JANUARY 2ND ASSEMBLY

The first assembly of the new year featured recent WCDS graduates, who took turns describing their universities, discussing their experiences, and advising both the seniors and the younger students as they look to the future and consider their college options. Mrs. Grove introduced the panel, which consisted of Dan Carrier (James Madison University), Patrick Dale (University of Virginia), and Ben Luke (University of Virginia). Some of their observations included:

• “You are really well prepared in writing (all three graduates affirmed). My dorm mates are frantic over a five-page essay which I can write without a problem.”
• “Advanced placement courses really help you. You not only experience college level work, but you also earn college credits. The credits let you take more advanced courses or different and more interesting courses. You also register for classes based on how many credits you have, so having AP credits lets you register ahead of most of your classmates, which helps you get spaces in courses that fill up quickly.”
• “You really need good time management, especially in a dorm when all sorts of things are going on around you and you need to schedule hours for yourself to study. Students may be outside your dorm room playing video games or across the road playing basketball, and you have a test. You need the self-discipline that you learn here.”
• “I know you complain like we did about all the work and the sports and everything here, but don’t, because it really teaches you time management and prepares you for entrance into a good university.”
• “Take advantage of all the opportunities at your college; there is a club for every interest and these are a good way to meet people with interests like yours.”
• “Don’t stress! If you graduate from WCDS, you will get into a good college. It seems like a short time ago that I was sitting there in the front row with the other seniors worrying about where I would go to college, and how I would adjust. I had lots of choices, and after a few days at UVA I was completely at ease.”

After assembly, the graduates spent additional time in the building, visiting former teachers and chatting with upper school students.

On December 26th, Wakefield Country Day School hosted its annual “Silver Bucket” game, a long-standing tradition when the alumni return to WCDS to play the varsity basketball teams. This year, the players for the alumni far outnumbered the varsity players, so recent graduates graciously assisted the varsity players. Even so, with frequent substitutions, the alumni won. Spectators (parents, spouses, children and non-playing alumni) enjoyed refreshments while they cheered on their teams. Head of School Kathleen Grove stood on the sidelines midway between the opposing teams and cheered for “Wakefield,” which seemed a “safe” choice! All in attendance enjoyed seeing so many alums, especially some who had not been back to the school for many years. The girls’ varsity had scrimmaged an AAU team that morning, and those team members played basketball all day, yet they were still smiling as everyone bid farewell much later in the day.