2024 HCDS Spring Benefit - Digital Event Journal

Dear Guests,

There is simply no house limit to the excitement I feel in welcoming you to Casino Night – Harbor’s 29th Annual Spring Benefit!

We are so fortunate to have the all-in support of our Parents & Alumni Associations. The extraordinary volunteerism that culminates with this evening’s incredible event speaks to the strength of our partnership – and to the commitment our families make. So, tonight it’s time to be a high roller!

We have the good fortune of celebrating and amplifying our mission with this magical event. It’s going to be a memorable night full of opportunities to put your cards on the table in support of our incredible community and program. Most importantly, this is a way for us to honor the faculty, staff, and children – they are the real VIPs – who will undoubtedly benefit from your generosity.

As Head of School at Harbor, I am placing my bet for a record fundraising jackpot!

Andy Sperling Head of School

Harbor Country Day School’s 29th Spring Benefit

Casino Night

Friday, March 22, 2024

The Waterview at Port Jefferson Country Club

Honoring -----------

Debbie Decker

Former HCDS Faculty Member & Administrator

7:00 pm: Cocktails, Casino, & Silent Auction

8:00 pm: Buffet Dinner Begins

8:45 pm: Presentation of Honoree, Live Auction, & Fund-a-Grant

9:30 pm: Dessert, Cocktails, and Casino Reopens

10:30 pm: Student Art Auction & Casino Tables Close

10:45pm: Power Raffle Winners Pulled

Mission, Motto & Diversity Statement

OUR MISSION

"HARBOR CHERISHES CHILDHOOD, CULTIVATES WONDER AND INSPIRES CONFIDENT LEARNERS AND LEADERS."

These are the core, guiding principles at Harbor Country Day School, and the source of both our vision and energy. We measure our performance against a "portrait" of the academic and social development we strive to foster in every Harbor student.

Harbor graduates are:

• Fearless learners and reflective leaders who negotiate effectively

• Prepared to exhibit compassion and tolerance in a global community, owing to a solid moral and ethical foundation

• Culturally experienced and conversant in the humanities and the sciences

• Prepared to achieve their dreams because they view themselves as works continually in progress

These are the aspirations we have for our students. They parallel the values and aspirations of the school’s founders, and are reflected in the work and passion of our school leaders, faculty, and board of trustees. Our mission guides us in making decisions, and in setting the standards by which the curriculum is evaluated. Moreover, these principles provide the touchstone by which the need for change in the future can be assessed.

OUR MOTTO

"SINE LABORE NIHIL - WITHOUT WORK NOTHING"

From its very beginning in 1958, the motto of Harbor Country Day School has been the same, from the Latin poet Horace: "Sine labore nihil," translated as, "Without work nothing." For six decades, our graduates have remembered the school’s motto as one of life’s truths -- that nothing comes without hard work. The students are taught how to work with purpose, and also how to make it fun. Preschoolers may sing songs in Mandarin at the Confucius Institute’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration; science students may travel on the school’s bus to explore and analyze nearby wetlands; and English class may read, discuss, and write about a complex novel that strikes at the heart of a young adolescent’s concerns. Harbor teaches and shows by example that creative, purposeful, enjoyable work is an essential part of a fully-lived life.

OUR DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Harbor believes celebrating diversity enriches the lives of everyone, and that embracing the essence of each individual makes us stronger as a school community. We honor different perspectives, cultures, ways of life and the beliefs people bring when they walk through our doors. As a result, our students possess the moral and ethical foundation that prepares them to live with compassion and empathy in a global world.

Drawing by Current Kindergartner Student, Olivia, when she was in PK4 to Commemorate 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

About Harbor Country Day School

Founded in 1958 by a group of devoted parents, Harbor Country Day School is a nonprofit, independent school for preschool through eighth grade located on Long Island’s north shore, nestled in the quiet Village of Head of the Harbor. It’s a school where children are encouraged to be who they are and where differences are celebrated. Because of this solid foundation of acceptance and love, students at Harbor are confident, self-aware, and happy -- and they love to come to school.

Harbor students approach learning with a fearlessness that only comes from knowing that they will be safe and accepted regardless of whether they succeed or fail. They embrace the hard work that comes with a rigorous curriculum like Harbor’s because they are taught from the day they enter the school how to work with purpose, and how to make it fun.

Public speaking, community service, athletics, crossdivisional mentoring programs, upper school leadership retreats, social-emotional learning programs – all of these opportunities, and so many more, help children realize their full potential as individuals and as leaders so that when they leave Harbor, they are fully prepared to master the challenges of secondary school, college, and life beyond.

About Our Parents’ Association

The Parents’ Association is dedicated to promoting a sense of community, facilitating communication between Harbor and its families, and raising funds for programs and events that enrich and enhance school life.

Parents’ Association participation is an amazing opportunity to get to know other families, experience a slice of Harbor students’ school lives, and become involved in the life of Harbor. The group meets on a monthly basis. For more information about the many ways parents can contribute, the Parents’ Association coordinators may be reached at parents association@hcdsny.org.

Below is a list of events and programs the Parents’ Association sponsors:

ANNUAL SPRING BENEFIT

Harbor Country Day School is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is accredited by, and a member of, the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). It is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees.

The Parents’ Association’s major fundraising event is the annual Spring Benefit, which is an exciting and elegant evening for parents, alumni, trustees, friends, faculty, and staff. The event includes live and silent auctions, dancing, dinner, and open bar. Live and silent auction items are donated by the Harbor community and many local merchants who support our mission. Other highlights of the evening include Harbor’s Own Budding Artists Collection and the "FundA-Grant" paddle raise, which gives attendees an opportunity to donate directly to specific school initiatives at a designated level of support. Previous Fund-A-Grant items have included new student iPads, SMART boards, technology advancement, science lab equipment, physical education and recess equipment, and professional development.

About Harbor’s Alumni Association

Harbor’s Alumni Relations Office helps to foster and continue lasting relationships between Harbor’s alumni and the school they graduated from and love. The foundation for these relationships is built through communication, organized group events, opportunities to volunteer, and helping to create connections among Harbor’s many alumni.

The Harbor Alumni Facebook page is an online community where alumni can reminisce about Nissequogue and Nesconset competitions, Greenkill and Frost Valley trips, the Spring Musical, Trunk or Treat, and other Harbor traditions and experiences that have formed the basis of so many lifelong friendships. We encourage you to visit the page and take time to share your personal stories, reconnect with us at Harbor, network with your fellow alumni, and become an active member of the vibrant Harbor alumni community. You may also keep abreast of happenings at Harbor by following the school’s official Facebook page, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn feeds.

Yet another way you may stay connected to Harbor is through our official school communications, such as The Weekly Update, our This Week in Pictures slideshow, and our semi-annual Harbor Highlights magazines. If you haven’t done so recently, please take a moment to update your contact information with our Alumni Questionnaire so we can be sure that you are receiving these communications.

Finally, if you happen to be in the area, why not make plans to stop by Harbor for a visit? We always welcome our alumni with open arms, at any time of the year, and our current students enjoy the opportunity to visit with the alumni who walked the halls of Tulip Knoll before them.

Casino Night

OUR SPRING BENEFIT PLANNING COMMITTEE

2024 Benefit Planning Committee

Cynthia Lippe

Margaret Pai

Ned Puchner

Jennifer Tona

Patrick West

Auction and Raffle

Basket Coordinators

Brooke Bergen

Jennifer Chai

Jillian Gray

Robin Herrnstein

Ariya Lapan

Christine Mellert

Nancy Puchner

Ned Puchner

Sisa Suriel

Jennifer Tona

AV Coordinator

Artie Weissbach

Event Day Logistics & Event Execution

Caitlin Packard

Jennifer Taggart

Artie Weissbach

Event Design & Decor

Erin Aji

Brooke Bergen

Nikki Ciotta

Magarita Christoforou

Susan Duffy

Cheryl Masie

Christine Mellert

Masters of Ceremonies

George Bubaris & Philly Bubaris Hefferon

Event Journal Graphic Design

Angela Kissell Event Communications

Featured Film Production

John Ciotta

Evan Field

Caitlin Packard

Andy Sperling

Invitation Design

Jennifer Taggart

Partnership Coordinators

Andrea Dagnelli Cristobal ‘86

Jillian Gray

Cynthia Lippe

Margaret Pai

Ned Puchner

Photo Coordinator

Caitlin Packard

Student Art Auction

Carolyn O’Dwyer

Special Thanks

Christine McBrien

Andy Sperling

Click on the images to hear messages from our Alumni: (L to R) Oliver Hill ’11, Alexa DeAngelis ’08, and Dessy Bubaris ’08

Kerry Phelan

Additional thanks to Harbor’s Faculty and Administrators for their continued support and generosity.

2024 Spring Benefit Honoree 2024 Fund-A-Grant

Debbie Decker

Former HCDS Faculty Member & Administrator

Debbie Decker joined Harbor Country Day School in the fall of 2002 and held a multitude of roles during her 19 years at Tulip Knoll. Most well-known for being one of Harbor’s physical education teachers, Debbie also served as an Upper School Advisor, Head of Advisory, Athletic Director, Coach, Division Head, Dean, Leader of the Nissequogue/Nesconset competitions, Leader of the fall field trips, school psychologist and SEL teacher. You know you’ve made quite an impact on the school when at least 3 people are needed to fill your shoes when you retire!

Debbie always said the best measure of a teacher is by how they connect with their students, and by that standard, Debbie was a master teacher. Through the years, countless students came to Debbie for her advice and guidance, and entire classes of students were willing to talk out their issues with one another because of their trust in her. So popular was Debbie that anytime alumni would come back to the school, they would always make a stop to visit her because she had made such a difference in their lives.

Just as much as Debbie taught our students how to properly express their emotions and the importance of mental health, she also promoted and supported the mental health of the Harbor faculty. Aside from being a frequent speaker at faculty meetings and professional development sessions, Debbie also provided advice to colleagues on how to handle tricky situations, deal with a student who was having issues or was simply in need of an understanding listener.

Harbor and our entire community have been so very fortunate to have had Debbie on the faculty and for as many years as we did. If ever there was anyone who fulfilled the school’s mission to cherish childhood, cultivate wonder, and to inspire confident learners and leaders, it was Debbie.

Parenting & Faculty Development Fund

In the spirit of fostering deeper partnership between parents and faculty, the Parenting & Faculty Development Fund is designed to engage around topics related to child development, instructional strategies, and parenting. Renowned experts and speakers will be invited to campus to share research, valuable insights, and advice to support Harbor parents, faculty, and staff in navigating the wonders and challenges of raising and educating children and young adolescents in today’s world.

HCDS Gymnasium Sound System

To further build upon previously made improvements to the audio-visual system in the gymnasium, this year’s Fund-a-Grant seeks to enhance the existing sound system. An investment here will greatly improve the sound quality of presentations and facilitate engaging lessons and collaborative activities in the gymnasium. Planned enhancements will include new personal wireless microphones for performers in Harbor’s Upper School spring musical, ensuring audience members fully enjoy the dialogue and crystal-clear vocals.

Athletic Program Development

Expansion of a school’s athletic programs is crucial to provide student-athletes with top-notch facilities, equipment, and opportunities. The goal of this Fund-a-Grant is to expand current athletic programs, develop new Harbor athletics opportunities, purchase updated equipment, and modernize uniforms across all of our team sports offerings. This will also enable students to have greater input and choice in future seasons.

Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro is growing its services and expanding its mission to serve more of Suffolk County. In partnership with Stony Brook Children’s, the new Ronald McDonald House will provide comfort and overnight accommodations to families caring for their sick or injured children. The new 30-bedroom facility will provide families with hot meals, laundry, a fitness center, and other amenities designed to ease the burden for families in the midst of a pediatric medical crisis.

MARK DESIGN STUDIOS

ARCHITECTS I INTERIOR DESIGNERS I ENGINEERS

Ill

DNA

the future of Precision Medicine

Smithtown’s Premier

Full-Service Boutique Medspa

Botox

Fillers

Lasers

PRP

So much more

2024 Friends & Supporters

Jennifer Accomando (St. James)

Dana Amir (HCDS)

Lexi Bier (HCDS)

Lisa Colao (HCDS)

Brianna DiPaola (HCDS)

Gretchen Dobrowolski (HCDS)

eatMosaic (St. James)

Endless Round Golf (Mattituck)

Nicole Fotis (HCDS)

Krystina Gallo (HCDS)

Meghan Gray (HCDS)

David M. Horowitz, MD - Concierge Medicine (Smithtown)

Iberico Tapas & Vino (St. James)

Dawn King (HCDS)

Lessings, Inc - Three Village Inn (Stony Brook)

The Long Island Aquarium (Riverhead)

Long Island CORE Gymnastics (Nesconset)

Long Island Ducks (Central Islip)

Long Island Museum (Stony Brook)

Mercep (St. James)

Mickeys (St. James)

Braden Mutschler (HCDS)

Nissequogue Country Club

Golf Lesson (Nissequogue)

Carolyn O’Dwyer (HCDS)

One River Art School (Woodbury)

Party Hardy (Nesconset)

Patio Pizza (St. James)

Krissy Paul (HCDS)

Paumanok Tours (Setauket)

Ralph Pepe (HCDS)

Roseann Recino (HCDS)

Redefine Fitness (Stony Brook)

Jackie Riegel (HCDS)

Sonia Rodriguez (HCDS)

Sequa Deli (St. James)

Donna Siani (HCDS)

Terry Scoff (HCDS)

Soul Brew (St. James)

Andy Sperling (HCDS)

St. James Pasta and Pork (St. James)

The Staller Center for the Arts (Stony Brook)

Storybook Experiences (West Islip)

Jennifer Taggart (HCDS)

Three Village Historical Society (Setauket)

Tiki Action Park (Centereach)

Urban Air (Lake Grove)