MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

The 2019–20 school year was genuinely exceptional, both for the successes we shared and the challenges we faced together. The addition of 72,000 square feet of educational space over the past four years has been a critical component in our ability to open the 2020–21 school year with distanced, in-person learning.

Five years ago, Country Day began the largest comprehensive campaign in our school’s history; one designed to deliver the vision of our student-focused strategic plan by creating a distinctive and sustainable learning environment, and supporting our ability to continue preparing a new generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers. Our $54 million goal was ambitious, yet we proceeded with intention and confidence knowing that our community would be committed to meeting our mission and keeping our school at the forefront of educational leadership in Charlotte, our region, and the nation. This annual report celebrates all who have helped elevate the student experience over the past five years.

I am grateful for the robust leadership and the deep commitment of our Forefront Campaign Chairs Wellford Tabor and Walker Poole. Thanks to the generosity of early lead donors, in 2016 we were able to begin construction on state-of-the-art learning spaces that have transformed Cannon Campus for our students and faculty. These include:

• The Purdy Center for Science and Mathematics

• The Hance Lower School Learning Center

• The Dowd Student Center

• The John and Claudia Belk Upper School Learning Center

Additionally, Smoky and Margaret Bissell invested significantly in the people and mission of Country Day through their leadership support of our endowment; and most recently, thanks to Margaret’s financial support, we have acquired the remaining property on Carmel Road contiguous to the school. This is yet another step in fulfilling our long-range facilities plan.

Lastly, as I announced in the spring, five early donors to the Forefront Campaign stepped up in a big way to support students even more with the building of the Klein Family Natatorium. The generosity of Klein, Bissell, Dowd, Olsen, and Pilon families has allowed us to begin construction on the next phase of our long-range Master Facilities Plan, truly cementing Country Day’s position as a national leader in education.

The 2019–20 school year was genuinely exceptional, both for the successes we shared and the challenges we faced together. The addition of more than 72,000 square feet of educational space over the past four years has been a critical component in our ability to open the 2020–21 school year with distanced, in-person learning.

Parents, faculty, staff, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, and friends of the school leaned in and helped us finish strong by supporting the Forefront Campaign through capital gifts and the Country Day Fund, even in the face of a global pandemic. We were unable to celebrate together in May, but know I am so proud of our community for their belief in our mission and their collective effort in shaping an extraordinary future for our children.

Country Day’s excellence is rooted in our partnership with you. Without the support of our steadfast donors and volunteers like you, we would be unable to celebrate Country Day as a school at the forefront. My sincerest gratitude for all you do for our students.

Sincerely,

Mark Reed Head of School