Happy Thanksgiving from Cincinnati Country Day!

With the holiday season approaching, we can't help but reflect on all that we have to be thankful for this year. We are grateful for our incredible faculty and staff, who know and nurture our students in a warm and supportive learning environment. We’re thankful for our talented students, who inspire us with the amazing feats they accomplish each day. We are grateful for our steadfast parents and grandparents whose dedication strengthens the CCDS community. And we are thankful for our committed alumni, who continue to demonstrate the value of a CCDS education throughout the world and who exemplify our motto, Virtue in Action, with the many ways they give back to our school.

As we take time to give thanks this holiday, we want you to know how grateful we are for everything you do to make Country Day a special place. Wishing you a peaceful and joyous holiday surrounded by loved ones.

Girls Soccer Team Wins Back-to-Back State Championships!

The girls soccer won the Division III state championship, defeating Ottawa-Glandorf — the same team they beat in last year's state final — 1-0 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.

Megan Zimmerman `24 scored the game's only goal in the 18th minute. Elizabeth Zimmerman `24, who scored the winning goal last year, recorded the assist.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Easter `26 and senior defenders Sydney Hardesty '24, Sam Easter '24, and Melissa Teke '24 recorded two saves in the shutout as the team repeated as state champions.

This is the program's fourth title in six years. For the full story, read this article from the Cincinnati Enquirer (November 11, 2023).

Way to go, Nighthawks! 

Match Day, Starring: YOU!

On Match Day, the Country Day community came together to raise more than $430,000! Gifts ranged from a few dollars to many thousands and every single gift made a difference! We are deeply grateful to all the alumni who took the opportunity to support our school and help us continue to provide the best educational experience possible.

On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, THANK YOU! The stage is set for success thanks to your steadfast commitment. 

Cincinnati Country Day School Honors Five Award-Winning Arts Hall of Fame Inductees

Pictured Above: Head of School Rob Zimmerman '98 and Arts Hall of Fame inductees Kim Kern '87 and Barbara Kellar.

Not pictured: Ashley Kahn '78 who joined the celebration virtually, and Aaron and Bryce Dessner '94.

Cincinnati Country Day School welcomed the third class of inductees into the school’s Arts Hall of Fame: Aaron Dessner `94, Bryce Dessner `94, Ashley Kahn `78, Barbara Kellar, and Kim Kern `87.

“Today’s honorees have excelled in a wide range of artistic endeavors, including music, theater, TV, and literary works,” said Rob Zimmerman `98, head of school. “Their accomplishments have won worldwide accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a MacDowell Medal, and recognition of one honoree’s organization as Theater Company of the Decade. Three of our honorees have even been awarded a key to the city. Make no mistake; each of these five honorees is an innovator of the highest order, and their artistic voices are as inimitable as they are inspiring. But each member of this year’s class also reminds us of the power of art not just to create but to reinvent, to change minds about what we think we know, to make us look at the world in entirely new ways.”

Barbara Kellar has been helping the Cincinnati community see the arts world differently for decades. Introduced by Buck Niehoff `65, she is a former Cincinnati Country Day School (CCDS) teacher and an Emmy-winning champion of the arts in Cincinnati. She has long featured the movers and shakers of the Cincinnati arts scene on her TV show, SHOWCASE with Barbara Kellar, and has worked tirelessly to promote the arts in Cincinnati and at Country Day. She reflected on the culture of art appreciation at Country Day and her experiences as a teacher.

“Those five years I spent at Country Day were golden years because I loved the kids, I loved the parents, and everyone was so supportive. And I got the feeling that the love I had for them was returned, and it was returned in many, many ways but a love for the arts was a big part of it,” said Kellar. “And we didn't say ‘We have to do this or that for the arts,’ it was just part of our being as was nurturing the kids and praising them for the wonderful things they did. I'm so proud that Country Day has continued this tradition.”

Ashley Kahn `78, who is a faculty member at New York University and a Grammy-winning writer, music critic, and music historian, joined virtually from his home in New York and spoke with gratitude about the impact that Country Day had on his career path.

"Thank you to Country Day for the freedom and the power to

be curious and find ways to express it…

Introduced by Charlie Goetz, Ashley Kahn '78 joined virtually from his home in New York City.

and the freedom and power to create…and the freedom and power to make mistakes,” said Kahn. “The extremely non-linear path I pursued professionally would not have even begun to be possible without Country Day. Thank you, Country Day, for pointing me in the right direction and for the happiness of belonging to a community and serving a purpose.”

In pre-recorded video comments, Bryce Dessner `94, a guitarist, composer, producer, curator of music festivals, and a founding member of the Grammy-winning band The National, also spoke about the concept of service, gratitude, and joy when asked what advice he had for the next generation of artists.

“For those of you who are making art…stay connected to the joy of doing it,” said Dessner. “No matter how successful or famous or how hard it gets, it's that spark that will always remain the only reason to do it. And to realize how lucky you are to be at a place like Cincinnati Country Day, with such amazing teachers and resources, and to be in this beautiful place. And to do your best to honor that and put yourself at the service of others. Take that gift forward and think about what you can do for the world and for other people.” 

And when it comes to serving the community, Kim Kern `87, who has overseen the growth and expansion of The Children’s Theater of Cincinnati (TCT) into a top-ranked and award-winning theater and academy, has served the Greater Cincinnati community since 2013 in her role as managing director and CEO of TCT. Her colleague and the theater’s artistic director, Roderick Justice, described her as “the maestro of Children's Theater and now a shining star in the Cincinnati Country Day School Arts Hall of Fame.”

“Kim doesn't just lead the way,” said Justice. “She encourages her team to dance the way, to sing the way, sometimes to puppeteer the way. And Kim leads with the grace of a conductor of a symphony."

Kern credits Country Day with her ability to lead with such impact.

“It is not what I learned at Country Day that has influenced me so greatly, it's how I learned. The world is abuzz these days with the talk of and focus on 21st-century learning skills…those are all things that Country Day was well ahead of the curve on,” explained Kern. “Those are all things that were very much instilled in me that enabled me to be successful no matter what path I took. The other thing that Country Day taught me was not just how to succeed but how to succeed gracefully and with humility and, maybe more importantly, how to fail gracefully."

Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98 interviewed Bryce Dessner `94 (left) and Aaron Dessner `94 (right) when they were in Cincinnati for the Homecoming music festival.

As one of the newest inductees into the Arts Hall of Fame, Aaron Dessner `94, who is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer, and curator of music festivals and is best known as a founding member of the Grammy-winning band The National, as the co-founder of the indie rock duo The Big Red Machine, and for his Grammy-winning collaboration with Taylor Swift, also had recommendations for those who might aspire to achieve some of the success he has over the past 25 years.

“Have faith, be collaborative, and find community. Because when you look back, that's what's meaningful: friendship and memories.”

Country Day’s Arts Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2021, celebrates the school’s strong and vibrant tradition in the arts. Former students and community members are recognized for their contributions to the fine, musical, performing, and literary arts at CCDS and beyond. This year’s inductees joined the seven existing members of the school’s Arts Hall of Fame.

Zimmerman left the inductees and their guests with some closing thoughts about the importance of community, support for the arts, and art in today’s world.

“We need art, we need artists, and we need art education now more than ever. That’s one reason why it’s so meaningful for us to gather and celebrate the artists in our midst. Perhaps these stories of Country Day arts legends will not simply reaffirm your belief in the value of a Country Day education; perhaps they will reaffirm your belief in art as the source of hope in this troubled world.”

It's Time to Submit Your Nominations for the 2024 Alumni Awards

Country Day alumni are some of the most accomplished citizens in the world. Each year we recognize a small group for their accomplishments in the greater community and at Country Day.

If you wish to nominate an alum, teacher, or coach, click here to read more about eligibility and fill out the nomination form. 

Four Country Day Seniors Announce Plans for Athletic Futures

The gym of the Leonard Family Athletic Center was filled with friends, family, teachers, and coaches as four Nighthawks announced to the Cincinnati Country Day School community that they have officially committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.  

Davis Campbell will attend the University of Evansville to play baseball; Parker Corbin will attend the University of Maryland to play baseball; Piper Farris will attend East Carolina University to play soccer; and Sydney Hardesty will attend the University of Toledo to play soccer. All four athletes will be playing at the Division 1 level at their respective schools. 

“It is a day of achievement for these student-athletes and their families,” says Dennis Coyle, athletic director. “I want to congratulate each of you and your families on this accomplishment. You have made your teams better and your programs better, not just because you are good athletes, but because you are good people.” 

When Corbin was asked about how Country Day has prepared him for his next adventure, he said, “Country Day taught me how to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds. I also learned skills like time management that will not only help me in college but also in the workforce.” 

He was also very appreciative and grateful for the time he spent at Country Day. 



“I like how tight-knit the community at Country Day is. I really enjoyed playing at a smaller school because I got to form such special bonds with my teammates. The memories I made here will definitely last a lifetime.” 

Last Call for Class Notes Before Winter Connections!

Our InvenTeam is preparing for the prototyping phase of its invention journey! Every team member learned about circuit boards, traces, LEDs, resistors, and Ohm's Law. They also added LEDs and resistors onto their own circuit board, and Alex B. `25 taught everyone to solder the parts onto the board.

Click here to read more about the Lemelson-MIT Invention Grant and the CCDS InvenTeam.

Early Childhood students and teachers showed off their costumes at the annual Lower School Halloween parade.

Where else do you get the chance to help groom and walk mini-ponies and donkeys during the school day? It was a great opportunity for our 7th graders in outdoor wellness to practice responsibility and compassion while learning firsthand what it takes to take care of the animals.

Upper School students during the dress rehearsal of the Fall Play, She Kills Monsters, which premiered this Thursday. If you would like to see the show, it's not too late! Click here to purchase tickets for tonight's performance.

Kindergarten students have been learning about trees and making connections in nature to the five senses as well as exploring the differences between living vs. non-living in their outdoor education class. There is no better place to connect with nature and learn in the outdoors than our gorgeous 60-acre campus!

With his passion for honoring those who have gone before us, Nick Watts '23 presented to the 7th-grade class about Veterans Day for the 5th year in a row. We are so grateful to have alumni who return to campus to interact with our students!

Students, faculty, and staff lined the halls for a clap-out to send the varsity girls soccer team off to their second consecutive State Championship WIN in style!