Match Day 2024

Let the games begin! Get ready to step up to the podium on Match Day, Tuesday, November 12. This year, we are going for the gold as we come together to support the amazing opportunities at Country Day for our students. Your generosity is crucial in helping each child reach their full potential and achieve greatness. We hope all our alumni will consider a gift and help carry the torch for Country Day and another amazing school year.

This Match Day, there is more than one way to multiply your impact. We have partnered with GiveCampus, a social fundraising platform that allows users to create a profile and track their impact through the course of the campaign. Becoming an advocate and creating a matching gift or gift challenge is a great way to show your support and make a real difference on Match Day's success. For more information on being a Match Day 2024 advocate, please click here!

As alumni, you are the champions of Country Day's legacy. We are proud of your many accomplishments, grateful for the example you set for today’s students, and sincerely thankful for your ongoing support of the school. Together, we can elevate our school to new heights and inspire the champions of tomorrow.

Country Day Teacher Receives STEM Educator Award

Jamie Back, director of makerspace and innovative design, was selected to receive the Outstanding STEM Educator Career Achievement Award for 20-29 years of service at the Tri-State STEM+ Conference in October 2024.

Jamie has taught computer science and engineering at Country Day for 11 years, encouraging students to explore their creativity through hands-on learning. She was recently co-educator on the school’s award-winning Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam, one of only eight teams nationwide to receive the prestigious grant to solve a community problem. Under Jamie's guidance – alongside co-educator Angela Barber-Joiner – the CCDS InvenTeam created a patent-pending road bicycle safety invention, showcasing their innovation and practical application of STEM knowledge, and won the coveted Golden Beaver Award for excellence in technical achievement.

“Jamie Back is quite simply one of the best teachers in America,” says Rob Zimmerman `98, head of school. “Mixing equal parts joy and rigor, Jamie’s STEM classes have changed the lives of countless Country Day students. Best of all, Jamie instills a sense of intellectual curiosity and intrinsic motivation in her students. No one leaves her class asking, ‘Why did we have to do that?’ – instead, they leave asking, ‘Why did we have to stop doing that?’. This honor is richly deserved, and we are proud to call Jamie a Nighthawk.”

Her pioneering teaching approach has also been recognized through her participation in the Science Friday Educator Collaborative and the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program at the University of Cincinnati.

“There are so many wonderful STEM educators out there, and I’m honored to be one of them,” says Back. “Being at Country Day has changed my life, changed my career, and changed my children’s lives. And I’m better because of it, because of all the talented people I’ve had the opportunity to work with.”

Class of 2037 Plants Lifer Tree

On Monday, October 7, the kindergarten class – the Class of 2037 – planted their "lifer" tree. A tradition going back eight years starting with the Class of 2028, the lifer tree symbolizes the start of a Country Day student's journey throughout the school. Each year, the kindergarten class plants a tree on the campus in the Lifer Tree Grove. 

After hearing some of Mr. Zimmerman's hilarious tree-related (dad) jokes, the Class of 2037 took turns shoveling dirt around their newly planted tree, an American Yellowwood. Now, these young students can grow on our campus along with their lifer tree as they navigate their journey through Country Day.

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.

CCDS Receives Top AP Award Second Year in a Row

For the second consecutive year, Cincinnati Country Day School was awarded a “Platinum” title ranking in the 2024 AP School Honor Roll, the highest ranking among the four levels of distinction. This recognition reflects the school’s dedication to ensuring students have equitable access to AP courses and that they receive the continuous support needed on their path to college success.

“I am always pleased to see Country Day recognized for what we do best – encouraging all our students to take on challenges and supporting them as they do it,” says Sarah Beyreis, director of college counseling. “It’s what I have always loved about working here.”

Along with this accomplishment, Country Day is further being awarded the AP Access Award, which honors schools that encourage more low-income and underrepresented minority students to take AP courses. Specifically, this award requires that the percentage of underrepresented or low-income families accessing the school's AP program is the same as or greater than the percentage of students in the school's graduating class.

“Country Day prides itself on creating a rigorous learning environment for all and appreciates this recognition from the College Board,” says Al Beauchamp, director of academic affairs. “We are excited to recognize the value of our diverse community of learners and their academic accomplishments.”

According to the College Board, research shows that advanced coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture, even for those who don't earn college credit.



“The AP Platinum Access award captures the essence of who we are as a school and as a community,” says Jenn Weinheimer, head of Upper School. “Our school’s diversity is an asset to us in so many ways, and this award acknowledges that. The strength of our teachers is showcased in this award as much as the accomplishments of our students. Country Day students from all backgrounds and from 70 zip codes are able to achieve at the highest levels because of the quality of the instruction and the authenticity of the support they receive. This award isn’t a new one for Country Day, but we’re proud that others see all that Country Day has to offer.”

The CCDS Spirit Wear Flash Sale is Now Open! Click here to fill your cart with CCDS-branded goodies today.

Now is your chance to get your limited-edition Country Day spirit wear, brand new in our CCDSpirit Shop! The flash sale, which includes eight items, is open through Tuesday, November 5. Most items will arrive by winter break, making the flash sale an ideal stop for some holiday shopping.

While checking out the flash sale, click around in the shop - we're always adding items so something new may have popped up since your last visit. 

Happy shopping! 

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.

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

The CCDS InvenTeam ROCKED its presentation to an audience of educators at the Tri-State STEM+ Conference earlier this month. The team explained the process to apply for a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams grant and described their work during the grant year as they invented the IllumilLane, a road bike safety system. They also talked about their experience at EurekaFest and discussed the next steps for the team. They are amazing advocates for the school and for invention education!

The annual Mole Day tie-dye project is one of our favorite cross-divisional traditions! Upper School students guide some of our younger students in the chemistry lab to create colorful masterpieces in celebration of Mole Day. Cuteness overload!

The Class of 2029 takes over Washington, D.C.! Highlights include a nighttime memorial walk through the city, Arlington National Cemetery, African-American Museum, and more!

Rob Shively '06 and daughter Penelope Shively '41 show their school spirit and chat with Nati the Nighthawk during the Early Childhood Toddler Tailgate.

Mrs. Wagoner’s 6th grade GIPS class researched bridge design and used cardboard, popsicle sticks, string, glue, and tape to build bridges in the Makerspace. 

As part of PROJECT JOY, our 2nd grade students are creating their very own newscast! They were lucky enough to have local TV star and expert, Megan Mitchell, visit and share her best tips and tricks.

Congratulations to Ryan Coyle `25, who was named High School Football Athlete of the Week! He recently became our all-time leading tackles leader with 378 tackles, surpassing Shepard Snell `24, who had 372 career tackles. Last week, Ryan earned a team-high 15 tackles in the victory over the Vikings. That performance earned the four-year starter the WCPO 9 Gold Star Athlete of the Week.