l et ter f ro m h e ad of s chool EVA N D. P ETERSON
View from My Window to diversity, addressing concerns that the School pays insufficient attention to individuals, working with coaches to develop new strategies to promote character development and more. As I said at the meeting, this survey is only the beginning. There is tremendous information and feedback that our parents and alumni provided to us that will only help us become an even better school. Visit fwcd.org and log in to MyFWCD to view a video of the presentation.
Lower School Principal-for-the-Day Rocco Leoni ’23 and Evan D. Peterson
I cannot believe the spring semester is here. The school year is flying by, and before we know it, we will be celebrating our Class of 2015 graduates. In the pages of this issue of the Falconer, we are launching a new look. There is so much good news to share about our students and alumni, and we are looking for new and different ways to tell those stories and reconnect with our more than 3,100 alumni around the world. I am proud of our Lower School and its commitment to a hands-on approach to learning. I think you all will enjoy the feature on “tinkering.” In October, our Middle School students enjoyed a truly unique experience when a delegation of students and teachers from Nagaoka, Japan, joined our community. We also are highlighting our distinguished faculty (page 10) and alumni (page 38). In December, we hosted an All-School Town Hall Meeting to share the results of last spring’s parent and alumni surveys. More than 720 current FWCD households filled out the parent portion and 25 percent of alumni from the classes of 1989 to 2013 responded. I was so pleased to hear that our alumni felt well-prepared for college and life after graduating from Country Day. There always is work to be done, and, together, we are addressing some specifics, such as reaffirming the School’s commitment
Around Campus PEOPLE • HONORS • EVENTS • NEWS
Our 2013-14 Annual Report is included within this issue. Thank you to those who support the School with financial gifts; your thoughtfulness helps us prepare the next generation of leaders. Board President Shannon Young Ray ’80 shares highlights on page 45. Of special note is the Class of 2014’s memorial gift reflecting 100 percent participation to honor Dr. Jim Aldridge H’14, and our faculty and staff 100 percent participation in both the FWCD Fund and our Then, Now, Forever. capital campaign. It is heartening to know how much Country Day means to so many people. The New Year allows us an opportunity to be thankful for what we have. I am grateful to the Fort Worth Country Day family—a community of exceptional students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni. To me, Country Day is truly the best school in the country, and I am so proud to be a part of it. Photo by Elizabeth McCoy
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t he falc o ner
WINTER 2015
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