JCDS Connections - Summer 2024

CONNECTIONS 

JACKSONVILLE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2024 

Storytelling in 

the Digital Age 

BALANCING SCREEN TIME 

WITH STORY TIME 

Crafting 

Legacies 

MRS. DICKERT’S STORY 

Our 

Philanthropic 

Story 

THE KAVALIEROS 

FAMILY ENDOWMENT 

SUMMER 2024 1

Connections 

Summer 2024 

Table of Contents 

3 Letter from the Head of School 

4 Storytelling in the Digital Age: 

Balancing Screen Time with Story Time 

6 Diverse Avenues of Storytelling 

Abound on Campus 

8 Saturday Stories 

10 Parents’ Association President Letter 

11 Shark Bites: What is Happening on Campus 

About the Cover 

“First grade at JCDS is where the 

journey into written storytelling really 

begins. The first graders put their 

knowledge of the alphabet and reading 

simple words learned in Pre-K 4 and 

Kindergarten into writing works of 

fiction and non-fiction.” 

16 Crafting Legacies: Stories of Dedication 

18 Alumni News 

23 Our Philanthropic Story 

24 Professional Development Meets 

Parent Education 

25 Tales of Discovery: Bringing Lessons to Life 

27 Unity on the Field: 

A Story of Inclusion & Friendship 

29 Using Art to Tell a Story 

2 SUMMER 2024

Letter From the 

Head of School 

I hope this message finds you all in good health and high spirits. As we complete 

another enriching year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the powerful role 

that storytelling plays in our school ethos and our students’ learning experiences. 

Storytelling is an art form as ancient as any civilization and as modern as the 

latest digital creation. Our students at JCDS begin telling their stories as early 

as Pre-K 3, and our graduates communicate thoughtfully and effectively with 

confidence. We embrace storytelling not just as a method of communication, but 

as a foundational tool for education and personal development. 

A focus for me over the course of my first year at JCDS was to hear your stories. 

I have had hundreds of personal meetings with faculty members, trustees, students, alumni, and parents to learn 

more about JCDS and our school’s rich history. As the 7th head of school in 64 years, it is important to reflect and 

appreciate the past while planning for an even brighter future. For example, it was exciting to learn that our school 

became the only accredited elementary school in Jacksonville in 1969. I love sitting down with some of our earliest 

alumni who still refer to us as Southside Day School, a name that changed to Jacksonville Country Day School in 

1975. Our school’s original logo, below, evokes a quintessential 1960s vibe that always makes me smile. 

I am continually amazed by how our school has evolved while faithfully adhering to its founding philosophies 

and vision. Mrs. Lovejoy, the JCDS Board President in 1964 eloquently said to the local newspaper, “We felt 

this was a school family, and not an institution.” The term “school family” is one that is felt and still used every 

day in our classrooms. Richard G. Skinner, one of our school’s founders, said in a document he labeled “Purpose 

of Southside Day School” that “our school was created to offer superior classroom instruction in a stimulating 

environment with small classes so that individual attention could be given to each child.” Remarkably, these 

words still resonate deeply 64 years later, underscoring our enduring commitment. 

My personal story is one of profound gratitude. As an independent school educator, my family once dreamed 

of finding a world-class school within a loving community and a family-friendly city where we could set down 

roots and raise our daughter. We have found all of this and more at JCDS. Every day, when I see the joyful faces 

of children walking our halls, hear the birds chirping amidst the splendor of mature trees, and witness a new 

generation of children exploring intellectually, establishing robust values, and learning social responsibility, my 

heart overflows with gratefulness. 

Warm regards, 

Christopher M. Johnson 


Original JCDS logo 

SUMMER 2024 

3

STORYTELLING 

IN THE DIGITAL AGE 

Balancing Screen Time with Story Time 

In today’s digital age, while countless apps and technologies 

enhance students’ learning and reading comprehension, the 

timeless value of holding a physical book and sharing stories 

aloud remains undiminished. This raises a crucial question: 

how can we effectively balance screentime with storytime 

for our children? The Leading experts in elementary school 

education at Jacksonville Country Day School (JCDS) discuss 

the importance of establishing a storytelling routine as well as 

the role of digital media in storytelling, including audiobooks 

and linguistic apps, while offering advice on integrating this 

technology in a balanced manner. 

Establishing a storytelling routine is extremely important as it 

helps you and your child develop the habit of reading every 

single day. This routine should include time for you to read 

books out loud to your child and time for your child to read 

out loud to you. According to a research study conducted by 

Ohio State University, children whose parents “read one book 

a day to their child will hear about 290,000 more words by 

age 5 than those who don’t regularly read books with a parent 

or caregiver.” Reading out loud to your child at a young age 

will better prepare them for seeing these words in print when 

they enter Kindergarten. 

“When a parent reads a book out loud to a child, they will 

be able to hear the natural pauses in sentence structure, the 

character voices, you can speed up or slow down and bring the 

story to life which helps with visualization,” said Kate Krawiec, 

JCDS Lower Elementary Team Lead. 

When you have finished reading to your child, have your child 

read to you. “Do not skip this step. When your child reads to 

you, you will be able to gauge their fluency and help correct 

them when they mispronounce words. If no one is listening to 

them read, children read and make mistakes and just continue 

reading,” said Ms. Krawiec. 

Another great way to fit an extra few minutes of auditory story 

time into your busy schedule is to listen to audiobooks in the 

car. The Overdrive app is used by local libraries to allow people 

to rent (for free) ebooks and audiobooks on their devices. 

“Just connect it to your car sound system. That way everyone 

could be listening to it together, and they could talk about 

visualization while they are listening,” said Diane Bajalia, JCDS 

Academic Support Coordinator. 


Students who are able to independently read should be doing 

so in addition to auditory reading. At JCDS, students have 

time to read books every single day. In Lower Elementary, that 

time is in the morning when they first arrive or during literacy 

time later in the day. First through third grade students 

use Raz-Kids, an app that allows children to read at their 

independent reading level and offers comprehension quizzes, 

the results of which are sent to their teachers for review. They 

also use Epic, a similar app that contains thousands of books 

at all different reading levels and offers a read-to-me feature. 

During their independent literacy time, students can choose 

the option of having a book read to them using the Epic app. 

Raz-Kids and Epic are two amazing apps that can help 

enhance learning and reading, but there is still that need 

to hold a physical book. “There is that physical interaction 

and tracking of your book that allows you to visually see the 

progress they are making and can see the story unfolding - 

literally and figuratively,” said Ms. Krawiec. “Screen time 

can be harsh on the eyes as well. It is important to find 

that balance away from the screen, and they are less likely 

to become distracted without the internet right at their 

fingertips.” 

At JCDS, we encourage activities where the whole class 

can share stories, including both traditional formats and 

digital, to foster a sense of connection and communication. 

In fourth grade, students will read Hope’s Chest, a chapter 

book that connects to their curriculum on the Women’s 

Suffrage movement, using only the physical book. There 

will be days when they read the book out loud together but 

then are assigned chapters to read independently. They will 

come together after every chapter to discuss together as a 

group what they read and to bounce ideas and thoughts off 

of each other. This combination of independent reading 

and group reading is a great balance and effectively develops 

their comprehension skills. There are also times in our upper 

grades where students whose independent reading skills are 

at a higher level will read a physical book but then utilize 

technology in their presentations and research to aid with the 

comprehension of said book. 

“I think the balance between screen time and physical books/ 

storytime is important, but when it comes down to it, I just 

want them to read, ear reading, site reading, etc. If they are 

reading, that is what matters to me,” said Ms. Bajalia. 

As we continue to adapt to technological advancements and 

search for a technological balance in our daily lives, let us 

remember the core objective: to instill in children the joy 

of reading, irrespective of the medium. Let us encourage a 

future where reading remains the cornerstone of education 

and imagination. 


DIVERSE AVENUES OF STORYTELLING 

ABOUND ON CAMPUS 

Across our JCDS campus, the methods of learning reading and writing are just the beginning of how we craft and share our 

stories. Beyond the pages of textbooks and the boundaries of lined paper, our students, faculty, and staff employ diverse mediums 

to bring narratives to life, each offering a lens through which to view our shared Jacksonville Country Day School experiences. 

From the curated pages of the yearbook to the harmonies of music class, from the structures of coding to the unfolding of 

theatre productions and the broadcasts of Shark News, our school is rich with stories to be told. 

YEARBOOK 

Telling a story through the yearbook involves careful 

planning, creativity, and understanding of the narrative 

we want to weave through the pages. The yearbook theme 

is the central storyline or concept that ties the content 

together, providing a unified and compelling narrative for 

sharing school year memories. This year, the 6th-grade 

students who participated in the Yearbook Elective taught 

by Natalie Jackson, JCDS Marketing and Communications 

Associate Manager, chose the theme of Monopoly as their 

first assignment. By selecting the theme, they could choose 

layouts and design elements that reinforced the Monopoly 

theme and would serve to guide the reader through the 

yearbook’s narrative. This involved color schemes, motifs, 

and recurring design elements such as board game pieces 

and cards that visually link different sections. Their goal 

was to tell the JCDS story in a unique and fun way that 

reflected the 2023-2024 school year. 

6 SUMMER WINTER 2023 2024

MUSIC 

CODING 

Technology classes taught by Cristina Knodel may seem like a funny place to look 

for storytelling on campus! However, storytelling merges seamlessly with coding 

to enhance learning and creativity across various grade levels. In fifth grade, our 

students looked closely at how Disney Imagineers created Star Wars: Rise of the 

Resistance and how storytelling was equally as important as the technology they 

were using. Our students used a Root robot to “ride” through an attraction while 

guiding a golf ball through as it represented the passengers of the ride. Each team 

had to agree on a theme and tell a story going along with that theme with visual 

creations made from various Makerspace supplies. Fourth graders used Scratch, a block-based coding 

platform, to develop games and animations. These young learners used code to shape characters, design 

settings, drive narratives, foster creativity, and improve problem-solving skills in order to create a story to 

share through their work. Even our youngest learners in Pre-K 3 use storytelling in their project builds. 

This year, our Pre-K 3 students learned about scientists whose job it is to determine if humans can live 

on Mars. Students designed a “Mars house” and shared with their friends all of the fun features and 

concepts included in the design of their house. 

At JCDS, students have always used music to tell stories. In music class, students create sound 

stories by adding instruments to represent characters that bring the story to life. Students 

also use what they know about the characteristics of an instrument’s sound to match it with 

characters or elements of a story. For example, they might add a shaker when talking about 

a rattlesnake or chimes to represent the wind in a story. The exploration and understanding 

of musical elements such as tempo (speed), dynamics (volume), and timbre (quality of an 

instrument’s sound) are essential to using music as a vehicle for storytelling. 

In Chorus this year, Jessica Barker, Music Specialist, themed the Winter Concert around the idea of Storytelling. She, along 

with the students, chose pieces of music that told stories through the lyrics, and they spent time discovering how the composers 

used musical elements such as dynamics and key signatures to enhance each section of the story. The singers then enhanced the 

storytelling through the use of facial expression, body language, and attention to performance elements including dynamics and 

articulation to make for a dynamic experience for both the performers and the audience. 

THEATRE 

SHARK NEWS 

Shark News is one of the electives students may choose in the Capstone Year. This year, the 

Shark News team has reimagined how the Shark News is produced. They are now using a 

“blog” format — which is more current and readily available. Students can view the blog at any 

time right on their iPads. The students, alongside their teacher Mr. Michael Porter, Electronic 

Media Manager, post individual video segments, short essays, and photo galleries, all of which 

uniquely highlight different stories around campus. Through this new format, students craft and 

share stories about life at JCDS, offering snapshots that piece together for a broader narrative. 

In our Musical Theater Enrichment program, students delve into the heart of storytelling. They 

embody diverse characters, explore varied perspectives, and unravel intricate plotlines, all components 

of crafting compelling narratives. As they step onto the stage, the students, in the role of actors, 

breathe life into scripts, enabling the audience to connect with the characters. Guided by the JCDS 

Fine Arts Coordinator, Ms. Lindsay Curry, students learn to interpret and execute the script, each 

movement and gesture adding depth to the story. Through choreography and movement, they convey 

nuances of the narrative that transcend the words. 

Similarly, when students participate in our Acting and Improv Enrichment program, they embark on 

a journey of creation, fostering trust within their peer group as they craft their own stories (versus working from a script) and find 

a unique opportunity for creative expression. From costumes and makeup to set design and props, from lighting to sound, every 

detail comes together to develop their unique story. 


SATURDAY STORIES 

It is always so surprising for a student to run into a teacher at a grocery store. Many students 

might not expect them to be anywhere else but at JCDS! As it turns out, the grocery store might 

not be the only place you see our faculty and staff when they are not on campus. A large portion 

of their week is spent at school, yes, but the stories of their Saturdays (and Sundays!) are filled 

with pursuing their passions and hobbies. 

Let’s get to know our faculty and staff a little bit better. 

Kat Braswell, Academic 

Administrative Assistant 

Music 

Teaching and performing are 2 of my passions. I have been 

playing the harp for 45 years and teaching others how to play 

the harp for 20 years! 

Liz McNairy, 

School Counselor 

Surfing 

Being out on the water is my peace place! I absolutely love connecting 

to nature, being in the water, and seeing the dolphins swim by. This 

summer you can find me at Hanna Park soaking up the sunshine with 

my husband, Sid. 

Natalie Jackson, Marketing and 

Communications Associate Manager 

Soccer 

I started playing soccer when I was 4 years old and have carried 

that passion with me ever since. My favorite thing to do on a Sunday 

afternoon is play soccer for the Jax Sports Adult league with my 

friends. My current soccer team’s name is The Machine! 

Clint Keller, 

Business Associate 

I’ve been scuba diving for over 30 years, mostly off-shore Jacksonville 

& West Palm Beach, and a lot of Florida springs. I have an autographed 

book from one of my heroes, one of the greatest underwater explorers 

of all time, Dr. Robert Ballard, who found the wreck of the Titanic. 

Katie Mullaney, 

Pre-K 4 Assistant Teacher 

Ballet 

I have been dancing since I was around the age of four. I grew up 

dancing at the Ballet Arts Centre in St. Nicholas in Jacksonville, FL. 

I’ve done various styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. 

Dancing is something I thoroughly love and in my free time, I still enjoy 

attending classes at my old studio! If you have never taken a dance 

class or think dance is not for you - I’d encourage you to get out there 

and give it a try! 

Michael Porter, 

Electronic Media Manager 

Theatre 

I have been working in community theatre since high school, both 

onstage and backstage. It’s fun to play a character who is so very 

different than yourself. My favorite roles have been in comedies 

because there is no better feeling than to make someone laugh. 

Kate Krawiec, 

Lower Elementary Team Lead 

Running 

I love to run because it gives me time to clear my head, helps me relieve stress, allows me to connect with my running 

partners, and keeps me active and healthy. I also love that I can share this passion with students at school during Sharks on 

the Run, as well as my youngest son, Evan, who has recently started running races with me. I just started running in 2020. 

Since then, I’ve officially completed two full marathons, ten half marathons, about twenty 10Ks, and at least twenty-five 5Ks. 


Cristina Knodel, Computer Science & 

Technology Integration Specialist 

K-Pop 

I started listening to K-Pop in 2019, and I have attended many K-pop concerts. I flew to LA 

to see BTS. I would love to one day fly to Seoul, South Korea to see more groups perform 

live. Not only would I like to travel for the concert, but I would also love to eat the food and 

experience a place so rich in cultural and historical significance. 

Jim Gruebel, 

Executive Chef 

Fishing 

I have been fishing since I can remember, inshore and offshore. I enjoy being back in the 

marsh on my kayak and 50 miles offshore. The pictures are from the yearly Red Fish spawn 

here in Mayport. I have also recently started bass fishing. It has been a fun new style of 

fishing to learn. Both of my sons fish with me a few times a week. My favorite part of fishing 

has always been being out in nature. 

Leif Noren, 

PE Specialist 

Board Sports 

My family and I love board sports. You can find us surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding 

in our free time. It’s a great healthy and active lifestyle that keeps us young at heart and 

encourages us to travel. 

Chris Johnson, 


Hiking 

My daughter and I love visiting the beautiful lighthouses of Florida. The combination of 

history and views make for an incredible experience. On the weekend, I love hiking with my 

daughter. We enjoy the trees, nature, and fresh air. 

STORIES 

WE 

SHARE 

“ 

One of my favorite memories 

from JCDS is the pancake 

breakfasts! I remember 

everyone being in the cafeteria 

eating pancakes while Mr. 

Morrow, along with my dad, 

wore chef ’s hats! 

- Erin Wolfson, 

Class of 1995 

My favorite classroom 

experience happened outside 

of the classroom- the Marine 

Lab trip. This was amazing 

because it took what I had 

learned in the classroom and 

made it very real. Being on 

and in the water every day 

studying the different marine 

habitats was such a unique 

way to learn. I feel fortunate 

that I had that opportunity, 

and it definitely gave me a 

foundation in marine biology 

and environmental science 

which I would not have gotten 

otherwise. 

- Rachel Schwam, 

Class of 2009 

” 


PARENTS’ 

ASSOCIATION 

President Letter 

It is with a mix of emotions that we bid farewell to another incredible school year at Jacksonville Country Day School and an 

amazing year for our Parents’ Association. I am honored to have served as your President and take this time to reflect on the 

journey we’ve had together and the successes we’ve achieved. 

First and foremost, I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the many accomplishments of the Parents’ 

Association this year. Your dedication, support, and unwavering commitment to our school community have made a 

difference. Whether it was volunteering at events, attending meetings, or simply spreading positivity, your contributions are 

invaluable. 

This year has been one filled with memorable moments. We welcomed our new Head of School, Chris Johnson, with 

a BooHoo Yahoo Breakfast and continued getting to know him through Coffees with Chris. Our PA Meetings were 

informative and engaging with speakers who educated us on topics of technology safety and children’s mental health. From 

our fundraising efforts with the Casino Royale Gala to our community-building events (Grateful Gatherings, Community 

Connections, Spring Fling) that have brought us all closer together, we have truly made an impact. Our parent-teacher 

collaborations have flourished, creating an environment where our children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

I would like to take a moment to recognize our exceptional volunteer committee chairs and committee members. Your hard 

work and passion have been the driving force behind our success. Thank you for your countless hours of dedication and the 

innovative ideas you have 

brought to the table. 

As we look back on the past year, let’s also look ahead to the future with optimism and enthusiasm. There are endless 

possibilities before us, and I do not doubt that with the continued dedication of our Parents’ Association, we will achieve even 

greater heights. 

In closing, I invite you all to join me in carrying forward the spirit of unity, collaboration, and positivity that defines our 

Parents’ Association. Together, we are a force for good, creating a brighter future for our children and the JCDS community. 

Here’s to celebrating a successful year behind us and an even brighter one ahead. Thank you all, and I hope you have a 

wonderful, fun-filled summer! 

Warm regards, 

Kristen Nagy 

President 

JCDS Parents’ Association 


The Rocket Has Cleared the Tower! 

The fourth grade unit on space science came to a grand conclusion as the 

students launched their “bottle rockets” from the main field.It was exciting 

to watch as the students pumped air into their rocket — with a little help 

from Patrick Grant when the air pressure built up and the pumping got 

harder. The rockets were fashioned from a 2-liter soda bottle and some 

homemade fins and were partially filled with water. When the string was 

pulled and the pressure was released, off the launch pad the rocket went! 

SHARK BITES 

What’s Happening on Campus 

Third Graders Honor Our Veterans 

In November, the third grade presented their show, In Celebration of our Veterans. It 

was a rousing, energy-filled production full of red, white, and blue. The show opened 

with the Pledge of Allegiance and our national anthem. The students also performed 

America the Beautiful and a medley of armed forces theme songs. 

Grandparents Visit JCDS 

In November we celebrated Grandparents and Special Friends Days. Our visitors 

were met with warm greetings by JCDS administrators, and a selection of coffee, 

fruits, and Chef Jim’s famous scones and chocolate chip cookies! As the crowds 

assembled in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium, they were welcomed by the Head of 

School Christopher Johnson. Serving as JCDS Ambassadors, our 6th-grade students 

escorted groups of visitors to homerooms or specialist classes, where our guests got to 

experience life as JCDS students. 

Thanksgiving Feast a Hit with Students and Families 

Our Thanksgiving Feast was an incredible and popular event.! We hosted 

approximately 161 parents and guests in addition to our regular faculty, staff, 

and students. Chef Jim and his staff amazed us with their restaurant-quality 

cuisine. They prepared 42 turkeys, 120 pounds of potatoes, 110 pounds of 

green beans, 100 pounds of peach cobbler, 40 pounds of white beans, 5 

gallons of butternut squash bisque, and 5 gallons of gravy! 

Squirrels are All Over JCDS, But What Do They Eat? 

Science specialist Deborah Landon taught a lesson to Kindergarten students on how 

squirrels prepare for the winter months. As part of the “lab” portion of the lesson, 

the students spent some time in the LearningScape gathering food as if they were 

squirrels. They foraged through the playground, looking for acorns and pinecones. 

They noticed that many acorns had already been cracked and eaten. Acorns are 

actually very nutritious, containing protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with 

various minerals. They learned that squirrels are very active as seed dispersal agents, 

as they horde and bury them in various locations away from the oak tree. 


Make Those Bees Go! 

Kindergarten students have been working with Ms. Cristina Knodel in the Tech Lab 

on basic programming skills this year. She has them working with Bee Bots — adorable 

yellow robot bees that respond to the code the students input. By using the directional 

buttons, students have to program the bee to find the red “baby frog” to pick it up 

from school. In partners, one student places the two objects on the grid, while the 

other student programs to bee to navigate to the baby frog. These lessons require the 

students to break down a complex activity into its most basic components — the basis 

of constructing an algorithm. Students are learning to think through a process logically. 

Acting Showcase 

The Acting and Improvisation Enrichment students presented their 

showcase in December. The actors performed sketches centered around 

Fairy Tales, plus a scene from Shrek the Musical. The students took on 

some classical roles, including Peter Pan, Prince Charming, Cinderella, the 

Fairy Godmother, and Shrek. 

Horns for the Holidays (and other instruments, too!) 

The Band and Drumline put on a concert for the holidays to an auditorium fulll of delighted 

music lovers. The Drumline performed four cadences, and Band Specialist Chrystal Staples 

described the skills they had acquired during rehearsals. The Beginning and Advanced Bands 

played a variety of holiday music, including Jingle Bells, My Dreidel, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, and 

Up on a Housetop. The beginners’ progress was phenomenal, considering many members are 

3rd graders who have only been playing for a few months. The Advanced Band performed more 

complex numbers, including Carry On Wayward Son, Oh When the Saints Go Marching In, 

White Christmas, and the rousing Christmas Swings. 

Songs for the Season 

The JCDS Chorus presented a suite of lively songs selected for the holiday 

season. They performed Winter Fantasy, La lain des moutons (sung partially 

in French!), Don Gato, Never Ending Story, and concluded with Dona Nobis 

Placem. Their accompanist was Mr. Cameron Bainger, with special appearances 

by Ms. Lindsay Curry, Ms. Kamryn St. Thomas, and Head of School Chris 

Johnson, who played rhythm instruments during La lain des moutons. 

Gratefully Gathering…Finally! 

After two delays due to inclement weather, Kindergarten and 1st Grade enjoyed 

their Grateful Gathering event in December. While the weather was heavily overcast, 

the air was warm and the ground was dry. Students enjoyed playing on the field, 

navigating through the parkour course, and climbing on the “spider web.” There 

were arts and crafts for them to do, and of course, the ice cream truck was there! 

Sharks with Happy Feet! 

The students in all levels of the dance classes at JCDS presented their 

showcases in December, rounding out our winter arts presentations. It 

is entertaining and enlightening for family and friends to see what the 

young dancers have been learning in class. The showcases include creative 

routines, as well as time for performers to explain terms used in dance and 

the technical aspects of the various dance types they are studying. 


Students Victorious! 

Yesterday at the annual 6th Grade vs. Faculty and Staff basketball game, the students shocked 

a packed gymnasium by pulling off a hard-earned victory over the adults, the first in recent 

memory! Coached by Head of School Chris Johnson and Athletic Assistant Brian Turk, the 

6th graders played a close game, trailing by only one point at halftime. In the second half the 

students renewed their determination and played with their hearts, overcoming the grownups 

with a final score of 16-12. Congratulations to the 6th graders! 

Spelling Bee 

Twelve talented 5th and 6th graders stepped onto the stage in the Kelly Fine Arts Center, 

determined to prove their spelling prowess and claim the coveted title of 2024 JCDS Spelling 

Bee winner. The Bee began with a challenging word, disdain, but the young wordsmiths 

didn’t back down. They fearlessly tackled a series of tricky words, such as deliberately, 

appreciation, gastritis, platypus, privilege, and sentinel. As the rounds progressed, twelve 

narrowed down to the two ultimate contenders: Shreya, the tenacious 5th grader, and Nora, 

the brilliant 6th grader. Both students went head-to-head, showcasing their incredible spelling 

skills. With determination, Shreya secured her win by correctly spelling the word demure. 

When Dinosaurs Ruled JCDS! 

The Pre-K 4 students love studying about dinosaurs. They soaked up more 

knowledge about them than a T-Rex eats for lunch!. Dads were invited to school to 

share in the delight over dinos. The dads sat with their kids, and colored pages or 

made figures from modeling clay. In the most intense activity of the morning, the 

students and their special guests assumed the role of paleontologists. With extreme 

care, they chipped away at a “fossil” to expose a tiny dinosaur locked inside. 

Third Graders Learn About Civil Rights 

Students in third grade have been studying about the Civil Rights Movement 

in the United States, as it coincides with the day we celebrate the memory 

of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Tuesday, the students traveled to 

St. Augustine to walk in the footsteps of Civil Rights activists who blazed the 

trail for equality in the United States. Led by Ms. Bernadette Reeves from St. 

Augustine Black Heritage Tours, our students and their teachers visited sites 

and listened to stories about actual events that took place where they stood. 

Second Graders Write to Inform 

The second graders recently completed a unit on non-fiction writing, and have 

produced short books that are interesting and informative. The ability to clearly 

communicate ideas to your reader is one of the most important skills a student 

must master in their educational endeavors. Each young writer included in their 

books a table of contents, several chapters, an “about the author” blurb, and a 

synopsis for the back cover. In addition, they created marketing posters for their 

books which they taped to the front of their desks. Earlier this week, the students moved around 

the classrooms, read each other’s books, and left comments about what they liked about what they 

read. This encouragement helped to reassure the students that their hard work was successful. 

Fifth Graders Play, Dance, and Sing 

The fifth graders presented their show Mindset Matters in February, impressing their parents, 

teachers, and friends with their amazing singing, dancing, and instrument playing. This 

production is new in the JCDS repertoire. When Music Specialist Jessica Barker had two 

students participate in the FMEA All-State Orff Ensemble in January of 2023, she noted 

the themes in the FMEA show reflected the JCDS focus on Character Education. The show 

included singing, dancing, and playing instruments. Fortunately, this show coincided with the 

Deep Dive cycle, which gave the students extra time for rehearsing. 


First Grade Immersive Biomes Display 

The first grade exhibited a dazzling display of art and science with their show, Animal 

Biomes: A Light and Shadow Experience. The construction of the project took place 

during the students’ Deep Dive, where they had a larger block of time each day to 

concentrate on larger goals. Inspired by the recent immersive Van Gogh exhibition 

in Jacksonville, Technology Teacher Ms. Critina Knodel wanted something bigger 

than the small light boxes the students have created in recent years, so she challenged 

the students to make larger-than-life displays. Students in first grade also had the 

opportunity to use the Makerspace for these projects. They honed skills such as cutting, 

gluing, tracing, and working as a team. They also practiced the virtue of perseverance, 

since they found they needed to cut out their animals many times. 

Operating by Remote Control 

The second and sixth graders witnessed an astonishing demonstration of medical 

technology. Representatives from Baptist Medical Center Beaches presented the Davinci 

surgery robot to a roomful of amazed students and a few parents. The surgeons showed the 

robot’s capabilities by stacking tiny rubber bands on spikes, unwrapping a piece of candy, 

and finding the word “Florida” on the back of a 5-dollar bill. To make the visit even more 

special, our students were permitted to give the robot a name. The paper slips with the 

names were put in a hat. Sixth grader Louis J. was selected to actually use the robot to pull 

the winning name from the hat. The name chosen was Courage, which was a selection from 

Jacob W., Archer N., and Ellis C. 

Students Experience a World of Nations 

The World of Nations celebrates the cultural diversities of our student body, 

headlined by presentations by our wonderful families. This year, we had 21 countries 

presented by 25 parents and grandparents. We started with a school-wide assembly 

in the auditorium, where the students were treated to a traditional Indian dance. Ms. 

Cristina Knodel and Ms. Debbie Cannington welcomed the students, and introduced 

our parent “ambassadors” from various countries around the world. The parents and 

grandparents set up poster boards with photos and fun facts from their countries. 

The students had the opportunity to visit various locations on campus to learn from 

every presenter. Students from all grade levels felt the meaningfulness of the event. 

The King Has Commanded 

The 6th graders presented their show in February, a madrigal dinnerthemed 

production that was no less than spectacular. The show was fastpaced 

and varied, featuring dancers, comedians, musicians, singers, and 

actors. There was even a number played on kazoos! Music Specialist Jessica 

Barker allowed students to put their talents and passions on display. Head 

of School Christoper Johnson also appeared as the King of Sharklovia. 

5th Graders Find the Power! 

As a fun culminating activity to their unit on electricity and circuits, 5th and 6th grade 

teacher Dona Kenny had the students power a small LED light bulb using only potatoes as 

the energy source. To create the “battery” they inserted a copper penny and a galvanized 

(zinc plated) screw into opposite sides of a potato. Depending on the size of the potato, the 

students were able to light the LED bulb with either three or four potatoes. The kids were 

shocked that the chemical reactions could produce electricity. Using hands-on experiments 

really helps the students to produce core memories. 


Greek Olympics 

The fifth graders represented the finest city-states of Ancient Greece as history was 

brought to life in the annual Greek Olympics on a warm March morning. It was an 

exciting event, including running, discus throwing, and jumping. The “Olympics” 

is a major part of their Global Studies unit, which began in the classroom. The 

students began learning about the geography of Ancient Greece and how it 

influenced their economy and culture. They immersed themselves in the Golden 

Age of Athens. This unit was fully integrated throughout the curriculum for the 

fifth grade. They studied Greek mythology in reading class, made constellation light 

boxes in the MakerSpace. 

Field Days! 

Clouds, lightning, thunder, and rain threatened to ruin our Field Days, but our 

students were having none of it! Grades 1-6 got to play games on the field under 

cloudy skies, until an approaching thunderstorm moved everyone indoors. However, 

after a break for lunch and some classroom time with friends, the games commenced 

again inside the Steitz Gymnasium. The next day, the Early Learning students 

enjoyed their Field Day in the gym. Of course, some of the kids didn’t wait for the 

rain to get wet! As seems to be the usual case, some of them got a little loose with the 

rules of the water-related games, and got themselves (or their friends) soaking wet! Of 

course, that is what makes the water games so fun! 

So What is Ice Cream Anyway? 

5th graders learned about the states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas. But what state of matter is ice 

cream? To work out the problem, and make the experiment more memorable, Ms. Dona Kenny had 

the students make their own ice cream! Each student filled a small plastic bay with some half-and-half, 

a spoonful of sugar, and a bit of vanilla. That bag went into a larger plastic bag of ice and rock salt… 

and they shook it and shook it until the contents coalesced into ice cream! In the end, Ms. Kenny 

revealed that ice cream is an emulsion — a combination of two liquids that don’t mix together along 

with tiny air bubbles. 

Third Graders Learn About Civil Rights 

Pre-K got their first taste of programming robots in the Tech Lab with the adorable little devices 

called Quobo. In their first class, the students went over directional words such as forward, 

backward, left, and right. They used tactile puzzle pieces with directions printed on them. As 

the Quobo snail rolled over each piece, it recognized and performed the command. Literally, the 

children programmed the path of the robot by putting the puzzle pieces in the desired order. We 

are preparing kids for the future — and for some jobs that may not even exist yet. 

STORIES 

WE 

SHARE 

“ 

There are many favorable events, but the opportunities to be engaged as a 

parent volunteer were all amazing. The day that Mrs. Keener’s snails had baby 

snails that crawled all over the classroom was quite the 1st-grade sensation. 

- Karen Wolfson, P’95, ‘99 

The teacher I remember most is Mrs. Ennis, for always being 

patient with me and helping me find my love of learning. 

- Graham Young, Class of 2018 

” 


CRAFTING LEGACIES: STORIES OF DEDICATION 

Mrs. Virginia Dickert’s Story 

It is not often that a person has the opportunity to work at a place that inspires them personally and professionally. 

But, for nearly 25 years that is exactly what Virginia Dickert (Mrs. Dickert to many who will read this!) did as the 

Music Specialist at Jacksonville Country Day School. 

Mrs. Dickert retired from JCDS in 2020, and we are happy she was able to take time now to both reflect on and 

share her story of commitment and love for our school. 

Connections: Mrs. Dickert, thank you for taking the time 

to share your JCDS story! Can you tell us what inspired you 

to become a teacher? 

Mrs. Dickert: My mother was a music director in churches 

here in Jacksonville, and she was probably my biggest 

inspiration to become a musician. She also played piano 

for programs at my elementary school. My choral director 

at Wolfson High School was Ruth Dobrin, and when I was 

in her choral groups from 1970-1973, she inspired me to 

become a music educator. I graduated from Jacksonville 

University in 1977, planning to be a high school choral 

conductor. But no positions were available anywhere in 

town. A friend referred me to St. Marks Episcopal Day 

School where I ended up teaching elementary music for 7 

years. I found that I loved it! So I went back to JU to get my 

master’s and honed my skills to work with younger students. 

I took three years off to have my wonderful girls and then 

jumped back into teaching at four different schools in the 

Duval County School System. I was blessed to win Teacher 

of the Year at Windy Hill Elementary. Then my good friend 

Anne Dix called and asked me to consider applying at JCDS 

because she had accepted the music teacher position at a 

new school opening in Mandarin. I remember it took Gerry 

Kelly, JCDS Head of School, a couple of phone calls to 

convince me to come because I was happy where I was. But 

boy, am I glad I made the change! 

JCDS became my home and was a fantastic school for my 

girls who entered in 4th and 2nd grades. I am still amazed at 

how quickly 25 years passed by! In 2018, I won the Gladys 

Prior Excellence in Teaching Award and in 2020, I was 

named the Florida Elementary Music Educator of the Year. 

Both were incredible moments in my life. In 2020 I wasn’t 


eady to retire, but as Covid decided to enter our lives, I 

turned 65 and already had five grandchildren, so it seemed 

like it was time. 

Connections: It is always so great to see deserving people 

receive awards that seem to have been created for them! I 

know that many who visit campus mention their time in the 

classroom or on the stage under your direction as their most 

memorable moments at JCDS; but what about you? What 

are some of your memorable experiences at Jacksonville 

Country Day School? 

Mrs. Dickert: The students gave me the most memorable 

experiences… I can’t remember all their names but I do 

remember their faces and some great shows we put on! 

JCDS has had a reputation for an excellent music, theatre, 

and visual arts program for decades, and it was a joy to 

have a home for these programs. I loved every day I walked 

into that building! When the Board decided to build a new 

gym and include a beautiful studio for the dance program 

that my daughter Emily had helped create, I knew JCDS 

had achieved the goal of having the finest elementary 

arts programs anywhere in the region. No other school 

compares. 

Connections: And that legacy endures! Finally, often 

when we have the chance to reflect we are better able to 

understand the impact our work has had on us and others. 

Can you share any valuable lessons you have learned or the 

impact your time as a teacher at JCDS has had on your life? 

Sixth-grade shows like Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Willy 

Wonka, Marvin’s Place, Broadway revues, and countless 

others —- the First Grade “Love” show, Third Grade’s 

Veteran’s Day show, not to mention the wonderful annual 

shows by the Second, Fourth and Fifth Grades. Taking the 

Chorus and Jazzy J’s to perform all over Jacksonville and 

going to Universal Studios with the Chorus are memories 

I’ll never forget. I am blessed to keep in contact with several 

former students, some of whom are performing in college 

and professionally! 

Nearly every year I was at JCDS, the Board approved 

tremendous improvements, from new buildings to new 

playgrounds to new driveways, and the list goes on and on. 

My first musical programs were held in the old gym and my 

classroom was where the Head of School’s office is now. So 

the biggest impact for me was when they built the Fine Arts 

Building. I realize it now doubles as the front of the school, 

but its original purpose is not lost and more people get to 

enjoy the space than ever before. 

Mrs. Dickert: I’ve always known I’ve learned far more 

from my students than they from me. I also know that music 

has a way of changing people from the inside out and can 

touch hearts like no other subject area. It was a joy for 25 

years to help the JCDS students achieve success through 

performing and learning to be confident on stage. 

Connections: Are there any final words you would like to 

share? 

Mrs. Dickert: The best advice I got when I arrived at 

JCDS was from Anne Dix, the previous music teacher. Anne 

said to “keep raising the bar” and push the students as far 

as I could. So I did just that. I feel that JCDS demands the 

best from its faculty and that philosophy is passed on to the 

students. This is why JCDS is the best! 

Thank you, Mrs. Dickert, for your legacy 

at Jacksonville Country Day School. 


Group Alumni Announcements 

ALUMNI NEWS 

All District Honor Bands Performance 

JCDS alumni, Liam Wong ‘20, Holly Whitmore ‘21, Sofia Brieva (not 

pictured) ‘19, Myka Das ‘21, Vibha Chalamalasetty ‘22, Aidan Turney 

‘19, and Zach Dimmick ‘18 performed at the All-District Honor Bands in 

January of this year. 

Celebrating Senior Night 

These JCDS alumni Mia Tiller, Ava Galani, Ava Witt, Charlotte Seay, Lila Ranali, 

and Addi Goldwasser are still teaming up together after all these years on the soccer 

field. Celebrating bittersweet moments during the school’s Senior night with the 

Episcopal Eagles. 

National Junior Honor Society Inductee 

Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Spring 2024 

Congratulations to JCDS alumni from left to right: George Robards, 

Courtney Rowe, Mackenna Senesac, Lauren Berry, Chase Martino, Sarina 

Tangyingyong, Natalie Chugay, and Luke Taylor who were recently inducted 

into the National Junior Honor Society at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. 

Class of 2010 

Kimberly Hogan 

Kimberly Hogan had a chance to tour the JCDS campus with her former JK teacher 

and current JCDS Admissions Director, Krista Pizzi. Kimberly was in Ms. Pizzi’s class in 

2003. It is always exciting when alumni come to check out all the new and exciting things 

happening at their old stomping grounds. If you want to visit, please stop by or send an 

email so we can make sure we are here to greet you! 

You can reach us at alumni@jcds.com. 

Class of 2013 

Amanda Friedman 

Amanda Friedman graduated with high distinction from Eastman School of Music with a 

Bachelor of Music for Horn Performance in May 2023. She continues to pursue her passion in 

orchestral music, having completed a prestigious fellowship with the Hawaii Performing Arts 

Festival and securing another with the Piedmont Wind Symphony this past school year. Amanda 

is currently attending graduate school at the University of North Carolina School for the Arts. 


Class of 2014 

Avery Patterson 

Avery Patterson made her 

professional soccer debut with the 

Houston Dash of the National 

Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) on 

March 16, 2024. Avery graduated 

from the University of North 

Carolina in December 2023 where 

she played soccer for four years. 

Upon completing her college soccer 

career, Avery was then selected 19th 

overall by Houston in the 2024 

NWSL draft. In April, Avery earned the Mildred McCaskill 

Award which recognizes outstanding male and female senior 

student-athletes focusing on athletics, scholarships, and 

service to the community. 

Class of 2015 

Mila Kavalieros 

Mila Kavalieros is a rising senior 

at the University of Pittsburgh 

studying Architecture. For one of 

her architecture finals, Mila had 

to design a sustainable graduate 

student and refugee housing model 

on the Pitt campus. Mila’s project 

was engineered to use passive 

cooling and heating techniques and 

low-carbon building materials. 

Class of 2018 

Gavin Boree 

Gavin Boree was the winner/ 

recipient of the 2023-2024 JCDS 

Alumni Scholarship Essay Contest. 

His essay covered how he learned to 

build relationships, handle adversity, 

and collaborate effectively through 

Character Education at JCDS, 

preparing him for a bright future. 

Gavin was presented his $1000 

award on the last day of school 

before winter break at our all school 

assembly. This essay contest is held each Fall and open to 

former JCDS students who will graduate high school that 

academic year. 

Alexandra Pierson ‘07 

Jacksonville Country Day School alumnus, Alexandra 

Pierson, began her literary pursuits at age 13, a passion 

that followed her through her academic years and 

has led her to become one of the New York Times 

Best Selling Authors. Alex, known to the literary 

world by her pen name, Alex Aster, faced many 

challenges in her quest to be a professional writer but 

with perseverance and determination, she turned her 

passion into reality. 

Alex graduated from The University of Pennsylvania 

in 2017 with a degree in English. She wrote six 

books before securing her first publishing deal; 

during this time, her resilience never wavered. Her 

debut novel, Curse of the Night Witch published in 

2020, was inspired by stories told by her Colombian 

grandmother, teaching us that inspiration for 

storytelling can come from anywhere. It is all around 

us. However, her breakthrough wasn’t until 2022 when 

she took a creative pivot and embraced the power of 

social media to tell her story. Alex used TikTok to share 

the concept of her next book, Lightlark, a novel about 

a cursed island that appears once every century. The 

video went viral, catching the attention of publishers 

and leading to a significant book deal. The novel’s 

success was instantaneous, debuting as a New York 

Times bestseller and catching the eye of Universal 

Pictures for a film adaptation, which Alex will be the 

executive producer. 

Lightlark introduces readers to Isla Crown, the young 

ruler of Wildling, and her perilous journey in the 

Centennial—a deadly game where love complicates 

the fierce battle against curses that have plagued the 

realms for centuries. This storyline is a testament to 

Alex’s creativity, imagination, and writing skills. 

Alex’s journey from a young aspiring author to a New 

York Times bestselling novelist is not just a story of 

personal achievement but demonstrates our Passion 

First, The Time is Now, and Everything is Possible 

mindsets that JCDS teaches through Character 

Education. Let us take a page from Alex Aster’s book 

and remember: in the art of storytelling, each of us 

may hold the pen that writes our own spectacular tale. 


Class of 2018 

Grace Brown 

Grace Brown, JCDS Class of 2018, will be graduating this May from Episcopal School of Jacksonville! 

She plans to attend Wofford College in the fall. Her dream job would be to work in marketing for a 

fashion company! Grace’s favorite memory is going snorkeling with Ms. Hockenberry during their 6th 

grade trip to Marine Lab. Her passion is dancing and she was actively involved in the Episcopal spring 

musical and their dance ensemble. 

Alyona Chugay 

Alyona Chugay achieved Gold Key recognition for her outstanding art portfolio honored by the 2024 

Northeast Florida Scholastic Art Awards. Her art portfolio titled Humanity in Machines is made up 

of mixed media. 

Titled: Turing Test 

Just one of Alyona’s art pieces entered in the Northeast Florida Scholastic Art Awards 

Liam (William) Schilling 

Liam Schilling was named a National Merit Scholarship finalist this Spring. For a student to qualify as a 

finalist, semifinalists had to complete an extensive scholarship application. Candidates must maintain an 

exemplary academic record during their high school years, receive an endorsement and recommendation 

from a high school authority, compose an essay, and achieve SAT or ACT scores that corroborate their 

initial performance on the preliminary examination. Liam will graduate from The Bolles School in May 

and will attend Carnegie Mellon University in the Fall. 

Dylan Schwartz 

Dylan Schwartz will be graduating in May from The Bolles School and plans to attend the University of 

Sheffield in England to study Mechanical Engineering in the Fall. This year Dylan achieved Gold Key 

in Art Portfolio for the 2024 Northeast Florida Scholastic Art Awards; his portfolio was titled ‘Invisible 

Universes.’ Besides his achievements in Art, he was selected to represent the Region at the State Science 

and Engineering Fair of Florida (SSEF.) He previously attended the Northeast Florida Science and 

Engineering Fair (NERSEF) in February of this year winning First Place. 

Titled: Feels Like Sugar 

Just one of Dylan’s pieces entered in the Northeast Florida Scholastic Art Awards 

Presley Wolfe 

Presley Wolfe graduated this May from The Bolles School. She has committed to Tulane 

for Track and Field and will attend this fall. 

Class of 2019 

Estella Bruneau 

Estella Bruneau was named to the 2023-2024 second quarter Presidents List at The Bolles 

School. She received this award for “forming and leading the Bolles Pets for Patients Club in 

support of the Assisted Dog and Pony Therapy (ADAPT) program at Nemours Children’s 

Health. The school leadership was impressed with her initiative, leadership, and organizational 

skills while arranging the club’s first big fundraiser - a meet-and-greet with animals in the 

ADAPT program!” 


Krish Patel 

Was selected to represent the region at the State Science 

and Engineering Fair of Florida (SSEF.) He previously 

attended the Northeast Florida Science and Engineering 

Fair (NERSEF) in February of this year. 

Aidan Turney 

Aidan Turney was named to the 2023-2024 

second quarter Presidents List at The Bolles 

School. He received this award for “putting 

forth exceptional effort in organizing musical 

performances for the senior residents of Starling at San Jose. This fall, 

Aidan took the reins in recruiting musicians, scheduling rehearsals, and 

leading multiple performances that showcased the students’ musical 

talents and brought joy to the senior community.” 

Anson Silverfield 

Anson Silverfield is a rising Senior at The Bolles 

School and has committed to Colgate University to 

play Division 1 tennis. She will be Bolles’ first graduate 

to commit to D1 Women’s tennis in 11 years. 

THROWBACK 

CLASS OF 

1970 PHOTO 

This past spring we had an 

exciting piece of mail delivered to 

our doorstep. This is a photo of 

the 8th grade class at Southside 

Day School, now Jacksonville 

Country Day School. During the 

school year of 1969-1970, the 

Head of School was Thomas J. 

Kemp and the teacher of this 

class was Mrs. K. Branch. The 

students now would be in their 

late 60’s early 70’s. 

Class of 2020 

Leila Goll 

Leila Goll, a rising Junior at The Bolles School, 

graduated from Youth Leadership Jacksonville this 

spring, and this summer she will attend the Hugh 

O’Brian Youth Leadership Program in Tallahassee. 

Leila’s academic achievements include: maintaining 

first honors, being elected student council representative 

for the last two years, serving as an admissions ambassador, and being 

recently inducted into the Spanish National Honor Society. Her athletic 

accomplishments include: being the captain of the varsity basketball team 

and playing for the JV lacrosse team. 

Hank Mayfield 

Hank Mayfield just completed his sophomore year 

at Bishop Kenny and also completed the prestigious 

program, Youth Leadership Jacksonville. This yearlong 

program brings together a select and diverse 

cross-section of Northeast Florida high school students 

with demonstrated leadership ability and prepares 

them to become ethical leaders committed to active community involvement. 

Hank has been an honor roll student while at Bishop Kenny. He was 

recently inducted into the Spanish Honor Society. He has played both 

Freshman and JV Basketball and currently is throwing discus for the Varsity 

Track and Field team. 

This mail was sent to us by 

Autumn, a FedEx worker, who 

found this photo in their lost 

and found bin in Kansas City 

Missouri. Rather than destroying 

the photo she went out of 

her way to find us and send it 

to JCDS. Autumn if you are 

reading this, we appreciate your 

dedication! 


“ 

STORIES 

WE 

SHARE 

My favorite classroom experience 

was being the judge in a mock 

trial in sixth grade during our 

unit on Greece as the birthplace 

of modern democracy. 

- Peter Blumeyer, 

Class of 2002, 

Current Member, 

JCDS Board of Trustees 

Class of 2022 

Vibha Chalamalasetty 

Vibha Chalamalasetty earned the title ‘Artist of 

the Week’ at The Bolles School this past spring. 

She earned this title for being “an outstanding 

member of the band and crew team,” “A leader in 

class,” “a band officer,” and for “recently scoring a 

superior rating in the Florida Solo Competition.” 

Vibha was a talented and active member of the 

JCDS band during her time as a student at our 

school. Vibha also earned an honorable mention for her entry in the 

Northeast Florida Scholastic Art Awards. 

Addison Algozzini 

Addison Algozzini received the Silver 

Key award for her entry in the Northeast 

Florida Scholastic Art Awards. Her entry 

was titled Raindrops and was entered in the 

photography section. 

My favorite JCDS memory was 

International Day where parents 

& students shared their stories, 

experiences and heritage. 

- Pat Blanchard, 

P ‘92 ‘00, Former PA President, 

Current Ex-Officio Member, 

JCDS Board of Trustees 

Measuring the “new” Fifth 

Grade classroom building with 

Mrs. Suslak. This was my first 

of many experiences and helped 

contribute towards my career as 

an Architect. 

- Lance Wolfson, 

Class of 1999 

22 SUMMER 2024 

” 

Esmee Jeannin 

Esmee Jeannin, an 8th grader at The Bolles 

School, received an honorable mention for 

her entry in the Northeast Florida Scholastic 

Art Awards. She was also named artist of the 

week during this past spring semester at Bolles. 

Academically, she is thriving and making straight 

A’s at Bolles and got accepted into Honors 

Math, Honors Science, Honors Latin and 

Honors English for the upper school program! She also plays soccer for 

Jacksonville First Coast Soccer Club. Her team is doing extraordinarily 

well having won the last three tournaments. 

Class of 2023 

Neily Mallini 

Our admissions office received a beautiful 

Christmas Card from the Assumption 

Catholic School of Jacksonville where Neily 

has just completed her 7th grade year. Neily 

Mallini won Assumption’s Christmas Card 

Contest and the school used her artwork on 

the card they sent out to all of their families.

ONE STORY OF PHILANTHROPY 

The Kavalieros Family Endowment Fund 

When we donate our time, talent, or treasure, we are sharing 

a bit of our personal story. We are showing through our 

actions what matters to us, and what matters to us is an 

important part of who we are and how we choose to live our 

lives and write our stories. 

The word philanthropy translates to “love of humanity.” 

When we are philanthropic, we are being generous to help 

make life better for other people as is the case with the 

Kavalieros family and their recent gift of $125,000 to create 

the Jacksonville Country Day School Financial Assistance 

Endowment. The story of why the Kavalieros’ chose to give is 

as important as the gift they made. 

When we sat down with Nick and Lisa Kavalieros and asked 

them their why, here is what Nick (JCDS Class of 1987) 

shared during our recent Circle Celebration Major Donor 

event. 

Our family immigrated from Greece to Jacksonville. En 

route, we had a ten-year layover in the Bahamas. I was a 

well-fed, Bahamian-speaking 10-year-old when we arrived 

in Jacksonville in the mid-1980s. My father was a merchant 

marine captain with a high school education, and my mother 

was a stay-at-home mom. Growing up, few decisions were 

made without thinking of the financial impact. Modest living 

and great sacrifice granted my brothers and me the gift of a 

private school education. 

My brother and I graduated from JCDS as did Lisa and my 

daughters Ellie, Mila, and Penelope - all of us receiving a firstclass 

education. 

My mother, Aphrodite Kavalieros known to most as YiaYia 

recognized JCDS’s commitment to character development 

and felt it set the school apart. She became friends with much 

of the faculty and viewed them as an extension of our family. 

She was a fixture on campus from the time I was a student, 

never missing Grandparents Day, International Day, and the 

traditional Greek Olympics. She happily met a pack of kids at 

the Deerwood Path several afternoons a week for more than 

15 years bearing cold milk and warm cookies. She may hold 

the record for the longest Deerwood carpool run! 

It was my mother’s wish to help families benefit from a JCDS 

education as we have. It is in YiaYia’s honor that Lisa and I 

have seeded the JCDS Financial Assistance Endowment with 

a gift of $125,000 and the establishment of the Kavalieros 

Family Endowment Fund to help alleviate some of the 

financial pressures on families and allow children the gift of 

both a strong academic education and character development 

that JCDS provides. We are grateful to be part of this 

community and hope this fund will grow over the years. 

Thank you to the Kavalieros family for your support of our 

school for nearly four decades and now in perpetuity with this 

important gift. We know that the Kavalieros family story is 

but one of many in our broader community. 

If JCDS has played an important role in your family’s story, 

we would love to hear from you. 

If you are interested in learning more about major gift or 

endowment opportunities with JCDS, please contact our 

Director of Advancement, Rebecca Schwam at rschwam@ 

jcds.com or call 904-641-6644. As we approach the 65th 

anniversary of our school, it is the perfect time to leave your 

legacy at a place we all cherish! 


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

MEETS PARENT EDUCATION 

When you explore the question, “Why should I contemplate 

an independent school education for my children?” you’ll 

discover institutions such as Jacksonville Country Day 

School that embrace the “triangle” approach to education. 

This approach focuses on the student, the family, and 

the school, and how they can partner to achieve the best 

educational experience for the student. 

In recent years, JCDS has been exploring ways to help 

families better understand the new, innovative tools and 

ideas that our faculty and staff share in the classroom.. Every 

school year, each of the professionals at JCDS spends more 

than 20 - 30 hours pursuing Professional Development 

opportunities. They then bring this knowledge forward to 

work with our students to provide the exceptional education 

and learning environment that are hallmarks of a JCDS 

education. 

of technology in the classroom, emotional intelligence, and 

understanding boundaries and expectations with children. 

We look forward to continuing to cultivate the parent-school 

partnership with parent education workshops that allow the 

experts on campus along with trusted community advisors 

to provide the resources that our families need in an everchanging 

world. 

As part of the school’s commitment to the “triangle” 

approach, Parents’ Association meetings took on a new 

look throughout this academic year, becoming workshops 

with the goal of bringing families together to explore topics 

that we know are important to them and that align with 

our faculty and staff’s ongoing professional development. 

Topics we covered in our professional development and 

parent workshops included technology safety, integration 


TALES OF DISCOVERY 

Bringing Classroom Learning to Life 

At Jacksonville Country Day School, we have a commitment 

to not only educate but also inspire students by connecting 

classroom lessons to real-world applications. Our students 

may begin a lesson inside the classroom, but the learning 

does not stop there. After learning about a topic in class, 

students will then transition into the experiential learning 

aspect through field trips, projects, demonstrations, 

makerspace, and more. Experiences like our sixth graders 

traveling to MarineLab, second and sixth graders naming 

a medical robot, third graders embarking on a civil rights 

tour, and first graders visiting the zoo all create lasting 

impacts that prepare students for a lifetime of intellectual 

exploration, a huge component of the JCDS mission. 

Sixth graders dive into marine science studies with their 

global studies teachers and science classes. Then, at the end 

of the school year, students visit MarineLab for an amazing 

hands-on learning experience. At MarineLab, students have 

the opportunity to participate in labs studying seagrass, 

mangroves, and reef ecology. They also take a boat out on 

the beautiful coast of south Florida where they go snorkeling 

and see various marine biology in person. As they boat 

past Mangroves, they get to see, in person, how this wildlife 

provides natural infrastructure to protect nearby populated 

areas, something our 6th graders learned about in the 

classroom first. 

In second and sixth grade during technology and science, 

our students study robotics and the human body, building 

on their knowledge each year. This year, our students had 

the extraordinary opportunity to name the Baptist Medical 

Center Beaches’ newest surgical robot. According to 

Baptist, “this robot assists surgeries providing surgeons with 

enhanced precision and high-definition 3D images which 

provide a magnified, detailed view of the patient’s surgical 

area.” Students formed small groups to come up with names 

for the robot. The day of the demonstration, one of our 

6th graders was chosen to use the robot to pick a name out 

of a hat. The name that was chosen was ‘Courage.’ This 

opportunity allows our students to see and understand the 

real-life applications of the technology and knowledge they 

are learning about in their classrooms. 


The third grade curriculum has a huge focus on American History and 

the civil rights movement. Students learn about the tumultuous history 

of the civil rights movement and the various civil rights leaders that 

made a lasting impact during this time. Then, during Black History 

Month, they take a field trip to St. Augustine for a civil rights tour. 

Students have the opportunity to walk the pathways that once served as 

host to numerous protests and sit-ins that marked key moments in the 

fight for equality and justice. They visit historically significant places 

like the steps where Martin Luther King Jr. once stood and was then 

arrested. Learning about this history in books and classrooms is one 

thing, but it takes their learning experience another step further seeing it 

in person. 

Our first graders study different animal biomes throughout the year. For 

the rainforest biome, Ms. Elstein, Director of Education, brings in her 

pet snake, Ocho. Students get to see and observe Ocho during this unit, 

studying its behavior and habits in real life. The first grade show, Singing 

in the Rainforest, a musical performance they rehearse for during music 

classes, furthers their understanding of the animals and plants that live 

in this biome in a unique way. One of the big field trips in first grade is 

to the Jacksonville Zoo, where they will see a large variety of the animals 

they have learned about in person. The Jacksonville Zoo is host to more 

than 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants, and students encounter wildlife 

from every corner of the globe. 

These experiential learning opportunities, such as naming a surgical 

robot or walking the historical paths of civil rights leaders, not only 

reinforce classroom lessons but also inspire students to explore these 

subjects further. Students develop a deep understanding and sense 

of appreciation for what they are learning during these real-world 

experiences. This approach effectively aligns with our mission of 

preparing students for a lifetime of intellectual exploration. 

“ 

STORIES 

WE 

SHARE 

Mr Link. He would always make 

math fun and whenever someone 

got stuck on a topic, he would 

pause the lesson and help them 

to understand it. 

- Hannah Terry, 

Class of 2022 

My favorite teacher was Mrs. 

Derby because she was firm 

and fair. She let us make a 

classroom town and encouraged 

our imagination and fostered a 

lifelong love of learning. 

- Morgan (Siewert) Prince, 

Class of 2005 

26 SUMMER 2024 

One of my favorite events at 

JCDS was the Spring Carnival. 

I enjoyed working with all of 

the PA participants to help 

orchestrate such a fun event. 

One of my favorite things about 

the carnival was the talent show. 

All of the students were so 

adorable, and talented. 

- Jennifer Brown, 

Former Parent 

”

UNITY ON THE FIELD 

A Story of Inclusion and Friendship 

On March 6th, we had the privilege of partnering with North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) for a joint Flag- 

Football practice with our fourth graders and their flag team. During the practice our students participated in warmups 

and drills led by Brooks Rehabilitation, by the end of it they were all participating in a competitive game of Flag Tag. As an 

extension of our Character Education program at JCDS, this opportunity allowed our students to bond with students who 

possess intellectual and developmental differences over a common interest in football. Our students worked to gain empathy, 

understanding, and adaptability from this experience while allowing NFSSE students the opportunity to establish friendships, 

improve their skills and build confidence interacting with others. We are excited to see this partnership between our two 

schools flourish in the future. 

STORIES OF CONNECTING IN OUR COMMUNITY 

Living our Social Responsibility Mission 

STUDENT COUNCIL HUMANE SOCIETY DRIVE 

During the first week of April, JCDS student council led a donation drive for the 

Jacksonville Humane Society. The student council collected much needed items 

such as dog treats, cat food, towels, toys, kibble etc. Students not only organized, 

planned, marketed, and collected donations for this drive they also took all of the 

donations directly to the Humane Society themselves. The Humane Society said 

“this is the most donations I have ever seen come in one go.” These donations 

make a big impact on the near 200 animals they shelter and care for each day 

and nearly 9,000 they shelter every year. 

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AGRIAUTISM 

As part of the Community Connections event, JCDS students and families 

volunteered at AgriAutism: Farming for Autism! During this event volunteers 

helped out at the farm by sifting mulch to make dirt for the raised garden beds 

and weeding the garden. They had a chance to meet the two new baby goats as 

well as all the ducks and chickens that live on the farm. Any and all contributions 

to this cause empower individuals with autism in our community to have 

independent living opportunities and meaningful employment. 


EARLY LEARNING BOOKS-A-GO GO 

This past December, Early Learning students collected books for Books-A-Go Go 

keeping in mind their character education focus of “We are Connected” and “Live 

to Give.” This organization collects used and new children’s books and gives them 

to children from low-income families throughout Jacksonville who cannot afford 

to buy the books for their children. In the past 13 years, the organization has given 

away over 1,000,000 books and JCDS has been a part of this important program 

from the beginning. 

RECYCLING: A STUDENT COUNCIL INITIATIVE 

Many of our students and families have been talking about the need for a recycling 

bin in the dining room. While running for office, many of the student council 

members also mentioned how they would like to set up some greener initiatives as 

part of their tenure. They made it their goal and succeeded! They have installed a 

recycle bin in the cafeteria for students to place empty plastic water bottles in and 

a separate container for students to pour their leftover water in. The reclaimed 

water is used to water plants around campus. They also spent Earth Day picking 

up trash around campus! 

FOURTH GRADERS PACKAGE HYGIENE PACKETS 

FOR THE CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA 

Fourth graders assembled hygiene packets to donate to the Children’s Home 

Society of Florida. The Children’s Home Society of Florida is an organization 

that provides opportunities for brighter futures for children and families facing 

difficult times. Fourth graders decorated the outside of ziplock bags and then 

filled each bag with essential hygiene supplies. 

POPTAB COLLECTING EARLY LEARNING 

Early learning has been collecting pop tabs from soda cans to donate to the 

Ronald Mcdonald House. The Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville has 

been the “home” to over 40,000 families whose children are seeking medical 

treatment at local hospitals. Donating your pop tabs to Ronald McDonald 

House allows them to be recycled for cash to help provide housing for families 

visiting Jacksonville while their children receive medical care. 

Thank You for Your Support of the JCDS Fund 

The JCDS Fund, our school’s Annual Fund, is the most important fundraising 

vehicle we have to allow our community to support the school’s mission. Through 

your contributions, you support the core aspects of our school including inspiring 

professional development and creative academic programming. 

Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in the school’s journey ahead and inspires 

generations of families to come. 

To learn more about making gifts to Jacksonville Country Day School, contact 

Rebecca Schwam, Director of Advancement at rschwam@jcds.com. 

Are you considering a gift to JCDS? Please scan the QR code on the right to learn 

more about giving opportunities today! 


USING ART TO TELL A STORY 

Artists throughout history have told stories. From cave paintings to graphic novels, people 

have used art to communicate their experiences. Stories have been handed down from one 

generation to another. Some of these stories are told by word-of-mouth, while others have 

been told visually on walls, textiles, and paper. Led by JCDS Art Specialist, Alli Flores, our 

students create stunning visual pieces that tell new and exciting stories to be shared. 

Student Name: Sailor Dreicer | Art Title: Sloth 

Teachers Name: Brinson | Grade: 1st 

Description: First-grade students created sloth paintings as part of their rainforest study 

unit. These artistic creations reflect the wonders of nature, with each painting capturing a 

distinctive personality. 

Student Name: Evelyn Turney | Art Title: Thiebaud Inspired Clay Pies 

Teachers Name: Teitelbaum | Grade: 6th 

Description: Students were introduced to the artist Wayne Thiebaud as cakes and pies were 

favorite themes for his paintings. These clay pie sculptures tell a story of popular culture and 

pop art inspired by Thiebaud’s style. 

Student Name: Ellie Putney (left), Ash Bolton (right) 

Art Title: Dot Pinch Pots | Teachers Name: Connelly | Grade: Pre-K 4 

Description: This project is designed to introduce students to the world of clay 

and pottery, while allowing them to explore their creativity and develop new skills. 

By creating pinch pots, students will not only gain an understanding of clay and its 

properties, but also learn about the process of pottery making. 

Student Name: Mila Das | Art Title: Museum Perspective 

Teachers Name: Gore | Grade: 5th 

Description: Students were introduced to 1-point perspective, a drawing technique 

that creates the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. 

In the perspective drawing, students created the walls of the gallery; students could 

choose to create a variety of paintings or dedicate the gallery to one specific artist. 


29

Student Name: Lily Middlebrooks | Art Title: Alma Thomas Painting 

Teachers Name: Alexander | Grade: 4th 

In the art studio, 4th-grade students engaged in an art lesson centered around the 

renowned artist Alma Woodsey Thomas. She was best known for her abstract 

painting style that included bright dabs of color. This project empowered students 

to unleash their imaginations, while also igniting a sense of curiosity and exploration. 

Student Name: Olivia Cleaveland | Art Title: Fireflies 

Teachers Name: Szallay | Grade: 2nd 

Students created firefly paintings to connect with their unit of study on insects. 

This project tells a story of depicting nature through art. 

Student Name: Jay Zhou | Art Title: Great Wave 

Teachers Name: Alexander | Grade: 4th 

Description: Fourth-grade students created a remarkable wave painting inspired 

by Hokusai’s artwork. They infused whimsical elements by incorporating a shark. 

This project conveys a narrative of artistic inspiration, dynamism, and the 

beauty of nature. 

Student Name: Cassandra Fernandez | Art Title: Llama 

Teachers Name: Cannington | Grade: 3rd 

Description: Third grade students learned about llamas of Peru in connection with 

their Latin American studies. Students created narratives using the llamas and their 

newfound knowledge of Peru. 

Student Name: Kai Ngo | Art Title: Blue Dog 

Teachers Name: Szallay | Grade: 2nd 

Description: Students created blue dog paintings after learning about the artist Georgie 

Rodriguez. The color, symbols, design and patterns included in the paintings will tell you a 

story about that student and what is important to them. 


Student Name: Isaiah Lambert (left), Hudson Aull (right) 

Art Title: Clay Pinch Pot Teacups 

Teachers Name: Yarberry, Warford | Grade: Kindergarten 

Description: This project allows for students to learn what clay is and how pottery 

is made. Students formed a vessel from clay that is functional as well as beautiful 

by incorporating the 'pinch pot’ method of construction for their teacup. Students learned how to model clay with 

control and build upon past knowledge in order to craft an original, three-dimensional artwork. Through step-by-step 

observation, students were successfully able to create a ceramic teacup and apply underglaze. 

Student Name: Bentley Kinser | Art Title: Recycled Jellyfish 

Teachers Name: Glover | Grade: Pre-K 3 

Description: In this art project, students had the opportunity to showcase their 

creativity by creating an immersive underwater background for their jellyfish. Through 

the use of liquid watercolor paint and a sea salt technique, students painted a stunning 

backdrop that mimics the vibrant colors and textures of an underwater world and realistic bubbles’. To complete the 

project, students used recycled strips of tissue paper to craft the wiggly tentacles of the jellyfish. This not only 

provided an opportunity for recycling and sustainability but also allowed students to explore new ways of incorporating 

different materials into their artwork. 


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Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Jacksonville, FL. 

Permit No. 954 

10063 Baymeadows Road 

Jacksonville, FL 32256 

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FOR THIS EDITION OF CONNECTIONS: 

Lori Hall, Advancement Associate | Natalie Jackson, Marketing and Communications Associate Manager 

Christopher Johnson, Head of School | Kristen Nagy, President, JCDS Parents’ Association | Michael Porter, Electronic Media Manager 

Rebecca Schwam, Director of Advancement | Carole Senn, Executive Assistant to the Head of School 

BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBERS 

Thank you to our Business Council Members. The faculty, staff, and students of 

Jacksonville Country Day School appreciates their support of our community. 

Diamond 

Gold 

Silver 

Partner 

Associate

JCDS Connections - Summer 2024

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