2016 FCDS Winter Magazine

emotionally+physically+socially+mentally=whole boy In the Loop Winter 2016

2970 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824 P: 203.259.2723 F: 203.259.3249 www.fairfieldcountryday.org

Headmaster

John R. Munro, Jr. Published by the Development Office

Cathy Bergstrom Alison Harle Lauren Mulcahy Contributing Photographers

Cathy Bergstrom Robert A. Lisak Lauren Mulcahy Robert Norman Barbara Viner Contributing Writers

Alison Harle Lauren Mulcahy Richard Runkel Design

Imagemark, LLC imagemark.net Printing

Graphic Management Partners This magazine is printed on paper made with 30% post consumer waste fiber processed with environmental chlorine-free sources and certified by Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) to the Chain of Custody standard.

Mission Statement Fairfield Country Day School provides an educational community dedicated to the personal growth and intellectual development of boys. Our balanced and challenging program is designed to help each student expand his desire and ability to acquire knowledge, stimulate his curiosity and creativity, and enhance his self-esteem and respect for others. Each boy’s individual development is encouraged in an environment that anticipates the future while appreciating the past.

contents

In the Loop Winter 2016

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A Letter from the Headmaster The Fund for Country Day IBSC Action Research Project Technology Then and Now FCDS Welcomes Australian Teacher Health and Wellness Measuring Character Development A Special Guest Speaker School News Alumni News In Memoriam

Health and Wellness page 10 Above: Boys are excited to be heading outside for recess. Cover: Jesse Crouch’s advisor group during a team building activity.

new faculty and staff JOE ISOLA joined FCDS in July as the Director of Admissions and Marketing. In addition to those responsibilities, Joe is an Upper School advisor, coach, and math teacher. Joe brings with him a wealth of experience having served in administrative leadership roles at Rye Country Day School, Ridgefield Academy, and Durham Academy. Joe is excited to return to FCDS after being away for sixteen years. During his time at FCDS from 1989-1999, Joe was Dean of Students, Director of Summer Fun, math teacher, and soccer coach. Joe reflected on returning to FCDS: “While some aspects of the school have remained the same, it is great to see the growth and development of the overall program.”

LEWIS AFFRONTI joined FCDS as the new seventh and eighth grade science teacher as well as helping lead Trout in the Classroom. In addition to his classroom duties, Lewis coaches Blue/White Football, Varsity Basketball, and Sixth Grade Lacrosse. He most recently was a teacher and coach at the Christ School in Arden, North Carolina and Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia. Lewis graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South where he earned his B.S. in Forestry and also captained the basketball team his senior year.

CAROLINA MARTINO joined FCDS after twelve years of teaching middle school Spanish at The Montessori School in Norwalk, CT. She teaches Grades 5 and 7-9 Spanish. She also serves as an Upper School advisor, homeroom teacher, study hall proctor, and field trip chaperone. Carolina earned a B.A. in Spanish and M.A. in Teaching from Sacred Heart University. Carolina was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to the United States in 1990.

KATHERINE GREENBERG is a new third grade teacher. Katherine was a maternity sub last year in Pre-K and third grade and is a wonderful addition to the FCDS community. Prior to working at FCDS, she spent three years teaching at both Brunswick School and KING. Katherine received a BA in Sociology from St. Lawrence University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville College.

a letter from the headmaster J O H N R . M U N R O, J R .

Innovative Pedagogy Underpinned by Best Practices in Teaching Boys PERHAPS THE MOST attractive feature of independent

schools like FCDS is, in fact, independence. Firmly rooted in the mission of almost every independent school is the freedom of teachers to develop their curriculum and instructional style void of state or federal mandates. This level of freedom allows our teachers to explore new pedagogy and allows our division heads to make curricular changes quickly and effectively. Our mission is narrower than most schools as we are committed to only educating boys. We are not a “follow the leader” type of school, quick to jump carelessly at the latest trends. Instead, whether we are launching a new math program or initiating a new technology plan, our efforts are purposeful with carefully constructed goals and objectives.

Last summer a group of fourteen FCDS teachers and administrators met to reflect on our educational mission and to plot the course for the future of teaching at FCDS. We chose to examine the “big picture” questions central to our work with four through fifteen yearold boys: Is FCDS following a model of education or are we creating our own? Do we possess the right balance of forward thinking instructional approaches with traditional teaching methodologies?

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How has this shifted and what lies ahead? What models should we be carefully studying: public schools, charter schools, on-line, home school, single gender, international, secondary school; to inform our curricular decisions moving forward? Collectively, our immediate response to all of these questions is that the FCDS educational community must continue to develop a growth mindset that encourages innovation and a willingness to reimagine education while remaining deeply rooted in our traditional liberal arts curriculum. Tradition?

Innovation? What’s the right balance?

Fortunately we have remained true to our mission—anticipating the future while appreciating the past. Quite simply it starts with teaching boys. For seventy-nine years we have adhered to a boyspecific program and our commitment to apply best practices in educating boys has not wavered. Our dedication to academic excellence in boys is also one of the four pillars, or priorities, of the FCDS 2014-2019 Strategic Plan. Within that priority the FCDS administration and faculty has been tasked with increasing levels of student engagement. In studying best practices in boys’ education, FCDS has worked closely with the International Boys’ School Coalition. Recent research by the IBSC in relational learning has influenced our programs by providing teacher training that has strengthened the connections between teacher and students.

These connections contribute to measurable gains in both academic and character metrics. This data also supports the value-added proposition of a tuition based institution like FCDS. FCDS not only learns from the successes of programs at other IBSC schools, but we often take the lead in curricular initiatives that impact schools across the globe. In response to the educational model question, yes, we are following the all-boys model, but we are also leaders in developing a Pre-K-9 model that many schools are following. In early July of 2015, nine faculty members traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, to participate in the 22nd annual IBSC Conference. Each delegate from FCDS presented a workshop on a particular facet of our program. Bill Mulcahy, Head of Lower School, and Duncan Briggs, Latin teacher, presented on our recent work on our core competencies, including the benchmarking process of measuring

FCDS SCENE

Our school is fortified with talented educators willing to push the envelope in applying the most effective teaching methods to engage boys. non-cognitive skills like empathy, resilience, and collaboration among our boys. Margot Pearce, Head of Middle School, and Jesse Crouch, Associate Director of Admissions and eighth grade English teacher, led a workshop on the benefits of public speaking: “Sweaty Palms and Cracking Voices: The Power of Public Speaking.” John Fallon, Upper School English teacher, presented on the impact of an Alternate Reality Classroom and using immersive gaming technology to engage boys. Brad Fallon, Athletic Director and I presented on

in-school versus out-of-school athletics. And finally, Molly Hemenway, Kindergarten teacher, and Maggie Burchill, Librarian, were accepted into the IBSC Action Research program where they, along with approximately fifty other educators from boys schools across the globe, will research the topic of Boys as Global Citizens. Their research will examine the changing definition of masculinity and how that impacts boys’ perspectives of women. Elements from these FCDS programs and presentations are being implemented on a global scale at some of the world’s finest boys’ schools. Though we constantly strive to strengthen our curriculum, it is quite rewarding to see pieces of our educational model being replicated elsewhere.

The conversation on finding the right balance between tradition and innovation is fluid and remains at the forefront of all decisions on what and how we teach boys. Our school is fortified with talented educators willing to push the envelope in applying the most effective teaching methods to engage boys. Many of these methods, especially in teaching the foundational skills of reading and writing, were honed decades ago. Other techniques, primarily through technology, along with a greater emphasis on developing non-cognitive character based skills, are preparing our boys for success in the chapters of their life following FCDS. – John R. Munro, Jr. In the Loop Winter 2016

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Bridging the Gap

The Fund for Country Day THE ANNUAL FUND has always been an integral part of

Fairfield Country Day. As early as 1949, families and friends of FCDS made gifts to the Annual Fund to support the School’s mission to provide superior academic instruction to boys in an environment that fosters the scholastic and extra-curricular activity of each boy. Those Annual Fund gifts laid the foundation for Country Day’s success and ensured that the School could maintain its commitment to academic excellence, while growing its program from 26 boys to the 271 enrolled today.

The tradition of philanthropy continues today. This year, we are excited to rename the Annual Fund the Fund for Country Day. While its former name underlined the continuity of the fund, it did not convey the necessity of it. The Fund for Country Day helps define us as a school; it directly impacts every member of our community and allows FCDS to continue to be a place where discovery and learning transpire. It takes more than preparation and lesson plans to carry out our mission. It also requires resources.

Every year, the Development Office reaches out to parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends, and asks them to support the Fund for Country Day. These gifts provide Country Day with the unrestricted support needed to cover the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating each boy. That difference is $4,600.00 per student or $1.25 million for our current student body. We rely

on the Fund for Country Day to cover more than one third of that deficit each year.

The support of our community gives us the ability to provide opportunities for enriching and engaging educational experiences.

Gifts to the Fund for Country Day are crucial to fostering a love of learning for all students by supporting inspiring faculty and dynamic programming. The faculty/student relationships allow our boys to be known and valued. Their teachers’ support helps them develop the confidence they need to take risks and explore their passions. Whether their passion lies in the arts or athletics, the Fund for Country Day provides the resources we need to provide exceptional academic initiatives in classrooms equipped with the latest technologies, offer arts programs that inspire creativity and discovery, and provide athletic opportunities designed to encourage the spirit of teamwork.

Parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends are all a part of the FCDS team. Donor support makes learning possible. Thank you for your generosity and for believing in our program.

Donate online at www.fairfieldcountryday.org/gifts

ched a e r f f a t S d Faculty an ation p i c i t r a p 100%

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FCDS SCENE

IBSC Action Research Project EVERY SUMMER FCDS is fortunate to send a group of faculty and staff to

Molly Hemenway and Maggie Burchill

the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) conference. The 2015 conference in Cape Town, South Africa brought hundreds of educators from around the world together to learn from each other. It is an intense few days as teachers attend many different presentations and workshops that range in topics. Eight FCDS teachers presented workshops on topics including public speaking, adolescent boys’ perspectives on women, tension between school and club athletic teams, benchmarking core competencies, and alternate reality classrooms. Attendees not only returned with new ideas on best practices for teaching and engaging boys, but they proudly presented the forward-thinking programs at FCDS to a global community of educators of boys.

One component of the IBSC conference is the Action Research project. Action Research was created to explore and test best practices and promote the collaboration of educators in schools from around the globe. Teams focus on a question about boys’ learning, and are guided through classroom-based research investigations.

in Cape Town, South Africa.

“These initiatives have been results-oriented, providing research-driven, practical knowledge to inform teaching and program design.”

– Independent Education Magazine South Africa

Together, FCDS teachers, Maggie Burchill and Molly Hemenway, applied for an action research project they named Boys Have Heart, which is studying the question “can gender equality workshops help boys become better global citizens?” Their proposal was chosen, and they are spending the 2015-2016 school year conducting their research and will report their results at the 2016 IBSC conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. What most people don’t realize is the amount of time and energy it takes to complete an action research project. It is an on-going process that requires continuous reflection and evaluation of your practice.

The goal of Boys Have Heart is to raise boys’ awareness of gender inequality and violence against women in the U.S. and worldwide. This will include a survey of ninth grade boys’ current ideas and views of girls, women, boys, and men. They will view clips from a documentary and partake in hands-on lessons. The objectives of those lessons are: to pay conscious attention to the way media represents boys and men; define key terminology relating to concepts of gender socialization, including gender identity stereotyping, masculinity, and femininity; identify positive representations of male characters in film and television; understand that when representations of boys and men are repeated over time, they can become accepted as reality; understand how gender identities are shaped by society and culture; and lessons on global gender inequality. At the conclusion of the fall term, the ninth grade boys led an assembly to teach the other boys what they learned in the workshops.

During the spring, Molly and Maggie will write a report on their findings using both quantitative and qualitative data. They will share their research project with other colleagues from around the world and hope to inspire them to bring the conversation about gender inequality to their perspective schools. Maggie and Molly have enjoyed working on this research project and look forward to sharing the data with our community in the summer magazine. Maggie said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the ninth grade. They are engaged and open-minded about these ideas, many of which are new to them. They seem to genuinely want to become good global citizens and that makes our work incredibly rewarding.”

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Technology

THEN

FAIRFIELD COUNTRY DAY has always been a pioneer in

implementing technology in the classroom. In 1987, FCDS had one computer lab in the only air conditioned room in the school. Students learned word processing and played Oregon Trail, which taught children about the realities of 19th century pioneer life. A few years later, FCDS was invited to a Microsoft/Toshiba Summit in Seattle.

There were over two hundred schools at the conference, and FCDS was one of twenty-one schools chosen to take part in their laptop program. By the start of the school year in 1996, all boys in Grades 6-9 were given laptops. During the first couple years of the laptop program, faculty members spoke at Microsoft conferences all over the world and FCDS was presented an award by the Smithsonian Institute. The school continues to be a leader in the application of technology in the classroom, with over 15 years of experience, including national recognition for Country Day’s cutting-edge laptop and iPad programs.

While it has been many years since the laptop program was initiated, technology remains one of the hallmarks of a Country Day education. The School is committed to exploring innovative instructional practices that leverage the benefits of technology to promote active learning. Technology is fully-integrated across all grade levels and disciplines at Fairfield Country Day. By combining traditional learning with digital learning, the boys are better prepared for life beyond FCDS. Technology alone does not make the educational ex-

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perience better; it is how the teachers integrate it into the curriculum that makes it a powerful teaching tool.

As our world becomes more and more technology dependent, there is a greater need for digital literacy. Students at Country Day benefit from the school’s commitment of resources in equipment and infrastructure to meet those needs. Many schools only provide one type of device to their students, however, our multi-platform technology plan ensures the boys’ technology training and experience

FCDS SCENE

AND NOW

will not be limited. The technology curriculum builds in complexity throughout each division. The Lower School uses the iPad to help reinforce reading, writing, math, and handwriting skills, as well as basic coding. In Middle School, students learn that technology is made up of three elements: hardware, software, and digital citizenship. Students become aware of the great responsibility they have in caring for their laptop, choosing appropriate software for their needs, and being respectful digital citizens. Upper School technology classes focus on original content creation, the latest technological trends, and using technology to communicate effectively. Some areas they explore are multimedia production, coding, 3-D printing, robotics, and website design. Technology also goes beyond traditional tech classes.

From science to English, teachers are weaving technology into the curriculum as it enhances learning. Edutopia stated, “Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy.”

Students are growing up in a digital society and with the increased use of technology in and out of school, there is a greater need to educate students on digital citizenship. The goal of the FCDS digital citizenship curriculum is to teach students the responsibilities of being a good digital citizen. It is critical that we prepare students for the challenges and experiences they will encounter in their digital lives. As educators, it is our duty to use technology safely, effectively, ethically, and respectfully, and to teach our students to do the same.

We acknowledge that our students’ online lives require the same attention as their offline lives. Our aim as teachers is to empower students to make smart, responsible, and respectful decisions when using technology, and to help them recognize the consequences of making poor choices that may permanently impact their digital footprint. To help realize our vision, FCDS has partnered with Common Sense Media. They provide a scope and sequence tool to help teachers find age-appropriate lessons that address digital literacy and citizenship topics. We are proud to announce that technology teacher, Mandy McCubbin, was the first educator in Connecticut recognized as a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Educator, and FCDS is one of the first certified schools in Connecticut.

Country Day is equally committed to helping students acquire the necessary 21st century tech skills as they are to teaching students how to use technology responsibly. In fact, digital citizenship is one of Country Day’s core competencies. Across all divisions, we cover topics including online communication, privacy and security, internet safety, cyberbullying, digital footprint, online reputation, self-image and identity, information literacy, and creative credit and copyright. Country Day strives to be at the leading edge of technology in education as a means to enhance the teaching and learning environment. Through the school’s partnership with Common Sense Media, we are confident that when the boys graduate from FCDS, they will be exemplary digital citizens.

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FCDS Welcomes

Australian Teacher

AT THE BEGINNING of October, FCDS welcomed

Grace Curtis, a first grade teacher and acting Early Childhood Coordinator at the Christ Church Grammar School in Perth, Australia. Grace hails from the United Kingdom, but moved to Australia many years ago after teaching in the United Kingdom, Japan, and traveling the world for a year. The highlight of her yearlong journey was Tibet and meeting the monks and nomads and trekking to Everest Base Camp.

After arriving in Australia, Grace found work teaching in Albany, a small coastal town in Western Australia. She was immediately drawn to the easy-going way of life in Australia. She became the Early Childhood Coordinator and Gifted Education Coordinator, (Grades K to 9); she really enjoyed the leadership opportunities and completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education through the University of New South Wales. Her passion for Early Childhood was further fueled at this school because they were able to incorporate the outdoors into the programs, (nature play being such an important part of quality early childhood practice and child development).

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After moving to Perth, Grace was offered a position at Christ Church Grammar School, which has a strong reputation and the Early Childhood Centre is renowned for its program and environment. She has been able to help support the development of the Social and Emotional Learning Programs. Grace loves learning and is undertaking the Masters of Educational Leadership Program at the University of Western Australia.

Grace came to Fairfield Country Day School to see our program and to share her experience at Christ Church Grammar School.

We hope to send a Country Day teacher to her school in the spring.

After her return to Perth, we asked Grace about her experience at Country Day.

What did you enjoy most about FCDS? From the moment I arrived, through to the moment I left, I was made to feel so welcome at FCDS – by the boys and the staff. I enjoyed spending time in many of the classes and particularly enjoyed the family style lunches each day. The shared lunches are such a great way for the boys to develop positive relationships with each other and faculty members. The school buildings and grounds are stunning and so well cared for that simply exploring the school was enjoyable. I also enjoyed chatting with teachers and learning more about their own experiences. Teaching in the U.S. is so different to

teaching in Australia and the United Kingdom that it was very valuable for me to learn more about the profession in America.

Did you have the chance to teach FCDS students about your school/country?

Yes – particularly the first grade class. I had come prepared with stories and lessons, but mostly the boys just wanted to ask me questions about Christ Church Grammar School and life in Australia. We shared my favorite Australian picture book, ‘Possum Magic’ by Mem Fox so, naturally, they had lots of questions about native Australian animals. We looked at the map of Australia and followed the characters in the story around the country as they sampled Aussie food.

What have you taught/brought back to your students about your trip to FCDS? The first grade boys presented me with an FCDS bear, a story about Presidents Day, and some American themed pencils on my last day, so my own class was thrilled to share in my gifts! We looked at photos of the school and they were full of questions about the sports the boys at FCDS play, why they don’t have a uniform, and why they didn’t have many boys in the classes. They also saw some things that were similar – the circle time and Me Bag activity are things that they experience too.

Educating boys, particularly in the early years, is fun – everyday!

Boys learn in unique ways so you have to carefully craft a program that balances inquiry based learning, explicit teaching, and play based learning. Boys are naturally inquisitive and they engage so much more when they are given the opportunity to direct their own learning. I make sure they meet the curriculum outcomes, but then support them in their own lines of research and inquiry. The environment is also important, essentially it acts as an educator, so I fill my room with areas that consolidate learning goals that they can explore freely. For example, the boys learned about Australian history and Geography so we built a Settler’s Hut in the home corner where they pretended to camp, pan for gold, and boil some Billy Tea. Or, the Lolly Shop – in literacy they wrote procedures, (recipes for new sweets), in math they were learning about coins and giving change, and in art and design they made their own lollies. Inquiry based learning such as this allows for many curriculum areas to be integrated and engages the boys for prolonged periods. In addition, I find one line of inquiry leads to another line of inquiry and education should be broad and full of rich experiences such as this.

What similarities and differences do you see in Australia and American students?

Comparing FCDS to Christ Church Grammar School I would say that both schools carefully balance academic, sports, and character education. The academic content is very similar, but I saw that history and science are taught earlier and in detail at FCDS, the boys are clearly strong in these subject areas. Behaviour is very similar, boys will be boys!

“Comparing FCDS to Christ Church Grammar School I would say that both schools carefully balance academic, sports, and character education.”

– Grace Curtis

Left: Grace Curtis and her first grade students.

Right: One of the playgrounds at Christ Church Grammar School

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FCDS SCENE

for Two Weeks

What do you enjoy most about teaching at a Boys school?

Health and Wellness

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FCDS SCENE

HEALTH AND WELLNESS are vital to the educational experience at FCDS.

The school continues to actively address its belief in the importance of educating the “whole boy.” With highly qualified teachers, impressive facilities, and innovative programming, FCDS is committed to teaching the boys how to be safe and healthy in their daily lives. We provide the necessary tools for students to be the healthiest version of themselves – emotionally, socially, mentally, and physically. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says, “Schools play a critical role in promoting the health and safety of emotional young people and helping them establish lifelong healthy behaviors.

Research also has shown that school health programs can reduce the prevalence of health risk behaviors among young people and have a positive effect on academic performance.” Our aspirations for overall health don’t extend to athletics only; they are reflected in our physical education programs, mindfulness practice, and family style lunch program.

social

WHOLE CHILD

mental

physical

Physical Fitness

When you think of being healthy, fitness comes to mind. At FCDS, fitness is more than creating star athletes – it is about fostering healthy life habits. Our mandatory participation in sports in Grades 4-9 gets students moving and teaches them the importance of having an active lifestyle. The coaches have created an environment that is fun and where the boys enjoy playing. From traditional sports to intramural opportunities like squash, paddle tennis, and rock climbing, there is something for everyone. Our main objective is for our students to leave FCDS with a positive attitude towards physical activity. We feel this will help them maintain their well-being and create an experience emphasizing team building and an enjoyment of the game.

Each boy participates in our physical education program. The Pre-K through third grade have sports class where they learn about the importance of physical fitness, learn how to play different sports, and have the opportunity to get outside on the school hockey rink and skate in the winter. The fourth and fifth grade boys play Blue/ White sports and sixth through ninth grade play JV and Varsity sports. Our sports teams include: football, soccer, cross country, hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and baseball, and our intermural options include: squash, crossfit, and rock climbing.

In addition to sports, every student has recess. The Lower School boys spend it running and climbing on the playground, while the Middle and Upper School boys can be found playing foursquare, Kanjam, Spikeball, ultimate Frisbee, and flag football. US News and World Report stated, “Recess is a fundamental component of development and social interaction children ought to receive in school.

It offers a unique opportunity for children to experience a break from the academic demands of school as well as a forum for creative expression, social engagement and physical exertion.”

Nutrition

FCDS is very fortunate to have Chef Kevin Stawitz, and his team, leading the kitchen. He provides our community with a balanced meal of a vegetable, carbohydrate, and protein each lunch. Menus are created on campus and to the extent possible, foods are made from scratch. They primarily use olive oil, which has a healthier blend of fatty acids compared with other cooking oils. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are offered daily, utilizing local farmers practicing ecologically responsible farming methods whenever possible. We provide pitchers of rBGH free milk, organic milk cartons, organic yogurt, and our eggs are cage-free. Kevin and his team do a great job preparing delicious, yet healthy meals. There was a day this fall where Chef Kevin served chicken pot pie. A waiter asked, “what is this?” and another boy exclaimed “chicken pot pie – the most delicious thing you will eat!” Lunch is not only about socializing and refueling, but the family style promotes trying new things. Boys try vegetables and dishes they may never eat at home.

Due to food allergies and wanting to keep healthy food options a priority, the school has recently moved to a no outside food policy.

The kitchen provides a daily snack such as hummus and carrots, fruit, and bagels with cream cheese. The one exception to this rule is the ninth grade continues to have bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches on Thursday mornings. Some traditions are harder to curb than others!

Sous Chef Andrew Torre

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Julie Seymour

Wellness

FCDS is lucky to have Julie Seymour, RN, MSN taking care of students and faculty during the day. From band aids to disease prevention, Julie has us covered. In addition to making sure kids are feeling well, Julie works closely with students with food allergies, their families, and the kitchen staff. She is diligent in her efforts to make sure everyone stays safe at school.

In each division, classroom instruction is complemented with age-appropriate activities to enhance their learning of health and wellness. For example, in Lower School, Pre-K students do yoga and learn about their bodies. The second grade studies nutrition during their science unit on the nervous system. The fourth grade discuss ways to keep their organs healthy during their unit on the human body. For fifth through ninth grade we follow the town of Fairfield health curriculum. The curriculum is designed to provide the boys necessary knowledge and skills to develop positive habits and relationships. Country Day hires an outside educator, Lori Mediate, to teach the fifth and sixth grade about puberty. The curriculum builds with each grade, and by the time the boys are in ninth grade they are learning about meaningful relationships, sexually transmitted diseases, and navigating social situations. In Upper School, Will Slotnik, the founder and director of Wellness Collaborative, provides drug education, stress management, and mindfulness training to students, parents, and faculty and staff.

First grade teacher, Jaime Balocca, leading a mindfulness exercise with her students.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness has seen a surge in popularity recently. It has been around for many years, but was mostly directed towards adults.

In the past decade, we have seen mindfulness practice becoming more prominent in education, specifically in schools. In a world of smartphones, social media, and other tech gadgets, staying focused has become increasingly difficult. First grade teacher Jaime Balocca is certified in mindful education and has introduced it to her class, as well as faculty and staff. She has led mindful meditations before school and during professional development days. From her experience, and through research and practice, Jaime has seen the impact mindfulness has on the boys. It cultivates skills like self-management, social awareness, and relational skills. It helps to build confidence, resilience, and improves overall academic success.

Mindfulness isn’t necessarily about sitting on a mountaintop meditating, but is instead focused around the importance of awareness, curiosity, and openness. It is how we relate to people and ourselves.

By the numbers In two months, the FCDS community ate: Organic Vanilla Yogurt

232 cases 2,784 cups

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Organic Fruit Yogurt

70 cases

840 cups

fairfieldcountryday.org

Organic Plain Milk

55 cases

1,320 cartons

Cage Free Eggs

Bananas

Apples

Clementines

cases

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960 pounds

24 cases

cases

165 dozen

approximately

approximately

2,880 bananas

3,000 apples

15

approximately 2,250 clementines

FCDS SCENE

Fitbit challenge winning team

Practice What We Preach Mindfulness has been shown to improve problem solving, planning, and organizational skills. Jaime implements mindfulness in the first grade by using breathing techniques, providing focus strategies, and teaching the boys how to be in the present – all of which positively affect their concentration and overall happiness.

Country Day is fortunate to have Dr. Jeffrey Von Kohorn at school three days a week to help students, faculty, and parents. He recently spent time with the eighth grade discussing stress and how to manage it. Students individually shared with him the stresses they experience, and in groups, they talked about how stress makes them feel.

Providing students the tools to manage stress is key. Dr. Von Kohorn shared that, “students with stress are thirty-eight percent more likely to gain weight, not sleep, and complain about not feeling well.”

Modeling healthy behavior is crucial. In November, the faculty and staff launched a Fitbit challenge. Each member of our community received a Fitbit Charge. Placed in four different teams with a sports teacher as our leader, the groups began walking their way to a win.

The first challenge was for the month of November to see which team accumulated the most steps. On November 1, people came out strong with many reaching over 20,000 steps on the first day.

The teams battled it out it out the entire month, but the winning team led by Steve Morse walked 2,444 miles, a total of 5,309,380 steps! That is pretty impressive considering Thanksgiving week fell during the month – a time when many prioritize food and football over exercise.

Chef Kevin Stawitz’s delicious granola 4 cups – Rolled Oats (instant)

½ teaspoon – Vanilla

½ cup – Shredded Coconut

1 teaspoon – Cinnamon

½ cup – Almonds (optional)

½ cup – Orange Juice

½ cup – Walnuts (optional)

¼ cup – Oil

½ cup – Brown Sugar

¼ cup – Honey

n Add the dry ingredients together in a large bowl n Add in the orange juice, oil, and honey until well mixed n Place in a preheated 250° oven until golden brown (about 45 minutes) n You want to stir it every 20 minutes or so

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100% 90% 80%

Measuring Character Development and the 70%

“FCDS Effect” 60%

By Bill Mulcahy, Head of Lower School

50% FROM THE BOARDROOM, to the playing fields, to the

classroom, data is increasingly being used in unique and creative 40% ways to help organizations make well-informed decisions. Aware of the importance that data can play in the measurement of academic 30% and character skills in students, Fairfield Country Day decided in 2011 to partner with Edumetrics, a firm in Boston, Massachusetts that specializes in data collection and analysis in K-12 schools.

20% Edumetrics was founded in 2010 by Dan Kindlon and Dan Buka, two nationally recognized experts in the field of child development, to provide schools 10% with high-quality, scientifically valid data that demonstrates student growth, and the impact that schools play on said growth, in areas beyond academics. Edumetrics leverages 0% technology in a variety of ways to provide real-time assessment of students and measure student growth over time. Results and analysis are then shared with schools, providing actionable information for school leaders.

Fairfield Country Day School’s partnership with Edumetrics was born out of the desire to effectively measure the impact of an FCDS education on character development. While many faculty members and parents can provide anecdotal examples of how Fairfield Country Day School helps shape character and build non-cognitive skills like resiliency, empathy, and leadership, there was little data to support this so-called “FCDS effect.” The school’s hope was that through their partnership with Edumetrics they would have data to support the character development that occurs in students over time, while also identifying areas of the school program that can continue to be strengthened.

The study began by focusing on recent alumni of the school. Using Grad Contact, a mobile application they created, the researchers at Edumetrics asked graduates a variety of questions focused around topics like sense of well-being, academic preparation, engagement in learning, and community service. They asked questions over a long period of time, and provided feedback to the school, to measure the

students’ growth over time and the effect that alums’ foundational years at FCDS have had on their development.

For the past four years, Edumetrics has also worked to assess current students’ feelings about their experience at school by administering the FCDS Student Satisfaction Survey. The survey, which is given to current students in grades 5-9, measures students’ satisfaction with their school, the nature of their interactions with teachers, and perceptions of their physical and emotional safety. The survey has found that FCDS consistently ranks much higher than national averages in a variety of areas, particularly in regard to feelings of safety and happiness at school. Students at FCDS are much less likely to report feeling a victim of bullying or cyberbullying than students at other schools.

In addition to the Student Satisfaction Survey, Edumetrics is also currently using iNoted, mobile software it created, to assess character development in current FCDS students in grades 6-9. The software, which asks students daily questions around topics like diligence, honesty, and compassion, provides daily data which can be used to measure student growth and well-being. The iNoted assessment is longitudinal, meaning it will assess students over time to measure the effect that their time at FCDS has on their character development.

For younger students, Edumetrics has created the Baseline Assessment Test (BAT) to measure character development. Like the student and alumni assessments using Grad Contact and iNoted, the BAT is also a longitudinal assessment. The assessment, administered to students in Kindergarten through fourth grade, focuses on honesty, perseverance, and other non-cognitive skills. The primary focus of the BAT has been on looking collectively on how character is shaped and developed in the early years at FCDS. While the assessment is ongoing, the preliminary results have shown a strong correlation between tenure at Fairfield Country Day School and high scores in character measures.

While the initial findings of our data have supported many of our preconceived notions about the “FCDS effect”– that the school helps shape happy, healthy, kind boys – we are excited about the opportunity to dig deeply into the data to determine how we can continue to best support our students.

“Perhaps the most significant data, an overwhelming majority of students said they had fun at school and thought their teachers were good at their jobs. The report depicts a school that students believe in academically and socially and where they look forward to coming each day.”

– Dan Kindlon

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FCDS SCENE

A Special Guest Speaker H H H COUNTRY DAY WAS HONORED to welcome Joseph

Grano to campus for a special Veterans Day assembly. Mr. Grano served in the U.S. Special Forces (Green Berets) and became one of the Army’s youngest officers, achieving the rank of Captain. His talk focused on significant life moments and how those moments define your successes and failures, but more importantly, how they define your character.

After eight months in Vietnam, a soldier in front of him stepped on a booby trap and set-off a bomb. Mr. Grano broke nineteen bones and was told by doctors they would have to amputate an arm and a leg. With determination, strong will, and a positive attitude, he recovered from having sixty percent of his body disabled, and did not end up needing any amputations. That was a defining moment in his life; through his recovery, he learned a great life lesson about the power of the mind.

After returning from Vietnam, Mr. Grano got a job at Merrill Lynch as a stockbroker. He said “going into the stockbrokerage business was the closest thing to combat.” He rose through the ranks over sixteen years to become the president of PaineWebber.

During another defining life moment, September 11, he was asked

by President George W. Bush to serve as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, a position he held for three years. The events of 9/11 showcased the need for a crisis plan. As a veteran and a business leader, Mr. Grano is well-equipped to deal with managing a crisis. “The most important thing is the reaction:

instead of finding fault, figure out the solution first. Oftentimes the only person who can fix the problem is the one who made it, so looking for culprits just drives people into foxholes.”

Mr. Grano is currently Chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings LLC, a company that advises private and public companies. He spoke to the boys about being a leader. He said that leaders can be taught, however, the greatest leaders are born that way. “Good managers can be trained to be adequate leaders, but the great ones are forged by their environment and their DNA. To be a great leader you have to respect individuals, love people, and have a positive attitude.” However, his most important message to the boys was for them to “reach for the stars with one arm, lift people in need with the other, and with both arms, embrace the U.S. and make it a better place. My wish for you is to stop wanting and to start living.”

Students had the opportunity to ask Mr. Grano questions following his talk. One thoughtful student asked, “How do you identify a defining life moment?” His answer was that once the experience is over, you reflect on what happened and what you learned. Another student asked Mr. Grano to identify his greatest accomplishment.

Through everything he has done; serving his country and leading top financial companies, his response was, “My greatest accomplishment is having three kids with great values.”

Mr. Grano’s speech received a standing ovation from our community. His words resonated with many and his advice is still being discussed in classrooms and hallways. Thank you to Mr. Cullinan and Mr. Bavedas for coordinating Mr. Grano’s visit.

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Scenes from FCDS 1). The football team takes the field at Homecoming 2). Students erupted in cheers during the Spirit Day assembly 3). Bobby Master ’19 chopped wood during the sixth grade Farm School visit 4). Zane Abdelsadek ’21 and Ryan Fitzpatrick ’21 looking for the ink sac during their squid dissection 5). Cameron Purdy ’16 helping Luke Greenwood ’26 make a volcano on the pottery wheel 6). Connor Clancy ’20 and Pierce Cowles ’20 playing with Kindergarten boys during Link Day 7). Second grade boys Jackson Henrich ’23 and Alexander Eyken ’23 weighing rocks 8). The seventh grade performed in Hartford for the Salvation Army’s Kettle Kickoff Day 9). The turkey made his appearance at the annual Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day

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Two Teachers Recognized Two Fairfield Country Day School music teachers, Mary Nelson and Jim Balmer, were recently recognized and honored by Stanford University as part of their Teacher Tribute Initiative.

Stanford created the Teacher Tribute Initiative to recognize significant contributions from teachers and mentors. Over the summer, all members of Stanford’s incoming freshmen class were given the opportunity to acknowledge one former teacher or mentor who played a significant role in their intellectual, academic, social, and personal development.

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Former Country Day student and Stanford freshman, Russell Clarida ’11, honored Mary and Jim by offering the following tribute: “The duo of James Balmer and Mary Nelson spent years helping me to develop tangible skills, such as performing lines and songs as the lead in the Music Man or as an actor in the background of Grease, but most of all what they truly nurtured was my sense of self-confidence. Whether in bell choir, orchestra, piano lessons, choir tours, or late nights before the play, they taught me that hard work, dedication, respect, and honesty are qualities that a true man of character should embody.”

During Headmaster John Munro’s presentation of this outstanding recognition,

he said that the most rewarding part of his job is when he receives notes from parents and alumni about the impact Country Day teachers have had on their lives. Mary and Jim were visibly touched by this recognition.

Later reflecting, “We were stunned and surprised to learn of this recognition given to us by Russell. He was an outstanding student at Country Day. He always executed the daily preparations and the long term preparations with a sincere and dedicated approach. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious to his fellow students, and we shared many moments with laughter, along

John Munro, Mary Nelson, and Jim Balmer

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with hard work. We are honored to be included with other faculty from around the country, selected by their former students.”

A special thank you to Russell for honoring Mary and Jim and congratulations to Mary and Jim for receiving this high honor!

Social Responsibility in Action Part of building boys of strong character is instilling in them the desire and drive to make the world a better place. Starting as young as Pre-K, students participate in a stewardship project. Through those projects, boys learn about the responsibility of being an active member in the greater community and it strengthens their character dispositions: empathy, integrity, openmindedness, and courage. The importance FCDS places on social responsibility allows teachers to incorporate community service into their curriculum. For example, the seventh grade takes part in the KIVA project,

Max Papadatos ’18 presenting his Kiva Project.

which is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Students research different borrowers and make a case for why their classmates should lend to their cause.

The seventh grade is leading a new service project this year called the Empty Bowls Project. Upper School students will work with the art teachers to create bowls in pottery class. Students will research hunger in our area and will sell their bowls to raise money for either Operation Hope or the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. The bowls will be available on April 2nd, an all-school service day. There will be breakfast on

campus and then students and families will tackle various service activities around our community.

Book Club Seeing students voluntarily arrive at 7:45 a.m. on a school day to discuss a book was a bit surprising. How many fourth and fifth grade boys would choose to join a school book club? The answer is many! Maggie Burchill, the librarian, organized two Middle School book clubs, which were very well attended. The fifth grade discussed Saint Louis Armstrong Beach and the fourth

The V-blotter

Ryan McGuire ’17 and Spence Tuohy ’17 making

For over a decade, Cliff Paige ’62 organized the daily E-blotter. It became something that many of us looked forward to receiving each morning. While students were involved writing articles, Cliff was the mastermind in putting it together—many nights staying up late to make sure it was finished. Now that Cliff has assumed a new role at Country Day, the E-blotter has morphed into the V-blotter. It is produced entirely by the ninth grade class. They create the content, record, edit, and put the finishing touches on the weekly V-blotter. With each passing week, the students are becoming more comfortable and the editions are stronger. If you would like to receive the V-blotter, please send Frances O’Neill (frances.oneill@fairfieldcountryday.org) an email.

bowls for the Empty Bowls Project.

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grade read The One and Only Ivan. Over breakfast, the boys were very eager to answer questions about the characters and plots of the books. Understanding the message or theme of the book is an emerging skill for fourth and fifth graders.

The book club is a fun, low pressure way for them to learn how to read with more understanding

Making the Ice The anticipation for the Monday after Thanksgiving is profound—it marks the first day of skating. When the boys’ skates hit the ice for the first time, what they probably aren’t thinking about is the amount of work

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and man power it takes to ready the rink.

Planning and maintenance of the rink starts well before opening day and requires a team of people.

The process starts in early fall as Mr. Morse and Mr. Runkel begin cleaning and weeding the rink surface. The outer edges of the rink are filled with sand as opposed to concrete, which allows for the expansion and contraction of the refrigeration pipes under the ice surface. With the sand come unwanted weeds. The entire surface is meticulously power washed to remove last year’s paint residue and any mildew.

Simultaneously, the refrigeration specialist comes to inspect and perform annual maintenance on the machinery and the

pipes. He starts by filling the pipes with air to detect any leaks. Once everything is in working order, the air is removed from the pipes and the refrigerant is pumped in.

Prior to laying the ice the compressors and motors (the machines that help make the surface cold) are turned on and the surface is slowly cooled over a three to four day period. If the surface is cooled too quickly, it could crack and break the concrete and the pipes. Once the surface is cold enough (at FCDS we aim for 10-14 degrees Fahrenheit) we begin to freeze the edges.

The dynamic ice making team (athletics teachers), led by Mr. Runkel and Mr. Morse, typically assemble the Monday of Thanksgiving week to ready the equipment

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and materials. Making the surface takes a lot of specialized equipment; it takes two or three nights and is weather dependent.

We use a large hose and a set of copper tubes that produce a mist of water that is distributed onto the surface in a few fine layers. As these layers of water freeze they fill in pores in the concrete, which ensures a nice smooth surface for the paint to adhere to. The same equipment is used to put the paint down in three separate layers. The paint causes the sun to be reflected off of the surface rather than absorbed into it.

Painting the ice helps to keep things cold, so it is important that the surface is extremely white. Once all of the paint is applied, a few more layers of misted water are added to seal it. Finally, the surface can be flooded— allowing for a thicker layer of ice with less effort. The idea is to create a protective layer of ice between the paint and the skating surface, which helps us protect the paint from damage. We have to wait in between all applications of water and paint to be sure that the last layer is completely frozen.

The process involves a great deal of “hose hauling.” Once there is about a half an inch of ice above the paint the Zamboni can add water and smooth the surface.

Maintenance of the rink involves numerous trips on the Zamboni and a daily “edging” to keep the surface level. It also involves constant monitoring of the weather and subsequent adjustments to the machines that keep the ice frozen.

There is clearly a passion for skating at FCDS and without the dynamic team that helps to ready the rink and maintain it throughout the season, we wouldn’t have such a strong skating program. Most people don’t realize the amount of time that goes into preparing the rink, nor do they know that it is a labor of love. Mr. Runkel said, “The rink reminds me of an important lesson. That is, with anything that is important, it takes a great deal of planning, understanding, cooperation, and a little luck to make it successful.” A big thank you to Mr. Runkel, Mr. Morse, Mr. Fallon, Mr. Freer, and Mr. Dorman for all of your hard work.

“Most people don’t realize the amount of time that goes into preparing the rink, nor do they know that it is a labor of love.”

– Rick Runkel

The Rosow Family and Worthington Johnson Rink by the numbers: Number of 30 pound boxes of paint to make the ice white (Jet Ice Super White 3000) …9 Length of refrigeration pipe under the ice …12.5 miles Amount of refrigerant that flows through this pipe …nearly 2,400 gallons Amount of water to make about 1 inch of ice …around 10,0000 gallons Weight of one gallon of water …roughly 8.4 pounds Amount of water the Zamboni holds …more than 120 gallons Number of loops the Zamboni makes for resurfacing …5.5- 6 Number of times the Zamboni is used during a normal day …2 - 3 Number of times the Zamboni is used during a storm …6 -10 Number of loops the Zamboni makes all season …lots and lots

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Scoreboard

By Brad Fallon, Athletic Director The boys had a great fall season on the fields, roads, and beaches with some of the best fall weather Connecticut has seen.

Varsity Football Youth football may be on the decline, but not at FCDS. Our largest team in a decade finished the 2015 season with a 2-2-1 record. The Crusaders opened the season with a win at Hopkins; followed by two tough defeats against The Buckley School and Greenwich Country Day School. The Buckley game was particularly difficult as it was in front of a large Homecoming crowd.

However, the boys in blue were resilient and bounced back with a tie against St. Luke’s.

Our younger players were the stars, especially seventh grader, Blake Burchill, who was all over the field both offensively and defensively. FCDS saved their best game

for last as they played the Brunswick squad, who were previously undefeated. The game came down to the final minutes, when a goal line tackle by seventh grader Brendan

Dunleavy preserved the victory. This game was one of the most exciting contests in recent memory! Leading the way this year was a talented group of ninth graders including our strong-armed quarterback, Connor Boyle, and talented receivers, Harry Azadian and Cole Sprinkle. Liam Ballou and Will Bundy anchored our offensive line, and Michael Auray, Michael Thompson, and Drake Quental all ran the ball effectively. Cameron Purdy gave the team a huge lift at the end of the season after returning from a thumb injury.

Coaches Dorman and Geary couldn’t be prouder of these young men.

Cross Country First year coaches, Margot Pearce and Jesse Crouch, who not only coached the team, but also ran side by side with the boys, shared their thoughts on the Cross Country season. “This year FCDS saw its largest (twenty-six runners) cross country team as boys flooded down the hill on their warm-up lap. Led by a strong pack of eighth graders, every individual on the Top: Quarterback, Connor Boyle ’16, running the ball. Bottom: Connor Rosow ’17 competing at Waveny Park.

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team learned to challenge himself both in practice and in our weekly meets. Whether running intervals around Blair Field, the neighborhood loop, or the deep sand of Penfield, our runners increased their speed and strength tremendously. Highlights included a challenging Ridgefield course and back-to-back meets at Waveny Park in New Canaan. Congratulations to Ruan O’Toole Douglas, Blake Braun, and Oliver Fenner for bringing home top five ribbons at our championship meet at Sherwood Island.

We look forward to seeing the harriers back in the spring.”

Varsity Soccer According to coaches Runkel and Isola, the fall’s soccer team possessed all of the qualities a coach could ask for. The players worked incredibly hard to improve their skills and to understand the tactics of the game. Their best attributes though, were their grit and determination, finishing the season 6-1-2. The highlight of the season came during the final game—a rematch against Brunswick. The Bruins previously beat the Crusaders pretty handily, but the second time around we were not going to be denied. FCDS scored the only goal of the game early in the second half. The team continued to play great defense, led by Zach Pearce and Connor Wackerman, whom made some incredible saves. The coaches would like to thank the ninth grade leaders: Cam Sweedler, James Whiteley, Sam Klyver, Tim Oravec, Andrew Buckley, and JC Sanzone, for their enthusiasm and for being such terrific role models for the rest of the team.

Dune Dash We finished the fall season with the 9th Annual Dune Dash. Students in fourth through ninth grade participate in a 1.5 mile run at Penfield Beach. We appreciated the balmy 65 degree day, which led to some fast results. The overall winner was eighth grader Jack Esse, finishing second was speedy fifth grader Luke Laferriere, and the winning teacher was once again Mr. Briggs.

Top: Cam Sweedler ’16 working the ball towards the goal. Bottom: Carter Hall ’20 leading a pack of runners to the finish line at the Dune Dash.

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Fall Road Trip John Munro, Rick Runkel, and Cliff Paige ’62 hit the road this fall to visit alumni at secondary schools.

Left: Dr. Imran Ali ’93 with Dr. Sanja Gupta, Right: Imran Ali ’93 in the 1993 yearbook.

FCDS Alum Making Waves in the Medical World Fairfield Country Day School alum, Dr. Imran Ali ’93, is currently a resident physician in the department of Internal Medicine at Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health. He has finished his neurocritical care unit and is currently on geriatrics. Imran graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine’s Global Scholar’s program pursuing a combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health at New York Medical College’s Institute for Public Health. Imran hopes to combine his passion for science and public health by broadcasting medical journalism. He has a wealth of experience, especially from the year he spent at CNN’s medical news unit with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

He continues to work in the media as a correspondent for Radio Rounds.org and a contributor with Channel 8.

Imran was at Fairfield Country Day School from Kindergarten through ninth grade. He vividly remembers teachers who impacted his life. His passion for science started in fifth grade with Mrs. Sarles. He remembers the earth worm dissection and appreciates the foundation FCDS provided him. Imran also worked closely with Mr. Paige on the E-blotter. He wrote frequently and his communication skills improved

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and his passion for journalism was ignited.

Imran loved the debates—combining his passion for researching, writing, and speaking. The skills he learned at FCDS provided a wonderful foundation for his academic successes. He worked as a news anchor at his college’s radio station and then later through his internship at CNN. In addition to science and journalism, Imran reflected positively about his experience at FCDS. He was briefly put on hold when calling Country Day and the background music was Green the Fields and it reminded him of his time in Concert Choir and as a member of the Pinstripes.

He remembers the family-style lunches with fondness. When asked what advice he would give to current students he said, “If you have something you want—go for it. It may take time to achieve it, and you may fail along the way, but if you persevere you will be successful.” Imran shared how he didn’t get into medical school on his first try, but he worked hard and with a great deal of determination, he succeeded.

After finishing his residency, Imran is thinking about entering the oncology field, but whatever his area of specialty, Imran will remain devoted to preventive care through education.

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Top: Charlie Millard ’15 and Michael O’Loughlin ’15 with Rick Runkel; Bottom: Brendan and Sean MacDonald ’15 with Rick Runkel

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Ed Tuohy ’14 with Rick Runkel

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Quinn Cahill ’13, John Munro,

Asher Zelson ’14, Michael Solazzo ’13, John Munro,

and Grant Sweeny ’13

and Clay Zachery ’15

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The View from the Sidelines

By Cliff Paige

Left to Right: Blake Keogh ’98, Will Reinhardt ’98, Parker Newton ’98, Charlie Payne ’98, Cliff Paige ’62, and Stuart Rudkin ’98 at Charlie’s wedding.

Young Alumni Gathering

Left: Members of the Class of 2015. Top Right: Jim Balmer, Russell Clarida ’11, and Barb Viner. Bottom Right: (l to r) Hunter Pearson ’14, L.J. Foley ’13, Donal Lowsley-Williams ’14, Quinn Cahill ’13, and Asher Zelson ’14

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Not being at FCDS each and every day as I have been for the past twenty-eight years has been a very large change in my life. But all of the connections (the ties) are still there in different ways.

Last week I was able to attend a Varsity Football Game against GCDS. I was never able to watch an entire football game because I either had s occer practice, a soccer game, or I was the announcer.

It was great to watch the boys play, and I managed to keep my cheering positive.

On Thursday, I attended a memorial service for a former student, John Steers ’89. I taught this young man in 1987 when he was in the seventh grade, and I was in my first year of teaching at FCDS. It was absolutely amazing how many people at the service had Country Day connections. I recognized so many faces and unfortunately, not as many names.

Finally, on Friday I attended a wedding of a former student, Charlie Payne ’98. I think that over 50% of the attendees had some sort of Country Day attachment. We had past parents, past and current trustees, alumni, former faculty, and maybe even some future students. Three of the groomsmen were FCDS grads. On a long drive home last night I was trying to calculate the number of “FCDS years” that were present at the wedding. I think it was well over 500.

What an amazing three days of my life. The sideline is not a bad place to be…….

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Crusader Update In the summer issue we launched our “Flat Crusader” project. We were thrilled to see the Crusader traveled near and far. Thank you to everyone for sharing your pictures.

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Second Annual Alumni Hockey Game On one of the few cold days of the winter, the second annual FCDS Alumni Hockey game took place on the Rosow Family and Worthington Johnson rink. There were twenty players, two coaches, many fans, a faculty referee, and one puck-dropper.

Alums from all different years showed up to play. The game was full of enthusiasm and some very good hockey. Coaches John Riley and Rick Runkel were flawless in their strategies, and everyone had a wonderful time.

Top: Alumni players before the game Bottom Left: Richard Perkin ’96 and Michael Zerdy ’96 with John Munro during the puck drop (top) and Sawyer Coseglia ’15 and Austin Foote ’04 taking the puck to the goal (bottom). Bottom Right: Steven Cargill ’05 and Owen Foote ’03

In Memoriam ANNA MERLY GENOVESE

A retired FCDS employee died on June 18.

Former Director of Development, Ellen Lynch, Ellen Lynch and Grandparent to Former Faculty Amanda Innes, passed away on July 16, 2015.

JOHN G. STEERS ’89

ELINOR HECK

Grandparent to alums Blake Keogh ’98 and Devin Keogh ’04 as well as Hayes Heck ’05 and Morgan Heck ’10. Also mother to

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Passed away on September 25, 2015

away on December 12, 2015. David taught at FCDS from 1993-2006.

JACK THOMPSON

Grandparent to Michael Thompson ’17 passed away on October 8, 2015.

TIMOTHY W. TROUTMAN ’91

DAVID SWEESY

Former FCDS English teacher passed

Son of Leslie and William Troutman, passed away on November 12, 2015.

Get Social with Friends

FCDS Alum Receives a New Scholarship Niles Krieger ’07 was recently awarded the Ewan MacColl Memorial Award at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. The award was created to commemorate the folk music legend, Ewan MacColl.

After finishing his undergraduate studies, Niles decided to stay at Newcastle to complete a Master’s degree. As part of his studies, he is researching the connections between the folk music of the British Isles and New England and other states in the northeastern United States. In addition to school, Niles plays regularly around England.

The award comes as no surprise to faculty at Country Day. As early as second grade, Niles was playing the violin in the String Orchestra. In addition to the violin,

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Photo from the Newcastle Chronicle

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Calum MacColl, Kitty MacColl, Niles Kreiger ’07, Peggy Seeger, and Neil MacColl

he also learned how to play the mandolin and was part of the Concert Choir and Pinstripes. Both Ms. Nelson and Mr. Balmer are extremely proud of their former student. When they shared Niles’ award with the FCDS community, French teacher, Barb Viner, shared her thoughts about Niles. “By the time Niles left FCDS, everyone knew and loved him; they admired his talent and his artistic charisma. I could not be happier for him. He made a unique contribution to the recent history of FCDS. I have no doubt that we will hear from him again in the future in the world of musical innovation.”

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“Like” our pages and “share” our alumni social networks with your FCDS friends.

Help grow our following as you connect with classmates and friends!

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Check-out our Media Mash-up page at www.fairfieldcountryday.org/Page/OUR-FCDS/Media-Mashup

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Submit your class notes at www.fairfieldcountryday.org/Page/Class-Notes

PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLAINS, NY Permit No. 825

2970 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824 Address service requested

Parents of Alumni: If your son no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, kindly notify the school

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Saturday, April 2 All-School Service Day

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by sending his new mail and email address to development@fairfieldcountryday.org. Thank you!

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Come create, discover, swim, play, and most

Wednesday, June 1 Summer Magazine Class Notes Due (see inside back cover)

importantly, have fun, at the FCDS summer camp

Wednesday, June 15 Commencement

Kindergarten through sixth grade and Summer

For current news and events visit www.fairfieldcountryday.org

designed for boys and girls. Summer Fun is for Stretch is geared for fourth through ninth grade.

Check the website for additional information.