Through the eyes of our student-athletes, Faculty & Staff Appreciation is a celebration of the relationships that define the Country Day experience.
Some of the most meaningful lessons take place beyond the pages of a textbook.
They happen when a teacher notices that a student is having a difficult day. When a coach remembers an athlete from years earlier. When an advisor makes time to listen. When a staff member's smile can change the tone of an entire day.
During our Faculty & Staff Appreciation Games, Country Day student-athletes had the opportunity to recognize the faculty and staff members who have made a lasting impact on their lives. Each athlete selected someone from the Country Day community to accompany them during starting lineups and shared why that person’s impact resonates with them.
What emerged was more than a celebration of individual teachers, coaches, and staff members. It was a reflection of what makes Country Day who we are - a community grounded in exceptional staff, community connection, purposeful service and well-being for all.
Most importantly, it was a reminder that at the center of it all are the people and our relationships that make all the difference.
The Best Teachers See the Whole Student
Ask a student what makes a great teacher, and the answer is rarely just about the subject being taught in the classroom.
Our students talked about teachers who made them feel known, seen, and understood. Teachers who challenged them while supporting them. Teachers who took an interest in their lives beyond the classroom.
Mia Bianchi and Holland Wilkins chose Mr. Stanton because he made math a class they genuinely looked forward to. They appreciated the way he made the material engaging while also asking about their sports, families, and interests.
He makes students feel "included and seen," they shared, and his genuine enjoyment of teaching makes his classroom a place they look forward to being a part of. The same connection is evident in the way students describe Mr. Tuttle.
Eva Parsons and Safiya Hijazin choose him because he makes class something to look forward to and is always willing to take time out of his day to help. And, of course, they couldn't leave out his unforgettable sense of humor.
For Eliana Patt and Ava Sumich, Dr. Combs' positivity and energy made all the difference.
“Dr. Combs is exactly what you would want in an amazing teacher,” they shared. From the first day of biology, they found her kind, welcoming, helpful, and positive. What mattered most, though, was knowing that she genuinely cared about every student and wanted the best for them.
They also recognized something particularly meaningful: Dr. Combs is someone they can turn to with questions about school - or about life. She listens, helps find answers, and knows how to lighten the mood with her personality.
That is the power of a Country Day teacher: to teach a subject while also helping shape a student to find strength and positivity in themselves.
Community Is in the Connections
Community at Country Day is built over time - sometimes over a semester, sometimes over a season, and sometimes over their entire youth.
Sanaa Mohammed chose Coach Laurel Shelley because she has known her since first grade. Coach Laurel was once her P.E. teacher and is now her volleyball coach, giving her a front-row seat to Sanaa's growth over the years.
“She has always been there for me,” Sanaa shared.
For Natalie Kerrins, Coach Laurel represents the joy that comes from those lasting connections. She called her a “favorite coach” and pointed to the memories they've created together - including their special handshake.
For Ella Stigliano, that connection has stretched from the softball field to the classroom and beyond. What began with Mr. McMorris as her recreational softball coach continued through his work as a teacher, and even after he was no longer her teacher, he continued to help her with math and support her along the way.
And sometimes, a teacher's impact lasts long after a student has left the classroom.
Ella Standish is now a junior, but she still remembers her fifth-grade science teacher, Mrs. Cooper. She recalls how Mrs. Cooper could “light up any room,” how her kindness could turn around a difficult day, and how their shared love of volleyball made the experience unforgettable.
“She left a lasting impact that has stayed with me long after leaving her classroom,” Ella shared.
These relationships are part of what makes a school feel like a community.
Students know their teachers. Teachers know their students. Coaches become mentors. Advisors become advocates. And the people who work at Country Day become part of the stories our students carry with them.
Service Starts With Showing Up
Sometimes, service looks like volunteering in the community or leading a service project. And sometimes it looks much simpler: listening, encouraging, advocating, and being there for someone when they need you.
Kennedy Huggins chose Ms. Sarah because she has been a constant source of love, guidance, kindness, and support throughout her life. Kennedy specifically recognized the way Ms. Sarah listens, offers advice, notices the little things, and supports students through every moment.
Laine Wilkinson described Ms. Sharp in a similar way. She appreciates the time Ms. Sharp gives to her students, her willingness to advocate for them, and the positive atmosphere she creates in both class and advisory.
For Claire Barquin and Chase Parker, Mrs. Koutsokalis represents another important kind of service: pushing students to be their best while making sure they know they are supported along the way. They described her as kind and encouraging, someone who challenges them to do their best both in class and in their everyday lives. Her positive classroom environment and willingness to help students learn have made a lasting impression.
Morgan Williams chose ChaChi Sullivan because of the impact he has had on her both as a person and as an athlete. She described his patience, kindness, and humor and said he has helped her push herself and become a better version of herself.
At its heart, service is about putting others first.
And for our students, some of the best examples of that kind of service are right here in our own community.
Healthy Living Means Helping Students Thrive
Belonging. Connection. Confidence. Joy.
Having trusted adults who can celebrate your successes, help you through challenges, and remind you that you are capable is part of what helps our students thrive and grow.
Matilda Nelson chose Mrs. July because of the simple joy she brings to the school day. Matilda loves the way Mrs. July greets her with a smile and a wave - a small interaction that has become a favorite part of her day.
Elyah Pieper and Alex Roff both recognized Mrs. NJ (Brie Nabet Jones) for the positive energy she brings to their days and the way she celebrates students' successes.
And Julie Barton described Ms. Stern as someone who makes students feel important and cared for as people, not simply as students sitting in an English classroom.
Those moments matter. They remind us that helping students thrive means caring about the whole person - their accomplishments, their challenges, their interests, their relationships, and their well-being.
A Community That Shows Up
Our students' words tell a story that goes far beyond an appreciation game. They tell the story of a school where relationships matter and remind us that the most meaningful impact often comes through these relationships.
They tell the story of teachers who invest in students, coaches who become mentors, staff members who bring joy to the school day, and adults who continue to show up for students long after a class or season has ended. They encourage students, challenge them, listen to them, celebrate their successes, and help them through moments that aren't always easy.
The people who make the biggest difference in our lives are often the ones who simply show up for us - day after day.
At Country Day, that is what community looks like.
And a community that shows up, day after day, is determined to help our students become the people they want to be.
Go BUCS!