JCDS Hosts Children's Author Jane R. Wood
Author Jane R. Wood spoke with Jacksonville Country Day School fourth graders on March 8, 2010. The students have been reading some of Mrs. Wood's books as part of the fourth grade curriculum on Florida history.
Mrs. Wood has written four children's fiction books, three of which take place in Florida. Voices in St. Augustine is a mystery set in the nation's oldest city. Adventures on Amelia Island: a Pirate, a Prince, and Buried Treasure takes place in an area where pirates once roamed. Trouble on the St. Johns River has an environmental theme. All three of these books have received a Mom's Choice Award®, a national award that recognizes "quality, family-friendly" products.
Her newest boook, Ghosts on the Coast: a Visit to Savannah and the Low Country, takes place in Savannah, Charleston, and Pawleys Island, SC. To learn more about her books, visit her website at www.janewoodbooks.com.
JCDS Pool Goes Geothermal
Jacksonville Country Day School, once again a pioneer, is employing cutting edge technology with the installation of a geothermal heating system for the school's new swimming pool. JCDS will have the only swimming pool in northeast Florida to use this new technology.
The geothermal system requires less electricity to operate, leaves a small carbon footprint, and operates with a cost savings of thirty percent compared with other heating systems.
This environmentally friendly system will allow opportunities to expand the physical education swim program. Swimming classes are required for all students in junior kindergarten through sixth grade. Swimming instruction helps students not only learn safety skills but also the value of lifetime fitness.
JCDS also hosts a nationally sanctioned swim club that uses the pool after school hours. This team, open to the community at large, affords parents and youngsters the convenience of participating in a "first class" program right here on campus. Having a heated pool allows competitive swimmers to practice and compete all through the year.
Students Get Into Soil
Fourth grade students had guest visitors in the science lab Monday, December 14, 2009. Frank Watts and Oren Reed are Pedologists, or Soil Scientists. Mr. Watts is retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Department, formerly called the Soil Conservation Service, and led the effort designating 'Myakka Fine Sand' as Florida's official state soil. Both Mr. Watts and Mr. Reedy were also involved in the development of the Smithsonian Soils Exhibit project. What a wonderful enrichment opportunity this is for our students during their 'Soil' unit of study!
4th Annual Holiday Book Drive
The 4th annual JCDS Preprimary Holiday Book Drive, held on December 11, 2009, was a huge success. Preprimary students from JCDS donated two hundred plus books to BOOKS-A-GO GO. This service-learning project serves a dual purpose, providing books to underprivileged children and teaching our youngest learners the importance of giving back to the community.
The children presented these books to Betty Metz, president of BOOKS-A-GO GO, a nonprofit organization, which provides new and used books to low-income families. JCDS preprimary students performed chores to purchase the books they donated to BOOKS-A-GO GO. Christy Maurer, PJK teacher, shared some of the jobs the children did to earn money to purchase the books. Betty Metz concluded the event by explaining how the books will benefit less fortunate children during the holiday season.
National Educator Trains JCDS Faculty
Renowned educator Dr. Dennis Denenberg recently provided professional development for Jacksonville Country Day School's faculty and staff. The nationally recognized speaker shared his skills for inspiring students to learn about real heroes. The faculty was taught easy ways to incorporate the lives of heroes into every lesson and program in the school. Numerous opportunities to create "WOW" moments for children were demonstrated and taught.
Having graduated from the same university as his hero, Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Denenberg matriculated from the College of William and Mary to obtain a graduate degree from Pennsylvania State University. His lifelong career in education has afforded him the opportunity to teach high school social studies, serve as a school principal, and work as an assistant superintendent of schools. In his current work, leading educators, he has visited 38 states sharing his unique approach to teaching children about heroes.
JCDS teachers, Linda Basich and Judy Stoner, first heard Dr. Denenberg speak at the Summer Institute for Character Education, the Center for the 4th and 5th R's (Respect & Responsibility) in Cortland, New York. When the Parents' Association made funds available for Character Education training, the suggestion was made to bring Dr. Denenberg to JCDS.
Character education funding was a priority for the Parents' Association during the last school year. JCDS parents continue to appreciate the focus on character education in the school community. The Parents' Association also provided funding for additional character education materials for the classrooms.
Dr. Denenberg created his own "WOW" moments for JCDS educators as he shared portions of his recently released book, "50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet!"
Student Artwork on Display at Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville Country Day School is proud to announce the new student art exhibit at Jacksonville International Airport. Fifteen sixth graders painted self-portraits which can be seen in Concourse C of the airport. The artwork will remain on display until February of 2010.
Shaw Lane, JCDS art specialist, incorporated photography, technology, and the study of value into this project. She began by teaching the value scale to illustrate the different degrees of shadowing. By using shades of black and white paint, students represented facial coutours in their work. Liike an impressionist painting, the points of value in these portraits come together to reveal the entire face when viewed from a distance. This exhibit reflects the personaility, creativity, and determination of the JCDS artists.
JCDS 4th Graders are Published
Jacksonville Country Day School is proud to announce that 25 out of its 61 fourth graders will be published in "Award-Winning Young Writers of America," a collection of short stories and poems.
Dr. Judy Stoner, a JCDS teacher, submitted poetry from JCDS fourth graders to the the 2009 Southern Region Young Writers of America Poetry Contest. A panel of educators reviewed thousands of submissions and selected less than twenty percent for publication.
3rd Graders Honor Veterans at Shands Hospital
Jacksonville Country Day School 3rd graders were invited to perform at Shands Hospital on Tuesday, November 10. Thanh Hogan, a doctor at Shands and a parent at JCDS, contacted Virginia Dickert, music specialist, about having students sing for the hospital's Veterans Day Celebration.
Every year JCDS has a Veterans Day show. In addition to this year's show, the 3rd graders expressed their appreciation to veterans by performing at Shands Hospital.
JCDS was excited about the opportunity to perform at Shands Hospital and also to honor the veterans in such a special way.
JCDS 5th Grade Students Study the Brain with Dr. Roger Reep
Wednesday, October 28th, Dr. Roger Reep visited Jacksonville Country Day School science lab for an enrichment lesson regarding fifth grade's "Human Body Systems" unit. Dr. Reep, a professor of Physiological Sciences at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as a prior JCDS student, visits JCDS each year to bring the "Human Body Systems" unit to life for the students.
This year, Dr. Reep's presentation included an information session about the brain, a variety of preserved brain specimens for students to examine, and a tissue slide preparation. Additionally, each class had the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with Dr. Reep and his assistants.
The children really enjoyed being able to hold the animal brains in their hands as well as examine the brain tissue under the microscope. This opportunity allowed the elementary students to make a fundamental connection between what they have studied in class and what an actual brain looks and feels like.
Florida Bonded Pools Sponsors
Young Writers' Workshop and Book Fair
Jacksonville Country Day School now has a state-of-the-art aquatic center, an exciting new swim program and an improved physical education curriculum, made possible by the dedication of the JCDS community and Annual Fund. Through an extensive search, JCDS contracted Florida Bonded Pools to build a new aquatic center. During the construction, JCDS and Florida Bonded Pools developed a connection beyond a business relationship.
Jeff Clarkson, President of Florida Bonded Pools, has a deep appreciation for the JCDS community and became captivated with the mission of the school. When approached by the school to participate in its corporate sponsorship program, Clarkson quickly agreed to support two large school events, the 2010 Young Writers’ Workshop and the 2010 Book Fair.
Clarkson feels particularly strong about supporting the Young Writers’ Workshop because JCDS is offering children in the Jacksonville community the opportunity to become better writers. As an added benefit, the visiting young writers will have the opportunity to use the new Aquatic Center.
JCDS would like to recognize Jeff Clarkson and his company, Florida Bonded Pools, for the outstanding work on the new Aquatic Center and for their extreme generosity and support of JCDS.
JCDS Chinese Class
Knowing the importance of teaching multiple languages to young students, Jacksonville Country Day School now offers Chinese classes as part of the enrichment program. With comprehensive training in Spanish already in place, the school sees the need to expand language opportunities. The Chinese program has had great success with the JCDS community and has doubled in size from last year.
The current Chinese class for JCDS students started on September 9 and will run ten weeks. The class includes various methods to familiarize the children with the language, such as: songs, art projects, crafts, food, as well as written and oral work. Chinese classes are also offered to children enrolled in JCDS Summer Camp. For more information, please contact Chris Kemph at (904) 641-6644 for further information.
“My son, Tyler, is learning Mandarin Chinese in a fun way," said Iliana Leonard, JCDS Spanish Specialist. "Last week the students were singing Happy Birthday in Chinese and acting out a mini-story about a tiger! The group also played a game similar to duck-duck-goose to practice counting. Mrs. Dulaney, the teacher, also teaches Chinese at Bolles and Episcopal and I was amazed at how great she has adapted her lessons to the Elementary age students. Tyler looks forward to Wednesdays because he has Chinese after school.”
In the News
Please check back frequently for updated articles about JCDS and press releases about school activities. If you are a member of the media and require immediate information, please the school at 904-641-6644.
