Schoolwide News
KCD to seek feedback on student experience
In order to identify what students find most valuable about their KCD experience, we are about to begin a set of student surveys and one-on-one interviews that will help us identify how we can provide the best experience possible for our students. More details on the project are outlined in this letter from Head of School Brad Lyman.
Help recognize exceptional teachers
Parents, alumni, and teachers are invited to recognize outstanding teaching by submitting a nomination for the Alumni Association Exceptional Teaching Award. This award recognizes exceptional and distinguished teaching at KCD by providing for a self-designed, unique, and personally rewarding professional development experience. The award is funded through the generosity of an anonymous donor.
Nominations for The Exceptional Teaching Awards should be emailed to brad.lyman@kcd.org no later than 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The Exceptional Teaching Awards will be announced before the conclusion of the current school year.
Haiti trip sets stage for service project
Donna Tatum-Johns first met Stephanie Privert shortly after the fifteen-year-old arrived from Haiti in June of 2010. Stephanie’s home had been destroyed in the January earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, and even worse, she faced a life-threatening heart condition that could not be treated in Haiti.
The nonprofit group Healing the Children arranged for Stephanie’s trip to Louisville, where Kosair Children’s Hospital donated the surgery that repaired her heart. KCD served as Stephanie’s school home during the year that she stayed in Louisville. During that time, she attended classes and became friends with many students and teachers, including Ms. Tatum-Johns.
A few weeks ago, Ms. Tatum-Johns used a Fortnight grant to travel to Haiti, where she visited Stephanie and her family. “I flew in on the two-year anniversary of the earthquake,” she recalls. “Two-thirds of the people whose homes were destroyed two years ago are still living in tents.” Fortunately, Stephanie’s family was able to return to their home (below), which was rebuilt in large part because of the generosity of the KCD community. In addition, fundraisers by the Middle School Drama Society and other groups had raised about $1,000 to help the Privert family get back on their feet. Ms. Tatum-Johns reports that Haitian Christian Outreach has been overseeing the allocation of the funds and reporting back on how the family is using them.
“Our primary goal was to help them build self-sufficiency,” Ms. Tatum-Johns said, “so that they would have a means to buy food not only today, but also in the future.” Toward that goal, some of the funds have been used to purchase a freezer that will allow the family to sell cold drinks and start a small store in the front of their home.
Ms. Tatum-Johns also used the trip as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a service learning trip to Haiti next year. “This will be different from our existing Global Studies trips,” she explained, “because the focus of the trip will be on service.” Ms. Tatum-Johns hopes to bring the first student group to Haiti in June of 2013.
2012‒2013 Calendar
The preliminary calendar dates for the 2012‒2013 school year are now being entered into the Dynacal calendaring system; in the meantime, they are available in pdf file attached below.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| calendar_2012-13.pdf | 36.13 KB |
Spirit shirt sale benefits Cabbage Patch
During X period today, Student Council executive member Tommy Staffieri presented a check for $1,534 to the Cabbage Patch Settlement House. These are the proceeds from the sale of the “The Shirt” earlier this year.
Student Council members hope to make the annual spirit shirt sale an annual fundraiser for a local nonprofit. Thanks to all who participated in the fundraiser!
Arts Guild is making a difference at KCD
Over the years, the Fine Arts Guild has had a significant impact on arts programs at KCD. From upgrading equipment and instruments to sponsoring arts-related field trips, the Guild has greatly enhanced our students’ learning experience. Thanks to strong support from the KCD community, the Guild has been able to continue to enhance the arts at KCD. Among other initiatives, so far this year the Guild has
- sponsored the renovation of the display case in the arts wing, making it safer and easier to operate;
- purchased stands for lower school xylophones, making them easier to move and allowing students to play standing up during performances;
- donated the trophies awarded at the first-ever speech tournament hosted by our award-winning speech team;
- purchased 38 additional violins for the fourth and fifth grade strings program;
- sponsored the annual visit of third graders to the Louisville Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker;
- sponsored guest artists from the Wayward Actors’ Company to participate in Ms. Wheeler's new puppet elective.
In addition, the Guild also has exciting plans for the future. According to President John Gallagher, the Arts Guild is
- currently evaluating artist in residence programs for all three divisions;
- working on obtaining artwork and seating for the theater lobby;
- planning a special reception to thank donors, introduce the members of the Arts Guild Board, and to provide more information about the Guild.
Thanks to the Arts Guild and its many supporters for the great things they are doing at KCD!
KCD welcomes guests from China
This week, KCD welcomed a group of students and teachers from our sister schools in Jiujiang, China. The group arrived in Louisville on Sunday and were formally welcomed to KCD on Monday morning with a ceremony that included introductions, student performances, and an exchange of gifts.
During the week, our guests have met with students in all three divisions and experienced Louisville through visits to Churchill Downs and the YUM! Brands suite during last night’s U of L basketball game.
We are honored to have been able to host our Chinese visitors and hope that this visit will lead to even greater friendship between our two cities.
Glass tile project results in beautiful accident
According to Becky Gallion, the glass fusion tile project created by students last fall has resulted in a beautiful accident. Unfortunately, the glass tiles melted in the kiln, but some of the striking glass that resulted from the accident has been placed as sculpture in various locations on campus. Although the results were not what we expected, we hope that students realize that the creative energy behind this project has still resulted in something beautiful. If you would like to see some of the accidental artwork, please stop by the LS art room. Thanks to Jacob Spielberg for the beautiful photograph below.
KCD escapes major storm damage
It was certainly a strange start to the week! Just minutes after the tornado sirens sounded on Tuesday, students were entering designated shelter areas. Thanks to regular drills and an established communication plan, the process went quickly and very smoothly. Teachers, students, and a group of parent volunteers spent about 45 minutes in shelter areas before the National Weather Service gave the all clear. During that time, division directors developed a plan to get students to lunch and afternoon classes with a minimum of disruption.
We were very fortunate that school buildings did not sustain any major damage, although bleachers and other athletic equipment was tossed around by the 100 mph winds. The most serious damage occurred on the southern edge of campus, where dozens of mature trees were snapped or uprooted. Unfortunately, the Gallopalooza horse created by KCD students in 2009 was also toppled and damaged in the storm.
All in all, our teachers and students worked together admirably to make sure that everyone was safe. Thank you for coming through in a difficult situation!
KCD students make a difference through service
KCD makes a mark in our community through our academic prowess, athletic championships, and amazing arts programs. Another way that KCD is impacting the community is through service projects. Each year, students from all three divisions have the opportunity to participate in service learning projects whose effects are felt throughout our local community and beyond. Students and teachers have done an excellent job of identifying those in need and finding a way to make a difference.
Below is an overview of some of the many of the service projects completed this school year:
- The Upper School collected hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, and coats for Wayside Christian Mission and Cabbage Patch Settlement House. Students collected about thirty coats, thirty-five pairs of gloves, fifteen scarves, and twenty hats.
- Every year, Mr. Wilhelmi’s seventh grade science students donate about 90% of the yield from their gardening unit — usually two to three bushels of turnips. Students grow, harvest, cut, and wash the vegetables, which are ready to eat when they are donated to Wayside Christian Mission.
- About twenty members of the Community Service Club delivered holiday cards to residents at the Springhurst Pines Nursing Home. The residents enjoyed opening the cards while listening to the students singing carols. The project was led by sophomores Asya Akca and Sarah Zappone.
- The eighth grade once again made blankets to donate to the Home of the Innocents. Students measured, cut, and tied to create fifteen blankets to donate to the home.
- Over the years, the KCD Tamale Water Project, in collaboration with Edge Ministries and Sister Cities of Louisville, has funded six water catchment systems for schools in Tamale. The group is now looking to raise $5,000 in order to add water purification systems to each of these catchment systems.
- Thanks to school-wide participation, the third grade collected $580 at their annual Cookie Bazaar. This money will be donated to the KCD Tamale Water Project.
- The eleven eighth graders in Julie Riggs-Johnson’s advisee group adopted two Angels from the Salvation Army Angel Tree. The students collected over $200 worth of gifts for a three-year-old girl and a thirteen-year-old boy.
- Third graders spread good cheer at local nursing homes by caroling and visiting with residents.
Kudos to all our students and teachers who have dedicated so much of their time and effort to helping those in need. It’s great that service is a valued part of our community!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |