Charlie Rice set the permanent pattern for the athletic activities of MCDS. He was great in water sports at Cloumount and MCDS.

He also set up a highly organized and dynamically led program of physical education and intermural games.

Today, it could be said that Charlie Rice’s influence on the school’s sports program has continued today as MCDS has 36 athletic teams that have gone on to win state championships, succeeded in regionals, and districts.

Charlie Edwards would hand paint eight separate scenes on building paper, layer on layer, and when all the lights went out between the scenes, he would rip each layer of paper scenery as required.

Today, the involvement in the theater is still emphasized as students are given the responsibility, with the help of their teachers, to put on a play.

In Hibiscus Hedge: Ellis- “Yes, the past is precious, and is a source of pride; but the future is more precious, and the word that dominates our lives and the world we live in, is EXPECTANCY

Current values are the shared commitments we make to each other, and as a community, in honor of our past, present, and future.

Hibiscus Hedge End poem: While memory serves us well, /The flowered hedge is seen,/ And the fields of Country Day/Will keep that memory green./What things we dream of still:/The bell, the river, and the tree/Alive with orange fire/In June.

What a joy to see/In retrospect, the Red/And White, still fierce at play;/And Spartans all, they run-/The Boys of Country Day.”- W.D.E. (Doc)

Charles Henderson- “We know that we are charged with the task of teaching academic skills and gladly accept that important work; however, we know our students will need much more than academic prowess in their quest for a good life.

Our children need opportunities in their homes, in their churches, and here at Country Day to find those things which will give their life meaning. Our most valuable work may, in fact, be in helping youngsters develop values.”

To empower every student, every day, everywhere to learn with vigor, explore with purpose, strive for excellence, and serve with honor, respect, and compassion as global citizens.

We (MCDS) do this in a community where every student is known and included by engaging the whole child, in and out of the classroom as they discover their full potential.

Fun Room: The extra building in the school was turned into a fun room where children who have finished their work and have completed the room centers can go do puzzles, make a puppet, read a story, do a master math card, find hidden pictures, or solve a code.

MCDS today provides students with an environment where they can enjoy themselves and learn. Students are given the opportunity to play with their peers or read stories at different times of the day.

Keith Alexander was the first student at MCDS to be nominated as a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist- (College Guidance program- 43 seniors would meet regularly for seminars to discuss topics of concern with seniors.)

MCDS not only helps students attain their academic goals, but they also prepare students as they go into the world. Seniors are given helpful resources as they prepare to enter university with Guidance Counselors.

Expanded the summer camps to include pottery, gymnastics, and drama. New academic program including developmental reading and math and enrichment courses in literature, writing and math will be offered to students entering grades 2-9.

Students may choose to participate in Summer Camp Programs, Summer Academic Programs or in both programs.

Parents can enroll their children in summer camp and tutoring today during the summer at MCDS. Children can get tutoring in subjects such as math and science while also attending the day camp or sports camps

Created by the MCDS Art Department, the sculpture was named Circle of Three.

The sculpture captured the essence of the school because it consisted of three parts, individually small and separate, yet together forming a singular and strong entity.

Sculptures that represent the MCDS’ culture are found around campus today. MCDS still has the core value of community and connection.

Every grade in the school is connected, not divided by different level of school. For example: High school seniors are involved with lower school in the event.

Middle School Mini Mester: Middle school students went to Circle F Dude Ranch. The purpose of the trip was to reinforce class unity and to conduct workshops on subjects such as: music, art, crime, death and dying, drugs, and values.

Other students went to Big Pine Key to snorkel and study marine biology. Also, several 7th and 8th graders completed a movie.

The Enrichment Program- where student worked on thinking skills, problem solving, and logic. Tasks involving inductive and deductive reasoning stretch each child’s capacity to think and learn.

The Enrichment Program is seen today in MCDS curriculum. The school focuses on every aspect of the student, therefore having them learn how to problem solve.

Workout equipment added to new weight room. Students in the Middle and Upper School had a six-to-eight-week introductory unit. Both ‘in season’ and ‘out of season’ programs were able to use the equipment as well to train for the upcoming games.

Also, started an after-school program that incorporated learning how to use the gym equipment and teaching about a proper diet and exercise. MCDS places emphasis on the physical and mental well-being of all students. MCDS has state of the art athletic equipment as well as knowledgeable and certified coaches and teachers that help students learn how to take care of their health

Enrichment programs for Lower School, interest-centered, pull-out program that emphasizes the learning process more than the content.

* Teaching the process of higher-level thinking like inquiry, research, reasoning, observing, categorizing, brainstorming, and decision making.

*Stimulate and encourage divergent thinking (creativity). * Provide a safe, no fail environment that will encourage risk-taking in the classroom.

Develop high-level producers of ideas as opposed to consumers of ideas. *Provide challenge and stimulation for those students who can and want to deal with more than the regular requirements.

New dimension was added to the Environmental Studies Program where students took a part in the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wild animals.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission recognized the importance of the program as they granted the Jody Althouse a Federal Fish and Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit.

Golden Jubilee Weekend: L.B. Sommers was honored for his educational contributions to the Greater Miami community. Northeast 107th Street, from Northeast 6th Avenue to the Biscayne Canal was officially re-named “L.B. Sommers Drive.”

A proclamation from Metropolitan Dade County Mayor Stephen Clark declared the weekend of Nov. 11 as “Miami Country Day School Golden Jubilee Weekend.” 49 hibiscus bushes, which symbolized the years 1938 to 1988, were planted by the senior class. First Founders’ Day dinner was held in the James G. Garner Family activities center.

In honor of L.B. Sommers, Bill Ellis wrote a new verse which will be added to the original Hibiscus Hedge, “Behind the river and the tree, Behind the green along the way, we see you standing there, L.B., Who dreamed the dream of Country Day.”

The Hibiscus Hedge: name came from hibiscus shrubs around campus. The red flowers, blended beautifully with the white of the buildings and the green of grass and trees.

MCDS set aside normal learning activities for the special event- Celebration of Learning Day.

Purpose is to celebrate the wonderful learning experiences and environment in and through which the students participate, develop and benefit.

Program of “wellness” was established by head of school John Davies. They provided free fresh fruit daily in the teachers’ lounge. Provided healthier options for students and faculty.

“Team building” afternoon where many faculty and staff became acquainted with faculty and staff members of divisions other than their own.

100 Days Ceremony, a senior tradition where 100 days before graduation the class gather in the Chickee Hut and are introduced to the MCDS Alumni Association.

They also can see their own bricks with their names and graduating years and they also find out what is the senior gift.

MCDS became a part of the National Association of Independent Schools. NAIS is a voluntary membership organization of more than 1,200 independent schools and associations in the United States and abroad.

It acts as the unified voice of independent pre-collegiate schools to strengthen its member schools and associations by providing a benchmark of high educational and ethical standards and by upholding their independence to foster an environment dedicated to the mission of the institution and of NAIS.

NAIS hosted People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference where many MCDS faculty and students supported the conference by attending presentations and other activities.

MCDS values and celebrates the diversity of our community because we understand the way in which it increases the richness of the entire educational experience.

New tradition- Athletic Open House for all students’ athletes and their parents.

The evening served to educate parents and student athletes on the exceptions and opportunities of the athletic program for the whole school year and allows parents to meet coaches for Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons.

Wall of sparkling colorful tile in the lower school play area. 380 lower school students, some parents, teachers, and grandparents helped build the wall.

Twenty diamond shaped areas have pictures of well-loved children’s books: James and the Giant Peach, Because of Winn-Dixie, Jumanji, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Tar Beach, Owl Babies, and the books continue. The school also wrote a letter to every author and illustrator with a photo of their book on the wall.

Project based learning: Mind Your Own Business Class- course where students form their own businesses. Dual Image Photography- students were challenged to take dual image photography technique and interpret how it could be used to portray one of the messages from the Theater of Social Change.

Solar Car Project- Middle and Upper School algebra I courses where students built solar cars and then conducted field tests to figure out what impact the sun’s energy combined with a solar cell and simple engine would have on the relationships of distance, time, and acceleration. Solar Cooking Project- ACES have solar cookers. Alternative Energy Choices- 8th grade honors physical science class honed their research, writing and speaking skills as representatives of energy consulting firms charged with the responsibility to present energy options to the “Florida Energy Commission” for adoption by the state of Florida.

Each Friday morning faculty and staff are provided an opportunity to practice mindfulness. In Life Skills class, three through five students start most of their classes with mindfulness practices.

In the Upper School, the mindfulness initiative has been integrated into the 10th grade Life Skills classes, the advisory program, and the Peer Counseling program. 7th and 8th graders develop a curriculum called Mindfulness Based Life Skills (MBLS).

With MBLS every class begins with an opening meditation and/or mindfulness practice that helps introduce the topic for the day and allows the students to engage in the topic in a more emotionally connected way. 7th and 8th graders learn a Self-Awareness Check-In that are experiencing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.