KCD Headlines

Eighth graders present endangered species projects

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:17:22 +0000

On Tuesday, March 6, eighth graders completed their project on endangered species with formal presentations on their research of animals from around the world. The presentations were given in front of classmates as well as a panel of teachers and parents. Students had to give a persuasive argument as to why their species needed to be protected and preserved and to explain the steps they would take to make it happen. The six most persuasive students had the honor of presenting their reports in front of the whole eighth grade class.

Photo set on Flickr

Varsity girls place 15th in indoor state track championship

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:15:04 +0000

The varsity boys’ and girls’ track and field team competed in their first meet of the season at the 2010 Kentucky Class A Indoor State Championship at Broadbent Arena. Nine Bearcat athletes competed in the annual meet, which is also called the Mason-Dixon Games. Seven individuals scored points, and one team member set a KCD indoor track and field record.

Highlights from the event included a fourth-place finish for the girls’ 800m relay team of Chelsea Klein, Lyle Gernert, Olivia Tennant, and Mallory Eisenbrei. Sophomore Healey Loeffler placed fifth in the shot put with an impressive indoor school record distance of 28’01.25”. Additional scorers in the meet were senior Daniel Greene (eighth in the 800m) and freshman Meredith Brown (eighth in the 1500m). Other impressive competitors in the meet were Sam Summers in the 55m and Johnny Marcsik in the 1500m.

Collectively, the six members of the girls’ team placed fifteenth in the state indoor championship, representing the fifth-best female finish in KCD history. This indoor event provides great experience for both the boys’ and girls’ teams as they prepare for the outdoor season.

Third graders create egg helmets

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:13:47 +0000

On Wednesday, March 10, third grade students in Susan Nevel’s class had the task of making creative egg “helmets.”

The helmets were used to protect an egg that had to be dropped from various heights. Students were evaluated on the creativity of their helmets. The majority of the helmets served their purpose and protected the eggs from breaking. Materials used to protect the eggs included marshmallows, cotton balls, yarn, bubble wrap, plastic, bowtie pasta, and much more.

Photo set on Flickr

Middle school track returns to Mason-Dixon Games

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:10:35 +0000

The middle school track and field team sent seven competitors to the 2010 Mason-Dixon Games, which serve as Kentucky’s middle school indoor track and field state championship. After a four-year hiatus, new head coach Chris Herrick decided to travel back to Broadbent Arena for the marquee middle school event. According to Coach Herrick, the event serves as great preparation for the upcoming outdoor spring track and field season. Although the middle school event is limited to grades six through eight, the Mason-Dixon Games are not divided by size classification. Many events, therefore, receive over a hundred entries.

Five Bearcats placed high in the event standings, including a thirteenth-place finish by the girls’ 800m relay team of Selena Morgan, Kaitlyn Dwyer, Brigitta Hendren, and Catherine Lavin. Brigitta placed 35th in the girls’ 1500m, Catherine finished 36th (out of 139 competitors) in the girls’ 55m, and Hans Naake placed 36th in the boys’ long jump. Other notable competitors for the Bearcats included George Arnold in the boy’ 55m and Jack Smith in the boys’ 400m.

Coach Herrick says that he looks forward to competing with his entire roster, including a strong group of fifth-graders, in the upcoming spring track season.

¡Feliz Viaje!

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:33:41 +0000

This morning, upper schoolers said farewell to our five friends from Argentina. Constanza, Mariel, Manuel, Rodrigo, and Facundo have been at KCD since Winter Break and are returning to La Plata tomorrow. Esperamos que tengan un buen viaje, que vuelvan algún día, y que no se olviden de nosotros.

Winter athletes honored at US awards assembly

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:21:00 +0000

Upper school athletes participating in winter sports were recognized during the upper school assembly period this morning. Pictures of board award winners in each sport are up on Flickr.

Wrestling

Thomas G. Monaco Award: Hardy Hendren

Boys’ Swimming/Diving

Swimming Board Award: Sam Crockett
Rising Future Star Award: Heyward Harrison
Coaches Award: Max Griffin
Most Improved Swimmer: Beau Ferguson
Coaches Diving Award: Jason Harter

Girls’ Swimming/Diving

Swimming Board Award: Olivia Hampton
Rising Future Star Award: Darby Witherspoon
Coaches Award: Malorie Eisenbrei
Most Improved Swimmer: Anna Sims

Boys’ Basketball

Steven Hoenig Basketball Award: Alex Semple
Coaches Award: Martin Resinger
Best Teammate Award: Jason Geer
Most Valuable Defensive Player Award: Martin Resinger
Most Valuable Offensive Player Award: Ward Paschal

Girls’ Basketball

Steven Hoenig Basketball Award: Shelbi Hendricks
Coaches Award: Ellen Esterhay
Most Valuable Defensive Player Award: Margaret Giesel
Most Valuable Offensive Player Award: Emory Goins
Most Improved: Meredith Garner
JV Most Valuable Offensive Player: Ellen Resinger
JV Most Valuable Defensive Player: Tahlia Hodes
JV Most Improved Player: Kirby Roberts

Kindergartners welcome parents to music program

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:50:32 +0000

This morning, parents joined kindergartners in the choral music room for a musical program featuring American themes and music. According to music teacher LuAnn Hayes, these programs provide a great opportunity to share with parents what their children are doing in music class and to highlight the curricular connections between music and other disciplines.

Photo set on Flickr

Art students welcome college rep

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:26:26 +0000

Last week, upper school art students welcomed Alyse Ronayne from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

In addition to surveying MICA’s programs and facilities, Ms. Ronayne also discussed a wide variety of career paths in both fine and commercial arts.

Once Upon a Mattress is no snoozer!

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:37:08 +0000

Congratulations to the cast and crew of the upper school musical Once Upon a Mattress on a production that kept audiences entertained with a mixture of singing, dancing, and comedy.

Once Upon A Mattress was directed Kate Scinta with musical direction by Karen Welsh and choreography by Diane Thurmond. The set was designed by Rudy Keel.

Photo set on Flickr

Middle School Students of Color Conference has record attendance

james.booker — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:31:42 +0000

The third annual Middle School Students of Color Conference was once again a fantastic success. With over sixty students and three new schools participating, the event has become a staple on the independent school spring calendar. The students discussed issues of race, religion, culture, and identity in workshops and affinity groups, but mostly just had fun! The day ended in a spectacular fashion show organized and run by our very own KCD students.

Diversity Coordinator Dexter Mahaffey was pleased with the outcome of this year’s conference. “What was most striking about this year's conference was how focused and intense the conversations between the students were right from the beginning. It seems that students and faculty chaperones are very clear what they're here to do, and they get right down to it. From our opening speech by youth leader Hisham Al-Qaisi to the mid-day talk by DJ Bone and closing session and party, the energy and commitment of these students was fantastic.”

Mr. Mahaffey also notes that the conference will change hands next year. “After founding and hosting the conference for its first three years, we will pass the baton to Sayre School of Lexington, who will take over hosting responsibilities in 2011. We look forward to taking a large and spirited delegation of KCD middle school students to that fourth annual event next year!”

Thank you to the KCD faculty that helped organize the day, run workshops, and make the conference a success: Lisa Stringfellow, Marjorie Seely, Kathryn Balbach, Matt Evans, Rachel Rawlings, Connor Bell, Rudy Keel, Annie Glosky, and Dexter Mahaffey. Thanks also to Ann Ponniah and Rennay Cooke for helping out.

Photo set on Flickr