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Onward
Fall 2015
an MCDS MAGAZINE
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iss 14–
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Ben Hebebrand rings in the 2015–2016 school year
with the entire MCDS community.
Head’s Letter 2
The Buzz 3
MCDS Moments 4
In Focus with Faculty 6
Teamwork & Triumph 18
Character & Community 20
Sustain & Thrive 22
Alumni Pages 53
Features
The Sound of Music: Music at MCDS 10
Special in This Issue
Annual Report 24
Ben Hebebrand Head of School
Onward Contributors
Dana Asmuth Director of Advancement
Holly Bobula Graphic Designer
Courtney Comer Parent Volunteer
Emma Henke Parent Volunteer
Beatrice Jones School Secretary
Ann Schwede Parent Volunteer
Jamie Wojcik Development Office Manager
Onward Photographers
Maheen Ott
Bonnie Manley
Board of Trustees
Sandra Fernandez, EdD Chair
Erick Hallick, BS Vice-Chair
Thomas Shorter, JD Secretary
Lynn Kaminski, CPA, BBA Treasurer
Kathy Baus, MD
James Gallegos, JD
Mark Louden, PhD
Patrick Riha, MBA
Suzanne Rusch, BBA
John Schaffer, PhD
Eric Schmidt, MBA
Jerry VanKirk, MDiv, ThM
Sheila Young, BA
Ben Hebebrand, MA, ex-officio
Honorary Trustees
Erica Christman, MHA
Terry Haller, MA
Eric McLeod, JD
Bassam Shakahshiri, PhD
Beverly Simone, EdD
Advising Trustee
Julian Pozniak ’10, BA, MCDS Alumni President
SILVER
American Advertising Awards winner
To add someone to the mailing list or
to submit questions or comments about
our award-winning magazine, email us at
onward@madisoncountryday.org.
Mr. Hebebrand shares first-day-of-school
excitement with Elena ’25.
Letter from the Head of School
Dear Madison Country Day School Family:
Welcome to this extraordinary issue of our award-winning Onward magazine. One way to sum
up this issue is by the word “engagement.” The beautiful photos by themselves paint a picture
of teachers and students engaged in what they do best—teaching and learning. Be sure to take
a look at an in-depth portrait of our Music Department and an associated alum profile featuring
Dominick Boyle ’09 who is making inroads as a composer in New York City. Additionally, see
articles relating to athletics, Model United Nations, and STEAM. I, for one, not only witness
engagement in the photos and articles, but was captivated as a reader. Join me in reading this
issue of Onward and passing it along to your friends.
This issue is also about gratitude—gratitude for what we joyfully and playfully call “Mission
Accomplished.” Included in this magazine, please find an annual report, providing a financial
snapshot of our school and the philanthropic support we receive to put our mission into
practice—to give our mission life. It is indeed appropriate to proclaim, “Mission Accomplished.”
One of the founding philosophies of our mission states that “every child has extraordinary
capacity to learn.” I believe this is also mirrored and thus modelled by our school. Our school,
itself, has this extraordinary capacity because every teacher and parent believes in the capacity
that our students have. This capacity is nurtured by our collective contributions of time, talent,
and treasure. I thank you for these contributions.
With high hopes for the future of our students and our school,
Ben Hebebrand
Head of School
2
41
new families
joined our community this fall
with students coming from
9 different states AR, CA, CT, IL,
MN, NY, OH, TN, WA;
3 different countries Columbia,
South Korea, Zimbabwe;
and Wisconsin (some originally
from Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela).
127
A weather balloon
launched by Jake Eaton
reached an altitude
different
colleges
of more than
98,000
have accepted
MCDS graduates.
feet
and made it to
SILVER
90
athletic events
With your support, we raised
$190,000
were held on
our grounds
during the
2014–2015
school year.
The Buzz
Onward is an
award-winning
magazine!
Milwaukee.
at the 2014–2015
Community Celebration and Auction!
11
Middle School
students
performed Shakespeare’s
Twelfth Night.
3
1
MCDS Moments
1
2
3
4
5
6
Grade five kayaks down the Yahara River during PE
Grade four science electricity unit
Lower school musical, Willy Wonka Jr.
High school students enjoying a break with music
Grade one Colonial Day, singing at assembly
Middle school Outdoor Explorer elective
3
4
2
5
4
6
In Focus
with Faculty
Getting To Know Ben Hebebrand
Prior to the start of the school year, Onward had
the chance to chat with new Head of School
Ben Hebebrand. He spoke about his first impressions
of MCDS, his background and interests, and his hopes
and plans for the school.
You’ve been working in the school for a while now.
How’s it going?
right facilities and tools to ensure the most effective
learning environment?
BH: Every day I feel moved by the surroundings, the
natural beauty of this campus, which clearly contribute to
the inspirational factor of this celebrated school.
Have you had opportunity to interact with students?
The major emphasis so far for me has been to meet
with faculty, the people who work most directly with our
students. The more I nurture and take care of teachers
and try and find out what their needs are, the better
they’re going to be at taking care of students. I have also
been meeting with the staff, trustees, and a few parents.
What else? I’ve picked up on the fact that this school not
only has a mission but is on a mission. The mission is
finding resonance in the Madison marketplace. Obviously
everybody in this community is beginning to realize this
is a special place. I think that’s wonderful. But it comes
with significant challenges. Are we really meeting the
needs of all the teachers and kids? Do we have the
BH: I hosted the senior class at my home before the start
of the school year. I want to have a relationship with the
students, but I also want to deliver a message that I’m
looking to them to help me set the tone of this community.
There’s nothing more fun for me than really getting to
know all the kids here. One of my mantras is that every
child must belong and matter—not just being part of a
group, but they also have to have a voice in this group.
They have to matter, particularly in their classrooms.
How do you like to connect with younger students?
BH: Well, humor always works. With the very youngest
students I think it is appropriate that I find times to be in
the classroom, maybe reading a story with them, maybe
sharing something from my life with them. Finding the
celebration moments.
You started as a teacher. What did you teach?
Mr. Hebebrand reads to Pre-K.
6
BH: I taught a lot of different things. My very first year,
I taught Latin, French, Spanish, PE, and yearbook. You
make a lot of mistakes when you start out. A lot! I thought
a good way to get the kids to work hard during class was
to set aside a part of class for fun and games. The only
problem was that my classroom management was so
undeveloped that while it started out with five minutes
at the end of the class period for a game the first day
of school, it was almost the opposite by the last day of
Mr. Hebebrand catches up with high school students
Tessa ’17, Izzi ’17, Rizvan ’17, and Gabe ’17.
school (laughs). Having said that, I think it is important that
I remember what it is like to be a teacher—to be every day
in the classroom with the same group of kids.
Can you tell us more about you?
BH: There are some geeky sides to me. I love to collect
stamps. I think stamps are actually a way to look at the
world. Every stamp tells a story. A real passion of mine is
to follow soccer. All over the world.
I do like to get on my Harley-Davidson. Not to be a “biker
dude,” but when I’m on a motorbike, in nature, I am
totally clued-in, in the zone. You have to be super alert.
You’re really engaging in life. It is an outlet for me—to be
really in the moment.
You’ve said you’re committed to providing a global
education at MCDS. How do you hope to emphasize
internationalism at MCDS?
BH: We have a real opportunity to be this beacon in the
Midwest, to be the premier international, globally-minded
school. I would like for this school to be known, not just in
Madison, not just in the state of Wisconsin, but throughout
the Midwest. This is a school that exemplifies this idea of
being community minded but also being globally minded—
really having our students grapple with world issues.
How do you think your background in gifted
education and your work at Quest will inform your
work here at MCDS?
BH: I think my work is first and foremost guided by the
mission of MCDS. Two beliefs: every child possesses
an extraordinary capacity to learn, and effort is generally
more important than ability. If there is a fundamental
belief that I have, and this sounds a little hard-core,
but I think especially if you have abilities that are
above average, then maybe you even have a greater
responsibility to work harder—work harder in the sense
that you can contribute to humankind. That’s the goal
of education.
But the beauty of the IB program is all about creative and
critical thinkers. Kids who develop their own voice. Kids
who compare and contrast different ideas. The IB is a
wonderfully thoughtful program, and it is different than
your typical US education. It is more globally minded.
How do you feel about starting your post just as
MCDS embarks on an important capital campaign?
What can you bring to the campaign?
BH: It is complex for a new head, who really doesn’t
know the community all that well, to come in and engage
in philanthropy. This school is looking at some deadlines.
For the coming school year, the year 2016–2017, we
must have additional classroom space here. Otherwise
it’s going to compromise the quality of life and
education here.
This is our school. It’s not my school. It’s not your school.
It is our collective school. And so I’m going to appeal to
that notion in this campaign. Because it is our school, we
might have a responsibility above and beyond the tuition
dollars that we invest in the school. It’s going to take
every one of us to do this.
7
7
Meet the New Faculty
Steve Soden takes on responsibilities at MCDS as Head of
High School coming from King Low Heywood Thomas School, a
Pre-K–12 independent school in Stamford, Connecticut where
he was Upper Class Dean of Students. With a BA in English
from the University of Minnesota and an MA in Education from
Michigan State University, Mr. Soden taught English and Ceramics
while wearing many other hats, including advisor, faculty mentor,
accreditation co-chair, and coach.
Laura Soden joins MCDS as mathematics teacher in the
middle school and high school with a BS from Hamline University.
Mrs. Soden has taught mathematics for 11 years, most recently at
Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she also
served as mathematics department chair. Their daughters join
MCDS this year in kindergarten and second grade.
Kimberly Hazen P’20, ’16 is our new Admissions
Specialist. No stranger to MCDS, Ms. Hazen is a Pre-K–Grade
12 MCDS parent, volunteer, and former trustee. She earned an
undergraduate degree in Communications and a graduate degree in
Advertising. Most recently, Ms. Hazen served as Regional Director
of the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin.
Galen Wiese comes to the lower school as a new third grade
homeroom teacher. Mr. Wiese holds a BA in sociology and social
welfare from the UW-Madison. He earned an MA in Education with
an emphasis on curriculum and instruction along with a California
Preliminary Multiple Subject teaching credential with CLAD
certification from San Jose State University. Mr. Wiese has a strong
background in elementary education and was a highly sought after
substitute teacher at MCDS for the lower, middle, and high school.
Linda Branzolewski
brings experience as well as expertise
to MCDS as a middle school music and piano teacher. She holds
a BME from UW-Madison and an MME from VanderCook College
of Music in Chicago. Linda has extensive teaching history, having
taught the past few years at Cambridge Elementary and Nikolay
Middle School in the Cambridge school system.
Stephanie Derr joins MCDS as a new educational assistant.
She will be working with students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, grade 3,
and grade 4 during literacy and math time. In addition, Ms. Derr’s
BA in psychology from the UW-Madison provides her the skills to
an effective grade 7 and 8 advisor. Ms. Derr is currently pursuing a
master’s degree in elementary education.
Kimberly VanBrocklin assumes the newly
On the
Move
created position of student services coordinator.
An MCDS veteran for 14 years, “Mrs. V.”
previously taught first grade and served as
educational resource coordinator. Kim’s main
focus will be on enrichment and intervention work
withstudents (both small groups and one-to-one)
for their ongoing academic growth.
Amy Maier P’21, ’19, ’17, ’16 moves
from Kindergarten homeroom teacher to join
Julie Waddell as first grade teacher. Amy’s
strengths include her early childhood expertise,
Orton-Gillingham training, and passion and energy
for this new position.
Ben Hebebrand is featured on pages 6–7.
Karla Rempe teaches eighth and ninth grade history and sixth
grade PE. With a BS in Elementary Education from UW-Madison
and an MA in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from Chapman
University, Ms. Rempe taught fifth and sixth grade language arts and
social studies in Berlin, Germany for the past eight years. Prior to
this, Ms. Rempe taught seventh and eighth grade social studies to
students at the Dartmouth Middle School in Helmet, California.
James Stansfield assumes the role of middle school art teacher
at MCDS. Last school year, Mr. Stansfield served as a long-term
substitute in PE. He graduated from Luther College with a BA in fine
arts and a minor in English, after which he spent more than a decade
in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Michelle Kramer joins MCDS teaching high school sciences
(chemistry, physics, and IB Chemistry). Ms. Kramer has a BS in
chemistry from UW-Stevens Point, a BS in journalism from UWMadison, and a MS in Geosciences from Mississippi State University.
Previously she taught the hard sciences at the secondary level at
schools in Wisconsin, California, and Arizona.
James Wagoner (Not pictured) joins MCDS as part-time theater
director, bringing years of experience as performer, playwright, director,
and teacher. Mr. Wagoner studied acting at the Conservatories of
Carnegie Mellon and Webster Universities. His acting credits include
regional theatre, film and television. He also holds an MFA in Directing;
additionally, James holds graduate teaching certification credentials for
theatre arts, K–12.
Ashley Nicoson is event manager at MCDS. She has a BS from
UW-Madison. Ms. Nicoson has extensive experience in event planning,
communications, and resource development. Most recently she
worked as a philanthropy associate at the Rhode Island Free Clinic.
Seiji Arai joins MCDS from Gifu, Japan. He has a BA in Japanese
from Nagoya University of Foreign Studies and an MA in Teaching
English for Speaker of Other Languages from Griffith University. Sensei
Seiji will be team teaching Japanese with Karen Hendrickson in MCDS
high school. Most recently, he has been teaching Japanese to nonnative speakers at a private language school in Japan.
Kelly Meinholz teaches kindergarten students in the lower
school. Ms. Meinholz holds a BS in sociology from Edgewood College
and an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from National Louis University.
She taught first grade for the past 10 years in public schools in
Jefferson, Wisconsin.
Drew Ciancia takes on a new position as IB
Diploma Coordinator. In addition to his ongoing work
in the history department, including teaching within
the IB Programme, Mr. Ciancia will be supporting IB
faculty and counseling students and families as they
proceed through the various IB pathways.
Dana Asmuth P’25, ’22, ’21 moves from Director of
Admissions and Marketing to a larger role as the school’s first
Director of Advancement, overseeing marketing, admissions
and development. In the last five years, Dana has helped build
the school’s brand and grow our community from 240 students
in 2010 to 436 this year. She is now ready to help MCDS turn
our thoughtful campus master plan into reality.
9
Mr. Case and Clara ’21 play a duet
during their weekly lesson.
10
The Halls are Alive With
The Sound of Music
Why Study Music?
A student performs newly-mastered piano skills for her instructor. Choir members enthusiastically rehearse
a song for an upcoming concert. Working together, students practice an ensemble strings piece. Life at
Madison Country Day School definitely has a soundtrack, and it comes from its student musicians. From PreKindergarten on, music is a core subject, and although some students do go on to study music in college and
pursue careers as musicians, most do not. Why does MCDS emphasize music? Music study benefits students
in ways that can have a lifelong effect.
Adding Joy to Life
Most people would agree that music is one of life’s
pleasures, and being able to study it only increases that
joy. Early exposure allows students to gain appreciation of
a wide range of musical styles, instruments, and genres.
And performing music creates happiness that can be
shared. “As a musician, you can bring joy to others for
your entire life and give yourself a strong satisfaction by
having done so,” shares Peter Case, who teaches strings.
Adds Kristin Warner, lower school music and piano
teacher, “I have had several parents tell me that they have
dusted off their piano skills and started playing again now
that their child is playing. Music is a lifelong skill if you let
it be.”
Music can also be a form of stress relief during childhood
and beyond. “Through private lessons, we provide
students with an enjoyable hobby or avocation—
something to give them relaxation in their leisure time,”
affirms Beth Wilson, who teaches piano. Explains
Danika Rzentkowski, lower school music teacher and
department coordinator, “When kids get the chance
to make music, it lightens their stress load and gives
them something else to focus on.” Even if music only
becomes an entertaining pastime for students, its impact
can last for many years. According to voice teacher
Maggie Stansfield, “The ultimate goal of the MCDS music
program and its teachers is to foster students who will
understand, appreciate, and enjoy music in its many
forms for their lifetime.”
Rewarding Discipline
One of the key values at MCDS is that effort is generally
more important than ability, and music study harmonizes
beautifully with this value. The more effort a student
musician puts into his work, the more results he will see
regardless of his skill level. “We teach the student how to
practice. How to perform. How to work in a group and as
a soloist,” details Ms. Rzentkowski. “And we teach kids
that they can do it if they give the effort. In the end, they
have to learn that what they achieve will be the result of
how hard they worked.” At MCDS, there is no limit to how
far student musicians can take their studies. Observes
Sarah Case, strings teacher, “Music students can work to
their highest level possible because there are outstanding
private teachers and classroom opportunities to help them
achieve high levels.”
Atharva ’26 enjoys his weekly
lesson with Ms. Rzentkowski.
11
Ms. Wolfman leads a
lower school choir.
Fostering Collaboration
Every student musician must learn to work with others.
Of course, a music student must first interact with
the instructor, and at MCDS that approach can be
personalized. “A wonderful aspect of teaching at MCDS is
the autonomy in my studio,” shares Ms. Wilson. Beginning
in lower school, student musicians have the opportunity to
learn collaboration by participating in musical ensembles.
“We offer them the opportunity to be with other musicians
and make music. They look forward to performances and
to the camaraderie of a band, orchestra, or choir,” states
Ms. Rzentkowski. All students perform in concerts and
recitals, which requires them to consider the interplay
between musicians and how the work will affect the
audience. As Ms. Stansfield remarks, “Making music in
groups is a unique community-building experience. There
is something special about the aesthetic experience when
it happens in a group; many hearts, minds, and bodies are
unified into one purpose. It has a powerful humanizing,
ego-unraveling effect.”
Gaining Global Perspective
As they discover their own places in the world, students
learn about other cultures through music. MCDS students
are expected to be able to identify the timeline of a
piece of music in history as they learn more, as well as
its culture, region, and significance. “One of the biggest
attributes that stands out in the way we teach music
at MCDS is the recognition and appreciation of diverse
Private Study at MCDS
38
violin
12
12
saxophone
18
trumpet
14
viola
9
clarinet
3
baritone
22
cello
Mr. Schipper and one of the MCDS jazz bands take their act on
the road, inspiring young students at a local preschool.
cultures,” emphasizes Jon Schipper, chair of the music
department. “I think it’s important for us to know the
differences in our world, but also how music can bring us
together through listening and performing.”
about the world around them.” Mastering a challenging
piece of music, a difficult chord, or a complex rhythm
provides incentive for a music student to set higher goals
and keep practicing. “The guitar has to be figured out,”
maintains Doug Brown, guitar instructor. “It presents
never-ending logistical difficulties, and guitarists, if
they are to continue to advance, need to develop the
confidence that they can ‘figure it out.’ So I will often
provide my students with more problems than solutions!
The solutions, I hope, will come from them.”
Building Confidence
Music study is a self-rewarding activity. Starting with
no skills on a particular instrument and seeing progress
along the way boosts a student’s self-esteem. Shares
Barbara Wolfman, lower school music teacher, “I have felt
privileged to nurture and witness shy or hesitant young
students. These students blossom as they develop finemotor and social skills from practicing to performing,
developing poise and confidence and a growing curiosity
This musical confidence carries over into other areas of
life as well. “Music study is essential in the development
of the ‘whole’ individual in terms of building confidence
in their performance, and this can ultimately improve
Every student receives semi-private piano lessons beginning in first grade. In third grade, students can add the violin, viola, or cello and join the third and fourth
grade orchestras. In fifth grade, students may continue with piano or choose from a wide variety of instruments as shown below. In total, MCDS has nine choirs,
one a cappella group, three jazz bands, one pep band, five orchestras, and dozens of ensembles based on interest.
5
flute
188
piano
4
bass
2
trombone
53
voice
18
guitar
15
percussion
13
Adam ’20 works on a breathing
exercise with Mr. Schipper.
Chloe ’24 triumphs in grade 3 orchestra.
How Music at MCDS
Has Affected My Life
Adam Hoerl ’20
My great grandfather was a professional trumpet player
who gave my dad a trumpet as a Christmas present when
he was a kid. When I was choosing an instrument, my dad
gave the trumpet to me. My final decision to take on the
instrument was when I saw Mr. Schipper play a solo at the
UW Varsity Band Concert. It was so cool to hear the sound
that he could make come from his trumpet.
The instrument has really helped me with music theory
allowing me to write music and better understand music
in general.
I really enjoy being in the jazz band. Seeing all the
instruments come together that are played by my own
friends really bonds us all together in a special way.
At MCDS, the teachers are very passionate about their art.
This really encourages the students to work together in
choir and band. I am amazed at what we can accomplish
together in our various performances throughout the
school year.
One of the most enjoyable activities during my lessons with
Mr. Schipper is the time we set aside for improvisation. It
is so much fun to create a musical “conversation,” with the
trumpets talking back and forth to each other as each of us
responds to the other guy’s riff. Many of the faculty have
mentioned to me how much they enjoy listening to us during
our sessions when they are walking by the music room.
14
High school students warm up in band.
Jerome ’17 dazzles the crowd with
his improvised clarinet solo.
their approach to public speaking and/or group discussion,”
asserts Mr. Schipper. These skills are beneficial to all MCDS
students, whether or not they pursue further music study in
their lives.
Enhancing Brain Function
The positive effects of studying music—even beyond the
satisfaction of creative expression—regularly make the news.
Studies have shown that music education may correspond
to enhanced brain function, “especially in respect to solving
multi-step problems,” explains Mr. Schipper. Scientists have
published exciting results about music education’s impact
on concentration, spatial-temporal reasoning, and language,
and music study may translate to a student’s improvement
in math, reading, and even IQ. Observes Ms. Rzentkowski,
“Students who study music are often more focused and able
to use their time more wisely.”
Music Is for Everyone
Madison Country Day School is the only school in Dane
County that offers such a comprehensive music program.
The benefits of music study—for every student—are clear. “I
believe that everyone is musical, and that innate musicality
can be nurtured in many different ways, but the most
important is to be surrounded by music and by people who
love and make music,” shares Mr. Brown. “Being around
other musicians, hearing them practice, watching them
create, observing their struggles, and getting to know them
as ordinary people helps overcome the biggest impediment
I’ve seen to an individual’s musical progress: the belief that
music is something that only a preordained few can do.”
MCDS recognizes the musician in every child, and provides
each of them with the many benefits of a music-filled life.
Ms. Warner and Clarissa ’28
find the beat.
Ms. Stansfield conducts a
rousing choir piece.
High school orchestra in concert
Lower School: Students start with history
of classical music, such as Tchaikovsky’s
Nutcracker Suite, complementing their
exploration of melody, rhythm, and the
instruments of the orchestra.
Lower School: Students gradually study
the elementary concepts of music such
as melody and rhythm, harmony, timbre,
and musical form. They learn theory both
in the classroom and in practice through
instrument lessons and ensemble work.
High School: Students immerse in
musical cultures around the world, such
as those of West Africa, India, Persia,
Bali, and Turkey, and from time periods
beginning with the plainchant
of the Medieval Era and ending with
contemporary trends of composition and
living composers.
Theory
History
Middle School: Learning expands from
both Western canon to eras of American
musical culture, such as Jazz.
Middle School: Students launch into
advanced topics such as complex key
signatures and time signatures, and the
conventional forms of common practice
classical music.
High School: Students learn chorale
harmonization, fluency with sonata and
symphonic forms, and gain the ability to
read open score.
An Instrumental
By studying the history of music
starting at a young age, students
develop an acute sense of
historical
awareness
The study of music theory broadly encompasses the
investigation of pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form in
music, as well as many other topics. By introducing
students to the grammar of music at an early age,
students rigorously develop
structural
as well as a deep level of
cultural
fluency
thinking
that extends to their other
classes and accompanies
them throughout their lives.
In later grades, by engaging
meaningfully with the
development of musical forms
and genres across societies and
historical eras, students engage
skills in which comparisons and
contrasts are drawn, using musical
scores and recordings as primary
and secondary source material.
skills, which are broadly applicable to
their studies at MCDS.
Furthermore, because of the highly structured nature of
many kinds of music, students also engage with
analytical
thinking
mathematical
logic
in a new form.
Lower School: Students learn songs together and
discover the values of community through ensemble
performance. Beginning in first grade, each student
adds weekly piano lessons and individually performs in
a piano recital. In third grade, students may also add
on the violin, viola, or cello and join the third or fourth
grade orchestra.
Middle School: Students engage
with more musical notation and build
understanding about the conventions of
different musical styles and genres through
their compositions.
High School: Students apply the
processes and techniques of the composer
through more complex composition
exercises. Some students have the
opportunity to see their compositions
performed by an MCDS music ensemble.
Performance
Composition
Lower School: Students create their own
music, not only as a way of expressing
themselves, but also as a way of applying
what they are currently learning in other
areas of music.
Education
Middle School: Students can participate in one or more
of three music ensembles, and can take lessons in
any of the standard orchestral and jazz instruments, as
well as voice. Regular recitals and concerts throughout
the school year are an important fixture of the MCDS
music education, allowing students a platform for selfexpression, as well as building community.
High School: Students engage with more challenging
repertoire which is often selected to accompany
classroom studies.
MCDS Music Department Vision
The MCDS Music Department strives to create a
comprehensive and relevant music education for each child,
promoting an optimal balance of structured discipline and
creative license.
In the concert hall, students are required to
demonstrate that they have cultivated a sense of
When students compose, they
engage the
logical
structures
ensemble
attitude
of music in a way that also allows for deep
which not only unifies
performers into a cohesive
ensemble, but also goes a long
way in building the community
that MCDS tries to inspire in
its students.
In order to successfully perform,
students also develop great
personal
expression
in their
compositions.
In this way, students put into practice much
of what they learn in the classroom and also
engage many different kinds of thinking
simultaneously to produce a piece of music
which is both intellectually satisfying and
emotionally fulfilling.
emotional
which provides them with
the ability to engage with
repertoire in a professional
and meaningful way.
maturity
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MCDS athletics
Teamwork & Triumph
Coach Eaton leads warm-ups.
Coach’s Corner
Onward sat down with Middle School Science Teacher
and Coach Jake Eaton to learn more about the
cross country program.
Tell us about the history of cross country at MCDS.
JE: Our team started in 2009. In our first meet, we had
three guys lining up in their gym shorts and shirts for the
Norski Invite in DeForest. Running against much bigger
schools, we did not produce great finishes, and one of
our runners even finished last. But you wouldn’t know it
by how loudly our kids and parents were cheering. Years
later, I’ve had other coaches approach me to comment
on the profound impression those students’ courage and
positivity had on that day.
For those who may not know, what are the distances
and running options for cross country?
JE: At the middle school level, students run between 1.5
miles and 2 miles, depending on the meet and time of
year. At the high school level, boys and girls run a 5k.
Girls ran a 4k historically in Wisconsin, but that changed
last year so that Wisconsin could be aligned with most
of the nation. A cross country race has a different feel,
to me, than a track meet as students run on trails rather
than the track and fans can get right up alongside the
runners. There is an individual aspect for the sport;
students run to accomplish their best finish based on
either total time or placement. The individual placements
also feed into a team score, helping to make the meets
more fun and interesting for all involved.
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What are some of the accomplishments of the team?
JE: In a relatively short time, we’ve had great participation
with every athlete setting personal records. Notable finishes
include numerous individuals placing at the all-conference
level and earning a place at State. Furthermore, our women’s
team accomplished earning the conference runner-up place
at last year’s Trailways Conference meet.
What are your goals for the next Cross Country season?
JE: At the highest level, I would love to see the team qualify
for State. We definitely want to defend our conference
runner-up title from the Trailways Conference. I also would
like to see more boys participate in the program.
What do you look for in MCDS team runners?
JE: I look for students who want to have fun and willingly
commit to working hard. On some days we will run hill
repeats at Tuggle Lane, and on other days we’ll be splashing
in mud pools. Every individual will get better at running.
Every high school student will have an opportunity to
earn a letter or run varsity. All runners will get to know
themselves better.
What would you say to a student considering joining the
MCDS Cross Country Team?
JE: I would challenge any student to give cross country a try.
We have fun and get fit!
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
JE: I like to run with the students and push them to excel
beyond what they thought possible. I love hearing students
change their tune from telling me they’re not a runner to
finding the joy in it.
Crystal ’16 bounds through the course.
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Character & Community
In the spotlight
Model United Nations Club Expands Our Horizons
In the fall of 2014, Madison Country Day School History Teacher
Drew Ciancia offered students an exciting opportunity to experience
the world from a different point of view via the Model United
Nations Club. The Model UN is an authentic simulation of the UN
General Assembly, UN Security Council, or other multilateral body,
giving students a lively forum for addressing global problems from
hunger to human rights in a real world context.
Sara ’18 and Allison ’19
represent Ecuador.
“I thought it would be a really good fit for
our school and an excellent way to get
students off campus and interacting with
other schools,” said Mr. Ciancia. More
than a quarter of the high school students
seized the opportunity and MCDS’ first
Model UN club was born.
In the fall of 2014, 27 MCDS students
dug deep into their research. They
stepped into the shoes of delegates
from Peru, Pakistan, Ecuador, and
Sierra Leone and began investigating
a wide range of topics, from the death
of indigenous languages and the
militarization of the Arctic to reintegration
of Ebola survivors and combating the
illicit small arms trade. In the process,
students also honed their skills in note
taking, writing, public speaking, and
problem solving.
In March 2015, MCDS’ Model UN club
headed to the University of WisconsinMilwaukee to participate in the Wisconsin
High School Model United Nations
two-day conference. Approximately 830
students participated from 36 schools.
“We were one of the biggest teams at the
state conference,” said Mr. Ciancia, “even
though we were one of the smallest
schools participating.”
“I was the head delegate for Ecuador
and served on the Legal Subcommittee
on the Definition of International Torture,”
explained Izzie Stade ’17. “Model UN
was an opportunity to learn about
global perspectives as well as practice
negotiating and speaking skills. I really
enjoyed meeting other students with
similar interests in diplomacy and foreign
affairs in addition to learning about jobs in
foreign affairs from professionals in many
fields during the breakout sessions.”
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The MCDS team at the 2015
Wisconsin High School Model
United Nations two-day conference
“
We were one of the biggest teams at the state
conference, even though we were one of the
smallest schools participating.
—Mr. Ciancia
”
Tennyson Sharpswain ’18, was on the Human Rights Council,
a council that works separately in a smaller group. “I enjoyed
this because I felt that it was easier to accomplish tasks in a
smaller, more orderly group. During the conference, I played
an active role in group discussions, introducing, amending,
Students raise their country signs
to vote for resolutions.
and supporting various resolutions that we
as a council attempted to pass. I personally
passed a resolution that I had sponsored,
and defending that resolution in open
debates was by far my favorite event during
the conference. I also really enjoyed arguing
against proposals and then eventually
introducing various amendments onto other
resolutions,” said Tennyson.
The conference was such a hit with MCDS
students that, upon their return from
Milwaukee, they immediately began looking
for additional conferences to participate
in next year. Dedicated, engaged, and
enthusiastic, these burgeoning global
citizens are ready to take on the next Model
UN conference, as well as future challenges
that will affect our world.
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Sustain & Thrive
Giving back within our community
Lower school students at the
March 2015 STEAM Fair
Doctors. Artists. Tech entrepreneurs. Engineers. Scientific researchers. Professors.
Parents in the MCDS community pursue many fascinating careers, careers students want to know
more about. “These parents have incredible jobs. They’re on the cutting edge. Why aren’t we learning
from them?” wondered Leslie Kim, parent guild president.
In the spring of 2014, Leslie and parent guild volunteers
wanted to create a new learning event for students, and
growing buzz around the importance of STEAM (science,
technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) topics in
education drew their attention. Leslie took charge as
STEAM Week Chair, and over the course of a year, she
and other guild members crafted the special event that
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welcomed parents to share their diverse STEAM expertise.
The STEAM team’s hard work resulted in March’s week
of STEAM-themed assemblies, field trips, and classroom
projects, culminating in the STEAM Fair.
Class trips to TREK and the Wisconsin Institutes for
Medical Research allowed students to see first-hand
Reem ’22 pedals to create electricity.
how careers related to science and technology call
on creative thinking skills, business acumen, and
perseverance. With the fair itself, the STEAM Week
committee hoped to engage, inform, and entertain
students and their families. MCDS science teachers
worked with parent volunteers to present interactive
booths where the youngest students could experience
STEAM concepts first-hand: kids folded and flew paper
airplanes, learned the science behind straw rockets,
made their own spy codes, and more. To add to the
excitement, the science faculty coordinated the middle
school science fair with STEAM events, so students got
to share their experiments and results with the STEAM
Fair’s large audience.
Mark ’22 uses technology to create art with
parent volunteer Michelle Gleeson P’22.
But parent presenters were the highlight of the fair.
Through parent-led booths, visitors tested virtual reality
and learned the physics of judo. Kids used liquid
nitrogen to freeze ice cream and matched wits with
monkey minds. Students even got to see data from one
of the world’s most powerful microscopes and touch a
human brain! Most importantly, visitors experienced the
real-life synergy of STEAM careers: parent presenters
showed how creativity and entrepreneurship work
hand-in-hand with science, math, and engineering.
The fair planted seeds for future connections
between students and STEAM professionals in the
MCDS community.
MCDS parent and first grade teacher Amy Maier sums
up the enthusiastic reaction to the event: “The STEAM
fair was absolutely amazing! WOW! I learned so much!”
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Annual Report of Giving
2014–2015
MADISON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
D
E
H
S
I
L
P
M
O
C
C
MISSION: A
2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT OF GIVING
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2014–2015
The mission of Madison Country Day School is to provide an
INTELLECTUALLY STIMULATING, PERSONALLY ENRICHING,
and ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING program in the liberal arts and sciences to an
ABLE AND DIVERSE student body;
Measure the curriculum and student achievement against the
FINEST PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD;
CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY
by developing effective educational programs to serve as models
for other private and public schools.
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Letter of Gratitude
2014–2015
Since my arrival on River Road in 2007, I have
been touched by the school’s vibrant, welcoming
community. As an MCDS parent, it has been a
distinct pleasure to hear the echoes of our own
family’s experience in the testimonies of fellow
parents and my children’s classmates.
Young in years, our school is already rich with a
tradition and history that brings high expectations
for the future of MCDS. Each day, whether at
drop-off, in board meetings, working with the
development committee, or at school events, it has
been a sincere pleasure to hear about the many lifechanging experiences others have had on the MCDS
campus. I continue to witness just how special it is
to be representing Madison Country Day School,
hearing from those people whose lives have been
so positively affected by MCDS that they choose to
give back to our school.
There is no greater evidence of this positive effect
than the success of our fundraising efforts during
the 2014–2015 school year. On behalf of the entire
MCDS community, we say “thank you” with sincere
appreciation and gratitude. As a result of your kind
generosity, MCDS successfully achieved its most
ambitious Annual Giving goals to date—raising
$556,447. Mission accomplished. It is our entire
community’s dedication to the annual fund, the
auction, and other fundraising programs that fuels
the success of our efforts. Now, as we enter the next
era with our new head of school, my development
committee and I are continuously inspired to help
fulfill the high expectations of our diverse and
close-knit community.
Statement of
Revenue
Net Tuition & Fees*—80%
Annual Fund—8%
Restricted Donations—8%
Other Income—4%
Expenses
Every gift—no matter the size—makes achieving our
mission possible.
With gratitude,
Patrick Riha P’20, ’18
Development Chair
Compensation and Benefits—71%
Instructional—6%
Administrative—7%
Physical Plant—11%
Transportation—1%
Finance—3%
Other Expenses—0.1%
Please note that these results are unaudited. Fiscal
year 2015 Consolidated Statements of Financial
Position and Consolidated Statements of Activities
are being audited by Smith & Gestland, LLC.
Copies of the complete report will be ready by
winter 2016 and will be furnished upon request.
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Financial Position
Fiscal 2015 balanced with revenues and expenses distributed
in the following way:
Revenue
Net Tuition & Fees*
2015
4,357,461
427,867
Restricted Donations
439,405
Other Income
239,181
Total Revenue
Compensation and Benefits
2015
3,729,394
Instructional
340,223
Administrative
362,944
Physical Plant
571,504
Transportation
71,346
Total Finance
159,502
Other Expenses (contingency)
3,438
Total Expenses (excluding depreciation)
5,238,352
Net income (loss) before depreciation
Total Capital Expenditures
NET CASH INCOME (DEFICIT)
It is an honor and a privilege for the board of trustees
to share with you the position of strength with which
we enter this pivotal year in MCDS history, both
quantitatively and qualitatively. Looking briefly back,
2014–2015 was a great year! We showed record
growth in enrollment, retention of students and
faculty, support for the annual fund and auction, as
well as volunteerism of all kinds, including Hands On!
With the strength and support of our highly engaged
community, we enter into this fiscal year, poised for
success like never before.
Expenses
5,463,914
2014–2015
Annual Fund
Eighteen years ago, in the fall of 1997 with its first
matriculation, MCDS had a total of 22 students. Our
exceptional, personalized educational programming
facilitates innovative learning that helps students
to discover, engage, and collaborate in unique
ways. Our nurturing, highly qualified faculty are
as diverse as our students, coming not only from
Madison and its surrounding areas, but also from
across our country and around the world. We have
truly become Dane County’s premier independent
school as well as securing a position on the global
radar. This reputation launched us into a staggering
growth pattern over the last four years that resulted
in beginning the 2015–2016 school year with 436
students. Similar continued growth over the next two
years will complete our vision of providing double
sections in grades Kindergarten through twelve.
Most exciting this year, I invite you to support the
campus development effort through our upcoming
Capital Campaign. Phase One includes a new
Academic Center that will match the extraordinary
capacity of our students and faculty and enhance the
experience of all MCDS students. I hope you will join
us in this transformative journey.
With deepest appreciation to the entire community
for your generosity and support of MCDS,
225,563
72,540
153,023
Sandra Fernandez P ’11, ’14
MCDS Board of Trustees Chair
*Net Tuition = Full Tuition Revenue less Faculty and Staff Tuition Remission, Financial
Aid, and Merit Scholarships
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The Annual Fund
The Annual Fund is Madison Country Day School’s FIRST GIVING PRIORITY and the most
CRITICAL FUNDRAISING EFFORT at the school.
In 2014–2015 the Annual Fund provided 8.2% of the operating expenses at MCDS. Gifts to the
Annual Fund are put to use immediately and directly impact the daily lives of our students. Every gift
plays a vital role in supporting our students and continued support, at every level and from all of our
donors, makes the MCDS mission . . . possible.
2014–2015
Embarking
The Annual Fund
Individual Support
Todd Anderson & Wangdue Tsomo P’23
Roger & Jennifer Anderson GP’26, ’23
Gregory Arihood & Ana Aquino-Perez P’24
Brad Astor & Rhonda Vosdingh P’19
Eric & Kelly Ayala P’26, ’23
Steven & Karlee Babcock GP’19
Joan Bartel
Arthur Beach GP’17
Katherine Johnson Becklin P’10
Tim & Kathryn Betz GP’25, ’25
Rajiv Bhandari & Shilpa Malik P’26
Anne Blaisdell GP’17
Eric & Wenyu Blanchard P’26
Jim & Peg Blanchard GP’26
Holly A. Bobula
Stacy Bolwerk
Mary Bosben GP26, ’24, ’22, ’20
Daniel Brennan P’18, ’23
Robert & Joyce Brittain GP’25
Jennifer Brixy P’19
Marjorie Caddey GP’20, ’07
Carrie Callahan
Bob Camosy
Paul & Hali Cardis P’26
Peter & Sarah Case
Hong Mo & Hsi-Mei Chen GP’15
Nicha Chowpaknam P’25
Luke & Stephanie Christenson P’28, ’22
Kimberly S. Chupp
Drew Ciancia
William & Karlene Cunningham GP’18, 17
Prasad Dalvie & Preeti Raman P’24
Mehmet Dayi & Yucener Apalan P’23, ’20
Sue & Peter Deakman
Tony & Marie Delnicki GP’24, ’22
Michael & Laurie Dolan
JoseMaria Donoso & Ana Banomera P’22, ’20
David & Sara Downie P’18
David Duchow & Caroline Harvey P’23, ’18
Ken & Jean Dunham GP’19
Don & Joyce Eide GP’15
Margaret Evans GP’11
Elena Everitt P’17, ’16
Joel & Rhonda Fait P’22
Jean Fawcett GP’18, ’17
Margaret Fawcett GP’18, ’17
Roberta Felker GP’11
John & Julie Franz GP’26, ’23
Michael & Anne-Marie Gleeson GP’22
James and Robin Goetz
Tom & Elizabeth Goodrich GP’27
Bob & Mariann Gorman GP’20, ’18
Kyle & Carol Green GP’19
Matthew Green & Susan Johansen Green P’19
Owen Gwynne & Maria Welch P’16, ’13, ’10
Tom & Beth Hall P’28
Mark & Sarah Harrison P’25
Steve & Monica Heizman P’18
Jack & Susan Hendrickson GP’19, ’16
Armando Hernandez & Tara White P’23, ’20
Joseph & Lisa Hoeme P’26
Letha Hunt GP’24
Jeff & Lisa Janis P’20
Fabian & Patricia Jaume
Sarah Jerney GP’22, ’19
Joe & Judith Johnson GP’26
Matt & Jane Johnson GP’26
Timothy & Beatrice Jones
Brittany Judkins
John & Janice Kaminski GP’22, ’21
Jeff & Debra Kemnitz
Ray & Jane Kent GP’28, ’24
Helen Kim
Sung & Christina Kim GP’22, ’24
Kelly Kirsh
Bradford Knott & Marina Emborg Knott P’19
Phil & Lavon Koenig GP’20
Peter & Sherry Korotev P’18
Pauline LaPlante GP’27, ’25
Timothy & Katrina Larsen P’26
Pat LeVine GP’20
Christine Lidbury P’19
Elizabeth Hill Little GP’15, ’13
Lucian & Ioana Lozonschi P’24, ’15
Melissa Lucarelli P’21, ’17
Steve & Karen Lucas GP’28, ’26
Gabriel & Tiffany Lucas P’28, ’26
Henry & Jane Luedtke GP’25, ’25
Eric & Kristina Luedtke P’25
Donal MacCoon & Lael Sheber P’20
Anita Mahamed
Mark & Amy Maier P’21, ’19, ’17, ’16
Peter & Gerri Maier GP’21, ’19, ’17, ’16
Christopher & Heide Mallon P’24, ’21
Lani Marquardt GP’26
Wesley & Tobey Marsceill
Alan & Kathy Marugaki GP’26, ’21
Cheryl Marugaki P’26, ’21
Adam & Stacy Mattson
Arthur & Jean McEwen GP’22, ’19
Pat & Brook McGettigan P’26
Jim & Kim McNulty
Alice McPeek
Gregory Melotte & Sara Gumpf Melotte P’18
Don & Iris Mickey GP’18
Riyad Moe & Sobia Kirmani-Moe
P’25, ’21, ’17, ’16
Matt & Michelle Mulder P’22
Kevin & Mona Muldowney P’20, ’18, ’14
Melita M. Mullen P’26, ’20
Amjad Nasrallah & Nuha Suleiman
William & Rachel Neill P’18
Jeremy Nelson & Cheryl Sakowski P’27, ’24
Emily J. Nichols GP’25, ’23
Al & Bev Nielsen GP’25, ’23
¬ P Parent ¬ GP Grandparent ¬ GGP Great-Grandparent
We have made every effort to properly acknowledge our contributors. Please contact the MCDS Development Office with corrections.
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Cary Abrahamson & Whitney Sweeney P’21
John & Laura Ashworth P’22, ’19
Christopher Bjork & Catherine Coy P’23, ’19, ’15
Bruce & Gwen Bosben P’22, ’20
Kathleen Callahan P’24, ’21
Peter & Sarah Cherchian P’27, ’24
Rose Mary Davis GP’15, ’14
Jim & Karen Dreyer P’19, ’16
David Everitt P’17, ’16
Aaron & Marcia Field P’22
Greg Fries & Judy Moyes-Fries P’24, ’23
Joe & Karen Fries GP’24, ’23
Janice Heise GP’27
Edgar & Shelley Huber P’26
Jerlando Jackson & LaShonda Irby P’27
Curtis & Judy Kurth GP’26, ’24, ’21, ’20
2014–2015
Launching
The Annual Fund
Hiram & Patricia Nowlan GP’22
Adam Olson & Jane Salazar P’16
Jesse & Amy Olson P’25
Richard & Michelle Oster P’20
Travis & Maheen Ott P’27
Steve & Gloria Payette GP’24, ’22
David & Shelley Petzold P’24, ’21, ’18
Anna Purnell P’23, ’20
John & Lorie Raihala P’17
Richard Reda P’16
Leonard & Millie Riha GP’20, ’18
Lee & Danika Rzentkowski P’27, ’25
Rattanjit Sachdeva
Martin & Katrin Salva P’22, ’21
Laurie Sanford P’18
Robert & Dea Schaller P’13
Jonathan & Jessica Schipper P’26
Charles Schluter
David & Alice Schneiderman P’21
Jerry & Michelle Schneiderman GP’21
Ronald & Carolyn Schultz GP’20
Robert & Sally Schwarz GP’22
Patrick & Sharon Scott GP ’22, ’25, ’27
Roger & Kim Seaver P’15, ’14
Roger & Shannon Seip P’24, ’22
Cary & Aviva Shlimovitz P’23, ’18
Shelvin & Gloria Singer GP’18
Dave & Vera Skinner GP’20, ’16
Dennis & Barbara Spurlin
Edgar & Kokkie Steenwinkel P’17
Harry Stein & Kristine Heimerl GP’24
Igor Steinberg & Kassandra Remo P’16
Ryan & Katie Stephenson P’26
Julia & Howard Taylor
Gerald Thain GP’21
Mario F. Trujillo & Natalia Navarro-Albalad P’26, ’25
Jerry & Cere Turner GP’27, ’21
Donald & Jennifer Van Wart P’15, ’13, ’13
Arthur & Kimberly Wagner P’22,’ 18
Maria Q. Welch GP’16, ’13, ’10
Alex White & Susan Johnson White P’26, ’23
Christopher Wilbur
Jamie Wojcik
Yucel & Eylem Yankol
Jianzhong Zhang & Wen Bo Wang P’18
Edward Zilberman & Teresa Baranovskaya GP’18
Robert & Elizabeth Zimmerman GP’22, ’21
Achilles & Mary Zurawski GP’18
and 17 anonymous donors
Wendy Bosben P’26,’24 and her daughter
Madeline ’24 having fun at Hands On!
MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED
THANK YOU, PARENTS!
Parents who support MCDS make a special vote of
confidence in MCDS. Led by the MCDS Development
Committee, current parents raised $176,430.12 and
reached 65% participation in annual fund support.
This statistic sends a strong message about the value
parents place on their child’s education at MCDS. MCDS
is grateful to the Development Committee for their
advocacy and to each of the families that contributed to
the Annual Fund this year.
2929
2014–2015
The Annual Fund
MCDS welcomed more than
300 guests for Grandparents and
Special Friends Day last October.
GRANDPARENTS FOR MCDS!
Grandparents are more invested than ever in
the success of MCDS. Each fall, our community
welcomes our grandparents to MCDS where our
students share a glimpse of their experience at
school. And grandparent support of the MCDS
Annual Fund has taken flight. Together, our
Lynn & Helen Louden GP’21
Bonnie Manley
Kristopher & Lisa Moore P’27
John Norback & Kathleen Ley P’14
Barrett Olsen & Miwa Nitta P’18
Pranav Shah & Roopa Shah P’23, ’20
Tom & Stacey Shorter
Mary Alice Streeter
Ann K. Syrdal GP’26
Obasi & Alice Torti P’20, ’18
Vadim & Anna Tumarkin P’18
Danny & Diane Tzakis GP’25, ’22, ’21
Marilyn Unruh GP’17
Paddling
Joy Anderson GGP’26, ’23
Thomas Barnet &
Susanne Thiede-Barnet P’26, ’23
Chris & Megan Bennett P’23
Andrew & Elizabeth Benson P’21, ’18
Marsha Bruhn GP’19
Mark Childs & Amy Bradshaw P’22, ’20
Griengsak and Jutamas Chowpaknam GP’25
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grandparents donated $65,642.09 in support of
MCDS. We would like to take a moment to thank
our grandparents for believing in MCDS and for
making such meaningful contributions to our
Annual Fund and Madison Country Day School.
Jie Dai & Mingju Sun P’22
Kimberly & Luke Felker P ’11
Kathy Finck GP’26
Matt & Laurel Frazer P’28, ’24
Thompson & Robin Garcia P’24, ’22
Judith Green & Margarita Zamora P’15
Paul & Emma Henke P’24, ’22
Michael & Leslie Kim P’24, ’22
Mark Louden & Jeanne Schueller P’21
Keyang Luo P’17
Chad Moritz & Beth Meyerand P’25
Scott Nagle & Jean Nowlan P’22
Hannah Nelson
Dan & Gretchen Rodefeld P’20
Christopher Romes & Angela Jaenke P’22
John Russo & Winny Hung P’27, ’25
John & Sarah Schaffer
Mark & Judith Schueller GP’21
Norman & Patricia Schutt GP’27, ’24
Peter & Natalie Senecal P’23
Beverly Simone
Richard Stanek & Dianné Aldrich P’21
Judith C. Thorbahn-Pierce GP’28, ’26
Alexander Yevzlin &
Paola Fliman Yevzlin P’26, ’23, ’20
Embarking
up to $249
Launching
$250–$499
Paddling
$500–$999
Yahara Society
Rowing
$1,000–$4,999
Pulling
$5,000–$9,999
Propelling
$10,000+
Yahara Society
The Yahara Society, named after the Yahara River that borders the MCDS campus, was
established to recognize LEADERSHIP DONORS, families who make gifts of $1,000 or more
directly to the MCDS Annual Fund. The dedication and commitment of the Yahara Society
helps to ensure the continued excellence of MCDS.
“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”
—Jim Watkins
Rowing
Pulling
Anthony & Kathleen Asmuth GP’25, ’22, ’21
Todd and Dana Asmuth P’25, ’22, ’21
John & Lillian Bickers P’28, ’28, ’25
Ara & Valerie Cherchian GP’27, ’24
Frances Comer GP ’28, ’26, ’25
Luis and Sandra Fernandez P’14, ’11
James & Chulee Hallick P’24, ’22
Muhammad Itani & Nadine Fakhran P’24, ’22
Steven & Lynn Kaminski P’22, ’21
Craig Kent & Lisa Viscardi P’22, ’16
Bruce Meier and Wendy Fearnside P’09
Clinton & Pamela Woodman P’28
and 1 anonymous donor
George Anglin & James Gallegos P ’25
Jay & Tonya Hazen P’20, ’16
Nathan & Sarah Herbst P’27, ’25, ’22
Troy & Ariel Shibilski P’23
Philip & Nicole Tucker P’28, ’26
Fred Young GP’23
Propelling
2014–2015
Steve Moschkau &
Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau P’20
Robert & Alice Mullen GP’26, ’20
Myron Pozniak & Kathleen Baus P’14, ’10
Chris & Mary Priebe P’10
Sumit & Divya Rana P’26, ’23
Ashish Rawal & Shamila Rawal P’24
Kartik & Preeti Reddy P’24, ’20
Scott Reeder & Jean Brittain P’25
Robert Rusch P’22, ’20
Suzanne Rusch P’22, ’20
Norm Schweiss GP’27, ’25
Russell & Michelle Sharpswain P’18
Ramzi & Jodi Shehadi P’18, ’15, ’14
Alan & Kathy Singer P’18
Steve & Nicki Stricker P’24
Guy & Svetlana Taylor P’18, ’18
Jerry & Tanya VanKirk P’22
Charles & Elizabeth Wallman P’21
John & Marlys Welsch GP’21, ’18
Jim & Sharon White GP’26, ’23
Phil & Yolanda Woodman GP’28, ’28, ’28, ’25
Nicholas & Jessie Wurzel P’19
John Young &
Sheila Collopy Young P’22, ’19, ’17
The Annual Fund
Arturo & Diana Ayala GP’26, ’23
Jeff & Freya Bowen P’26
Douglas Boyes & Michelle Hunt P’24
Jeff & Yasmin Bradfield P’26
Wayne & Kathy Bromfield GP’28, ’25
Scott & Jessica Christensen P’26, ’23
Erica & Peter Christman P’11
Beth DeLair & Salli Ball P’21
Peter & Mary Duff P’26, ’25
William & Donna Dusso GP’20
James Ekman & Elizabeth Moreland P’19, ’16
John & Mary Erpenbach P’18, 15
Craig Evans & Suzanne Welsch P’21, ’18
Aris & Marta Gialamas P’27
Ron Guiao & Michelle Gleeson P’22
Terry Haller
Mohamed Hamdan & Diane Hamdan P’22, ’19
Charles Daggett Harvey, Jr.
GP’23, ’20, ’18, ’16
Kimberly Hazen P’20, ’16
Ben Hebebrand & Joy Dawson
Connie Hegerfeld GP’21
Daniel Hoerl & Jacqueline Statz P’20, ’17
Zachary & Cynthia Johnson P’27, ’25, ’23
Weiyuan Kao & Nicole Huang P’24, ’22
Robert Kovalic & Judith Heise Kovalic P’27
Thomas Mallon GP’24, ’21
Daniel & Catherine Manke P’24, ’24
Betty Martin GP’22, ’18, ’16
Yahara Society is pleased to welcome our
new members.
During the 2014–2015 year, 73% of our total Annual Fund proceeds came from the Yahara Society. The generous
support of these donors allows our students to explore, grow, and succeed, and MCDS is deeply grateful for this
EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT.
32 new Yahara members
79 total Yahara members $294,864 raised by Yahara
3131
Foundation and Corporation Support
The GENEROSITY of the Madison area makes the difference at Madison Country Day School. Thank
you to our families for ADVOCATING for these special gifts and to these foundations and companies
for supporting our commitment to developing community, character, and lifelong learners.
Foundations
2014–2015
The Annual Fund
Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc.
Cherchian Family Foundation
Crysdahl Foundation, Inc.
Cummings Christensen Family Foundation
Fidelity Charitable
Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s
A.W. Asmuth Fund
Madison Community Foundation
Mattel Children’s Foundation
The Comer Foundation Fund
Matching Gifts
American Transmission Company
BOP, LLC
Culvers - Valley Foods Inc.
DeLair Consulting, SC
Goodshop
Kraft Foods Matching Gifts Program
Lands End, Inc
Madison Jazz Society
SC Johnson Fund
Target (Take Charge of Education)
Thrivent Choice® Program
Tri 4 Schools Inc.
UBS
In Kind Support
Gifts of PRODUCTS, TIME, and SERVICES further the work of Madison Country Day School.
We are appreciative of these special donations to MCDS.
Todd & Dana Asmuth P’25, ’22, ’21
Jeremy Clements
Karl & Katherine Dalland
Jake Eaton & Carrie Moeller
Christine Ewert
Kimberly & Luke Felker P ’11
Kristin Fleming
Thomas & Penelope Gialamas P’27, ’25
Tom & Beth Hall P’28
John & Karen Hendrickson P’19, ’16
Nathan & Sarah Herbst P’27, ’25, ’22
Fabian & Patricia Jaume
Michael & Heather Jones P’28, ’26
Alex & Sarah Kendrick P’27
Bradford Knott & Marina Emborg Knott P’19
Herb Lancaster
Nancy MacCoon GP’20
Bob Marshall
Gregory Melotte & Sara Gumpf Melotte P’18
Shaun Nivens & Kathleen Franzen
Travis & Maheen Ott P’27
Memorial Gifts
Seema Patel
John & Lorie Raihala P’17
Dan & Gretchen Rodefeld P’20
Jackie Rose P’22, ’19
Howard & Lynn Schweber P’20, ’07
Daniel & Kristine Sperling
Caitlin Stade P’17
Margaret Stansfield
Aaron Steffes
Jeff Stenroos
Elizabeth Stevens
Ray Tenebruso & Margy Newton P’19
Kim VanBrocklin
Julie Waddell
Kristin Warner
Alice Weiss GP’18
Evelyn Lasky Westbrook P’26
Beth Wilson
Barbara Wolfman
Cindy Wotruba
Madison Country Day School recognizes memorial gifts honoring individuals in the MCDS
family with a special place in our school’s community. Gifts to the Annual Fund were made in
honor of Teri Reda P’17, and we are deeply grateful to have received SUPPORT IN HER MEMORY.
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Alumni Support
MCDS is grateful for growing support from alumni. These contributions send a
strong message about the ONGOING BELIEF IN MCDS that inspires all of us at school and in
the years that follow.
Colin Christison ’14
Madeleine J. Coy-Bjork ’15
Fabian Luis Fernandez ’11
Nicholas E. Heisig ’10
Hanna Lee ’11
Maya L. Muldowney ’14
Mischa Fela Lewis-Norelle ’11
Alexandra Pozniak ’14
Julian B. Pozniak ’10
John M. Rowland ’13
Marie Shehadi ’14
Gabriel G. Williams ’07
MCDS students continue their studies as
members of the Ecuador exchange program.
2014–2015
The Annual Fund
MISSION: ACCOM
ALUMNI SUPPORT THE MCDS WORLD TRAVEL FUND
Alumni President Julian Pozniak ’10 recognized that
studying a world language is a fundamental piece of
an MCDS education and agreed that traveling abroad
through school programs should be accessible to
every student at MCDS. So Julian reached out to
the alumni to join forces with MCDS students and
the Parent Guild to establish the World Travel Fund,
PLISHED
designed to supplement the costs of world travel
for any student who wishes to further enhance their
language learning through immersion in another
culture. Alumni gifts, student fundraising, and seed
funding through a parent guild grant gave the fund its
start in 2014–2015. This collective effort supported
MCDS’ commitment to global education.
3333
Faculty and
Board Support
We are grateful for the gifts to the
Annual Fund by 100% OF THE SCHOOL’S
FACULTY, STAFF, AND BOARD. Thank you.
2014–2015
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The Annual Fund
Faculty
Ana Banomera
Kay Bauerle
Stacy Myszka
Doug Brown
Bob Camosy
Peter Case
Sarah Case Mark Childs
Drew Ciancia
Jeremy Clements
Katherine Dalland
Devon Davis
Sue Deakman
Annelise Dickinson
Jake Eaton
Christine Ewert
Kathleen Franzen
Beth Hall
Karen Hendrickson
Patricia Jaume
Brittany Judkins
Sarah Kendrick
Kelly Kirsh
Evelyn Lasky
Kristina Luedtke
Amy Maier
Tobey Marsceill
Stacy Mattson
Amjad Nasrallah
Natalia Navarro
Hannah Nelson
Maheen Ott
Seema Patel
Shelley Petzold
Lorie Raihala
Jackie Rose
Danika Rzentkowski
Rattanjit Sachdeva
Jon Schipper
Bethany Schultz
Lynn Schweber
Maggie Stansfield
Aaron Steffes
Jeff Stenroos
Liz Stevens
Izumi Takeda
Julia Taylor
Ray Tenebruso
Kim VanBrocklin
Julie Waddell
15
6
2
1
8
1
1
13
2
5
2
4
8
1
7
1
7
14
10
7
1
2
10
2
14
4
1
2
1
3
3
10
1
16
1
5
15
1
7
1
8
4
3
4
4
2
4
14
14
5
Kristin Warner 2
Cathy Wendt 1
Susan White 2
Beth Wilson 2
Barbara Wolfman 5
Cynthia Wotruba 13
Staff
Dana Asmuth 5
Sara Beuthien 1
Holly Bobula 1
Kim Chupp 2
Jeff Kemnitz 1
Beatrice Jones 14
Heather Jones 1
Bonnie Manley 2
Margy Newton 7
Roger Seaver 3
Barbara Spurlin 11
Caitlin Stade 9
Jamie Wojcik 2
Board
Sandra Fernandez, EdD
Erick Hallick, BS
Thomas Shorter, JD
Lynn Kaminski, CPA, BBA
Kathy Baus, MD
James Gallegos, JD
Kimberly Hazen, MA
Mark Louden, PhD
Patrick Riha, MBA
Suzanne Rusch, BBA
John Schaffer, PhD
Eric Schmidt, MBA
Jerry VanKirk, MDiv, ThM
Sheila Young, BA
Erica Christman, MHA
Terry Haller, MA
Eric McLeod, JD
Christopher Priebe, MFA
Beverly Simone, EdD
Luke Felker, ex-officio
Julian Pozniak ’10, BA
¬ indicates years of service to MCDS
MISSION: ACCOM
PLISHED
100% SUPPORT BY FACULTY
MCDS Art Teacher, Aaron Steffes,
Illustrates Why He Gives
reprinted from Mr. Steffes’s remarks at the 2015
Community Gala & Auction
2014–2015
The Annual Fund
Hi, my name is Aaron Steffes. This is my third year as
the middle school art teacher at MCDS. I’ve also been
a ninth grade advisor for that amount of time. In 2012, I
was looking to find a job in the Madison area, and I was
excited to land an interview at Madison Country Day
School. I had heard about the school and was a little
intimidated by the stature of the place. Exploring the
website, I was struck by the beauty of the school grounds,
the rigor of the mission and philosophy and the bios of
faculty members with multiple degrees, some with PhDs.
I clicked over to the art department website and saw
the sixth grade students had been making Gyotaku fish
prints, a Japanese art form that involves applying ink to
a fish then making rubbings on watercolor paper. I felt a
little under-qualified going into the interview, having never
made art with a fish before. I didn’t even know that was a
thing. Clearly, this was a worldly, rigorous art program.
The sample lesson I taught went pretty well, but I was
caught off-guard by the level of student engagement.
I wasn’t used to asking a question during a class
discussion and seeing half the hands in the room go up.
I wasn’t used to students spontaneously engaging in a
debate or dialogue without some prodding. Having taught
older kids in the past, I also wasn’t used to handing out
sticks of vine charcoal and then watching students draw
alarming charcoal unibrows on each other.
I was thrilled to be offered the art position at MCDS, and
the last three years have not disappointed. I remember
showing my eighth grade class a print of the Salvador
Dali painting The Persistence of Memory, the famous one
with the melting clocks that every college freshman buys
at the campus poster shop. Many of my students had
Anthony ’21 mimics
Mr. Steffes in art class.
continued on next page
3535
continued from previous page
developed elaborate, well-reasoned interpretations that I’d never
heard of. They took our class discussion down a path that ended
with a fairly profound dialogue about the painting’s relationship to
Einstein’s theory of relativity. And I don’t even really understand
the theory of relativity.
2014–2015
The Annual Fund
The Dali painting was something I had once liked in middle
school, and while I appreciated the artist’s handling of value
and color, it had since been stripped of all meaning and novelty.
Those eighth graders resurrected that dumb painting for me. The
next time someone gives me a Persistence of Memory keychain,
computer mouse pad, or temporary tattoo, I’ll think about the
insight those eighth graders brought to that piece and I’ll be happy
to see it again.
This impressive culture of learning is built on the countless
hours my colleagues have devoted to making this school run
as smoothly as it does. The emphasis on effort in our mission
statement is truly reflected in the collective work ethic of
our faculty, staff, and parent volunteers. I am struck by the
overwhelming generosity of the MCDS community.
I am proud to work in an institution in which everyone seems to
have a shared stake. Recently the entire middle school faculty
gave up their lunch to conference with one student and her family
to formulate a plan for her success. I had never been in a meeting
like that before. There are students here who volunteer to help
with cleaning the art room during their lunch periods, and they
seem to actually enjoy it.
I see that attitude across the board. People here donate their
time, energy, and resources to foster conversations about melting
clocks and other important things. Thank you for all you do to
make this a place where everyone wants to lend a hand, where
eighth graders freely discuss the theory of relativity in art class,
and where nobody feels weird making a painting with a fish.
Thank you.
The art department has been supported by grants from the Parent
Guild to begin updating our technology. We couldn’t have done
fine arts week without parent helpers, and we have begun to
re-think our ceramics curriculum after attending a summer clay
workshop with our professional development funds.
D
E
H
S
I
L
P
M
O
C
C
A
:
N
O
I
MISS
Thank you, Development Committee!
It takes time, care, and total belief to lead the
school’s philanthropic discussion. Of course,
MCDS is deeply appreciative of everyone’s ADVOCACY
on behalf of the school and especially to its
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE for their commitment to this
wonderful learning community.
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Patrick Riha P’20, ’18 Chair
Kelly Ayala P’26, ’23
Nadine Fakhran P’24, ’22
Judy Fries P’24, ’23
Erick Hallick P’20, ’17
Sobia Moe P’25, ’21, ’17, ’16
Mona Muldowney P’20, ’18, ’14
Julian Pozniak ’10
Preeti Reddy P’24, ’20
Gwen Bosben P’22, ’20 gets Seussian with
senior volunteers Maddie ’15 and Lily ’15.
2014–2015
Community Celebration & Auction
The MCDS Community in Seussland
Annual Auction Breaks Records Again, Raising $190,000!
560 items donated, 87 family contributors, and more than 350 guests added up to
THE biggest celebration of the year! Thank you to our parent community for your overwhelming support!
And thank you to our group of extraordinary parent volunteers who worked so closely
with the MCDS staff to make this year’s event such a smashing success: our chair, Mona Muldowney P’20, ’18, ’14;
Ana Aquino-Perez P’24; Salli Ball P’21; Gwen Bosben P’22, ’20; Harriet Chen P’15, ’13; Courtney Comer P’28, ’26, ’25;
Peter Duff P’26, ’25; Kane Doerfler P’17; Michelle Gleeson P’22; Vicki Hegerfeld P’21; Cynthia Johnson P’27, ’25, ’23;
Tammy Krez P’26, ’25, ’24; Suzanne Rusch P’22, ’20; Ann Schwede P’24; Sheila Young P’22, ’19, ’17.
3737
Thank you to all of the Whos in Whoville
for supporting the Seussland event.
Families further supported MCDS by attending our
$10,000+
Madison Avenue Worldwide
annual community celebration and bidding at the
silent and live auctions.
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2014–2015
$5,000+
Matt & Laurel Frazer P’28, ’24
Nate & Sarah Herbst P’27, ’25, ’22
Kelly & Natalie Senecal P’23
$1,000+
Chris Bjork & Catherine Coy
P’23, ’23, ’23, ’19, ’15
Ara Cherchian GP’27, ’24
Prasad Dalvie & Preeti Raman P’24
Sandra & Luis Fernandez P’14, ’11
Ben Hebebrand & Joy Dawson
Connie Hegerfeld GP’21
Vicki Hegerfeld P’21
Joe & Lisa Hoeme P’26
Muhammad Itani & Nadine Fakhran
P’24, ’22
Jeff & Lisa Janis P’20
Michael & Leslie Kim P’24, ’22
Melissa Lucarelli P’21, ’17
Christopher & Heide Mallon P’24, ’21
Pat & Brook McGettigan P’26
Shawn & Colleen McGuire P’28, ’24
Riyad Moe & Sobia Kirmani-Moe
P’25, ’21, ’17, ’16
Myron Pozniak & Kathy Baus P’14, ’10
Kartik & Preeti Reddy P’24, ’20
John Russo & Winny Hung P’27, ’25
Russell & Michelle Sharpswain P’18
Ramzi & Jodi Shehadi P’18, ’15, ’14
Steve & Elizabeth Wallman P’21
$2,500+
Peter & Sarah Cherchian P’27, ’24
James Gallegos & George Anglin P’25
Patrick & Kate Heaney P’27
Zach & Cynthia Johnson P’27, ’25, ’23
Smart Motors Toyota–Scion
Clinton & Pamela Woodman P’28
John Young & Sheila Collopy Young
P’22, ’19, ’17
For the full list of auction contributors
and winning bidders, please visit
www.madisoncountryday.org/celebrate-mcds/donors.
“Think and wonder, wonder and think.”
Luke W. Felker Professional Development Fund
—Dr. Seuss
Established in 2015 by the Madison Country Day School Community, the
Luke W. Felker Professional
Development Fund honors the very heart of the MCDS experience: its faculty. Inspired by a
belief that investing in educators means investing directly into the hearts and minds of their students, the fund
is earmarked for MCDS’ exceptional faculty and their professional growth and has become a permanent part of
the school’s annual fundraising.
The fund was launched at the Seussland event, raising over $50,000 in support of professional
development. The faculty takes advantage of professional development dollars by:
Attending Conferences
Challenging Advanced Learners Academy (UW Whitewater) | Health and Well-being Conference | IB Chemistry Conference | International Conference on Thinking | Music Educators’ Convention | National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Conference | Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language Teachers
(WAFLT) Conference | Wisconsin Athletic Directors’ Association (WADA) Conference | Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) Conference | Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA) Teachers’ Convention | Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Conference
Earning Certificates
Advanced Fiction Workshop | Alexander Technique Lessons | Breathe for Change | Bureau of Education & Research Workshop | Concussions: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Webinar | Design Thinking (through ISACS) | Independent School Risk Webinar | iPad for Educational
Use Training | Orton Gillingham Training | Piano Training | Picture Books for Children Workshop | Response to Reading: Helping Students Respond to Texts | Safety and Security Begins at the Front Desk Seminar | Singapore Math Training | Summer Institute of the Greater Madison Writing Project | UW-Madison
Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis Program graduate courses | Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom | Vermont Studio Center Artist Residency | Wisconsin Gifted and Talented: Workshop on Executive Functioning | Workshop for IB history teachers
Attending Workshops and Classes
2014–2015
College Counselling, UCLA | Renewed teaching licenses
3939
Volunteerism
2014–2015
Kristopher Moore P’27 volunteers as a
chaperone to the Kindergarten pumpkin
patch field trip. He is pictured here with
his daughter Maddie.
Volunteerism
More than 5,000 hours of time were gifted to Madison Country Day School, an
INVALUABLE RESOURCE that directly supports a successful academic year. In addition to
supporting teachers and programs, volunteers set the community service standard for
Prairie Hawks of every age to model.
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Thank you for these many
volunteer efforts:
Parent volunteers Stephanie Christenson
P’28, ’22 and Rhonda Vosdingh P’19
work at the SCRIP desk.
Friday Lunch Support | Back-to-School Picnic | Jazz Showcase Athletic Concessions | Athletic Team Volunteering | Books & Bagels Box Tops Program | Community Gala & Auction | Community Landscaping Grandparents and Special Friends Day | Hands On! | International Week Laminating and Photocopying | Library Volunteers | Lost & Found Picture Days | Rocky’s Fun Run | Scholastic Book Fairs | Spring Carnival Admissions Events | New Family Mentor Parents | Prairie Hawk Open Teacher Appreciation Week | Used Uniform Sales and Laundering Winter and Spring Flower Sales | Classroom Volunteers Community Grade Parents | Linen Support | STEAM Fair | Fine Arts Week Onward | and much, much more
2014–2015 Volunteers
Timothy & Carolyn McNeil
P’26
Gregory Melotte P’18
Pavi Misra & Preeti Ojha
P’26, ’25
Riyad Moe &
Sobia Kirmani-Moe
P’25, ’21, ’17, ’16
Kristopher & Lisa Moore P’27
Elizabeth Moreland P’19, ’16
Chad Moritz P’25
Dana Mosling P’24, ’22
Matt & Michelle Mulder P’22
Kevin & Mona Muldowney
P’20, ’18, ’14
Melita Mullen P’26, ’20
Shoba Narayan P’25
Natalia Navarro-Albaladejo
P’26, ’25
Hannah Nelson
Jean Nowlan P’22
Adam & Jane Olson P’16
Michelle Oster P’20
Maheen Ott P’27
Eylem Ozdemir Yankol
Rebekah Paré P’23
Simon & Laurie Peek
P’20, ’18, ’17
Lisa Peterson-Meister P’21
David & Shelley Petzold
P’24, ’21, ’18
Anna Purnell P’23, ’20
Sherri Purnell P’18
Lorie Raihala P’17
Preeti Raman P’24
Divya Rana P’26, ’23
Preeti Reddy P’24, ’20
Heidi Ress P’27
Sara Riha P’20, ’18
Gretchen Rodefeld P’20
Pat Rollins P’22, ’19
Shannon Roznoski P’25
Danika Rzentkowski P’27, ’25
Cheryl Sakowski P’27, ’24
Cheryl Schenck P’22
Jon & Jessica Schipper P’26
Alice Schneiderman P’21
Jim Schuessler P’26, ’20
Anne-Marie Schultz P’21
Lynn Schweber P’20, ’07
Roger & Kim Seaver
P’15, ’14
Natalie Senecal P’23
Roopa Shah P’23, ’20
Russell &
Michelle Sharpswain P’18
Petrolina Sims P’27
Kathy Singer P’18
Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau
P’20
Jacqueline Statz P’20, ’17
Edgar Steenwinkel P’17
Guy Taylor P’18, ’18
Gregory Thain P’21
Susanne Thiede-Barnet
P’26, ’23
Priyanka Trivedi P’24
Judith Thorbahn-Pierce
GP’28, ’26
Anna Tumarkin P’18
Nishant Upadhyay P’27, ’24
Jerome VanKirk P’22
Heidi Veloon P’20
Kenneth Vinson P’25
Rhonda Vosdingh P’19
Art & Kimberly Wagner
P’22,’18
Elizabeth Wallman P’21
Cathy Wendt
Pamela Woodman P’28
Nicholas &
Jessie Wurzel P’19
John Young &
Sheila Collopy Young
P’22, ’19, ’17
Jianzhong Zhang P’18
Hilary Hernandez P’24
Joseph & Lisa Hoeme P’26
Meg Hopton P’20
Les & Diana Howles P’23
Shelley Huber P’26
Winny Hung P’27, ’25
Michelle Hunt P’24
Christine Inthachith P’25, ’24
LaShonda Irby P’27
Lisa Janis P’20
Sayra Jayo P’27
Cynthia Johnson
P’27, ’25, ’23
Mike Jones P’26
Mike & Heather Jones
P’28, ’26
Linda Juan P’25, ’23
Steven & Lynn Kaminski
P’22, ’21
Sarah Kendrick P’27
Tashi Kessler P’23, ’20
Leslie Kim P’24, ’22
Judith Kovalic P’27
Ted & Tammy Krez
P’26, ’25, ’24
Darla Kurth P’26, ’24, ’21, ’20
Stacie Laplante P’27, ’25
Katrina Larsen P’26
Evelyn Lasky P’26
Mimi Levinson P’21
Christine Lidbury P’19
Mark Louden P’21
Gabe & Tiffany Lucas
P’28, ’26
Kristina Luedtke P’25, ’25
Mark & Amy Maier
P’21, ’19, ’17, ’16
Shilpa Malik P’26
Chris & Heide Mallon
P’24, ’21
Paul & Jana Martin
P’22, ’18, ’16
Brook McGettigan P’26
Colleen McGuire P’28, ’24
2014–2015
Guy & Courtney Comer
P’28, ’26, ’25
Brian Cunningham P’18, ’17
Shae Darvin P’19
Devon Davis P’28, ’25
Kane Doerfler P’17
JoseMaria Donoso &
Ana Banomera P’22, ’20
Chris & Laura Dry P’22
Peter Erk & Anne Weiss P’18
Mary Erpenbach P’18, ’15
Craig Evans &
Suzanne Welsch P’21, ’18
John & Cynthia Everitt P’19
Rhonda Fait P’22
Nadine Fakhran P’24, ’22
Sandra Fernandez P’14, ’11
Marcia Field P’22
Laurel Frazer P’28, ’24
Greg & Judy Fries P’24, ’23
Robin Garcia P’24, ’22
Penelope Gialamas P’27, ’25
Michelle Gleeson P’22
Matt Green P’19
Julie Haag P’16, ’13, ’10
Beth Hall P’28
Erick & Barb Hallick P’20, ’17
James & Chulee Hallick
P’24, ’22
Diane Hamdan P’22, ’19
Sandy Harper P’15
Mark & Sarah Harrison P’25
Caroline Harvey P’23, ’18
Patrick & Kate Heaney P’27
Vicki Hegerfeld P’21
Steve Heizman P’18
Karen Hendrickson P’19, ’16
Emma Henke P’24, ’22
Nate & Sarah Herbst
P’27, ’25, ’22
Armando Hernandez &
Tara White P’23, ’20
Volunteerism
Todd Anderson P’23
Ana Aquino-Perez P’24
John & Laura Ashworth
P’22, ’19
Todd & Dana Asmuth
P’25, ’22, ’21
Eric & Kelly Ayala
P’26, ’23
Salli Ball P’21
Jane Banks P’20
Gary Beal P’19
Megan Bennett P’23
Andy & Liz Benson P’21, ’18
Rajiv Bhandari P’26
Lillian Bickers P’28, ’28, ’25
Chris Bjork & Catherine Coy
P’23, ’23, ’23,’19, ’15
Eric & Wenyu Blanchard P’26
Holly Bobula
Bruce & Gwen Bosben
P’22, ’20
Wendy Bosben P’26, ’24
Shawn & Melissa Boyce
P’20, ’18, ’16
Yasmin Bradfield P’26
Marshall &
Marilyn Brinkman GP’27
Jean Brittain P’25
Jennifer Brixy P’19
Val Caceanov P’21, ’18
Kathi Callahan P’24, ’21
James Campbell P’20, ’16
Kay Campitelli P’26
Paul & Hali Cardis P’26
Peter & Sarah Cherchian
P’27, ’24
Jessica Christensen
P’26, ’23
Luke & Stephanie Christenson
P’28, ’22
Ron & Julie Christofferson
P’23
Lynn Cichocki P’28, ’25
Jeremy Clements
4141
2014–2015
Volunteerism
The Muldowney family places their
Stepping Stone in the garden.
Stepping Stones
Each year, MCDS celebrates volunteers who have made ENDURING GIFTS OF TIME by honoring them
with Stepping Stones. Volunteerism is essential to philanthropy at Madison Country Day School,
and it is with gratitude and enthusiasm that we honor our volunteer leadership at MCDS.
Welcome
2015 members
Dana & Todd Asmuth
Nadine Fakhran
Karen Hendrickson *
Kelly Kirsh *
Judy Moyes-Fries
Mona & Kevin Muldowney
Maheen Ott *
2014
2012
Kathy Baus & Myron Pozniak
Luis & Sandra Fernandez
Candy Gialamas
Michelle Mulder
Teri Reda
Rod Schlimpert *
Roger Solie *
Barb Spurlin *
Salli Ball
Andy & Liz Benson
Mark Childs *
John & Cynthia Everitt
Jay Hazen
Cindy Wotruba *
2013
Jason Anderson *
Gwen Bosben
Kimberly Felker
Luke Felker *
Beth Hall *
Beatrice Jones *
Kathy Ley
Kristina Luedtke *
Chris & Mary Priebe
Ray Tenebruso *
Kim VanBrocklin *
Erica Christman
Kayte Cunningham
Barb Hallick
Suzanne Harp
Lynn Kaminski
Jenner & Eric McLeod
Sheila Collopy Young
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2011
2010
Ana Banomera *
Danika Rzentkowski *
2009
Rachel Kiser *
Shelley Petzold *
2008
Diane Flynn *
Heather Raabe *
Helga Swatzak *
2007
Laura Prichard *
* 10 years of teaching or
administrative service to
the school.
Caption
Parent Guild
Every parent is a member.
On behalf of our faculty, students, and community, we recognize
the special place that MCDS is because of the EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION
of parents. Special gratitude to the 2014-2015 Parent Guild Executive Committee
for leading another successful year at MCDS: Judy Moyes-Fries P’24, ’23, president
Leslie Kim P’24, ’22, president-elect | Peter Duff P’26, ’25, secretary
Evelina Bolotiuc P’21, ’18, treasurer | Rhonda Vosdingh P’19, co-volunteer coordinator
Nikki Tucker P’28, ’26, co-volunteer coordinator
2014–2015
Kathi Callahan P’24, ’21
serves root beer floats at the
STEAM Fair last March.
Volunteerism
MISSION: ACCOM
PARENT GUILD SUPPORTS THE MCDS COMMUNITY
The MCDS Parent Guild strives to create a strong
parental network, connecting families to each other.
Through special events and coffees throughout the
school year, the guild encourages parents to stay
connected, giving families the information they need to
stay informed of school happenings.
The Parent Guild hosts events that raise funds to
support MCDS and that also build community.
Used uniform sales are useful because families can
find uniform essentials. The scholastic book fair is
important for families because it also helps to develop
classroom book collections. Geranium and poinsettia
sales make school performances beautiful. And the
proceeds from these events, and others like them,
support the guild’s budget.
PLISHED
Money they raised supports community-building
school events as well as grant opportunities to the
MCDS faculty. The grant program is made possible by
funds raised beyond the annual needs of the Parent
Guild budget and are allocated according to requests
made each spring. The funds are put to immediate
use the following school year. Kindergarten teachers
received funding for their history and geography
curriculum from the Parent Guild Grant Program.
Jake Eaton and his seventh grade science class
launched the MCDS weather balloon. The fourth grade
enhanced longitude and latitude learning with new
geocaching devices in the classroom—all thanks to
the MCDS parent community and their support. Says
Ms. Hall, “Thank you for your generosity!”
4343
Athletic Boosters
The MCDS Athletic Booster Club builds a STRONGER ATHLETIC COMMUNITY
in support of the MCDS Athletic Department through fundraising and
volunteerism. They take special care to nurture the “student body” with
2014–2015
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Apex Property Management
Advanced Fastening Supply, Inc.
Brian & Kayte Cunningham P’18, ’17
Mark & Jennie Ehrmann
James Ekman & Elizabeth Morel& P’19, ’16
Peter Erk & Anne Weiss P’18
John & Mary Erpenbach P’18, ’15
Craig Evans & Suzanne Welsch P’21, ’18
Greg & Judy Fries P’24, ’23
Shivjit & Rajwant Gill P’16, ’14
Mohamed & Diane Hamdan P’22, ’19
Armando Hernandez & Tara White P’23, ’20
Robert & Meg Hopton P’20
Mark & Amy Maier P’21, ’19, ’17, ’16
Greg Melotte & Sara Gumpf Melotte P’18
Riyad Moe &
Sobia Kirmani-Moe P’25, ’21, ’17, ’16
Kevin & Mona Muldowney P’20, ’18, ’14
William & Rachel Neill P’18
Adam Olson & Jane Salazar P’16
David & Shelley Petzold P’24, ’21, ’18
Richard Reda P’16
Christopher Romes & Angela Jaenke P’22
Jackie Rose P’22, ’19
Laurie Sanford P’18
Alan & Kathy Singer P’18
Igor Steinberg & Kassandra Remo P’16
Obasi & Alice Torti P’20, ’18
Philip & Nicole Tucker P’28, ’26
John Young &
Sheila Collopy Young P’22, ’19, ’17
& 2 anonymous donors
To learn more about becoming a Booster, visit www.madisoncountryday.org/athletics/athletic-booster.
Volunteerism
gifts that enhance and strengthen our athletic offerings.
Prairie Hawks of every age participated in the Third Annual Rocky’s Fun Run.
Over 300 runners supported MCDS Athletic Boosters last May.
MISSION: ACCO
MPLISHED
JOINT EFFORT OF MCDS FAMILIES, BOOSTERS, FACULTY, AND STAFF GETS A WORKOUT
machines, leg press, calf extension, squat rack, stability
balls, and other various fitness equipment. “Strength
training is very often the missing ingredient with the
clients I worked with over the years. When I was a
student athlete, I wish I had known then what I know
today about strength and conditioning; I would have
been a more powerful athlete, preventing a lot of the
injuries I struggled with along the way,” continued John.
The majority of the fitness equipment was donated
by MCDS parent, and Madison’s fitness nomad,
John Ashworth P’22, ’19 who commented, “I wanted to
find a way that I could give back to MCDS that reflected
our gratitude and appreciation for everything this school
has done for our children. And the opportunity to
provide an environment for student-athletes to develop
their full potential is the whole philosophy behind
MCDS.” Thanks to the Ashworths’ gift, the weight room
is equipped with a treadmill, free weights, multiple cable
To help transform the storage shed into a workable
space, MCDS Athletic Booster Club donations
supported the purchase of drywall and insulation to
create a year-round facility. MCDS Director of Facilities
Roger Seaver donated countless hours improving the
electrical and lighting systems along with installing the
insulation and drywall. Mr. Seaver’s passion as a coach
and facility director has continued to push this project in
the right direction.
2014–2015
Students enjoyed a new weight room at MCDS in
2014–2015. The small building next to the athletic
fields was transformed as a facility housing state-ofthe-art fitness equipment used by MCDS studentathletes, coaches, and employees. The creation of the
workout space satisfies the need for student-athletes
to train at a higher level while increasing strength and
decreasing injuries.
Volunteerism
4545
Volunteerism
2014–2015
D
E
H
IS
L
P
M
O
C
C
A
:
N
IO
S
MIS
HANDS ON! MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Community service projects have an enormous
impact on the care and keeping of our beautiful
campus and instills pride in Prairie Hawks of every
age. The value of Hands On can be seen across
campus from the cross country trails to the gardens.
Mr. Seaver, our director of facilities, often feels that
there are so many important projects that he would
like to accomplish but they are often replaced as
other projects take priority. For Mr. Seaver, having
the community involved at Hands On! helps to
accomplish the wonderful projects that are difficult
to do while he focuses more on the operational side
of caring for our facilities and campus.
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“For the MCDS community, involvement in some of
the various projects allows for a personal connection
to the campus that may not otherwise exist,” says
Mr. Seaver. “This sense of ownership manifests itself
in various conversations, from both parents and
students, that I have overheard around the school.
The idea of ‘yeah, we helped with that!’ is very cool
to hear.
This event solidifies the ideal that giving of time
and talents is also important to the appearance and
function of our school.”
Our students and their families worked
together to care for MCDS and its
beautiful facilities at Hands On!
2014–2015
Volunteerism
Mr. Seaver is riding high on all the
projects the MCDS community
helped him complete at Hands On!
Hands On!
Projects accomplished at our annual service day:
• Parking lot map painting
• Library leveling in the third and
• Boathouse shine-up
fourth grades
• Wood loading
• Library assistance
• Splitting wood
• Prepping and cleaning the MCDS
• Pond renewal
flower beds and special gardens
• Expanding cross country trails
• Campus-wide weeding
• Clearing the woods by the fire pit
• Pine tree trimming
• Shrub cutting
• Pine straw swag
• Cleanup crew
• Branch hauling
• Building the school’s Low Ropes Course
• Assisting the athletic department
• Keeping volunteers nourished and fed!
HANDS ON!
2015
MCDS
• Kindergarten classroom cleanup
• Fire pit shed maintenance
4747
Students Giving Back
As part of the Big Hairy Fundraiser, students RAISED $1,325 and gifted 420 HOURS of
community service at Hands On! in support of the MCDS Annual Fund. Go Prairie Hawks!
Volunteerism
Bethany Astor ’19
Ari Ayala ’23
Noey Ayala ’26
Anna Baker ’15
Lara Banks ’20
Tori Barnet ’23
Eleri Beal ’19
Lilly Bennett ’23
Grace Benson ’19
Reidar Benson ’21
2014–2015
Max Aarons ’26
Sydney Abrahamson ’21
Sham Abufarha ’19
Bella Albiter ’27
Tierney Aldrich-Stanek ’21
Sara Arihood ’24
Ana Ashworth ’22
Carl Ashworth ’19
Abby Asmuth ’22
Alexandra Asmuth ’21
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Sampson ’23 working hard at Hands On!
Karuna Bhat ’20
Annabelle Bickers ’28
Christopher Bickers ’28
John Bosben ’20
Madeline Bosben ’24
Natalie Bosben ’26
Steve Bosben ’22
Phoebe Bowen ’26
Morgan Boyce ’20
Alexa Boyes ’24
Maddox Bradfield ’26
Kate Brixy ’19
Aiden Callahan ’24
Levi Callahan ’21
Aidan Campbell ’16
Rachel Campbell ’20
Averi Cardis ’26
Paula Caviedes ’16
Christopher Cheng ’27
Sam Cherchian ’24
Elke Schuessler ’26
Maisie Schuessler ’20
Carmen Schultz ’21
Emma Schweber ’20
Trynity Scott ’21
Tori Seaver ’15
Bini Seip ’24
Isaac Seip ’22
Nolan Senecal ’23
Ariya Shah ’23
Rohan Shah ’20
Jack Shehadi ’18
Lily Shehadi ’15
Ariana Shlimovitz ’18
Mya Simms-Niebuhr ’18
Novian Sims ’27
Sara Singer ’18
Ani Skupas ’21
Omeed Soltaninassab ’19
Diana Song ’20
Emma Song ’23
Isabella Stade ’17
Tessa Steenwinkel ’17
Polly Stephenson ’26
Annika Stimac ’22
Nariya Tanoukhi-Bell ’23
Julia Tenebruso ’19
Julia Thain ’21
Rhiannon ThompsonJenkinson ’20
Maria Torti ’20
Nieves Trujillo-Navarro ’26
Ellie Tumarkin ’18
Milan Upadhyay ’27
Nikhil Upadhyay ’24
Anika Upadhyaya ’24
Ellie VanKirk ’22
Alexander Wagner ’22
Carl Wagner ’18
Maya Wallman ’21
Allison Weiss ’18
Ceanu Welter ’22
Naomi Welter ’15
Madeline Westbrook ’26
Eli White ’23
Sadie White ’26
Emily Wurzel ’19
Rhea Yadav ’21
Deniz Yankol ’27
Alana Yevzlin ’20
Colin Young ’22
Rebecca Zamora-Green ’15
Sophie Zhang ’18
Una McGettigan ’26
Gabe McKelvey ’17
Sanjli Mehta ’15
Hayley Melotte ’18
Fatimah Moe ’21
Immy Moe ’25
Maddie Moore ’27
Elsa Moritz ’23
Henry Moritz ’25
Drake Moschkau ’20
Logan Mosling ’22
Rose Mosling ’24
Nake Mukasa ’20
Matt Muldowney ’18
Priya Muldowney ’20
Kenton Nagle ’22
Annabel Nelson ’24
Eleanor Nelson ’27
Leanna Niesen ’20
Paige Olson ’25
Levi Ott ’27
Maddie Paré ’23
Alexander Peek ’20
Audrey Peterson-Meister ’21
Eli Petzold ’24
Paul Petzold ’21
Adriana Pimentel ’15
John Purnell ’20
Katie Purnell ’23
Anya Rana ’26
Rhea Rana ’23
Raju Rawal ’24
Anya Reddy ’20
Arjun Reddy ’24
Jack Reeder ’25
Zoe Ress ’27
Amy Riha ’20
Maddie Ripp ’20
Renae Rodefeld ’20
Jack Rollins ’19
James Rollins ’22
Heron Rose ’19
Joe Rose ’22
Amanda Rusch ’22
Nicholas Rusch ’20
Bodi Russo ’25
Mira Russo ’27
Joseph Rzentkowski ’25
Will Rzentkowski ’27
Xanthe Saalmann ’24
Agnes Salva ’22
Noah Sauer ’16
Sam Schipper ’26
Nikko Schneiderman ’21
2014–2015
Mark Henke ’22
Milo Herbst ’25
Sawyer Herbst ’22
Eva Hernandez-White ’23
Isabel Hernandez-White ’20
Florentina Hernandez ’24
Oliver Hoeme ’26
Adam Hoerl ’20
Elizabeth Hopton ’20
Karra Howles ’23
Stella Huber ’26
Danny Itani ’24
Reem Itani ’22
Sage Jackson ’27
Setona Jaenke-Romes ’22
Alex Janis ’20
Charlie Johnson ’23
Lucy Johnson ’27
Mae Johnson ’22
Sam Johnson ’25
Maddie Jones ’26
Rocco Jones ’26
Ruby Jones ’28
Rian Jost ’27
Alex Kaminski ’21
Nicholas Kaminski ’22
Ethan Kao ’22
Zoe Kao ’24
Elsa Kendrick ’27
Eric Kent ’22
Celia Kessler ’20
Sampson Kessler ’23
Seth Kim ’22
Sophia Kim ’24
Thomas Knott ’19
Sophia Korotev ’18
Louisa Kovalic ’27
Annie Krez ’26
Charlotte Krez ’24
Emmett Krez ’25
Anna Kurth ’20
Derek Kurth ’21
Jillian Kurth ’24
Annalivia Laplante ’25
Lincoln Laplante ’27
Haley Larsen ’26
Drew Lash ’19
Bruce Li ’27
Grace Lidbury ’19
Alejandra Falcon Lores ’17
Clara Louden ’21
Daisy Lozier ’24
Brody Lucas ’28
Kasumi Lucas ’26
Ben Luedtke ’25
Owen Luedtke ’25
Skye MacCoon ’20
Andrew Maier ’16
Dominic Maier ’19
Joshua Maier ’17
Kierra Maier ’21
Petra Mallon ’21
Renate Mallon ’24
Tyler Martin ’21
Vierka Martin ’22
Yoli Martin ’16
Keegan McCance ’18
Lucy McCardell ’22
Volunteerism
Victor Cherchian ’27
Sadie Childs ’22
Zoe Childs ’20
Jack Christensen ’26
Kendall Christensen ’23
Henry Christenson ’28
Stella Christenson ’22
Olivia Christofferson ’23
Aksel Cichocki ’25
Annika Cichocki ’28
Campbell Comer ’25
Clarissa Comer ’28
Spencer Comer ’26
Maddie Coy-Bjork ’15
Ethan Cunningham ’19
Rhea Dalvie ’24
Camila Darvin ’19
Quinn Davis ’25
Sully Davis ’28
Anthony DiFiore ’21
Jake Doerfler ’17
Nicolas Donoso ’20
Sara Donoso ’22
Drew Downie ’18
Ben Dreyer ’16
Sam Dreyer ’19
Holden Dry ’22
Luella Duff ’26
Phoebe Duff ’25
George Ekman ’19
Ashlyn Erpenbach ’18
Emily Erpenbach ’15
Jerome Evans ’21
Elizabeth Everitt ’16
Grace Everitt ’19
Drew Fait ’22
Jack Felker ’28
Max Field ’22
Abby Folz ’25
Allison Folz ’27
Alexis Frazer ’24
Ashlyn Frazer ’28
Emily Friedlander ’21
Ian Fries ’24
Kira Fries ’23
Paul Fung ’25
Xavier Garcia ’24
Agapi Gialamas ’25
George A. Gialamas ’27
George T. Gialamas ’27
Colin Green ’19
Mateo Guiao ’22
Cooper Hall ’28
Erick Hallick ’20
Ethan Hallick ’22
Hannah Hallick ’24
Maya Hamdan ’22
Sydney Harrison ’25
Taylor Hause ’19
Ada Hazen ’20
Lachlan Heaney ’27
Olivia Hegerfeld ’21
Peyton Hein ’21
Katy Heizman ’18
Faranak Hematti ’21
Eli Hendrickson ’19
Emmett Hendrickson ’16
Alex Henke ’24
4949
Capital and Endowment Giving
Thank you to this SPECIAL GROUP OF DONORS for designating additional support for
essential MCDS initiatives, such as endowment support, scholarship, or building.
These AMBITIOUS GIFTS are made in the form of cash, securities, or property, and are often
pledged over time. Gifts of a certain magnitude may also be used to endow a fund (such
as a scholarship) or name a new building or significant renovation in the name of the donor
or another. Thank you to everyone who supported Madison Country Day School with an
Capital Support
Alliant Energy Foundation, Inc.
Luis & Sandra Fernandez P’14, ’11
2014–2015
endowed or capital gift during the 2014–2015 fiscal year.
A rendering of the new academic
center scheduled to open with the
2016–2017 school year.
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Myron Pozniak & Kathleen Baus P’14, ’10
Tom & Stacey Shorter
Jerry & Tanya VanKirk P’22
John Young & Sheila Collopy Young P’22, ’19, ’17
In 2014–2015 MCDS had
60
outstanding
faculty members
239
6
student-athletes
chess
champions
35
Yahara
writers
100
12
17
exchange
students
Wisconsin State Music Association
Solo and Ensemble participants
IB Diplomas earned
27
Model United Nations
team members
2014–2015
students
403
D
E
H
S
I
L
P
M
O
C
C
A
:
N
O
I
MISS
Your gifts bring MCDS to life and support student achievement.
Thank you.
51
High school students measure soil moisture
as part of a science lab with Ms. Franzen at
the beginning of the school year.
52
T H E A L U M N I PAG E S
Mr. Hebebrand meets with
alumni during his first month.
ALUMNI
COMING
EVENTS
Mark your calendar!
Rocky’s Fun Run
October 23
Participate with the MCDS community for a
run through the prairie. Proceeds benefit the
MCDS Boosters.
Reunite on campus for a full day of
reconnecting with classmates and the MCDS
community, TOK class, Camosy Jeopardy,
Mat Ball, and more.
How are you moving Onward?
In 2007, MCDS graduated its first class. Then in 2008, MCDS became
an International Baccalaureate school, graduating its first IB class in
2010. This year, MCDS High School reached a new exciting milestone—
enrolling over 100 students! In 2018 our alma mater is on track to realize
the vision set out in our strategic plan of double sections through grade
12. Both MCDS and our alumni association are poised for an exciting
new era of success.
One of the ways to celebrate this monumental time is to celebrate your
success. Our alumni association will only become stronger with your
participation. Here is a fun way to do it: send us a photo of yourself
with a sign saying “Onward at _____” (your college, your travels, your
internship, your volunteer organization, your job). We look forward to
publishing these photos in upcoming issues of The Alumni Pages in
Onward. Please send them to onward@madisoncountryday.org.
I look forward to seeing all the ways you have moved Onward and
helping us all keep in touch.
The Alumni Pages
Alumni Reunion
December 18
Jazz Showcase
January 29
Join us for an unforgettable evening with the
MCDS community at the 2015–2016
Jazz Showcase. Your seat is reserved.
Hands On!
May 14
Come for a day of community service to our
school. This is an intergenerational “love our
school” event that allows all of us to give back
to MCDS in a very “hands-on” way.
Commencement
May 28
Congratulate the graduates. Visit with faculty.
Celebrate with the MCDS community.
Field Day
June 3
Julian Pozniak ’10, MCDS Alumni President
Return to school for an alumni picnic and
Field Day! Earn 100 points for your house just
for showing up!
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Making Music in New York City
The Alumni Pages
An accomplished musician and artist, MCDS graduate Dominick Boyle ’09 (more affectionately
known as Dom) is making his way in New York City. A recent graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
and now resident of Brooklyn, New York, Dom is living his passion and getting noticed.
Dom graduated from Sarah Lawrence in May, 2014; his
degree is in sound and language with a focus on music
composition. In his last year, he was awarded the
prestigious Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award for
Music, an honor reserved for an outstanding senior
concentrating in music. The accolade recognized
Dom’s deep musical investment in his music courses
as well as his involvement with musical performances
on campus: scoring dance, film, and theater; playing
bluegrass, classical and improvised chamber music,
and African music in different ensembles. Sarah
Lawrence was the right match for Dom’s collaborative
and self-directed interests.
In his senior year, Dom’s work started getting noticed
beyond campus and he entered the New York
music scene as an independent artist. His original
compositions, Moment 1 and Moment 2, premiered at
New York’s Dynamic Music Festival. “Having my work
finally cross the boundary from the academic bubble
to being performed at a public concert was a bit nerve
wracking, but also very rewarding. It’s led to some other
great opportunities as well.”
One of those opportunities included notice from a
Maltese filmmaker who consulted Dom about using
Moment 1 in his film trailer. Dom recounts that he was
completely surprised. “To have someone say to me
‘your music captures what I want to say, and how I want
54
Julian ’10 and Dom ’09
catch up in New York City.
people to feel’ was amazing. It’s also crazy to know that
people who I’d never even met had heard that piece.”
“
Not all schools can be all things to all
people. But MCDS was a great experience
for me. The small environment allowed me
be involved in many different things, and I
really felt that I could have an impact in the
MCDS community.
”
Dom’s second film score can be heard in the movie
The Karen of Huay Tong, a short ethnographic portrait
about the lives, traditions, and history of a Karen
community in northern Thailand. The film featured
Moment 1 and Moment 2 as well as additional scoring
inspired by Dom’s experiences working with Burmese
refugees after graduating from MCDS; he drew upon his
memories of the lush natural world of Northern Thailand.
“I wanted to create a score that enhanced the world
around them. I used the mbira, which is a wood and
metal thumb piano from Zimbabwe, and combined it
with viola and piano to get a really woody, natural, and
sparse sound.”
MCDS Alumni President, Julian Pozniak ’10 visited with Dom in New
York City last winter. The two mused about the similarities that they
share: both graduates of MCDS; both flourishing artists after attending
small music programs at liberal arts schools. Dom and Julian agreed
that the smallness of their college programs gave them a lot of
freedom and flexibility. They felt that coming from MCDS and studying
privately created a strong foundation in music theory enabling them to
take advantage of the full breadth of offerings in their undergraduate
programs. Dom remarked, “I loved studying world music with my
teachers at MCDS, and my ethnomusicology professor in college
was so surprised I had already learned about much of what he was
teaching in the intro level course. I felt like I was really well prepared
for the academic side of a college level music program by the classes
at MCDS.”
Music composition is at the heart of Dom’s
artistic interests and inspired his internship with
Cantaloupe Music, the record label of Bang on
a Can, an organization dedicated to innovation,
commissioning and supporting composers,
performances, and developing new audiences
and musicians. Now Dom works as an assistant
at a small art gallery dedicated to sound art
in Lower Manhattan called Audio Visual Arts,
helping oversee the gallery space, interact with
clients, install shows, pack and move art, and do
research. “It has been tremendously interesting to
see another side of the music and art world.”
continued to use it when I get the chance, like in my
sound installation In Threes and Fours and Twos,
which incorporates text in English and Japanese
from the ancient manuscript, The Pillow Book by
Sei Shonagson.”
And he continues his freelance music work
having fiddled on a show What Tammy Needs
to Know about Getting Old and Having Sex:
The Concert Tour; and performing, when invited,
with the orchestra at Sarah Lawrence. He also
performed on violin for a dance production at
Danspace in New York City
last May. But his more regular
freelance work is supporting
singer songwriter Dyllan,
(www.dyllan-music.com),
backing her up with effects
and loop pedals. “It has been
really fun having something
more informal that I can
experiment with.” Currently,
Dom is considering another
score for a film project as well
as sound design for dance.
To learn more about Dom and to hear his work,
visit www.dominickboyle.com.
Dom feels that MCDS influenced his strong opinions
about education, stressing that music education is
an important part of the learning process. “Even for
students who don’t pursue a music career, the hard
work and discipline of learning an instrument can
provide a lot of benefits. This attitude can definitely
transfer to other pursuits, whatever they may be.”
The Alumni Pages
In many ways, these vast
interests bear a striking
resemblance to Dom’s MCDS
experience. Collaborating,
working independently, and
exploring different avenues of
expression were the hallmarks of
his high school education.“Not
all schools can be all things to
all people. But MCDS was a
great experience for me. The
small environment allowed me
be involved in many different
things, and I really felt that I
could have an impact in the
MCDS community.”
Among other things, valued
interests to Dom include both
music and language. And as
a working artist, he’s found a
way to marry these together
in a special way. “I really
enjoyed studying and speaking
Japanese at MCDS, and I’ve
55
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Noah Schweber ’07 Noah earned a BA in mathematics from University of Chicago in 2011 and is currently
working on a PhD in mathematics from UC Berkeley. His field is mathematical logic. Our congratulations to Noah for
the recent acceptance of his paper to the premier journal in his field, the Journal of Symbolic Logic, titled “Transfinite
Recursion in Higher Reverse Mathematics.”
Libby Meier ’09 Last July, Libby finished her work for the Delaware State Parks where she focused on a
200-year-old mill site that made paper and vulcanized fiber for the last century. In addition, Libby managed the
collection contained in the parks fully-furnished mill-owner’s mansion. Libby began her graduate work this fall at the
University of Delaware where she will complete an interdisciplinary study of objects in history. Special congratulations
for to Libby for her acceptance as a fellow into the Winterthur Museum’s program in American material culture.
Hans-Eric Becklin ’10 was recently married to Marissa Dienst. He is currently studying as a presidential
scholar at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. Among his many pursuits, he is studying Greek, as well as
other Biblical languages. He is also serving as the school’s assistant dean of the chapel and working as a hospital
chaplain. Upon graduation he will be ordained as a Lutheran minister.
The Alumni Pages
Julian Pozniak ’10 After graduating from Carleton College in 2014, Julian served as an educational intern with
the Madison Symphony Orchestra crafting curriculum guides for area teachers as well as supplementary materials
for youth concerts. Julian also won his audition with the Madison Choral Project, Madison’s only professional choir
where he was thrilled to perform under the baton of guest conductor Dale Warland last May. Julian moved to Boston,
Massachusetts, to pursue his master’s in composition at the New England Conservatory. Congratulations, Julian!
R.J. Seaver ’14 just completed his first year at the University of Tulsa where he is pursuing a degree in
history with a minor in Spanish. He has also been playing in the school’s marching band, and performing at major
sports events.
Fabian Fernandez ’11 is currently
working as an advocate with the
Association of the Urban Justice Center
in New York. He will also be pursuing his
master’s in public health at Yale.
Mischa ’11 visits with his former math
teacher Lynn Schweber on Field Day.
56
Mischa Lewis-Norelle ’11 Last
May, Mischa graduated from Oberlin
College with a degree in computer science.
In typical form, Mischa finished his last
semester at Oberlin trying new things:
photography, a tutoring practicum which
included working with first grade students
in the Oberlin public school system,
cooking, spending time with friends, and
relaxing. Our congratulations to Mischa
on starting as a software developer for
Appfolio, a small software company in
Santa Barbara, California, in August.
Hanna ’11 and her mother visit with
Beatrice Jones and Kimberly Felker.
Hanna Lee ’11 Congratulations to Hanna on her graduation from the University of Michigan last May. Hanna
Maya Muldowney ’14 Maya is entering her
second year at Wellesley College in Boston. She started
this year as a resident assistant, having served on the
residence hall council in her freshman year. She is happy
to report that she discovered a passion for neuroscience
at Wellesley and supported her new interest by attending
a neuroscience program at the University of Illinois this
past summer. Maya worked at a neurology lab at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison before returning to
school this September.
The Alumni Pages
finished with a Bachelor of Arts in Asian studies with a concentration in Japanese studies and art history. She also
minored in art and design. This fall, Hannah is working in a quality control position at Randstad in Ann Arbor and
plans to move home to Korea next summer.
Maximillian Christman ’11 Max is in his second
year of graduate school at Duke University’s Nicholas
School of the Environment. Over the summer, Max
worked in the Research Triangle to complete an energy
policy internship with the Environmental Defense Fund.
Operating out of Raleigh, he worked with a few other
Duke students to engage military, rural, and low-income
North Carolina communities in a discussion about the
renewable energy future within the state. This fall, he is
working on a master’s project with a large utility provider,
Southern Company, to survey the opportunities and
potential for offshore wind development on the southeast
Atlantic coast. Max’s interest in ultimate frisbee led him to
play in the local co-ed league and coach youth ultimate
before returning to Duke’s traveling club team this year.
Maya ’14 at the Boston Marathon
57
58
What is happening
on the MCDS campus?
Join us at morning assembly on Nov. 6 at 8 a.m. to find out.
Ian Fries
Madeline Bosben
Samuel Cherchian
Xavier Garcia
Bodies in Action Third Grade Art Project
Caption
We like to move! Third graders took many art classes to paint some of their favorite activities, like climbing, dancing,
and playing soccer. Because diagonal lines can create a sense of movement, students tried to paint the active bodies
at an angle. They created an illusion of space, by making some thing seem close up (in the foreground) and other things
seem far away (in the background). A variety of color makes the painting more interesting, so using only the primary
colors plus black and white, they mixed secondaries, tertiaries, neutrals, tints, and shades!
Annabel Nelson
Justin Manke
First graders Sage ’27, Rian ’27, Gianna ’27, and Estelle ’27
enjoy Readers’ Workshop during the first week of school.
61
MCDS High School is
101 students strong
and growing!
Onward
an MCDS MAGAZINE
Mark Your Calendar
Bring Your Grandparent to School Day
Rocky’s Fun Run
Middle/High School Theater Production
Lower School Concert
Middle/High School Concert
Fine Arts Week
Jazz Showcase
Celebrate MCDS (Annual Auction)
October 9, 2015
October 23, 2015
November 20–22, 2015
December 16, 2015
December 17, 2015
January 25–29, 2016
January 29, 2016
March 5, 2016
5606 River Road | Waunakee, WI 53597 | 608.850.6000 | madisoncountryday.org

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