital’s COVID units being treated. I had to become flexible coming into work knowing I could be working on another unit within the oncology division for staffing reasons, but slowly things are getting back to normal. The hardest part, by far, is not having visitors in the unit, especially for the patients! 3. Did the pandemic produce any unexpected silver linings? I think one silver lining is that I am able to be there for patients now more than ever. I have become a part of another support system for them that allows me to advocate, listen and care for them in ways their family and loved ones would! The year 2020 has not changed my 5-year plans but it has definitely made me question what the next five years will look like!
Class of 2008
1. What is your current profession? I currently work as a nurse at MUSC on a cardiothoracic stepdown floor. 2. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect you? Delaney Canton I work on a floor with a lot of heart and lung transplants, so thankfully my floor works really hard to keep us as safe from COVID-19 as possible because these are some of the most immunocompromised and fragile patients when it comes to this disease! However, it was really scary for me being a new nurse working with patients while they were being tested and ruled out for coronavirus. As time went on I got more used to being around COVID patients because I knew it was my job to take care of them as I would any other patient. I wear a mask for all 12 hours of my shift, and all of the nurses and doctors work to do our part to keep the patients and staff as safe as possible! 3. Did the pandemic produce any unexpected silver linings? Throughout this process I realized how special all the people on my floor are because we have all worked so hard to support one another during this scary time. When one nurse is assigned a COVID-19 patient, all of the other nurses and patient care technicians go the extra mile to help out in any way possible. It was also amazing to me to see firsthand how brave each of the staff members on my floor truly are! Not only have I never seen any of the nurses complain when assigned a COVID patient, but I have also witnessed each nurse giving the utmost care to those patients. Putting on all the protective equipment each time you go in a COVID room can be exhausting, but I have seen each nurse go in with a smile on their face each and every time. 4. Has the year 2020 changed your plans for the future? The year 2020 has helped to solidify my personal decision of going into healthcare. It has made me really proud of my job and all those around me. Although these are scary times, I am able to witness firsthand medical professionals coming together as strong as ever! FALL 2020
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Class of 2016 College Bound Isabelle Boulware Wofford College - Scholars John Chakeris University of Mississippi Morgan Davis University of Georgia Augusta Dixon* Middlebury College Austin Givens Wofford College - Scholars Kasen Groves University of California Los Angeles Jack Hastings University of South Carolina Darla Moore IBA program William Kronsberg University of South Carolina Honors Louisa Kuhn Texas Christian University Honors Anthony Leadem Trinity College Dublin Mason Leath Georgetown University Davis Leath Dartmouth University Alexander Liberatos Clemson University Edward Maybank III University of the South – Sewanee 20
FALL 2020
Aidan McCool* University of Maryland College Park Ballard Morton University of Chicago Gunnar Nistad** Furman University Gillian Nyland University of Colorado - Boulder Margaret O’Kelley University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Lyles Parsell Wake Forest Caroline Patterson Clemson University Ellis Ross Jr. University of South Carolina Gigi Sherbacow Denison University Walker Taylor University of Tennessee Neil Walters Jr. The Citadel Hubert Wood IV University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
* Basketball ** Football FALL 2020
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2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT
2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT
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FALL 2020
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