WCDS WELCOMES NEW TEACHERS

This August, Head of School Kathleen Grove welcomed ten new teachers to the WCDS faculty, expressing her satisfaction with the diversity of background and experience that these very qualified teachers bring to the school. Mrs. Grove noted, “They are committed to the high expectations for achievement and character promoted by their new school.”

Nicole Brady comes to WCDS from Buzz Aldrin Elementary School in Reston, Virginia. She will have primary responsibility for grade six, and will teach fifth grade science. Ms. Brady has a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, a Masters from Marymount University, and graduate school instruction in technology from Old Dominion University. She joins her husband in Rappahannock County where they are building their new home.

Kim Burgess joins the lower school as a teacher in first grade. Ms. Burgess has taught in Warren County and lives in Middletown, Virginia. She obtained a B.S. degree from James Madison University.

Sra. Angeline Cancio-Bello will teach upper school Spanish. She has a Bachelor’s degree from University of Puerto Rico, a Master’s degree in psychology from Inter-American University, has taught at in a boarding school in Latin America and in parochial schools in the United States. This summer she completed a seminar in Advanced Placement Spanish endorsed by the College Board. Bienvenidos, Sra. Cancio-Bello!

Tara Johnson from Front Royal will be working in the kindergarten as an assistant teacher. Her credentials range from a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Communications from Elizabeth Town College, Pennsylvania to a degree in Interpretation of the Deaf from Galludet University in Washington, D.C. She has worked as an American Sign Language interpreter, as a teacher of American Sign Language at Lord Fairfax, and as a volunteer with the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan.

Joining the WCDS science department, Alexander Popkin will teach pre-calculus, calculus, physics and chemistry. Mr. Popkin comes from Nashville, Tennessee where he recently completed his Masters in mathematics at Vanderbilt University. He obtained his undergraduate degree in computer science and coursework in physics and chemistry from Harvey Mudd College. Mr. Popkin is excited about teaching in the new science labs installed at WCDS this summer.

Lower school music will be taught by Regine Roger, a private music teacher from Culpeper, Virginia. Ms. Roger has a Bachelor of Science in Music with a concentration in voice from the City University of New York. In addition to teaching lower school music, Ms. Roger will work with the the upper school chorus and may offer piano and guitar lessons.

Susanna Spencer joins us from Madison, Virginia as the new librarian. Ms. Spencer has a Bachelor of Science in United States History and Sociology/Secondary Education from Indiana University, and a Masters of Arts in American Civilization and Museum Administration from George Washington University. She is enrolled at present in a Media Specialist Program at Longwood University in Virginia.

Nancy Waldron will have primary responsibility for grade five, sharing duties for sixth grade with Ms. Brady. Ms. Waldron recently relocated to Warren County from Fairfax, Virginia where she taught at St. Leo’s. Her undergraduate degree is from Tulane University with postgraduate coursework at University of New Orleans, University of Virginia, and Trinity University.

The WCDS Mathematics Department welcomes Damain Alexander Wassel, a graduate of the College of William and Mary magna cum laude with a B.A. in philosophy and a minor in mathematics. Mr. Wassel will be teaching Algebra I & II, Geometry, and Philosophy. He has worked as a tutor and instructional assistant, and he is a recipient of the Jerry Miller Award at William and Mary for excellence in philosophical writing.

Paul Weaver comes to WCDS from Fort Valley, Virginia, and will be teaching English 9 and pre-algebra. Mr. Weaver holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Saint Vincent College and a Masters from the University of Dayton.

Mrs. Grove looks forward to a very successful school year with an outstanding faculty of which 61% hold Bachelor’s degrees and 39% have earned Master’s degrees.

Dressed in colorful Medieval costumes, eleven excited Wakefield Country Day School (WCDS) students, ranging in age from four to eleven, climbed aboard the WCDS float on the afternoon of Friday, August 17th, and rode in the Flint Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Carnival Parade. The group was escorted by Head of School Kathleen Grove, and junior Katie vonFange, who led the Key Club in decorating the float and helped organize the participants.

The students could hardly contain their enthusiasm as they eagerly waved and tossed candy to the friendly spectators who lined the streets of Flint Hill. This is the second year that the school has entered a float in the fire company’s popular annual parade, and the students were thrilled to have the opportunity to participate. According to rising third grader Haze Packwood of Sperryville, it was a dream come true to be able to ride on a float. “It is something I’ve been wanting to do all my life!” she declared.

An unexpected bonus to participation in the carnival festivities was having the Wakefield float receive the 2nd Place trophy later that evening.

According to Mrs. Grove, throughout the year, the volunteers who run the Flint Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company are extremely supportive of WCDS. “Whether it’s sending out a crew to instruct our younger students during Fire Prevention Week or ‘standing by’ at the annual Homecoming Bonfire, we can always count on Company 4. We deeply appreciate all that they do for the community.” To help show their support for the fire company, Wakefield students annually man one of the carnival booths, and this year they also contributed baked goods.