Westchester Holds 39th Commencement
Westchester Country Day School held its 39th commencement ceremony Saturday, May 22, at 9:30 a.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in High Point. The 28 graduates have been accepted to 37 different colleges and universities and have been offered more than $1.3 million in scholarship money.
This year’s graduates are: Ashley Michelle Acuff, Andrew Alexander Bauer, Taylor Jeffery Christiansen, Sara Delle Couch, Elizabeth Ryan Coughlin, William Joseph DiIanni II, Alexander Wilson Embler, Joe Maxwell Floyd IV, Zachary David Gilliland, Austin Grady Greeson, Zachary Kurt Grier, William Leonard Holland, Thomas Carey Ilderton IV, Carly Jennifer Ledford, Christopher Michael Lewis, Thomas Oliver McGukin, Sara Braeden Moore, Caroline Elizabeth Owings, Natalie Ann Payan, Abbey May Pfister, Amy Elizabeth Rowley, Douglas Ray Russ II, Ashley Caroline Saurel, Courtney Louise Shannon, William Sloan Tucker, Katherine Elizabeth Walker, Michael Oliver Williard, and Logan Clarke Yeager.
The top five graduates are: Taylor Christiansen, Sara Couch, Caroline Owings, Abbey Pfister, and Courtney Shannon. | |
Christiansen is the son of Jeff and Debbie Christiansen of Jamestown and will attend Auburn University on an all-expense paid Presidential Scholarship. He was the recipient of the Peter M. Cowen Outstanding Senior Award, which is given to the senior chosen by the Westchester faculty, administration, and staff who best exemplifies the qualities of character, integrity, citizenship, leadership and scholarship. Christiansen also received Department Awards in Math and Art, and was named a Commended Scholar by the National Merit Program.
Couch is the daughter of David Couch of Summerfield and Maria Montoya-Couch of High Point and will attend Duke University. She was the recipient of the French Department Award.
Owings is the daughter of Bill and JoAnn Owings of High Point and will attend North Carolina State University. She is the 2010 salutatorian and is the recipient of the Syngenta Science Award. Owings was also named a Commended Scholar by the National Merit Program.
Abbey Pfister is the daughter of Al and Tina Pfister of Greensboro and will attend the University of Virginia. She is the 2010 valedictorian and was the recipient of the Science Department Award.
Shannon is the daughter of Doug and Lisa Shannon of High Point and will attend UNC Chapel Hill. She was the recipient of the Yearbook Award.
Senior Braeden Moore received the Good Citizenship Award, which is given to a student in grades 9 -12 who has shown outstanding service to the school.
Senior Carly Ledford received the Suzi Holliman Award, which is presented each year to a student in grades 9 – 12 who is always kind and friendly to others and goes out of his or her way to exhibit this behavior.
The Senior Speech Award, established to recognize the top senior speech selected from a panel of judges, was awarded to Amy Rowley.
Senior class officers are Braeden Moore, president, Mickey Williard, vice president, Caroline Owings, secretary, and Courtney Shannon, treasurer.
Westchester former teacher Everett Padgett was the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award. Padgett was a member of the Westchester faculty from 1971 – 1979. After leaving the teaching profession to pursue a career in insurance, Padgett continued to serve the school in a variety of capacities including president of the Booster Club and as a member of the Board of Trustees and Headmaster Search Committee.
2010 Middle School Academic Award Winners
Scott Patterson Award
Sarah Catto, Hunter Heinbach
Freddie Kirkman Award
Jessica Barker, George Heath
Emma Padgett Award
Andrew Foreman, Catherine York
8th Grade Top Scholar
Catherine York
7th Grade Top Scholar
David Cowan
6th Grade Top Scholar
Jack Crouse
6th Grade Top Scholar Silver
Carter Gay | 6th Grade Top Scholar Bronze
Casey Crouse |
7th Grade Top Scholar Silver
Kess Hendrix | 7th Grade Top Scholar Bronze
Nathan Leonar |
8th Grade Top Scholar Silver
Rishab Revankar | 8th Grade Top Scholar Bronze
Andrew Foreman | |
Art Department Award
Chris Staton | Art Certificates of Merit
Gabby Davis, Drew Gibson, Lowie Vandeplanke |
Drama Department Award
Laura Bunch | Drama Certificates of Merit
Paige Hetley, Libby Shaw |
Music Award
Andrew Foreman | Music Certificates of Merit
Sarah Catto, Campbell Kinley, Sarah Wahid |
Teen Leadership High Point
Andrew Couch, David Cowan, Kayla Watson
Duke TIP
David Cowan, Kess Hendrix, Bo Henley, Nathan Leonar
National French Exam Certificates
Jessica Barker, Andrew Foreman, Kess Hendrix, Yulemny Nunez, Julia Sagerdahl
National Spanish Exam Certificates
Andrew Couch - 3rd in the state at the Bilingual level A
David Cowan - 2nd in the state at Level A, scoring in the 90th percentile
Will Hart -4th in the state at Level I, scoring in the 98th percentile
Kayla Watson - 4th in the state at Level A, scoring in the 82nd percentile
Catherine York - 3rd in the state, scoring in the 99th percentile
People to People Student Ambassador Nominees
Sam Argo, Jessica Barker, Andrew Foreman, Hunter Heinbach, Anna Hood, Avery Keefe, Rishab Revankar, Catherine York
Charles A. and Carol Hamblet Award
Jackie Argo
2010 Middle School Athletic Award Winners
Female Athlete of the Year
Avery Keefe
Male Athlete of the Year
Donnie Sellers
Schwartzmanship Award
Will Moore
Wildcat Awards
Boys' Middle School Soccer
Baxter Bruggeworth
Girls' Middle School Volleyball
Kayla Watson
Boys' Middle School Basketball - Team A
Sadeeq Bello, Donnie Sellers
Boys' Middle School Basketball - Team B
Baxter Bruggeworth, Stephen Smith
Girls' Middle School Basketball
Avery Keefe, Kayla Watson
Middle School Cheerleading
Laurin Hunnicutt
Boys' Middle School Baseball
Messiah Henderson, George Lindner
Middle School Golf
Tommy Frungillo
Girls' Middle School Soccer
Anna Hood
2009-2010 Varsity Athletic Awards
Bruce E. Hathaway, Jr. Sportsmanship Award
Female - Elizabeth Coughlin
Male - Mickey Williard
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
Abbey Pfister, Courtney Shannon
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Taylor Christiansen
Female Athlete of the Year
Whitley Glosson
Male Athlete of the Year
Logan Yeager
Special Recognition
Donna Tucker
| Boys' Cross Country |
MVP
Chris Anderson | Wildcat
George Lindner | Coaches' Award
Will Moore |
| Girls' Cross Country |
MVP
Claire Councill | Wildcat
Avery Goho | Coaches' Award
Carson Thorn |
| Boys' Soccer |
MVP
Sloan Tucker | Wildcat
Taylor Christiansen | Coaches' Award
Will Holland, Logan Yeager |
| Girls' Tennis |
MVP
Katie Rice | Wildcat
Elizabeth Coughlin | Coaches' Award
Caroline Owings |
| Girls' Volleyball |
MVP
Whitley Glosson | Wildcat
Sara Couch | Coaches' Award
Ashley Acuff |
| Boys' Basketball |
MVP
Deuce Bello, Ike Nwamu | Wildcat
Cole Morgenstern | |
| Girls' Basketball |
MVP
Amber Hayes, Meghan Ingram | Wildcat
Courtney Shannon | |
| Cheerleading |
Spirit
Molly Harris | Wildcat
Braeden Moore | Coaches' Award
Hunter Hess |
| Boys' Swimming |
MVP
Logan Yeager | Wildcat
Logan Icenhour, Christian James | Coaches' Award
Taylor Christiansen, Chris Lewis |
| Girls' Swimming |
MVP
Abby Procton | Wildcat
Avery Goho | Coaches' Award
Carly Ledford |
| Boys' Baseball |
MVP
Devin McLemore, Alex Embler | Wildcat
Joe Max Floyd, Micah Hedgepeth | Coaches' Award
D.J. Russ, Mickey Williard |
| Golf |
MVP
The Team | | |
| Boys' Tennis |
MVP
Clayton Brewer | Wildcat
Chris Lewis | Coaches' Award
Brian Ball |
| Girls' Soccer |
MVP
Abbey Pfister, Courtney Shannon | Wildcat
Amy Rowley | Coaches' Award
Sara Couch |
| Boys' Track |
MVP
George Freiberger | Wildcat
Taylor Christiansen | Coaches' Award
Logan Yeager |
| Girls' Track |
MVP
Whitley Glosson | Wildcat
Olivia Greeson | Coaches' Award
Emma Thomas |
2010 Upper School Academic Award Winners
T. Austin Finch Chair of Distinguished Teaching
Robin French
T. Austin Finch Master Teacher Award
Barb Stinson
Class of 2005 Faculty Award
Allison Albert
Good Citizenship Award
Braeden Moore
Perfect Attendance
Chris Anderson, Dylan Gaffney, Hunter Hess
Suzi Holliman Award
Carly Ledford
Valedictorian
Abbey Pfister
Salutatorian
Caroline Owings
Westchester Cup
Jay Kennedy
Student Government Award
Elizabeth Coughlin
Vijaya Kumar Chemistry Award
Jay Kennedy
Senior Speech Award
Amy Rowley
WCDS 2010 Student Humanitarian
Carly Ledford
Mary and Elliott Wood Foundation Scholar
Abbey Pfister
T. Austin Finch Scholar
Will Holland
National Merit Scholar Qualifiers
Dylan Gaffney, Jay Kennedy, Rede Wilson
National Merit Commended Scholars
Taylor Christiansen, Caroline Owings, Ashley Saurel
9th Grade Top Scholar
Claire Councill | 10th Grade Top Scholar
McKelvey Bump |
11th Grade Top Scholar
Logan Icenhour | |
Art Department Award
Taylor Christiansen | Art Certificates of Merit
Abby Procton, Thomas McGukin, Logan Yeager |
Drama Department Award
Ryan Jones | Drama Certificates of Merit
TJ Baber, Chris Lewis, Julia Ormond |
English Department Award
Amy Rowley | English Certificates of Merit
Sarah Lindner, Robyn Terrell, Mickey Williard |
Salem College Book Award
Sarah Lindner | Hollins Book Award
Jessica Grzyb |
French Department Award
Sara Couch | |
Health & Physical Education Award
Avery Goho | Health & Physical Education Certificates
Leigh Tyson, Patrick Williford | |
History Department Award
Mickey Williard | |
Mathematics Department Award
Taylor Christiansen | Mathematics Certificates of Merit
Avery Goho, Jay Kennedy |
Music Department Award
Braeden Moore | Music Certificates of Merit
Ashley Acuff, Kathryn Frye, Jay Kennedy |
Science Department Award
Abbey Pfister | Science Certificates of Merit
McKelvey Bump, Avery Goho |
NYL Forum on Medicine
Thomas Freund | Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award
Jay Kennedy |
Syngenta Award
Caroline Owings | |
Spanish Department Award
Jay Kennedy | Spanish Certificates of Merit
Dylan Gaffney, Tyler Thompson |
National Spanish Exam Certificates
Bronze – Brian Ball, Leah Caffey, Caroline Owings, Beverley Reynolds, Bele Seyoum, Kennedy Thompson Silver – Claire Councill, Avery Goho, Jay Kennedy, Rishab Revankar, Patrick Williford
Yearbook Award
Elizabeth Coughlin, Courtney Shannon | |
Blue Key Club, new members
Haleigh Breece, Mary Marshall Fariss, Elizabeth Folk, Bailey Gilliam, Avery Goho, Jeff Green, Olivia Greeson, Terrence Hearst, Harrison Keefe, Lizzy Lawrence, Mary Bryan Smith, Katarina Terentieva, Leigh Tyson
Eighth-Graders' Poems Accepted for Publication
Twenty-three WCDS eighth graders’ poems have been accepted for publication in the Creative Communication anthology, A Celebration of Poets.
The students submitted their poems as part of a literature class taught by Mary Keever. They are: Sam Argo, Jessica Barker, Sadeeq Bello, Baxter Bruggeworth, Laura Bunch, Sarah Catto, Maria Cortez-Perez, Gabrielle Davis, Mary Kate Farris, Andrew Foreman, Sanders Forrester, Tommy Frungillo, Will Hart, Hunter Heinbach, Messiah Henderson, Anna Hood, Laurin Hunnicutt, Avery Keefe, George Lindner, Donnie Sellers, Courtney Spencer, Cameron White, and Catherine York.
“I am proud of these students for their courage to share ideas and express feelings through poetry,” said Keever.
Less than half of the poems submitted to the Creative Communication contest are accepted for publication, and entries are judged by teachers, professors and poets. Since 1993, Creative Communication has been devoted to the promotion of language arts, and awards more than $150,000 to writers and their schools each year.
Science Project Earns Honorable Mention
 | A team of Westchester Country Day School students received Honorable Mention for their science project from the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards, placing it among the top 10 percent of all entries.
The competition is open to students in grades K-12 and encourages students to combine their imagines with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of a future technology. Tenth-graders T.J. Baber and Kristen McDowell submitted a project titled “Cure of Thalassemia.” |
The students were required to convey their vision in a paper and simulated Web page graphics. They received a certificate of recognition as well as a gift from Toshiba for their accomplishment.
All 17 students in WCDS’s Advanced Chemistry classes participated in the national contest and received certificates and a small gift from Toshiba.
“I’m so proud of all of my students,” said chemistry teacher Janis McDonald. “They really stepped up to the difficult task at hand and gave 110 percent.”
Four Students Inducted Into Tri-M
Four Westchester Country
Day School students
were inducted into the
Tri-M Music Honor Society
April 22 during the Middle
and Upper school spring
concert.
Ninth graders Julia Ormond
and Abbey Perdue,
sophomore Kristen McDowell,
and junior Dylan Gaffney are
the club’s newest members.
The Tri-M Music Honor Society
is an international program
dedicated to the recognition
of exceptional music
students in grades 6-12 that
meet the music, academic,
leadership, and character
criteria required of every
Tri-M member.
Sixteen Students Inducted into National Honor Society
The following students were inducted into Westchester Country Day School’s chapter of the National Honor Society during our spring induction on April 15, 2010:
Twelfth grader Andrew Bauer; eleventh graders Trigg Fariss, Molly Harris, Sarah Lindner, and Carson Thorn; tenth graders T.J. Baber, Harrison Keefe, Caroline Muir, Rachel Nulty, Katie Rice, Alex Simpson, Jessi Stockinger, Tyler Thompson, Davis Tucker, Luke Vandeplancke, and Grey York.
The National Honor Society, established in 1921, recognizes outstanding high school students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.
WCDS Announces Honor Rolls
Head of School’s List - Quarter 3 - 2009-2010
Sixth Grade: Mike Bauman, Tommy Boggis, Miranda Bryson, Casey Crouse, Jack Crouse, Josh Evans, Laura Folk, Carter Gay, Montana Heinbach, Paige Hetley, Logan Kahny, Connor Lowe, Elliott Millner, and Sarah Wahid.
Seventh Grade: David Cowan, Kess Hendrix, Bo Henley, Nathan Leonar, Stephen Smith, and Kayla Watson.
Eighth Grade: Andrew Foreman, Hunter Heinbach, William Jeffers, Ryan Kahny, George Lindner, Rishab Revankar, Courtney Spencer, Chris Staton, and Catherine York.
Ninth Grade: Leah Caffey, Claire Councill, Bailey Gilliam, Avery Goho, Olivia Greeson, Bele Seyoum, Katarina Terentieva, Emma Thomas, Kennedy Thompson, Leigh Tyson, Savannah Wellington, and Patrick Williford.
Tenth Grade: McKelvey Bump, Alex Simpson, Jessi Stockinger, and Tyler Thompson.
Eleventh Grade: Dylan Gaffney, Jessica Grzyb, Logan Icenhour, and Jay Kennedy. Twelfth Grade: Sara Couch, Abbey Pfister, and Mickey Williard.
A/B Academic List - Quarter 3 - 2009-2010
Sixth Grade: Leila Abebe, Jack Argo, Will Argo, Elisabeth Bachmann, Ryan Beale, Montgomery Belk, Brett Bell, Jacob Breece, Gracie Clinard, Hardin Councill, Michaela Craycroft, Taylor Freeman, Kaymon Mitchell, Dylan Sellers, Libby Shaw, Chase Sheffield, and Wyatt Wellington.
Seventh Grade: Daniel Ayodele, Jean-Michel Corbier, Andrew Couch, Campbell Kinley, Wyatt Lansford, Meg McLemore, Andrew Rowley, Lowie Vandeplancke, and Thomas Walsh.
Eighth Grade: Sam Argo, Jessica Barker, Baxter Bruggeworth, Daniel Crooker, Gabrielle Davis, Emily Delmestri, Mary Kate Farris, Tommy Frungillo, Will Hart, George Heath, Messiah Henderson, Abraham Hernandez, Anna Hood, Avery Keefe, Will Moore, Julia Sagerdahl, Erica Sawyer, Helina Seyoum, Thomas Verellen, Garrett Willard, and Phillip Young.
Ninth Grade: Megan Caffey, Sarah Kate Christiansen, Nicole Danch, Tyler Fairly, Mary Marshall Fariss, Elizabeth Folk, Thomas Freund, Micah Hedgepeth, Hunter Hess, Meghan Ingram, Alexis King, Lizzy Lawrence, Oby Nwamu, Julia Ormond, Abbey Perdue, and Mary Bryan Smith.
Tenth Grade: T.J. Baber, Brian Ball, Ben Bruggeworth, Jonathan DiIanni, Kristen McDowell, Caroline Muir, Julia Muir, Adam Niner, Rachel Nulty, Katie Rice, Davis Tucker, Luke Vandeplancke, and Grey York.
Eleventh Grade: Dalya DuMarieh, Gasser Elsayed, Kathryn Frye, Whitley Glosson, Adam Goho, Molly Harris, Terrence Hearst, Heleana Henderson, Grace Lee, Sarah Lindner, Abby Procton, Robyn Terrell, and Michael Tufano.
Twelfth Grade: Taylor Christiansen, Elizabeth Coughlin, Chris Lewis, Braeden Moore, Caroline Owings, Natalie Payan, Courtney Shannon, and Katherine Walker.
Sophomore Attends National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
 | Westchester Country Day School sophomore Tyler Thompson was nominated for and selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., from March 16 – 21.
“I had the time of my life meeting people from around the country while getting a first-hand view of how our government works,” he said.
During his time at the conference, Tyler had the opportunity to interact with a variety of politicians, including Sen. Richard Burr and Congressman Howard Coble. |
He engaged in the "If I Were President" simulation during which he took on the role of an advisor to the secretary of state in a fictional administration. In his role, Tyler tackled a foreign policy crisis over a conflict between Somalia and the United States.
Tyler said one of the highlights of his trip was having the opportunity to meet and thank former House member Edward Pease in front of the entire conference.
Tyler and his peers also participated in Testing the Constitution, in which they examined actual Supreme Court cases, as well as engaged in site discoveries at some of Washington, D.C.'s most honored and moving memorials: the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The conference culminated with the Model Congress, in which students assembled in the Department of the Interior where they assumed the roles of U.S. representatives and debated, amended, and voted on proposed mock legislation.
The Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), the organization that sponsors the Conference, is a nonpartisan, independent, educational organization. Since 1985, the Council has inspired more than 200,000 young people to achieve their full leadership potential.
WCDS Holds Health and Wellness Fair
More than 50 exhibitors from the community were on hand March 17 to share their knowledge and insight into living a healthy lifestyle with students, faculty, and guests from the community. Westchester's Health and Wellness Fair was held in the school's Finch Center for Academic and Athletic Excellence.
To view photos from the event, please click here.
Traveling Science Lab Visits Westchester
Westchester Country Day School AP Biology teachere Jane Bowie (in photo, from left) and her students Logan Icenhour, Molly Harris, Braeden Moore, Sarah Lindner, Courtney Shannon, and Justin Stancevic-Bedosky, participated in a lab in the Destiny Bus traveling science trailer from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which visited Westchester on March 11.
The students participated in the Brand Name Genes experiment, during which they played the roles of employees in a global biotech company to understand connections between BRCA genes and breast cancer. Students learned about cancerous cells, medical pedigrees, ethics of genetic testing, enzyme technology, and the steps of polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
The DESTINY (Delivering Edge-cutting Science Technology and Internet across North Carolina for Years to come) Traveling Science Learning Program is Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s formal science education initiative serving pre-college teachers and students across North Carolina. It is designed to make science real and relevant for students while delivering interactive and innovative science and interdisciplinary curriculum. The Destiny Bus is a 40-foot long, custom-equipped science and technology vehicle that delivers cutting-edge curriculum to the people of North Carolina. The purpose of this program is to improve the quality of science education. DESTINY is a fully self-contained traveling lab which accommodates 12 lab stations for a total of 24 students aboard.
 | German Students Arrive in High Point!Our German exchange students landed in Charlotte on March 15 and have been busy ever since attending classes, touring local businesses, and even took a trip to Charleston! To follow their progress and see photos, read blogs, etc., please click here and enter the password: GAPP (case sensitive). |
Westchester Launches German-American Exchange Program
Westchester Country Day School will welcome 16 German exchange students from the Justus-von-Liebig Gymnasium school just outside of Ausburg on March 15. The students will visit for three weeks, and a group of WCDS students will travel to Germany in June.
The program, called the German American Partnership Program (GAPP), is an exchange sponsored by the Goethe Institute to promote relationships between America and Germany. Its goal is to provide students from both countries an intercultural experience by offering the chance to live with a host family and attend school in another country. The program is supported by the German Foreign Office the U.S. Department of State. The non-profit organization has been organizing exchanges since 1972.
Greensboro-area high schools have participated in this program with GAPP since 1994, when former Northwest Guilford High School German teacher, Gisela Hood, formed a partnership with the Justus-von-Liebig Gymasium school in Neusäß, Germany. After expressed interest from Westchester parents and a desire from the school in Germany to begin the exchange again, Hood, Northwest Guilford High School, and Westchester Country Day School are renewing this relationship.
During the German students’ visit to the United States, they will live with host families and participate in a variety of activities and travel including a trip to Charleston, S.C., the Outer Banks, and Washington, D.C. They will visit Wake Forest and High Point universities, Old Salem, and attend classes at both Westchester and Northwest. They will tour several local businesses, including Thomas Built Buses and Krispy Kreme, as well as participate in a job shadow program at various businesses. They are also having lunch with Mayor Becky Smothers.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our students, and are excited to welcome our German students in just a few weeks,” said WCDS English teacher Allison Albert, who is heading up the program at Westchester with Admissions Director Kerie Beth Scott. Albert has designed a website for the partnership, on which she will post photos and blogs from the students as the program progresses.
During their visit to Germany, 13 students from Westchester and seven from Northwest will attend school with their German partners, as well as travel throughout Bavaria, including a chance to see the "real" Cinderella Castle, Neuschwanstein, and spend time in the German Alps.
WCDS Mock Trial Team Competes in Regionals
 | The Westchester Mock Trial Team competed in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice High School Mock Trial Regionals in Charlotte Saturday, Feb. 20. WCDS won its First Round trial 3-0. We lost our Second Round trial to a split decision.
The following team members won individual awards: Round One Best Attorney, Rede Wilson; Round One Best Witness, Jessica Grzyb; Second Round Best Witness, Rede Wilson. |
Team members that competed were: senior Andrew Bauer; juniors Rede Wilson, Dylan Gaffney, Jessica Grzyb, and Grace Lee; sophomore Will Davis; and freshman Claire Councill. Two other members, juniors Ike Nwamu and Jay Kennedy, were unable to compete due to conflicts. Ike Nwamu was playing in the conference basketball game and Jay Kennedy was competing in NATS. We thank John Bryson, father of sixth grader Miranda and third grader Jonathan, for being our outstanding Attorney Advisor this season.
WCDS Team Places Fourth in Mathcounts Competition
Westchester Country Day School placed fourth overall in the Mathcounts North Piedmont Chapter Competition held Saturday, Feb. 13, at N.C. A&T State University.
Team members Laieke Abebe, William Jeffers, George Lindner, and Rishab Revankar, all eighth-graders at WCDS, competed against approximately 100 other students from area schools at the event. They are coached by Middle School math teacher Gardner Barrier. The MATHCOUNTS Competition is a national middle school coaching and competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement through a series of fun and engaging "bee" style contests.
In the individual competitions, Revankar placed first in the countdown round, and seventh overall. Lindner placed 19th overall, Jeffers 34th, and Abebe 37th.
“I’m so proud of our students and their hard work on the competition day,” said Barrier.
Junior is Rotary Student of the Month
Eleventh grader Jessica Grzyb was the Willow Creek Rotary Club’s Student of the Month for January. She is the daughter of Jay and Julie Grzyb of Greensboro.
The Rotary Club gives recognition to outstanding students who excel academically, as well as in community and extra-curricular areas.
Jessica is a standout student at WCDS. She is a member of Student Government, the Debate and Mock Trial teams, and the Human Relations club. Through Student Government she spends time volunteering at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of High Point. Jessica has played varsity basketball and soccer. She has received the Top Scholar and Emma Padgett awards, among others.
Jessica and her parents were recognized at the club’s Feb. 11 breakfast meeting at High Point Country Club.
Middle School Students' Art on Display at TAG
Seven Westchester Middle School students' artwork has been selected for inclusion in Theater Art Galleries' Triad Middle School Art Exhibition, which will be open February 2 - April 8, with an opening reception February 25 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Students exhibiting are sixth graders Brett Bell, Paige Hetley, Kyle Niner, and Ellie Smith, and eighth graders Maria Cortez-Perez, Julia Sagerdahl, and Cameron White. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Theater Art Galleries is located at 220 East Commerce Avenue in High Point.
Homecoming Rescheduled for Tuesday, February 16
Come cheer on your Cats against Caldwell! JV game at 4:00 p.m., Varsity Girls at 5:30 p.m., Varsity Boys at 7:00 p.m. Homecoming Court will be presented after the boys' game. We will have a pep rally from 2:00 - 2:45 in the Finch Center. Wear your Blue and White!!
 | Fourth graders "become" famous North CaroliniansFourth grade students presented oral biographies on famous North Carolinians February 9 in the Library. The students chose their famous personalities, researched them, wrote reports and speeches, and practiced, practiced, practiced! |
Students and their famous personalities were:
| Kate Bachmann - Frances Bavier | Hunter Holbrook - Richard Petty |
| Erik Bauer - President Andrew Johnson | Alen Izic - R.J.Reynolds |
| Margot Behrens - Addie Clawson | Max Johns - President James K. Polk |
| Matthew Boggis - Jim "Catfish" Hunter | Ambar Khawaja - Charlotte Hawkins Brown |
| Allyson Chiu - Elizabeth Dole | Edward Lindner-David Brinkley |
| Michael Coltrane - Ronnie Milsap | Samantha Mickey-Dolley Payne Madison |
| Kayla Darr - Penelope Barker | Samuel Noyes - Andy Griffith |
| Alex Evans - Gertrude Belle Elion | Davis Privette - William Henry Belk |
| Luke Evans - O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) | Audrey Puschinsky - Judge Susie Marshall Sharpe |
| Smith Foster - Conrad Reed | Troy Reid - General Nathanael Greene |
| Alex Hall - Dorothea Dix | Madeline Stanfield - Anna McNeil Whistler |
| Govind Harish - Wm. J. Gaston | |
Lower School Celebrates 100 Days
Students participated in 100th day celebrations on February 9, after having to delay the day several times due to bad weather! Kindergarten students were asked to create a project celebrating the number "100" such as Katie Todd (above, left with Mrs. Christiansen) with her groupings of crayons. Mrs. Horney's kindergarteners (above, right) practiced counting to 100 by 10's with each project. First graders (above, center) celebrated by showing off collections or projects and designed "100" hats and masks to honor the day.
WCDS Community Saddened by Loss of Chuck Hamblet
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Students Share Talents for Good Causes
Students in first and third grades collected $1,290.64 in pennies and small change to purchase school supplies for a school in Nakuru, Kenya. Another $78.25 was collected by one third grade student’s Girl Scout troop.
Student Government and Amnesty International students (photo at right) raised $680 for Haiti relief at a pancake breakfast. The groups have several more fundraisers planned to benefit the earthquake victims.
Students' Poems Published
 Carlson |  Watson | Two Westchester Country Day School students’ poems have been accepted for publication in the Creative Communication anthology.
Eighth-grader Nadia Carlson, a student in Mary Keever’s English class, submitted her poem, “Teenager,” and ninth-grader Kimberly Watson, a student in Allison Albert’s English class, entered her poem entitled, “My Savior.”
“We are so proud of these students for taking a risk and sharing their work,” said Keever. |
Less than half of the poems submitted to the Creative Communication contest are accepted for publication, and entries are judged by teachers, professors and poets. Since 1993, Creative Communication has been devoted to the promotion of language arts, and awards more than $150,000 to writers and their schools each year.
WCDS Announces Honor Rolls
Head of School’s List - Semester 1 - 2009-2010
Sixth Grade: Mike Bauman, Brett Bell, Tommy Boggis, Miranda Bryson, Casey Crouse, Jack Crouse, Josh Evans, Laura Folk, Carter Gay, Paige Hetley, Logan Kahny, Elliott Millner, and Libby Shaw.
Seventh Grade: David Cowan, Kess Hendrix, Nathan Leonar, Stephen Smith, and Kayla Watson.
Eighth Grade: Sam Argo, Mary Kate Farris, Andrew Foreman, Will Hart, Ryan Kahny, George Lindner, Rishab Revankar, Courtney Spencer, Chris Staton, and Catherine York.
Ninth Grade: Leah Caffey, Claire Councill, Avery Goho, Kennedy Thompson, Savannah Wellington, and Patrick Williford.
10th Grade: McKelvey Bump
11th Grade: Dylan Gaffney, Jessica Grzyb, and Jay Kennedy.
12th Grade: Taylor Christiansen, Sara Couch, Caroline Owings, Abbey Pfister, Ashley Saurel, and Mickey Williard.
A,B Academic List - Semester 1 - 2009-2010
Sixth Grade: Leila Abebe, Jack Argo, Elisabeth Bachmann, Ryan Beale, Montgomery Belk, Jacob Breece, Liam Carlson, Gracie Clinard, Hardin Councill, Taylor Freeman, Montana Heinbach, Connor Lowe, Curtis McClelland, Kaymon Mitchell, Kyle Niner, Dylan Sellers, Chase Sheffield, Sarah Wahid, and Wyatt Wellington.
Seventh Grade: Daniel Ayodele, Jean-Michel Corbier, Andrew Couch, Bo Henley, Campbell Kinley, Russell Marion, Meg McLemore, Jack Patterson, Andrew Rowley, and Lowie Vandeplancke.
Eighth Grade: Tyler Atkinson, Jessica Barker, Baxter Bruggeworth, Chase Carroll, Maria Cortez-Perez, Daniel Crooker, Tommy Frungillo, George Heath, Hunter Heinbach, Messiah Henderson, Anna Hood, William Jeffers, Avery Keefe, Julia Sagerdahl, Thomas Verellen, Cameron White, Garrett Willard, and Phillip Young.
Ninth Grade: Haleigh Breece, Josh Burton, Tyler Fairly, Mary Marshall Fariss, Elizabeth Folk, Thomas Freund, Bailey Gilliam, Olivia Greeson, Micah Hedgepeth, Hunter Hess, Meghan Ingram, Christian James, Alexis King, Lizzy Lawrence, Oby Nwamu, Bele Seyoum, Mary Bryan Smith, Katarina Terentieva, Emma Thomas, and Leigh Tyson.
10th Grade: T.J. Baber, Brian Ball, Adam Niner, Rachel Nulty, Katie Rice, Alex Simpson, Jessi Stockinger, Tyler Thompson, Davis Tucker, Luke Vandeplancke, and Grey York.
11th Grade: Dalya DuMarieh, Gasser Elsayed, Kathryn Frye, Adam Goho, Terrence Hearst, Heleana Henderson, Logan Icenhour, Grace Lee, Sarah Lindner, Wil McBride, Ike Nwamu, Abby Procton, Robyn Terrell, and Michael Tufano.
12th Grade: Ashley Acuff, Elizabeth Coughlin, Austin Greeson, Will Holland, Chris Lewis, Thomas McGukin, Braeden Moore, Amy Rowley, Courtney Shannon, Sloan Tucker, and Katherine Walker.
Head of School's List - Quarter 2 - 2009 – 2010
Sixth Grade: Mike Bauman, Montgomery Belk, Brett Bell, Tommy Boggis, Miranda Bryson, Casey Crouse, Jack Crouse, Taylor Freeman, Carter Gay, Montana Heinbach, Paige Hetley, Logan Kahny, and Elliott Millner.
Seventh Grade: David Cowan, Kess Hendrix, Nathan Leonar, and Kayla Watson.
Eighth Grade: Andrew Foreman, Will Hart, William Jeffers, Ryan Kahny, Rishab Revankar, Courtney Spencer, Chris Staton, and Catherine York.
Ninth Grade: Leah Caffey, Claire Councill, Avery Goho, Kennedy Thompson, and Patrick Williford.
10th Grade: Brian Ball, McKelvey Bump, and Alex Simpson.
11th Grade: Dylan Gaffney, Jessica Grzyb, and Jay Kennedy.
12th Grade: Taylor Christiansen, Sara Couch, Chris Lewis, Caroline Owings, Abbey Pfister, and Mickey Williard.
A,B Academic List - Quarter 2 - 2009 – 2010
Sixth Grade: Leila Abebe, Jack Argo, Elisabeth Bachmann, Ryan Beale, Jacob Breece, Hardin Councill, Josh Evans, Laura Folk, Connor Lowe, Curtis McClelland, Kaymon Mitchell, Kyle Niner, Dylan Sellers, Libby Shaw, Chase Sheffield, Sarah Wahid, and Wyatt Wellington.
Seventh Grade: Daniel Ayodele, David Ayodele, Jean-Michel Corbier, Andrew Couch, Bo Henley, Campbell Kinley, Wyatt Lansford, Russell Marion, Andrew Rowley, Stephen Smith, and Lowie Vandeplancke.
Eighth Grade: Sam Argo, Baxter Bruggeworth, Chase Carroll, Daniel Crooker, Mary Kate Farris, Tommy Frungillo, Hunter Heinbach, Messiah Henderson, Anna Hood, Avery Keefe, George Lindner, Julia Sagerdahl, Thomas Verellen, Cameron White, and Phillip Young.
Ninth Grade: Mary Marshall Fariss, Elizabeth Folk, Thomas Freund, Bailey Gilliam, Olivia Greeson, Micah Hedgepeth, Meghan Ingram, Christian James, Alexis King, Lizzy Lawrence, Bele Seyoum, Mary Bryan Smith, Katarina Terentieva, Emma Thomas, Leigh Tyson, and Savannah Wellington.
10th Grade: T.J. Baber, Clayton Brewer, Kristen McDowell, Caroline Muir, Adam Niner, Rachel Nulty, Jessi Stockinger, Tyler Thompson, Davis Tucker, Luke Vandeplancke, and Grey York.
11th Grade: Dalya DuMarieh, Gasser Elsayed, Trigg Fariss, Kathryn Frye, Adam Goho, Terrence Hearst, Heleana Henderson, Logan Icenhour, Grace Lee, Wil McBride, Devin McLemore, Ike Nwamu, Abby Procton, and Robyn Terrell.
12th Grade: Ashley Acuff , Elizabeth Coughlin, Austin Greeson, Will Holland, Thomas McGukin, Braeden Moore, Natalie Payan, Amy Rowley, Ashley Saurel, Courtney Shannon, Sloan Tucker, and Katherine Walker.
WCDS Announces Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
 Crane |  Cornwell | Westchester is pleased to annouce the inductees to 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame, Mary Katherine Warburton Crane '01 and Jerry Coble Cornwell '78.
Cornwell was a standout in basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball at Westchester, and continued to play and coach basketball in college and beyond. During her time here on the hard court, Cornwell boasted more than 1,200 career points, was the MVP in state and conference tournaments, was All-Conference many years, received the Female Athlete of the Year Award, and was a member of the state championship team three years in a row. |
She was also All-Conference in volleyball and softball, and led those teams to conference championships as well. On the tennis court, she was a state doubles runner-up. Cornwell received a basketball scholarship to the College of Charleston, and came back to Westchester to coach our girls to a state championship after college. She went on to become the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Guilford College and led that team to its first post-season play in school history.
Crane was also a multi-sport athlete, achieving 5-year letters in volleyball and basketball, and a 6-year letter in soccer. In volleyball, she achieved All-State, MVP, Conference Player of the Year, and All-Conference honors, and was a member of the Victory Christian All-Tournament team. In basketball, she MVP for four straight years, All-Conference for three years, and was named Conference Player of the Year. Soccer honors include All-State, MVP, Conference Player of the Year, All-Conference, Academic All-Conference, State Runner-Up, and Athlete of the Year. Crane was a member of the Cape Fear All-Tournament Team, and currently is assistant coach of the Westchester Country Day School Middle School Girls’ Soccer Team.
Upper School Photography on Exhibit
A number of photos taken by students in Ann Parks's digital photography class, including this one by senior Thomas McGukin, were selected for an exhibition at the Theater Art Galleries in High Point. Other students with works on display are Taylor Christiansen, Carey Ilderton, Abby Procton, Beverley Reynolds, Sloan Tucker, and Michael Tufano.
Holiday Giving Helps Neighbors Near and Far
Students in every division participated in a variety of holiday giving projects during the month of December, one of which is ongoing.
In Upper School, students collected books for students in kindergarten through second grade at Fairview Elementary School, one of Guilford County's lower income schools. Our 10th grade students wrote letters to accompany each wrapped book.
In Middle School, following a very successful "clean out your bathroom cabinet" campaign earlier in the year to benefit residents at Ward Street Mission, students collected toiletries for seniors at a variety of local nursing homes. Students were asked to select one personal item to purchase while the Student Government donated items as well.
Students in kindergarten, second, fourth, and fifth grades gathered new, unwrapped gifts to donate to the Fox8 Gifts for Kids drive which supports the Salvation Armies of the Piedmont. The toys were delivered to the television studio on December 15.
First and third grade students are still working on their collection of pennies and small change to help purchase school supplies for a school in Nakuru, Kenya. A High Point couple who helped build the school will be visiting the school in February and will be taking our donation along with letters from our students.
Members of the WCDS faculty collected canned food for the Ward Street Mission Pantry in High Point.