Wildcat Paws 2024

A publication for families, alumni and friends of Westchester Country Day School

Space to Move and Explore

Board of Trustees 2024–2025 Tom Van Dessel, President Jenny Varner, Vice President Kristin Sams Crowe ’01, Secretary Laurie Briggs, Treasurer & Past Board Chair Matt Altamura Jay Brinson ’94 Jamie Collins ’90 Braden Covington Tasha Dial Tara Elliott Kristy Barnes Le Doug Muir Matt Nowell Priya Paruchuri Jackie Tyson Mary Keever, ex officio Head of School

2023–2024 ON THE COVER: Lower School students don’t just play around — they are developing the mental and physical strength and skills needed for future success in the classroom and beyond. Madelyn Young and friends from the Class of 2036 enjoy the addition of swings to the new playground. Swinging supports the vestibular system and helps children develop their coordination.

ABOVE: Madelyn’s brother Wrenn enjoys the variety of climbing structures on the new playground, which encourage safe risk-taking and help children develop their balance and coordination.

BACK COVER: C.A.R.E.S. Crews buddies from several grade levels meet up in the courtyard.

Every Westchester student is paired with an older or younger buddy for fellowship and service throughout the year. (Photo by Liz Grogan Photography/The Scout Guide Triad)

WCDS MISSION

To cultivate responsible citizens and leaders by embracing all backgrounds and nurturing personal excellence.

WILDCAT PAWS is published by: Westchester Country Day School 2045 N. Old Greensboro Road High Point, NC 27265 336.869.2128 www.westchestercds.org For questions or comments, contact Laurie Beck Hogan ’02, director of communications and marketing, at 336.822.4084.

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C O N N EC T westchestercds.org/news facebook.com/westchestercds x.com/westchestercds instagram.com/westchestercds youtube.com/user/westchestercds linkedin.com/school/westchestercds

Tom Van Dessel, President Jenny Varner, Vice President Jamie Collins ’90, Secretary Braden Covington, Treasurer Laurie Briggs, Past Board Chair Matt Altamura Jay Brinson ’94 Kristin Sams Crowe ’01 Tasha Dial Tara Elliott Kristy Barnes Le Doug Muir Matt Nowell Priya Paruchuri Jackie Tyson Mary Keever, ex officio Interim Head of School

CONTENTS The Class of 2024 Graduates earn $5+ million in scholarships.

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Power Play The opening of a new Lower School playground has marked a significant milestone in the school’s commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education and an emphasis on holistic wellness.

SECTION S 4

Headlines

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News Briefs

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Academic Excellence

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Artistic Excellence

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Athletic Excellence

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Moral Excellence

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Faculty News

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Alumni News & Events

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Giving Impact Report

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The Concert Choir travels to New York City to sing at Carnegie Hall.

#WCDSGives Parents and students find ways to serve the school and community.

ONLINE Check your inbox and visit the school website to stay up to date on the latest news and events. Send an email to registrar@westchestercds.org to update your email or mailing address.

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 3

HEADlines

HEAD OF SCHOOL MARY KEEVER and husband Wes celebrate Homecoming 2024 with daughters Abby ’24 and Dory ’21.

Being Well Is Hard Work

O Mary Keever Head of School x.com/WCDS_Head

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ur Wildcat Nation has much to celebrate. I hope you fully feel the energy and positive momentum we have going.

In academics, our “STEAM Team” introduced the faculty to the Wildcat Design Process, an approach to problem solving and critical thinking for every classroom and subject pre-K-12.

It guides students through the steps of design thinking: Ask, Explore, Plan, Create, Test and Improve. It is exciting to see this reaccreditation goal coming to life in our classrooms.

Around campus, the effects of planning, building and improving are on full display. We celebrated the opening of a fantastic new playground, which is enjoyed by Wildcats of all ages.

The seniors loved taking turns on the swings and many young and old have enjoyed the big slide. If you haven’t had the opportunity to propel yourself down the gorgeous hillside of campus yet, please come take a slide! We also embarked on major renovations to our library, which is now the Qubein Center. Campus is abuzz following other

improvements too. Covered walkways are added to the carpool area; buildings have fresh paint and flooring; the bathrooms in Phillips Hall received a total renovation and a mother’s room; the baseball and soccer scoreboards have been updated; and the addition of another new outdoor recreational space is in full swing!

After several months of listening sessions with many different groups of parents, staff, alumni and community partners, the Board of Trustees approved an updated mission statement that will serve to guide us along with a strategic plan to be introduced to the school community.

And as it happens each year, we celebrate our wonderful seniors as they bring closure to their high school years and prepare for their next adventures.

We share in their joy as they take these next steps into their bright futures.

In all the excitement of life, I invite you to join me in continuing our focus on Wildcat Wellness. Borrowing from the words of Bettina L. Love, “Wellness is wisdom and being well is

hard work… make room for lovely things to rush in and fill you full.” As we navigate a world after a pandemic filled with ever-changing technology and influences, I welcome the opportunity to partner with families in service of their child-raising endeavors while creating a sense of belonging and purpose for everyone in our community. By exploring some of the challenges families are facing, I hope to engage together as we explore the best ways to communicate and support our students, parents, and faculty as we bolster our social, emotional, and physical health and safety. We are continuing a speaker series and parent book club each semester. As we partner together in service to our children, these sessions allow parents to participate however they are able, whether that is in reading the book, participating in the discussions, attending the sessions, or all of the above.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as your Head of School and champion this Wildcat Nation. I look forward to working together with each of you to do the work of being well. Together we can make room for lovely things to rush in and fill us full.

What We’re Reading FALL BOOK CLUB “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt

SPRING BOOK CLUB “The Screentime Solution” by Emily Cherkin

Mary Keever Appointed as 14th Head of School The Board of Trustees appointed longtime WCDS teacher and administrator Mary Keever as the 14th head of school. The news of her unanimous selection was shared with faculty and parents on April 26, 2024.

Keever served as interim head of school during the 2023-2024 school year.

She has been a Wildcat for 25 years, serving as a language arts and literature teacher since 1999.

“Mary has done a phenomenal job leading Westchester forward. [As interim head], she demonstrated excellence in handling the day-to-day requirements of the job while operating at a strategic level,” said Tom Van Dessel, president of the Westchester Board of Trustees. “We are very fortunate to have such a capable educator and administrator come up from within the Westchester faculty. This speaks to the overall quality and character of our school community.”

Previously, Keever was head of Middle School, a position she held from 2012 until she was named interim head of school. Additional roles at WCDS include dean of faculty and assistant head in the Middle School, athletic coach, and SAIS reaccreditation coordinator.

She and husband Wes are High Point residents who have established roots of involvement and connection within the community. Their daughters, Dory ’21 and Abby ’24, attended Westchester from kindergarten.

“I am blessed to serve alongside such talented administration and staff while engaging with students from pre-K to 12th grade and their families,” said Keever. “The Board of Trustees has been exceptional and selfless as we’ve worked together on developing a strategic plan to guide Westchester through the next five years. I am thrilled for the opportunity to lead this plan and our vision for continued impact and service to our greater community.”

BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT TOM VAN DESSEL INTRODUCES MARY KEEVER as Westchester’s 14th head of school during a faculty and staff meeting in April 2024.

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NEWS BRIEFS

WCDS Prioritizes Wellness

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estchester Country Day School continuously seeks to provide the best learning environment for its students. While there are several key ingredients to encouraging students to flourish, the faculty and staff of WCDS have realized the need for a renewed emphasis on overall wellness in the years following the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve noticed changes in the social and emotional wellness of our students,” said Mary Keever, head of school. “For two to three years, families experienced uncertainty and disruptions to their well-established routines and social interactions, and children sensed the stress. This has impacted their social-emotional development.”

To address the challenges students, teachers and families have faced, Keever introduced a Wellness Plan as a way for families and educators to partner together on a variety of childhood topics.

A highlight of this plan is a series of parent education events designed to provide valuable insights and resources and equip parents with the knowledge and tools to support their children’s well-being.

In addition to the parent education series, the Wellness Plan includes lessons and activities for students taught by school counselors and nurses, professional development for teachers and staff, and wellness tips to support the staff’s own well-being.

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Watch Online — Visit www.westchestercds.org/ wellness for resources from the Wellness Series and to find out about upcoming events.

Expert Insights Mental Health – Counseling professionals Na-Twan Allen, Catherine Cheek, Donna Cumby, and Jackie Tyson spoke about childhood anxiety, resilience, risk-taking, and grief with practical tips for supporting social-emotional development at home and in the classroom.

Technology – WCDS school counselor Sabrina Winstead and technology faculty members Terry Andrews, Teresa Denmark and Deb Tuggle shared information on internet and social media use, open communication about family expectations, and the effects of technology on social-emotional and physical health.

Literacy – Lower School teachers from grades PK-2 shared the latest research on the Science of Reading, information on what to look for in quality literacy instruction, and tools to support children with reading and writing skills at home.

Athletics – Matt Spear, athletic advisor and leadership mentor, Mara Duncan, physician assistant and athletic trainer, and Zach Haines, head soccer coach at High Point University, discussed the social and emotional health of student athletes, providing practical tips about mental fitness, injury prevention, finding balance, and the qualities coaches seek in college athletes.

Spaces to Create and Explore Library renovations are adding new features to campus Makerspace: Equipped with tools, electronics and materials to encourage student creativity, problem-solving skills, and hands-on STEAM projects, the makerspace serves as an extension of classroom instruction and has access to the adjacent playground, allowing for seamless integration of indoor and outdoor learning experiences.

Robotics Lab: Featuring educational robotics for all grade levels, from VEX 123 for pre-K/kindergarten to VEX EXP for Upper School, the Robotics Lab enhances computer science education and provides students with hands-on experience in robotics through advanced tools like RobotLab NAO.

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Versatile Function Areas: These spaces are designed to foster collaboration, accommodate various teaching methods, support different group sizes, and meet individual study needs, creating a dynamic and flexible learning environment.

Qubein Family Supports Transformative Library Renovation

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major renovation to Westchester Country Day School’s library is transforming the space into a modern learning hub.

Nido and Mariana Qubein, longtime supporters of Westchester and education in High Point, committed $1 million to update the building into the state-of-the-art Qubein Center.

The comprehensive renovation will foster curiosity and innovation at Westchester. While housing the school’s library collections and volumes, the Qubein Center adds a makerspace, robotics lab and other versatile indoor and outdoor spaces for teaching and exploring.

“Our family is proud to contribute to Westchester, a school that aligns with our belief in the transformative power of education by emphasizing critical thinking, creativity and innovation,” said Nido Qubein. “These are the skills we emphasize in the students at High Point University, and we are pleased to see Westchester also committing to teaching the life skills that will prepare students for a successful future.”

The Qubein family are long-time supporters of Westchester and have entrusted the school with their children, who are proud alumni, and grandchildren. Their involvement in education extends beyond Westchester, with the Qubein Scholarship Fund providing more than 800 scholarships for local students to attend college in North Carolina since 1973.

“Their commitment to academic excellence and community serves as a great example for our students,” said Mary Keever, head of school. “The

Qubein Center will help us inspire students to practice using the design thinking and science, technology, engineering, art and math skills we are including in our academic curriculum at all grade levels.”

Nido Qubein is known for leading the transformation at High Point University to a nationally recognized university listed in the Princeton Review.

He has grown the TOP: Exterior improvements to the building as shown in this campus from three to rendering will allow seamless integration of indoor and outdoor 13 academic schools learning experiences, connecting the Qubein Center’s makerspace with the adjacent playground. and net assets of $1.2 BOTTOM: Nido and Mariana Qubein, at center, and their billion. A businesschildren and grandchildren visited the library at WCDS as man and author, his renovations began in December 2023. Pictured from left are philanthropic efforts WCDS alumni Michael Qubein, Cristina Qubein Buckfelder ’04, include lead gifts for Ramsey Qubein ’98, and Deena Qubein Samuel ’01 with their families, including current students Austin Samuel ’32, Grayson the Nido and MarSamuel ’34, and Wesley Samuel ’36. iana Qubein Arena and Conference ty, including organizations such as Center and Qubein Family Service of the Piedmont, the School of Communications. He is High Point Arts Council and Westalso known for leading the downtown chester, among others. Notably, she High Point redevelopment group spent the last 18 years developing the that provided more than $70 million award-winning gardens at High Point to purchase the High Point Rockers, University. In 2019, she authored her stadium enhancements like Blessing first book, “Planting Seeds of GreatPark, the Slane Family Center, Wilson ness.”

Plaza, operating costs and the new Westchester’s library building origiNido and Mariana Qubein Children’s nally opened on the school campus in Museum.

December 1993. This is its first major Mariana Qubein has made countrenovation in 30 years. less contributions in the communiWESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 7

The Class of 2024 Westchester Country Day School celebrated its 53rd graduation ceremony on June 1, 2024, for a class of 32 graduates who achieved 100 percent college acceptance and $5+ million in scholarships.

The ceremony includes several traditions unique to the school’s recognition of graduates, including a bagpipe processional. As the graduates come forward to receive their diplomas, faculty members give tribute speeches, highlighting their growth as students and offering insight into their talents and interests.

Left: Mallory Atkinson and English teacher Mr. Frank Morelli exchange a special handshake as they walk forward for the faculty tribute.

Center: Charlie Blair receives a t-shirt from Mr. Brook Patterson, assistant athletic director and basketball coach, during his tribute.

Right: Board of Trustees President Tom Van Dessel congratulates MJ Edwards and presents his diploma.

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2024 Graduates

Members of the Class of 2024 are ready to pursue a variety of college and career plans.

On the opposite page, graduates toss their caps following the graduation ceremony at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in High Point.

The Class of 2024 was accepted to 79 different colleges and universities. Six of the graduates signed to play collegiate athletics. Thirteen members of the class were invited to participate in selective honors programs. Nine were named AP Scholars for achieving high scores on the national exams they took for these college-level courses.

VALEDICTORIAN: Isabella Reid, a 13-year graduate of Westchester, plans to study neuroscience at Duke University.

SALUTATORIAN: Maggie O’Keeffe, also a 13-year graduate, plans to study life sciences and pre-medicine at North Carolina State University.

Mallory Theresa Atkinson Joshua Dale Bayne Davis Aidan Todd Beck Charles Andrew Blair Lyndon Carroll Briggs Emilie Grace Carey Lauren Olivia Cockrum Benjamin Stoermer Daniel Carson Clifton Daniel Malcolm Xavier Edwards Morgan Rosa Elliott William Finnegan Fleming Covington Ann Hauser Benjamin Thomas Hunsberger Aleeza Iqbal Emma Abigail Keever Ava Grace Klein Katherine Grace Lavelle Jose Antonio Lopez Elizabeth Godwin Marsh Hannah Elizabeth Melgar Olivia Grace Mueller Margaret Casey O’Keeffe Isabella Claire Reid Jaden Jene Richardson William Leon Rives Jalen Miles Umstead Benedict Douglas Tom Van Dessel William Tate Vogler Katherine Floriene Walter Kaytlin Abigail Williamson Riley Colette Yanez

“I say whatever you do, do it well, even if it is not your favorite thing. Simply show up and do your best. It’s the effort that matters not only for you but for all of the people who have invested in you. Most of the time when you just try, the outcome will be even better than you imagined.”

— Isabella Reid, valedictorian

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Visit westchestercds.org on the web to view a full list of scholarships and college acceptances.

JUNIOR MARSHALS: Thomas Brinson, Chase Hesling, Claire Neal, Sutton Scott and Cooper Singer led the graduates in the processional.

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Power Play New Play Spaces Support the Academic, Physical and Social Growth of Students

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playground is more than just a place for children to play.

It’s a learning tool that promotes cognitive, social and emotional development.

At Westchester Country Day School, the opening of a new Lower School playground has marked a significant milestone in the school’s commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education and an emphasis on holistic wellness.

The nature-based design blends into the wooded landscape of campus to inspire students to take an interest in exploring the great outdoors. It offers a variety of play features to get the body moving through swinging, sliding and climbing and the brain working through social play and creative expression.

The most exciting feature — a large slide and climbing wall built into the hillside terrain — even encourages students to come out of their comfort zone and take a bit of a risk.

More than just a place to have fun, the playground and the school’s other outdoor recreational spaces, are vital tools for fostering learning and development in students of all ages.

NOT JUST PLAYING AROUND When the Lower School students go outside, they might think they are just playing, but science shows that play is essential to their development.

The teachers of Westchester’s youngest Wildcats understand this. They factor movement into the school day to develop the gross motor skills that are building blocks to the fine motor skills needed for future school success.

For example, before children can sit at desks and practice neat handwriting, they must build the muscle

strength that provides the stamina to do this. And while their play is helping their bodies become strong, coordinated and balanced, it is also helping their brains make crucial neural connections.

“Where adults may view the playground as a place to let loose and get the wiggles out, to a child, it’s where they learn important skills such as decision making, problem solving and taking risks,” explains Blair Hawley, head of Lower School.

Play also provides opportunities for social interaction and cooperation, helping children develop essential values like friendship and teamwork.

A committee of pre-K, kindergarten and first grade teachers advised the design of Westchester’s new playground based on their research and observations of the foundational skills children need.

“Play is a vital part of a child’s development, and that is why it was so important that we thoughtfully planned the details to give purpose to this new playground,” Hawley says.

physical health. It can reduce stress and anxiety while improving memory, attention and problem-solving skills.

Regular exercise can enhance academic performance with a boost to mood and motivation.

This is why Westchester is expanding the outdoor spaces designed for older students too. Construction on an additional recreational space with various sport surfaces is underway near the Rives Hall courtyard.

KIDS DON’T OUTGROW THE NEED FOR MOVEMENT While play may be more associated with younger children, Westchester faculty members know that movement is equally important for teenagers. In fact, one of the lessons learned from holding school in-person during the coronavirus pandemic is the importance of “brain breaks” for Middle and Upper School students. Short bursts of physical activity, like playing four square, lift spirits and improve focus.

Physical activity can have a significant impact on both mental and

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO: A SOUND MIND IN A SOUND BODY Westchester’s recognition of the connection between body and mind dates to the school’s founding, when the Latin motto “Mens Sana in Corpore Sano” was adopted. Both a sound mind and sound body are needed to pursue personal excellence.

By continuing to emphasize play and movement throughout the school day, Westchester is helping students enhance their readiness for advanced academics and their development of social-emotional health and wellness.

ABOVE: Zahran Khawaja ’36 and other Lower School students build strength and courage on the hillside slide and climbing wall.

OPPOSITE: Ella McCrary and Katherine Newsome enjoy imaginative play in the outdoors.

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On the left, students in the Class of 2031 hop into a game of gaga ball on the new playground. In the middle, Emma Reese Ballance takes her first ride down the big hillside slide. On the right, students enjoy climbing and sliding on the new equipment.

Playground Ribbon Cutting Celebrated

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he new playground opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 15, 2023.

During the grand opening, teachers, parents, grandparents and friends watched as fifth graders and their senior buddies explored the new space for the first time.

Before cutting the ribbon, Mary Keever, head of school, thanked the donors, faculty committee and contractors who worked together on planning and designing the playground and driveway projects.

“In my 25 years at WCDS, this tops the list of moments filled with such a high level of respect and wonderment for such a blessing,” said Keever.

“One of our core principles is collaboration, and this playground project certainly reflected that.”

The playground designer was Scott Cunningham of Cunningham Recreation, and the project manager was Scott Krueger of Strada Bauen. Smith and Jennings Inc. provided grading for the project.

Westchester began the playground construction during the summer of 2023 in the area that had been the carpool circle since the 1990s. This space was identified in the school’s master plan, which called for improving campus security by closing the

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Hudson Chiu ’31, Mrs. Blair Hawley, head of Lower School, Ava Harrell ’31, Mrs. Mary Keever, head of school, and Megan Oglesby, executive director of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation and WCDS parent, cut the ribbon to officially open the new playground.

secondary entrance to the carpool circle and rerouting traffic to the main entrance on North Old Greensboro Road. The Wildcat Trail driveway was widened to allow for a new carpool loop in front of the Finch Center, which opened for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year, while the playground work continued for a few months.

The new playground, driveway improvements, and covered walkways and recreational space in progress are part of the Westchester Forward campaign, a multiyear investment in school facilities, academic programs, security and the endowment. Previous projects in the campaign included the Wilson Student Center in 2020, keyless entry door locks and cameras in 2022, and significant progress toward debt elimination.

The Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation donated $1.7 million to support the development of the new outdoor spaces.

Upper School Peter M. Cowen Outstanding Senior Award Isabella Reid Cobb Atkinson Good Citizenship Award Abby Williamson Suzi Holliman Humanitarian Award Hannah Melgar Valedictorian Isabella Reid

Commencement Marshals Thomas Brinson, Chase Hesling, Claire Neal, Sutton Scott, Cooper Singer Art Award Cooper Singer Art Certificate Anderson Carter, Cassie Woodall, Katherine Walter English Award Mallory Atkinson

Salutatorian Maggie O’Keeffe

English Certificate Elizabeth Walter, Chloe Denmark, Ella Moore, Cooper Singer

Westchester Cup Mallory Atkinson Student Government Award Ava Klein, Abby Williamson Vijaya Kumar Chemistry Award Sutton Scott Peters Family Scholarship Thomas Brinson, Jackson Hedrick Rothrock Scholarship Kirian Veach, Claire Neal International Student Recognition Kaya Camdere 9th Grade Distinguished Scholar Garrett Le, Elin Prifti 10th Grade Distinguished Scholar Ryan Engle 11th Grade Distinguished Scholar Cooper Singer

Science Award Cassie Woodall

AP Recognition

Science Certificate Jaben Tomes, Annita Keomalaythong, Sam Causey

The College Board’s

Spanish Award Hannah Melgar

students who demonstrate

Spanish Certificate Emma Hunsberger, Pallavi Paruchuri, Isabella Reid

achievement through their

Advanced Placement (AP) Program recognizes outstanding college-level performance on AP exams,

Theatre Award Cooper Singer, Hadley Briggs

which are scored on a scale of 1 to 5.

Theatre Certificate Liv Mueller, Natalie Clinard

AP Scholars received scores

Social Studies Award Gram Tucker

DAR Good Citizen Mallory Atkinson

more AP exams:

Social Studies Certificate Jaben Tomes, Emma Leonard, Sam Causey, Ryan Engle, Elin Prifti

Governor’s School Ella Moore, Cooper Singer

Mandarin Award Lyndon Briggs Mandarin Certificate Lucie Corrigan, Hadley Briggs, Annita Keomalaythong, Cooper Singer Math Award Mallory Atkinson Math Certificate Isabella Reid, Claire Neal, Jameson Calfee, Garrett Le Music Award Mallory Atkinson, Lyndon Briggs Music Certificate Natalie Chrisman, Morgan Elliott

High Point University Book Award Jaben Tomes

of 3 or higher on three or Ava Klein, Riley Yanez AP Scholars with Honor received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more

Middle School

exams: Davis Beck,

Freddie Kirkman Award Maddie Taylor, Addy Grace Winstead

Abby Williamson

Emma Padgett Award Ginny Thompson, Medara Patron

Distinction received an

Scott Patterson Award James Collins

AP Scholars with average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams:

Student Government Addy Grace Winstead

Mallory Atkinson,

Rothrock Scholarship Misha Cap

O’Keeffe, Liv Mueller,

Lyndon Briggs, Maggie Isabella Reid

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Academic Awards | 2023 – 2024

The Wildcat Design Process WCDS prepares students to approach complex challenges

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estchester Country Day School prepares its graduates to thrive in the real world, where they will undoubtedly encounter projects and tasks that don’t even exist yet. To be successful, they will need a whole host of problem-solving and critical thinking skills. WCDS is committed to providing every graduate with these tools.

The faculty are integrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) across the curriculum to ensure every student, teacher, and classroom benefits from this interdisciplinary approach. The school established this initiative as one of its SAIS Accreditation 2023 goals, explaining its importance to student learning as follows:

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“We believe that STEAM integration is vital to our curriculum because it allows our students to go beyond learning individual subjects and empowers them to dive into problems where all of these subjects collide in a natural and logical manner.”

ROOTED IN THE SCHOOL’S PHILOSOPHY At Westchester, learning has always been about more than memorizing facts or amassing knowledge. It’s about building the skills needed to develop independent critical thought, to research, ask questions, create, express ideas and continuously improve. With essential skills such as the 7Cs—Creativity, Collaboration,

Communication, Critical Thinking, Cultural Awareness, Cross-Curricular Connections, and Character Development—already embedded in the curriculum, WCDS is taking it to the next level by elevating STEAM as a fundamental part of the classroom culture.

The STEAM Team, a group of faculty members representing different disciplines and divisions, is leading the way. Part of this work is providing professional development to the faculty on how to bring STEAM concepts into any subject area. By doing so, students are no longer learning subjects in isolation but getting the benefit of exploring the intersection of multiple disciplines. They learn to connect ideas, become comfort-

LEFT: Quinten Stofferis, James Collins, Max Volynets and Luke Heybrock, Class of 2028, use concepts from the Wildcat Design Process to construct a robot in the technology lab in Phillips Hall.

BELOW LEFT: Middle School students apply the Wildcat Design Process to paper writing. After following the ask, explore, plan and create steps, they test out their draft and gather feedback for improvement through peer review.

BELOW RIGHT: Teagan Teppara and Will Bradley, Class of 2033, test the effectiveness of the spider parachute they made in STEAM Lab.

OPPOSITE: Coraleigh Byrne and Ronav Paruchuri, Class of 2032, build in the STEAM Lab. Students learn to build and create with a variety of materials during C-Time, STEAM and Technology classes.

able with unknowns, and develop confidence in solving real problems.

Whether organizing a presentation, creating a 3-D printed model, or combining art and engineering, Westchester students do work together that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

DESIGN THINKING IN ACTION At the heart of the STEAM initiative is the Wildcat Design Process.

This schoolwide approach to design thinking invites students to identify challenges, brainstorm solutions, try out and test ideas, and improve their work. The design process is visible in every classroom, where teachers have it posted on their walls and help

students go through the steps for a variety of projects across all grade levels and subjects.

ENGAGING THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY While the STEAM initiative is intended to impact student learning, it also has the power to inspire beyond daily classroom instruction. The STEAM Team trained all faculty and staff on using the Wildcat Design Process in a workshop during the 2023-2024 school year. The group will be bringing a STEAM Night to families in February 2025.

Each year, extracurricular activities ensure students continue to explore their STEAM interests and

develop skills in creative and collaborative ways. VEX Robotics teams, the Odyssey of the Mind program, and STEAM summer camps complement classroom learning while reinforcing the design thinking principles of the Wildcat Design Process.

The Wildcat Design Process Ask — Identify the problem or goal Explore — Research and brainstorm Plan — Outline, sketch, and design Create — Write, build, or execute the plan Test — Try it out, evaluate, and collect feedback Improve — Reflect and modify the plan based on results and feedback

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Student Teams Advance to World Finals

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estchester’s STEAM extracurricular programs are at it again. The school celebrated student teams advancing to the World Finals in both VEX Robotics and Odyssey of the Mind in 2024.

VEX Robotics is a competitive robotics program in which students design, build and program a robot to complete a series of challenges.

Students in Lower, Middle and Upper School have opportunities to participate.

A fifth-grade team represented WCDS at the World Championship in Dallas, Texas. The all-girl team named Rubik Racers, made up of Anna Kate Albert, Emma Reese Ballance, and Johanna English, Class of 2031, and their robot, Ruby, placed 22nd out of 82 teams in their division.

They received an invitation to the world competition after ranking first in the state and winning at both regional and North Carolina VEX IQ state competitions.

After working for hours throughout the school year designing, building, programming, testing and improving their robot to perform a series of tasks, they experienced the energy of the huge event, where 420 elementary teams from around the world gathered.

The WCDS team met many teams

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from other countries and nations.

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving competition in which a team of up to seven students works together to solve a hands-on problem ranging from building a vehicle, to developing an AI device, to interpreting a classic work of literature into a modern adaptation. All of the solutions include a performance with original characters, script, costumes and sometimes songs. Opportunities are available for students K-12.

WCDS sent two Upper School teams to Iowa for the 2024 World Finals after both teams won first place in their problems at the regional and state competitions.

One of the teams, with members Cooper Singer ’25 and 2024 graduates Liv Mueller, Mallory Atkinson, Maggie O’Keeffe and Ava Klein placed 8th worldwide in the classics problem, “Opening Night Antics.” The second team, with Luke Heybrock and James Collins, Class of 2028, and Talia Taylor, Skylar Townsend, Clinton Wagoner, Pallavi Paruchuri and Wilson Caddy, Class of 2027, placed 11th worldwide for their problem, AI-Tech-No-Art. They were among teams from the United States, China, Hong Kong, Poland, Germany, Korea and more.

ABOVE: WCDS team members represented the state of North Carolina at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.

BELOW: Rubik Racer team members Emma Reese Ballance, Johanna English and Anna Kate Albert, Class of 2031, practice driving their robot on a field set up in one of the technology labs in Phillips Hall.

TOP: WCDS Odyssey team members pose with their costumes and original robot created for their solution to the AI-Tech-No-Art problem.

Unique experiences encourage students to pursue artistic excellence

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tudents in the Upper School at Westchester had the extraordinary opportunity to debut new music and work directly with a professional composer and conductor at an iconic performance venue.

The Concert Choir traveled to New York City to sing with other choirs from across the U.S. at Carnegie Hall.

Along with distinguished soloists and the New England Symphonic Ensemble, they lifted their voices for the New York premiere of “Magnificat” by composer-conductor Marc-André Bougie. They also performed Mozart’s Mass in C Major, K. 317 “Coronation Mass,” conducted

by Leslie Dala. The concert was part of MidAmerica Productions’ 40th anniversary season.

The Concert Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Shelley Jennings, music teacher and interim director of the arts, is one of several arts elective courses available to students in the Upper School.

“We love Westchester’s small size, but our singers would not be able to perform large works of music without joining other choirs,” said Jennings. “It is a great honor being a part of the premiere of Bougie’s ‘Magnificat.’ We have been given the unique opportunity to learn this piece, composed just last year, along with Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass,’ written way back in 1779.

I can’t think of a better place than Carnegie Hall for this experience.”

In preparation for the momentous performance, the Concert Choir participated in a choral clinic with Bougie, the composer of “Magnificat.” This experience provided the students with valuable insights into the piece and allowed them to work closely with the composer himself while he visited Westchester.

Following the trip, Concert Choir member Hadley Briggs said she enjoyed experiencing how different WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 17

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

WCDS Singers Join Carnegie Hall Debut

Theater Spotlight Maggie O’Keeffe ’24 13 Years on the WCDS Stage

On the top, Marc-André Bougie, composer and conductor of a new work ‘Magnificat,’ visited Westchester for a choral clinic with the Concert Choir ahead of the New York premier. Below, Concert Choir teacher Mrs. Shelley Jennings snaps a selfie from the Carnegie Hall stage during rehearsal. On the opposite page, Avary Herman ’26 and Pallavi Paruchuri ’27 pause for a quick photo in Carnegie Hall before their performance.

musicians approach warm-ups or interpreting the music. She also recognized the value of working directly with Bougie.

“It was a great experience getting to have the person who composed the new piece be our conductor for the performance,” she said. “He was able to have us perform the piece exactly how he wanted, and I loved getting to be a part of it. Not even just the performance, but the rehearsals were great.”

For Briggs and her classmates, performing at Carnegie Hall was a landmark moment that serves to inspire them to keep pursuing artistic excellence.

“This unique experience has encouraged me to continue to participate and grow in the performing arts. I loved getting to sing on that stage and be able to have such a professional experience. Westchester has really helped nurture my love for the arts and realize that it is what I want to pursue in the future.”

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From her WCDS debut as a baby elephant, some of Maggie O’Keeffe’s most memorable moments of growing up involved the Rives Hall stage.

“My journey at Westchester did not start on the first day of kindergarten, but rather, it began sitting in Rives Hall watching ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and telling my mom that I wanted to go to school at Westchester to do what I was seeing on the stage. I knew from the age of 4 that Westchester’s theater program was special.”

She started out in Westchester’s 2012 production of “The Jungle Book Kids” in kindergarten and brought a variety of characters to life as she developed as a performer. Such roles included the warmth and fun of shopkeeper Oaken in “Frozen Jr.” and shining brightly as Tamatoa, the large treasure-hoarding crab, in “Moana Jr.” She capped off her senior year with the starring role of Cat in the Hat in “Seussical Jr.” and Timothy the Lion in “The Velveteen Rabbit.”

“Westchester has a unique atmosphere which provides every student with the opportunity to participate in any sport, club, or extracurricular activity they may enjoy or want to try. I loved being able to play golf, act on the stage, volunteer, and participate in clubs all while on campus. So, I strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunities Westchester provides!”

Storybook Season

“The Velveteen Rabbit,” Upper School play

Children’s books set the scene for the 2023-2024 theater season at Westchester.

Students got into character for shows featuring three literary favorites throughout the year.

“Seussical Jr.,” Grades 1-12 musical

“Alice the Musical,” K-8 musical

Footnotes Shines at Festival

On That Note

Footnotes, the 3rd-5th grade chorus, performed in a music festival in Williamsburg, Virginia, where they received a Superior rating and won First Place Treble Choir.

ArtsFest WCDS continued the tradition of its outdoor art show and concerts in the spring. All music students performed on stage and student artwork decorated the landscape.

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 19

ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE

Athletic Awards | 2023 – 2024 Academic All Conference The following students maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA and participated in at least two Varsity sports.

Grade 7: Sydney Kavchak Grade 8: Luke Heybrock, Quinten Stofferis, Max Volynets, Addy Grace Winstead Grade 9: Joseph Brinson, Clark Clodfelter, Ben Covington, Brooks Covington, Whit Hauser, Preston Kendrick, Coleman Schwartz, Emory Smith Grade 10: Hadley Briggs, Eleanor Clark, Chloe Denmark, Selah Goins, Avary Herman, Annita Keomalaythong, Reeves Lavelle, Lucy Mercadante, Ashlyn Rives, Chris Smith, Lukas Stofferis, Chase Sutton, Jaben Tomes, Beck Wilson, Caleb Winstead Grade 11: Ava Apple, Thomas Brinson, Kaya Camdere, Natalie Chrisman, Mary Frances Collins, Harriss Covington, Jackson Hedrick, Chase Hesling, Ava Hoffman, Will Jones, EB McEnaney, Lauren Melton, Claire Neal, Nolan Patterson, Sutton Scott, Natalie Seperteladze, Elizabeth Shoaf, Elliott Smith, Gram Tucker, Kirian Veach, Daniel Volynets, Zayne Williamson

Varsity Boys Cross Country MVP – Chris Smith Wildcat – Lukas Stofferis Coach’s – Quinten Stofferis, Grant Littlefield Varsity Girls Cross Country MVP – Addy Grace Winstead Wildcat – Eleanor Clark, Chloe Denmark Coach’s – Reeves Lavelle Varsity Girls Golf MVP – Madi Dial Wildcat – Mary Frances Collins Coach’s – Abby Keever, Jaden Richardson Varsity Boys Soccer MVP – Ben Van Dessel Wildcat – Will Rives, Daniel Volynets “Squad”– Nolan Patterson

Varsity Boys Golf MVP – Jackson Hedrick, Mac Timberlake Wildcat – Thomas Brinson Coach’s – Josh Bayne

Varsity Girls Tennis MVP – Ava Apple, Natalie Chrisman Wildcat – Lizzie Marsh Coach’s – Avary Herman

Varsity Boys Tennis MVP – Clark Clodfelter Wildcat – Ben Van Dessel Coach’s – Liam Mueller

Varsity Girls Volleyball MVP – Ava Klein Wildcat – Cassie Woodall, Emilie Carey Coach’s – Covington Hauser, Lauren Cockrum

Varsity Girls Soccer MVP – Covington Hauser Wildcat – Ashlyn Rives Coach’s – Abby Keever, Abby Williamson

Grade 12: Mallory Atkinson, Joshua Bayne, Lauren Cockrum, Ben Daniel, MJ Edwards, Covington Hauser, Abby Keever, Isabella Reid, Jaden Richardson, Benedict Van Dessel, Abby Williamson

Varsity Boys Basketball MVP – MJ Edwards Wildcat – Jalen Umstead, Josh Bayne Coach’s – Nolan Patterson

Bruce E. Hathaway, Jr. Sportsmanship Award Abby Keever, Ben Van Dessel

Varsity Boys Swimming MVP – Ben Hunsberger Wildcat – Davis Williams Coach’s – Ben Daniel, Lukas Stofferis

Scholar Athlete of the Year Mallory Atkinson, Josh Bayne, Isabella Reid Athlete of the Year MJ Edwards, Covington Hauser Iron Cat Award Abby Keever, Isabella Reid Special Recognition Megan Vogler

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Varsity Girls Swimming MVP – Mallory Atkinson Wildcat – Ava Hoffman Coach’s – Lauren Cockrum Varsity Cheerleading MVP – Kirian Veach Wildcat – Ella Moore Coach’s – Katherine Walter Varsity Baseball MVP – Tate Vogler Wildcat – Carson Daniel, Tony Lopez Coach’s – Jameson Calfee, Ryan Engle

Varsity Boys Track MVP – Zayne Williamson Wildcat – Daniel Volynets Coach’s – Chris Smith Varsity Girls Track MVP – Claire Neal, Medara Patron Wildcat – Eleanor Clark, Addy Grace Winstead Coach’s – Mary Frances Collins, Chloe Denmark Middle School Athletes of the Year Ashton Pittman, Eli Moore, Jesse Covington, Maddie Taylor, Medara Patron, Addy Grace Winstead Middle School “Schwartzmanship” Awards Max Volynets, Davis Williams, Caroline Elrod, Aubrey Shores

Go, Cats!

🐾

College Athletic Signing Six members of the Class of 2024 announced plans to play college athletics during a College Athletic Signing Day event in May. Jalen Umstead – Basketball at Bard College Joshua Bayne – Basketball at Bard College Lyndon Briggs – Rowing at Vassar College Carson Daniel – Baseball at Patrick Henry Community College Tate Vogler – Baseball at Columbia University Tony Lopez – Baseball at UNC Asheville

PTAC CHAMPIONS The Middle School Boys A Basketball team won the PTAC regular season and conference tournament championships in 2024.

Track Team Shines at State Championships Varsity Girls Track team members Grace Patron ’29, Eleanor Clark ’26, Medara Patron and Claire Neal ’25 won the 4 x 400 meter relay state championship.

Medara Patron won her second state championship in the 300-meter hurdles.

She also finished third in the 100-meter.

Varsity Boys Track team members Zayne Williamson ’25, Daniel Volynets ’25, Bo Culler ’27, and Davis Beck ’24 finished set school records during the season and finished second in the state championship 4 x 200 meter relay.

GIRLS GOLF FINISHES STRONG The Girls Golf team earned a runnerup finish at the 2023 PTAC Conference Championship behind medalist and Conference Player of the Year Madi Dial ’25. Madi finished 15th in the state championship and second-year Coach Marcy Newton was named Coach of the Year.

Swimmers Make Waves Ben Hunsberger ’24 was a part of eight school records during the season and won third place at the 100 Fly state championship. The relay team of Ben Hunsberger, Lukas Stofferis ’26, Ben Daniel ’24 and Davis Williams ’28 also came in third in the 200 Free Relay.

ALL-STATE HONORS Tennis: Clark Clodfelter ’27 Soccer: Ben Van Dessel ’24, Daniel Volynets ’25 Baseball: Tate Vogler ’24, Ryan Engle ’26

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 21

MORAL EXCELLENCE

WCDS Serves E ach year, Westchester involves students of all ages in service to others in a variety of hands-on projects. By joining together, students learn that they have a lot to share with the community and that serving others is a fun way to work together.

The C.A.R.E.S. Crews program pairs up classmates and buddies from another grade on several hands-on projects throughout the year. These projects help students practice compassion, awareness, responsibility, empathy and service.

For a Thanksgiving project, parent volunteers helped C.A.R.E.S. Crews pack care packages of new socks and toiletries to be distributed to Open

22 | WILDCAT PAWS

Door Ministries of High Point and Family Service of the Piedmont. They also wrote holiday cards for veterans and made snowflake decorations for Cancer GPS patients.

In the spring, students collected more than $2,400 in loose change for the school’s Change for Change initiative to raise awareness and support four charities with a donation: The ARC of High Point, Miracle League of High Point, Our Daily Bread in Asheboro, and Level the Playing Field.

These projects and more help students learn that when everyone gives even just a little, they can make a big difference.

ABOVE: C.A.R.E.S. Crews from the classes of 2027 and 2034 fill bags with toiletries and personal items for local agencies.

BELOW: Buddies JD Chappell ’26 and Mac Lambeth ’33 pack a care package together.

TOP: Students present large checks to organizations representing the C.A.R.E.S. Crews donations from the Change for Change drive.

Spreading Cheer Lower School students and faculty members practiced the December character word of the month, GENEROSITY, by handing out coffee, hot cocoa and candy canes to parents during morning carpool.

Letters for Veterans Middle School students carry on longtime project

D

id you know WCDS Middle School students have been writing letters to veterans for many years?

The Middle School sets aside time on Fridays throughout the school year to participate in a variety of service projects both in the field with agencies in the community and in their classrooms.

For the letter writing project, students write encouraging notes in letters and cards that are distributed at veterans events in the Triad. Partners in this project include the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and the Heroes Center.

A fourth grader shares a treat with WCDS parent and alumna Lauren Ball ’02 in the carpool line.

ABOVE: Middle School students and Mrs. Vanessa Sullens presented letters they wrote to veterans to Patrick Davis of the Heroes Center.

BELOW: Eyan Moore and Anish Upadhyaya, Class of 2030, write postcards to veterans during a Middle School service learning day.

WCDS parent and trustee Jackie Tyson, and faculty members Mrs. Amie Carey, Mrs. Vanessa Sullens and Ms. Emma Ruggery fill cups with hot cocoa and coffee.

NHS Upper School students in the National Honor Society packaged 170 food bags for students at Fairview Elementary.

Maxwell Simek ’33 delivers coffee and hot cocoa to cars.

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 23

FACULTY NEWS

Faculty Emeritus

ONCE A WILDCAT, ALWAYS A WILDCAT A group of retired faculty members who have made a tremendous impact on the lives of countless students and alumni gathered for lunch at Blue Rock Pizza in High Point.

25 Years Mrs. Tracy Gill, Lower School assistant and bus driver, and Mrs. Mary Keever, head of school, received recognition during the end-of-year awards ceremonies for completing 25 years of service to the Westchester community.

WCDS Welcomes New Head of Upper School

D

r. Diana Parente joined WCDS as head of the Upper School in July 2024. She has been an educator for more than two decades with an array of roles in teaching and leadership. She taught history in a variety of disciplines, served as an athletic director for 13 years, and coached girls’ soccer at the middle school and varsity levels. Parente is also a consultant researcher and writer for the Women’s Sports Foundation.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Syracuse University, a Master of Arts in social studies education 6-12 and a Master of Arts in school building leadership, both from New York University, and a Doctor of Education in K-12 Urban Education Leadership from the University of Southern California. She and her husband, Adam, have a son who is also a new Westchester Wildcat.

24 | WILDCAT PAWS

TEACHERS LEARN TOO Friends of the Fine Arts sponsored a field trip for WCDS faculty to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.

Celebrating Retirements and Years of Service

M

rs. Jan Martiniuk Simcox celebrated her retirement at a reception surrounded by family, colleagues and parents. Starting out at Westchester as a parent to three alumni children, David Martiniuk ’02, Ryan Martiniuk ’04 and Kim Thiessen ’07, she returned to WCDS as a second grade teacher in 2016.

As the 2023-2024 school year concluded, Westchester also honored faculty for longevity of service and recognized some departing after many years of service to the school community. Faculty departures included Ashley Reid, fifth grade teacher since 2011; Mrs. Raegan Atkinson, director of college guidance since 2012; Mrs. Lisa Meyer-Braun, academic support, and Dr. Mark Braun, head of Upper School since 2012; Mr. Marsena Davis, facilities manager since 2012; and Mrs. Samantha Hauser, physical education teacher and coach since 2014.

TOP: Mrs. Blair Hawley, head of Lower School, recognized Mrs. Ashley Reid for her years of service during the Fifth Grade Step-Up ceremony.

BOTTOM: Mrs. Raegan Atkinson, director of college guidance for 12 years, congratulates Ben Daniel ’24 during the Graduation Luncheon.

Faculty Awards The following faculty members were recognized for their outstanding service to Westchester. Mrs. Chelsey Beck was named WAPA Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Erin Eftink received the Class of 2005 Award. Mrs. Emily Mercadante was named T. Austin Finch Distinguished Teacher. Mrs. Charlene Marsh was named T. Austin Finch Master Teacher.

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 25

ALUMNI NEWS

Father-Son Duo Inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame

C

hristopher Anderson ’12 and his father, Tim Anderson, joined a growing honor roll of alumni, coaches and friends in the Westchester Athletic Hall of Fame. They became the first cross country and track inductees as they were recognized for their contributions to athletic excellence.

“Both Tim and Chris are well respected in the North Carolina running community, as well as the Westchester school community. Their class, sportsmanship, work ethic and commitment to excellence has never wavered,” said Adam Schwartz, director of athletics.

In track and field, Christopher Anderson ’12 and teammates won back-to-back NCISAA team state championships and team conference championships in 2011 and 2012. He won individual state championships in the 1600 meter race in 2012 and the 3200 meter relay in 2011 and 2012. He also won individual conference championships in those years in the 3200 meter relay, 1600 meter relay, 3200 meter and 800 meter races. In cross country, he was the conference champion in 2011. He also earned all-state, all-county and all-conference honors. He was a three-time team MVP for cross country and team MVP for track and

field. He was honored as Co-Athlete of the Year in 2012 and holds records in the W-Day 5K race. Christopher received a running scholarship to UNC Charlotte in 2012 and to Appalachian State University from 2014-2017, where he was Sun Belt All-Conference.

Tim Anderson has coached cross country and track and field at WCDS since 2010, leading the boys and girls teams to numerous state and conference honors. His teams’ accolades for cross country include NCISAA 2A Boys Team State Champions in 2018, Boys Conference Champions five years in a row from 2011-2015, and Girls Conference Championships in 2016 and 2019. The girls team also finished in second place in the NCISAA 2A state championship four years in a row from 2018-2021. For track and field, Tim’s boys team won the NCISAA 2A Team State Championship in 2011 and 2012 and the Conference Championship eight years in a row from 2011-2018. They were the 2A State Team Runner-Up in five other years. His girls team won the NCISAA 2A Team State Championship in 2013 and finished as Conference Champions in 2013 and 2016. In total, his coaching has impacted 80+ state champions, 150+ all-state performances, and produced hundreds of lifelong runners.

TOP LEFT: Coach Tim Anderson and son Christopher Anderson ’12 were inducted into the Westchester Athletic Hall of Fame.

TOP RIGHT: Following the ceremony, Coach Tim Anderson is surrounded by students and alumni he has coached over the past 14 years on Westchester’s cross country and track teams.

LEFT: Athletic Director Adam Schwartz gives awards to Coach Tim Anderson and his son, cross country and track standout Christopher Anderson ’12, during a halftime recognition alongside their family.

26 | WILDCAT PAWS

Sophia Singer ’22, fellow Duke student Saajan Patel, and teammates from Makerere University in Uganda designed the NeoNest, a low-cost infant warmer to help Ugandan ambulance drivers safely transport preterm infants to a hospital from rural areas.

WCDS Alumna Develops Life-Saving Health Innovation

S

ophia Singer ’22 has designed a life-saving device out of common items that is receiving recognition as a global health innovation.

Singer, a mechanical engineering student at Duke University, teamed up with other college students to design the NeoNest, a low-cost infant warmer for Ugandan ambulances to combat preterm neonatal hypothermia.

The project began when Singer spent eight weeks living and working in Kampala, Uganda. There, she and her team – two students from Duke and two from Makerere University in Uganda – conducted needs assessments at multiple hospitals. They learned that ambulance drivers needed a solution to keep preterm infants at a safe body temperature while transporting them from rural villages to hospitals.

They developed a prototype of the NeoNest in a makerspace inside two shipping containers. The design uses locally sourced materials, including a can and insulation and an electric water mattress that maintains temperature for up to three hours.

Sophia credits her time at Westchester for providing the foundation

for her to think creatively and problem-solve in collaboration with a team. She participated in Odyssey of the Mind for 12 years, and her teams advanced all the way to the World Finals multiple times.

“Being involved with Odyssey of the Mind at Westchester taught me the importance of thinking outside the box,” she said. “Only through creative mindset were we able to decide to build our device entirely inside of a ‘Jerry’ can and use other local materials to create something that can have such a large impact.”

The NeoNest has the potential to save countless lives in Uganda, where preterm birth is a significant public health issue. Singer and her team are now working to scale up production and distribute the device to hospitals and clinics across the country.

The project is getting attention for its potential as an innovation for global health. Singer and her team won first place overall and a $5,000 prize in Rice360 Institute’s annual Global Health Technologies Undergraduate Design Competition, which included 24 teams from seven countries.

They also won first place and another $5,000 prize from the Africa Business Concept Challenge, which included 55 teams.

In addition, the project was selected as a global health finalist in the John’s Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition, finishing in the Top 8 out of 120 teams. They also received a $5,000 grant from VentureWell, a Medtech Accelerator, and attended an entrepreneurship workshop, where one of her Ugandan team members had the opportunity to travel to the U.S. for the first time.

Sophia Singer ’22 and her teammate Saajan Patel won first place overall in the Rice360 Global Health Technologies Undergraduate Design Competition.

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 27

Celebrating Alumni Weekend

Dynasty Rui ‘20 sang Chinese pop songs, including one she wrote about her experience at Westchester, in an assembly during the International Culture Festival.

W

estchester welcomed alumni from several decades for Alumni Weekend events in May 2024. Some notable reunions included the Class of 1984 celebrating its 40th reunion and the Class of 2004 celebrating its 20th reunion. Alumni from all class years were invited to participate in the W-Day 5K and for an evening reception and tour of the campus. Alumni who returned from all over the world enjoyed seeing the new playground and other campus updates.

ABOVE: A.B. and Grace Fulton Henley ’84 invited the Class of 1984 and spouses to their home to celebrate the 40th reunion milestone.

TOP: Members of the Class of 2004 gathered at the Toast and Tours event to reconnect with faculty members and see the campus changes from the past 20 years.

Cleveland Armentrout ’23 talked to Lower School students during their January Community Meeting about the character word of the month, RESPONSIBILITY. He shared his responsibilities at the Air Force Academy, including that Westchester had helped him prepare well for the many responsibilities he has as a college student and cadet.

S AV E T H E D AT E : M AY 9 - 10, 2025

Alumni

WEEKEND

! e t a r b e l e C s ' t Le 28 | WILDCAT PAWS

Class of 1975

Alumni shared insights and feedback during a lunch with Mrs. Mary Keever, head of school, during Homecoming in January. The group also enjoyed seeing the new playground.

#WCDSCommunity Wildcats show up, serve and have fun together

Westchester Loves Teachers WAPA parent volunteers help spread appreciation and cheer to faculty and staff members during national Teacher Appreciation Week. Volunteers delivered coffee and doughnuts to classrooms one morning in early “Maycember.”

Parents Make It Possible

WCDS parent Brie Reeder helps Emma Reese Ballance ’31 with makeup backstage before a performance of “Seussical Jr.”

Jamie Lynn Cumby, Sara Yowell and Sherman Covington assist students and teachers in organizing supplies for the C.A.R.E.S. Crews Thanksgiving service projects.

The Ponce-Radziewicz family enjoys getting to know other Westchester families during WAPA night at the High Point Rockers game.

Parent Volunteers Recognized WCDS awarded the Margaret Kemper Bonney Volunteer Award to two parent volunteers who serve the school community selflessly.

Megan Vogler, volunteer extraordinaire with athletics and the Booster Club, and Tara Elliott, president of Westchester All Parents Association (WAPA), were recognized during the end-of-year ceremonies.

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 29

Special Events Wildcats, thank you for making our school community a special place to learn, teach and raise a family. Your involvement makes all the difference!

30 | WILDCAT PAWS

Grandparents Day

W-Day 5K “The Hobey”

2024 IMPACT REPORT

What You

LOVE

about Westchester Join us in celebrating the ways your financial support leads to Westchester’s ability

2023–2024 Giving Snapshot* Annual Fund Unrestricted $172,042

to provide educational experiences that inspire students to pursue lifelong learning and personal excellence.

Annual Fund Restricted $92,873 (Athletic = $27,578, Other = $65,295) Special Gifts: Chuck’s Fund $105,850 *Gifts to Westchester Forward will be published in a separate document at its conclusion.

100%

of the faculty, staff and Board of Trustees participate in annual giving by supporting the Westchester Fund

WESTCHESTERCDS.ORG | 31

IMPACT REPORT 2024

Westchester Country Day School Annual Fund Donors Mens Sana in Corpore Sano Society $50,000+ Anonymous Leadership Society $25,000 – $49,999 Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Calabrese ’85 and Mr. James M. Calabrese T. Austin Finch Foundation Head of School Society $10,000 - $24,999 Mr. David S. Congdon ’74 and Mrs. Helen Congdon Dr. and Mrs. Nido R. Qubein 1967 Founders’ Society $5,000 – $9,999 Mr. James H. Collins ’90 and Mrs. Alison J. Collins Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harris The McMichael Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Brigman III Mr. and Mrs. William C. Heard III Wildcat Society $2,500 – $4,999 Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Blair Mr. Frank Brooks and Mr. Brad Newton Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan J. McDowell Mr. Matt H. Nowell Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Michael E. O’Keeffe Drs. Vamsee P. and Lakshmi P. Paruchuri Mr. and Mrs. Dean S. Stern Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Van Dessel Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy F. Williams Trustees’ Society $1,000 – $2,499 ABCO South Electrical Construction and Design Mr. and Mrs. Johnny S. Beck Sr. Mr. Joe M. Brinson III ’94 and Mrs. Claire G. Brinson Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Carr Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Culp IV Ms. Shirley Emerson Mr. and Mrs. Brian P. Hunsberger Mr. Ernest T. Koontz Jr. Drs. Tri H. and Kristy B. Le Mr. Marc Engle and Dr. Anita McCauley Mr. and Mrs. Douglas R. Muir Mr. and Mrs. Surendra Paruchuri

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Mr. and Mrs. David Raper Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Riggan Mr. Leon L. Rives II Mr. Donald K. Setliff ’72 and Mrs. Joy C. Setliff Mr. and Mrs. Timothy E. Simpson Mr. Robert C. Slane ’74 Mr. Scott N. Philbrook and Mrs. Emily L. Spivey Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Todd Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Tucker Mr. and Mrs. James B. Varner Sr. Dr. James Walter Blue and White Club $500 – $999 Mr. Edward Caddy Ms. Bright Carter Mr. and Mrs. John Causey Mr. and Mrs. Frederick M. Councill Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Covington Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Cranford Mr. Tom Craycroft Ms. Dorie Crowe Mr. and Mrs. Vinsen Faris Mr. Eric R. Grimes Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Harrell Mrs. Jane Everhart Hedrick ’92 and Mr. Bradley D. Hedrick Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Jones Dr. Jothi Kumar Mr. and Mrs. David L. Littlefield Mr. and Mrs. Jason E. Nall Ms. Marilyn Congdon Nowell ’01 Dr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Pierce Mr. and Mrs. David S. Rowe Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Ruggery Jr. Mrs. Deena Qubein Samuel ’01 and Dr. Bradley A. Samuel Mr. and Mrs. James D. Scott Mr. and Mrs. Erik M. Singer Mr. and Mrs. Mark F. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Melvin G. Todd Mr. Johnny S. Beck Jr. and Mrs. Shannon M. Todd Mr. and Mrs. Alan Turner Mr. and Mrs. Nihar N. Upadhyaya Mr. Jason D. Walker ’02 Mr. and Mrs. Seth M. Yowell Westchester Club $250 – $499 Mr. and Mrs. James Adams Mr. and Mrs. Keith Albert Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Argo Mr. and Mrs. John C. Atkinson Ms. Emma I. Bryson

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Case Mr. James F. Clodfelter Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cockrum Mr. and Mrs. Jay D. Couch Jr. Mrs. Kristin Sams Crowe ’01 and Mr. John W. Crowe Drs. Dekarlos M. and Tasha B. Dial Mr. and Mrs. Gart Evans Mr. and Mrs. William S. Fagg III Mrs. Lindsay Hall Miss Mary L. Huntley Mr. and Mrs. Philip T. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Wesley R. Keever Mrs. Anita R. Klein Ms. Amanda Lucas Mr. Christopher S. Martin and Mrs. Xuan Trang T. Nguyen Mr. and Mrs. Greg Moye Ms. Charlotte Newman Ms. Debb Saie Mr. and Mrs. Adam J. Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. Roger Thompson Mrs. Ashley Phelps Timberlake ’90 and Mr. Daniel Timberlake Mr. and Mrs. Chris R. Vogler Ms. Catherine T. York ’14 Family Club Up to $249 Anonymous Ms. Cierra A. Gaddis Mrs. Judy Thomas Adams ’89 and Mr. Jeffery R. Adams Mr. and Mrs. John W. Albert Mr. and Mrs. Matthew F. Altamura Mr. and Mrs. Allen W. Andrews Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. Ashburn Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan D. Ashley Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin C. Bailess Ms. Wilma Bailess Ms. Savannah Ball Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy D. Bayne Jr. Ms. Nicole Beaulieu Mr. Steven T. Beck ’07 and Mrs. Chelsey Beck Dr. and Mrs. John M. Beck Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Boles Dr. Mark T. Braun and Mrs. Lisa M. Meyer-Braun Mr. Derick and Dr. Sierra Burgin Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. Byrne Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Caputa Mr. and Mrs. Jason D. Carey Ms. Lindsey B. Carroll Ms. Trisha Caviness Mr. and Mrs. Greg Conrad Ms. Christiana H. Conrad ’09 Ms. Ashley Currence

IMPACT REPORT 2024 Mr. and Mrs. Gene A. Denmark Mr. Andrew T. DiMattia Ms. Lynn Dodge Mr. and Mrs. Jerry P. Driver Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Renarde Earl Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Eftink Mr. George W. and Dr. Sadie L. Elder Ms. Monica Elliott Ms. Alicia Emerson Mr. Kirk Epting Mrs. Suzie Farabow Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Fields Mr. Ryan Graver and Mrs. Sarah Flores Dr. Diana I. Garcia Mr. and Mrs. David M. Gibbs Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Hammond Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hauser Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Herman Mr. and Mrs. Leigh M. Hesling Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Hobbs Mrs. Laurie Beck Hogan ’02 and Mr. Andrew W. Hogan Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Holmes Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Horney Ms. Yawei Huang Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hughes Ms. Rhonda Hunt Mr. and Mrs. Lane Ingram Dr. Brandi Jacques Mr. and Mrs. Dustin T. Jennings Mr. Raymond Jones Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Kiss Ms. Debra Kodidek Mrs. Elizabeth Padgett Kremer ’97 and Mr. Paul M. Kremer Mr. and Mrs. Sione Langi Mr. and Mrs. Ryan P. Lavelle Mr. and Mrs. James R. Lee Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Linn Mrs. Laurie Long ’72 Dr. Xi Luo and Mrs. Jin Wang Ms. Mary E. Lyles ’96 Ms. Debbie Lyon ’73 Mr. and Mrs. Corey Mackall Mr. Eduard Volynets and Mrs. Irina Maltseva Mr. and Mrs. Keith K. Marsh Miss Nancy Martin Ms. Ellen T. McEnaney Mr. and Mrs. Ryan McNeill Mr. and Mrs. Brian Meixner Mr. and Mrs. Elmer A. Melgar Dr. and Mrs. David R. Mercadante Mr. Kenneth Mickey and Dr. Michele Jedlica Mr. William D. Moore III ’06 and Mrs. Lyall K. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Chris Moore Mr. Frank Morelli and Ms. Alexandra Frey Mr. Jim F. Morgan Ms. Danna Myers Tuxedo Park Homeowners Asociation Mr. and Mrs. Brook A. Patterson

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy D. Pendley Mr. and Mrs. William A. Pope III Dr. Fonda Quick Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Raper Mr. and Mrs. John S. Ratterree Mr. and Mrs. James C. Reid Ms. Claire Reinthaler Ms. Emma K. Ruggery Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Sams Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Santomieri Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Saxon Mrs. Ann Scott Ms. Marla H. Seelig Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Seip-Bayes Dr. and Mrs. McKennon Shea Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Smith Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jason Staton Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Stephenson Mr. and Mrs. Scott Sullens Mr. Stefaan Temperman and Mrs. Arabella Huys Mr. and Mrs. James Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Arnold J. Tomes Mr. and Mrs. Greg T. Tuggle Mr. and Mrs. James M. Umstead Mrs. Sheridan van Wagenberg Mr. and Mrs. Roger Vaughan Mr. and Mrs. James I. Watlington Mr. and Mrs. Bryan E. Weiss Mr. and Mrs. Eric N. Welder Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wilbert Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Winstead Jr. Ms. Darlene Wyatt Gifts in Kind Branch Home Designs LLC Colonial LLC Grandparents Honor Roll Mr. and Mrs. James Adams Mr. and Mrs. Keith Albert Ms. Wilma Bailess Dr. and Mrs. John M. Beck Mr. and Mrs. Joe M. Brinson Jr. Ms. Emma Bryson Mr. and Mrs. Scott Case Mr. David S. Congdon ’74 and Mrs. Helen Congdon Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Cranford Mr. Tom Craycroft Ms. Dorie Crowe Ms. Lynn Dodge Mr. and Mrs. Vinsen Faris Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harris Mrs. Amy Heybrock Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hoffman Ms. Mary E. Lyles Ms. Danna Myers Dr. and Mrs. Nido R. Qubein

Mr. and Mrs. David Raper Mr. and Mrs. John S. Ratterree Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Sams Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Saxon Mrs. Ann Scott Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Roger Thompson Mrs. Sheridan van Wagenberg Mr. and Mrs. James I. Watlington

Special Gifts Chuck’s Fund Mr. and Mrs. Craig A. Adolff Mr. and Mrs. Matthew F. Altamura Mr. and Mrs. Terry Andrews Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Argo Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin C. Bailess Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Beaver Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Blair Mr. and Mrs. Christopher R. Bradley Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Briggs Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Brigman III Mr. Joe M. Brinson III ’94 and Mrs. Claire G. Brinson Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Calabrese ’85 and Mr. James M. Calabrese Ms. Bright Carter Mr. and Mrs. Jeff G. Christiansen Dr. Christine R. Clodfelter Mr. James F. Clodfelter Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cockrum Mr. James H. Collins ’90 and Mrs. Alison J. Collins Mr. Larry Connor Mr. and Mrs. Greg Conrad Mrs. Kristin Sams Crowe ’01 and Mr. John W. Crowe Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Culler Jr. Mr. Andrew W. Cumby ’97 and Mrs. Donna Cumby Mr. and Mrs. William B. Davis Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Brian Davis Mr. William B. Davis III ’12 and Mrs. Lauren Davis Drs. Dekarlos M. and Tasha B. Dial Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Eftink Mr. George W. and Dr. Sadie L. Elder Mr. and Mrs. Joshua L. English Mr. and Mrs. David M. Gibbs Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Gibson Mrs. Carol J. Hamblet Mr. and Mrs. Christopher M. Harrell Mr. and Mrs. Lee C. Hawley Mrs. Lauren Rice Heald ’02 and Mr. Matthew Heald Mr. and Mrs. William C. Heard III Mr. Joe Hubay Mr. and Mrs. Brian P. Hunsberger Mr. Raymond Jones

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IMPACT REPORT 2024 Mrs. Molly Harris Keenan ’11 and Mr. Matthew Keenan Mr. James R. Keever Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley R. Keever Mr. and Mrs. Shannon K. Kendrick Drs. Tri H. and Kristy B. Le Mr. and Mrs. William M. Lowe Jr. Mrs. Emily Burris McCrary ’04 and Mr. Troy McCrary Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. McDowell Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan J. McDowell Mr. and Mrs. James P. Mills Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moosmann Drs. Michael and Brooke Mueller Mr. and Mrs. Douglas R. Muir Drs. Albert III and Jennifer Newsome Mr. Ian Newton Drs. Tjai M. and Sarah Nielsen Ms. Marilyn Congdon Nowell ’01 Ms. Debby J. Noyes Mr. and Mrs. Patrick H. Oglesby Mr. and Mrs. Brook A. Patterson Dr. and Mrs. Jason Pittman Mr. Michael J. Radziewicz and Mrs. Jennifer Ponce Ms. Molly K. Ragan ’11 Mrs. Lillian Ragan Lundquist ’09 Mr. and Mrs. David S. Rowe Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Ruggery Jr. Mr. Alex M. Runyan and Mrs. Brandi M. Crumley Mr. and Mrs. William A. Russell Mr. and Mrs. Adam J. Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. James D. Scott Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Seip-Bayes Dr. and Mrs. McKennon Shea Mr. and Mrs. Erik M. Singer

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Mark F. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Smith Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Andy Strassell Mrs. Ashley Phelps Timberlake ’90 and Mr. Daniel Timberlake Mr. and Mrs. Melvin G. Todd Mr. and Mrs. Alan Turner Mr. and Mrs. James B. Varner Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ward Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy F. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Williamson Mr. Frederick E. Wilson IV ’11 Mr. and Mrs. Allen S. Young Mr. and Mrs. Seth M. Yowell Blue & White Gala 2023 Sponsors Title Ginny (’17) and Beau (’13) Venue B&H Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. Gold Ms. Gloria Wilson Mr. David S. Congdon ’74 and Mrs. Helen Congdon High Point Jewelers & Fine Gifts The Bill & Suzanne Lowe Family Foundation Beverage Hot Shots Distributing, Inc. Silver Friends of Westchester Davis Furniture The Tedder & Sledge Families

Ms. Marilyn Congdon Nowell ’01 Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Altamura LLP Pinnacle Bank Bronze Newsome Dentistry Homelegance Mr. and Mrs. Royster Tucker Mr. and Mrs. Seth Yowell Jones & Peacock Insurance Vann York Auto Group Chase Portaro ’20, Daniel Goldman ’12, Madison Rogers-Goldman ’09 Colonial LLC Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Harrell Otto & Moore Furniture Wildcat Patron GW Smith Lumber Co. W-Day 5K 2024 Sponsors Presenting Blue Rock Pizza and Tap Silver The Ragan Girls Colonial LLC Sponsors BSN Sports Carolina Red Cafe Hot Shots Distributing Inc. Sir Speedy WAPA Westchester Booster Club US Foods Chesney Schwartz and Family

Honorarium

Memoriam

Mr. and Mrs. James Adams in honor of Lila Katherine Bailey Mr. and Mrs. John R. Boxman in honor of David Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. Byrne Jr. in honor of Coraleigh Byrne Mr. George W. and Dr. Sadie L. Elder in honor of Emily Mercadante Mr. and Mrs. Vinsen Faris in honor of all the faculty, staff, board, and volunteers of Westchester Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Fields in honor of Bob Harder Mr. and Mrs. David M. Gibbs in honor of Carol Hamblet Dr. Emily M. Mann in honor of Owen & Archer Mann and Westchester faculty Ms. Danna Myers in honor of Owen & Archer Mann Dr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Pierce in honor of Sutton Pierce Mr. and Mrs. John S. Ratterree in honor of Sutton Scott Mr. Robert C. Slane ’74 in honor of the Class of 1974 Mr. and Mrs. Roger Thompson in honor of Elliott & Emory Smith Mrs. Sheridan van Wagenberg in honor of Albert & Katherine Newsome

Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Calabrese ’85 and Mr. James M. Calabrese in memory of Gloria Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Caputa in memory of Judy Tomlinson Mr. and Mrs. Ken Haught in memory of Andrew Meredith Mrs. Elizabeth Padgett Kremer ’97 and Mr. Paul Kremer in memory of Everett Benton Padgett Jr. Mrs. Laurie Long ’72 in memory of Don Setliff Ms. Nancy Martin in memory of Johannes Klein Mr. and Mrs. James P. Mills Sr. in memory of Ed Lowry Mr. Scott N. Philbrook and Mrs. Emily L. Spivey in memory of Nancy Spivey Ms. Claire Reinthaler in memory of Johannes Klein Mr. and Mrs. James D. Scott in memory of Johannes Klein Tuxedo Park Homeowners Asociation in memory of Don Setliff

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SCRAPBOOK Wildcats Love to Learn!

1. The Upper School Environmental Science class led Earth Day activities in the pre-K and kindergarten classrooms.

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2. Students and faculty enjoyed viewing the 2024 solar eclipse on a beautiful spring day on the WCDS campus.

3. Students from the Class of 2034 explore activity tables during the Mandarin Department’s Lunar New Year Celebration.

4. WCDS alumna Emma Engle, Class of 2023, led a group of students in an Irish dancing demonstration during the International Culture Festival.

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4 5. The Upper School Marine Biology class took a research expedition to the North Carolina coast, where students conducted experiments for independent research projects.

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6. This group from the Class of 2031 tallied a big score with their special message on Scrabble Day.

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Non-Profit Organization US Postage PA I D High Point, NC Permit No. 147

2045 N. Old Greensboro Road High Point, NC 27265 www.westchestercds.org

Westchester Country Day School Mission To cultivate responsible citizens and leaders by embracing all backgrounds and nurturing personal excellence.

36 | WILDCAT PAWS