November 2014 Newsletter/Issue 9 

Dear Fellow DCD Alumni,

 

I have enjoyed reconnecting with so many alumni over the past year. With the leadership of the Alumni Council and support from the Development Office, the Association is successfully expanding our connections to you.


One thing is certain - DCD alumni are doing extraordinary things out there! Be sure to read about three graduates who returned to campus to share their stories with DCD students this fall. Highlights from last year include the presentation of the Alumni Award to John Woodard '52, the Alumni Weekend Reception and Luncheon at the Fair, seeing young graduates at the Thanksgiving Assembly and reception, cocktails in the city, profiles of distinguished alumni and expanded Class Notes in the Bulletin. It was a busy year!


Read on below to learn more about:
  • Liza Connelly '81, our new Vice President of the Alumni Council
  • Our new Alumni Speakers Series
  • Alumni Weekend 2015, Class Reunions, and the 2015 Alumni Award
  • Other upcoming alumni events and news
If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a part of the Alumni Council team, please let us know! We welcome you back to DCD and hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,
Erin Keith Epker '86
Year 112, Day 1!
First Day of School 2014
First Day of School 2014 Slideshow

Our first day of school started in the traditional DCD way: with carpool, summer projects, reconnecting with classmates, and a rousing rendition of "Rattlin' Bog." Click on the video to watch a short movie about the start of our 112th year. 

We also welcomed Emilie Liebhoff as our new Assistant Head of School and Director of Admissions. Emilie's most recent role in an educational setting was as Director of Advancement and Assistant Director of Admissions at Belmont Day School. She is the founder of Moms as Mentors, a leadership and self-esteem program for mothers and daughters, the former deputy director of the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, and on the board of Invest in Girls, a financial literacy program for high school girls.  
Introducing Liza Connelly
Liza Connelly '81 and 
Erin Keith Epker '86
Please welcome Liza Connelly '81 as the new Vice President of the Alumni Association. Liza's life at DCD began in the 1970s when she joined siblings Tad '69, George '70, and Fansie '75 as a student at the school. Her mother, Fanny Connelly (now Cracknell), wore many leadership hats at the time, including that of trustee, teacher, and administrator. After reconnecting at their 30th class reunion, Liza and friends from the Class of 1981 now get together regularly! Liza's love of DCD is contagious, and we're thrilled she's accepted this new role in the Alumni Association. Liza is a Vice President at Boston Private Bank & Trust, and she lives in Brookline with her husband Paul Toomey.
Alumni Speakers Series
Top: Nick Papps '95 and his former teachers: Kevin Coakley, Ruth Gow, Mary Ellen Maloney, Nick Papps '95, Mimi Harrington, and Marge Farquharson 
Bottom L-R: Emily Lagasse '97 and her dog Fenway, John Woodard '52

The Alumni Association has started a Speakers Series designed to bring alumni back to campus to share their experiences with the DCD community at a morning assembly. 

Nick Papps '95, a filmmaker, showed a film he made about the Fairbanks House in Dedham at morning assembly on September 29. He answered questions from students and talked about his experiences as a student at DCD, mentioning that the animation class he took with Mr. Coakley still relates to his work today, which can be viewed on his website.

Emily Lagasse '97 spoke at morning assembly on October 27. She talked about how adopting a tiny puppy while serving with the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa, led to her starting her own business, Fedwell, a pet food company that produces grain-free dog food. She showed photos of her experiences in Togo, a video about Fedwell, and answered questions about the benefits and challenges of being an entrepreneur. Emily recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign for Fedwell.

John Woodard '52, an attorney who has dedicated his life to public service, visited DCD on November 3. He talked about the old school building on Bullard Street, clearing the "lot" where the school is located now, his teachers, and the impact of DCD on his experiences later in life. 

 

Our students love to hear about what alumni have been up to since their days at DCD. If you would like to share your story at morning assembly, please contact Danise Cavallaro.
Thanksgiving Assembly
November 26, 2014


Dedham Country Day School 
Invites You to
The Thanksgiving Assembly

Wednesday, November 26, 2014
9:00 a.m. Rand Gym

Alumni and parents of alumni from the Classes of 2011-2014 are warmly invited to join us for this annual event.

Young Alumni Breakfast Reception
10:00 a.m. Valentine Center
(Parents of alumni welcome)

Ms. Nicholas welcomes all string players to perform with the Chamber group. If you'd like a copy of the music, please email her at [email protected].

For more information, please email Danise Cavallaro.
Alumni Weekend 2015
Save the Date!

Plan ahead! Alumni Weekend 2015 will take place on May 1 and 2, 2015. All alumni are welcome, and classes with graduating years ending in "5" and "0" will be celebrating special reunions. Contact Ashley Linell if you would like to attend or help plan your class reunion. 


2015 Alumni Award - Call for Nominations

Established in 2012 by DCD's Alumni Association, the Alumni Award is presented annually to a Dedham Country Day School alumnus/a whose significant accomplishments or extraordinary service to others in his or her chosen field, as a professional or volunteer, exemplify the school's Mission (see sidebar).

 

Please submit all nominations to Ashley Linell, or click here to fill out a nomination form.

Boston Alumni Event
Save the Date
Join us on February 5, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. for cocktails, conversation, and reminiscing at the Boston Alumni Association Networking and Happy Hour event. Location is yet to be determined, and we will send out more information about the event in the near future.
DCD Shaker Furniture Exhibit at 
The Art Complex Museum
The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Massachusetts has invited DCD to display Shaker furniture pieces and oval boxes made in our woodshop as part of a special exhibit focusing on Shaker woodworking. The exhibit runs from February 22 to May 10, 2015. If you would like to submit a piece of Shaker-style furniture, a Low Back Chair, or a Shaker Oval Box for the exhibit, please contact Gerry Clifford.
Internship Available!
The Admissions and Development departments at DCD are seeking an intern. Callie Cramer '06 interned with us from July through October,assisting with alumni outreach, event planning, database cleanup, admissions marketing, and more. She has since accepted a job offer, and we are reaching out to alumni to continue filling the role. Ideally, we are looking for someone who can work about 10 hours per week, although we are flexible and can work with your schedule. Please contact Ashley Linell if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.
Admissions Information and 
Playgroup for Prospective Students
Our next Classroom Observation date (for parents only) is Friday, November 21, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Please contact Emilie Liebhoff to reserve your spot.

Special Offer for Children of Alumni
DCD is offering an early-decision process for children of alumni whose parents are interested in enrolling them in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten next fall. The playgroup for these children will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014, from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. 

If your child will be four years old by September 1, 2015, please contact the Admissions Office. Or, call to schedule a tour and learn more about all that DCD offers to today's students!

 
Call for Class Notes
Did you recently graduate, get married, have a baby, take the trip of a lifetime, or want to share any other proud moment in your life? We want to hear about it too, and we want to share your news with the rest of our community. Send us your Class Notes for the Spring 2015 issue of
The Bulletin.
Help Us Find Your Classmates! 
Have you moved recently, or has your email address changed? Click here to update your information.

 

We could use your help in reconnecting with some of our former students. Click here to view our list of "lost" alumni, and if you know anyone on the list, please encourage him or her to get back in touch with us.
DCD
Alumni Council

Nicole Mayard Allen '00 

Abington, MA


Torie Allen '01

Boston, MA 


Jeff Barker '69

Dedham, MA


Jen Cabot Breslin '87

Dover, MA


Katie Keally Cochran '82

Dedham, MA

 

Liza Connelly '81

Brookline, MA

 

Lizzie Crocker '00

New York, NY

 

Nick Crocker '96

Dedham, MA

  

Kristie Gillooly Dean '02  

Peabody, MA

 
Erin Keith Epker '86

Dedham, MA

 

Odile Weissenborn Gordon '84

New York, NY

 

Zander Grant '70

Dedham, MA

 

Melanie Guerra '86

Westwood, MA

 

Elizabeth Pyle Handler '79

Needham, MA

 

Louisa Harrison '04 

Dedham, MA 

 

Beth Woelfel Harvey '92

Dover, MA

 

Whitney Hunter-Thomson '98

New York, NY

 

Jason Indelicato '94

Boston, MA

 

Alex Nessa '02

Charlestown, MA

 

Lindsey Marich Owen '97

New York, NY

 

Steven Perry '85

Dorchester, MA

 

Lee Mumford Peterson '86

Dedham, MA

 

Brooke Phinney '05

Boston, MA

 

Colby Hunter-Thomson Previte '91
Rochester, NY

 

Ted Russell '53 (Emeritus) 

Dedham, MA

 

Jamie Stoddard '97

Norwood, MA

 

Elizabeth Ward '77

Dedham, MA

 

Jen Bigelow Williams '86

Needham, MA

 

Linda Mixter Woodard '58

Dedham, MA

Join the DCD Alumni Council  
Interested in joining the DCD Alumni Council?  Contact Danise Cavallaro  in the Development Office for more information.

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Mission Statement 

Dedham Country Day School:

 

Provides to each child a unique educational balance of challenging academics, arts, and athletics; 

Embraces an inclusive interdependent community of students, teachers, and parents that fosters trust and encourages children to take risks;

Creates independent, resilient, lifelong learners through engaging, developmentally-based teaching designed to meet varied learning styles;
Inspires students to become caring, ethical members of the larger world by emphasizing thoughtful citizenship and respect for self and others.


Development Office
Contact Information 
Tara Spalding
Director of Development

Ashley Linell
Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs

Leslie Bowen
Director of Communications

Danise Cavallaro
Development Associate

Julie Hagan
Director of Constituent Relations, Archivist