Mission & Philosophy

Westchester Country Day School is an independent school that teaches and guides students in grades PK-12 and prepares them for college, career and community impact.

Mission

To cultivate responsible citizens and leaders by embracing all backgrounds and nurturing personal excellence.

Motto

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano, which means a sound mind in a sound body.

Philosophy

Westchester Country Day School seeks to educate each child toward moral, academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in a community-centered learning environment that fosters independent thinking, personal growth, and service to others. Our challenging college-preparatory program integrates academics with fine arts offerings, athletic opportunities, and community service projects in support of our mission. Because we believe character education is critical to lifelong success, we cultivate honor, respect, responsibility, compassion, and service through all academic and extracurricular activities.

• The Westchester community believes that a student is best prepared for the future by actively participating in a challenging academic program that enriches the acquisition of knowledge with opportunities for independent critical thought. While we provide a demanding curriculum that imparts the information and develops the skills essential for academic success, we recognize that students need more than mere knowledge or skills to succeed: they must also possess the self-confidence and the self-awareness that enable them to rely on their own judgment and capabilities. Westchester therefore helps students develop as individuals, encouraging them to express their own ideas while appreciating and valuing the ideas of others.
• The Westchester community believes that a supportive school environment provides the best opportunity for personal growth. We believe that respect, trust, encouragement, and understanding foster a sense of community from kindergarten through graduation. Because we believe that this sense of community is conducive to self-discovery and creative expression, Westchester cultivates supportive relationships among students, faculty, and families from various social, economic, religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds to support our shared mission and goals.
• The Westchester community believes that service learning enriches our students’ lives by raising awareness and consciousness of issues affecting not only our own neighborhoods but also the global community. Incorporating service-learning into our curriculum instills a sense of responsibility and compassion by providing students with opportunities to positively partner with local and global communities. Service-learning also enhances students’ understanding of sociological concepts, offers insight into their career paths, and promotes a lifelong commitment to civic and environmental engagement.

By embracing these beliefs in all aspects of student life, Westchester Country Day School offers its students an opportunity for development—one that melds the acquisition of knowledge to personal growth in a uniquely supportive academic community.

Statement of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

We firmly believe our continued pursuit of excellence demands an emphasis on the values of diversity¹, inclusion², and belonging³. WCDS is committed to creating and sustaining an environment of respect. We celebrate and recognize that much is learned from many different perspectives and identities in a diverse community. By honoring differences, we build a community of belonging and success for all.

   ¹ Diversity is the range of human differences including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical abilities or attributes, religious or ethical value systems, national origin and political beliefs.

   ² Inclusion is a process of bringing people together from various backgrounds and creating an environment for success for all people.

   ³ Belonging is a feeling of active security, acceptance, and celebration within a group or in an environment.

Drew, J. M. (2020). Step 2: Eliminate Confusion & Chaos. In Sharpen Your Inclusion Edge (Vol. 1, pp. 44-47). Greensboro, NC: Social Designs.