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We Are Cougar Strong & Safe
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We Are Cougar Strong
Opening School with Optimism & Creativity
By Brooke Arthur, Director of Marketing & Communications
As schools around the world adjusted to their “new normal,” Country School began its planning over the summer — as always — with the simple question: What is best for children?
What has happened since has been quite a feat. After hundreds of hours spent reimagining physical spaces, adjusting lesson plans and daily schedules, building out digital course pages, conducting professional development training sessions, and making adjustments to nearly every aspect of school life, the front gates opened, cars lined the drive, and school opened in September just as it always does with the joyful sounds of children filling the air.
Of course, the changes were immediately apparent. Parents could no longer walk students into the Thacher or Welles buildings, instead dropping them off at the curb to be greeted by the friendly and welcoming (masked) faces of their teachers. The beloved Lower School “Friday high five” carline greeting transformed into Friday afternoon (socially distanced) dance parties with the Cougar. Students had to reorient to buildings that had been divided differently, with certain sections assigned to specific grades or new purposes. Students lined up for lunch outside the Dining Hall, and inside, the tables were separated by plexiglass, making lunch conversation a bit more challenging. All around campus clusters of tree stumps and benches dotted the landscape as outdoor classrooms emerged in new and familiar
We Are Cougar Strong & Safe
spaces. But the hum and vibrancy of campus were the same.
“It has truly been remarkable,” said Head of School Aaron Cooper. “Every day I see students laughing, playing, leaning into their learning, being stretched and challenged in all the right ways … just as they always have. It has not been easy — particularly for teachers — but the fact that we are able to keep showing up for our students in the way that we have is truly something to celebrate. This is what keeps me getting up in the morning, and I know the same is true for my colleagues.”
One of the biggest worries teachers had was just how much wearing masks would affect their ability to connect with students. 1
Thank you to our Health, Wellness & Operations Leadership Teams
To start the school year, the Health & Wellness Team held a community health slogan contest. The winning entry below
was submitted by the Greig family.
Courageous Original United Giving Awesome Resilient Strong
“I was pleasantly surprised that the mask was not terrible to wear all day,” said Middle School World Languages Teacher Abby Cali. “I mean, it’s not great, but it’s not the torture I thought it was going to be!”
“Even with masks, you can hear a laugh and see students’ eyes crinkle as they smile,” said Grade 6 Teacher Brooke Kelly. “I feared that school might feel rigid, and that all of the safety rules, though so crucial and appreciated, would detract from interpersonal interaction.”
Even the youngest students in Beginners adapted easily. Drawing on their creativity, teachers found ways to make physical distancing fun (“Eagle arms!”) and to help students stay safe while still having fun. As always, Early Childhood Science Teacher Cyndi Vitti found that real life often suggests the best lesson plans, and added to her Kindergarten life science curriculum the book Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes.
“We learned that there are millions of microbes in our world, many in and on our body. Most are helpful, but there are ways that we can protect ourselves from ones that might be harmful,” she said. “They really understood the importance of the part they played in keeping the community healthy.”
While connecting with nature has always been part of the Country School philosophy, the beautiful 75 acres has perhaps never been as well loved as this fall. The weather agreed and most days the doors to every building were flung wide open. Yoga mats sprinkled the campus as students enjoyed snack, lunch or a math lesson al fresco. Groups of students were continuously skipping or strolling on nature walks. Outdoor classrooms popped up on tree stumps and well-placed benches all across the school grounds. The Early Childhood Exploratory Lab took up a location in a shady spot in front of the Thacher Building, where the wind tunnel, ramps, chickens and color 3. Physical Education students including third grader Kate Regan played no-touch sports • 4. Kindergarten Teacher Darby Webber and Tully Newport • 5. Woodshop Teacher Chris Lawler and fifth grade students
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“Even with masks, you can
hear a laugh and see students’ eyes crinkle as they smile.”
—Grade 6 Teacher Brooke Kelly mixing all continued to capture the curiosity of the children amidst the warm breezes and migrating birds. The annual Of Mice and Men mock trial relocated to the Grace House terrace. Art classes were held on the Stevens Lawn. 3
While some lesson plans required only small adjustments or a change of scenery, some needed a total overhaul, particularly where it came to group work and teams. Because of the risk of aerosol transmission, music classes that previously concentrated on singing became focused on rhythm and drumming. Sports lessons were designed for individual skill development to limit physical interaction. In science and the arts, teachers created individual materials kits.
In order to maintain a strict “cohort” for a week at a time, Early Childhood specials teachers alternated teaching one grade at a time in person and the other virtually. They would Zoom in from another location on campus and be projected
We #GoBrightly at NCCS!
“Magical” is how visitors described campus Jan. 6 with over a thousand paper bag luminaries aglow.
Thank you to the more than 250 members of our
community who made gifts ranging from $5 to $50,000 during our December Light the Way Annual Fund campaign in honor of faculty and staff who every day illuminate the lives of our students. Altogether, more than $400,000 was contributed toward our Annual Fund. We are deeply grateful for every gift.
onto a screen with the support of an apprentice teacher. It felt a little strange at first, they reported, but it went better than they expected, and the students did not seem to mind engaging with their teachers in this way.
Teachers spent much of the summer planning for the potential that some or all of their students might need to engage with school from home for short or long periods of time. Adjusting to teaching some students on campus and others joining remotely would take some creativity and resourcefulness.
During the sixth grade social studies Machiavelli debates, Ms. Kelly’s class was divided into four teams to debate the meaning of two quotes: “It’s better to be feared than loved” and “The ends justify the means.” At this point in the year, three students were joining from a distance so they formed a virtual team. While the rest of the class met with their teams, strategized, and wrote their debates, the virtual team met daily via Zoom to do the same. On the day of the debate, the class iPad was projected onto the SmartTV and the rest of the class was able to see the virtual presenters.
“This was a particularly impressive feat, as the debate is a highly interactive activity,” said Ms. Kelly. “Not only did the virtual team give their prepared sections of the debate, but they engaged with their opponent in a cross-examination, where they had to discuss with each other and think on the spot!” We are committed to fulfilling our promise to our students and families of a high-quality and uniquely NCCS academic experience under any circumstances. To ensure a safe return to campus, the school has incurred significant financial costs not covered by our Annual Fund, which to date have amounted to $1.5 million invested primarily in the following areas:
Staffing: To maintain low density in each classroom, the school hired several additional teachers and distance learning coaches and expanded the Health Office Team.
Physical spaces: Upgrades throughout campus included enhancements to the HVAC system, new desks and retrofitting of rooms to accommodate physical distancing, installation of plexiglass, and a tent to expand the dining area.
Technology: To support the growing use of academic technology, both on and off campus, the school increased its video conferencing and AV capabilities across campus, updated and added equipment, and provided training for all faculty and staff.
Financial Aid: To ensure that our students can continue to access our program, our Office of Enrollment Management & Financial Aid issued emergency financial assistance to families in need.
Transportation: To meet physical distancing guidelines, the school leased an additional bus and added a bus route.
Your Annual Fund contributions help us cover the costs of COVID-19 as well as enhance each student’s NCCS experience. Annual Fund details may be found on page 34.
Visit www.countryschool.net/give to make your gift today. Thank you!
Upper School Learning Resources Teacher Lacey Ramsey links an iPad to her computer as a whiteboard to share examples and model annotating. It is projected onto the SmartTV in her classroom and also via Zoom to reach her students joining online.
When the seventh grade switched to distance learning with no “set up” days, “they immediately showed up on Zoom and carried themselves as if they were sitting in a classroom,” said Mrs. Ramsey. “Work was done and learning occurred with little to no complaining. Sometimes I think they are more flexible than we are!”
“Glitches with technology no longer panic students,” said Lower School Distance Learning Coach Shannon Faella. “They wait patiently for others to unfreeze, seek out better Wi-Fi signals, and they monitor the battery life of their iPads all with smiles on their faces.”
What will be the big takeaways from this unusual year?
“It’s probably too soon to know all of the specifics, but it will undoubtedly transform education for the future. What I think it has shown us already is that we have what it takes to meet any challenge we face with optimism and creativity, and I hope that is the lesson our students will take away from this time as well,” said Mr. Cooper. 8 7
“Work was done and learning occurred with little to no complaining. Sometimes I think they are more flexible
than we are!” —Upper School Learning Resources Teacher Lacey Ramsey
6. Evren Gokgol-Kline works on a pen and ink watercolor in an outdoor classroom • 7. Caroline Bilden and Grade 3 Teacher Julie Porter • 8. Middle Schoolers play four-square at recess
Penelope Arredondo (on left) joined Co-Chairs Liz Arredondo and Lisa Pannone who handed out goodie bags filled with masks and cookies to all faculty and staff.
The Importance of Connection
The Parents’ Association set out to express gratitude to the teachers with a surprise gift nearly every six weeks. The first was an NCCS-themed mask and a custom cookie with a note that read “We simply couldn’t mask our gratitude for you.” Next was the second annual pre-Thanksgiving Pie Day with a fresh-baked pie for each faculty and staff member to bring home. They have also been coming up with creative ways to keep families and parents connected. The annual “PJs & Pizza,” held virtually this year, was wildly popular, with more than 130 NCCS and Horizons families logging on to hear stories read aloud by some of their favorite teachers and play bingo from the comfort of their homes. For more on Parents’ Association community-building activities, please see pages 28–31.
“Even when we cannot be on campus as we have in the past, we still think it is important for our sense of community to maintain these points of connection.”
—Liz Keogh, PA President
Game On!
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New Athletics & Wellness Center Opens
At the start of the school year, we opened the doors to our spectacular Athletics & Wellness Center, and the building has already had a tremendous impact on our students, teachers and coaches.
Wellness and physical education programs will continue to grow and thrive in this new space for decades to come. Students across all grade levels have been enjoying the spacious new gym for physical education classes and indoor sports training — and while we cannot use it fully as intended yet due to the current situation with COVID-19, we are thankful that many of the spaces have allowed us to have our campus completely open. The space that will eventually serve as our new Fitness Center has been converted into a temporary music classroom, and the fields storage area has been turned into a great, light-filled art studio. This new home for athletics and PE at Country School — and this new gathering space for our entire community — would not have been possible without the generous support of our early Capital Campaign donors. We are grateful to the more than 150 parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and current and former faculty and staff who have helped the school raise more than $18 million to date. We look forward to continuing to work together with the entire community to support this effort, and to support the innovative, active and joyful programs that will take place inside the new building. There are still opportunities to name spaces within the Athletics & Wellness Center, and there are many opportunities to help beautify our campus by supporting the landscaping around the new building. Gifts to the campaign can also help to support Country School’s endowment.
Come see the new Athletics & Wellness Center for yourself! We continue to offer tours of the new building, and we hope you will join us. For more information or to learn more about the Capital Campaign, please contact Senior Director of Advancement Ryan Smith at (203) 801-5633 or rsmith@countryschool.net, or visit www.countryschool.net/boldlyforward. 10
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9. Athletics & Wellness Center rear view • 10. The George Gym in action • 11. Jane Walsh and Alina Harned during Upper School squash practice
To take a virtual tour of the building, please visit: www.countryschool.net/athletics
Health Team Goes Above and Beyond
The New Canaan Country School Health Office Team has been instrumental in the school’s ability to manage the impact of COVID-19 this past year. Their expertise coupled with fortitude and patience has allowed Country School to open safely and remain open throughout the fall. In collaboration with town and state officials, the Health Office Team worked closely with the school’s administration to provide guidance regarding COVID-19 procedures and best practices. In addition, they have spent countless hours counseling school families, faculty and staff members, in groups and individually, about everything from the basics of proper hygiene, physical distancing and mask-wearing to the physical and emotional complexities of living and learning safely in a pandemic time. Trained by the Johns Hopkins University in contact tracing, the Health Office Team works with local health departments to implement quarantine protocols. Like the rest of us, they could never have predicted the ways in which COVID-19 would affect our lives. Thanks to them, however, we have been able to weather this storm with confidence and steadiness.
Beth Lenhard P ’26, ’27,School Nurse: Mrs. Lenhard has been a nurse for 17 years, primarily at Stamford Hospital specializing in cardiac/critical care nursing. She joined NCCS two years ago. “As intense as this year has been,
it has reminded me exactly why I chose this career — to support others with the knowledge and skills I have in every way, shape and form, physically, mentally, emotionally. Generally, most people want to be as far away from illness as possible. Healthcare workers, however, feel the need to be right in the middle of things, doing our part to try to make any part of a situation better.”
Josh Ziac ’86, P ’15,’17, Director of Safety and Security: Mr. Ziac, an alumnus, has worked at NCCS for 20 years in a variety of roles. In addition, he works for the Greenwich and Stamford Emergency Medical Services both as a field emergency medical technician and instructor. “Spring 2020
was definitely the most challenging time of my career in EMS, a career which began in Boston during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. So much was unknown and so many people were getting sick. The process of getting the school ready to be safe during COVID-19, while an extraordinary amount of work, was a source of hope and comfort, and the relationships that were built within our Health and Operations Teams will be ones that I will carry and cherish for the rest of my life. The work we accomplished will be something that will be a source of pride for years to come.”
Country School Community Participates in Local Response Efforts
Thank you to all the members of our NCCS community who have worked tirelessly with local organizations to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing needed food supplies and health and educational services to vulnerable populations in the area. We salute your efforts on the front lines — and in supporting organizations that are making a big impact here in Fairfield County.
Horizons foresight of Sue and Cam Mackey, P ’21, ’22, ’24, ’27, who While COVID-19 has been diffi- provided the founding gift. The objective of the Family and cult for everyone, the Horizons Emergency Fund is to provide urgent emergency financial community has experienced assistance to our families, and since March we have provided disproportionately high levels more than $20,000 in emergency financial assistance. of illness, hospitalization, loss During this time period, Horizons also purchased and distribof life and financial hardship. Horizons at NCCS remains uted $162,628 worth of grocery gift cards, with our dollars committed to providing our students and families with being stretched by a generous discount offered by ShopRite. certainty in a time of uncertainty. The incredibly generous “We are grateful to our donors and to the entire NCCS families of NCCS and our donors have contributed over community for the generosity and caring you have shown $72,000 to our Family Emergency Fund since the begin- during this incredibly challenging time,” said Executive ning of the COVID-19 crisis. The Family Emergency Fund Director of Horizons Nancy von Euler. “You have demon14 NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Winter 2021 was established three years ago thanks to the wisdom and strated what it means to be a community.”
Melissa Ryan-Knowlton, Athletic Trainer: Mrs. RyanKnowlton has been an athletic trainer for more than 18 years in various settings including public high schools, colleges and club organizations. She joined the Country School community in 2012 as its first athletic trainer.
“The pandemic has taught me that I am part of a profession that can easily adjust to the demands of what the community needs. While it’s unfortunate that sports can’t be what it is traditionally, I’m proud that we have adjusted our programs and allowed our students to be physically active while being safe. This is so important for the mental and physical health of children. We have an amazing group of multidisciplinary co-workers in the Health Office and Wellness Team — I learn from them every single day as we all navigate this together.” Rachel Kulig, Health and Safety Assistant:
Ms. Kulig is a firefighter/EMT-B with the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department in Old Greenwich. She joined the NCCS Health Team this year. “Being a
first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic has been really difficult, but has allowed me to create even stronger bonds with my co-workers who are having similar experiences as me. I’m really grateful for that.”
Americares
Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster and is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 26 countries and all 50 states, providing critically needed protective gear, training and mental health support for frontline health workers. Here in Connecticut, the Americares Free Clinics (located in Norwalk, Stamford, Bridgeport and Danbury) remain a vital resource for people in our communities, providing quality health care to nearly 3,000 low-income, uninsured patients.
Key Staff & Volunteers: • Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 (Leadership Council) • Anita Cobb (Leadership
Council & Clinics Volunteer)
P ’98, ’03, ’05, ’05 • Dean Maglaris (Emeritus
Board) P ’99, ’00 • Diana Maguire (Staff)
P ’04, ’05, ’09 • Tracy and Joe Merrill (Leadership Council)
P ’03, ’05, ’08, ’10 • Cary Potter (Leadership
Council) P ’08, ’11, ’15 • Megin Wolfman (Staff)
P ’23, ’25 • Melissa Woolford (Staff)
P ’05, ’06, ’08, ’11
Person-to-Person
Person-to-Person (P2P) is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing individuals and families with essential resources to help them overcome daily challenges and put them on a path toward economic stability. P2P serves 28,000 residents in Fairfield County with the following programs: three food pantries (Darien, Norwalk, Stamford), clothing center, caseworker assistance, emergency financial assistance, and scholarships/camperships. Established in 1968, P2P serves the communities of Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Learn more at p2pHelps.org.
Key Staff & Volunteers: • Jackie Elliman Leonard ’78 (Board Member),
P ’09, ’11, ’14 • Jen Kline (Volunteer),
P ’25, ’27 • Katie McCormick (Volunteer), P ’24, ’27 • Mike Riccardi (Board
Chair), P ’17, ’20, ’25 • Lauren Ryder (Volunteer), P ’26 • Mindy Stewart (Volunteer), P ’21, ’24 • Elizabeth Thompson (Staff), P ’18, ’21
A Salute to Our Local First Responders
We honor all the members of the Country School community who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, including several who serve as emergency medical technicians locally in New Canaan and the surrounding towns. Like so many first responders worldwide, these local responders have sacrificed their personal comfort and time with family, all while risking their own health, to serve our community. Indeed, they exemplify the words of our mission and are leading “lives of impact and purpose.” We thank them for their service:
Casey Everett, P ’22, ’26: Casey has been a volunteer EMT with the New Canaan EMS for the past five years. “As a lifelong resident of New Canaan,
I want to make a tangible difference in our community. We see most patients and their families on one of the worst days of their lives. To be able to help our patients or to console their families gives me a reward beyond measure. My middle daughter was born with multiple medical and cognitive special needs. Through my journey with her, I increased my knowledge specific to the wide range of needs of babies born with congenital abnormalities so I could be her best advocate and help other families. Emergency medicine was a natural next step as I thought about how to fulfill my own desires and interests.”
Gwen Golden, P ’22, ’26:Gwen became a volunteer for the New Canaan Emergency Medical Services in February 2020, as the pandemic was entering the state. She has a degree in medical/social anthropology and a master’s in public health. Her primary areas of focus have been HIV/AIDS research, disease prevention and health education. Her work as an EMT is her first foray into clinical health work. “It is a privilege to apply my public health background
and EMS training to help our community during this uncertain time. I strive to bring kindness, understanding and compassion to each call in hopes of having a positive impact on the health and wellness of my patients. I love the sense of purpose and community I gain from serving alongside my fellow first responders, and every day on the ambulance expands my knowledge and empathy.”
Troy Haynie ’82: Troy has been a volunteer with the New Canaan Emergency Medical Services since 1994. He has held various administrative positions including Captain, currently held by NCCS parent Bonnie Rumilly, and is now serving as the First Lieutenant. “I was one of the 15 EMTs from
New Canaan that responded to the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. It was surreal and scary. However, 9/11 was one night and day. COVID has been months of the same emotions. The fear of working in the pandemic comes from all of the unknowns of the virus and how it has affected people in such different ways. Hearing about some patients coming home and some patients that have died has been tough. The reward is knowing that I was able to be there to help people through this historic period.”
Jack Johnson ’18:Jack, is a junior at Hotchkiss School, and since 2019, a volunteer EMT with the New Canaan Emergency Medical Services and North Canaan Ambulance Corps. “I trained and started working as an EMT pre-pandemic because I’m
interested in a career in medicine and emergency management. The work has changed with COVID-19: We need additional equipment and PPE (personal protection equipment) to respond to calls, the stress is higher, and there is an elevated risk for all healthcare workers and first responders. It’s rewarding in many ways, though, and I’m grateful for the privilege to learn and make a difference during the biggest public health event of my lifetime!”
Alec Montgomery, P ’10, ’13, ’16:Alec, a self-described “retired Metro-North commuter” began volunteering with NCEMS in mid-2019, months before the pandemic began in early 2020. “The early days of the pandemic were the most
stressful. In addition to being a relatively novice EMT, I remember being particularly worried about the risk of running out of PPE and our local hospitals getting overwhelmed — risks that were completely out of my control and fortunately have not come to pass — yet. With or without the COVID crisis, this has been a rewarding and eye-opening experience for me, and my hope, and impression, is that COVID has increased much-needed public awareness and appreciation for all first responders.”
Neil Nair ’04:Neil, a police officer in Darien, obtained his Beginners EMT Certification in 2007 and his Advanced EMT certification in 2009. He worked as an EMT before joining Darien’s services in 2016. “I’ve spent the last third of my life dedicated
to public service. During that time, the communities I’ve served have faced a variety of challenges, the most recent being COVID-19. Our job as first responders has never changed: adapt, recalibrate, and execute our task to safely and effectively serve the public.”
Bonnie Rumilly, P ’27:Bonnie has been a member of New Canaan Emergency Medical Services since 2000, when she was 17 years old. She now serves as Captain of the team. “This is also not my first difficult situation in EMS. When I was 19 years
old, I responded to NYC on 9/11 with 14 of my fellow New Canaan EMTs. I have lived through the post-9/11 changes in our world and EMS. I have felt a personal drive to work through the COVID-19 pandemic to model for others that we will get through this. I also want my daughter Courtney, an NCCS third grader, to see that I am not afraid to face difficult situations in our life or our world. I believe working on the ambulance at this time is modeling for her that it is important to sacrifice self for others and for the greater good of humanity.”
Catherine Ziac ’17:Catherine, a freshman at the University of Vermont, has been a volunteer EMT and CPR instructor with Greenwich Emergency Medical Services for the past four years. “Four years ago, when I was spending every Monday and
