A publication of Miami Country Day School

the B E A C O N

Winter 2014

in this issue: “75 reasons why miami country day rocks” &country day creates Permanent ceramic installation

for Beloved teacher, mrs. Beckie witherington

www.miamicountryday.org/75years

Miami Country Day School is a college preparatory learning community committed to educating the whole child. Through the core values of honor, respect, wisdom, and compassion, we prepare students to be lifelong learners. We inspire our children to develop their intellectual, physical, aesthetic, social, emotional, and spiritual potentials by valuing

every student every day.

Our Mission

winter 2014contents

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Miami Country Day gave me the foundation necessary to be the person and the professional I am today.

“”

features24

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A Message from the Head of School

75 Years – Happy Birthday!MCDS Celebrates 75 in style

Community Learning Partnership

The Arts at Country Day

Country Day Creates PermanentCeramic Installation for Beloved Teacher, Mrs. Beckie Witherington

Homecoming Festivities

Annual GivingFounders’ Circle Event and New Parents’ Reception

Parents’ Association

Fall Sports Awards

Alumni Feature

Class Notes

Ask an Alum

Divisional HighlightsLower, Middle, and Upper School

Planned Givingwith Jack DuBois

Photos courtesy of Scholastic Experience Imaging

David Benjamin ’98, p. 36

winter 2014 3

75 Reasons I Love Country Day

1. 75th Anniversary

2. Education of the Whole Child

3. Portrait of a Graduate

4. Class of 2025

5. Core Values

6. Strong Sense of Community

7. Global Learning

8. The Walk for Cancer

9. Beautiful Campus

10. The Alumni Board Leadership

11. YOSDAY

12. Class of 2017

13. Country Day Families

14. Class of 2015

15. Minimester

16. Fabulous Faculty

17. Student Leaders

18. Abess Center for Environmental Studies

19. Successful Engaged Alumni

20. Culture of Philanthropy

21. Celebrating Every Student, Every Day

22. L.B. Sommers & Doc Abele

23. Creating Lifelong Learners

24. Class of 2027

25. Faculty and their Commitment to Excellence

26. Annual Giving Donors and Volunteers

27. The Monks from Tibet

28. Celebrations of the Arts

29. Class of 2024

30. Community Service

31. Valuing the School’s Rich Tradition

32. Fabulous, Supportive Parents’ Associaton

33. Dedicated Staff

34. Engaged Leadership Team

35. Commitment to Technology

36. Week of Possibilities

37. Community Learning Partnership

38. COEP

39. Learning Resource Program

40. Career Day

41. Class of 2014

42. Homecoming Weekend

43. Dedicated Faculty Team

44. Class of 2022

45. Culture of Diversity

46. Senior Projects

47. The Leader in Me program

48. Community Garden

49. Class of 2018

50. The Mural by Charlie Edwards

51. The Beacon

52. Class of 2026

53. College Guidance Program

54. Life Skills Program

55. Sammy the Spartan

56. Breakthrough Miami

57. Scholar Athletes

58. Class of 2020

59. The Franco Center Gallery

60. Class of 2028

by Dr. John Davies, Head of School

4 THE BEACON

Editor’s noteThe Beacon Magazine was designed for members of the Miami Country Day School Family —including students, faculty, parents, grandparents and alumni—in an effort to share stories and celebrate.This magazine is published by the Development/Alumni Office. If you have any comments or suggestions, please address them to: The Beacon Magazine, Miami Country Day School, Development Office, 601 NE 107 Street, Miami, FL 33161, call (305) 779-7210, or e-mail Abra Adrabi at adrabia@miamicountryday.org .

Head of SchoolDr. John DaviesDirector of Development Sheryl PiperAssistant Director of Dev. & Alumni Director Nora PardaveDirector of Communications Abra AdrabiDev. Associate for Marketing and CommunicationsKimberly ArredondoDirector of Annual GivingTabitha Charles ’85Alumni Advisors John C. “Jack” DuBoisFredi Rosenfeld

61. Student Authors

62. Hibiscus Hedge written by Bill Ellis

63. The 75th Anniversary Timeline

64. Yule Log Ceremony

65. Class of 2021

66. The School Bell

67. Yeatman King

68. Class of 2019

69. Our Silver Knights nominees & winners

70. Our legacy families

71. Country Day Grandparents

72. Class of 2016

73. Solar Cooking Projects & The Guinness World Record

74. Class of 2023

75. Being the Head of School

Don’t take it from me! See the Lower School students’ reasons on page 24.

Photos courtesy of Scholastic Experience Imaging

winter 2014 5

Happy birthday, MCDS!Miami Country Day School is 75 years old! Thanks to those of you who celebrated with us on August 17, 2013 as the school kicked off the anniversary festivities with Country Day’s 75th Birthday Party. Hundreds of families and friends joined together in The Gallery of the Franco Center to view the historical timeline and exhibit. The original school bell was rededicated, and everyone enjoyed a slice from the giant birthday cake while 1938-style games were set up for the children in the gym. It was a special day for the MCDS community. This was just the first of many celebrations during our anniversary year. For more information about any of these celebratory events, please email 75years@miamicountryday.org or visit www.miamicountryday.org/75years.

Photos courtesy of Scholastic Experience Imaging6 THE BEACON

winter 2014 7

Clockwise from top left: Meribeth Shank observing the 75th Anniversary timeline; Jack DuBois, Carl Whitmer ’71, Ken Harris (former Head of School), Col. Tim Vinoski ’74, and Bruce Matheson ’61; Miami Shores Mayor Herta Holly; students playing 1938-style games in the Gym; and Jimmy Tate ’81 with Alumni Parents Missy and David Greenberg

◀

8 THE BEACON

Miami Country Day SchoolWe love you; yes we do —In all the things you stand for—We’ll ever try to be true.For teachers, and friends, and classmatesFaithful we’ll always be—Miami Country Day SchoolWe’ll love and honor thee.Alma Mater, by Gertrude Peters

Clockwise from top: Teachers singing the Alma Mater; 75th Anniversary Coordinator, Tamara Feola and her family, Nick ’16, Nina ’18, and Alfie; school banners, part of MCDS through the Years exhibit

▲

winter 2014 9

Community Learning Partnership

by Kimberly Arredondo, Development Associate

The Community Learning Partnership, a project that has united the Miami Shores community since 2008, has three project goals that address community, school, and organizational interests: to expand student leadership opportunities, to foster teaching excellence, and promote community engagement.

“The Community Learning Partnership is a very unique group and is way ahead of its time” given the collaboration between “a private university, two independent schools, a charter school, a public middle school, and a Catholic school,” said Dr. John Davies, MCDS Head of School. In fact, the Community Learning Partnership was founded years before National Association of Independent Schools President, Patrick F. Bassett, wrote that one of the 25 indicators for independent school success is “partnering with the public sector at the school and university levels.”

Sustaining Each Other

Through programmatic activities, the Community Learning Partnership explores a different theme every year. This year’s student leadership theme is Sustaining Each Other, and students are working alongside community members and the non-profit organization Urban GreenWorks to complete and sustain a community garden in Liberty City. The garden boasts a healing garden as well as an organic food garden, and the food harvested is donated to Liberty City food banks in an effort to provide locally grown, organic produce in a food desert neighborhood—an urban area in which fresh, healthful food is scarce. Monique Moyer, a Lower School teacher at Country Day, has been working in tandem with Urban GreenWorks, the community, and CLP. She affirmed the partnership, saying, “It is only through community involvement that projects like these prosper and are sustained.”

Students learn first-hand about sustainable gardening as they share their own “art of gardening” lessons that

they learn here at Country Day. They also learn civic responsibility and teamwork as they collaborate with students from a variety of schools as they work toward a common goal.

Dr. Mari Conea, the Miami Country Day student leader advocate, said of the program, “The Community Learning Partnership allows students to build perspective and expand their socio-cultural horizons. Additionally, it provides students an opportunity to take part in something bigger than they are. These experiences ensure that participants maintain a communal mindset and work well as part of a team.”

Professional Development Days

The Community Learning Partnership organizes professional development days to create a forum for community members and teachers in the Miami Shores area to learn from each other and explore topics from a variety of perspectives. Every two years, the CLP plans a professional development conference, and on alternating years, there is a smaller professional development opportunity.

This school year, the Community Learning Partnership held a professional development day on February 7, 2014, hosted by Doctors Charter School. The theme is Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom through the Integration of Technology, and teachers engaged in action-based learning in small break-out sections. They considered the role of Edmodo, Google Docs, iPad apps, and online learning in education today.

Past professional development themes have included Fostering Citizenship in a Global World, Creating an Inclusive Community, and the Heart of 21st Century Learning. The CLP is proud to have hosted speakers such as Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham; Sister Linda Bevilacqua, O.P., Ph.D., President of Barry University; and Superintendent of Miami-Dade Public Schools, Alberto Carvalho.

10 THE BEACON

Bike/Walk to School Day

In solidarity with nearly 3,000 schools nationwide, a number of CLP partner schools participated in National Bike/Walk to School Day for the second time. Students gathered at the Miami Shores Field House on October 9, 2013, and walked or biked to school with the supervision of teachers, parents, and even a few police officers. Jeff Watson, a Middle School physical education teacher and soccer coach at Miami Country Day, attested that the day helps to “bring awareness to riding your bikes and walking to school, so you can do it safely and exercise.” Thank you to all of those who joined as walkers and cyclists!

Miami Shores Unity Day

Every year, CLP has a presence at Miami Shores Unity Day, a community fair that invites local community and civic organizations to educate the broader community on their goals and mission.

The next Unity Day will be held on March 1, 2014 at the Recreation Fields of Miami Shores.

A Mission to Unite

The Community Learning Partnership seeks to serve as a catalyst for community engagement and quality education to benefit all members of the community. “It provides and expands opportunities for educational

professionals and community leaders to come together in a very meaningful way. It really expands the dialogue and reinforces the idea that education is a community effort,” said Gary Culbertson, Dean of Faculty and Director of Human Resources at Miami Country Day.

The CLP has been recognized by Florida Campus Compact three times, and most recently, it won the Florida Campus Compact Award for Civic Engagement 2012.

In February 2014, Gary Culbertson, Dr. Roxanne Davies, Dr. John Davies, and Carlos Viera will give a presentation on the Community Learning Partnership at the National Association of Independent Schools’ annual conference.

To learn more about the CLP, contact Roxanne Davies at communitylearningpartnership@mail.barry.edu.

Community Learning Partnership members include: Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Preparatory, Miami Country Day School, Barry University, Miami Edison Senior High, Doctors Charter School, Horace Mann Middle School, The Cushman School, Community Television of South Florida, Greater Miami Shores Chamber Educational Task Force, Miami Shores Elementary School, Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School, and Hubert Sibley Elementary School.

Community Learning Partnership 2012–2013 ▲

winter 2014 11

The Arts

MCDS Through the Years — a historical exhibit

Stylin’ Through the Years — a T-shirt exhibit curated by Fredlyn Rosenfeld, MCDS teacher and Alumni Parent

Chapungu — the great stone sculptors of Africa

12 THE BEACON

Stylin’ Through the Years — a T-shirt exhibit curated by Fredlyn Rosenfeld, MCDS teacher and Alumni ParentPhotos of “MCDS Through the Years” courtesy of Scholastic Experience Imaging

GALLERY EXHIBITS AT THE FRANCO CENTER

at Country Day

winter 2014 13

The Arts at Country Day

In November, Miami Country Day School’s Theater for Social Change performed The Wrestling Season, written by Laurie Brooks.

Theater for Social Change, an artistic and curricular program, was founded on the premise that theater is particularly well-designed to stimulate discussion about important societal issues and foster change at the local, national and global levels. The Theater for Social Change program gives life to its belief in the research showing that experiential, interdisciplinary learning, which fosters an emotional attachment to the work and leads to positive action, is the most effective educational experience for students.

Connor Space ’15 said of the program, “It really does impact the student body… because it’s their peers acting out these lines as if they’re saying it themselves. And I think the student body respects their peers more than they would any guest speaker.”

This year, Theater for Social Change returned to its roots as it performed The Wrestling Season in tribute to one of its founders, Pam Locker, who passed away on September 28, 2012.

Theater for Social Change

STUDENT PERFORMANCES

14 THE BEACON

Fall Music Concert

Lower School Arts Extravganza

The Lower School students took a musical trip down memory lane at the Lower School Extravaganza: Celebrate 75 Years! Families and guests enjoyed our songs under the stars on November 25th. If you missed the event, check out the archived copy of the livestream at new.livestream.com/miamicountryday.

Middle and Upper School students performed at the Fall Music Concert on November 26th.

Contemporary Music Ensemble

▲ The Contemporary Music Ensemble performed at the Vero Beach Sunset Saturday Night Concert on November 23rd.

▲

winter 2014 15

COUNTRY DAY CREATES PERMANENT CERAMIC INSTALLATION FOR BELOVED TEACHER,

In 2012, MCDS lost a cherished member of its community, Mrs. Beckie Witherington. A beloved science teacher in the Middle School, Beckie also served on various committees and touched all who came in contact with her. We will always miss her bright, cheerful spirit and passion for teaching and learning. As a lasting tribute to her, the Parents’ Association procured the four stone benches adjacent to the Foreign Language building, and asked Ms. Judy Mistor to memorialize them in a personal way.

From the outset, this became a community project, as Ms. Mistor asked Beckie’s friends and colleagues to provide material relevant to Beckie’s life and interests. It was soon apparent that she loved sailing, fishing, diving, and everything to do with the ocean. In addition, she had a passion for the earth sciences, teaching, being organized, playing UNO, and donuts! All of this material became the themes that would later be incorporated into this permanent ceramic tile installation.

Once the production of the tiles was well underway, Ms. Mistor asked Beckie’s friends, colleagues, and former students to become a part of this project by glazing a tile of their own choosing. Here are some of their personal reflections on that process:

“Painting the tile for Beckie’s benches has been and will be truly an honor for me and especially for my daughter because we always think of Beckie sharing with us her rays of sunshine. Hanni Rosenfeld Ress ’01 adored being in her science class because she learned so much more than science, and Beckie also shared with me the gift of her children in my classroom. How blessed we feel to have known this wonderful woman. The turquoise

color will always remind me of the oceans she loved, the sun sheds both light and warmth—truly Beckie’s special signs—and the purple sunglasses are a favorite color that Hanni and I share to tell Beckie how regal she will always be.” – Fredlyn Rosenfeld

“This was a wonderful way to memorialize Beckie Witherington! As I applied glaze to the tiles that I worked on, Beckie seemed to be with me. I could hear her unique laugh and images of her flashed through my mind, like when she dressed up as the Goth Abbey in NCIS for Halloween one year. It was a privilege to have known her as a colleague and also to have been involved in this meaningful memorial!” – Margaret Mahoney

“Just today, again, I was thinking about Beckie, and how much she loved our boat. I loved glazing the tile, and yet, in that tiny tile (of a giant, 52’ boat) there are a lot of wonderful stories about a love of Beckie’s that won’t fit. Beckie loved the challenge of boating. That is because it required all of her skills. Preparedness. Speed. Calculation. Organization. Caution. Dexterity. When we called her and said we were going in the boat, she would be present with lightning speed. Students, if she was grading your papers, Mrs. Witherington would get them done in the wee hours of the night so that she could be prepared to go boating when the time came. When we went to sea for a month, Beckie had a space about the size of a small closet. She had everything in there. Extras of everything, too. In color-coded bags and bins. I hope when you look at that boat, and that snorkeler that George glazed, you think about the pure joy that Mrs. Witherington took from being on, in, and around the sea.” – Alice Burch

by Judy Mistor, Upper School Ceramics/Sculpture

Mrs. Beckie Witherington

16 THE BEACON

George WitheringtonGlen TurfCharles LovettFredlyn RosenfeldAlice BurchKaren KaanyYvonne MoyerMargaret Mahoney

Maggie AvalosSteve MathesLucy PekocLindsey TanonaKelly JohnTerri PasqualinCarolyn DornMarilyn Greenfield

Nora PardaveMarnie AllenMark FiferLaurie EhrenfeldSheryl Piper…and Students

“She had real commitment and energy to get things done. She was serious about her work and she was serious about play too. Always fast with a smile and a laugh.” – Laurie Ehrenfeld

“As I painted my dolphin tile I couldn’t help but think of how much Beckie loved the water and its marine life. But as I continued painting, the dolphin took on the image of my favorite football team, the Miami Dolphins, and I began to remember the Dolphins games that Beckie and I attended together. I still laugh at her idea of tailgating, which was sitting inside an air conditioned van with sodas and chips!” – Marnie Allen

“I truly enjoyed creating a tile in memory of Beckie. As I glazed the tile, I thought of Beckie’s smile and felt so relaxed while I was painting. I chose to glaze a tile with a yoga symbol because I enjoy the practice of yoga just as Beckie did. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of honoring Beckie.” – Nora Pardave

“As I painted the small turtle on Beckie’s tile, I truly felt her presence with every stroke of my brush. I know she approved of my tile selection because of her strong devotion to her home and family. A huge part of her home was here on our campus, and just as the turtle carries her home with her wherever she goes, so did Beckie. We were always in her heart just as she is in ours today.” – Carolyn Dorn

Participants in the Beckie Witherington Memorial Benches Project:

winter 2014 17

Homecoming

18 THE BEACON

Walk the WalkHomecoming: With the Homecoming Football Game, 3rd Grade Buddies, Spartan Alumni Night, Walk the Walk, Spartan Family Day & BBQ, and Reunion Night, Miami Country Day School hosted a slew of exciting events from October 17th through 19th.

Walk the Walk: The Miami Country Day School community raised over $40,000 for cancer research in the month of October, surpassing our goal of $35,000. A record 31 students donated their hair for hairpieces. The “Pink Store,” Walk the Walk, and Parents’ Association fundraisers all contributed to the raised funds, which go to the Heidi Hewes Chapter of the Women’s Cancer Association and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year was led by student chairs, Anne Beasley ’14, Mallory Brown ’14, Brittany Castellanos ’14, Amanda Gavcovich ’14, Ellen Gelman ’14, Kristina Leiter ’14, Kiana Matison ’14, Winona Paez ’14, and Alejandro Villaquiran ’14.

A group of fourth graders, led by Nicole Rodan ’22 and Michael Port ’22, made and sold rubberband bracelets to raise funds for cancer research. As a class, they decided to split the proceeds between the Heidi Hewes Foundation and The Heather on Earth Music Foundation. The fourth grade group raised $452 for each organization.

winter 2014 19

Toast to Friendship

Set under twinkling lights near Senior Circle, this year’s Toast to Friendship was one to remember! Following the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, alumni, family and friends gathered for live music, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails for this annual event to celebrate all of our alumni. This year’s event featured a celebration of our 16 teachers who have been at Country Day for 25 years or more.

Photos on this page courtesy of Scholastic Experience Imaging

Virginia Zakaryan, Fredi Rosenfeld, and Arie Zakaryan ’03

Gary Garner ’81, Jenny Davis-Lenchner ’81, Lele Toole Tracy ’81, Keith Alexander ’81,

Tara Elias Schuchts ’81, and Mark Fabian ’81

Margaret Mahoney, Yvonne Moyer, Martha Stobs, and Bill Larzalere

Alumni Board members, Kevin King ’95, Claudia Figueredo ’90, Brian McCarthy ’95,

and Brenton Raymond ’06

Julijana Dimitrova, Dara Rose ’97, Nicole Cristodoulou ’00,

Carol Rose, and Harvey Rose

Lou Orenstein ’93, Deena Bailin McKinley ’93, Tyler McKinley, Jared Sher ’93, Zack Gilson,

Melanie Gnaizda ’93, and BJ Teltsher ’93

20 THE BEACON

Photos on this page courtesy of Open i Studio

2013 Inductees: Coach Chris Antonopoulos, Michael Courtney ’98, Tabitha Polley Charles ’85, Jessica McCrary Campbell ’00, and Roy Altman ’00

Spartan Hall of Fame

On Friday, October 17, Miami Country Day School welcomed five new inductees into the Spartan Hall of Fame. Roy, Coach A, Jessica, Tabitha, and Michael were honored with an introduction from a close friend or family member and each inductee had the opportunity to speak about their experiences on and off the field at Country Day. Congratulations to our five inductees, who are part of the fifth class of alumni to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. To view the complete list of inductees, visit www.miamicountryday.org/halloffame.

Inductee awards for the Wall of Honor Chuck Sennett and Roy Altman ’00 Jessica McCrary Campbell ’00

winter 2014 21

Alumni Reunion Nightcl asses of 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, & 2003

The 75th Anniversary year brought a new tradition to Reunion Weekend. We welcomed alumni from the classes of 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, and 2003 to campus for a night of reminiscing about the past and making new memories for the future. The classes of 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984 (pictured above) joined together to celebrate their 30 year reunion. This was the first reunion that classes came together to celebrate in this way, and it was a wonderful turnout with many alumni coming in from out of town!

The class of 1993 joined together for their 20 year reunion and enjoyed seeing classmates and their former teachers! The class of 2003 celebrated their 10 year reunion and loved visiting with their class sponsor, Marisol Sardina Konen.

Stay in touch for details about Reunion Weekend in October 2014!

Kim Piper-Heffernan ’83, Julie Gordon Blair ’84,and Kathie Bianconi ’83

John Sturtevant, Belinda Lopez Sturtevant ’93,Deena Bailin McKinley ’93, Tyler McKinley,

Edward Leyva ’93, and Barbie Basti

Kevin Purdy ’03, Jessica Shor ’03, Jenny Bonilla ’03, and Zach Cannon ’03

1980s 1993 2003Kent Feuerring ’83, Joe Cesarotti ’83, Carolyn Dooley Keating

’83, John Requardt ’83, and Owen Davis ’83

Robby Elias ’84, Patty Toole Dudzic ’84, Deena Peach Jurgens ’84, Tara Elias Schuchts ’81, and Michael Bernstein ’82

Michael Burnstine ’83, Kristin Schneider Stansell ’83, and Rhett Everett ’81

Fredi Rosenfeld, Julie Gordon Blair ’84, Marianne Cesarotti ’84, Thomas Milloway ’84, and Marnie Allen

Kristin Schneider Stansell ’83, Hope Alexander Bennett ’83, Diane Duquet Hood ’83, and Laura Morgan Horton ‘83

Annette Rubin Israel ’93, Heather Heilpern Rose ’93, and Nancy Landau Green ’93

Class of 1993

Sherrie Helms Kukulski ’93, Olga Gomez ’93, Simon Angelini, Scott Comcowich ’93, Zach Gilson, Jared Sher ’93, Rebecca

Sher, and Lou Orenstein ’93

Melanie Gnaizda ’93, Zach Gilson, Tom Towle ’93, Jocelyn Towle, Tyler McKinley, and Deena Bailin McKinley ’93

Deena Bailin McKinley ’93, Annette Rubin Israel ’93, Melanie Gnaizda ’93, Marie Grondin ’93, and Heather Heilpern Rose ’93

Robbie Grossman ’03, Mikael Hamaoui ’03, Marisol Sardina Konen, and Peter Konen

Rachel Morales ’03, Nina Lucchi, and Jessica Shor ’03

Kevin Purdy ’03, Robbie Grossman ’03, Carolyn Dorn, and Richard Chackman ’03

Class of 2003

Arie Zakaryan ’03, Jenny Bonilla ’03, and Mikael Hamaoui ’03

Reasons

Rocks!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

ACES animals

our porch

edible wall

robotics

Week of Possibilities

life skills

Kinder to College

yoga

Franco Center

tinkering

acts of kindness

nature trails

Spanish

values

Leader in Me

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

home visits

bright beginnings

recess

compassion

bay buddies

snacks

quiet time

spelling city

Japanese pen pals

safe

best maintenance

new words

Parents’ Association

football buddies

assembly

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

art smart

different countries

soccer

lots of sports

Bongo, the dog

reading buddies

the canal

chess

helping hands

extended day

teachers care about you

we have jobs

beautiful campus

the Whitman library

we respect everyone’s differences

24 THE BEACON

In celebration of MCDS’ 75th Anniversary, the Lower School collected real responses from Lower School children. Below are 75 of the reasons they listed.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

jungle

IXL

poems

football field

ice cream day

community feeling

media class

Holiday Bazaar

monks

Buoyancy Cup

Halloween parade

community service

lots of choices

bleachers

helps the environment

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

we shake our sillies out

hip-hop!

amphitheater

win-win

sand tables

Wednesday folders

reading corner

we recycle

greeters

basketball

cubbies

friendship

we love learning

superheroes

75 years of experience

lower school

winter 2014 25

The “Hidden” 8th

Grade Curriculum

Ever wonder what the teachers are doing on Wednesday mornings when the children get to sleep in an extra hour? Well, the 8th grade teachers are meeting to plan the advisory program that brings the Miami Country Day School mission to life. The eight advisors in 8th

grade work as a team, as do the advisors of every grade level in Middle School. Led by Vanessa Cabrera, the 8th

grade team leader, team members Yann Abily, Karen Cleland, Julio De Aracama, Michael Fallik, Sandi Lewis, Margaret Mahoney, and Jeff Watson together develop a character education program that teaches students what it means to be members of a community of lifelong learners.

With the essential question of “how do I affect my community?” the team develops activities, trips, and events that help the students answer this question throughout the year. It all begins early in the year with the 8th grade Self-Awareness Day. Students are broken into groups which rotate into different sessions led by both internal and external presenters ranging from a yoga specialist to a close relative of an AIDS victim. While it would be easy to just go with the same activities every year, the team always adds new ideas to keep the day fresh. During this day, each 8th grade student wears the class T-shirt, which is designed by an 8th grade student based upon the year’s theme.

The next major team day is Service Day, which comes up in November as the 8th graders participate in projects to help those in need. Students divide up into five groups that go out to interact with the community at such locations as the VA hospital, Greynolds Park, Miami Rescue Mission, Chapman Center, and Miami

Jewish Health Systems. If you ever had any doubts that 13–14 year olds can help make a difference, we have numerous letters of commendation from these venues complimenting our students for their service and excellent behavior.

The jewel in the crown in the 8th grade hidden curriculum is without a doubt the class trip in January. This trip evolved over several years to complement the curriculum. The 8th graders and their teachers go on a four-day civil rights tour of the deep South from Atlanta to Birmingham to Selma to Memphis. They make stops to see historic sites, but more importantly they interact with individuals who lived through the turmoil of the sixties. They spend time with a lady who was a child victim of Bloody Sunday. They meet with historic figures such as Joanne Bland, Reverend Graetz, and his wife who were key figures in fighting for the equality of African-Americans. They also meet with current civil

rights activists that teach the students to become voices of change. In addition to the historical significance of the trip, the students participate in hands-on learning

experiences at Graceland, The Georgia Aquarium, and CNN studios. It is truly a trip that parents cannot recreate; it is the living classroom.

During the spring we invite, with the help of a very involved parent in the Jewish community, 10 Holocaust survivors to come to the school to work with the 8th graders. The survivors talk about their experiences and meet with the students in the morning, sharing their individual experiences and answering questions—making this a very powerful and meaningful morning. 8th grade parents are also invited to a luncheon to meet

by Vanessa Cabrera, 8th Grade Team Leader& Steve Mathes, Director of Middle School

...the 8th graders are treatedto an experience they will never forget

that is uniquely set up for them.“

”

26 THE BEACON

with the survivors. Afterward the 8th grade heads off to the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach for a visit. This day focuses on teaching the students about tolerance and acceptance.

As we approach the end of the year, the students spend the day in court at the Richard E. Gerstein Building. Thanks to the generosity of a MCDS parent who is a sitting criminal court judge, the students visit a courtroom to see a case in progress, talk with the judge and attorneys, and then tour the jail. Once again the 8th graders are treated to an experience they will never forget that is uniquely set up for them.

In between their special days, the students work on activities in advisory that also complement the essential question of the year. They talk about bullying, drug abuse, social networking, and many other topics that affect their daily lives. The students do crafts, write in their electronic journals, and do team building activities. Writing Slam Poetry is a highlight because it allows the students to write a “slam” about these sensitive topics. You would be pleasantly surprised at the poignant poems that emerge from this activity; it is truly an eye opening experience. The bonding that has been taking place all year really takes root during these activities. Here is where the students continuously explore and understand the impact they have on their community.

The end of the year brings a special treat: an afternoon at Dave and Buster’s in Hollywood, where the students enjoy the activities and a special lunch. Just when you might think it is finally over and the 8th grade team can kick-back, it is the end of year Reflections assembly, at which we say goodbye to our 8th graders and they reflect on their years at MCDS through song, dance, acting, and music. The 8th grade team members each take on a piece of this special assembly, which has now become a truly beautiful program and tradition. A student gallery for families to enjoy student work done throughout the year serves as the backdrop.

This year the team will introduce a new field trip, Tour Miami. On this day the 8th graders will learn about the many contributions made to our city by the Haitian and Cuban communities. The students will take a tour on the Miami River to many cultural sites, have a traditional Cuban lunch, and interact with Haitian culture.

This hidden curriculum that the 8th grade lives each year cannot be found in a textbook or online. It is living and breathing, having been given life by a very special team of dedicated educators who together grow along with their students.

Clockwise from top left: Chance Chavies ’17 with Joanne Bland; Emily Kanter ’17; Daniel Dana ’18,Ryan Finvarb ’18, and Alexander Sayfie ’18; and Mallory Meyer ’17, Mia Paez ’17, and Nadine Bloch ’17 with Reverend Graetz and his wife, Jeannie.

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Hybrid CoursesHybrid courses, also known as blended learning courses, combine a learning management system, online forums, and face-to-face meetings to create a dynamic learning experience that explores different modalities. At many colleges and universities, students are expected to navigate this type of learning environment. To prepare students as lifelong learners—as well as to enhance their educational experience—Miami Country Day School offered its first (non-summer) hybrid courses last school year. While Laylah Borchers has been offering a summer economics course online for nine years, these were the first hybrid courses offered during the school year. Among the course offerings were “Advanced Placement United States Government” with Laylah Borchers and both “Understanding Film” and “Cinema Studies” with Amy Gallup.

Both Borchers and Gallup stressed the multifarious benefits of hybrid learning—particularly its ability to invite thoughtful responses and encourage active participation from all students. Hybrid courses often require class-wide participation, effectively creating a platform for each and every student to participate at his or her own pace. Offering such courses has both pedagogical and practical benefits, as teachers prepare students for the types of courses they may take in college, give them a chance to explore a different way of learning, and enable them to take courses they otherwise might not have been able to take if they were only offered in a traditional track. They also allow teachers to be as available as students need and want them to be.

With this online and in-person forum for exchange, students are expected to take both personal and collective responsibility for learning in part by sharing answers to questions they have asked their teachers. The structure not only creates a collaborative learning environment but also encourages students to play an active role in shaping their education.

Model United NationsMiami Country Day School hosted its inaugural Model United Nations Conference September 28–29, 2013 with participation from over 90 delegates and five high schools—Coral Reef, Columbus, Oasis Charter, Cape Coral, and Archimedean.

For Country Day students, Model UN offers an opportunity to organize and run a conference themselves or to participate as delegates. Model UN conferences allow high school students to develop leadership skills while they participate in meetings, engage in debates, make ad-hoc decisions, and practice crafting resolutions on real international conflicts. At MCDS-MUN the workings of each of the five committees were moderated by teams of students from University of Miami’s Model UN Team, MICSUM, led by Perry Elbadrawi.

Grace Goldsmith ’15 and Shalini Chandar ’15, who first envisioned this project at Country Day, played the key roles of Secretary General and Conference Director respectively. Grace Goldsmith, now a junior, believes that this year’s conference was the first of many that Miami Country Day will host, and she is already thinking of next year’s event. With the help of teachers Dr. Mari Conea, MUN Sponsor, and Andrew Castle, and Michael Fallik, the conference was a huge success.

From left to right: Grace Goldsmith ’15, Dr. Mari Conea, and Shalini Chandar ’15

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

STUDENTS ORGANIZE INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

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From left to right: Grace Goldsmith ’15, Dr. Mari Conea, and Shalini Chandar ’15

GATEway ¡Madrid!JOIN THE ADVENTURE

GATEway ¡Madrid! is a 4-week academic program beginning on Sunday, June 14, 2014 through Saturday, July 12, 2014 that provides students in grades 10–12 with an academically stimulating adventure in the vibrant capital of Spain. Students earn high school credit from Miami Country Day School, while exploring one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Madrid offers students a wealth of educational opportunities, ranging from art to politics, language development to world class cuisine. It attracts travelers from around the world with sites like the Prado Art Museum, the Reina Sofía Contemporary & Modern Art Museum, the largest royal palace in Western Europe, the most famous of all bullrings, and high-end shopping on the famous Gran Vía. Madrid is a stop that all must make at least once in a lifetime,

though you may find that once is not nearly enough.

For more information about the Academic Program, Room & Board, Travel, and Tuition & Fees, please visit http://summer.miamicountryday.org or call 305-779-7243.

Sample schedule:9:00 AM Breakfast10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Major Class1:00 – 4:00 PM Lunch & Siesta4:00 – 6:00 PM Minor Class6:00 – 7:00 PM Activities

7:00– 8:00 PM Free Time8:00 – 9:00 PM Dinner9:00 – 10:30 PM Ind. Study10:30 – 11:30 PM In ResHall11:30 PM In Room

Anticipated offerings:SpanishJournalismSpanish Dance*Mathematical ThinkingSummer Reading & LiteratureSpanish History & PoliticsPhotography

Fitness & Wellness*Art HistorySpanish CultureArchitectureSAT Prep*Spanish Film

*denotes minor courses (some minor courses may carry additional costs)

Cultural excursions:Two weekly cultural excursions are built into the academic program. On Wednesdays, students travel with faculty to various sites in the city and are back in the residence halls for group dinners. Longer excursions to cities like Barcelona, Segovia, and Toledo are scheduled for the weekends.

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Annual Giving

On behalf of Miami Country Day School students who benefit from your generosity, thank you! Gifts to the 2013–14 Annual Giving campaign help our students become innovative thinkers and inspirational leaders. From the energetic Lower School student who enthusiastically learns about how his world is bigger than he is to the mindful Middle School student who is exploring her newfound freedom in the classroom to the inquiring Upper School student preparing for immersion in intense college preparatory subject areas, Miami Country Day School is committed to providing an excellent education that meets the needs of our diverse student body. The Annual Giving campaign is vital to ensuring we have the resources necessary to advance our curriculum and accommodate the academic needs of a dynamic population. All gifts directly impact our entire community. They provide support for recruiting and retaining the finest faculty and creating innovative curriculum. It allows us the resources to build on our success and create the future. These annual gifts provide safety for our students and maintain the incredible facilities for our students to learn alongside their dedicated teachers.

Below is how YOUR gift directly impacts our school community!

YOUR ANNUAL GIVING DOLLARS AT WORK

Improves the quality of education for each student

Creates a safe and inviting campus by providing police officers on campus every day

Provided all classrooms doors deadbolts that lock from the inside

Created a teaching space in the library for an Academic Skills class

Upgraded the Student Activities Center with laptop charging stations for our new one-to-one laptop program

Renovated the beloved Lower School Abess Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) Lab

Purchased new equipment, including a new trailer, for the Comprehensive Outdoor Education Program

(COEP) which allowed program expansion

Made it possible to hire a lab assistant to ensure safety and quality of our science labs

Created a STEM Lab

Built an edible, vertical garden wall

Created a new Athletic Training Room

Replaced all lighting in school hallways and cafeteria with new LED lights

Added a new intercom and phone system in every Upper School room to facilitate easy communication between the office and every teacher

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30 THE BEACON

Founders’ CircleJennifer and Neil Sazant, parents of Connor ’20 and Sydney ’18, generously hosted this year’s Founders’ Circle Recognition Event at the Sagamore, The Art Hotel on Miami Beach. Thank you to our Founders’ Circle members for theirs selfless leadership and significant philanthropy!

Hosts Neil and Jennifer Sazant Clockwise from top left: Paula and Gabriel Boano; Dennis Cote and Yunier Duran; Chris Bellows, Trustee; and Marie-France and Paul Bloch.

Clockwise from top left: Michael and Laura Liebowitz; Fred and Terry Jove, Trustee; New Parent Chairs Laura and Larry Colin; and Julie and Tom Pronesti, Founding Deans of the 7500 Club and Middle School Chairs.

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New Parents’ Reception

Hosts Larry and Laura Colin with Dr. John Davies

Clockwise from top left: Denise Wilson, Lower School Faculty Chair with Erica and Jared Shapiro; Larry Colin; Dr. John Davies with Larry and Laura Colin; Alejandro Espinal and Italian Annual Giving Chair Ivette Perez; and Carmen Vivas

New parents from left to right: Mark and Sandhya Murphy with Bernardo and Wendy Bertucci

A NEW TRADITIONLarry and Laura Colin, parents of Alex ’15, started a new tradition by hosting the New Parents’ Reception at the Continuum on South Beach. Over 150 New Parents, Trustees, and Annual Giving volunteers came together to celebrate the kickoff to a new year and being part of our Country Day family.

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32 THE BEACON

Holiday Bazaar: The Parents’ Association hosted another fantastic Holiday Bazaar on November 12th, complete with clothing, jewelry, housewares, stationery, sports memorabilia, a food court, and a dessert bar. Thank you to everyone who supported this important event, including our sponsors: SAKS Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour; Bagel Bar East; Bagel Cove, Aventura; Barrio Latino; City Slickers; Eden Bar Bakery; Epicure Gourmet Market; Frittella Restaurants; Roasters N’ Toasters; and Stella’s Sweet Shop. The Bazaar raised over $42,000. All proceeds benefit Miami Country Day School.

Worlds’ Finest Chocolates: This year’s PA Fundraiser is through Worlds’ Finest Chocolates. To check out a box of chocolates for $60, contact Mary Novas at novasm@miamicountryday.org.

Parents’ Association

Grandparents’ DayGrandparents, grandchildren, and family friends celebrated a special day on November 27th. The day included visits to Art & Music, the Abess Center for Environmental Studies, and Leonie’s Garden.

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FALL 2013SPORTS AWARDS

MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

most valuable player awardEva SirlinMolli LeoniYakira MatisonnBridgette Lewincoaches awardSophia Cartolanomost improved player awardAnanda Naves-Penkwittspartan awardKatarina Londono

JUNIOR VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

most valuable player awardAmanda CabanJade Iadarolamost improved player awardMia Paez

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

most valuable player awardKayla Kotalikcoaches awardWinona Paezmost improved player awardBrooke Pumo

VARSITY GOLF

coaches awardLorenzo Figueroa

most improved player awardSpencer Berens

JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL

most valuable offensive player award Owen Wesleymost valuable defensive player award Zachary Weinbergcoaches awardMatthew Hansonspartan award Hector Estupinanmost improved player award Griffin Sennett

VARSITY CHEERLEADING

most valuable cheerleader awardMharlove Andre’coaches awardKanesha Petit-Pharmost improved awardCatherine Jenkins

BOYS SWIMMING

most valuable swimmer awardZachary CharalambidesWiley Watsoncoaches awardDemitri Spiliotismost improved player award Sebastian OliveraLucas Henry

34 THE BEACON

GIRLS SWIMMING

most valuable swimmer awardOlivia Katchercoaches awardMadisyn Jonesmost improved swimmer award Stella NixdorfBeth Lilly

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

most valuable player award Alexander Cohencoaches award Julian Schultzrookie of the year award Pablo Vivasmost improved runner award Armando Bedenbaugh-Cortesspartan awardEmil Martayan

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

most valuable player awardIsabella Allenspartan awardMary Elizabeth Allencoaches awardMallory Brownrookie of the year award Lea Ankoninamost improved runner award Alexandra Piussan

Danielle Minott ’14 signs with SyracuseMiami Country Day has high hopes for this girls’ basketball season coming off a state runner-up finish in Class 3A. One of the big reasons is guard Danielle Minott. On Wednesday, November 13, 2013, Minott was one of several Miami-Dade County athletes in different sports who signed with colleges on the first day of the early signing period.

Minott, who averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, and five steals per game last season, signed with Syracuse University.

4-YEAR PLAQUE

Kayla Kotalik – VolleyballAlexander Cohen – Cross CountryTyler Luby – Cross CountryGiulia Bronzi – Cross CountryOlivia Bronzi – Cross CountryChristopher Thixton – SwimmingIsaac Kassab – Swimming

5-YEAR MEDALS

Sidney Thomas – Cross CountryNicole Sherwood – Cross CountryTaylor Sennett – Cross CountryJulian Schultz – Cross CountryArmando Bedenbaugh-Cortes – Cross CountryEmil Martayan – Cross CountryTheodore Pornprinya – Cross Country

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Planned GivingWITH JACK DUBOIS

John C. DuBois provides a link to Miami Country Day School’s past and is helping to ensure its future. Joining the Legacy Society, Jack—or “Dubes,” as he is fondly known by former students—has a 54-year history with Country Day.

From 1954 to 1981, Jack DuBois taught history, geography, English, and Latin. He fostered the development of the

school’s interscholastic athletic program and coached Varsity football, soccer, and baseball. In 1979 he was named Athletic Director, and the Spartan athletic teams entered into a full-scale high school varsity program. In 1987 he was appointed by Head of School, Bill Creeden, to serve as Alumni Advisor, working with the Development/Alumni Office. He continues to serve in this capacity today.

In August, Jack attended the school’s birthday party to kick-off the school’s 75th Anniversary year. Colonel Tim Vinoski, USAF, Retired, class of 1974, from Tampa, came with Jack. Jack has a long history with the Vinoski family. Jack is Godfather to Tim and Kathie’s daughter, Alissa. Tim’s brother, Todd Vinoski ’76, is a veterinarian in Palm Beach Gardens. He has taken care of several of Jack’s golden retrievers over the years, including Goldie, his newest companion from Golden Rescue. Many of his former students and now longtime friends were on hand to greet him at the birthday party: Bruce Matheson ’61, James W. Moore ’65, Ware Cornell ’65, Gerald W. Moore ’68, Bond Millard ’75, Stew Frazier ’75, and Carl Whitmer ’71.

During his visit, Jack shared with Dr. Davies, Head of School, and Sheryl Piper, Director of Development, that he has named Miami Country Day School in his estate.

“Over the last several years Jack has shared some of his personal thoughts on how Miami Country Day School touched and impacted every aspect of his personal and professional life, that I am happy to share now,” said Col. (Ret) Vinoski.

Jack has always thought of the Country Day campus as his second home, he considered the faculty his brothers and sisters, and the student body his children. Always beaming with Spartan Pride, Jack never settled for anything less than the highest of quality and excellence with regard to his students’ education, the learning process, and their athletic and academic achievements. Honorably serving as teacher, coach, and mentor, allowed him, as he described, the ultimate privilege to mold, shape, and enlighten thousands of young minds and bodies. The importance of encouraging MCDS students to be the best possible version of themselves was paramount to Jack. To continue to implement the innovative programs and offer the unique benefits Jack endorsed, Country Day needs bequests from individuals like him to provide the quality environment it has worked so hard to create.

To ensure that his commitment to the high ideals of Miami Country Day School persist today, and well into the future, Jack has dedicated a portion of his estate to augment the funding of the John C. DuBois scholarship, founded in 1992 by the Alumni Association and largely funded by the Garner Foundation.

by Colonel Tim Vinoski ’74 &Sheryl Piper, Director of Development

November 2014, Jack with Goldie

Jack as Athletic Director

36 THE BEACON

“After over 50 years of service to Country Day, it is impossible to find any aspect of the school without finding the hand of Jack DuBois at work,” said Dr. Davies. “Our school would not be what it is today without him and his legacy gift will ensure that his presence will continue to be felt by Spartans long after all of us have moved on.”

Colonel (Ret) Vinoski added, “Miami Country Day School—its staff and most importantly, the student body—were the absolute central focus of his life’s work. From day one, and over the many following decades, Jack knew there was something very special about the school. His belief and faith in the school’s purpose and mission were demonstrated each day with an unyielding devotion to the continued development of the institution; commitment to

its unsurpassed qualities, standards, and characteristics; and leadership of the student body by example. Simply stated, Miami Country Day School has been the special purpose and life blood of his existence for nearly 60 years. By including Miami Country Day School in his estate, Jack ensures that these fine traditions continue.

“Jack’s enthusiasm and passion for teaching as well as his insatiable desire to expand the minds of his students, extended well beyond the classroom. Year after year, Jack devoted his summer ‘time off’ to organizing and leading a 30-day summer educational junket. These tours directly benefited students and will always be fondly remembered by the participants, as one of his long-lasting legacies.”

Thank you to the following people who are recognized as members of Miami Country Day School’s Legacy Society. To date, the school has been named the beneficiary of gifts in excess of $3 million.

In 1982, Miami Country Day School received a bequest in honor of its co-founder, C.W. “Doc” Abele. This was the first legacy or Planned Gift in the school’s history. The value of the bequest was in excess of $500,000 and was designated in trust to fund an endowed scholarship program. The school has been able to use the interest generated by the trust each year to fund scholarships. As of June 30, 2013 the fair market value was $889,719.

In the 90s, additional bequests were made from three individuals totaling $1.5 million. Those gifts came to Miami Country Day through the direction of attorneys who were alumni parents and former trustees. A bequest made by a will is one of many ways a family can make a planned gift without impacting their current financial situation. Also, life insurance policies can be structured to designate MCDS as a partial beneficiary of a death

benefit. These and other forms of planned gifts leave a lasting legacy and make a significant difference for students and teachers at MCDS. All planned gifts add strength to the school’s endowment,

which is the financial foundation for a successful educational institution. Endowed funds generate income and support scholarships, teachers, buildings, programs, and other important purposes set by the Board of Trustees.

The school’s Board of Trustees is committed to increasing the school’s endowment for its long-term financial sustainability. Today, the school has $4 million in its endowment—$3,500 per student. The average endowment per student for south Florida independent schools is $7,790. There is still work

to be done and efforts will continue to increase our endowment through bequests, endowed chairs, and planned gifts. If you are interested in learning about the endowment, or in making a planned gift, contact: Bruce J. (Buzzy) Tabatchnick, Director of Leadership Gifts at 786-899-2129.

LEGACY SOCIETYC.W. “Doc” Abele

Anonymous John and Roxanne Davies

John C. “Jack” DuBoisMichael J. Franco

Dorothy Frohlich EstateBertha Goldstein Estate

Rose Sampson Estate

LEGACY GIFTS KEEP ON GIVING

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Alumni Feature Q&A

Roy Altman ’00 Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee and Career Day Speaker1. I am an Assistant United States Attorney in the Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In other

words, I’m a federal prosecutor. 2. In my personal life, I’m most proud that I convinced Dr. Rachel Silverstein (soon-to-be Altman) to marry me. I’m also

proud of all of the community service work I do on a weekly basis in Overtown’s public schools. In my professional life, I’m most proud of my work investigating, prosecuting, and ultimately convicting Lavont Flanders (a former police officer) and Emerson Callum (a pornographer) of luring hundreds of women to Miami, raping them, filming the rapes, and turning the rapes into pornography. As a result of our efforts, which took the better part of a year, both men were sentenced to 13 consecutive terms of life in federal prison.

3. I stay connected to Country Day because I owe a great deal to Country Day, not simply for preparing me intellectually—which my wonderful teachers (among them, Ms. Lewis, Ms. Rosenfeld, Mr. Mathes, Mr. Konen, Dr. Davies, Mr. Woodburn, Ms. Grey, and many others) certainly did—but for making me into the man I am today. In this respect, I am thankful to the members of the athletic department who coached me (Chuck Sennett, Bryan Parizo, Peter Konen, Ron Totarsky, BJ Teltsher ’93, and Coach Antonopoulos) and to the many teammates and friends I made along the way. Country Day is an integral part of my past and, I hope, will one day be a part of my family’s future.

David Benjamin ’98 Career Day Speaker1. Currently, I am the Managing Partner and Owner of my own boutique law firm, Benjamin & Melmer, LLC. My

partner and I focus our practice in the areas of family law, domestic violence law, and general criminal defense. 2. Professionally, I am most proud of my work advocating for victims of domestic violence while a prosecutor with the

Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. I served as the Chief of the Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Unit for over two years while an Assistant State Attorney. Personally, I take the most pride in my beautiful family. Along with my wife Angela, we have two sons, Jack (4 years old) and Wyatt (1 year old) who are the light of my life. We are active members of the Miami Shores community, where my children play sports just like I did nearly twenty-five years ago.

3. My desire to give back to Miami Country Day comes down to a simple philosophy—pay it forward. Miami Country

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, HOLIDAY BAZAAR VENDORS & CAREER DAY SPEAKERS

Questions:1. What are you currently doing professionally?2. What is something you are most proud of in your personal or professional life?3. As an alumnus/a, what is it that makes you want to stay connected to Miami Country Day School?

Miami Country Day School alumni remain connected to Country Day long after Graduation. This fall, alumni were recognized at the Spartan Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and participated in our annual Career Day and the Holiday Bazaar. We thank the alumni featured in the article below for staying connected to Country Day!

38 THE BEACON

Day gave me the foundation necessary to be the person and the professional I am today. In addition, MCDS infused in me the benefits of being an active member of a larger community. That is why I pride myself on giving back to the community in any capacity I can, whether it be through my work with Doctors Charter School or the Anti-Defamation League. I hope I can, in some small way, imbue the next generation of MCDS students with the same passion and love for community that I was given by the generation before me. Plus, it is always great reconnecting with all the Country Day teachers I know and love.

Alex Dombrowsky ’92 Career Day Speaker1. I am currently a Commercial Litigation Attorney representing businesses lawsuits. Most of our clients are foreign

corporations with business operations in the US. 2. I am most proud of high school junior year abroad as a Congress-Bundestag Scholarship Exchange Student. The global

perspective I learned as a 16-year-old has informed so many aspects of my personal and professional life. 3. At MCDS, I was provided with tools which served me through college, law school, and career achievements, while

simultaneously serving athletic, artistic, and spiritual aspects of my life. I want to stay connected to ensure that future generations are provided the same tools. I am pleased to serve with likeminded members of the MCDS family to achieve that goal.

Darren Buckner ’94 Career Day Speaker1. I have been a business owner since 1999, and I currently own two training academies for Darren Buckner’s Martial Arts.

I have been teaching Martial Arts since the age of 15, and that passion has allowed me to follow my dream of having my own business.

2. I am proud and blessed that I can do what I love. It’s an amazing feeling to know that the parents of our young students seek our support, guidance, life skills, and of course Martial Arts knowledge. That’s something that really makes me proud.

3. Miami Country Day School gave me an opportunity to be where I am today. Offering our services is the least we can do to give back to an institution dedicated to excellence.

Allison Goldberg ’94 Career Day Speaker and Holiday Bazaar Vendor1. I’m currently the Marketing Manager for Saks 5th Avenue in Bal Harbour. I have held this position for two years now.

It’s been a very rewarding and exciting experience. 2. Professionally, I’m proud of the transition I chose to make by leaving my position with a local prestigious Advertising/

PR Firm (Pantin/Beber, Silverstein & Partners), where I handled a number of National Accounts including McDonald’s Franchisees, to go “in house” and into the Luxury Fashion/Retailing industry with SAKS. While not a complete career change, it has certainly been a 180 degree turn and I’m happy that they not only encourage me but have supported me to pursue an Executive MBA, which I’m currently pursuing at Florida International University.

3. I was fortunate to have attended some other schools in the Miami area before enrolling and graduating from Miami Country Day. Having had this basis to compare, I especially appreciate the great education, nurturing atmosphere, and excellent guidance I received. As such, I’m always happy to “pay it forward” in terms of being available to answer questions and mentor any current students who are looking for a similar career path.

alumni – stay connected

From left to right: Roy Altman ’00, David Benjamin ’98, and Alex Dombrowsky ’92

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Jessica McCrary Campbell ’00 Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee and Career Day Speaker1. I am doing what I love! As owner of Lavish Soirée Weddings & Events I have the amazing opportunity to plan and coordinate social and corporate events for individuals and corporations. I work with many of South Florida’s most prestigious venues like The Breakers, The Westin Colonnade, and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens to create memorable weddings & events for my local and destination clients.

2. I consider myself very blessed to be able to make a living doing what I enjoy most. My career is even more rewarding

when celebrity clients and brides & grooms show their gratitude for my efforts. I have been recognized by CNN as one of the nation’s most innovative wedding planners and recently was recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 40 under 40 in Success magazine. Although recognition is gratifying, I am most proud of my smooth transition from being a business owning professional to a business owning mother. My son, Kingston, was born in the middle of my busiest time of year, July 11th, 2013. Learning how to be a mother while maintaining my wedding and event planning business proved to be challenging but has also been extremely rewarding! I have the incredible opportunity to raise our son with my husband while still being a very hands-on mother. I’m glad I don’t have to choose between my beautiful son and my enjoyable career, but if I did, my son Kingston would win every time!

3. Miami Country Day has given me the opportunity to earn an exclusive education and has provided me with a platform to thrive in academics and athletics. Many of the individuals who taught and coached me, like Coach Christopher Hayes and Ms. Sandi Lewis, provided me with lifelong lessons that are instilled in me today. I want to stay connected to Miami Country Day because my alma mater has played an instrumental part in my professional success. I want to give back to the current Spartan students while remaining close to the teachers who helped me become the successful business owning professional I am today.

Craig Green ’93 Career Day Speaker1. I am co-President of Evergreen Sweeteners, which is my

family’s food distribution company. My family has been in the sugar industry since 1925. I have the pleasure of working with my wife, brother, father, mother, and sister-in-law. Prior to my grandparents’ passing, they were both involved in the family business, at which time there were six of us spanning three generations all working together. It is very nice to be surrounded professionally by people whom I love and trust.

2. I am most proud of my two beautiful daughters. Samantha is 10 (5th grade) and Ella is 7 (2nd grade). They have collectively attended MCDS for 12 years, which is one year shy of my tenure at the school. I love how different they are, making them truly special and unique. Samantha is an excellent writer and actress. The way she expresses herself is remarkable. Ella is a little comedienne, and she loves math and gymnastics. Maybe she will be in 2024 Olympic Games. MCDS has been great for both their social and intellectual development, having made many great friends and gained exposure to many excellent teachers.

3. I had such an amazing experience during my 13 years at MCDS, culminating in my graduation 20 years ago. I was

From left to right: Kenny Kotalik ’08, Brandon Kochen ’07, and Craig Green ’93

From left to right: Darren Buckner ’94, Jessica McCrary Campbell ’00, and Allison Goldberg ’94

40 THE BEACON

extremely involved in the school, especially during Middle and Upper School, during which time I was very active in student government, athletics, music, and community service. My brother, who attended MCDS for 12 years, was very active as well, along with both of my parents, who volunteered a great deal of their time to MCDS during the 1980s and early 1990s. I remained active after graduation, serving on the Alumni Board, coaching JV Football, speaking at many Career Days, as well as my current service on the Board of Advisors and the Athletic Steering Committee. I began participating in Career Day in 1999 and have had the opportunity to participate more than 10 times over the past 14 years. It is great to be able to interact every year with the Senior class in a very meaningful way, which may ultimately impact which majors they choose as undergraduates, as well as their career paths post-graduation.

Brandon Kochen ’07 Career Day Speaker1. I am currently the Vice President of Worth It Stores. We own and operate retail stores located in Miami-Dade and

Broward County. We specialize in Fashion clothing as well as School Uniforms.

2. One aspect of my professional life that I am proud of is the fact that I have been able to achieve my position within the company through hard work and dedication. I can honestly say that at some point during my time with Worth It Stores, I have worked in every position, starting from the warehouse, to store level, to upper management.

3. Besides the fact that Miami Country Day School gave me an excellent education, it also gave me a chance to become a “Whole Child.” I was able to excel in the classroom as well as on the field and court. When I wasn’t furthering my academics or pushing myself athletically, I was given the opportunity to become a thespian and push myself beyond my comfort zone. All of this, plus the incredible connections I have made throughout the years at MCDS with all the students, teachers, and staff members, will (hopefully) last a lifetime.

Robert Grossman ’03 Career Day Speaker1. I am a general surgery resident at Mt. Sinai Medical Center.2. I am most proud of the lives I save and the impact I have on my patients.3. The teaching staff who are responsible for who I am and where I am today have encouraged me to stay connected to

MCDS.

Christina Pumo Hanabergh ’95 Career Day Speaker1. Currently I am working as an acute care nurse practitioner with Memorial Healthcare System.2. In my personal life, I am most proud of my recent marriage to Dr. Enrique Hanabergh ’94.3. As an alumna, I stay connected to MCDS because I enjoy watching the evolution of the school, as well as having a connection to our youth.

Jen Kramer ’08 Career Day Speaker1. I am currently working as a Designer at Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design.2. I am most proud of receiving my degree in Architecture from the University of Florida.3. The warmness from the faculty, teachers, and students. You always feel so welcomed by everybody.

alumni – stay connected

From left to right: Corinne Munnings ’97, Christina Pumo Hanabergh ’95, and Robbie Grossman ’03

From left to right: Leah Stern ’98, Jennifer Kramer ’08, and Edward Leyva ’93

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Leah Stern ’98 Career Day Speaker1. I am the Regional Director for a non-profit called NPH USA (www.nphusa.org). We care for orphaned and abandoned

children in Latin America and the Caribbean. I am also an international journalist for the Huffington Post, Times of Israel, as well as a regional contributor for Yahoo South America, Miami New Times, and the Fisher Island Times. (www.huffingtonpost.com/leah-stern). I am a member of the Jewish Federation Speakers Bureau, traveling throughout the U.S. on speaking tours focusing on Israel Advocacy and Middle Eastern Affairs. I am also co-producing several international social action projects for TV, film, and online.

2. I spent ten years as a war correspondent in the Middle East, later going on to serve as a liaison and media advisor for the Israeli government in its diplomatic efforts with the Vatican in Rome. I am authoring a book on my experiences.

3. Miami Country Day provided a foundation, which I believe paved the way for all my career and personal success. I believe in karma and would love to return all that the school provided for me.

Steven Tromberg ’07 Career Day Speaker1. I am a financial advisor who helps people make informed decisions with

their money so they can enjoy a secure retirement. 2. I am proud of the fact that I can help people achieve a certain degree of

financial peace of mind. In a world where there are so many question marks every day, I am proud that I can help answer some of those questions to help relieve some stress about the future in my clients’ lives.

3. To this day, many years removed from graduation from Miami Country Day, I still talk about the impact that my teachers, peers, and older alumni had on me. It set me up for success in the future, both in college and beyond, and if I could have the opportunity to pay that forward, then I will. To keep our school connected as a community, rather than an organization that kids come and go through, it requires students, alumni, parents, and others to be involved in many aspects beyond the classroom.

Tabitha Charles ’85 Hall of Fame Inductee

1. I am currently a professional fundraiser at my children’s school and my alma mater. I am the Director of Annual Giving, and I work with parent volunteers to raise important dollars to help our students, teachers, and school. These gifts to our school ensure we have the resources necessary to advance our curriculum and accommodate the academic needs of a dynamic student population. 2. I am most proud of my family. Family comes first—my husband Jerome and my two children. Taegan is in 9th grade here at Country Day. He started in Mrs. Wilson’s class in Senior Kindergarten. Taegan has flourished at Country Day and is very involved in the music program. Caera started at Country Day in Junior

Kindergarten and is now in 1st grade. She is on the swim team and loves everything about her school. As a family, we love to travel together. We have been to Hong Kong, Thailand, Ireland, Dominican Republic, and many places in the United States. My children are wonderful travelers.

3. The teachers. They created special memories for me, and now I see the magic and love they are bestowing on my children, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Lauren Turchin ’06 Holiday Bazaar Vendor1. Professionally, I recently decided to start my own women’s

jewelry company, Meridian Avenue. After years of working for From left to right: Lauren Turchin ’06 and Rachel Adler ’05

42 THE BEACON

alumni – stay connected

other fashion startup companies, I decided to branch off and try to start something myself. Right now I am just focusing on women’s costume jewelry, but hopefully one day I can expand and do different things such as high-end jewelry or even men’s accessories.

2. Something I am proud of in my life personally and professionally is that I have taken the risk to start my own business, and I have put my heart and soul into it, so no matter what direction the business goes in, at least I know I put my everything into it.

3. What keeps me connected to Miami Country Day School is the relationships with my past teachers that I still have. I am still connected to many of my Upper School teachers and talk to them frequently... just to name a couple…the fabulous and stylish Marisol Sardina and the funny and hip Glen Turf!

Melissa Mosheim ’06 Holiday Bazaar Vendor1. I just opened my own women’s clothing boutique, MVM Miami. 2. It has always been a dream of mine to open my own store, so I would say that finally doing that is my biggest accomplishment. 3. I went to school at Country Day for 13 years and can say that I genuinely enjoyed all of my time spent there. I feel like the school gave me an amazing overall education and hope that it continues to keep going. In the future, I hope to be able to give back to the MCDS community to help further its high standard of education.

Michelle Finvarb Possin ’85 Holiday Bazaar Vendor1. I currently own a hair accessory company called By Lilla.

Michelle is the co-founder of By Lilla with Colette Bakalarz Feldman ’98 and Natalia Arias Storm (MCDS parent).

2. I am most proud of my kids, Isabella (2nd grade at MCDS), Max (Senior Kindergarten at MCDS), and Charles.

3. The way the school has evolved since we were there to what it is now amazes me.

Liza Schwartz ’08 Holiday Bazaar Vendor1. I am very fortunate because I have taken my passion of jewelry

creation and started my own Jewelry Company, Liza Schwartz Jewelry. As an entrepreneur starting a new company, I am working 24/7 from designing to manufacturing to marketing to managing accounts. I find my career to be both challenging and rewarding.

2. In just two years, my company has grown tremendously. Seeing our Jewelry in over 70 stores nationally, including Henri Bendel, Bloomingdales, and Canyon Ranch, has really been exciting and keeps me motivated. When people like to wear my jewelry, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment as the designer of Liza Schwartz Jewelry.3. First off I would like to give a shout out to all those part of the 12 year club! Attending MCDS from first grade to graduation, I have watched MCDS grow and prosper. MCDS is where it all started. I received a great educational foundation, made lifelong friends, and have fond memories. MCDS is a special place, and I am lucky to be part of the community.

From left to right: Michelle Finvarb Possin ’85, Colette Feldman ’98, and Fredi Rosenfeld.

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Class Notes

David Weinstein ’86 and Rochelle Weinstein (wife of Steven Weinstein ’86) spoke together about Rochelle’s book, The Mourning After, and Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD). David is the world’s leading research expert on GSD and was the inspiration for Rochelle’s novel.

Christina Pumo ’95 and Enrique Hanabergh ’94 got married on August 10, 2013 on the island of St. Martin (French West Indies). Enrique has a flourishing plastic surgery practice, and Christina is very involved in philanthropy, when not working with Memorial Healthcare System as an

acute care nurse practitioner.

Jessica Davis ’99 received her M.S. in Fundraising and Grantmaking from the New York University Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising.

Roy Altman ’00 of the Special Prosecutions Section in Miami has been named as a recipient of the Young Federal Lawyer Award by the Federal Bar Association. The award ceremony was held at the Federal Bar Association’s 2013 Annual Meeting and Convention in

San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 26, 2013.

The Young Federal Lawyer Award is given each year to only five outstanding attorneys employed by the United States Government nationwide for their significant contributions to the legal profession and their respective communities. Roy was selected to receive the award this year for his outstanding work prosecuting violent crime, child exploitation, and human trafficking cases, as well as for his significant community outreach efforts.

Congratulations to Roy for this well-deserved honor!

Brian Williams ’00 is currently serving as an Economic Officer posted to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. In October, Brian spoke to Country Day Upper School students about the Foreign Service (FS), the types of jobs FS Officers do around the world, and the process for joining the FS. Brian also discussed his experiences serving in Nigeria and took questions from students.

After being commissioned into the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service in May 2012, Brian was assigned to Nigeria in August 2012 for a two-year tour. Within the Embassy’s Economic Section, Brian’s portfolio includes issues of Trade, Investment, and Intellectual Property Rights. Following his tour in Abuja, Brian will return to Washington, D.C. before his next assignment in Santiago, Chile, where he will serve as a Consular Officer.

Brian is the recipient of a State Department Meritorious Award for

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT WAS IN THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TIME CAPSULE? TELL US!

44 THE BEACON

alumni – stay connected

his efforts to organize a high level U.S.-Nigeria bilateral trade meeting. Additionally, Brian’s photograph of a welcome ceremony for a U.S. Embassy delegation visit to a northern Nigerian village was recently featured in the May 2013 edition of State Department’s State Magazine.

Jessica McCrary Campbell ’00 Kingston Donovan was born to parents Jessica McCrary Campbell and Donovan

Campbell on July 11th, 2013 at 12:56 AM. He was 20.5 inches long and weighed 7 pounds. Jessica describes Kingston as the “most considerate baby ever” due to him allowing her to have an incredibly easy going pregnancy and delivery. There is nothing easy going about him now as he has been sitting up and crawling just before turning 5

months old. Jessica and Donovan are overjoyed with the birth of their first child together and are having fun trying to keep up with their little bundle of energy (and joy)!

Ryan ’01 and Cynthia Mitchell ’02

welcomed Evelyn Irene Mitchell on October 2, 2012. The family is doing great!

Alex Sanchez ’09 came to campus recently and visited with Mrs. Carolyn Dorn!

Zachary Kappos ’11 led the California State University Long Beach 49ers Water Polo team with 64 goals scored during the 2013 season, and

entered into the Top 10 in school history in goals scored in one season. Zachary also earned Honorable Mention All – MPSF honors. These awards represent the best in the conference.

Zoe Respondek ’11 received a 2013 Women’s All-Academic Award from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. She received an Outstanding ranking for her play at the University of Hawaii.

Bridgett Greenberg ’11 has interned since June as a Production Assistant with the comedy website CollegeHumor.com. She has been helping producers in pre-production for filming and helping them on set while filming some of the sketches that can be found on the CollegeHumor website (Why Can’t You Use Your Cell Phone on Planes and Every Tech Commercial are two that she helped produce). In December, she began working with The Groundlings, which is an improv and sketch comedy troupe and school. She will work in the school helping comedy teachers run their classes and help organize the shows that the improv and sketch teams put on.

She has also been writing and performing stand-up comedy several nights a week. Most recently, she has done shows at the HaHa Cafe and Comedy Store.

Avery Watson ’13 and Natasha Cirisano ’11 spoke to Upper School students in December about what they wish they had known while in high school.

We apologize for the inadvertent error in the Commencement Beacon on page 35.

Jerry Vazquez ’82 was incorrectly identified.

We are unearthing the 50th Anniversary Time Capsule in May 2014 and will be burying a new time capsule for our 75th Anniversary. Share your memories! Email alumni@miamicountryday.org.

winter 2014 45

1. What are your favorite things about Florida International University?My favorite thing about Florida International University is the campus life, specifically intramural flag football. Because of the multiple concussions I suffered throughout the years and my lack of size, I had to give up tackle football and settle for flag football. Flag football at FIU is really competitive and requires a lot teamwork. It is also a way for me to meet tons of people, and it allows me to show off my moves to a big crowd. Another one of my favorite things about FIU is the amount of people on campus. I am constantly meeting new people and making new connections, a skill that is very underrated today. I cannot stress enough the importance of being open-minded and social in college. You never know when you will need the connections you made.

2. Do you consider Florida International University to be a good match for you?Yes, I consider FIU to be a good match for me because of multiple reasons. The main reasons are that I’m close to my family, and the school has an excellent business program. When I was deciding which college I wanted to attend for four years, I chose FIU because I thought that at the end of my four-year college career, I would be better prepared when trying to get my CPA and trying to find a job following graduation.

3. What are you studying?I’m majoring in accounting with a minor in finance and public administration.

4. What has been your favorite class or outside project during your first two years at FIU?My favorite class at FIU has been AFA 2004, also known as Black Pop Culture. This class is my favorite because it made me more aware of social problems within our society. This class also heightened my knowledge of black history. In this class we dissected the thoughts of Malcolm X, Cornel West, and

many other philosophers of black liberation and compared their views to today’s society. In doing this comparative analysis, we noticed a lot of flaws that persist in America. This class was my favorite simply because it educated me on my roots and culture of the great continent of Africa. Cultural identity is extremely important to me because knowing your place of origin, knowing facts, and knowing your history only connects one to their homeland on a more personal level.

5. Have you been back on the MCDS campus since you graduated? Do you keep in touch with any of your former teachers?Yes, I have been on campus multiple times since I have graduated. I come to say hi and catch up with all of my teachers as well as converse and give inspiring words to the current students. I do not keep in touch with my teachers as often as I should, but when I am on campus, I try to talk to them and let them know how their service has helped me throughout my college career.

6. Do you think you were prepared for your college courses and college life in general?Leaving MCDS and entering FIU, I was well prepared for college socially and academically. There were students who had little experience writing research papers and doing certain assignments that I had practiced at MCDS since my freshman year. Entering college I had a strong foundation. Because of my active participation in sports and other extracurricular activities, I learned early on to manage my time in high school. This skill rolled over to college and because I had already mastered time management, my study habits got stronger, and I immediately started to see results.

7. When you think of MCDS, what are some words or phrases that describe the school?

ask an alumFIVE-MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH ROY BROWN ’12

46 THE BEACON

When I think of MCDS, a couple words that come to mind are family, community, and opportunity. Family – during my four years there I gained more than friends. I made bonds with fellow classmates that won’t break. Community – MCDS is more than a school. I experienced this in 2010 when I suffered a scary concussion. I had the support from every student, teacher, and faculty member who knew the situation. Opportunity is the most important because that is the greatest gift MCDS gave to me. They gave me an opportunity to get the best education possible, build character, and most importantly, they gave me the opportunity to be a Spartan.

Although this might seem cliché, I cannot stress enough how important it is to manage your time. Entering college, I think people misunderstand the timing of things. Some people think when you get to college you have no time to do what you want. I have learned that when you get to college, you have all the time in the world to do what you want, but it’s up to you to be efficient with your free time. Ms. Fulton always told me “work smart, not hard.” Although we all know that we must have a perfect blend between the two to be successful, I challenge you to put forward maximum effort in your studies at home and your participation in class, and everything should fall in place. I urge you, once you are in college, to build relationships with your professors. They are there to help you, and once they see your willingness to learn, they will be more than happy to help you with your needs. Don’t forget around graduation time you will need letters of recommendation!

ALUMNI SAVE THE DATES

March 7 Alumni Spring Happy HourMarch 8 Music Event Extraordinaire with John Wicker and the Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME) April 5 75th Anniversary CelebrationMay 17 Alumni Baseball Game

We have over 3,000 distinguished alumni across the world, and we want to stay connected with you. We want to make it easier and more convenient for you to reconnect with former classmates and teachers, network with other alumni, find information about reunions and alumni events, and discover what is new and exciting at Miami Country Day School. The Alumni Association wants you to Stay Connected! Contact Nora Pardave at 305-779-7299 or pardaven@miamicountryday.org.

alumni – stay connected

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