We have scholarships for the 2014-2015 school year!

An amazing new door has opened for our school as we enter our 27th year of educating students in Huntsville, Al. The recently passed Alabama Accountability Act and the resultant opening of Scholarship Granting Organizations has now given us the opportunity to offer a Country Day education to students we could not earlier serve. This exciting development allows us to finally recognize our original mission of offering a World Class education to all, regardless of ability to pay. It gives Country Day the true diversity we have always sought and brings new families into our community. We have chosen the Scholarships for Kids SGO to work with, as we believe they are truly seeking to help deserving children and our school obtain this goal. It is a group which shows true passion and is guided by a moral compass to make this program work and expand. Jeanie McCain,the SGO's leader, is a force to be reckoned with in her passionate insistence that children in our state deserve a World Class education, regardless of their circumstances. More information can be found on Scholarship for Kids at www.Alabamakids.net. Our school was chosen as a benchmark school by their leadership and was approved to participate in the scholarship program by the Ala. Dept. Of Revenue last year. We have several scholarship students already in attendance this school year. Next year we will select and admit 40 more eligible scholarship students. Once a scholarship is granted to a student, this will automatically be renewed every year thereafter. We applaud the state legislature for their wisdom and foresight in passing this landmark bill, and appreciate the opportunity it affords Country Day School to educate students who could not otherwise be served.

That's What It's All About

Bittersweet graduation Day....7 of our students head out into their highschool years. One student started at Country Day as a two year old. What an honor it has been to educate her and see her blossom into a capable and competent young woman. We feel a part of her family and she will always be part of the Country Day Family. Other grads have overcome obstacles along the way and matured into insightful and caring people. I could not be prouder of a group than the class of 2013......Godspeed, Good Luck and much love as you make your journey in life.

25th year is now drawing to a close

Just 20 more school days left in the 2012-2013 school year. Moving on to year 26! There has been so much growth and learning all over the school. We will miss our 7 graduates and wish them well in their highschool ventures and beyond. It certainly was a year to remember in so many ways.

I eat my words!

In an earlier post, I stated that school choice or charter schools would never come to our fair state of Alabama. Now I must eat these words, and boy, do they taste good. The Ala. Legislature just passed what is called the flexibility act which provides students from failing schools the ability to transfer to private schools with tax credits and/or scholarships. This is an incredible event in the educational options for Alabama children stuck in failing schools by their zip code. We applaud our brave legislators who somehow made this happen and our Govenor for taking a stand to give these kids a chance to meet their potentials. This bill will be a landmark for our state reaching for real educational reforms. bravo! Bravo!

2013 will be a very good year

The new year is here, and with it comes hopes for renewal and justice. We know what was meant for our harm will be turned for our good in this year. Our school family has stood strong and will continue to do so in 2013. Our guiding light has been and will always be providing the very best education and environment for our students. Parents are our partners in this process which strengthens our school. Happy New Year to All! God Bless us all.

Accreditation visit a success!

This past week three outside reviewers came to Country Day for our five year accreditation review. They observed in our classrooms, interviewed students, parents and teachers. They reviewed all of our self assessment plan and looked at artifacts to document this plan. At the end of the visit they gave us their thoughts and recommended us for re-accreditation for the next five years. they also commended our school for it's warm and caring environment and parental involvement. We are proud of the result!

NAEYC National Conference, Atlanta.

Just returned from several days at the National Assoiation of Educators of Young Children with several CDS teachers and administrators. It was a very stimulating few days of learning, discussion, and planning for future vision and projects. We spent many hours in sessions with presenters from around the world, and enjoyed the camadrie of colleagues who teach young children and are searching for better ways to do so. Our group sought out Reggio sessions which were plentiful and varied. We also explored sessions dealing with exposing Children to nature and natural playscapes. The topic of the Common Core curriculum was also explored in relation to CDS philosophy. We also spent time exploring the exhibits to find new materials to bring back to our students. Our group came home exhausted but pumped up to make our school even better for our students, and even more committed to learning as a lifelong adventure.