2023-2024
OUR MISSION:
Evergreen Country Day
INSPIRES PREPARES students to and to and THRIVE
CREATE A BETTER WORLD.
LETTER FROM KABE
Dear Evergreen Country Day School Community,
It’s my pleasure to share our 2023-24 Annual Report. This report is more than just a record of our accomplishments; it’s a celebration of the vibrant community, dedicated faculty and outstanding students who make Evergreen Country Day a place where students thrive.
Academically, our students continue to excel, with national test scores placing us
significantly ahead of public and private peers. Beyond testing, our Middle School Robotics and Elementary Destination Imagination teams earned state accolades. In athletics, both our middle school basketball and volleyball teams reached league championships, with volleyball winning the second championship in ECDS history!
Through all of these achievements, our faculty remains the heartbeat of our school. Jill Goudie was honored as Evergreen’s Teacher of the Year, and our Summer Camps received a community award for excellence. Allison Musser launched a new community service initiative, and our Elementary team, led by Angie Brekke and Meg Sullivan (recently Fortier), reenvisioned our math curriculum.
On the global stage, Meg Sullivan achieved a World Championship title in floor hockey. Our educators also continue to shine beyond our walls: Arielle VanArsdall was selected as a national trainer for LEGO Robotics, and I was honored to speak at the largest educational tech conference in the U.S.
LETTER FROM KABE
With support from our Annual Gift-to-Give Fund, we invested in campus improvements, prioritizing safety with upgrades to doors, fire alarms, alert systems, and first-responder communication. Learning spaces were enhanced with a new bathroom in the Nest, durable LVT flooring, and updated classroom materials.
Through professional development, teachers like Amanda Wellman who earned a credential in supporting students with dyslexia—and Mark Marino, who will launch a makeyour-own-guitar program in our woodshop, are continually enriching our student experience. This fund also enabled us to welcome two new staff roles: Enrichment and Community Service Coordinator, Allison Musser in 2023-2024, and Social-Emotional Learning Consultant, Amy Dickerson in 2024-2025.
Finally, we were proud to expand student experiences, from our first-ever Boston trip and a cultural immersion opportunity in Panama to our Amazing Shake competition, a professional skills event spearheaded by PEAK. Students navigated social challenges and practiced soft skills that will benefit them beyond our walls.
Thank you to every parent, student, faculty member, and supporter who has been a part of this journey. Together, we ’ re shaping a hope this Annual Report fills you with the s rd the future
With deepest gratitude,
Kabe ErkenBrack Head of School
THE NUMBERS
FUNDRAISING
2023-2024
$550,596
OPERATING REVENUE 2023-2024
$5,657,547 EXPENSES 2023-2024
$6,076,698 $669,783
$371,970 GIFT TO GIVE
$111,930 GRANTS
$55,402 RESTRICTED
$11,294 TUITION
$4,755,840 SUMMER CAMPS
$390,547
$297,516 INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS
$213,644
$222,424 INTEREST $189,937 PROFESSIONAL FEES $151,870 ADMIN SUPPLIES $73,512 ADVERTISING $14,726
& FOOD SERVICES
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EVERGREEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
CLASS OF 2024
In the last four years our Graduates have gone on to attend:
Colorado Academy
Fountain Valley High School
Kent Denver High School
Mullen High School
Valor Christian High School
Conifer High School
D'Evelyn High School
Denver School of Science and Technology
Evergreen High School
Golden High School
Lakewood High School
GIFT TO GIVE
Each year, our Annual Giving Program brings together a community of families, alumni, and friends who believe in our mission and are committed to making a difference. Dollars raised provide flexible tuition support, professional development for our faculty, and innovative program enhancements like shop, robotics, Destination Imagination, and writing club that make Evergreen Country Day among the best independent schools in Colorado.
WISH 2024
WISH is our annual spring gala. The 2024 theme, Casino Royale, was an unforgettable evening full of amazing James Bond-themed outfits, casino games, and dancing! We are so grateful to our ECDS community for the donated auction items, volunteer hours, and financial contributions.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
I graduated from ECDS in 2009, and it was here that I developed a deep curiosity and passion for learning. The communication and public speaking training I received from my time at ECDS has been essential to my academic and professional success. Beyond academic achievements, I'm particularly proud of organizing the "Quarters for Kids" nonprofit event, which raised funds for school breakfasts for Denver children. I spoke publicly to the whole school about the organization and its goals, organized a bake sale fundraiser, and then represented the school at the nonprofit's annual event in Denver. This experience taught me the value of working diligently for causes I care about.
I continued my post-high school education at Duke University, majoring in Biology with minors in Statistics and Chemistry, graduating with distinction in 2017. I then pursued my PhD in Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, graduating in 2022. I am currently a Senior Medical Writer on the US Medical Affairs team at Real Chemistry, a healthcare communications agency. I work closely with numerous pharmaceutical companies to help write their communications materials that they share with doctors, patients, and investors, while also helping to develop their medical strategy. I love that my job requires constant learning - I love to learn about new disease states and new therapies that have been developed to address the disease burden. Furthermore, it's fulfilling to know that my work enhances public understanding of diseases and treatments, ultimately benefiting patients' lives. My husband and I have settled back in Evergreen, Colorado, and we love to ski and hike and experience all that Colorado has to offer! I also love traveling to new places and learning about each place's culture and history.
MADISON ROGERS PERKINS
Reflecting on my time at ECDS, I cherished the closeknit community, where connections spanned across all ages and grades. Participating in Town Hall meetings and celebrating achievements on the "Kindness Tree" was especially meaningful and something I look back on with fond memories. Furthermore, I had very close connections with many of my ECDS teachers, and I will be eternally grateful for the support and guidance provided by each of them. My advice to current students is to take advantage of ECDS' unique offerings, including TED talks, class trips, the houses etc. - embrace public speaking opportunities, connect with peers of all ages, and seize every chance to learn.
CLASS OF 2009
As a current ECDS Board member, I enjoy having a front row seat to witness ECDS’s growth and evolution over the years. It's been a blessing to see it become the remarkable school it is today, continually offering new experiences and achieving new milestones. I have a strong belief that it is important to give back to communities that have given a lot to you. My time at ECDS was invaluable, and joining the board allows me to contribute and stay involved in a meaningful way.
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT THE NEHERS
Our family joined the Evergreen Country Day community in 2014, shortly after moving to Evergreen. We have two ECDS graduates – Emerson (2020) and Wesley (2022) – and our son Porter will graduate from 8th grade this year. Wesley is a Junior at Evergreen High School, and Emerson is in his freshman year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. We love to travel, take cooking classes, and enjoy hiking and skiing together.
We chose ECDS because of the impressive faculty, innovative classroom approach, and the opportunity to have our children together in the same community. As parents, we love the school’s close-knit, family-oriented feel. All our boys have valued the chance to build meaningful, multi-year relationships with their teachers. Each of them also holds special memories of those unique ECDS experiences that inspired and challenged them from unforgettable PE competitions and art projects to 8th grade speeches, proud 14er summits, and colorful musicals. Emerson insists that ECDS science got him through his toughest high school AP classes. When our youngest graduates this spring, we’ll leave this school filled with gratitude for the exceptional staff and families who have touched our entire family and given our boys such a strong foundation for a bright future.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT JILL GOUDIE
JILL WAS VOTED BEST OF THE BESTTEACHERS IN EVERGREEN BY READERS OF THE CANYON COURIER FOR 2024!
I feel like the luckiest person in the world, coming to work at such a beautiful school each day, to have fun, teach, and learn with my students. I am from North Wales, UK and have lived in the US since 1997. This will be my tenth year at ECDS and my 14th year teaching kindergarten. I have also had many years teaching other grades from pre-k – 3rd totaling 29 years of teaching experience. I love adventure and embarked on 3 round the world backpacking trips in my 20’s. I even tried bungee jumping, rap jumping, and black water rafting and have a black belt in mixed martial arts. Now I prefer less dangerous activities - mountain biking, climbing peaks, back country skiing/boarding, traveling, playing guitar, and learning the ukulele. I have summited all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers, 45 of which were ski descents. I have also climbed Mont Blanc in Europe, and last summer I biked Kilimanjaro in Africa. I am also the Journeys Coordinator for elementary school. During a typical year at school, I have the pleasure of booking/organizing all our overnight trips and hikes. I also lead ski club and teach biking at various levels, including summer bike camps. I have brought my British roots to the classroom through a weekly Tea Time where we work
on good manners, café style conversation, and each student washing their own dishes. Music is an important part of my life, and I enjoy incorporating it into the classroom to support learning. What I love the most about my work is seeing students grow in their confidence and independence - it inspires me every day!
TINKER LAB
The first chapter of your child’s educational journey is a school, not a day care. We have dedicated spaces where students create and innovate each day, including a Tinker Lab, complete with engineering/building stations, an outdoor Tinker Garden, and multiple sensory integration centers. We champion the importance of learning through play and embrace an artful balance of both child-driven and teacher-guided activities. Children are challenged to explore, to discover, to create, to care, and to reflect on the world around them
Our dynamic curriculum includes Spanish, Early STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), and the fine arts. It is delivered daily in child-friendly ways that are designed to plant and nourish academic seeds that help our students grow into the next generation of artists, authors, engineers, scientists, explorers, educators, leaders, and global go-givers.
AWARD WINNING ROBOTICS
The middle school robotics team provides students the opportunity to learn about Java and robotics programming from an early age. Fifth and sixth grade students participate on our practice team, and our seventh and eighth grade Robo Eagles compete in the FIRST Lego League Challenge competition each fall. Our teams have qualified for the state competition the last two years and brought home second place in Robot Design. Students have the opportunity to take their skills further by practicing advanced robotics using the FIRST Tech Challenge curriculum and building their own robot from scratch.
Elective Offerings: Theater | Rock Band | Two/Three-Dimensional
Art | Entrepreneurship | Philosophy & Debate | Green Team
WOOD SHOP
The Woodshop class starts with the basics of safety and maintenance of many power tools, including drills, orbital saws, sanders and finishing. With an understanding of the craftmanship required for strong wood working skills, the students then focus on their individual table project for the semester, creating a beautiful piece to take home and enjoy.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Public speaking is a necessary skill to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. We pride ourselves on providing authentic audiences for our students to practice their public speaking skills. From “show and tell” in our Nest classrooms to Town Meeting “Ted Talks” presented by our eighth-grade students to our entire campus (including parents and invited guests), students have many opportunities to build their communication skills. This year we launched the Amazing Shake, a live competition that simulates challenging real-world situations and teaches students professional skills. These opportunities ensure our Eagle orators graduate able to communicate their views confidently d ll l
JOURNEYS PROGRAM
The great outdoors provides a perfect context for our students to learn both how to survive and to thrive along life’s path. Journeys, our Toddler-8th grade outdoor education program, strives to utilize Colorado (and beyond!) as our campus. We aim to graduate students with a deep appreciation for the outdoors, a deep understanding of themselves, and a deep conviction to utilize their gifts on behalf of others.
Journeys marries expeditionary learning with social emotional learning in inspiring ways. Designed as a journey in and of itself, trips include Field Trips around Colorado, 100 Elk Outdoor Education Camp in Buena Vista, Sea Camp in San Diego, Boston, Washington D.C., and international locations like Panama.
Journeys expeditions move our students incrementally from near to far and from me to we.
OUR SUPPORTERS
THRIVE
$25,000+
Kerry and Megan Hicks
Mark and Lucy Ramirez
Kevin and Sally Neher
Jeremy and Leslie Hamilton
Bruce and Sally Rogers
LEADERSHIP
$20,000+-$24,999
Mark Sexton
James Nadja Pisula-Litoff
Sean and Amy Dickerson
Katie Spencer and Jeremy Harkey
Jason and Amanda Koplin
EVERGREEN
$10,000+-$19,999
Jameson and Madeline Parker
Lance and Amanda Little
Anthony Davies and Lauren Shapiro
Andy and Megan Sandquist
Josh and Ali Padilla
Mike and Katie Robinson
Gary Philanthropy
EAGLES
$5,000+-$9,999
Gregory and Devon Patton
Calvin Ames and Julia Roberts
Gabe and Tiffany Behr
Denis and Roxane Curran
Eric and Ashley Lynn
Matthew and Jennifer Filippini
Ryan and Heather London
James and Robyn Gourley
Ryan and Joleen Polk
KINDNESS TREE BLUE AND GREEN
$1,000+-$4,999
Graham Geiselman and Andrea Cunningham
Daniel and Jennifer Grenz Dreger
Whitney and Anna Bellows
Danny and Genevieve Randa
Carey and Leah Sullivan
Chris Riley
David and Lara Layton
Walter and Courtnay Springmeyer
Jay and Maggie Wolfgram
Bryan and Melissa Williams
Josh and Regina Burnett
Mark Root and Lacy Houstoun
Kabe and Jamie ErkenBrack
Brandon and Tara Smith
Nikko Yngente and Leah Quay
James and Kristie Trevey
Tom and Barb Scripps
Mike and Sara Brannon
Zack and Melissa Wishon
Chad Guice Shannon Callens
Shawn and Angela McDanal
James and Liesel James Hunter
Charles and Mieke Scripps
Wyatt and Liezl Kapastin
Pete and Allison Musser
William and Lindi Rucker
Mustafa and Katie Ostrander
Nick and Carlene Marcotte
Douglas and Debra Dennis
Mark Graybill and Belqui Gutierrez
$50-$999
Derek and Elizabeth Nelson
Scott and Deanna Overdyke
Cooper and Madison Perkins
Zach and Julie Winters
Alexander Sadighi and Jordan Botjer
Chris and Steph Baughn
Jonathan and Gretchen Sparling
Scott Valent and Stephanie Gravenor
Darren and Carolina Kirkwood
S&D Law
Scott Hamilton
Scripps, Taylor & Associates, PC
Adam and Emily Hatton
Aaron and Brittany Witucky
Campbell Levy and Courtney Housam
David and Ashley Drake
Christopher and Larisa Bowen
Carter and Whitney Rose
Scott and Jessica Kern
Meghan Hamann
Christopher and Kathryn Winn
Chris and Amy Kirchberg
Suzanne Rivera
Michael and Jennifer Tansey
Jeremy Micley and Anna Norregaard
Shayne and Diana Short
Donald and Stephanie Sutherland
Christine Clark
James Wood
Nici Ball
Tuukka Laitinen and Ingrid Behrens
Robert and Allison Cooper
PEAK stands for Partners
Encouraging Amazing Kids and is a parent-based volunteer community whose goal is to support the needs of the students, teachers and parents of the school. PEAK organizes and supports community-building events and activities that enhance the overall educational experience.
2024-2025 OFFICERS
Robyn Gourley & Lindi Rucker
Co-Presidents
Elizabeth Nelson Vice President
Leslie Hamilton
Treasurer
JordanBotjer
Secretary
PEAK EVENTS IN THE LAST YEAR INCLUDE: PEAK PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS AND FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Parent & Alumni Pickleball Tournament
The Amazing Shake Book Fair
Fall Festival
Holiday Fest-Bake Sale
Holiday Decorating
Field Day & Color Run
Teacher Appreciation
Parent Education
Donuts with Dads
Muffins with Moms
Room Parent Support
TTRANSFORMATION: We believe our purpose is not merely to fill a child’s head with facts. Rather, our purpose is decidedly more idealistic: to transform children with the deep knowledge, the realworld skills, and the authentic self-awareness they need to live lives of peace and purpose.
HEADS, HANDS, HEARTS: We believe that every lesson should challenge our students’ big brains, utilize their active hands, and capture their huge hearts. We engage our students cognitively, physically, and emotionally whether in a classroom or on top of a 14er.
RELATIONSHIPS: We believe in the exponential power of relationships and cherish the idea of community. In our small-bydesign classes and within our warm campus culture, we emphasize interpersonal collaboration, foster vertical student friendships, and embrace parent-teacher-child dynamics.
I V E
INSPIRATION: We believe the best schools light a fire within each child, not under them. We continually seek new ways to excite students not just about their studies, but also about the limitless power of knowledge, the beauty of discovery, and the wonder of the world around them.
VIGOR: We believe that transformative education requires vigor, not just rigor. Far from rote memorization and the antithesis of standardized tests, our high-caliber academics flourish within a dynamic learning environment that cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: We believe in the importance of emotional intelligence. Within a culture of kindness, we help students develop self-awareness and a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics. We believe that EQ + IQ = a person who learns well, loves well, leads well, laughs well, and, ultimately, lives well.
2024-2025
Board of Trustees
Emily Hatton, Chair
Jeff Knupp, Vice-Chair
Barb Scripps, Treasurer
Leslie Hamilton, Secretary
Lara Layton
Lance Little
Maggie McConnell
Shawn McDanal
Mike McIntosh
Mark Ramirez
Megan Sandquist
Madison Rogers Perkins
Sally Rogers
Mark Sexton
