RCDS 2012-2013 Annual Donor Report Kind Honest Responsible Respectful 22012-200113 RCDS Faculty & Staff Sarah Ahmadi Ann Kerr Sharon Amann Alana Kirman Dana Anderson Cynthia Klemm Kristin Arrambide Virginia Kolb Alison Block L. William Lamb Lucy Bogdon Sue Leslie Erin Brennan ’89 Jennifer Littman Jeffrey Brown Michael J. Mannino Joanna Cambareri Arlene Mansfi eld Erin Campanella Casey McChesney Paul Campanella Susan McDaniel Jayne Carmody Amy Mendat Manuel Castro James Monprode Janine Chernavsky Ellen Morgan Carolyn Child Katie Morton Nicholas Cittadino Ann Murdock Amy Clark SharanyaShara Naik Carly Conleyey VictoriaVictor Nebel Judith Cox KevinKevin Nicholas Nicole DelTinTin ’93’93 KarenKaren Norton Jane Dennyy KathleenKathle O’Connor Sara Diaz MelissaMeliss Petersen Natalie Diehlhl SuzanneSuzan R. Post Susan Druckercker JoseJose RamirezR Mark Fallonene JoyJoy S.S Rathemacher Raquel Faloticootico JessicaJessic Reyes Andrew Farmanrman AnnaAnna Roberts Dana Feldmanman AlineAline Ronzier-Paulus Patricia Figarolaarola EdEd RumoloRu Paul Flemingng NancyNancy Santola Carol Freedmandman LizLiz ScanlonSc Gail Funk AdrianaAdria Scerbo Cheryl Garsideside ThomasThom Scott Jeffrey Garsideside MichelleMiche Shea John Goodee DebraDebra Siciliano Jessica Goskiki MichelleMiche Silbert Kelly Grady Chad B. Small Shannon Haines Marilyn Snider Robert Hamm Brian Stolowski Geoffrey Harrison Claudia Taborn Nicole Harrison ’85 Amy Tilmont Lori Hohenleitner Mauricio Toledo Brandon Horner Walter Treacy Cara Horner Ethel Truex Allison Isherwood Jeffrey S. Utz Nancy Johnson Dovey Valerio Barbara Jones Alexis Vogelsong Charles H. Jones III ’83 Ellen Wilson Robert Kelly Message from the Headmaster Dear Friends, It is a great pleasure for me to present the 2012-2013 issue of the Annual Donor Report. We are blessed with many generous families and volunteers who provide a wealth of support every year. This year, in particular, was a diffi cult one as many families and friends faced tremendous challenges in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Together, we held strong and helped the community to rebuild and heal from the events of last October. This unique time in history, overall, is one of change and challenge. With its ever-present global search engines, emerging economies and enlightened environmental concerns, the world of the future demands new capacities from all of us, no matter what our age. I can’t reinforce enough the importance of beginning a quality education early in life, and continuing that academic journey to prepare for an increasingly complex world. Our students’ academic achievements and involvement in a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, the fi ne and performing arts and community service demonstrates their well-balanced education. One of my favorite RCDS phrases is “academics with a hug,” meaning that we challenge the children’s minds while giving them a nurturing environment to learn and grow, emotionally and behaviorally, as well as intellectually. In turn, our students and alumni respond by applying their own knowledge, talent and unique skills to help the world around them. Plutarch, a noted Greek historian and essayist asserted that “the mind is not a vessel to be fi lled, but a fi re to be kindled,” meaning that there is only so much one can gain from having knowledge thrown at them; rather, children need to be encouraged to actively seek it. Scholarship may seem goal-oriented, but those who reach for true understanding know that it is a road that has no end, and it is our job to support those who are just beginning the journey. Having been a teacher and administrator earlier in my career and Head RCDS Gator for these many years, I know fi rsthand the quality and capability of our talented and dedicated faculty. Simply put, our students excel because of our fi ne teachers and carefully constructed, safe, learning environment. An RCDS education puts your children at an advantage in pursuing scholarship at the very best secondary schools and colleges, charting a course to help students navigate their future. Once again, this year’s graduates were able to choose from a wonderful selection of high schools. Please turn to page 25 because I know you will be impressed! Our goal right now is to help the children do their very best and take advantage of every educational opportunity that comes their way. Later on, it will mean places for them at the schools of their choice and, eventually, in the workforce - as leaders, innovators and trusted members of any team. Most of all, RCDS graduates are good, strong people. These are individuals you will want as your neighbors, your friends and your work colleagues. These are men and women who were encouraged, at a very young age, to meet this new world on their own terms with innovation, kindness and responsibility. I truly believe that is the value of the RCDS experience. Please accept my sincere appreciation for all of your support this year. I am delighted to report that RCDS Annual Giving achieved 75% parent participation for the third year in a row and our entire community collectively contributed to help us surpass our fi scal goal of $500,000! Please turn to page 4 for more information on the fi nancials. Your generosity and support is a testament to your love for RCDS. Thank you, again, for all that you do for The Rumson Country Day School. Sincerely, Chad B. Small, Headmaster The Rumson Country Day School Annual Report 1 The RCDS Board of Trustees Shawn Reynolds, President Lynda Cooper Jennifer Hurtt Mullins ’85 Steven M. Scopellite, Vice President Mark DeVito James P. O’Mealia ’73 Danielle Devine Greene ’79, John Devlin ’83 James Reid Vice President Victoria K. Gmelich Siran Sahakian Jane Orr, Secretary John Ketterer III Mark Stewart Gordon Sweely, Treasurer Susan Kyrillos Kim Tsimbinos Charles D. Ryan, Assistant Treasurer Beth Martino Howard D. Wolfe III ’90 Michael Bruno Kathleen Molyneaux Parents’ Annual Giving Committee Kim Tsimbinos, Co-Chair Lisa Luckett Kristen and James Powers h ’81 Siran Sahakian, Co-Chair Marshall and Dennis Lynch h ’86 Adrianne and Brian Raphalian Nikki and Charlie Alpert Alison and Tom Maloney Lisa and Peter Ricker Bridget and Michael Bruno Kristen and Jim Masserio Danielle and Scott Schultz Ellen and Martin Chavez Nyire and Greg Melconian Laurie and Brad Smith Donna and Larsen Flinn h ‘79 Jennifer and Tom Mullins w ’85 Laura and Carter Whisnand h ’87 Andrea and Anthony LeLand Karen and Tim Piacentini Patty and Tony Whittemore Cinda and Josh Lord Institutional Advancement Committee Siran Sahakian, Chair John Leibee Kristen Powers Jennifer Steiner Crowell ’88 Alison Maloney Shawn Reynolds Dennis Devine ’90 Greg Melconian Danielle Sherwood Schultz Victoria K. Gmelich Karen McGinley Kim Tsimbinos Danielle Devine Greene ’79 Jennifer Hurtt Mullins ’85 Eric Wachtel 2 The Rumson Country Day School Annual Report Message from The Board President Dear Friends, This is an historic time at The Rumson Country Day School. In these ever-changing times, it is comforting to return to the shared values and time-honored traditions that help us to feel safe and grounded; the love and support of family, the encouragement of friends and the warm, welcoming embrace of the RCDS community. I was reminded of this in June as I watched our students participate in one of RCDS’ most beloved traditions, Class Day, a wonderful ceremony that occurs on the last day of school. Directed by new Student Council President Paul Thomas, and in front of their family and friends, members of each class ceremoniously moved up a row as they were formally promoted to the next grade. To me, this ritual symbolizes the 11-year continuum of learning at The Rumson Country Day School. Despite the whirlwind of change around us, our beloved little school on the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Ridge Road remains deeply rooted in tradition and committed to its mission. Our core values of kindness, honesty, respect and responsibility are the essence of what happens everyday at RCDS; we challenge our students in a safe and nurturing environment, guide them through the sometimes turbulent years of early adolescence and then stand with them as they take that fi nal giant step into the world beyond RCDS. You, too, are a part of this equation. Your encouragement and support of this special environment, exemplifi ed through your fi nancial contributions to our school, is essential to our success and insures that we will continue to pass the torch to the next generation of RCDS students. This new school year will be met with many changes and the Annual Donor Report is no exception. We have streamlined this publication and changed the delivery date to early fall in order to steward the fi nancial support of our donors in a more timely fashion. At the core of the school’s success is our RCDS community - its faculty, administrators, students and parents. Even as renovations and additions are constructed, we realize that the true strength of our school lies within the classroom. Small classes with expert and individual attention remain the hallmark of the RCDS experience. Essential to that success is the support of our extended community of alumni, past parents, grandparents and friends, whose collective generosity allows us to grow and improve as an institution. We have an exciting, landmark year ahead as we celebrate Headmaster Chad Small’s achievements, prepare for his retirement in June and select a new leader for the school. The RCDS Head of School Search Committee is hard at work to fi nd Mr. Small’s successor. The RCDS Board of Trustees continues to operate with a deep professional regard for its responsibility to see that the mission of the school is fulfi lled. Together with the administration and faculty, we bring tremendous energy, effort and expertise to every aspect of independent school life.