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Onward
an MCDS MAGAZINE
Fall 2013
2012-2013
Annual Report
enclosed
Every child possesses an
extraordinary capacity to learn.
— MCDS founding philosophy
Garden
Libby Center ʼ13
Acrylic paint on canvas paper
Thank you to Sara Riha P’20, ’18 and Madison Avenue Worldwide for designing this publication.
Learn more about them at madisonavenueworldwide.com
Campbell Comer ’25 examining worms in Science class, spring 2013.
Luke W. Felker Head of School
Onward Contributors
Robin Garcia Director of Development
Dana Asmuth Director of Marketing
Courtney Comer Parent Volunteer
Ann Schwede Parent Volunteer
Kimberly Felker Marketing and
Development Associate
Beatrice Jones School Secretary
Board of Trustees
Kimberly Hazen, M.A. Chair
Sandra Fernandez, Ed.D. Vice-Chair
Erick Hallick, B.S. Secretary
Lynn Kaminski, C.P.A., B.B.A. Treasurer
Kathy Baus, M.D.
James Gallegos, J.D.
Mark Louden, Ph.D.
Patrick Riha, M.B.A.
Suzanne Rusch, B.B.A.
John Schaffer, Ph.D.
Eric Schmidt, M.B.A.
Thomas Shorter, J.D.
Jerry VanKirk, M.Div., Th.M.
Sheila Young, B.A.
Honorary Trustees
Erica Christman, M.H.A.
Eric McLeod, J.D.
Christopher Priebe, M.F.A.
Head’s Letter 2
MCDS Moments 4
In Focus with Faculty 6
Teamwork & Triumph 12
Character & Community 13
Sustain & Thrive 14
Features
8 Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Next steps bring one alumni across the globe
and home again.
Special in This Issue
15 Annual Report
To add someone to the mailing list or to submit questions or comments about the magazine,
email us at [email protected]
Letter from the Head of School
Onward. One word … a mere two syllables … captures the very essence of human
evolution. When faced with challenges great and small, whether it be the need for a
stone age wheel or an effective process to pass along the accumulation of knowledge to
the next generation, the human species has persevered. When faced with the everyday
vicissitudes of life, with our courageous spirit we tackle what’s next, ideally with a sense
of awareness and compassion for the people, communities, and world around us.
With this inaugural issue of Madison Country Day School’s first bi-annual magazine, the
title Onward reflects so well the spirit of the many committed individuals who continue
to build our school community. MCDS began in 1997 with a vision to raise the bar for
American education. As the typical growing pains of a youthful institution ensued, those
who believed so passionately in the strengths of both an MCDS education and our
community persevered, never relenting on the promise of our mission. We stand here
today at the start of the school’s 17th year at a record enrollment level celebrating the
great successes of our students, of our seven graduating classes, and of our people,
from passionate faculty to generous parents.
As our community continues to thrive, expand, and ponder what’s next for an MCDS
education, we will seize … and live … the best of what “onwardˮ represents. As you
continue to join us on the school’s journey, take a few moments to peruse the features
on the following pages, from stories of success from MCDS alumni and new faculty, to
the value and exceptional outcomes of an MCDS education. Enjoy … and onward!
Warmly,
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Luke W. Felker
Head of School
MCDS is thrilled to welcome
Stacy Mattson as our new Head
of Lower School. With a B.S. in
Elementary Education and an M.S.
in Reading from the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater, Ms. Mattson
began her educational career as a
third grade teacher before spending
the past 15 years in administration,
including six as a principal.
Ms. Mattson has extensive expertise in
literacy and reading/writing instruction.
She also oversaw the Janesville
district’s Gifted and Talented Challenge
magnet program for students in
grades three through five and led
the implementation of a Mandarin
language program at the elementary
level.
When Head of Middle School
Devon Davis joined MCDS in January
2012, she brought boundless ideas to
enhance our Middle School and High
School student life and educational
experience. With a B.A. in Psychology
from the College of William and Mary
and an M.Ed. in Counseling from
Wake Forest University, Ms. Davis’
background as a school counselor
and administrator gives her a deep
understanding of the social and
behavioral needs of students.
“I am just so excited to be a member
of the MCDS team,” said Ms. Mattson.
“I am looking forward to building
strong collaborative relationships with
students, staff members, and families
in order to benefit continued student
learning and achievement in the Lower
School.”
Ms. Davis said, “I’m so thrilled to
develop stronger relationships with
the Middle School students. I also
see a huge opportunity to build on the
leadership and educational benefits
we offer students through our House
System and 9th Grade Academy.”
On weekends, Ms. Mattson can be
found spending time with her daughter,
son, and two stepsons, who are
busy with activities including piano,
baseball, tennis, and show choir.
Ms. Mattson loves the color pink, the
Milwaukee Brewers, and desserts! She
also enjoys creative writing and hopes
to write a children’s book someday.
In her first year, Ms. Davis launched
several significant new programs for
MCDS including our House System,
9th Grade Academy, and Girl Power
elective.
On weekends, Ms. Davis can be
found playing with her boys, Quinn
and Sullivan, ages six and three. She
also is passionate about soccer and
plays in a weekly indoor and outdoor
league.
Hannah Nelson expands her role
as the Head of High School after
teaching both math and science at
the MCDS Middle and High Schools
as well as working as a fifth grade
advisor last year. Ms. Nelson brings
both experience and her infectious
enthusiasm for learning to her
leadership role in the MCDS High
School. After earning a B.S. in Biology
from the University of WisconsinMadison and an M.Ed. from the
University of Vermont,
Ms. Nelson taught both math and
science for 10 years at schools
in Vermont and, most recently, at
the Watershed School in Boulder,
Colorado, where she also served as
the High School Team Leader.
Ms. Nelson said, “I am looking
forward to strengthening the already
stellar community culture at MCDS
and building deeper and stronger
relationships with all of our High
School students and families.”
Outside of school, Ms. Nelson loves
to bike, kayak, garden, walk her
dogs, hang out with friends, and
listen to live music. This summer she
enjoyed many of Wisconsin’s summer
music festivals. Ms. Nelson’s lifelong
dream is to travel the world, using
photography as a means to share
and introduce people to new and
unfamiliar cultures.
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MCDS MOMENTS
Eighth Grade Trip to Washington, D.C.
Sorting Ceremony
Eating Watermelon, Field Day
Tug-O-War, Field Day
All-High School Prom “On the Red Carpetˮ
Rockyʼs Fun Run
Kindergarten Graduation
Lower School Musical, 101 Dalmatians
Spring 2013
CELEBRATING OLD TRADITIONS ... CREA
4
ATING NEW ONES
5
In Focus
with Faculty
A Conversation with Michelle Laudermilk
Onward sat down with the school’s first Director of
Educational Technology Michelle Laudermilk to discuss
her new role and learn more about her vision for
technology at MCDS.
Onward: Describe your philosophy on technology in
education.
ML: Applying technology to any endeavor always has
been a game changer and no less so in education. There
is a lot of talk about how 21st century technology will
create a “new era of learning.” But really, does this lead
to a new way of teaching? Aren’t we just using new tools
to solve the same problems? Yes and no. I think some
of the problems we as teachers and learners always will
struggle with are just human nature—how to motivate,
how to give our best effort, how to be good citizens.
However, and it’s a big however, the way we work in
the 21st century will be radically different from the way
we’ve ever worked in the past! Today’s most current
technologies place a greater emphasis on effective
communication and collaboration.
Onward: How do you envision technology having a
larger role at MCDS?
ML: Integrating technology into any organization is
more than just having the latest and greatest devices.
Technology integration is really about organizational
I know it’s more than just designing state-of-the-art
network infrastructures or creating slick school portals
or deciding whether B.Y.O.D. (Bring Your Own Device)
is better for us than a 1:1 computer program. As always
with technology, we have to have the right skills in order
to use the right tools for the right job. It’s really about
teaching the teachers first.
One of the first priorities I’d like to set is
to help teachers, parents, and students
at MCDS understand some of the key
trends in education technology and
how technology is changing the way
we teach and learn. From there, we
can continue to create a shared vision
of technology at MCDS and develop
strategies to implement the technologies and programs
needed to bring the abstract into reality.
“We need to develop the essential conditions at MCDS
to effectively leverage technology in learning, and that
means everyone—administrators, teachers, staff, parents,
and students—has a role to play.ˮ
change and improvement. As with any school, we
need to develop the essential conditions at MCDS to
effectively leverage technology in learning, and that
means everyone—administrators, teachers, staff,
parents, and students—has a role to play.
MCDS has taken some critical steps in the last few
years, and I’m here to facilitate the next evolution of
technology and education. It has a huge role to play at
MCDS, and I’m excited to be a part of that.
Onward: What are your short-term priorities for
implementing technology at the school?
ML: As I think about a technology vision for MCDS,
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Onward: You’ve worked internationally, most recently
in Guangzhou, China. What drew you to MCDS?
ML: As soon as I saw the technology position listed at
MCDS, I knew it was a great opportunity, both personally
and professionally. I like that MCDS is an IB school and
has an international curriculum. My own experiences
in an international context have given me a deeper
understanding of the world around me and the people in
it. But more importantly they have shaped me in ways I
am only now just beginning to comprehend.
Meet the New Faculty
STACY BOLWERK, LS Physical Education
Ms. Bolwerk officially joins the Lower School as a Physical Education teacher
for grades two through five, as well as a Middle School advisor. Students will
recognize Ms. Bolwerk from her work this past year at MCDS as a substitute
teacher. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a B.S.
in Physical Education, Adaptive Physical Education, and Health. Fun fact: The
most weight Ms. Bolwerk has ever lifted is 360 pounds.
Harriet Chen Photography ©
DREW CIANCIA, MS/HS History
First Grade Teacher Julie Waddell receives instruction from our
new Director of Educational Technology Michelle Laudermilk.
I also like the fact that MCDS is a growing
school and technology is a relatively new
initiative here. It always is exciting to implement
new technology programs.
And I’m just as pleased now to be working and
living in the Madison area. After three years
in a concrete megatropolis, seeing blue skies
and hearing birds sing is wonderful. I’m even
looking forward to snow, I think?
Onward: What best practices in school
technology did you experience in China?
ML: The use of technology across China
is inconsistent. Fortunately, my school in
Guangzhou embraced the positive role that
technology can play. As the IT Coordinator, I
was able to implement many best practices,
including a five-year strategic technology
plan, an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), laptop
cart policy and procedures, IT issue tracking
system, resource booking system, resource
utilization reporting, and IT Operations policy
and procedures. I also managed the software
selection and implementation of an integrated
student information system.
Onward: When you are not focused on
computers, what might we find you doing?
ML: Sailing, anytime, anywhere!
Mr. Ciancia joins the Middle School and High School History Department
following six years at the Woodside Priory School in Silicon Valley as a high
school history teacher and department chair. Mr. Ciancia graduated from
Cornell University and completed his J.D. at the University of Pittsburgh Law
School. Mr. Ciancia earned his first M.A. in Politics, Security, and Integration at
University College London and his second M.A. in Educational Foundations and
Policy at the University of Michigan. Fun fact: Mr. Ciancia is an avid follower of
English Premier League soccer and travels to England twice a year to watch
Liverpool and Wigan FC, his wife’s local clubs.
FRANK CONWAY, HS Math and Physics
Dr. Conway will lead the High School Physics program and also will teach
Mathematics at the Middle School and High School levels. Dr. Conway earned
a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, all from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. For the past seven years he taught mathematics and
physics, first in New Glarus and then most recently in the McFarland School
District. Fun fact: Dr. Conway loves running and qualified for the Boston
Marathon three times, competing twice.
KATHERINE DALLAND, MS Humanities
Ms. Dalland joins MCDS in sixth grade Humanities. A National Board Certified
Teacher, Ms. Dalland completed her B.A. in Liberal Studies at Westmont
College and M.A. in Initiatives in Educational Transformation at George Mason
University. For the past 11 years she taught language arts at the middle school
level in suburban Washington, D.C. Fun fact: By the time she was in sixth grade,
Ms. Dalland had lost teeth on three different continents.
EVELYN LASKY, HS English
Ms. Lasky joins the High School to teach ninth and tenth grade English. She
taught high school English for four years, along with time spent as an instructor
and consultant while working on her advanced degrees. Ms. Lasky completed
her B.A. in English and Anthropology at Rice University, an M.A. in English at
the University of South Carolina-Columbia, and doctoral courses in English with
a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition at The University of Texas-Austin.
Ms. Lasky also is pursuing a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a
focus on adolescent literacy and creative writing at the University of WisconsinMadison. Fun fact: In high school Ms. Lasky was active in drama, performing in
several school productions, including 42nd Street.
KRIS WARNER, LS Music
Ms. Warner joins the Lower School Music Department teaching Pre-K and
Kindergarden music classes and piano lessons to students in grades one
through four. She also will direct the MCDS Spring Play in the spring of 2014.
With a B.A. in Music Education from University of Wisconsin-River Falls, she
taught for nine years at The Colorado Springs School in addition to another nine
years of music teaching in public districts. Fun fact: When Ms. Warner was 17
years old, she and her best friend sang the National Anthem at Lambeau Field.
SUSAN WHITE, LS Art
Ms. White comes to MCDS as our new Lower School Art teacher. Ms. White
has more than 20 years in the art field and began her education at the University
of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, earning a B.A. in Studio Arts. Later, she earned
an M.A.T. in Art Education from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
University and an M.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of California-Davis. Ms.
White was a juror this year for Art Fair on the Square. Fun fact: Ms. White took
guitar lessons over the summer with the guitar she has had for more than 20
years!
7
Oh, the Places You’
Next steps bring one alumni across the globe and
F
resh off a trek to India on his way back to Yale
University, Fabi Fernandez ’11 shared with
Onward some of the incredible things he’s been up
to since graduation.
Now a junior and global health fellow at Yale, Fabi
is majoring in Anthropology with a focus on medical
anthropology, the applied study of the social,
environmental, and biological factors that influence
health and illness. Medical anthropologists take a
holistic view and study an array of topics including
the interactions between traditional medicine
and biomedicine, patient-physician relationships
in multicultural societies, and practices for birth,
healing, and death.
Fabi’s studies include critical medical anthropology,
which focuses on the political economy of health
and concern for people who are often neglected
or stigmatized by the health community, including
indigenous peoples, racial minorities, immigrants
and transgender individuals.
8
ll Go!
home again.
9
According to Fabi, “It’s medicine, but it’s also social
justice. It’s compassionate and personal, but the
approach employs a critical theoretical framework.
Medical anthropology is changing the way we look at
health and the inclusion of those living on the margins of
society.”
Fabi knew that he wanted to work in medicine, but he
didn’t know from which angle he would approach it. Yale
offered an introductory class to Medical Anthropology,
and he fell in love with it. He became inspired by the work
of medical anthropologist and physician Dr. Paul Farmer.
Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social
Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Farmer is known for
his humanitarian work providing “first worldˮ health care
for people in the third world, most notably in Haiti.
While the program was shaped like a traditional semester,
the site visits and cultural experiences focused on
experiential learning. Fabi said he won’t forget speaking
with people from New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, visiting
food kitchens and orphanages in India, and going to the
Hindu temple with his host-father. All of these interactions
have shaped his commitment to global health.
We wondered where this MCDS grad will go next and how
he feels about the education he received on River Road.
Fabi’s interest further developed when he worked with
the Yale-Ecuador HIV Clinic Initiative on the rural coast of
Ecuador during the summer of 2012. That work inspired
him to pursue the intersections in medical anthropology
and public health, as he worked for populations who often
don’t have a voice.
Onward: Fabi, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
FF: After I graduate college, I want to go for a one-year
Masters in Public Health and then, fingers crossed,
get into an M.D./Ph.D. program for medicine and
anthropology. Ten years from now I hope to be working
in a university, teaching, practicing, and conducting
ethnographic fieldwork over the summer. I would like to
work with and advise international organizations like the
World Health Organization or Doctors Without Borders to
enact more lasting change.
Onward: How do you feel your MCDS education helped
prepare you for the rigors of college?
FF: MCDS taught me how to fall in love with academics.
Sure, you can go through school finishing problem sets,
writing papers and taking exams, but MCDS has given
me something more enduring. It’s given me the appetite
to really learn material, discuss concepts with others, and
initiate projects on my own.
Onward: What can you say about faculty at MCDS?
Attending a ceremonial elephant blessing in Tiruchirappalli, India.
More recently, Fabi participated in the International
Honors Program: Health Culture and Community.
Through this study abroad program, Fabi spent time in
New Orleans; Chennai, India; Buenos Aires, Argentina;
and Cape Town, South Africa, where he comparatively
studied social determinants of health. In each location,
Fabi lived with host families and took classes with
traveling professors.
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The teachers at MCDS are really passionate about the
subjects they teach and that enthusiasm is imparted to
their students. The small classroom settings and personal
relationships between students and teachers at MCDS
mean that every student has a voice.
That early foundation has given me the courage to meet
with professors and develop similar ties in college.
Because of my MCDS experience, I can speak up during
seminars and raise my hand in busy lecture halls at Yale.
My heart always races, but I have the confidence to
engage with my classmates and professors because I did
that all through school.
Onward: Do you think receiving an IB Diploma from
MCDS enhanced or better prepared you for college
life?
FF: The IB Diploma Programme is challenging, but once I
finished writing the last exam, I felt such accomplishment.
It was the cumulative effort of two years, and I’m so much
better off because of it.
I think that the rigors and expectations of the IB
Programme really prepared me to handle the heavy
coursework of college including a book a week, tests and
quizzes every other week, and final projects.
The Extended Essay prepared me to write longer research
papers. The Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) outreach
taught me to be an active participant in the community.
And, most fundamentally, the Theory of Knowledge
requirement taught me about epistemology, including how
we know things and how to navigate circles of knowledge.
Thanks to the IB Programme I was forced to compose a
sonata, conduct an ecological study on the prairie, sift
through 19th century newspapers, and initiate a number of
service projects in the Madison area. In college, that drive
and ability to handle independent projects is essential.
Onward: What was your favorite class at MCDS and
why?
FF: English, because of all the great literature we read,
including The Great Gatsby, Notes from the Underground
and works from the Romantic poets. They were all really
formative works for me, and our discussions of themes in
class are still some of the best academic discussions I’ve
ever had. Mr. Childs taught me how to think and write well,
and for that I’m forever indebted.
Onward: MCDS is in the midst of growing its High
School. What thoughts can you share with eighth
graders and current High School students about what
differentiates the MCDS High School experience?
FF: MCDS offers a unique experience. It’s a budding high
school without the ingrained culture and traditions of
other high schools. I imagine that a lot of kids may want
a more traditional experience. But if you stay, you’ll have
the opportunity to create a new culture at MCDS. The
Quest/Odyssey Houses, the exchange programs with
Japan and Ecuador, and the Talent Show are all examples
of traditions fueled by students. The High School is
academically rewarding, but it’s also an exciting time to be
a part of MCDS.
Onward: What are some of your special memories of
school life on River Road?
FF: MCDS is blessed to have a beautiful campus and
community. A lot of my best memories were in the great
outdoors. When I was younger I used to escape onto the
trails, play in the tall grass, and go canoeing on the Yahara
River. When I was older, I rowed out on the water with the
MCDS crew team and ran alongside the cross-country
team.
I’ll never forget all the moments when the entire
school would come together for Field Day, Spirit Day,
Homecoming, theater performances, musical events, and
Science Appreciation Day.
As an older student, it was nice to spend time with the
younger kids. I’ll never forget when Ms. VanBrocklin had
“Minus Manˮ fly in to teach her first graders subtraction
(the kids knew it was me behind the mask!), or the times
we’d go in to read Dr. Seuss stories to the preschoolers, or
the moments in the hallway when the elementary school
kids would recognize us older kids and wave. There’s
something really special about a community like MCDS.
Onward: Any words of wisdom you can share for next
year’s graduates?
FF: My sister, Fiorella ’14, is graduating next spring! So
from a brother to a younger sister all I can say is, “Enjoy
this last year of high school and get excited for college.”
My sister has taught me more than she’ll ever know.
And while the road through college is not an easy one, I
know she and the rest of her MCDS classmates will do
an excellent job wrestling with the challenges and finding
what they’re truly passionate about.
“Because of my MCDS
experience, I can speak
up during seminars and
raise my hand in busy
lecture halls at Yale.ˮ
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MCDS athletics
Teamwork & Triumph
Our First State Champion
Last May, Aidan Campbell ʼ16 captured the 2013 WIAA Division III
Track and Field State Championship in the 800 meter run with a
time of 2:19.88 as a ninth grader.
Historic Hoops
The first All-MCDS Junior Varsity Basketball team
played an outstanding first season during the
winter months of the 2012-2013 school year.
Did you know?
MCDS now has 31 athletic teams and many
club sports inspired by our active and interested
students.
MCDS Teams:
Basketball (10 teams), Soccer (8 teams), Volleyball
(6 teams), Cross Country (2 teams), Track and Field
(2 teams), Football, Golf, Ultimate Frisbee.
MCDS Club Sports:
Kick It!
More than 90 students participate on MCDS soccer teams.
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Crew, Cross Country Skiing, Downhill Skiing and
Snowboarding, Badminton, Girls on the Run.
Character & Community
In the spotlight
First graders Adrien Gallegos ʼ25, Voula Flessas ʼ25, Owen Luedtke ʼ25, Agapi Gialamas ʼ25 working together in the garden.
At MCDS, character education is a part of everyday student life. From all-school assemblies and
classroom meetings, to advisory sessions and mentor relationships, MCDS students are surrounded
by examples of good character traits, models for effective communication and conflict resolution,
and positive peer interactions as they develop into outstanding community members. The character
education program at MCDS received exceptional marks in the schoolʼs recent accreditation study by
the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).
The MCDS school garden is an example of character education in action. Under the love and
direction of Ms. Deakman, Pre-K teacher and garden caretaker, students learn to grow and harvest
vegetables and flowers in the school garden.
Each year, MCDS donates more than 50 pounds of its school-grown vegetables to Second Harvest
Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.
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Sustain & Thrive
Giving back within our community
“Volunteers have different ways
of sharing their time and talents,
but what I have noticed is that
our school truly shines when they
are working alongside us.ˮ
Director of Development Robin Garcia and her daughters Lilith ’18 and Mae ’22 joined MCDS in January 2013.
Reach her at [email protected]
My daughter asked me towards the end of last school
year what I thought the greatest moment at MCDS had
been since arriving last January. I couldn’t say. But then I
remembered Mr. Rogers, a hero of mine, and something
he taught me. The greatest moments in life are the
simplest and most quiet. The great things are rarely
center stage but they make all the difference.
And then I thought of the people standing in the wings at
school. Committed. Enthusiastic. Encouraging. As caring
for the experiences of their own children as they are for
every student and faculty member at MCDS. I thought of
our volunteers.
Volunteers have different ways of sharing their time
and talents, but what I have noticed is that our school
community truly shines when they are working alongside
us. Their time, however much, is a bright example of
philanthropy at its best.
I was asked to join the administration to build a
philanthropy program at school. Of course this means
14
that I will ask families to consider gifts to the school
through the Annual Fund or in support of our endowment,
or perhaps even in the building and renovations of our
beautiful campus. But I will focus equally on volunteerism,
tracking as much of the time contributed as I would a
financial gift to support the school’s mission. Visit us
online at www.madisoncountryday.org/Support-MCDS/
Volunteerism to discover the abundance of volunteer
opportunities at school.
We have a friend at MCDS, a three-year-old waiting
patiently for his turn to enroll, whose preference it is
to be adorned at all times by his cape. I believe he is a
superhero at heart, mighty and formidable, flying through
the air to save the day at a moment’s notice. I bet if
he looked closely, he would find a legion of heroes all
around him: MCDS volunteers who would do anything
to help a child and who contribute, immeasurably, to this
exceptional school community.
I hope you’ll join them.
— Robin Garcia P ʼ18, ʼ22
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Thank you.
2012-2013 Annual Report of Giving
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2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Letter of Gratitude
What motivates individuals in education to dedicate
so much of their lives to their students and their
school? When asked about their career choice,
many in education refer to it as a calling, a desire to
serve a need and a good greater than oneself. As
a teacher myself, I appreciate beyond words what
a powerful learning relationship between student
and instructor can accomplish within a classroom,
as well as the infrastructure that must be in place to
support these students and teachers.
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
This same calling can be attributed to the many
generous donors who give of their time, their
spirit, and their resources to Madison Country Day
School. This year’s Annual Report features the many
groups of exceptional individuals, from parents to
grandparents to faculty, who donated to sustain an
exceptional MCDS education. To give of oneself to
a cause greater than one’s own is powerful, bringing
a sense of purpose to our complicated world and
engendering the school community’s deepest
appreciation and respect.
Each and every story featured in both Onward
and this year’s Annual Report is ultimately made
possible by the philanthropic support of our
community of donors. Put simply, the Annual
Fund sustains the MCDS experience. Together
we raised over $275,000 in the 2012-2013 school
year, an accomplishment that serves as both a
cause for celebration and a call to future action.
The educational programs, passionate people,
and enriching experiences, which the Annual Fund
supports, make MCDS the home it is to all of us.
Let’s work together to contunue sustaining and
building our community.
On behalf of the faculty, staff, Board of Trustees,
and student body, we appreciate our committed
supporters for preserving and building our mission
and the promise we make to each family.
Thank you, Gracias, and
(Arigatō),
Luke W. Felker
Head of School
17
Your Generosity Positively Affects
Our Students Every Day.
The Annual Fund: Preserving a Promise
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
The Annual Fund preserves our promise to nurture the
extraordinary capacity that every child has to learn.
Meeting this promise is expensive, and as is the case
at all independent schools, tuition alone does not
cover the entire cost of educating each student. A
successful Annual Fund fills the 9% gap that is essential
to balancing the budget, making this the school’s most
important fundraising priority.
the arts also refine invaluable cognitive and creative skills
and have a tremendous impact on the development of
every student, Pre-K through 12th grade. At MCDS, the
arts strengthen problem-solving and critical-thinking,
imagination, and respect for alternative points of view. The
new risers reinforce this commitment and enhance the
feeling of self-confidence that comes from performance.
The Annual Fund impacts everything that happens at
MCDS. It supports a community where every child is
truly known by our talented and dedicated faculty. It
advances a curriculum, demonstrating great promise
through articulate, confident graduates and exceptional
test scores that often exceed national, international, and
independent school norms. It nurtures robust programs
in the visual and performing arts, athletics, and student
life. And it sustains our beautiful campus and facilities.
Rocky and MCDS athletes celebrate!
Athletics Continue To Develop
Ms. Stevens with Evi Yee ’21.
On the Rise(rs)
Thanks to the combined generosity of the Parent Guild
and anonymous contributors, MCDS replaced its choral
risers, an important tool in our musical education and
performance. Their replacement has an enormous effect
on the education of students of all ages at MCDS.
MCDS has long believed in the integration of music and
the visual arts with standard academic subjects.
In addition to nurturing the joy of learning with creativity,
18
The MCDS athletic program is essential in the
development of the whole child. Teamwork,
self-confidence, sporting behavior, and a lifelong love of
physical endeavor are nurtured by our ever-expanding
sports offerings. The 2012-2013 school year welcomed
two new programs. Junior Varsity Boys Basketball (and
its inaugural run in the Trailways Conference) and High
School Girls’ Soccer, a cooperative with area schools.
These additions were made possible by a healthy Annual
Fund.
A successful budget also contributes to equipment
needs, referee payments, contest fees, coach stipends,
and improvements in our outdoor facilities. In addition
to investments made in our fields, MCDS also made
improvements to its trail system used by our cross country
and track teams, Rocky’s Fun Run, and the school
community at large.
Campus Embraces Renewable Energy,
Thanks to Special Donors
Last fall marked another evolution for MCDS: the
installation of the largest solar panels at any school in
Dane County, thanks to a generous gift from a current
MCDS family. The system includes 216 Helios USA solar
panels that were manufactured in Milwaukee.
At Solar Day last May, Head of School Luke Felker said,
“This is a great opportunity for us to lower our electrical
costs while teaching a valuable lesson to our students
about renewable energy.”
Power from the 88.56 kilowatt system is used by the
school and any excess power feeds back to our energy
company, Madison Gas & Electric. The MCDS system
produces an estimated 100,000 kilowatt hours per year.
That amount is equivalent to usage of 10 to 13 average
homes, or 10% of the school’s electrical usage!
The environmental implications are significant, but
the solar electric panels have enormous potential in
educational applications as well. The new system
already is connecting to topics in science classes in the
Lower, Middle, and High Schools.
For example, second grade students are learning to
recognize how energy is expressed as heat, light, or
movement and that it can be changed from one form
to another. They relate this to the ways that solar
installation works. Fourth graders study renewable
versus non-renewable energy sources and specifically
how the solar energy becomes electricity for our
building.
In the Middle School, students study more complex
topics beginning with Atomic Theory in Earth Science
in sixth grade. They learn how electrons are liberated
from the panels and that the direct current is turned into
an alternating current. Eighth graders are focused on
meteorology, analyzing the effect of seasonality, latitude,
temperature, cloud cover, and atmospheric pollution on
the power output of the solar panels.
Ninth grade chemistry students study the chemical
basis behind the function of a monocrystalline solar
panel structure. Eleventh and twelfth grade students in
IB Biology utilize the panels to compare the harvesting
of light energy through chemical processes in
photosynthetic organisms with those processes used in
solar arrays.
Gifts like the solar panels are exceptional opportunities
for students and the entire school community.
19
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Aerial view of the new solar panel installation.
confidence
Parents and Grandparents who support our students demonstrate
in
our school. MCDS is grateful for the extraordinary support of its parent and grandparent
community. It is with appreciation that we acknowledge this special group of engaged and
contributors.
caring
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
up to $49
Jose Maria Donoso & Ana Banomera P’20, ’22
Jennifer Brixy P’19
Aaron & Marcia Field P’22
Martin Gaspar & Nirvana Tanoukhi P’23
Thomas & Penelope Gialamas P’25
Mark & Deborah Grunwald P’19
Kristine Heimerl GP’24
Santiago & Hilary Hernandez P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Peter C. Maier GP’21, ’19, ’17, ’16
Joseph McCance & Jeanne Knickerbocker-McCance P’18
Matt & Michelle Mulder P’22
Mark & Debbie Millman P’19
Erin Mueller P’12
Jeff Oakley P’22
David & Shelly Petzold P’24, ’21, ’18
Lee & Danika Rzentkowski P’25
David & Alice Schneiderman P’21
Syrus Soltaninassab & Maryam Mirkamari P’19
Caitlin Stade P’17
Mario Trujillo & Natalia Navarro-Albaladeju P’26, ’25
Par Winzell & Karen Meisner P’19
An anonymous donor
“MCDS provides my granddaughter with an educational
experience tailored to meet the needs of her personal
development. I see her capacity to learn is expanding because
she is in a supportive environment. The MCDS staff encourages
her willingness to try new opportunities even if they are outside
her comfort zone.
Connie Hegerfeld GP ’21
with her granddaughter Olivia.
20
Overall, the inner strength my granddaughter is developing at
MCDS is setting her up for a positive future! It’s important to
support MCDS so that future generations can benefit from this
educational experience like my granddaughter.”
— Connie Hegerfeld GP ’21
$250 - $499
Todd Anderson & Wangdue Tsomo P’23
Ken & Laurel Cavalluzzo P’25, ’22, ’20
Joe & Karen Fries GP’24, ’23
Thompson & Robin Garcia P’24, ’22, ’18
Mr. & Mrs. James W. Greer P’25
Melanie & Jeffrey Lee P’21
Mickle Maher & Jean Keleher P’21
Christopher & Heide Mallon P’24, ’21
Thomas & Mary Ann Mallon GP’24, ’21
Paul & Jana Martin P’22, ’18, ’16
Rowena Root GP’16, ’13
Dusan Szudor & Flower Janesova P’24
Owen Gwynne & Maria Welch P’16, ’13
$500 - $999
Eric & Kelly Ayala P’26, ’23
Michael & Jane Banks P’20
Tom Barnet & Susanne Thiede-Barnet
P’26, ’23
Andy & Elizabeth Benson P’21, ’18
Jeff & Freya Bowen P’26
Guilherme & Adriane Campos P’18, ’17
Jie Dai & Mingju Sun P’22
Prasad Dalvie & Preeti Raman P’24
Beth DeLair & Salli Ball P’21
Luke & Kimberly Felker P’11
Ron Guiao & Michelle Gleeson P’22
Ding & Chia Lin P’26
Lynn & Helen Louden GP’21
Alan Lozier & Ann Schwede P’24
Keyang Luo P’17
Heidi & Jeff Meyer P’20
Robert & Alice Mullen GP’26, ’20
Terri & Richard Reda P’16
Dennis & Sheri Rodefeld GP’20
Christopher Romes & Angela Jaenke
P’22
David & Judith Ruch P’17
Robert & Dea Schaller P’13
Judith Schueller GP’21
Mary Alice Streeter GP’12, ’08
Deloris Warren GP’26, ’25, ’24
Eric & Jenner McLeod P’17
Christopher & Tina Nielsen P’25, ’23
Bob & Suzanne Rusch P’22, ’20
Troy & Ariel Shibilski P’23
Kathy & Alan Singer P’18
Daniel & Kristine Sperling P’24
Gregory Thain & Miriam Levinson P’21
Alice & Obasi Torti P’20, ’18
Jerome & Tanya VanKirk P’22
Alexander Yevzlin & Paola Fliman
P’26, ’23, ’20
$2500 - $4999
Troy Alton & Marmar Miar-Alton P’17
Mark & Mary Jo Ashby P’17
Todd & Dana Asmuth P’25, ’22, ’21
Edo & Rebecca de Waart P’21, ’19
Erik Kimble & Annette Chen P’18
Richard & Michelle Oster P’20
Patrick Riha P’20, ’18
Charles & Elizabeth Wallman P’21
Anne Weiss & Peter Erk P’18
$5,000 - $9,999
Tony & Kathie Asmuth GP’25, ’22, ’21
Guy & Courtney Comer P’26, ’25
Muhammad Itani & Nadine Fakhran
P’24, ’22
Luis & Sandra Fernandez P’14, ’11
James Gallegos & George Anglin P’25
Nathan & Sarah Herbst P’27, ’25, ’22
Steven & Lynn Kaminski P’22, ’21
Craig Kent & Lisa Viscardi P’22, ’16
Bruce Meier & Wendy Fearnside P’09
Myron Pozniak & Kathleen Baus
P’14, ’10
Patrick & Elizabeth Rollins P’22, ’19
An anonymous donor
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
$50 - $249
Joy B. Anderson G-GP’26, ’23
John & Laura Ashworth P’22, ’19
Steve & Nancy Books GP’13
Mary Bosben GP’26, ’24, ’22, ’20
Kathi Callahan P’24, ’21
Sarah & Peter Cherchian P’27, ’24
Mark Childs & Amy Bradshaw P’20, ’22
Luke & Stephanie Christenson P’22
Ronald & Julie Christofferson P’23
Brian & Kayte Cunningham P’18, ’17
Duane & Jeanne Dederich GP’19
Jim & Karen Dreyer P’19, ’16
Peter & Mary Duff P’26, ’25
Dave Dwyer & Joan Bartel P’16
Jean Fawcett GP’18, ’17
Margaret G. Fawcett GP’18, ’17
Roberta Felker GP’11
Lisa Gallagher P’16
Kyle & Carol Green GP’19
James & Chulee Hallick P’24, ’22
Mark & Sarah Harrison P’25
Bret & Diana Hause P’18
John & Karen Hendrickson P’19
Susan & Jack Hendrickson GP’19
Paul & Emma Henke P’24, ’22
Armando Hernandez & Tara White
P’23, ’20
Les & Diana Howles P’23
John & Janice Kaminski GP’22, ’21
Abdul & Asmina Khan P’18
Tom & Hope Koprowski P’19
John & Linda Kuo P’25, ’23
Edward & Tammy Krez P’26, ’25, ’24
Frederick & Carol Krez GP’26, ’25, ’24
Christine Lidbury P’19
Brian & Tammy Linaberry P’17
Mark Louden & Jeanne Schueller P’21
Lucian & Ioana Lozonschi P’24, ’15
Melissa Lucarelli P’21, ’17
Eric & Kristina Luedtke P’26, ’26
Mark & Amy Maier P’21, ’19, ’17, ’16
Gregory & Sara Melotte P’18
Scott & Kathy Miller P’23
Melita Mullen Schuessler P’26, ’20
Pavitra Misra & Preeti Ojha P’26, ’25
Kevin & Mona Muldowney P’20, ’18, ’14
John Norback & Kathy Ley P’14
Amish & Nilam Raval P’25, ’22
Kartik & Preeti Reddy P’24, ’20
Dan & Gretchen Rodefeld P’20
Stephen & Jackie Rose P’22, ’19
Martin & Katrin Salva P’22, ’21
Laurie Sanford P’18
James Schuessler P’26, ’20
Roger & Shannon Seip P’24, ’22
Judge & Mrs. Shelvin Singer GP’18
David & Vera Skinner GP’20, ’16
Mark & Anne Marie Streeter P’12, ’08
Ray Tenebrusso & Margy Newton P’19
Geri Torti GP’18, ’20
Arthur & Kimberly Wagner P’22, ’18
Nicholas & Jessie Wurzel P’19
Robert & Elizabeth Zimmerman
GP’22, ’21
$10,000+
Three anonymous donors
$1,000 - $2,499
Brad Astor & Rhonda Vosdingh P’19
The Boyes-Hunt Family P’24
Peter & Erica Christman P’11
Nicha Chowpaknam P’25
Scott & Amy DiFiore P’21
Donna & William Dusso GP’20, ’17
John & Mary Erpenbach P’18, ’15
Anthony C. Evans & Suzanne Welsch
P’21, ’18
Judith Green & Margarita Zamora P’15
Kimberly Hazen, P’20, ’16
Vicki & Connie Hegerfeld P’21, GP’21
Peiman Hematti & Shirin Malekpour
P’21, ’17
Robert & Meg Hopton P’20
John Kao & Nicole Huang P’24, ’22
Daniel Manke & Catherine Lee P’24, ’24
Shawn & Colleen McGuire P’24
¬ P Parent ¬ GP Grandparent ¬ G-GP Great-Grandparent
We have made every effort to properly acknowledge our contributors. Please contact Robin Garcia at 608.850.6000 with corrections.
21
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
“Our fam
mission.
not only
provides
further.ˮ
22
Rick and Michelle Oster P’20
with their daughter Lizzie.
Madison Country Day School’s Yahara Society members demonstrate the power of
and a desire to sustain wonderful educational opportunities at Madison
leadership
Country Day School. They invest in the continuing development and growth of our school.
The Yahara Society recognizes with special appreciation those donors who make leadership
level gifts to Madison Country Day School of $1,000 or more annually. Membership is based
on the individual’s personal gifts and matching gifts during the fiscal year, July 1, 2012–
June 30, 2013.
Tom & Lisa Fitzgerald
Steven & Lynn Kaminski P’22, ’21
Craig Kent & Lisa Viscardi P’22, ’16
Erik Kimble & Annette Chen P’18
Daniel Manke & Catherine Lee P’24, ’24
Shawn & Colleen McGuire P’24
Eric & Jenner McLeod P’17
Bruce Meier & Wendy Fearnside P’09
Christopher & Tina Nielsen P’25, ’23
Richard & Michelle Oster P’20
Myron Pozniak & Kathleen Baus P’14, ’10
Patrick Riha P’20, ’18
Sara Riha P’20, ’18
Patrick & Elizabeth Rollins P’22, ’19
Bob & Suzanne Rusch P’22, ’20
Troy & Ariel Shibilski P’23
Kathy & Alan Singer P’18
Daniel & Kristine Sperling P’24
Gregory Thain & Miriam Levinson P’21
Alice & Obasi Torti P’20, ’18
Jerome & Tanya VanKirk P’22
Charles & Elizabeth Wallman P’21
Anne Weiss & Peter Erk P’18
Alexander Yevzlin & Paola Fliman P’26, ’23, 20
John & Sheila Young P’22, ’19, ’17
Four anonymous families
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Troy Alton & Marmar Miar-Alton P’17
Mark & Mary Jo Ashby P’17
Todd & Dana Asmuth P’25, ’22, ’21
Tony & Kathie Asmuth GP’25, ’22, ’21
Brad Astor & Rhonda Vosdingh P’19
The Boyes-Hunt Family P’24
Sarah & Peter Cherchian P’27, ’24
Peter & Erica Christman P’11
Nicha Chowpaknam P’25
Guy & Courtney Comer P’26, ’25
Edo & Rebecca de Waart P’21, ’19
Scott & Amy DiFiore P’21
John & Mary Erpenbach P’18, ’15
Craig Evans & Suzanne Welsch P’21, ’18
Donna & William Dusso GP’20, ’17
Luis & Sandra Fernandez P’14, ’11
Ron Guiao & Michelle Gleeson P’22
James Gallegos & George Anglin P’25
Judith Green & Margarita Zamora P’15
Erick & Barb Hallick P’20, ’17
Kimberly Hazen, P’20, ’16
Vicki & Connie Hegerfeld P’21, GP’21
Nathan & Sarah Herbst P’27, ’25, ’22
Peiman Hematti & Shirin Malekpour P’21, ’17
Robert & Meg Hopton P’20
John Kao & Nicole Huang P’24, ’22
Muhammad Itani & Nadine Fakhran P’24, 22
mily gives to MCDS because we believe in its
. We want to afford MCDS the opportunity
y to sustain the high quality of education it
s, but also to develop its programs even
— Rick and Michelle Oster P’20
23
growth
The Board of Trustees feels deep responsibility for the educational
and financial
of Madison Country Day School. MCDS is honored to recognize that 100% of
its Board contributed to the 2012-13 Annual Fund.
stability
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
2012-13 Board of Trustees
Kimberly Hazen, M.A., Chair
Sandra Fernandez, Ed.D., Vice-Chair
Erica Christman, M.H.A., Secretary
Lynn Kaminski, C.P.A., B.B.A., Treasurer
Mark Ashby, Ph.D., Trustee
Kathy Baus, M.D., Trustee
Erick Hallick, B.S., Trustee
Mark Louden, Ph.D., Trustee
Jim McNulty, B.S., Trustee
Patrick Riha, M.B.A., Trustee
Thomas N. Shorter, J.D., Trustee
Jerry VanKirk, M.Div., Th.M., Trustee
Luke W. Felker, Ex-officio
Honorary Trustees
Eric McLeod, J.D., Honorary Trustee
Christopher Priebe, M.F.A., Honorary
Trustee
Madison Country Day School gratefully
acknowledges the service of its retiring
trustees Erica Christman, Mark Ashby,
and Jim McNulty.
Welcome to the newest members of the
MCDS Board of Trustees, 2013-2014:
James Gallegos, Suzanne Rusch,
John Schaffer, Eric Schmidt, and
Sheila Young.
As a member of this school community for nearly 12 years, our family has
had front-row seats to amazing happenings at our school. We have seen
the high school take shape, attended the commencement exercises of its
inaugural senior class, danced to the first of many Jazz Showcases, drove
our daughter and her date to the first MCDS prom, and cheered as our
kids played soccer, basketball, and ran cross-country in an ever-growing
athletics program. It has been a remarkable journey.
My involvement as Chair of the Board of Trustees is a continuation of
this journey. When I look back on where we have been as a school, I am
so proud of what we have accomplished. And, while our school is not
the same school as it was when I first came to campus, I can promise
you that the core strength and the mission of MCDS has remained
unchanged. The Board of Trustees is entrusted with that mission, and it is
not a responsibility we take lightly.
For many years, I have helped coordinate the school’s Annual Fund, and
my first job was to ask the Board of Trustees for their financial pledges.
My logic was simple: as a board, we show our commitment to the school
by first financially committing to the Annual Fund. In addition, we know
that MCDS Alumni and their families have devoted countless hours to
this community, and it is the promise of our Board of Trustees that we will
ensure its future. We look forward to celebrating this community for many
years to come.
Thank you for helping us to build the legacy of MCDS for our children.
— Kimberly Hazen, P’20, ’16
Board of Trustees Chair Kimberly Hazen with her daughters Ada ’20 and Zoe ’16.
24
pride
Faculty and staff giving demonstrates school spirit and
. Years of study, training
and classroom experience puts the curriculum into action for learners of every age by a faculty
and staff with a boundless passion for education and a true love of children. 100% of the
MCDS faculty and staff generously added their contributions to the 2012-2013 Annual Fund.
3
13
4
6
11
3
2
6
5
3
12
1
5
1
2
12
6
7
8
5
12
1
3
12
2
1
1
Emma Murphy
Kathy Murphy
Natalia Navarro
Marshall Onellion
Maheen Ott
Shelley Petzold
Kelly Kirsh
Suzanne Porath
Dan Reinke
Jackie Rose
Danika Rzentkowski
Jon Schipper
Heather Sherry
Roger Solie
Barb Spurlin
Caitlin Stade
Maggie Stansfield
Aaron Steffes
Elizabeth Stevens
Jeff Stenroos
Julia Taylor
Ray Tenebruso
Carol Van Deelen
Kim VanBrocklin
Julie Waddell
Barbara Wolfman
Cindy Wotruba
1
5
1
2
8
14
8
1
6
3
13
5
1
7
9
7
2
1
2
2
2
12
6
12
3
3
11
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Dana Asmuth
Ana Banomera
Kay Bauerle
Robert Camosy
Mark Childs
Jeremy Clements
Devon Davis
Sue Deakman
Jake Eaton
Kimberly Felker
Luke Felker
Lianne Fish
Kathleen Franzen
Robin Garcia
Randy Hackbert
Beth Hall
Kriss Hamilton
Suzanne Harp
Karen Hendrickson
Patricia Jaume
Beatrice Jones
Brian Kerska
Kelly Kramer
Kristina Luedtke
Amy Maier
Hannah McNeill
Faith Morledge
¬ indicates years of service to MCDS
Ms. Rose working with her student Eric Kent ’22.
“Over the fourth of July holiday my son helped set up and run several game stations
at a celebration organized for our neighborhood children. People went out of their
way to share with me how helpful, polite, and good with the younger children
my son was. Always good news as a parent. I asked him afterward, if he thought
attending MCDS had anything to do with how he conducted himself at this event.
His answer was ’absolutely.’ I couldn’t agree more.
Much of what life is about is finding your purpose, developing skills, and discovering
the joy in service. This is what we do day in and day out at MCDS. This balance of
developing the self and the community is just one of the reasons why I give to the
MCDS Annual Fund.”
— Jackie Rose, P’22, ’19 and MCDS faculty member
25
believers
At Madison Country Day School, we have a community of
on our side.
MCDS is pleased to acknowledge the Special Friends, Foundations, and Corporations who
made gifts to support our school during the 2012-2013 school year. Their belief has an
invaluable effect on our students and their success.
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Friends of MCDS
Kerry & Randy Ahrens
Stephanie Cohen
Michael Dolan
Tom & Lisa Fitzgerald
Diane & Kevin Flynn
Peggy Hedberg
Marsha Liebson
Alice McPeek
Bill Raftery
Barry & Nancy Rich
Michael Kaplan & Beverly Richey
Rod Schlimpert
Msg. Charles Schluter
Nan W. Thompson
Dorothy Twiton
Daniel & Jeanne Wendtland
Achilles & Mary Zurawski
An anonymous friend
Foundation Support
Alliant Energy Foundation
Cherchian Family Foundation
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Hooper Foundation
John A. Johnson Scholarship Fund
Mattel Children’s Foundation
Corporation Support
Alliant Energy Corporaton
American Transmission Company
Community Change
CPM/HealthGrades
Dentistry West
Good Search
Great Big Pictures
Kraft Foods
Lands’ End
Madison Avenue Worldwide
Pro Roofing
SC Johnson
Target
26
“I love that I can actually talk to my
teachers outside of class without
making an appointment. I hear their
stories, and I feel like they are actual
people with whom I can connect.ˮ
Rizvan Moe ʼ17 joined MCDS last school year as a Prairie Hawk
scholar. He addressed 265 Gala attendees with his thoughts
about what MCDS had come to mean to him. The following is a
reprint of his remarks from last March.
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
My name is Rizvan Moe, and I’m a new eighth grader here at MCDS.
If I were to say the one thing that matters to me most at this school, it
would have to be the people that make up the community. But what is
a community? Well, a community is when my classmate Crystal tried
to help me with practicing piano even though she had only known me
for two days. A community is when I’m having a difficult time writing a
research paper and Ms. Davis calls me into her office just to see how
I am doing. A community is when Mr. Camosy tells us vibrant stories
about his adventures backpacking across Europe. A community is
when I say, “Hey!” to my older sister in ninth grade as we pass down
the hallway. A community is when I go to “Open Gym” on Saturdays
and play basketball with Mr. Stenroos. A community would be where
these things take place. A community is MCDS.
This community that I just described was very new to me at the
start of the year. It was more intense than just switching from one
public school to another. I was told that many of the kids here had
been going to MCDS from a very young age and had known each
other for a long time. I was terrified. Terrified I wasn’t going to fit in.
However, when I got here all the students and teachers welcomed me
graciously with open arms. They were expecting to be friends with
me, and that made a huge difference.
Here at MCDS I’ve learned that learning doesn’t just take place in
the classroom. It can happen anywhere with teachers or friends. I
love that I can actually talk to my teachers outside of class without
making an appointment. I hear their stories, and I feel like they are
actual people with whom I can connect. Just this week I talked to
Mr. Eaton about a new battery system that can hold a huge number of
electrons. I might be able learn about algebra, World War II, and the
phases of the moon at another school, but there’s something about
MCDS that makes learning just a part of what we do every day—not
behind a desk—and it’s all due to the people here, which is why
MCDS is so special to me.
— Rizvan Moe ’17
27
time
talent
From five minutes to 50 hours, gifts of
and
have a great impact on the
warm and supportive community that makes Madison Country Day School such a wonderful
school. Each year MCDS honors
volunteers who have made special and lasting gifts
of time to the school by welcoming them as Stepping Stones recipients.
2013
Erica Christman
Kayte Cunningham
Barb Hallick
Suzanne Harp
Lynn Kaminski
Jenner and Eric McLeod
Sheila Young
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
2012
Salli Ball
Andy and Liz Benson
Mark Childs*
John and Cynthia Everitt
Jay Hazen0 Cindy Wotruba* 2011
Jason Anderson*
Gwen Bosben
Kimberly Felker
Luke Felker*
Beth Hall*
Beatrice Jones*
Kathy Ley
Kristina Luedtke*
Chris and Mary Priebe
Ray Tenebruso*
Kim VanBrocklin*
2009
Rachel Kiser*
Shelley Petzold*
2008
Diane Flynn*
Heather Raabe*
Helga Swatzak*
2007
Laura Prichard*
2010
Ana Banomera*
Danika Rzentkowski*
¬ Denotes 10 years of teaching or administrative service to the school
Gwen Bosben Pʼ22, ʼ20; Jerry VanKirk Pʼ22; and Chulee Hallick Pʼ24, ʼ22 volunteered at Field Day, May 2013.
28
Annual and financial statements are
one way that we report our annual
achievements to you—the people
who support us and make our work
possible. But the work we do is
deeper than the capacity of these
reports to tell our story. Our ability to
educate is our highest priority, and a
balanced budget is essential to this
mission. Fiscal 2013 balanced with
revenues and expenses distributed
in the following way:
Revenue:
Expenses:
Compensation and Benefits — 70%
Instructional — 6%
Administrative — 4%
Physical Plant — 12%
Finance — 5%
Capital Expenditures — 3%
Please note that these results are unaudited.
Fiscal year 2013 Consolidated Statements of
Financial Position and Consolidated Statements
of Activities are being audited by Smith &
Gestland, LLC. Copies of the complete report
will be ready by winter 2014 and will be
furnished upon request.
As the financial stewards of Madison Country Day School, the
Board of Trustees and administration conservatively budget and
plan to ensure that each dollar creates the maximum impact
on the student experience. To hold the school’s future in trust
is a charge we take to heart. As a young institution, we have
guided the school's evolution while staying true to our mission.
Most recently, the school enjoyed a period of sustained growth
that continues to strengthen the school’s financial position,
opening a world of possibilities for what’s next at MCDS in both
programming and facilities.
Like virtually all independent schools, MCDS charges a tuition
that only covers a portion of the total cost of educating a
student. The remaining “gap” is made up through a variety of
means, including a robust annual fundraising program. In fact,
the Annual Fund supports the very core of a MCDS education:
a comprehensive liberal arts education from Pre-K onwards to
specific science and arts programs, professional development
for faculty and staff, and the expansion of extra-curriculars. As
we continue to grow, a successful Annual Fund will pave the
way for the implementation of the school’s second Strategic
Plan this fall as well as the renewal and expansion of our
current facilities in the coming years.
2012-2013 MCDS Annual Report of Giving
Tuition & Fees — 86%
Annual Fund — 9%
Other Income — 5%
Statement of Financial Position
You can count on the school’s conservative stewardship. Since
the school’s inception, the “gap” has decreased steadily from
over $5,000 per student to approximately $2,000 while further
building the student experience. We continue systematically
to seek out revenue apart from tuition, such as contributed
donations from the wider community and the creation of MCDS’
first endowment fund. We look to moderate future tuition
increases with these additional funding sources, including
the ongoing judicious rental of facilities and our first planned
giving program that allows for community members’ longterm financial planning to impact future generations of MCDS
students.
Ultimately, it’s the people of MCDS that make us a successful
community: faculty and staff who care passionately for their
work and our students; parents, grandparents, and friends who
give of their resources and time; alumni who return to campus
to reconnect with stories to share. The resources to sustain
this core of MCDS, our people, are critical. As you can see in
the financial charts, the vast majority of funds go directly to
the people and classroom materials that bring to life an MCDS
education for your children. With your ongoing support we will
continue to sustain the best of MCDS while expanding for the
future.
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Mischa Lewis-Norelle ’11 returns for “Mischa Madness,” a term lovingly coined to describe
the joy our youngest students feel when they see their friend back on campus.
Mark Your Calendar
Grandparents’ Day
Middle/High School Musical
Lower School Concert
Middle/High School Concert
Fine Arts Week
Jazz Showcase
October 4, 2013
November 1-3, 2013
December 11, 2013
December 12, 2013
January 27-31, 2014
January 31, 2014
5606 River Road | Waunakee, WI 53597 | 608.850.6000 | madisoncountryday.org