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Carrollwood Day School Education with Character
2019 CDS earns membership in the Cum Laude Society 2020 CDS recognized as an Entrepreneurial School 2021 Two seniors accumulate over $1 million in scholarship offers 2021 Largest construction project in the history of CDS, Center For Innovation, opens
CDS HISTORY 1982 CDS founded as a preschool 1984 Kindergarten program added 1986 Elementary School opened in Odessa 1992 Odessa campus adds middle school classes
1982 - 2000
2001 - 2009 2003 National School of Character 2004 Blue Ribbon School 2005 IB PYP 2006 CDS moves to Bearss Avenue and welcomes 9th & 10th graders 2009 1st Graduating Class
2010 CDS celebrates first IB Diploma graduates 2011 New elementary campus is built 2014 FHSAA Academic Champions in all divisions
2010 - 2014
2015 - 2018 2016 CDS opens new Hayes Family Gymnasium and Wagner Athletic Complex 2017 National School of Character
2019 - 2021
2022 - 2023 2022 CDS becomes a Round Square school 2023 CDS National School of Character 2023 Opens with the largest number of students in school history
OUR COMMITMENTS
COMMITMENT TO CHARACTER EDUCATION CDS offers a school-wide character education initiative that begins with the Early Childhood Campus through the Upper School. CDS maintains a nationally recognized character education initiative. CDS counseling department provides lessons focused on IB learner profiles and taught through homeroom & advisory programs.
As an IB World School, we cultivate principled entrepreneurial thinkers for a global society by enriching the mind, strengthening the character, and inspiring the passions of our community.
COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE CDS follows the IB goal to develop both performance and moral character through the model of the IB Learner Profile and the IB Attitudes. CDS students learn and apply important life skills to build self-esteem. CDS students experience a safe classroom environment. CDS students develop an understanding that other people, with their differences, can also be right. COMMITMENT TO ESSENTIAL AGREEMENT Peer interaction is facilitated through our “learning community” using the school-wide essential agreement to honor and respect each other. The components of the CDS Essential Agreement are: Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, Appreciation (no put downs), and Right to Pass (only used for non-academic discussions).
As an IB World School, we cultivate principled entrepreneurial thinkers for a global society by enriching the mind, strengthening the character, and inspiring the passions of our community. At CDS we are: Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open- minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reflective
CDS Prepares our students for college INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME Primary Years Programme (PYP): Age 3-Grade 5 The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer both in the classroom and in the world outside. Students focus on six disciplines - Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, Arts, and Personal/Social/Physical Education - taught through six transdisciplinary themes - who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. Exhibition is the culminating event of the PYP as fifth-grade students, working together as a class, use the PYP transdisciplinary skills to identify, investigate and offer solutions to identified real-life issues or problems. Middle Years Programme (MYP): Grades 6-10 The MYP encourages students to become creative, critical, and reflective thinkers. Student learning is centered around a statement of inquiry that allows for both broad concepts and specific skills to be taught simultaneously. Students are deliberately taught the Design Cycle, focusing on research and problem-solving. Students are taught balance by focusing on eight subjects: Mathematics, Sciences, Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Humanities, PE, Technology, and the Arts. Beginning in 8th grade, students are introduced to the college counseling program, which includes: class selection, extra-curricular participation, test prep, community service, and much more. As a culmination of the program, students use the Design Cycle to explore a topic of their choice and create a personal project during their sophomore year.
Diploma Programme (DP): Grades 11-12 The DP is designed as an academically challenging and balanced program of education, which is evaluated using both internal and external assessments. It is normally taught over two years. Students study courses from six categories at the higher or standard level: Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts. During the DP, students work with the college counseling department to research colleges that will fit their needs, test prep, finalize college applications, apply for scholarships and financial aid, and ensure they are ready to transition to college life. There are three additional core requirements: The Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS). Assessment is criterion-based, showing how students perform or work toward the mastery of objectives for each subject area. Students who do not take the IB test in all six areas, or opt-out of one or more of the core requirements, are considered Course Candidates and receive certificates for each of the subjects in which they take the exam. For information about the third graduation option for our students (CDS Graduate), please reach out to the Upper School Head. Carrollwood Day School has been an IB World School since March 2005. CDS is the first IB World School in Florida fully authorized to offer the IB continuum of IB programmes and was the sixth school in the U.S. to achieve this distinction.
CDS is the ONLY school on the west coast of Florida to offer the full IB continuum.
Follow CDS Athletics
CDS ATHLETICS In the 2022-2023 school year, CDS student-athletes achieved many significant accomplishments. The 2022 Fall season set the tone with District Championships in Volleyball (Regional Quarterfinalist), Girls Golf (State Finalist), Boys Swim, and Adele Sands was a State Finalist. Soccer led the way in the winter season with the Girls finishing as District Runner-up and Regional Quarterfinalist and the Boys bringing home a District Championship and Regional Semifinalist. In the spring, we had four District Runners-up in Baseball (Regional Quarterfinalist), Beach Volleyball (Regional Quarterfinalist), Girls Tennis (Regional Qualifier) and Boys Tennis (Regional Qualifier). In Track and Field, LeighAnn Hanley became the newest CDS State Champion in the Discus. CDS athletics had 11 seniors sign last year to compete collegiately in football, basketball, and track and field.
CDS Supports the Arts THEATRE | MUSIC | VISUAL At CDS, music education in the elementary school is a vital component of children's learning and development. Students in 1st - 5th grades learn music fundamentals and concepts that establish a foundation for being lifelong musicians. The music program promotes learning skills such as reading music notation, appreciation of world music, and introduces classroom instruments such as unpitched percussion, Orff instruments, world drums, boomwhackers, recorders, and ukulele. Band, Orchestra and Guitar are the music elective courses available to middle school students. Each course is a full year program that supports aspiring musicians from beginner to advanced. Technical skill development and learning the language of music creates the necessary foundation for students to become productive, independent musicians and effective members of collaborative musical ensembles. Upper school students can elect to participate in the instrumental music program. They perform at performing arts showcases, marketing events, college counseling events, football games, and pep rallies throughout year. Eleventh and twelfth grade students participating in the IB Diploma Programme can elect to take IB DP Music SL or HL. Upper school also has the opportunity for students to play in the drum line and the SPIRIT BAND, which performs at sporting events and special events around the school. Upper school instrumentalists can also perform with the guitar ensemble, concert band, or the upper school chamber ensemble, a mixed ensemble that plays all types of music from classical to big band jazz.
Visual Arts at CDS explores colors and various media at the early childhood level and progresses to learning the creative process at the elementary level. By Middle School, students are using visual arts not just in art but in their core subjects to express their personal views and insights. Using visual arts to learn about other cultures and time periods is also a part of the art program at CDS. Students explore the relationship between a work of art and the attitudes and values, the quality of life, and the spiritual beliefs held by the culture that produced it. By Upper School, students can elect to participate in the visual arts program, with 11th and 12th graders participating in the IB Diploma Programme. Areas of study include painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and mixed media. The theatre program at CDS is a dynamic and transformative journey that encapsulates artistic expression, personal growth, and collaborative spirit. Anchored in creativity and guided by dedicated mentors, the program fosters a deep love for the performing arts among students. From the moment students step onto the stage, they embark on a voyage of self-discovery and artistic exploration. The program spans all divisions, allowing even the youngest performers to develop their confidence and talents. Through engaging workshops, immersive rehearsals, and exhilarating performances, students learn the intricacies of acting, directing, and stagecraft. Theatre at CDS extends beyond the spotlight, nurturing crucial life skills. Collaboration and teamwork flourish as students work together to bring narratives to life. Public speaking, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving are honed through the challenges of character portrayal and storytelling. In 2022, Carrollwood Day School opened its doors and stage to the community by creating the Patriot Playhouse. Led by CDS middle school theatre teacher, Julie Nelson, the Patriot Playhouse brought Annie Jr. to the stage, along with workshops led by Broadway stars. With the goal of community the Patriot Playhouse is open to students from all over the Tampa Bay Area.
CDS HAS A CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO STEEM EDUCATION STEEM activities permeate the entire curriculum at CDS: ECC students learn through hands-on classroom activities and inquiry time, exploring concepts such as life cycles, the human body, the impact of the environment on our daily lives, and robotics.
S T E E M SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP MATH
From our Early Childhood Campus through our Upper School seniors, STEEM curriculum is emphasized. It is an interdisciplinary approach that helps students succeed in college and in their future careers. The focus of a STEEM education is hands-on, problembased learning.
Elementary students plan, build, and demonstrate a variety of engineering projects in the MakerLab, including experiments with coding, simple machines, stop-motion movies, and 3-D printing. Middle School students continue their study of coding, engineering, and 3-D printing in Design Tech, a stand-alone core class that also coordinates with other subjects such as science and humanities. Upper School students complete the STEEM curriculum by choosing semester-long courses in engineering, coding, or entrepreneurship, giving them hands-on experience that may translate to a STEEMrelated career.
CDS Goes Global At CDS, our mission is to create entrepreneurial thinkers for a global society. The IBO (International Baccalaureate Program) partners with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. Some of the international partnerships that are woven Into the CDS landscape are: IVECA (Intercultural Virtual Exchange of Classroom Activities) Le Havre (French school) Duke of Edinburgh International Award "For more than 20 years, I've worked with students who participated in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Each of our students interested in a challenge, no matter their familiarity with the outdoors or camping, should consider joining. For many, it is a life-changing experience that pushes the boundaries of what they think they can accomplish. They leave with new leadership skills feeling an increased sense of self-confidence and camaraderie with their fellow participants. The bonds formed by Duke of Edinburgh participants remain strong long after they receive their award.” Tim Walsh, Head of Upper School
CDS is a round square school
Round Square is an internationally diverse network of 200 like-minded schools in 50 countries on six continents that connect and collaborate to offer worldclass programmes and experiences, developing global competence, character and confidence in our students. CDS was welcomed into the Round Square network in 2022 and is excited to incorporate connections with schools around the world in the curriculum and to continue offering a global education..
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Michelle Cáceres Director of Lower School Admissions & Strategic Planning mcaceres@CDSPatriots.org Dawn Schweitzer Director of US/MS Admissions & Financial Aid dschweitzer@CDSPatriots.org Charlotte Benziger Assistant Director of Admissions cbenziger@CDSPatriots.org Vianca Danner Admissions Associate MS/US vdanner@CDSPatriots.org Jes Nugent Admissions Associate for Lower School jnugent@CDSPatriots.org Rachel Paggio Admissions Assistant rpaggio@CDSPatriots.org
For more Information or a private tour, contact our Admissions office at 813.920.2288 or visit www.CDSPatriots.org/Admissions