7 minute read
Are We There Yet? Not yet, but almost ...
Saying goodbye to a beloved facility is hard. Many alumni and parents were sad to learn the School building that welcomed their entry to Fort Worth Country Day had reached the end of its useful life. At the same time, there was excitement and anticipation for how a new, state-of-the-art building would serve students and faculty now and for the next 60 years.
Since the building’s groundbreaking ceremony in January 2024, construction progress on the new Lower School has been remarkable. Despite freezing temperatures in January and February, nonstop rains in March and April, the crews have worked to keep the construction schedule on time and on budget. The new building is on the same plot of land as the original Lower School; however, the floor layout brings the classrooms closer to the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center, and the playground has shifted to the north and east sides of the building.
As of late July, the exterior walls wereup, and the installation of brick, stone and siding were nearing completion. On the interior, drywall covered the library walls and many of the classrooms. Wall, ceiling and floor finishes were underway.
Head of Lower School Trey Blair shares the faculty’s excitement about the new building, “It is not possible to overstate the impact the new Lower School building will have on our current and future students,” he said. “With amenities like the self-contained library, a Commons area, and the Story Tree Patio, this new building will create fantastic opportunities for students and faculty to connect and build stronger relationships.
The classrooms, filled with natural light, are designed for small group work, feature cutting-edge technology, and will engage every student in learning. We are deeply grateful to all the donors whose generosity and shared vision are making this incredible new school building a reality.”
FWCD invites all Falcon community members – past and present – to become part of the new Lower School building by contributing to the construction fund. Your gift is a perfect opportunity to support current and future Falcons, their teachers, and the important first steps toward an FWCD education. In addition, your investment offers a great opportunity to create a tribute for a family member, friend, or anyone who has been a significant influence on your life by making a gift in their honor or memory.
Lower School Naming Opportunities
Gifts to the new Lower School building can be pledged and paid over five years, on a schedule that best meets your individual preferences.
We welcome your interest and inquiries regarding naming opportunities in the new Lower School building. For more information, Sandra Tuomey, Director of Advancement, is available to answer questions; contact her at sandra.tuomey@fwcd.com or 817.302.3223.
A Favorite Teacher Remembered
Many FWCD students have had an exceptional teacher who encouraged them, recognized their abilities, and helped them realize their potential. For Waldron Collins ’20, that teacher was Sheri Fuller, now in her 34th year teaching first grade at FWCD.
As a first grader, Waldron was a quiet and cautious new student. Her teacher, Mrs. Fuller, in the words of Waldron’s father, Craig Collins, really put Waldron on the path of being a good student and a capable learner and helped her believe in herself. It was, in short, a great start for Waldron’s academic life at FWCD. “Sheri was a huge influence in all our lives, in the most positive way,” Craig said.
Mrs. Fuller remembers Waldron as a happy child and a natural ambassador for the School. She would speak with parents and potential students who were touring FWCD and considering the possibility of enrolling. “I have many fond memories of Waldron. She was the sweetest little girl who loved first grade and ballet,” Sheri recalled. The connection established in Waldron’s first year remains to this day. Throughout Middle School and Upper School, Waldron would stop by the first grade classroom and visit with Sheri.
With great appreciation for Mrs. Fuller’s exceptional skills as an educator and her dedication to working with students, the Collins family made a gift to the new Lower School building, requesting to name Mrs. Fuller’s classroom. “This gift and recognition is our way of thanking her. We love that she’s still at FWCD, continuing to inspire current students,” Craig said. “We encourage others to consider making a tribute gift, too, to show appreciation for wonderful educators or family members or any special person in your life.”
Why Endowed Funds?
Increasing Fort Worth Country Day’s endowment is one of the top priorities of the Forward Together campaign. Endowment is the key to FWCD’s financial stability and sustainability, ensuring the continuation of outstanding teaching and academic experiences for our students. Gifts of any amount can be added to an established endowed fund. Recognition for establishing an endowed fund begins at $50,000, which can be pledged and paid over five years. All endowment donors will be recognized as campaign contributors, whether making a gift to an existing fund or establishing a new fund.
The School invests endowment funds judiciously; the donor designates the uses of the distributions. Distributions can be restricted to specific academic programs, faculty support, tuition assistance or other special purposes. Use of distributions also can be designated as unrestricted, allowing FWCD flexibility to take advantage of new educational opportunities as they arise.
The investments will provide:
Additional, meaningful support to the annual operating budget
Additional, meaningful support to the annual operating budget
Tuition assistance for qualified students
Opportunities for all students to participate in arts, athletics, special programs and travel programs.
The School uses a hybrid spending policy where 80% of a Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) adjusted prior year transfer plus 20% of a rolling four-quarter average of the endowment fair market value determines the annual spending transfer. This approach allows us to balance the School’s immediate needs with the long-term sustainability of the endowment.
Tribute Gifts
Together, we can make a difference.
If you or a loved one wish to acknowledge a special person, a gift to FWCD can be the perfect way to say thank you. A tribute gift, whether in honor or in memory of someone, provides a meaningful expression of gratitude for any occasion. Such a gift serves as a lasting tribute and positively impact the lives of those we serve.
We deeply appreciate the support of our parents, alumni, grandparents, past parents, faculty, staff and friends. The unwavering dedication of the FWCD community enables our vision and mission to flourish across campus. From innovative programming and enriching faculty experiences and opportunities, the impact of your contribution is profound.
There are many meaningful ways to make a difference at FWCD. Whether you support The FWCD Fund, make a gift of securities, share a gift in kind, make a gift in honor, memoriam or celebration of someone, or plan to leave a gift to the School in the future, you are enhancing students’ opportunities. Your gift represents a belief in and support for our School and its faculty and supports our commitment to innovative programs, exceptional faculty and state-of-the-art facilities.
