Letter from the Head of School

In the 2021-2022 school year, Dutchess Day School moved from meeting the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic to a slow return to normal school as we know it. In the Spring, face masks and weekly testing dropped away, elbow bumps were replaced by proper handshakes, and we once again opened our campus to the outside world.

In the following pages, you will see many highlights from the 2021-2022 school year, as well as our efforts to push forward, presenting new learning opportunities for our students, and improved facilities for all. In these pages, you will see the visual arts, athletics, performing arts, concerts and recitals, service-learning, and “beyond the fencepost” adventures, and meet new faculty, and trustees. What I hope you see is that the essence of Dutchess Day School remains, regardles of swelling enrollment, and innovative new programs.

Since 1967, the published Courtyard has also been central to Dutchess Day School. It has served as a vehicle for communicating significant changes in our community, celebrating the successes of our students, illustrating the talents of faculty, conveying the breadth and depth of our programs. As we move into a new era for The Courtyard it is my hope that it will continue to serve as a point of connection for all members of our community, past, present, and future.

As you peruse these pages, I hope that you are inspired to engage in the vibrant community of Dutchess Day School. Write, visit, and connect to DDS; we would love to hear about your family and life beyond the picket fence!

Matthew P. Heard, Head of School

OUR MISSION

Dutchess Day School is an elementary and middle school that provides a strong academic foundation, values children’s natural curiosity, and fosters an enduring enthusiasm for learning. In an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, students are encouraged to take intellectual, athletic, and artistic risks and to develop independence, confidence, and imagination. A talented and dedicated faculty maintains high standards within a balanced curriculum that challenges students to discover their unique strengths. The school seeks diversity and respects the individuality of each child. Students share their talents through collaboration and through service to the school, the community, and the larger world.