A newsletter for the families, alumni, and friends of Westchester Country Day School
Summer 2015
Contents
Board of Trustees
2015-2016
Pond Dedication Honors Beloved Science Teacher
by Dr. Mark Braun
John Bryson
President
Jaree Todd
Vice President
Suzanne Lowe
Secretary
Douglas Muir
Treasurer
Brack Brigman
Diane Bundy
Lee Cecil
Umbreen Chaudhary
Fred Clodfelter
Jamie Collins
(Alumni President)
IV Culp
Sara Dyson
Whitney Heard
(WAPA President)
3
Welcome From the Head of School
Kerin Hughes
4
Academic Excellence
Brian Hunsberger
8
Moral Excellence
10
Artistic Excellence
12
Athletic Excellence
14
Alumni Update
15
News You Can Use
Michele Jedlica
Aimee McWhorter
Colin Merritt
(Booster President)
Will Ragsdale
Penny Rowe
Cobb Atkinson
ex officio, Head of School
2
When I arrived at Westchester in the fall of
2012 and settled into my office, I distinctly
recall an overwhelming feeling of appreciation
for the natural beauty and vibrant life that are
observable from my office window. Between
my office window and the edge of the woods
is a particularly intriguing natural feature. It is
a place where students stop between classes to
kneel down and peer into the water. It is the
site of biology and ecology lessons for students
in all divisions. It is a sanctuary for local
species of frogs, toads, skinks, spiders, flying
insects, and birds of all kinds. This wonder is
WCDS science faculty (from left) Kristina
the Freshwater Ecology Pond, designed and
Krzywonos,
Jane Bowie, Matt Bostick, Chris
constructed by our beloved former Biology
Carlson,
and
Christine Beale at the dedication
teacher and Science Department Chair, Jane
of
the
Freshwater
Ecology Pond to Ms. Bowie.
Bowie. Jane conceived of a place on campus for
students to observe the workings of a freshwater ecosystem. Jane’s proposal for this pond installation
was supported by a WAPA grant, and the project was completed sometime before Jane’s retirement
from Westchester in the spring of 2013. On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 11, 2014, this
pond was officially dedicated in Ms. Bowie’s name. We are pleased that her name will remain
a part of our life at Westchester for decades to come, in recognition of this wonderful teaching
environment and the 33 years of impassioned and faithful service she committed to Westchester.
Westchester Country Day School
Wildcat Paws is published by Westchester Country Day School
2045 N. Old Greensboro Road
High Point, North Carolina 27265
336.869.2128 | www.westchestercds.org
For questions or comments, please contact Mary Ann Smith,
Director of Communications & Marketing, 336.822.4084
From The Head of School
Who We Are and How We Do School
Here on campus, we spend a good bit of time each year talking with prospective families
about who we are and how we do school, and the first step in this conversation focuses on our
independence. In independent schools like WCDS, we enjoy the freedom to define ourselves
and pursue those educational priorities and paradigms that we feel are most important and
most effective.
For parents choosing a school for their child, such self-definition offers a rich and diverse
market of schools, allowing them to select the educational setting most in line with their own
values and expectations as well as the particular needs of their child. Independent schools are
powerful places in large part because of this freedom of self-definition: we can do truly great
work when we define ourselves clearly, focus on key core values, and avoid the pitfalls that come with trying to be all things
to all people. Rather than offer a standardized course of study, independent schools forge their own paths by respecting and
providing for the needs of each student.
Conversations with new WCDS families--either in the admissions process or as they enter our school family--always center
on who we are in this diverse market, how our school is different from others, and how this core identity translates into our
approach to the day-to-day work with students. At Westchester, we start with two very powerful ideas that when combined
form the heart of who we are and how we do school: the unrelenting pursuit of excellence in a close-knit, caring, and
supportive community. Here’s how we articulate these principles in our Mission Statement:
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.
We believe passionately that we all can and should strive each day to become our best selves and that in this work only the
highest of goals will do. Excellence is our benchmark at WCDS, in our moral lives, our academic work, our artistic expression,
and our athletic endeavors. Much has and can be said about the pursuit of excellence, but two key points stand out for us.
First, as we work as a school to instill in our students the passion and drive to pursue their best at all times, we create on
campus and, we hope, in their individual lives, a culture of high expectations. As a teacher I have come to understand that
expectations are prophetic; what we expect of our children is what they will give us, for better or for worse. When we expect
their best--and, critically, model for them in our own lives this expectation--they will rise to meet us.
Second, unlike other, more routine goals, an essential part of the pursuit of excellence is realizing that we will never really
be able to check it off as completed. The more we learn to embrace excellence as our end, the more we will come to realize
that excellence, by its very nature, will always be out in front of us. Indeed, our hope is that this pursuit will become more
of a lifestyle than a goal, something that empowers the journey of our students’ lives and informs who they are and who they
hope to become long after graduation.
The kind of life we imagine for our students requires courage, so alongside these central concerns at WCDS sits our passionate
belief that the kind of community in which a student learns to embrace the pursuit of excellence is of fundamental importance.
We believe that courage is best fostered in a community where students can embrace challenge, confront failure, take risks,
and learn from their mistakes as much or more than they do from their successes.
Our students embrace these challenges in large part because they know that they are known well and loved deeply, surrounded
by people who will be right there to celebrate their success and to come alongside them when they fall short. When it comes
to school, students, and learning to pursue excellence daily, WCDS believes fervently that community matters.
As always, I invite your comments, suggestions, questions, and ideas. If you’d like to, feel free to email me directly at
cobb.atkinson@westchestercds.org. I look forward to our conversations.
Cobb Atkinson
Head of School
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
3
Academic Excellence
Small Class, Big Plans
Class of 2015 Ready for Next Step
Westchester recognized the 23 members of the Class of 2015 at its 44th commencement ceremony Saturday,
May 23, at 9:30 a.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point. The graduates have been
accepted to 49 different colleges and universities and have been offered more than $3 million in scholarships,
grants, and awards.
Savannah Morgan Lewis was this year’s valedictorian, and during her commencement speech, she challenged her
classmates to continue their pursuit of excellence. “Although we have finished high school, we are not done. Our
diplomas are not a symbol of finality; they are a symbol of what we have accomplished and the many things we are
capable of accomplishing in the future. While we should be proud, we should not be satisfied. We are capable, on
so many levels, of achieving more.”
Following her speech, Savannah presented Head of School
Cobb Atkinson with the class gift – a check to be used toward
an outdoor volleyball court on campus.
This year’s salutatorian was Kayla Nicole Watson, who also
delivered a poignant commencement address. During the
ceremony, Kayla received the Peter M. Cowen Outstanding
Senior Award.
Westchester’s Class of 2015 Valedictorian Savannah
Lewis (left) and Salutatorian Kayla Watson
4
Westchester Country Day School
Academic Excellence
Below is a list of the Class of 2015 college acceptances with an asterisk indicating which college each student will attend:
Daniel Ayodele
Allegheny College
College of Wooster
George Mason University
Lone Star College-North Harris* (Fall 2015)
Ohio University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Texas* (Spring 2016)
West Virginia University
David Ayodele
North Carolina A&T State University*
Ohio University
Prairie View A&M University
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
West Virginia University
Emily Bunch
High Point University*
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Meredith College
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Wingate University
Ryeong Choi
Guilford College
High Point University*
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Chelsea Eley
Bowling Green State University*
Abraham Hernandez
Brevard College
Limestone College
Mars Hill University
Trinity International University
University of South Carolina Upstate*
Wofford College
Campbell Kinley
North Carolina State University*
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
Kayla Kushner
College of Charleston
High Point University
Johnson & Wales University
Meredith College*
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Western Carolina University
Morgan Kushner
High Point University
Johnson & Wales University
Meredith College*
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Wyatt Lansford
Appalachian State University
Clemson University
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Virginia Polytechnic and State University*
Savannah Lewis
Furman University
Oxford College of Emory University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of South Carolina
Wake Forest University
Wofford College*
Russell Marion
Appalachian State University
Gardner-Webb University
High Point University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte*
Troy Polen
Campbell University
Gardner-Webb University*
Winthrop University
Noah Reid
High Point University*
Josie Roberts
Guilford College*
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Kaitlyn Shapiro
Furman University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at
Wilmington*
Omar Shehata
Appalachian State University
High Point University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of South Carolina*
Wofford College
Ramya Varadarajan
Davidson College
Furman University
George Mason University
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill*
University of Rochester
Wake Forest University
Thomas Walsh
University of Virginia*
Kayla Watson
Elon University
High Point University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
North Carolina State University*
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Virginia Commonwealth University
Thomas Wright
Gardner-Webb University
Pfeiffer University
Yuqi Yang
Drexel University
Indiana University Bloomington*
Michigan State University
Rutgers University
Fifth is First!
On the last day of school, fifth graders
received a surprise visit from a First
in Math representative who informed
them they were the top team in the
state! First in Math is a digital gaming
program which reinforces a range
of proficiencies, from addition to
complex algebra. Setting and achieving
goals, as well as a friendly competition
component, keep students energized
to sustain accelerated effort over time,
particularly the WCDS fifth graders!
Lowie Vandeplancke
North Carolina State University*
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wofford College
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
5
Academic Excellence
Academic Award Winners
Upper School
Awards
Peter M. Cowen Outstanding
Senior Award
Kayla Watson
Good Citizenship Award
Kyle Niner
9th Outstanding Scholar
Luke Evans
10th Grade Top Scholar
Ryota Goto
11th Grade Top Scholar
Casey Crouse
Suzi Holliman Award
Savannah Lewis
11th Grade Marshals
Casey Crouse, Chief; Jonathan
Bethel, Josh Evans, Paige Hetley,
Laura Folk
Valedictorian
Savannah Lewis
Art Department Award
Kayla Watson
Salutatorian
Kayla Watson
Westchester Cup
Charles York
Student Government Award
Kayla Watson
Vijaya Kumar Chemistry
Award
Sophia Danch
Senior Speech Award
Personal topic: Morgan Kushner
Critical topic: Ramya
Varadarajan
History topic: Yuqi Yang
Peters Family Scholarship
Ryan Beale
Miranda Bryson
Human Relations Award
Daniel Ayodele
International Student
Recognition
Hao Tong, Max Truschnowitsch,
Yuqi Yang
Perfect Attendance
Ryota Goto
Terry Neza
Art Certificates of Merit
Miranda Bryson, Emily Bunch,
Kyle Niner
Drama Department Award
Paige Hetley
Drama Certificates of Merit
Emily Bunch, Emily Gilliland,
Jake Keels
English Department Award
Savannah Lewis
English Certificates of Merit
Magdelene Carron, Sophia
Danch, Laura Folk
Randolph College Book Award
Sarah Wahid
Health & Physical Education
Award
Alen Izic
Health & Physical Education
Certificate
Alex Evans
History Department Award
Jonathan Bethel
History Certificates of Merit
Jane Nunn, Ramya Varadarajan
Model UN
Josh Evans
Mandarin Award
Samantha Mickey
9th Grade Top Scholar
Samantha Mickey
Mandarin Certificates of Merit
Maddie Dyson, Stephanie
Thomas, Adam Wright
6
Westchester Country Day School
2014-2015
Mathematics Department
Award
Savannah Lewis
Middle School
Awards
Freddie Kirkman Award
Mathematics Certificates of
Rayha Haque, Hannah Klein
Merit
Casey Crouse, Ryota Goto, Paige
Emma Padgett Award
Hetley
Annabelle Fisher, Lilly Sheffield
Music Department Award
Emily Gilliland
Scott Patterson Award
Jackson Barton, Susan Dhakal
Music Certificates of Merit
Daniel Ayodele, Emily Bunch,
Stephanie Thomas
Perfect Attendance
Aditi Shah
Science Department Award
Yuqi Yang
Young Peacemaker Awards
Gavin Brumfield, Caroline
Clodfelter, Gaby Culler
Science Certificates of Merit
Luke Evans, Ryota Goto
Spanish Department Award
Paige Hetley
Spanish Certificates of Merit
Casey Crouse, Sophia Danch,
Robert Langefeld
Yearbook
Savannah Lewis
DAR Good Citizen
Kaitlyn Shapiro
PSAT Recognition
Casey Crouse, Paige Hetley,
Sarah Wahid
National Merit Scholar
Program Recognition
Ramya Varadarajan
Furman Scholars
Tommy Boggis, Josh Evans,
Sarah Wahid
Wofford Scholars
Tommy Boggis, Josh Evans
Governor’s School
(mathematics)
Paige Hetley
Student Government
Recognition
Annabelle Fisher
Art Award
Anna Blackman
Art Certificates of Merit
Deni Lewis, Kate Leonard
Photography Award
Taylor Bundy
Drama Award
Giacomo Arnaboldi
Drama Certificates of Merit
Anna Blackman, Gaby Culler,
Chris Day
Music Award
Elena Oglesby
Music Certificates of Merit
Tanner Harron, Carson Boyette,
Hannah Sharpe
Duke T.I.P.
Georgia Anne Brumfield,
Lukas Freund, Caleb Green,
Deni Lewis
People for People Leadership
Program
Kamran Chodri, Annabelle
Fisher, Rayha Haque, Hannah
Klein, Lilly Sheffield, Ihsan
Tonuzi
Academic Excellence
Chromebook Campus
WCDS Announces One-to-One Program
Westchester is pleased to announce the rollout of a one-to-one
Chromebook program for students in grades 5-12 beginning in the
fall of 2015. The move supports our mission to cultivate informed
citizens who are ready for a rapidly changing world and to offer
a challenging academic program that enriches the acquisition of
knowledge with opportunities for independent critical thought.
For quite some time, WCDS has been hard at work building a
strong, innovative, and forward-looking instructional technology
program designed to enhance and empower the wonderful
work that our teachers undertake each day in their classrooms.
Our annual surveys highlight the fact that all of us--students,
parents, and faculty alike--place a high value on technology as a
key component of an effective and forward-looking educational
program, and thus the school is dedicated to guaranteeing that
our IT program is second to none.
Over the years, we’ve invested in IT infrastructure (fiber
backbones between buildings, a robust and expanding wireless
cloud), classroom display technologies (SMART Boards, LCD
TV’s, and projection systems), an integrated school database
(including student records, financial management, development,
and admissions), and robust school websites with rich external
and internal components (WestNet, Haiku, westchestercds.org,
and Naviance).
Alongside these efforts, we have been at work each year equipping
our faculty and staff to learn how best to utilize these new tools
in their classrooms. For over a decade the faculty and staff have
been provided laptop computers for use in their classrooms, and
since 2008 WCDS has been a Google Apps school, utilizing a
powerful suite of cloud-based tools to communicate, collaborate,
Eighth grade
students take notes
on chromebooks
during a history
class with
Mr. Burns.
share information, and manage the school in an increasingly
more efficient and paperless manner. With our implementation
of Haiku in the fall of 2014, we have the capacity to manage all
of our courses and classes via the web. This Chromebook rollout,
alongside our longstanding faculty laptop program, will enable our
teachers to incorporate a wide variety of tools more consistently
and effectively during the school day. Chromebooks come
preloaded with the full suite of Google Apps and tie seamlessly to
existing student accounts.
We believe students beginning in grade 5 need ready access to
a tool for many of their classroom, group, and independent
projects. It is a developmentally appropriate time to actively teach
responsible use. Providing this tool for every student allows the
teacher to organize lessons and homework based on equitable
access. Students will be able to continue learning by having access
to the tool at home as well as at school.
We are looking forward to giving students the opportunity
to communicate and collaborate with others, enhance critical
thinking and problem solving skills, explore new avenues for
creativity and innovation, as well as gain a deeper understanding
of digital citizenship.
Be Calm and Mock On!
Mock Trial Team Takes Regional Title
This year’s White and Blue Mock Trial teams’ motto, “Be Calm and Mock On!”
served them well at the NCAJ High School Mock Trial Regional Competition in
Charlotte. There, the WCDS White Team was crowned champion and went on
to compete in the state finals at Campbell Law School in Raleigh.
Winning White Team members included Miranda Bryson, Charles York, Jonathan
Bethel, Jerod Hartsoe, Maddie Dyson, Sophia Danch, and Savannah Lewis.
Jonathan Bethel was awarded two “Best Witness” awards. Blue Team member
Danyaal Buttar also won a “Best Witness” award. Charles York won a “Best Attorney” award. Other awards included two star witness
awards for Savannah Lewis and one each for Jonathan Bethel, Danyaal Buttar, and Magdalene Carron, who was also on the Blue Team.
Charles York won two star attorney awards, and Tommy Boggis (Blue), Ryan Beale (Blue), and Maddie Dyson each won star attorney
awards as well.
At the state competition, Bethel received another “Best Witness” award. While in Raleigh, the team enjoyed tours of the law school
and the state supreme court building.
Combined White and Blue Team members include (in photo, from left, back) Jake Keels, Tommy Boggis, Charles York, Jonathan
Bethel, Danyaal Buttar, Jerod Hartsoe, Ryan Beale (from left, front) Abbi Khan, Magdalene Carron, Miranda Bryson, Maddie Dyson,
Calen Epting, Savannah Lewis, and Sophia Danch.
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
7
Moral Excellence
Moral Excellence in Middle School
The pursuit of moral excellence is alive and well in Westchester’s Middle
School as students in grades 6 – 8 take a break from the books one Friday
each quarter to give back to the community. During these service days,
students and faculty alike serve area schools by tutoring younger students,
older adults by entertaining residents at retirement homes, or those less
fortunate by assisting at non-profit agencies. In December, Middle School
students joined all Wildcats in collecting over 700 books, which they
then distributed during their service-learning day to Fairview, Hasty, and
Northwood Elementary Schools, as well as Family Service of High Point.
Twenty-five of our students spent that morning ringing the Salvation Army
bell to raise funds for those in need. During a spring service learning day,
a group of Wildcats beautified Open Door Ministries by planting flowers.
A group of Middle School students plants flowers at Open Door
Ministries during their last service day. Middle School service days
are held once each quarter during the school year.
C.A.R.E.S. Crews Program
Teaches Selfless Service
Westchester’s C.A.R.E.S. (Compassion, Awareness, Responsibility,
Empathy, Service) Crews program entered its fifth year with a
special all-school assembly on September 11. The event began
with a special presentation recognizing the significance of 9/11.
Then we honored six “hometown heroes” who were chosen by the
school’s C.A.R.E.S. Crews committee after nominations for heroes
were submitted by students.
“We were very pleased to receive so many wonderful nominations
from students of all ages,” said C.A.R.E.S. Crews coordinator Blair
Hawley. “It was hard to narrow it down to just six.” The honorees
were:
Roberto Diaz
The father of a sixth grade student, Mr. Diaz grew up in poverty. Today, during his
free time, he scours local flea markets and yard sales purchasing items to send to those
in need in his home country of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He is
employed with Print Works Bistro in Greensboro.
Susan Fagg
Westchester’s own Assistant Director of Development, Mrs. Fagg donated one of her
kidneys to a friend in need in the summer of 2014.
Petty Officer First Class Joshua Tomas Harris (deceased)
A Navy SEAL, Officer Harris sacrificed his life for the safety of his team during an
Operation Enduring Freedom mission. He died on August 31, 2008.
Robin Lindsay
In 2003, physician assistant Robin Lindsay developed the GO FAR (Go Out For A
Run) running program/fitness curriculum. She began GO FAR in one High Point
school with 16 children. Ten years later, the program has grown to reach more than
8,000 children annually.
Officer Russ Smith
As a police officer with the city of Asheboro, Officer Smith is working to keep our
community safe. He leads and participates in numerous educational and community
service projects, such as the D.A.R.E. program and National Night Out.
Dare Wilson
Children’s librarian at the Lexington Public Library for 35 years, Mrs. Wilson overcame
a handicap and has inspired others to love reading through her service to the library
and the community.
8
Westchester Country Day School
One of the highlights of Westchester’s
C.A.R.E.S. Crews program is the pairing
of older Wildcats with younger ones as
“buddies.” Here, Jaya Bhardwaj gets to
know her younger buddy, Kelly Adams.
The student or students who
nominated the heroes read their
nominations aloud to the entire
school. The student body also wore red in honor of 9/11.
“It has been a wonderful lesson for students to think about the
definition of a hero and realize that they walk amongst these heroes
every day,” said Hawley.
Another new initiative for the C.A.R.E.S. Crew program this year
was Cats Care bracelets, designed as a way to teach students the value
of performing random acts of kindness. Every member of the WCDS
community was given a Cats Care bracelet and charged with the
task of doing something kind for another person, then passing their
bracelet on to that person and asking him or her to “pay it forward.”
We had one report of a bracelet making it all the way to India!
During the fourth quarter, and the annual culmination of the program,
we held a school-wide change collection drive for charity. This was
the fourth year of the change drive, and the second that students were
asked to submit essays on where they would like to see the change
donated. The entire school voted on the recipients, and the winners
were the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of
America (debra), the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, Susie’s
Hope, and Wounded Warrior Project. The entire school gathered on
April 24 to count the change, recognize the recipients, and award the
money to them. This year we were pleased to be able to give $800
each to the four charities. Following the change counting, everyone
headed outside for all-school field day.
“We called this gathering a ‘field day with purpose,’” said Head of
School Cobb Atkinson. “The most important work we do is to teach
our students the importance of giving back to others. Today, our
school family empowered these organizations to continue the legacy
of selfless service that we work to instill in our students every day.”
Moral Excellence
Students Explore Education, Europe
This summer, 20 students participated in the EF Global Student Leaders Summit Tour, an in-depth cultural and historical experience in
Europe that goes deeper than the typical tourist attractions. Our specific theme was “Education as a Human Right.” Participants visited
with local students over lunch in Paris and various human rights organizations throughout Europe in order to gain a greater understanding
of these organizations first-hand. Students also visited the
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Lourve in Paris where
they saw Rembrandt’s Night Watch and da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The group visited Amsterdam, Paris, and Geneva, and
experienced, among many other things, the Anne Frank
House, the Hague, Arabic World Institute, and the European
UN Offices. The capstone experience was a high-level, two-day
leadership conference in Davos, Switzerland, where students
collaborated with more than 1,600 of their peers from all
over America and Europe to develop innovative solutions to
some of the biggest challenges facing humanity and the future
of education around the world. Students participated in the
design thinking process to create prototypes for ways to better
education. WCDS student Ryota Goto’s group came in second
place for their prototype! The group also heard from a variety
of keynote speakers including Sir Ken Robinson, Clint Smith,
and Shiza Shahid.
“This experience was absolutely amazing,” said trip chaperone
and WCDS school counselor Heather Singer. “Our students
were able to see things in person that they had only been able
The WCDS group and their traveling peers from Ohio at The Hague
to experience in textbooks and online before. These great
visions came to life, and they were able to experience them with their close friends as well as peers from other countries.”
Another highlight for the group was meeting up with classmates Terry ’19 and Tiffany ’18 Neza in Geneva, Switzerland. Their father
works at the United Nations for the country of Rwanda.
For more information about international travel at WCDS, including an upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands in the summer of 2016,
contact Heather Singer.
Fifteen Students Inducted into NHS
On March 19, 2015, the WCDS chapter of the National Honor Society
inducted fifteen new members from the sophomore, junior, and senior
classes. These students have been found by the Faculty Selection Committee
to be committed to excellence in the four pillars of National Honor Society:
scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
The newest members of the National Honor Society are: (from left) Charles
York, Virginia Marsh, Aubrey Smith, Chelsea Eley, Drew Cottrell, Kaitlyn
Shapiro, Will Shields, Stephanie Thomas, Maddie Dyson, Noemi Salinas,
Lantz Lowe, LilyGrace Wolfe, Hardin Councill, Calen Epting, and Isaac
Mullen.
Cats in the Community
WCDS students Georgia Anne Brumfield (from left), Calen Epting, Sutton
Scott, and Sophia Danch volunteered to man a booth at the Winston-Salem
Children’s Museum’s Truck-or-Treat event in October. The students handed
out candy and painted the faces of attendees while parents learned more about
WCDS!
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
9
Artistic Excellence
Celebrating the Creative Spirit
Westchester’s Upper School Ensemble at the state MPA
(music performance assessment) at Wake Forest University in
March. In addition to this competition, the group performed
this year at the Uptown High Point Holiday Stroll and on
campus for concerts, assemblies, and a baseball game.
During Grandparents Day last fall, our students, families, and staff
colored dots of paper that were added to a mural of trees. The theme of
the art project was Make Your Mark, and over 500 dots were created, each
one unique. The dots were signed with given names and names of affection
- personal marks that acknowledged connections within families and to our
community. Looking out at the generations of Westchester Wildcats gathered
in Rives Hall that day, drawing and painting, one couldn’t help but notice how
students, families, and staff make their mark on Westchester each and every
day. The Arts promote the idea of mark-making, of each person contributing
in his or her own way. The Arts celebrate the creative spirit within us and
allow us to express all that we think and feel. The Arts together encourage the
making of things: a mark, a song, a dance, a soliloquy.
This year we made a lot of marks! We grew in our art-making in ways that
our students found both challenging and fulfilling. In the art studio, students
expressed themselves in a variety of media, learned technical drawing skills, and the principles of design. Creative expression was found in the
process as much as the product. Again this fall, we will partner with the Theatre
Art Galleries to offer art classes after school for a variety of ages.
In the music studio, students studied choral techniques as well as instrumental
music. Guitar playing continues to be a favorite of our Middle School
curriculum and a new elective in
Contemporary Music will be offered
in our Upper School in 2015-16.
I’m just different,
Our choruses continue to excel in
But I have a sense of pride.
statewide competitions, and our
numbers in these groups continue
My looks may, well, be funny
to grow. Individual instruction
But I hurt the same inside.
in cello, violin, guitar, piano, and
Different isn’t spiteful,
voice are popular extra-curricular
Different is wrong!
offerings.
So, why is it so hard to get along?
I only want to get along!
Ugly, from “Different,” Honk! Jr.
Freshman Jake Keels (center) starred as Ugly in the fall K-12
production of “Honk! Jr.” He is surrounded by Lower School
students as froglets.
Our most popular extra-curricular
art programming is our Drama program. This past year we produced three plays: Honk! Jr., The
Beating Heart, and Dinosaurs Before Dark. From ugly ducklings, Civil War ghosts, and, finally, to
dinosaurs, the Westchester stage was graced with over a hundred actors, singers, and dancers. Add
to that numerous back stage crews and countless volunteers creating costumes and scenery, it is
obvious that the Westchester community is passionate about the theatre arts. Not only are the plays
a great way to get involved, gain confidence, and to learn a technical skill, but also they teach us
lessons on how to get along.
Our Art Clubs served as arts ambassadors both for our school community through Blue and White
Day, gingerbread house building, and holiday celebrations, and the greater community through the
High Point Cycling Classic, Art in the Park, and handmade valentines sent to an elder care facility.
It was Jurassic world on the Westchester
stage during the spring production of
Magic Tree House’s “Dinosaurs Before
Dark Jr.”
10
Arts Integration has been a continuing focus for our arts programming, and this past year we
saw the arts combined with math for geometry projects, English projects presented through video
performance, and chemistry concepts reinforced through music. Students thrive when connections
are made across the curriculum. The Arts are a perfect way to add collaboration and creativity to
existing lessons. The Faculty Learning Team is offering training and guidance to the rest of the
faculty to enhance and encourage greater integration. Westchester has partnered with the North
Westchester Country Day School
Artistic Excellence
When the sky is grey and help is not in sight,
When you lose your way in the dark of night,
Close your eyes and dream of a summer’s day
When you thought the sun would never go away.
There’s a light in the dark shining
Somewhere deep inside
Just a glow from a spark
That is impossible to hide.
Annie, from “A Light in the Dark,”
The Knight at Dawn
Carolina Museum of Art to bring programs to the school to help with
concept mapping and visual literacy.
Our students are creative thinkers and problem-solvers, but these abilities
must be actively expressed and encouraged if they are to grow. Our Arts
programming both in and out of the classroom is designed to encourage
our students to strive towards excellence, to discover paths of personal
expression, and to find joy in the process. Yes, it takes resilience and
practice, but the satisfaction one feels when the curtain opens, when the
piano piece is played, or when the painting is completed is absolutely
worth the effort. Making one’s mark is quite an achievement! Just a glow
from a spark…that is impossible to hide!
Ann Parks
Director of Arts
The Arts Together: Integrating the Arts across the Curriculum
Art and Nature
Fifth
graders
created
Mondrian animals in art
class. Above by Stephen
McLean, below by Olivia
Beaver.
Art and Service
Art Club painted pumpkins (left) to decorate WCDS for the holidays.
Visitors and students “made their marks” on Grandparents Day by
making dots (right), which were on display in Rives Hall.
Art and Science
Senior Kayla Watson’s
brain art, created
for AP Studio Art.
Art and History
Lauren Griffith created this
Illuminated Manuscript
in Art 1 for the Medieval
unit, which sophomores
also study in English.
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
11
Athletic Excellence
Athletic Award Winners 2014-2015
Academic All Conference
The following students maintained a minimum
3.5 GPA and lettered in at least two varsity
sports this year:
Grade 8
John Bovio, Annabelle Fisher, Lilly
Sheffield
Grade 9
Matthew Boggis, Magdelene Carron,
Allyson Chiu, Alex Evans, Luke Evans,
Alex Hall, Edward Lindner, Mehul
Muppasani, Davis Privette, Hao Tong
Boys Varsity Cross Country
MVP – Abraham Hernandez, Luke Evans
Wildcat – Josh Evans
Coach’s – Edward Lindner, Jack Councill
Girls Varsity Cross Country
MVP – Abbi Khan
Wildcat – Alex Evans
Coach’s – Magdelene Carron
Boys Varsity Soccer
MVP – Ryeong Choi
Wildcat – Tommy Boggis
Grade 10
Victoria Ayodele, Sophia Danch, Madison
Dyson, Terra Johns, Abbi Khan, Lexi
Roberts, Noemi Salinas, Stephanie
Thomas, Jake Weiland
Girls Varsity Tennis
Grade 11
Leila Abebe, John Andrews, Jack Argo,
Ryan Beale, Jonathan Bethel, Tommy
Boggis, Miranda Bryson, Michaela
Craycroft, Josh Evans, Dylan Sellers
MVP – Kayla Watson
Wildcat – Campbell Kinley
Coach’s – Maddie Dyson
Grade 12
Daniel Ayodele, Abraham Hernandez,
Campbell Kinley, Kayla Kushner,
Morgan Kushner, Wyatt Lansford,
Savannah Lewis, Omar Shehata, Ramya
Varadarajan, Kayla Watson
Bruce E. Hathaway, Jr.
Sportsmanship Award
Female – Campbell Kinley
Male – David Ayodele
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Savannah Lewis
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Abraham Hernandez
Female Athlete of the Year
Kayla Watson
Male Athlete of the Year
Ryeong Choi
Iron Wildcat
Campbell Kinley
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Westchester Country Day School
MVP – Sophie Lanham
Wildcat – Stephanie Thomas
Coach’s – Samantha Mickey
Girls Varsity Volleyball
Boys Varsity Basketball
MVP– David Ayodele
Wildcat – Marshall Lange
Coach’s – Lantz Lowe
Varsity Cheerleading
MVP – Campbell Kinley
Wildcat – Savannah Lewis
Coach’s – Baylee Reynolds
Boys Varsity Swimming
MVP – Jack Argo, Will Argo
Wildcat – Charles York
Coach’s – Samuel Noyes
Varsity Golf
MVP – Hardin Councill, Thomas Walsh,
Russell Marion
Wildcat – Jake Weiland, Wyatt Wellington
Coach’s – Ian Craig
Boys Varsity Tennis
MVP – Lowie Vandeplancke
Wildcat – Tommy Boggis
Coach’s – Omar Shehata
Girls Varsity Soccer
MVP – Maddie Dyson
Wildcat – Campbell Kinley
Coach’s – Stephanie Thomas
Boys Varsity Track
MVP – Ryeong Choi
Wildcat – Abraham Hernandez, Jack Argo
Coach’s – David Ayodele
Girls Varsity Track
MVP – Abbi Khan
Wildcat – Alex Evans
Coach’s – Paige Hetley
Middle School Athletic Achievement
Top Female Athlete of the Year:
Harris Smith
Top Male Athlete of the Year:
Jack Councill
Middle School
Schwartzmanship Awards
Hannah Klein, Zachary Elsayed
Girls Varsity Swimming
MVP – Virginia Marsh, Jane Nunn
Wildcat – Maddie Dyson
Coach’s – Alex Hall
Boys Varsity Baseball
MVP – Troy Polen
Wildcat – Will Shields, Mac Starbuck
Coach’s – John Andrews, Aubrey Smith
2015 Bruce E. Hathaway Jr. Sportsmanship
Award winners David Ayodele and
Campbell Kinley
Athletic Excellence
Student-Athletes Deliver
In and Out of Classroom
The 2014 - 2015 year will always be remembered as one of our finest on the fields, courts,
pools, track, and courses not only for the way we competed, but also for the extraordinary
way we represented Wildcat Nation! Westchester’s student-athletes and coaches were very
generous with their time on and off the fields, often volunteering at local races, camps,
fundraisers, clinics, and organizations. Our varsity athletes were also incredible scholars this
year! Forty-two student-athletes were named to the Triad Athletic Conference Academic
All-Conference Team, meaning they participated on a minimum of two varsity teams and
carried a minimum 3.5 GPA. WCDS won a total of nine team championships this year and
boasted six student-athletes who were named Triad Athletic Conference Athletes of the Year!
Congratulations to all of our student-athletes for this wonderful accomplishment and for a
great year in and out of the classroom!
The fall season was one of the most successful in many years! The Varsity Cross Country
team ran a great season with the boys capturing the TAC Championship and finishing with a
school record second place finish at the state championship at Jackson Park in Hendersonville.
The girls sealed a runner-up finish at the conference championship and a school record sixth
place finish at states. The Varsity Boys Soccer team won the TAC Championship against their
arch rival, Caldwell Academy, for the first time since 2005. They advanced to the NCISAA
State Tournament where they put up a great fight before losing to Carolina Day in penalty
kicks. The Varsity Volleyball team also had a season to remember as they brought the TAC
Championship trophy back to Westchester for the first time since 1986! The Lady Wildcats
also advanced in the NCISAA State Tournament until they lost a hard fought match in the
quarterfinals against the number one seed, Epiphany.
Taking it to the
Next Level
The following students will compete
in their sport at the college level:
David Ayodele
Basketball at N.C. A&T State University
Reyong Choi
Soccer at High Point University
During the winter season, we were pleased to see an increase in our swimming participation
numbers and the amazing effort put forth by everyone in the pool. The season culminated
with the NCISAA 2A State Swim Meet at the Greensboro Aquatic Center where junior
Virginia Marsh won the state championship in the 100 and 50 Freestyle. On the hardwood,
the Varsity Boys Basketball team finished second in the TAC regular season and runner-up in
the conference championship at American Hebrew Academy. The boys qualified for the state
tournament but lost to three-time state champions Northside Christian in a snowy Asheville.
The spring season once again was one of our strongest. The Varsity Golf team won its fifth State
Championship in six years at Talamore in Southern Pines, and Thomas Walsh became the
first golfer in Wildcat history to win back-to-back individual state championships. This came
a week after the team won the TAC Championship at Willow Creek, where Russell Marion
won the individual Conference Player of the Year. The Varsity Baseball team kept its winning
ways going by capturing the TAC regular season and conference tournament championships
before losing to Harrell’s Christian Academy in the state semifinals. The Varsity Track teams
also had another incredible year with the boys winning the TAC Championship and finishing
with a state runner-up at American Hebrew Academy. Individual state championships were
won by Terra Johns in the 400 meters, Ryan Beale in the pole vault, Ryeong Choi in the
3200 meters, and Kayla Watson in the high jump. The following relay teams brought home
the gold: Boys 4 x 800 – Jack Argo, Will Argo, Ryeong Choi, and Abraham Hernandez; and
the Girls 4 x 400 – Miranda Bryson, Alex Evans, Terra Johns, and Abbi Khan. Our spring
athletes definitely save their best for last, and it is always an exciting way to end the year!
What a year for Westchester Athletics – incredible team memories, unbelievable individual
achievements, and a whole lot of fun! All of our returning athletes are out working hard this
summer to accomplish more next year. We wish all of our graduates who will be performing
at the next level all the best, and we will definitely be keeping an eye on them as the years go
by. We look forward to seeing everyone back at the Alumni Soccer Game and dinner (and the
state championship ring ceremony) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 7th! Go Cats!
Adam Schwartz, Athletic Director
Chelsea Eley
Gymnastics at Bowling Green University
Abraham Hernandez
Running at Univ. of South Carolina Upstate
Thomas Walsh
Golf at the University of Virginia
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
13
Alumni News
Class Notes
New Twist on Reunion Weekend
1995
Lyles Webster married Ella Tysinger on June
15, 2015.
1998
Nathan Skager welcomed a son, Nathan
Harrison Skager, on April 3, 2015.
Allie Smith welcomed a daughter, Barrett
Elizabeth Trexler, on September 5, 2014.
2000
Sally Lynch married Matthew Zabel on June
20, 2015.
Courtney Mandel Fleming and her husband,
Jeffrey, welcomed a son, William Bradley
Fleming, in June 2015.
2002
Lizzie Horton Peress and her husband,
Jonathan, welcomed a daughter, Lola Estelle
Peress, on March 18, 2015.
2003
Kristy Kennedy Infantes welcomed a
daughter, Sophia Angelika Infantes, on
April 8, 2015.
Brian Wright married Elizabeth Drotos on
June 15, 2013.
2004
Brittany Bailey married Jeffrey Alexander on
June 20, 2015.
Cristina Qubein Buckfelder and her
husband, Stephen, welcomed a daughter,
Charlotte Elizabeth, on March 10, 2015.
Melanie Wright Fox welcomed a son,
Zachary Elijah Fox, on April 13, 2015.
2007
David Tyson married Jessica Miller on June
20, 2015.
Send us your updates!
We want to know what all of
our alums are up to! Please
email ashley.timberlake@
westchestercds.org or post
to our Alumni Facebook page!
14
Westchester Country Day School
Jamie Collins ‘90, Caroline Leonard Beacham
‘90, Head of Lower School Pat Sams, Alumni
Director Ashley Timberlake ’90, and Melissa
Darr ‘90 enjoy catching up at the Alumni
Reunion prior to the Blue and White Gala
Auction.
This year we shook things up and changed
Reunion Weekend to coincide with the
Blue and White Gala Auction, and it was
a great success! Alumni were admitted to
the Gala early and were treated to a preevent cocktail party under a tent outside
the Finch Center. The group then joined
the festivities inside and participated in
all the fun auction events such as the live
and silent auctions, dinner, and dancing.
A great time was had by all! We hope that
this becomes an annual tradition and that
all alums will join in on this evening full
of festivities!
Save the Dates!
August 7, 6:30 p.m. Alumni vs. Varsity Soccer Game on Kennedy Field
October 2
Legacy Picnic
January 8, 2016
Homecoming and Athletic Hall of Fame
April 9, 2016
Blue and White Gala and Alumni Reunions
Couch Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
David Couch, a longtime supporter of and former coach for Westchester Country Day
School, was this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. The official ceremony took place
during Homecoming festivities on
Friday, January 9.
“Westchester is fortunate to
have the support of a number of
extraordinary people such as David,
who have made significant impacts
on our school, and we are thrilled to
have this opportunity to recognize
him,” said Westchester’s athletic
director Adam Schwartz.
Westchester’s 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee
David Couch (center) poses with his family during a
reception on his behalf.
Couch served as the school’s head
varsity baseball coach in 2009 and
as assistant varsity baseball coach
from 2010 – 2014. During that time, the team boasted three state championships, a
runner-up state championship, three conference tournament championships, and four
conference regular season championships. Couch was instrumental in the updating and
creation of Westchester’s outdoor baseball complex including batting cages, permanent
seating, lighting, back stop, and more. Couch’s support of WCDS extends beyond
baseball; he also has contributed to a myriad of other projects supporting the school’s
mission to instill moral, academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in every student.
Couch is the CEO of Blue Ridge Companies of High Point and owner of Summerfield
Farms.
Nominations for the Hall of Fame were solicited from all Westchester alumni. The final
selection was determined by a committee comprised of alumni, faculty and staff, and
members of the athletic department. Visit our website to make nominations for the 2016
Athletic Hall of Fame.
News You Can Use
Upper School Teachers Sweep Finch Awards
The T. Austin Finch Chair of Distinguished Teaching Award was given to Upper School math teacher Mary
Beth Farris. This award recognizes faculty for outstanding classroom teaching and commitment to the Westchester
Country Day School Mission. This lifelong learner and master teacher seeks to inspire learning in each student while
supporting and encouraging academic excellence and extracurricular pursuits. The recipient is appointed to the
Chair for one academic year and will retain the title of “Finch Distinguished Teacher” throughout his or her career.
Mrs. Farris came to us in 2012 after teaching over 15 years in Davidson County schools. She was named Teacher of
the Year at Central Davidson in 2011 and Teacher of the Year at West Davidson in 1996. One of her students noted,
“Mrs. Farris is the greatest teacher ever. She always goes the extra mile to help her students succeed.”
The T. Austin Finch Master Teacher Award recognizes a teacher who shows interest in and enthusiasm for professional growth, outstanding
performance, and committed involvement as a member of the Westchester community. The recipient is recognized for his or her commitment
to support each student in and out of the classroom and to create a learning environment that promotes high levels
of learning, while respecting the diversity of all students. This year’s recipient was science teacher Matt Bostick, who
came to Westchester in 2013. He holds his bachelor’s in biology from Guilford College and master’s in biology
from UNC-Greensboro. He co-authored an article in the January 2015 edition of Limnology and Oceanography, and
wrote an article for Carolina Biological Supply Company’s teacher tips on teaching evolution through the cosmos.
“Mr Bostick is one of the most knowledgeable yet compassionate teachers we’ve ever had,” said a student in his AP
Biology class. “He pushed us hard intellectually, but it was so fun we didn’t even know it (most of the time). He not
only cares about his students doing well in the classroom, but also he was always willing to listen to us and consider
our thoughts.”
Parent Award
Winners
The Chuck and Carol Hamblet Award is given
to someone who embodies the Hamblets’ great
love and passion for Westchester and has shown
this by going above and beyond the call of duty
in helping Westchester fulfill its mission. This
year’s recipient was Kay Willard, who continues
to serve the school in a myriad of ways despite
the fact that both of her sons have graduated!
She runs the concession stand for every game,
every season, continues to serve on the Booster
Club, and also steps in to substitute!
This year’s Margaret Kemper Bonney Volunteer
of the Year Award went to Tina Elsayed and
Ken Mickey. Mr. Mickey spends countless
hours at WCDS working on or controlling the
sound booth for various productions, concerts,
assemblies, etc. In addition to being an active
member of WAPA, Mrs. Elsayed was this year’s
Blue and White Gala auction chair. She did an
amazing job rallying volunteers and soliciting
items for this year’s event, which was a huge
success. Congratulations !
Two Teachers of the Year
This year two teachers received WAPA’s Teacher of the Year Award – Lower School
teachers Nancy Martin and Martha Sexton. Interestingly, both had retired from
many years teaching in public school, but came out of retirement to teach at
Westchester!
Ms. Martin came to WCDS in 2014 after retiring from teaching for 30 years in
public school. She quickly became a favorite among students and parents alike
and has fit right into Wildcat Nation! Ms. Martin holds a bachelor’s degree from
Appalachian State University.
Mrs. Sexton came to WCDS in 2000 after retiring from teaching for 29 years in
public schools. After fifteen years here at Westchester, she decided to retire this
spring. Aside from her Teacher of the Year Award, Mrs. Sexton was recognized at
a retirement reception and during the Lower School Awards Assembly. For her
reception, students and faculty alike gathered to pay their respects, and many wrote
her messages on butterflies as a keepsake. Mrs. Sexton holds a bachelor’s degree from
High Point College and was named the T. Austin Finch Distinguished Teacher in
2014. Says one of her former students, “Mrs. Sexton is one of my all-time favorite
teachers. Even though
I had her a long time
ago, I still remember
everything she taught
me! What I remember
most, though, was
her making an effort
to come to my dance
recital on a Saturday. It
meant so much to me
to see her there. The
love and care she shows
for each of her students
is extraordinary.”
Wildcat Paws Summer 2015
15
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
Battle of the Books Teams Make WCDS Proud!
The Westchester Country Day School Elementary Battle of the Books team
placed second in the regional competition at the O’Neal School on March 4.
Participants in the EBOB program read 18 books over the course of several
months and met each week to review and quiz on the material in the books.
Participants were: (top photo, standing, from left) Charlotte Martin, Lulu
Culler, Lucy Larkin Heard, Sidney Briggs, Emma Katherine Nottoli, Madeline
McWhorter, Sophia Singer, Katie Todd, Olivia Beaver, (seated, from left)
Christian Ryker, Ali Schwartz, Caroline Griffith, Grace Evans, and Olivia
Cecil. They were coached by WCDS Lower School teachers Blair Hawley, Vicki
Sloop, and Judy Tomlinson.
Our Middle School Battle of the Books team placed fourth in the North Carolina
Battle of the Books Region 9 – Independent Schools competition on March 19
at Asheville Christian School.
Participants were (photo at left, from left): Coach Renee Hayes, Mya Brown,
Aditi Shah, Mikey Schwartz, Jamie Atkinson, Blake Lawson, Mithul Muppasani,
Aydin Hall, Jackson Todd, Tess Mickey, and Coach Megann Huggins.
The purpose of the Battle of the Books program is to encourage reading. Students,
regardless of ability, are exposed to quality literature representing a variety of
literary styles and viewpoints by prominent authors in the area of young adult
literature. The game format creates interest and excitement in reading. Through
the fun and excitement of the competition, students improve reading skills, mature in their choices of reading materials, and acquire a
broader knowledge base.