Christmas Through The Eyes of a Child

Wakefield Country Day School wound up its last week of school in 2006 with an entertaining Christmas performance by the pre-school, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes on December 20th. The little ones, who ranged in age from three to five years old, sang their hearts out in a selection of melodies that included "Up on the Housetop," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Pre-K gave a rousing version of "Old St. Nicholas had a Tree," - a variation on the tune, "Old MacDonald had a Farm," and the Kindergarten acted out "The Twelve Days of Christmas," to the delight of their audience. Not to be outdone, the Pre-School gave a memorable performance of "O Christmas Tree." The finale was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," followed by individual class parties and a visit from Santa Claus.

Focusing on the True Meaning of Christmas

The December 5th WCDS Assembly began with the relighting of the first candle of the Advent wreath, and a first grader lit the second candle. Head of School Kathleen Grove reminded the students of the importance of focusing on of the spiritual and giving aspects of this holiday season, rather than the commercial side. Six students from the upper school Spanish classes took the stage to sing “What Child Is This” and “Deck the Halls” in Spanish, accompanied on saxophone by 11th grader Alex Shafran. Next, the Latin students assembled to sing “Adeste Fideles.” Mrs. Grove recognized the winners of the Inn at Little Washington art contest: Bernie Cieplak, Monica Marciano, Shivam Mehta, and Caroline Murray. She also congratulated the winners of the Samuels Library Christmas Writing Contest: Gena Boice, Kathryn Phillippe, Parker Rose, Tatumn Vaught, Megan Kelley, Brier Clough, Will Mullany, Bret Heddleston, and Brittany Spence.

Virginia Junior Classical League Awards

On November 19-20, a group of twenty WCDS students attended the Virginia Junior Classical League Convention held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. 1,221 Latin students from around the state attended the Convention, which included a variety of academic, artistic and dramatic competitions relating to Latin. The twenty students, who are taught by John McMahon and Welby Griffin, brought home 55 awards. Students from Rappahannock County who won awards are: Jessica Coello (7th in Large Models, 8th in Jewelry, and 9th in Latin Derivatives); Bret Heddleston (2nd in Mythology, 4th in Roman History, 4th in Vocabulary, and 8th in Roman Life and Culture); Katie Huang (5th in Vocabulary, 6th in Modern Myth Story, and 6th in Dramatic Interpretation); Ian McCool (8th in Vocabulary); Will Mullany (2nd in Ink Drawing, 3rd in Classical Geography, 4th in Pencil Drawing, 4th in Roman History, 7th in Mythology, 9th in Omnibus test and 10th in Overall Standings, Grades 5 – 8); Christine Pankow (5th in Roman Life and Culture, 6th in Reading Comprehension, 9th in Mythology, 9th in Vocabulary, 10th in Roman History); and Alice Silva (2nd in Jewelry and 5th in Pottery).

College News 

Christmas came early to several seniors at WCDS. Recently, Ben Luke learned that he had been accepted to the University of Virginia (early decision); Kate Kevis was awarded a $48,000 scholarship to Lynchburg College; Saawan Mehta was accepted at Washington and Jefferson College and awarded a $40,000 merit scholarship and also received acceptance from Randolph Macon College with a $38,000 presidential scholarship offer. On the subject of SAT scores, one of Wakefield’s international students, Se Youn Lim, who has spent 4 years at WCDS, achieved a perfect “800” on his Mathematics SAT.

Christmas Concert “SRO”

WCDS hosted its annual Christmas Concert last Friday evening, to a standing-room-only crowd. This year’s concert was entitled, with “A Holiday Journey,” with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” leading things off. Students from the kindergarten through seventh grade, along with the prep school’s Wakefield Singers, entertained their audience with many favorite carols and songs, ranging from solemn hymns like “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night” to the more playful “Sleigh Ride, “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” The first grade stole the show with their version of “The Little Drummer Boy,” complete with Mary, Joseph and the Wise Men, although the Wakefield Singers’ “Santa Baby” was also a clear favorite. Two representatives from each grade concluded the program with a moving, “A Candle for Remembering.” At the end of the performance, Head of School Kathleen Grove congratulated music teacher Betsy Neph for the inspiring numbers, and then the students spontaneously rose to give Mrs. Neph a standing ovation.

Congratulations to the Wakefield students who were recognized for their Christmas stories and artwork at the Samuels Library in Front Royal: Brooke Miller, Kathryn Phillippe, Gena Boice, Parker Rose, Tatumn Vaught, Brier Clough, Will Mullany, Bret Heddleston, and Brittany Spence. According to the library staff, WCDS had the most winners of any school in the competition. A copy of the collection is on display in the Wakefield lobby.

Christmas Revels

5th ANNUAL WAKEFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL “ART FROM THE HEART” SHOW A GREAT SUCCESS – THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF MANY

When Wakefield Country Day School’s (WCDS) friend Kathy Tredway first came up with the idea back in 2002 of bringing together local artists to help raise funds for the school, little did she know that blending her love of children and animals into an artistic theme would become an annual tradition that has proven to be not only a great fundraiser for Wakefield’s fine arts program, but also an extremely popular social gathering in Rappahannock County.

Thanks to many generous patrons, supporters, artists, guests, and numerous volunteers, this month, Wakefield Country Day School celebrated its fifth successful Annual “Art from the Heart” Show and Auction. Over 200 guests gathered in the WCDS Auditorium to socialize and bid on the artistic creations of students and 36 talented area artists. Offerings covered a wide range of media, including oils, pastels, watercolors, photography, ceramics, mixed media and jewelry and before the evening concluded, 31 artists had sold at least one of their works. Artists like Jules Reed came all the way from Fredericksburg, and Elizabeth Locke of Bryce, “jeweler to the stars,” contributed a stunning pair of earrings on which guests could bid. The participants ranged from young artists Tyler and Austin Burdick, to WCDS grandparent Lynne E. Summers. Other participating artists include: Kevin Adams, DeEtte Axelson, Janet Brome, Jeffrey Bussells, Kathy Chumley, Evelyn Cowles, Jeanne Drevas, Deborah DuMez, Anthony Elar, Sandra Forbush, Benita Gowen, Andrew Haley, Barbara Heile Sherwood, Laura Heywood, Tucker Hill, Joyce Hunt, Chris Johns, Steven Kenny, Nancy Keyser, Marcy Lynn Lauben, Richard Lykes, Thomas Mullany, Rick Myers, Sara Schneidman, Chris Stephens, Merrill Strange, Thomas Tepper, Geneva Welch, Linda Witt, Martin Woodard, and Suzanne Zylonis.

Numerous volunteers worked behind the scenes to make the fundraiser such a success, led by event co-chairs Nancy Moon Smith and Pam Kiser, who spent countless hours on the many details that go into making an event like this come together. Nancy’s husband Dayn, a master chef who owns several restaurants in Puerto Rico, created sumptuous hors d’ oeuvres for the Patron’s Champagne Reception, and the Flint Hill Public House did their usual great job of providing appetizers and desserts for the General Reception.

Once again, WCDS art teacher Suzanne Zylonis inspired her students to create wonderful works, which were offered during the live auction portion of the evening. Ms. Zylonis, with help from WCDS parent and local artist Barbara Heile Sherwood, painstakingly hung the art and created that “gallery-look,” transforming the Leonard M. Cowherd auditorium.

Wakefield students Alex Shafran and Grace Alexander entertained the guests with their musical talents, with Alex on saxophone and Grace on violin, interspersed with holiday favorites played on piano by math teacher Emma Sue Amos. Helping to set the mood, the Wakefield Singers, led by music teacher Betsy Neph, performed “What a Wonderful World,” “The Christmas Song,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

During the live auction, WCDS Academic Dean Rachel Bechtold was quite adept in convincing the crowd to raise their bid cards in support of Wakefield’s fine arts program. She not only auctioned off the student art, she managed to generate over $6,000 in pledges for the school’s newly launched instrumental music program, an amount which was then matched by an anonymous alumni parent.