The halls of Wakefield Country Day School are noticeably quieter with students on summer break. However, the end of the school year doesn’t mark an end to progress. The school’s summer camp program is in full swing, the admissions office and administrative staff are as busy as ever, and new programs are in various stages of planning, implementation and even completion.
As Head of School John Elmore begins his second term, WCDS concludes an impressive year of firsts — not only for Elmore, but for many programs he has created and improved.
He expanded Wakefield’s partnerships with the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel’s (CSIET) certified international organizations, diversifying and strengthening our robust international student program. He has introduced us to One Schoolhouse, an expansive online consortium bringing a wider class selection to students in independent schools.
He ushered in a new era of athletics. Together with Athletic Director Nile Patel and the phenomenal coaching staff, he has overseen first-ever tournament berths for multiple teams, career-highs for stellar student athletes and the creation of a Coaching Hall of Fame.
Ground has broken on new campus-improvement projects including the revitalization of the outdoor playground with a new basketball court, new hoops and a repaved blacktop.
The school pauses to say a bittersweet farewell to two beloved teachers, Dr. Gustavo Tisera and Susan O’Donnell. As they retire to North Carolina and Georgia, respectively, to be closer to family, their presence will be deeply missed.
The average tenure of WCDS faculty is over a decade, and O’Donnell shared three of these past 10 years with her second-grade students and lower school cheerleading advisors. For Dr. Tisera, affectionately known as ‘Señor,’ his past 17 years were spent fostering a love for Spanish and sports, both as Wakefield’s middle and upper school Spanish teacher as well as longtime coach of the varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. Both teachers leave an enduring legacy in the annals of WCDS history.
Looking forward, the school is thrilled to have librarian and Lower School Enrichment Specialist Julia Carney move into the role of second-grade teacher, continuing to nurture the students to whom she has already taught so much. WCDS also welcomes incoming Spanish teacher Jenny La Rotta, whose 20-year career of teaching at the high school and college level will supplement the faculty and staff.