Dear Country Day Alumni and Friends,

2022 has been an amazing year! We welcomed many of our alumni back on campus for homecoming and reunion weekend, sporting events, and arts productions. We were thrilled to honor some of our outstanding alumni with alumni awards, including the induction of our first two classes into the CCDS Arts Hall of Fame. And, we were continuously inspired by all the wonderful achievements and contributions of our alumni and community members throughout the year.

We are truly grateful to those who have supported us in so many ways and for your dedication to our students, faculty, staff, coaches, and school.

We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year!

Sincerely,

The Advancement Team

18th Annual Wrap-In Shows Virtue in Action

On December 8, the school came together for the 18th annual Wrap-In - a day of gift-wrapping, cross-divisional fun, and giving back. 

The Wrap-In is a tradition during which students from all grade levels bring unwrapped items to gift wrap, putting our school motto – Virtue in Action – into practice. All pre-kindergarten through grade 12 classes pair up to wrap gifts together. Upper School students work with Lower School and Middle School students to wrap presents together before meeting in the dining terrace to drop off the gifts and meet for an all-school assembly. 

This year the school collected 1,000 gifts to donate to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, Families FORWARD, and ProKids.  

 "Today, we don't talk about helping others; we help them," says Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98. "We don't just talk about our virtue; we demonstrate our virtue in action. And better yet, we come together as one community to do it."  

Save the Date for CountryDate!

Join fellow Country Day alumni, parents, and friends at our annual community celebration. CASINO NIGHT promises fun for all with casino games, beverages, light bites, and s'mores around the fire pit!

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023 at 7:00 P.M.

LITTLE MIAMI BREWING COMPANY EVENT CENTER

Funds raised support Country Day's students, faculty, and programs.

This year, business and family sponsorships are the most significant fundraising component of CountryDate. Please consider a sponsorship and make CASINO NIGHT a WIN!

For more information on sponsorships, contact Sarah Snowden, associate director of campaigns, at [email protected] or 513.979.0282.

Country Day is Growing its CCDXperiences Job Shadow and Internship Program!

Through CCDXperiences, students see firsthand what it's like to work in a field that interests them through short-term job shadows, long-term volunteer research positions, or weeklong career exploration opportunities on university campuses and in the field. 

If you could host an Upper School student at your place of work or share your expertise with students on our campus, please fill out this brief form. The survey will take approximately six minutes to complete but your involvement could make a lasting impact on the lives of our students.

Visit our website to read about students' past experiences, the objectives of the program, and what it means to be a job shadow/internship host. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider offering a real-world learning opportunity! 

CJ DeBra `23 has been named a 2022 Fall High School All-American Athlete by United Soccer Coaches.  

"I'm incredibly proud of CJ. She is the fifth player in my career to be named All-American, joining an elite group consisting of Missy Vierling `03, Olivia Brown `17, Lawson Renie `20, and Jada Moorman `22," says head soccer coach and Middle School head Theresa Hirschauer. "Her hard work and dedication are testaments to who CJ is. Over the past four years, her record is 73-7-7, with two state championships, state runner-up, and four conference titles. Her leadership, along with the other three seniors, was the key to our success." 

DeBra, who committed to playing soccer next year at Youngstown State, was also named the Ohio Division III Player of the Year by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association as well as All-Region by United Soccer Coaches to represent the Midwest.

"It is such a fantastic accomplishment to be named an All-American, and CJ earned this honor through her hard work and dedication to her sport,” says athletic director and head football coach Dennis Coyle. “CJ is an outstanding soccer player who was instrumental in winning the state championship." 

Throughout this year’s Ohio High School Athletics Association (OHSAA) playoff tournament, DeBra, a goalkeeper, shut out every team in the tournament and did not allow a single goal to be scored. On November 11, the girls varsity soccer team played Ottawa-Glandorf for the Division III State Championship title and won 1-0. 

“My goal from the beginning of the season was to play to the best of my ability; I focus on that more than I focus on the awards. But to be named an All-American exceeded my expectations, and I'm so honored by this award," says DeBra. "The most important thing I learned from playing soccer at Country Day for the past four years is that everyone plays a significant role in everyone else's development as a player. As I go and play soccer in college, I'll take that lesson with me." 

Send in Your Nominations for the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame!

The purpose of the Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor former CCDS athletes, coaches, and members of our community who have contributed to the strong tradition of CCDS athletics.

To be eligible for nomination the candidate must either have been:

• A student-athlete who has been graduated from CCDS for 10 years.
• A coach who has been retired from coaching at CCDS for 5 years or is over the age of 60.
• A community member who has made a major contribution and impact to the CCDS athletic program.

We are also accepting nominations for the Arts Hall of Fame, Distinguished Alumni Award, and Virtue in Action Award. Visit our website to read more about alumni awards and make a nomination.

Showcasing the Arts in Every Division

The arts are alive at Country Day, as evident by performances in all three divisions throughout the week of December 5. 

On Tuesday, December 6, kindergarten, Montessori, and first grade students held an art show and performance about what they love about Country Day in Keeler Theater. The show featured a dedication to the Lower School faculty and staff to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine," a fun dance number to "Hakuna Matata," an unexpected kindergarten rendition of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys, and of course, the signing of the alma mater, accompanied by Olivia Ims `28 on the piano.  

On Wednesday, December 7, the second, third, and fourth grade students produced, designed, led, and performed their own mini-musical "Bruno's School of Doom." They also showed off their most recent art projects, including self-portraits. 

"We talk about our character virtues in class and in our houses, and I see them up here on stage," said Mark Morawski, Lower School head. "It takes a lot of courage and responsibility - two of our five virtues - to get up on stage and perform."  

Then, on Thursday, December 8, the Upper School Winter Concert and Art Show displayed just how much talent is present in the Upper School. Honors, AP, and studio art students displayed their work in the Messer Gallery and throughout the school. Pieces included textile paintings, art journals, photography, and paintings inspired by street art, mental illness, body image, and more.  

The Upper School jazz band, a.k.a "The Nighthawk Band," performed a handful of songs, including jazz tunes like "Birdland," a solo tango piece, "Los Suenos" by Emil Hettich `23, and a selection of holiday tunes.  The choir, led by new faculty member Greg Miller, performed five songs, including "Spirit" by Beyonce, "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music, and "What Christmas Means to Me" featuring solos by Catherine Monroe `25 and Imri Young `25. 

"I hope you see the talent these young students have tonight and see that we are creating a foundation for the choral arts here at Country Day," said Miller. 

Finally, the week wrapped up with the Middle School Day of Music on Friday, December 9. Performances included fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade bands and all six Middle School choirs. Will Stoll `28 performed a saxophone solo during the seventh grade band performance of “Sax-o-matic" and eighth grade choir members Charlotte Dickerhoof, Emily Franzosa, Aanyah Johnson, Reese Garringer, Claire Donovan, Andrea Sgro Plaut, and Evelyn Ni, all sang solos in the song “We Are Warriors” by Avril Lavigne. 

“I love the Middle School Day of Music because, as an athlete, I find it incredible to hear these students perform on stage,” said Theresa Hirschauer, Middle School head. “I’m always blown away by how much these students practice their talents, whether in athletics, band, choir or even in the classroom. Their dedication to learning and practicing their skills day in and day out makes me proud.” 

Thanksgiving Weekend Reunions

Over Thanksgiving weekend, CCDS alumni got together and closed out the 2022 reunion season with a bang!

Members of the Class of 2007 celebrated their 15th reunion.

Members of the Class of 2017 celebrated their 5th reunion.

Clue: This Country Day alum, who graduated in 2010, appeared on Jeopardy! on November 28th.

Answer: Who is Xanni Brown?!

Through our Ruling our Experiences (ROX) program, seventh grade girls are learning to be strong and independent leaders with activities like self-defense, team building, healthy communication, and standing up for themselves and others.

Senior analyst at Nishkama Capital, Kevin Dunn '06, spoke with our Upper School investment club about investing basics, how he analyzes potential investments opportunities, and what he looks for in a job applicant.

Second grade students put their problem solving and deductive reasoning skills to work taking apart TVs that are older than they are!

Nighthawks and Bengals! CCDS alumni Luke Hall '13, Peter Fossett '80, Jack Willingham '13, Jack Victor '13, Amelia Drew '13, Alexis Victor '11, Jamie Fisher '11, Sam Fossett '13, and Isabelle Hudson '15 tailgating before the Bengals took on the Chiefs on December 4.

Head of School Rob Zimmerman '98 smiles with this year's fourth grade holiday card winners and their spectacular designs!

Mrs. Gunn's Upper School geometry class made holiday ornaments using triangle patterns. Who knew math could be so festive?!

Early Childhood students brought holiday cheer to faculty and staff with their performance of "Jingle Bells".

Any gift postmarked or received online between now and December 31 will count toward our goal and your 2022 taxes. Thank you for supporting the extraordinary students, faculty, and staff at Cincinnati Country Day School!