The Country School

Country School Students Inducted into National Honor Society

October 31, 2019 by The Country School

Back row from left: Nicholas Kellogg ‘16, Colin Ward ‘17, Lily Berntsen ‘17, Lydia Periconi ‘17, Glynis Gardner ‘17, Sydney Nittle ‘17; front row from left: Adie Parish ‘17 and Olivia Hershey ‘17. Not pictured: Lilli Ward ‘17.

On October 29, 2019, nine Country School alumni were inducted into the National Honor Society at The Gunston School.

The Gunston School honored several students, including nine Country School graduates. Inductees have demonstrated achievement in the following four pillars:

– Scholarship: A cumulative GPA of 85, B, 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent standard of excellence.
– Service: Voluntary contributions to the school or community, done without compensation.
– Leadership: Resourceful, good problem solvers, and idea contributors. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.
– Character: The student of good character is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and generally maintains a clean disciplinary record.

These pillars directly align with The Country Schools 9 core values, woven into our curriculum and daily conversations throughout our students’ careers here. It is our mission to graduate students who will continue on to high school as focused, thoughtful, driven individuals with a commitment to service, leadership, and character, and we congratulate these nine students who continue to do their best always.

Country School Students Wins VFW Essay Contest

December 19, 2018 by The Country School

Country School eighth graders entered a local writing contest sponsored by the VFW, with this year’s theme being: “Why I honor the American flag.” Of the 80 essays submitted in our district, Damian René was the winner.

It was Damian’s thoughtful and articulate writing that captured the attention of contest judges and won him $100 and the honor of being recognized and appreciated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

L-R: VFW member Michael Johnson, Country School English teacher Chris Nittle, Country School 8th grader Damian René, and VFW member Kenley Timms.

Damian writes: “The American flag should be honored because it stands for courage, vigilance, and perseverance. It honors the men and women who died in the line of the duty, veterans, and the ones currently serving the country and overseas … [It] also stands for positive ideas and values [such as] justice, perseverance, and valor … [and] as Mark Twain said, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.’ Presidents will come and go, but the ideas and values of the flag and the country will not cease to exist. We show respect to the flag not to concentrate on our disagreements, but on what unites us as citizens of The United States of America.”

Construction Starts at The Country School

May 25, 2018 by The Country School

Willow Construction, one of the largest and most trusted commercial construction firms on Delmarva, has begun work on The Country School, a private school in Easton, Maryland. Work began on Monday, April 23^rd, and is expected to take 16 months to complete the project and be ready for the 2019-2020 school year. The project consists of three phases. Phase one includes construction of a new parking lot and drop off/pick up lanes and associated site work. Phase two consists of construction of a new, two story, 20,000 square foot brick building to house the upper school. The last phase of the project will include renovations of the existing Lower School. “Our team is beyond thrilled about this opportunity to not only enhance this prestigious institution but also to update the gateway to Downtown Easton. Additionally, we are proud that The Country School has put their trust in a locally owned and operated company, such as ours, to meet their construction needs” says Mike Hiner, President of Willow Construction. “We love these kinds of projects because we understand what it is going to mean to the people that will be benefiting from the upgraded facilities and supporting the communities we serve.”

Willow Construction has a long history of building educational facilities on the Delmarva Peninsula, including Chesapeake College’s Learning Resource Center, Mace’s Lane Middle School in Cambridge, and The Wye River Upper School in Centreville, Maryland.

15 Students Receive Fall Athletics Awards at The Country School

February 17, 2018 by The Country School

The entire Country School community came together this morning to celebrate wins, acknowledge losses, and recognize the contributions of 15 basketball players to their respective teams.

Front row from left: Brielle Tyler, McKenna Duncan, Caroline Nagel, Billy Hunter, Paget Kellogg, Mekonnen Sahle-Salassi, Alex Urqhart, Jack Dukehart; Back row from left: Isabella Tylor, Sydney Johnson, Joanna Riley, Chillian Cuthbert-Emon, Tierney Smith, Ahmed Ezzaki, Nick Oxnam

Boys Gold Team
Most valuable player: Jack Dukehart
Most improved player: Alex Urqhart
Cougar Award for sportsmanship: Chillian Cuthbert-Emon

Boys Black Team
Most valuable player: Mekonnen Sahle-Salassi
Most improved player: Paget Kellogg
Cougar Award for sportsmanship: Billy Hunter

Boys A Team
Most valuable player: Ahmed Ezzaki
Most improved player: Tierney Smith
Cougar Award for sportsmanship: Nick Oxnam

Girls A Team
Most valuable player: McKenna Duncan
Most improved player: Caroline Nagel
Cougar Award for sportsmanship: Brielle Tyler

Girls B Team
Most valuable player: Joanna Riley
Most improved player: Isabella Taylor
Cougar Award for sportsmanship: Sydney Johnson

Country School Student Wins Prestigious Writing Award

May 3, 2016 by The Country School

Country School 5th grader Lauren Farley attended a celebration on Wednesday, April 27, for the World Artists Experiences writing contest winners. Around 30 students of all ages whose writing was chosen on the theme “The Extended Hands of Friendship” were recognized at the event.

Lauren’s story is called “Competitors, but Also Friends” and is about a new friend she made at a rival figure skating competition in 2015. She says, “It was fun to be able to incorporate the topic of friendship with my favorite sport of figure skating.”

Because World Artists Experiences seeks to promote cultural understanding, the celebration was held at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center in Washington DC, a property of the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman. “I enjoyed learning about Omani culture and meeting the other student writers,” says Lauren.

Lauren received two copies of the bound anthology of all the winning essays & poems—one for her and one for The Country School. The publication was presented to the winners by the Omani Ambassador to the U.S. and attendees were treated to music and snacks from the country of Oman. Dr. Michael Glaser, former Poet Laureate of Maryland, was the project director and editor for the volume.

“This was a wonderful experience for Lauren,” says her mother, Ann Farley. “We are thankful to The Country School and her teachers for all they do to encourage her in writing, and in life.”

The Country School Named 2016 Maryland Green School

April 25, 2016 by The Country School

The Country School is pleased to announce that it has been certified as a 2016 Maryland Green School by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE). Maryland Green Schools are part of a national and international community of sustainable green schools.

Over the past two years, The Country School has demonstrated and documented a continuous effort to integrate sustainable environmental management practices, environmental education curriculum, professional development opportunities, and community engagement into our daily operations. This award signifies that our school has made a commitment to our students becoming better stewards of our Earth’s resources, developing a better understanding of their own local environment, and reducing the school’s impact on the environment.

The Maryland Green Schools program encourages educational opportunities for preK-12 schools that increase awareness and understanding of environmental relationships that impact public health and the local community. The program is aligned with Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement 2014 goals and supports Maryland State Department of Education graduation,“Students, teachers, school personnel, parents, and community partners are working together to create a positive and lasting environment at school. Their actions are essential to becoming a Maryland Green School,” says Laura Johnson Collard, MAEOE Executive Director.

Students are involved in projects that save energy, reduce waste, and other sustainable practices. Schools are also encouraged to use the school grounds as an extension of the classroom. Getting students outdoors is crucial for their connection with the environment.

“I am proud that the faculty and staff on our Green School Committee have successfully spearheaded the effort to educate and model for our students a respect for the environment,” said Headmaster Neil Mufson. “There have been significant school-wide behavioral changes that we have made that we hope will lead students to see environmental stewardship as MAEOE will celebrate with Green Schools, Green Centers, and schools that are interested in knowing more about the program at the Annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit on May 13, 2016, at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis.

Country School Honor Students Named

April 16, 2016 by The Country School

The Country School would like to recognize and congratulate the following students on their achieving 2nd Term Honor Roll:

Effort Honors:

4th Grade:

Avery Andrews, Ava Berntsen, Macie Brock, Annaleise Darby-Donovan, Patrick Gallagher,

Sydney Johnson, Lydia Kelly, Rowan Larkin, Maeve Mufson, Kate Porter, Finnley Pritchett, Tyler

Rardin, Joanna Riley, Ava Runz, Arielle Tyler

5th Grade:

Madilyn Algier, Julian Bauer, Katherine Booth, Kate Campbell, Will Donald, Lauren Farley,

Catherine Hansen, Billy Hunter, Emma Rose Judd, Paget Kellogg, Brae Kilmon, Heath Kelsey,

Garrett Lang, Casey O’Donnell, Isabel Paris, Dean Serino, Mekonnen Shale Selassie, Finn

Theeke, Ella Thomas, Brielle Tyler, Luke VanEmburgh, Yasmin Wells

6th Grade:

Joshua Campbell, Hailey Orellana-Reyes, Fletcher Parsons, Taylor Potter

7th Grade:

Reagan Bradley, Arianna Campi, Kelsey Holt, Emily Ryon, Isabelle VanEmburgh

8th Grade:

Lily Judd

Academic Honors:

6th Grade:

Schuyler Brumbaugh, Will Burgess, Gracie Callahan, Chillian Cuthbert-Emon, Ahmed Ezzaki,

John Hill

7th Grade:

Zack Anderson, Tucker Andrews, Lily Berntsen, Henry Booth, Jasper Hood, Jack O’Donnell,

Anna Roser, Mya Troshinsky

8th Grade:

Will Newberg, Jack Riley

Effort and Academic Honors:

6th Grade:

Jack Dukehart, McKenna Duncan, Jill Esterson, Kate Esterson, Nina Friedman, Jobe Hause,

Colin Lang, Ben McCalmon, Caroline Nagel, Nicholas Oxnam, Mariana Parkinson, Tommy

Quick, Sean Riley, Nicholas Scribner, Grace Serino, Zachary Spofford

7th Grade:

Sam Bishop, Giselle Harris, Olivia Hershey, Madison Norris, Adison Parish, Lydia Periconi,

Greta Schneider

8th Grade:

Tyler Christianson, Alayah Copper, Gardner Edgell, Lilly Evans, Anna Ewing, Callan Godlee,Tyler Hanna, Tara Hertelendy, Jane Hill, Asa Nestlehutt, Thomas Wu

Effort and High Academic Honors:

6th Grade:

Sofia Angarita

7th Grade:

Zadoc Bond, Arden Dukehart, Gigi Friedman, Sydney Nittle, Reid Roach, Heleah Soulati

8th Grade:

Rex Nagel, James Parkinson, Maggie Quick

High Academic Honors:

6th Grade:

Michaela Darby-Donovan

Camp Sunshine Hosts Polar Dip at Tred Avon Yacht Club

March 20, 2016 by The Country School

Many Country School students and their families were “Freezin’ for a Reason” at the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford on Sunday in an effort to raise money for Camp Sunshine. The camp hosts Polar Dips throughout the country and yesterday’s event raised more than $15,500, enough to pay for 6 families to attend the program for children with life-threatening illnesses.

The Loeser family attended Camp Sunshine last summer and amassed “Team Gabe” for the event.

Based in Casco, Maine, on picturesque Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine’s mission is to offer a place of comfort, hope, and support for families facing their most difficult challenges. To date, the organization has served more than 48,500 people from 49 states and 27 countries, and currently stands alone as the only full-time facility in the nation whose sole purpose is to provide respite for the whole family of children with serious medical conditions.

Country School third grader Gabe Loeser attended Camp Sunshine with his family and had a huge outpouring of support at the event. Participants donned yellow and black “Team Gabe” shirts and spent some uncomfortable seconds in the water to support Gabe and his family. Through the generosity of the Loesers’ friends and family, Team Gabe raised more than $5,000.

“We are so grateful and humbled by the support the Country School community and that which so many of our friends have offered to our family,” said David Loeser. “Gabe’s brain tumor diagnosis in 2014 hit all of us hard and our focus was really on his medical improvement. It was easy to allow the magnitude of this to wash out the daily needs of each member of the family.

“When we found out about Camp Sunshine, we were hesitant, frankly. We felt like we had enough sadness and that spending a week with other cancer patients and their families would be too difficult,” Loeser continued. “We couldn’t have been more wrong. Camp Sunshine provides valuable therapy for every member of the family. …We agreed that it was our favorite vacation and hope to attend annually.”

Camp Sunshine is free to families, thanks to donations and sponsorships from civic groups, corporations, foundations, and individuals. Donations were still coming in as the event closed down on Sunday.

“What an amazing event and such a remarkable community,” said Camp Sunshine director Michael Katz. “To see everyone’s heartfelt support for both Gabe and other families facing similar challenges was most inspiring. Between the hard work of local organizers John and Dodi Sutton and the way the entire community rallied together, the event was a huge success. Camp Sunshine is very appreciative of everyone’s efforts and support and looks forward to making this an annual event.”

The Country School would like to extend its deepest thanks to the Camp Sunshine staff for their commitment to children and their families.

Country School Appoints New Lower School Head

March 1, 2016 by The Country School

The Country School is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Lower School Head, Kitty Davis. Davis will succeed Susie Wheeler, current Lower School Head, who will retire at the end of this school year. Wheeler joined The Country School in 1987 as a tutor and was appointed Lower School Head in 1991. She has devoted 25 years to guiding The Country School’s curriculum for kindergarten through grade 4 with a balanced focus on age-appropriate academic challenge, social-emotional health, and overall wellbeing for the school’s youngest students.

Kitty Davis is currently Assistant Lower School Head of Early Childhood Education at Roland Park Country School, a girls’ day school and coed preschool in Baltimore. During the search process, Country School Headmaster Neil Mufson reviewed 55 applications and invited 6 candidates for day-long visits, during which they had interviews with parent, student, trustee, and faculty advisory committees, in addition to the administrative team. Davis quickly made an overwhelmingly positive impression on each group.

“The Country School is truly fortunate to have found Kitty Davis to head our Lower School,” said Mufson. “Her warm and compassionate nature, matched with her focus on truly knowing the children and encouraging joy in learning, makes her an ideal match for us. I feel confident that Kitty will seamlessly carry on the exceptional work that Susie Wheeler has done over the last 25 years.”

Davis has two sons, 23 and 20, and enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and all thing Eastern Shore. The Country School staff are confident that she will soon become an indispensable addition to its faculty and to the Easton community.

The Country School and Others Team Up to Support Brain Tumor Research

November 27, 2015 by The Country School

Left to right: Darlene Jones, Gabe Loeser, Kim Lewers

The Country School presented a check on Monday to Darlene Jones after she ran the Richmond marathon to raise awareness for A Kid’s Brain Tumor Care campaign and in honor of her neighbor, third grader Gabriel Loeser, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014.

Country School P.E. teacher Kim Lewers promoted a “dress down day” for all students and asked that they bring in spare change to raise money for Jones’ campaign. Gabe’s third grade class counted every cent, which totaled $1,247.06.

For years, Jones has run the marathon to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. This year, she decided she would do it for brain tumor research, which is sorely underfunded—particularly the type of tumor Gabe has. And despite injuring both knees during the race, Jones crossed the finish line.

For his part, Gabe asked friends to donate to Jones’ campaign in lieu of gifts for his ninth birthday, raising more than $800.

“Gabe always has a smile on his face,” Jones says. “He has a big heart and is so considerate of others. It was an honor to run for such a worthy cause and an amazing young man.”

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