A Newsletter for the families and friends of Westchester Country Day School

From the Head of SchoolI read a wonderful article this morning about the onset of the holiday season;

starting well before Thanksgiving, we are bombarded by commerce and the lure of “the great deal.” Black Friday rolls into Cyber Monday, and the frenzy of it all threatens to consume us. The challenge of this time of year is, in my estimation, finding quiet time to reflect. Despite the beginning of the holiday shopping season, this past week offered all of us the opportunity to pause from our normally busy lives to consider the countless reasons to be thankful. By any measure, we live in a rich abundance here in Wildcat Nation, and I spent much of my time away for Thanksgiving counting my Westchester blessings. As we wind our way from Thanksgiving toward the Winter Break, I thought I would share some of these reflections with you.

I am thankful for our faculty and staff.I began my twenty-fourth year as an educator this past August, and in that

time I have worked with wonderful teachers and school leaders in three different independent schools. Our teachers here at WCDS are among the finest I have known, and their deep love for their students is unmatched. When I walk the campus, visit classes, watch rehearsals and practices, and observe the many chance encounters that occur between students and teachers each day, I see this love in action. I take great comfort in knowing that our children spend their school days with talented, dynamic, and caring teachers such as ours.

I am thankful for our students.On Friday before Thanksgiving we held our second CARES Crews event of

the school year. Our Crews gathered for fellowship, for service, and to share a wonderful holiday meal together. As I watched the older students interact with and care for the the younger ones, I was struck by the wonderful generosity of spirit present in our student body. Our students give back to our community and to the Piedmont Triad in wonderful ways; they have embraced not only their obligation to care for those in need but also the joy that comes in having a heart for service. I know I speak for the rest of the faculty and staff when I say that working with students like ours is a privilege.

I am thankful for our parents.Wildcat Nation is richly blessed by the seemingly boundless dedication from

our parent body. Hardly a day goes by here on campus when I don’t encounter parent volunteers at work. Our three parent organizations work year-round in support of our school and its arts and athletics programs. The money that they raise--through concessions, play ticket sales, Innisbrook, Hubs, and our holiday raffle, just to name a few--all goes directly to support our faculty and students. So many parents give time by helping in classrooms, building sets, landscaping, decorating for the holidays, shelving library books, provisioning the senior lounge, and the like. We also have seen an extraordinary response among our parent body to this year’s Annual Fund, with 70% of our parents having already made a gift or a pledge. I can’t thank all of you enough for these gifts of time, talent, and resources. We couldn’t do it without you.

December 2013 Newsletter

In This Issue...

Headlines

Upcoming Events

Meet Your Wildcats

Arts Update

Athletics Update

For the College Bound

Counselor’s Corner

WAPA Notes and News

I could certainly go on and on, for WCDS is an extraordinary place for children to learn and grow. I hope that all of you have a wonderful winter holiday and that you find quiet time in the midst of all of the distractions to count your own reasons to be thankful.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Cobb

Let’s Break Our Record!

The highest-ever parent participation was 78%. We are currently at 69%! Just a few more pledges and we can make Wildcat Nation history.

Pledge now, pay by June 30, 2014.

Click here to make a pledge today!

The Annual Fund

Supporting Wildcat Nation

NHS Establishes Writing Lab

The National Honor Society is providing tutoring for Upper School students in a new program called Peer Assisted Writing. The NHS students will be trained by Sarah Cerniglia and Cheryl Cunningham and the program will launch in January.

Teachers will be able to refer students to this program, or students may sign up for help on their own. A schedule will be posted indicating when NHS members are available, including tutorial time, study halls, and after school for 30-minute time periods.

“We believe that writing is one of the most important skills a student can develop in life, regardless of career choice,” says Ms. Cunningham. “We also believe that sometimes students connect with their peers on levels they don’t reach with their teachers. It is our hope that parents will have serious talks with their students about taking advantage of this program.”

Upper School Students Give Time to New Beginnings

Upper School students Casey Crouse, Mary Kate Farris, Hunter Heinbach, Kayla Kushner, Morgan Kushner, Dylan Menchetti, Josie Roberts, Courtney Spencer, Kayleigh Swan, and Yugi Yang are volunteering at the New Beginnings Assembly’s Triad Project four days a week helping at-risk kids with their homework.

Model UN Participates in Conference

The Westchester Country Day School Model United Nations organization participated in the 33rd annual VAMUN at the University of Virginia Model United Nations conference on the campus of the University of Virginia November 8-10. Fourteen students from grades 9-12 served as delegates for various countries in committees that addressed issues related to economics and finance as well as climate change. Students assumed the role of ambassadors to bodies such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in addition to portraying individuals in specialized committees that focused on major contemporary issues of global significance. As part of this conference, students received a private tour of the campus as well as a meeting with an admissions

representative to discuss the possibility of applying to the University of Virginia beyond high school.

Senior is Rotary Student of the Month

Senior Mary Kate Farris was recently selected as the Willow Creek Rotary Club’s Student of the Month. She was recognized by the Rotary Club at their meeting at 7:30 a.m. on November 14 at the High Point Country Club.

The Rotary Student of the Month program recognizes outstanding students who excel in both school performance and community volunteer activity.

Headlines

Middle School Update from Mary Keever

For some reason, the Middle School hall has been filled with humming and singing recently; it sounds like, “When will my reflection show who I am inside?” We adventured through November with much excitement.

The highlight of the month was the K-12 play, Mulan Jr., which was directed by our most marvelous Emperor of Drama, Debby Noyes, and showcased seven Middle School actors and actresses.

Mrs. Bailess, Mrs. Scearce, and Mr. Smith brought art and history to life as they celebrated the Day of the Dead by visiting an exhibit in Winston-Salem. Upon their return, in art class, these eighth graders shaped and baked bread. Learning was alive indeed!

Mr. Burns, Mrs. Jenkins, and Mrs. Noyes invited the seventh graders to march into history with a journey to

the Guilford County Courthouse and Battlefield, as well as a local cemetery, which was a thrilling field trip. Students enjoyed actively learning and exploring these venues.

We rallied into two families’ experiences in honor of Veteran’s Day while listening to Joy Myers, a veteran’s widow, and Preston Warlitner, a Vietnam veteran (in photo with Jackson Barton), express their gratitude for letters received from Mr. Burns’s global studies students. Students were attentive and demonstrated empathy and compassion as they witnessed the effects of devotion to one’s country.

In an attempt to explore and demystify Middle School, fifth graders paraded into our advisory groups and spent part of a day experiencing the fun and excitement they will have next year.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Middle School Wildcats have blazed a path. Students

and faculty alike joined the rest of the school in donating books for students at Fairview Elementary. During our C.A.R.E.S. Crew event, we wrapped the hundreds of books we collected.

We are thankful for all of our Middle School Wildcats and the adventures yet to come!

Third Graders Create Native American Dioramas

Ms. Robinson’s third graders recently completed a comprehensive project on Native Americans. Part of the project was to create a diorama representing their tribe of choice to present to the other Lower School classes.

“The students created outstanding dioramas and wrote research papers which were exceptionally well done!” said Ms. Robinson.

The class concluded the unit with a celebratory Thanksgiving feast!

Mock Trial Team Gearing Up for Competition

Mock Trial has registered two teams in the NC Advocates for Justice Mock Trial Competition this year.Participants are Lewis Miles (Lead Counsel), Sam Argo, Ryan Beale, Jonathan Bethel, Tommy Boggis, Miranda Bryson, Danyaal Buttar, Sophia Danch, Maddie Dyson, Abbi Khan, Savannah Lewis, Curtis McClelland, Tracey Neza, Terry Neza, Jane Nunn, Cameron White, Catherine York, and Charles York. Attorney, Board or Trustees member, and Wildcat dad of two, John Bryson continues to serve as our outside counsel.

Wildcat chefs enjoyed making all kinds of tasty treats under the direction of Mrs. Evans! Next summer’s Cat Camps will be announced in February, so stay tuned!

Upcoming EventsMiddle and Upper School Winter ConcertWednesday, December 4, 7:00 p.m., Rives Hall

Upper School Semi-FormalSaturday, December 7, 8:00 p.m.

Arts RecitalThursday, December 12, 6:30 p.m., Rives Hall

“Crazy Carols,” Grades K-5 Winter ConcertTuesday, December 17, 6:30 p.m., Brooks Gym

Holiday BreakThursday, December 19 (11:30 dismissal) - Monday, January 6No school

Meet Your Wildcats

Name: Renee Annette Hetley

Title: Assistant Director of Finance, Director of Transportation

Family: Husband- Tom, Children- Paige and Reece, and Rosie (our dog).

What was your favorite subject in school? Statistics

What book are you reading? My book club ended so I haven’t read much, I read the paper every day.

Name of the last movie you watched: Last Vegas

Favorite Restaurant: Southern Roots

Dream Vacation: To travel around Italy for as long as it takes to taste all the different cuisines of the country.

Something most people don’t know about you: There were 13 people in my family growing up, my parents and 11 children. Throughout my life I have moved over 27 times. Favorite thing about Westchester: The feeling of family. I love the fact that I have a support system through the Westchester community. They have been with me through my family’s tragedies and triumphs.

Cat Camp Corner

Arts Update from Ann ParksLast week the arts shared the stage as actors,

singers, dancers, and designers created the magic of Disney’s Mulan Jr. More than 50 students (and one Head of School) came together to entertain Wildcat Nation with this lively production. A special treat was the battle ballet featuring Calen Epting, Laura Folk, Katherine Freund, Kaitlyn Palmer, and LilyGrace Wolfe. These amazing dancers choreographed the whole scene themselves. Three seniors: Jessica Barker (Mulan), Chase Carroll (Ancestor), and Daphne Foster (Ancestor) graced the stage in their last Westchester musical. We will miss their talents, but luckily there are many young apprentices in the wings.

Theater is a communal art form, and it takes many people to make it happen. Parents sew costumes, build scenery, and sell popcorn. Students help out backstage as well as star onstage. Teachers guide, inspire, direct, and conduct. Together we work to create a production that we all are proud of. Many thanks to everyone who made Mulan Jr. possible and continue to support the arts every day.

Fourteen Lower School students’ artwork is on display at Theater Art Galleries’ Elementary Art

Exhibition. The show is located in the Kaleidoscope Gallery upstairs in the High Point Theatre. The artists are: Coleman Schwartz, Pre-K; John Cager Jones Justus Gunter, and Julia Mathews, kindergarten; E.B. McEnaney and Mac Timberlake, first grade; Clark Easley, Lizzie Marsh, and Laura Yocum, second grade; Charlotte Martin, Henry Scott, and Sophia Singer, fourth grade; and George Culp and Ryan Lim, fifth grade.

December will continue to be a time to celebrate the arts. The winter concert for both Middle and Upper School will be on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Rives Hall. Get in the holiday spirit with the Lower School concert December 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Brooks Gym. You can also hear our young instrumentalists in their solo concert December 12 at 6:30 in p.m. Rives Hall. The sounds of the season will certainly be resonating in the halls!

News and Notes:

• Wildcat Senior Donnie Sellers signed his National Letter of Intent to study and play baseball at Wake Forest University for the fall of 2014. Congratulations to Donnie and his family on this huge accomplishment!

• Eric McNamara ’03 was selected to the 2014 Westchester Athletic Hall of Fame for his extraordinary career in the pool as a Wildcat during the early 2000’s. He will be recognized during Homecoming on Friday, January 10, 2014.

• The Varsity Basketball team will travel to Charleston, S.C., to play in the prestigious Porter-Gaud

Tournament on December 20 – 22. Charleston is always a great place to visit around the holidays for all of our Wildcat Fans!

• The WCDS Booster Club is raffling off $500 cash on Homecoming night. Tickets cost $10, and we are selling only 400 tickets. Please see a Booster Club member to get your tickets today!

• Happy Holidays to all of our Wildcat athletes, coaches, and families! 2013 has been an awesome year on the fields, courts, tracks, courses, and pools! We are all looking forward to a wonderful 2014!

Athletics Update from Coach Schwartz

Although it is still early in the college application process, we have already received word of several acceptances. Congratulations to Mikey Anderson for his acceptance to West Virginia University, to Sarah Bethel for her acceptances to Marymount University and Meredith College, to Daniel Crooker for his acceptance to Campbell University, to Avery Keefe for being accepted to the University of Alabama and asked to join their honors program, and to Courtney Spencer for her acceptance to Wake Forest University.

Parents who expect to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) should be looking ahead to January when they can begin work on their federal income tax return. Anyone applying for financial aid of any type must begin by completing the FAFSA, which draws figures directly from one’s federal income tax return. This form will be available in early January online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and should be completed only after completing the 2013 federal income tax return. The FAFSA will generate the family’s EFC, or Expected Family Contribution, based on the figures provided. This calculation represents the amount of money the family will be expected to contribute toward the student’s first year of college. Some colleges and universities also require parents to complete the CSS PROFILE which uses a methodology that most frequently determines the distribution of institutional funds. While the PROFILE takes into consideration more detailed financial information than does the FAFSA (for example, dental expenses, private school expenses, home equity), in the cases of split families, it also looks at data from both the custodial and noncustodial parent, while the FAFSA considers only the custodial parent.

For the past several years, Davidson College has offered a financial aid workshop that members of their financial aid staff take to sites all over the country. I have been fortunate enough to attend this workshop on several occasions and have compiled the following list of several salient “myths and facts” offered by the literature accompanying this workshop.

Myth: ABC College costs more than my family and I can afford, so I won’t apply for admission.Fact: Need-based financial aid, merit-based assistance, and creative financing options can make a college education affordable. Don’t rule out any college because of its cost until you find out what financial options are available.

Myth: Financial assistance is available only for the best and brightest students.Fact: Eligibility for need-based aid is determined by demonstrated financial need, not academic ability. (However, some non-need-based, or merit, scholarships are awarded based on a student’s academic potential, personal characteristics,

and/or special talents.)

Myth: Most families don’t qualify for need-based financial aid.Fact: Many families qualify for need-based aid. The only sure way to know if you qualify is to apply. Fill out the necessary forms and let the financial aid folks decide!

Myth: Our family income is over $100,000, so I know we won’t qualify for financial aid.Fact: There is no specific income ceiling for aid eligibility. Other factors are also important in need analysis, including assets, family size, and number in college. Again, the only sure way to find out your eligibility is to apply.

Myth: But our neighbors’ child started college last year. They applied for financial aid and didn’t qualify.Fact: Each family has its own unique financial picture and personal circumstances. Each college is different in its costs, its policies, and its capacity to meet the financial needs of its students. Failure to apply for aid and other programs can cause you to miss out on programs for which you might be eligible.

Myth: The financial aid forms and application process are too difficult to understand. Applying for aid is more trouble than it’s worth.Fact: It is true that the forms are detailed, but that’s because the information is important. Only when a financial aid officer has detailed information about your individual financial and personal situation can he or she make an equitable judgment about your eligibility for need-based aid.

Myth: We’ve calculated a preliminary estimate of our expected family contribution. The expectation that we can afford to pay that amount out of our current income is completely unrealistic.Fact: Most families can’t pay the expected family contribution out of current income alone. The formulae assume that families will choose to use a combination of savings, borrowing, and current income in order to fund their contribution.

Any junior who did not register to take the SAT Reasoning Test in December should register to take the January 25 test. The deadline for registering for that test is Friday, December 27. All juniors are asked to take the SAT Reasoning Test twice, once in the winter and once in the spring. Those juniors who might apply to schools that also require the SAT Subject Tests should consider taking those tests in June.

Betty FlytheCollege Placement Advisor

For The College Bound

During the week of November 4th, I attended the North Carolina School Counselor Association Conference in Greensboro. During this conference, I was able to meet many other school counselors from across the state and attend several interesting workshops. My favorite workshop was the one focused on technology for school counselors. I learned so much! I came back to campus with great enthusiasm to share what I had learned about technology and the many new ways to use it in the counseling office.

I have now created a blog and a twitter account for School Counseling at Westchester Country Day School. Both are geared towards our students as well as our parents. I hope you will follow my blog and follow me on twitter as well. I will be posting to the blog weekly and twitter almost daily. Here are the web links…

https://twitter.com/wcdscounselor

http://wcdscounselor.blogspot.com/

Here’s an excerpt from the blog…

Attention Middle Schoolers - Are you still looking for that perfect Homework

Routine? Here’s one that might just work for you! I found this on Progresscards.com and thought it would be great to share.

• Get a drink of water and/or snack.• Use the bathroom.• Turn off the TV and/or radio.• Start your homework at ___________.• Look at your homework and start with your

hardest homework first to be sure to get it done.

• Check off each assignment in your planner as it is completed.

• Do all of your homework.• When you can’t figure something out for

yourself, ask for help. Be sure to try your best before asking.

• Check over your homework to catch careless mistakes. Then ask a parent or older brother or sister to make sure you completed it correctly.

• Call a Study Buddy if you are unsure about a homework assignment or to quiz each other.

• Practice your math and/or vocabulary.• Read for ______ minutes.• Don’t wander around. Stay in your seat.

Career FairYour Middle School student may have told you

about my visit to their advisory groups last week. I am gathering information about the careers that they are interested in learning more about in order to bring those to campus in 2014. Our Career Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, and I know it will be a great day! I will be asking several parents to participate in a variety of ways but, if you already know you are interested in volunteering to help that day or before, please contact my office! My office number is 822-4085, or you can email me as well at heather.singer@westchestercds.org.

Parent ForumMark your calendars! The sixth grade will be co-

presenting with the Technology department and the School Counselor on Wednesday, January 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the library to discuss online safety (please see flyer created by the sixth graders on the next page). We will discuss topics for parents and for students. This forum is geared for 4th-7th graders and their parents. We will have a parent session and a session for your students, so please bring them too!

Heather SingerMiddle and Upper School Counselor

Counselor’s Corner

Seniors Raising Money for Class Gift

To raise money for their gift to the school, the Class of 2014 is once again selling Christmas trees. This year they will also have wreaths available. These trees are top-quality Fraser firs that will be cut on December 6 and will be available for pick-up or delivery on Saturday, December 7. Click here for more information and online order form. In advance of the sale, the Class of 2014 would like to thank the Westchester community for supporting this project.

Internet Safety Do you know what your children are doing online?

Please attend a Parent Forum on Online Safety to learn more about online safety. It will be held in the library on Wednesday, January 8, at 6:30 p.m.

This is an opportunity for parents of students in 4th - 8th grades, and students in grades 4 and 5 to learn more about kids’ social media use, cyberbullying, cell phone safety, etc.

The hour-long program will include presentations by Mrs. Russell’s 6th grade technology students, Terry Andrews, WCDS Director of Technology, and Heather Singer, WCDS Counselor.

Please consider attending this presentation.

Sincerely, Sixth Grade Technology Class

WAPA Notes and NewsBook Club

The WAPA Book Club will meet in the library at 8:00 a.m. on the following days:December 4 - One Christmas by Truman CapoteJanuary 8 - Wild by Cheryl StrayedAll parents are welcome.

Hubs PeanutsKeep selling those peanuts! Remember that they make great holiday gifts! Please turn completed orders,

along with payment, in to Jackie Argo in her office by Wednesday, December 4. Also, we still need your help to fill and deliver the orders on Thursday, December 12. Please contact us if you can help sort from 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. or deliver from 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. If you aren’t able to come for the entire time, we would be thrilled to have you help for as long as you can stay.

Thank you! Leslie Culp (leslieculp93@gmail.com) and Katy Erikson (kerikson@triad.rr.com)

Box TopsPlease send any clipped Box Top coupons to your child’s teacher or to the office. When shopping online,

if you connect via the Box Tops Marketplace to your online store, we receive e-Box Tops. Thank you for your support.

Westchester Country Day is a college preparatory school that seeks to educate each child toward moral, academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in a nurturing, family environment where students, teachers, and parents support one another. By respecting the student and honoring learning, Westchester aims to cultivate informed citizens who are ready for a rapidly changing world and to graduate students who view the pursuit and wise use of knowledge as a lifelong joy.