Marin Country Day School
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| Marin Country Day School | |
| respect, responsibility, compassion | |
| Established | 1956 |
| School type | Independent |
| Religious affiliation | none |
| Location | Corte Madera, California, USA |
| Campus | K-8, |
| Enrollment | approx. 540 |
| Faculty | 70 |
| Average class size | aprox. 18 |
| Student:teacher ratio |
8:1 |
| Athletics | 4 varsity sports, 3 club sports |
| Homepage | mcds.org |
Marin Country Day School is an independent coeducational day school serving grades K-8 located in Corte Madera, California. The student body is made up of 540 students who are expected to follow the school's key guidelines of "Respect, Responsibility, and Compasion".
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[edit] History
Founded in 1956 by Barbara Mendenhall, the school originally consisted of circus tents located on a thirty-four-acre hillside overlooking the San Francisco Bay, which were given to the school by an anonymous donor. Eventually, money was found to build temporary classrooms, followed by the construction of permanent classrooms and related facilities. The purpose of the school was to develop not only the minds, but the character of students. There was an emphasis on the importance of the arts and an appreciation of nature. Those goals remain a part of the school's philosophy to this day.
The first teachers came from all over the United States. During the 1950s and 1960s, the student body was small -- under 300 students. The school was divided into an "upper school" and a "lower school". Facilities used by all students included an Assembly Room, Library, blacktop, playing field, riding ring and the Art and Music buildings. For sports purposes, each grade was divided into two teams, the "Blues" and the "Greens". Eighth graders graduated on "Step-Up" day by moving up one tier on a set of wooden pilings built into a hillside between the Art and Music buildings. The tradition holds to this day. Two other long-standing traditions are the fall Book Fair to raise money for the school, and "Kite Day", which takes place in the spring. Students, parents and friends of the school picnic and fly kites on the hillsides overlooking the main campus.
In the late 1960s, a large gymnasium and additional classrooms were constructed in the vicinity of the "upper field". The student body was enlarged, and a ninth grade class was added for several years. Then it was decided to go back to educating students only through the eighth grade.
In 1970, a bizarre incident occurred where a boulder slid off an adjacent hillside and nearly crashed through a wall into the upper easternmost classroom that at the time was occupied by lower school students. The rock was six to eight feet across and was estimated to weigh in excess of two tons.
As more money continued to flow into the school's system, they were able to establish more and more connections with which to aid their students. In the early 1990's, they began programs such as Beyond Borders and a science and technology initiative, securing their place as a large and influential member of the area's community for years to come.
[edit] Mission Statement
MCDS Mission Statement (Adopted 1997) In 1956 an adventurous group of parents and educators from Marin County and San Francisco joined together to found MCDS. They believed that children should love coming to school, that learning is a lifelong process and that each child’s unique gifts should be nurtured. They believed that boys and girls have much to learn from each other. They valued equally the development of mind, body and spirit. It was no accident that they decided to start a “country day school,” closely linked to nature, which would allow room for study and laughter, noise and quiet, thought and action.
With scarce financial resources available the founders chose to invest heavily in people, seeking teachers whose passion for their craft, life experiences and deep commitment to children would help kids grow up healthy. They believed that members of a diverse school community could contribute immeasurably to the well-being of one another and established a scholarship fund in the very first year. They understood the importance of the family/school partnership, and encouraged all families to participate as fully in the life of the school as individual circumstances permitted. This participatory tradition and the very special spirit which it engenders are alive and well today.
[edit] Campus
35 acres; 34 Classrooms, Science Laboratories, Computer Laboratory, Music and Art Buildings, Library, Performing Arts Auditorium, Marine Science Dock, Gymnasium, Multipurpose Room, MCDS/PM and ASAP Headquarters
[edit] Enrollment
540 in Grades K-8 59% from Marin County, 39% from San Francisco, 2% from East Bay & Sonoma
[edit] Tuition
Tuition Ranges for 2006-07:
Kindergarten – Second Grade $19,815
Third – Fifth Grade $20,505
Sixth – Eighth Grade $22,945
[edit] Headmasters and Key Faculty
- Isabel Chestnut
- Peter Rothermel (beginning 1963)
- Malcolm Manson
- David M. Rivers (1982-87)
- Edward J. Sibley (1987-88)
- Timothy W. Johnson (1988-2003)
- Nick Thatcher (Interim)
- Lucinda Lee Katz (2004-present)
Other notable faculty include: Barry Mineah (music), Robert Littell (history), Mme. Surovtsof (French), Leo Christianson (music), Mrs. Hertzel (science), Hope Williams (2nd grade), Mrs. Woodward (2nd grade), Mrs. Jones (4th grade), Mrs. Yates (horseback riding), Mr. Sibley (math), Mr. Graulich (history and social studies), and Rob Nelson (English and filmmaking). Barry Mineah took students on backpacking trips to the Sierras, Canada, Austria, Scotland, Ireland, Russia (twice), Romania and Tahiti. Every eighth grade class was required to present a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. The tradition was later expanded to include musicals such as "Oklahoma". Tragically, Jeff Mineah, Barry's son and graduate of MCDS 1971, died in 1991 at the age of 35.
[edit] Present
In later years, the school upgraded its music facilities and added a theater program. Bay front property was purchased to expand the campus eastward across Paradise Drive. Today, Marin Country Day School has a larger student body of 530 students, but it remains focused on its core mission of educating both the hearts and minds of its students.
The year 2006 was MCDS' 50th anniversary and the school had planned a year long celebration of this milestone.
[edit] Affiliations
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Association for Supervision of Curricular Development (ASCD) Bay Area Independent School Heads Association (BAISHA) Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) California Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) National Association for College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) National Middle School Association (NMSA) National Association of Principals for Schools for Girls (NAPSG) Pacific Basin Consortium (PBC) People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS) Wellesley Centers for Women Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE) Association of Bay Area Development Officers (ABADO) Bay Area Directors of Admission (BADA) Independent School Business Officers Association (ISBOA)
