Congratulations to the class of 2009!

Congratulations to the class of 2009, whose commencement exercises were held last night at St. Matthews Baptist Church.

More graduation photos are up on Flickr

Children's Choir performs "Cinderella"

Last week, the 3/4 Children's Choir put on a terrific version of Cinderella. This version, written by Roald Dahl, displayed the author's characteristic wit and humor. Congratulations to the performers and director Jeannine Ary on a great production!

Spring athletic awards

Athletes in spring sports were recognized during the Class Day assembly yesterday. Award winners are pictured above. Awards were presented to these athletes during their individual team banquets.

A full listing of award recipients is posted here.

Class Day awards

Today was Class Day, the annual year-end upper school awards ceremony. The day began with the senior breakfast in the Wilder Room. Seniors were presented with roses by Jr. K students as they made their way to the Gardner Gym for the assembly.

A complete listing of awards is posted here
A picture set from Class Day is up on Flickr

Groundbreaking ceremony gets us on our way!

At long last, our plans for a new performing arts center are about to become reality! This morning, parents, students, and alumni gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony in which KCD administrators, students, and local dignitaries put shovels in the ground to launch our latest project. With this ceremony following hard on the heels of last week's announcement of our Malone Foundation grant, this is a great time to be at KCD!

Groundbreaking pics are up on Flickr

Kindergarten music program

The year-end kindergarten music program is one of my favorite KCD events. This one was terrific--congratulations to the students and the teachers on a great show!





Pictures from the show are up on Flickr

FYI Online - May 22, 2009

Here's this week's FYI Online.

First grade dinosaur program

The first grade had a standing-room-only crowd this morning for their Dinosaur Program. This performance had it all: dinosaur songs, dinosaur jokes, and dinosaur hats. These children are obviously excited about dinosaurs, and they put on a wonderful performance.

The first grade will conclude their dinosaur unit next week with a visit to the dinosaur exhibit at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.



Pictures from the program are up on Flickr

Third graders hold multicultural celebration

KCD's third grade concluded their study of world cultures yesterday with a multicultural celebration featuring projects and foods from around the world. Parents were invited to join in, too. What a spread!

KCD receives $2 million grant for scholarships!

It's official: we have been awarded a grant from the Malone Foundation! Mr. Lyman made the following announcement a short time ago:

I am extremely proud to announce that Kentucky Country Day School has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Malone Family Foundation. This money will be used to perpetually endow The Malone Scholars Program, which will fund scholarships to motivated students based on merit and financial need. This gift represents the largest gift ever made by a foundation to KCD.

The selection process for this grant is extremely competitive, and only three schools nationally are selected by the Foundation each year. Schools may not apply for a grant but rather are selected by the Foundation on the basis of their academic excellence; the quality of their staff; the breadth and depth of opportunities and accommodations for gifted and talented students; strong AP and enrichment programs; attention to the individual student's needs, interests, and talents; financial strength and stability; a commitment to financial aid; and an economically, culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse population.

That the Malone Family Foundation has selected our school for this grant is a resounding testimonial to the quality of our academic program, the dedication of our faculty, and the strength of our community.

The Foundation partners with only one school in each state. I am proud to announce that we are, and will remain, Kentucky’s only Malone Foundation partner school. The scholarship program that this grant will establish marks another tremendously exciting moment in the history of our school. We will publish further details of the grant in the very near future. Please visit www.malonefamilyfoundation.org to learn more about the program.

Softball senior night

Last Thursday, the softball team recognized their graduating seniors. Sarah Anderson, Molly Dobbins, and Stephanie Carson were recognized before playing their last home game as Bearcats.

KCD has shot at boys' tennis title

There's a great article in today's Courier-Journal on our varsity boys' tennis team:

There's a little guy ready to crash the party this week. Kentucky Country Day — with about 270 students in grades 9-12 — is a top contender for its first state tennis crown.

'We're a little bitty school, and it's clear that we don't get the shots that the Trinitys and St.X's and Manuals get at something like this,' KCD coach Lisa Pepper said. 'I want this for the boys so badly. Now they just have to go out and play.'

The State Tennis Championships will begin Thursday and run through Saturday in Lexington, and KCD enters with a strong hand.

Courier-Journal article profiles John Hale '69

Thanks to Charlie Fothergill for pointing me toward this fascinating article in Sunday's Courier-Journal. The story's a profile of archaelogist and alumnus John Hale '69, who's just published a book based on his research in underwater archaelogy. John's a fascinating guy, and his previous research on the Oracle of Delphi was the subject of a Connections feature a few years ago. From the Courier:

Hale and his colleagues were combing the bottom of Greek waters with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) or robots for signs of the king of Persia's 300 ships that ancient records said were lost in a storm about 492 B.C. Because of active sediments, the team was starting to realize it would be very hard to find anything when the 'eye' of a robot beamed an image of a pot back to the ship. At the direction of those on board, the robot shined a light inside the pot, catching a green gleam. Out of the water, the team discovered the green object was the bronze spike of a spear shaft.

'The really exciting things were: A) It was in perfect condition; and B) It was from the same period of the wreck we were looking for,' Hale said.

What they couldn't figure out is how it got there. So they went back for the pot with the submersible. Once on deck, an octopus emerged from the pot, where it had been living. The sea creature had used the spear to ward off intruders, said Hale.

KCD welcomes guests from Tamale

Today, KCD welcomed Mr. Kojo Kaleem Jehanfo and his wife, Adamu Jehanfo, to our school. Mr. and Ms. Jehanfo are from our sister city of Tamale, Ghana, and we're thrilled that their visit marks the first time that we have been able to host visitors from Tamale.

The Jehanfos spent most of the day at KCD, meeting with Dexter Mahaffey's African Lit class and Elizabeth Spears' kindergarten class in the morning and with the middle school Global 20/20 club in the afternoon. During his time in Louisville, Mr. Jehanfo will work with us on proceeding with our Tamale Water Project and offer guidance on our contributions to the Tamale Scholarship and Aid Fund.

Mr. Jehanfo, who now works as a building contractor, was formerly attached to the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C. Both he and his wife, who is principal community health nurse with the Ghana health service, have been very involved with the Sister Cities program in Tamale.

Students explore the chemistry of tie-dying

Last week, students in Bridget Adkins' chemistry classes explored the science behind tie-dying. Students worked on their shirts last Friday and wore them to school today. Looks like they turned out great!

Seniors volunteer for School Choice Scholarships

Kudos to seniors Sarah Anderson, Kelly Beam, Stephanie Carson, and Molly Dobbins, who woke up early on Prom day to help with a service project for School Choice Scholarships at St. Nicholas South. This program offers scholarships to assist young people in attending the school of their choice. The program has helped young people with tuition at many area schools, including KCD. Sarah, Kelly, Stephanie, and Molly painted faces at the event, and Taylor Shorten participated in a ballroom dancing exhibition fund-raiser for School Choice last year.

More pictures on Flickr

Three athletes named to all state boys' lacrosse team

KCD All State Lacrosse team members, originally uploaded by Kentucky Country Day.

Congratulations to Eddie Crawford (goalie), Ryan Scinta (midfield), and Cameron Harter (attack), who were named to the Kentucky Lacrosse Association All-State team.

FYI Online - May 15, 2009

Better late than never--here's the link to the May 15, 2009, newsletter.

Log cabin moves to make way for new theater

Today, we took the first steps toward preparing for our new fine arts center and auditorium. Starting this morning, crews began disassembling the log cabin, which will find a new home in a Boy Scout camp near Elizabethtown. It's sad to see it go, but it turned out to be extremely expensive to keep the structure here on campus. With the Boy Scouts, the cabin will continue to be used, and a plaque will recognize the building's connection to KCD.

The Admissions Office is now in their new space at the end of the 5/6 middle school hallway. Stop by and say hello!

Exploremore was a blast!

The kids had a great time at Exploremore on Friday, and it looks like all the adults survived! Thanks to all the parent volunteers (especially Cindy McCarthy and Steffi Sparks) who organized a terrific day of games, crafts, and projects for our students.



More pictures and videos from Exploremore are up on Flickr.

Cat & Nicole perform New Soul on ukulele

I am posting this for the obvious reason: it is awesome. Eighth graders Cat and Nicole had been playing ukulele for about a week when they performed this at the middle school talent show last month. They were kind enough to perform it again so I could post it here.

KCD welcomes Collegiate second graders

Today, KCD second graders welcomed their friends from Collegiate for a music program. Each group performed a number, then the students performed a piece together.



Picture set on Flickr

Girls' lacrosse team plays in state finals Thursday night!

Please come out tomorrow night as the Bearcats look to repeat as state lacrosse champs. The girls will take on Manual at 7:00 p.m. at the U of L lacrosse field.

2009-2010 calendar now available

A detailed calendar for 2009-2010 is now available. The calendar is also posted on the home page of our Web site via the calendars drop-down menu and in the KCD Quicklinks section.

Remember that this calendar is a work in progress, so be sure to check the date stamp at the top to see if updates have been made.

Author Tania James '99 visits KCD

We were happy to welcome alumna Tania James '99 back to campus yesterday. Tania's first novel, Atlas of Unknowns, was just published by Alfred A. Knopf, and she was back in Louisville for a book tour that included a packed reading at Carmichael's bookstore.

Thanks to Tania for making time to visit several upper school English classes to discuss her writing process and her work.

Check out our other posts on Tania's novel.

FYI Online - May 8, 2009

Here's this week's newsletter.

Tamale Water Project aims to provide clean drinking water

Fourth grade teacher Brina Stephens and the KCD Lower School are leading a schoolwide effort to raise $10,000 (including a generous $5000 matching gift by Michael and Carla Culotta) to install a rainwater catchment system at one of our sister schools in Tamale. The Dahin Sheli Primary/Junior High School currently has only one tap to serve 1200 students, and students (many of whom walk several miles to school) must carry their day's supply of water from home each day.

The Lower School will be holding a "Walk for Water" on May 14 to demonstrate our community's commitment to helping with clean water issues in Tamale. Check this Friday's newsletter for additional information.

Hands-on pig anatomy

Seventh graders in Mr. Wilhelmi's class got a chance to study pig anatomy up close yesterday during their dissection unit. Some students may have learned more than they wanted to know about the insides of a pig!

More pictures are up on Flickr

Theater groundbreaking is May 26

A ceremonial groundbreaking for our new theater building will take place on May 26. We'll dive headfirst into construction shortly after school is out, and we plan to have the building finished by the fall of 2010. Keep checking here for more details on the groundbreaking ceremony.

Tania James '99 reading in Louisville this weekend

Tania James '99 will be doing a couple of readings in town this weekend to support her new novel, Atlas of Unknowns:

Friday, May 8
8:00 p.m. at The Rudyard Kipling (422 West Oak Street)

Saturday, May 9, 2009
4:00 p.m. at Carmichael's, 2720 Frankfort Ave

More info: http://www.taniajames.com/

Hope to see you there!

Talking with your kids about Swine Flu

Here are some great parent resources describing how to talk with younger children about Swine Flu without creating anxiety.

The first is from the CDC: Advice to Parents on Talking to Children about Swine Flu Concerns.

The second is an animated Brainpop movie that provides facts about the virus in a calm, reassuring manner.

Kentucky Country Day students travel back to Tamale, Ghana

Just spotted this story by Kelly Beam and Hayden Dry on the Sister Cities of Louisville blog:

On the first day of the year we were off to head back to our favorite country in the world, Ghana. Both of us had previously been in Ghana in June of 2008 for two weeks, and fell so in love with the country and its people that we just had to return. We wanted a reason to go back, and to work with Dahin Sheli Primary School.

Read the rest: Kentucky Country Day students travel back to Tamale, Ghana