Cincinnati Country Day School

November 2024 Alumni Journal

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.

The School Community Expresses Gratitude and Showcases Character Virtues Through the Annual Food Gathering and Turkey Train

On November 19, our students, faculty, and staff came together to offer hope and help to others by providing food items to share with food-insecure families. Each year, our All-School Food Gathering and Turkey Train affirms the school's commitment to service and instills the important habit of giving in our students.


This year, Lower School students brought in snack items for Ronald McDonald House and the families living there. Middle School students brought in frozen turkeys to donate to Oyler Elementary and John P. Parker School, and Upper School students donated canned food items.


It's always such a memorable tradition and a great way to show our students that together we can make a huge impact on the world.

On Match Day, YOU Were the Champions!

On Match Day, the Country Day community came together and beat our fundraising goal, contributing over $410,000! Every single gift made a difference, and the overwhelming show of support demonstrated that we are - as always - stronger together. 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 for your commitment to Country Day. Your belief in our mission and support for our students and teachers makes all the difference as we continue to go for gold this school year and beyond!

Checkmate! A Weekend of Community and Competition at the 2024 CCDS Chess Tournament

Pictured above: Chess master and multi-time Cincinnati City Chess Champion Russ Wilson '75 challenges students at the 2024 CCDS Chess Tournament.

Our students had incredible fun at the 2024 CCDS Chess Tournament in November. The weekend kicked off with a "simul" during which 40 Country Day students simultaneously played chess master and multi-time Cincinnati City Chess Champion Russ Wilson `75 (congratulations to Luca DiSanto `30 as the only chess player who beat the master!) or Country Day parent and the assistant to the deputy tournament director Jez Vaughan.


“I was a good player in high school but later became a much better player, and at different times in my life, chess has been different things for me,” says Wilson. “If I never played chess here at Country Day I never would have bothered to get to where I did, so I will do anything I can to help promote chess – it’s made such an impact in my life, and I want to pay that forward.”


Saturday's tournament included 42 Country Day students from grades 1-12. All participants were guaranteed to play five competitive games.


“For the kids to have actually played face-to-face with a master and then take part in the physical aspects of an in-person tournament, I think the weekend was a huge experience for them,” says Nico Rumboll, deputy tournament director and middle school chess club advisor as well as Country Day teacher, parent, and coach. “The social-emotional skills of acknowledging an opponent face to face and experiencing the situation of people watching your game in person are much more effective at building certain leadership skills than you can get from playing an online chess game. Add to that the benefits of exchanging experiences across divisions and grades, and I have no doubt this experience has really strengthened both the kids' skills as well as their sense of belonging at the school.”


All experience levels were welcome to partake in the weekend’s activities, but the participants were required to be familiar with the rules of chess and to complete a game without assistance.


"I thought the tournament was a great chance to meet and play against others across school divisions who love chess, just like I do,” says Nikhil Shah `25, tournament champion. “I also loved seeing how many kids at CCD want to play chess, which is why it was so cool that the school was able to host it. It was a pleasant surprise to see how many people at this school are into chess."

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Celebrating an Outstanding Season by the Country Day Nighthawks!

2024 has been an incredible season by the Nighthawks.11-2 season...MVC champs...regional semifinals...the senior class with 40 wins (the most in school history!)...Coach Coyle named Coach of the Year. This team has set a tremendous standard of excellence. Go, Nighthawks!

It's Time to Submit Your Nominations for the 2025 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.

Distinguished Alumni



The CCDS Alumni Council elects one or more Distinguished Alumni in recognition of their contribution to the school, their contribution to the community, or their professional achievement.

Virtue in Action Award


The CCDS Virtue in Action Award recognizes a member of the Virtue in Action Society - those alumni celebrating their fiftieth reunion year or more - for their dedication, attitude, and motivation expressed through volunteer service to the community.

Arts Hall of Fame


To celebrate Cincinnati Country Day School's strong and vibrant tradition in the arts, former students and community members are recognized for their contributions in the fine, musical, performing, and literary arts at CCDS and beyond.

Athletic Hall of Fame


The Athletic Hall of Fame honors former CCDS athletes, coaches, and members of our community who have contributed to the rich tradition of CCDS athletics.

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

Save the Date: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2025

Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27



Classes ending in 5 and 0 will celebrate their reunions next year. It's never too early to start planning your reunion! Contact Peter Fossett '80, associate director of alumni and legacy giving, at fossettp@countryday.net or 513.979.0283 for more information.


Pictures of the Month

The Maker Crew's 2D Design Team is growing and is busier than ever! The team took a quick break from fabrication to onboard new members but quickly got back to business crafting gratitude cards for our teachers, designing posters, and creating "I Voted" stickers for the mock election. Go, Team!

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

This Veterans Day, the Middle School set up a "Fallen Comrade Table" in the MS Commons to remind everyone who passed by of the fallen, missing, or imprisoned U.S. military service members. Each item on the table represented the emotions, facts, and feelings reserved for those who did not come home.

Last week, Nighthawk Theater proudly presented Shakespeare's timeless comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Audiences experienced the magic of the forest, the hilarity of mistaken identities, and the charm of young love, all brought to life by our talented theater production students.

What's the buzz? Our second graders wrapped up their very first newscast last week. From researching and writing to recording and creating logos, they've done it all! We can't wait to see the incredible stories, special guests, and field reports they cover throughout the school year.

Three cheers for Hirsch, who was celebrated at the state soccer games last weekend for her induction into the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association's Hall of Fame next month!


Pictured with OSSCA President John Orozco, Hirsch says, "This is all very humbling. Impacting young women for 35 years is my greatest accomplishment at Country Day."

After weeks of hard work, the 3rd graders who are taking Spanish showcased their creativity and command of the language in their books about animals, and then proudly shared their writing and illustrations with our kindergarteners. We most definitely have some budding bilingual authors!

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