11 minute read
Breaking Ground on the New Lower School
By Shannon Allen
January 17, 2024, was frigid, but the Fort Worth Country Day community was ablaze with energy and excitement as the School broke ground on its state-of-the-art, $25 million Annie Richardson Bass Lower School. With completion slated for spring 2025, the new 32,720-square-foot Lower School will provide an inspiring, modern, light-filled, indoor-outdoor learning environment for 350 students in grades 1 through 4.
Board of Trustees President Brian Crumley ’92 welcomed the crowd, which gathered in the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center for the program. Crumley spoke about FWCD’s Founding Head of School, Peter Schwartz H’98, and his reflections shared with the Star-Telegram on the School’s 20th anniversary: “The continuity of faculty, of parents, and kids –a spirit that won’t quit – has made Fort Worth Country Day,” Crumley said, invoking Schwartz’s quote. “I can’t think of a better characterization than Peter’s words to describe what has enabled this groundbreaking today.”
He expressed gratitude to all of the campaign volunteers, Trustees past and present, and the visionary giants who built the original Lower School in a field of wildflowers. Crumley gave a heartfelt thank you to the Lower School project donors. “I want to extend our deepest appreciation to all of the donors to the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign that have enabled two transformational projects for the School over such a short period of time with the athletic fields enhancements and this new Lower School,” he said. “What we are here to celebrate is a perfect example of ‘a spirit that won’t quit’ when we work together in continuity to achieve common goals … Forward Together.”
Recalling the path to January 17, Head of School Eric Lombardi expressed gratitude to the FWCD community members who helped to create and shape the vision of campus for the next 60 years through the selection in March 2018 of San Antonio-based architectural firm Lake|Flato to create the School’s campus master plan. And later, to the hiring of Lake|Flato to design the building and Linbeck to construct the School.
“For the groundbreaking of the School’s original three buildings in December 1962 … we talk about a cold December day with temperatures in the 20s and construction equipment making lots of noise in the background. Sound familiar?” he asked.
Lombardi chronicled some key groundbreakings. “For our first three buildings, we went from purchase to groundbreak in three months. And we took nine months from that groundbreak to occupying those buildings with our very first 210 students,” he noted. “We had other groundbreakings just on the old Lower School alone as we made two significant additions. There was the groundbreaking for the Annie Richardson Bass Lower School in March 1964 and the Helen McKee and Thomas M. Ryan portion of the Lower School in December 1978.
“Today represents a groundbreaking day seven years in the making,” Lombardi continued. “I love that today’s groundbreaking is like December 12, 1962, cold and blustery. “The omen is good! We’ve gotten 60 great years out of those buildings … may it be so for the new Lower School.”
Someone who lived the Lower School experience and is now experiencing it as a parent is Whitney Baggett Creel ’04 Her words honored and remembered that building, which stood for so many years, and celebrated the excitement of an amazing new chapter for the School.
“I remember when I first heard the chatter about a new Lower School. My initial response was, ‘Oh no they won’t! They better not! How could one even think about replacing our beloved building,’” Creel said. “Sixty years of childhoods are held inside those walls, including my own. After I sat in my feeling and took time to reflect, I realized I was only thinking about myself. About my experience. About my memories.
“What I wasn’t thinking about were my own children and their classmates and the future generations of students who call this place home,” she continued. “Once I let all that sink in, my next question was, ‘So when do we start? I’m ready!’ Talk about a complete 180, but really, how cool is it to get to go to a school in a stunning new building with state-of-the-art technology and classrooms, indoor and outdoor learning spaces, abundant natural light, the highest level of safety and security, a community storybook tree, a gathering place for all grades to be together as one. They are going to make the same memories I did.”
Learning from transformative educators, fostering lifelong friendships, learning and exploring in a new building will enhance and add to the FWCD Lower School experience. Creel expanded, “Where would we be right now, today, if the leaders, the donors, the educators of our community hadn’t stepped up to give and build this school six decades ago? We would not be here. I want to do my part to lay the groundwork for another 60 years and beyond.”
Campaign Co-Chair William Butler ’96 wrapped up the ceremony with a thank you to the Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign leadership and the School’s generous donors. “To the donors: Thank you for taking our calls, listening to our stories, and giving to our School,” he said. “But we aren't finished yet and have a little ways to go. Heather and Ryan Senter and their committee will be moving us forward to a successful end to the campaign.”
Lower School Student Council members stole the ceremony by presenting items for a Lower School time capsule to Head of Lower School Trey Blair. Fourth grader Zaid Farr kicked off the presentation. “Thank you all for coming to the groundbreaking of the new Lower School,” he said. “We are all members of the Lower School Student Council and are here to present to you all items that the Lower School students have created to be a part of a time capsule.”
Fellow fourth grade students Clara Hatem, Jonty Lightbound, Ida Kate Parsons, George Louden, Louise Manuel and Clarisa Coscia each met Blair at the podium to pass on items from junior kindergarten through fourth grade. Nicklaus Knuckley ’32, capped off the presentation by delivering the time capsule. “We present to you our Lower School time capsule, which will be unveiled 60 years from now!”
Blair joked that he’d see everyone in 60 years before expressing gratitude. “I simply want to say thank you,” he said. “We are so excited. I know there are a lot of memories attached to the old Lower School, but the new building is going to be awesome. And that is because of you all.”
Your contribution to Fort Worth Country Day’s Forward Together Comprehensive Campaign is vital for the School’s continued success. Please consider making a gift of pledge by Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the last day of school in FWCD’s 60th year, to help secure a bright future for Falcons for the next 60 years. Contact Sandra Tuomey, Director of Advancement, at sandra.tuomey@fwcd.com or 817.302.3223 or visit the campaign website at fwcd.org/campaign.
New Lower School Features
FWCD’s new Lower School will be infused with natural light, connections to the outdoors, tuned acoustics, and appropriate technology to expand the school’s delivery of future-focused experiences and activities. Included in its project scope are:
A 2,130-square-foot library with floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, reading nooks, adaptive furniture, soft seating, and sliding glass doors that open to an outdoor courtyard built around a giant chinkapin oak tree.
Two dedicated science labs, a collaboratory/makerspace, and study rooms for tutoring and smaller breakout sessions.
A window-filled commons area for special programming, class performances, lectures and more.
First and second grade wing on the building’s north side, complete with its own covered outdoor learning space designed to encourage exploration, collaboration, and adventure beyond the traditional classroom.
Third and fourth grade wing on the building’s south side, with its own covered outdoor learning space that supports active learning and creative thinking.
A playground with sports court and play structures that were originally funded and purchased by FWCD’s Parent Faculty Association in 2018.
Sustainable design features, including skylights, light shelves, LED lighting, rainwater collection, and drought-tolerant landscaping with native shrubs, grasses, and water-conservation technologies.
Integrated technology to foster student interaction, including flat-screen displays in all classrooms and learning spaces.
Communications and security platforms with digital signage, two-way paging, a high-tech intercom system, and proximity-controlled exterior doors.
Emphasis on safety and security, with one access-controlled entrance.
A commons area as a dedicated safety shelter, with windows and walls built to withstand 250 MPH winds in the event of a major storm or tornado.
Offices for Academic Support Coordinators, a Health and Wellness Counselor, faculty/staff meeting rooms, and multiple communal and collaborative spaces.
Forward Together Donors
$1,000,000 +
Bird Family Foundation
Anjie (Landreth) ’94 and William Butler ’96
Amon G. Carter Foundation
James and Dorothy Doss Foundation
Liz (Stapp) ’84 and Russ Fleischer
Folsom Point Charities
Bryan King
Marsha (Harrison) ’79 and John Kleinheinz
The Lowe Foundation
Meredith and Stephen Luskey ’01
Leslie and John David Moritz
William E. Scott Foundation
Walsh Family
$100,000 - $999,999
Christina and Hunter Allen
Anonymous
Susan Lay Atwell Fund
Stephanie (Bird) ’08 and Cody Baker
Claire and Joseph Berkes ’98
Lauren and Andrew Blake ’93
Cornelia Blake
Leigh (Taylor) ’95 and Michael Bornitz
Whitney (Baggett) ’04 and Todd Creel
Tyler and Brian Crumley ’92
Kim (Williamson) ’75 and Glenn Darden
Randy Eisenman ’93
Nicole and Leonard Firestone
FWCD Parent Faculty Association
Mary Carolyn (Clay) ’93 and Ben Gatzke
Nancy Hallman
Gloria (Moncrief) ’00 and Erich Holmsten
Venessa and Robert Howard
Teresa and Luther King
Taylor (Luskey) ’04 and Thomas Lacy
Lisa and Ryan Lakovitch
Gail (Widmer) ’69 and Bill Landreth ’67
Regan and W.A. Landreth ’01
Malone Family Foundation
Haddy and Edward Manuel
Louella and Nicholas Martin Charitable Fund at the North Texas Community Foundation
L&M Charitable Foundation
Kit (Tennison) Moncrief ’70
Lauren and Bryan Perkins
Ally and Davis Ravnaas ’03
Christine and Austin Reilly ’04
Missy and Randy Rodgers ’70
Abby and Will Rodgers ’01
Laura and Chris Rooker
Adelaide (Moncrief) ’02 and Charlie Royer
The Ryan Foundation
Heather and Ryan Senter
Harriet and Jarrett Shields
Mary (Hallman) ’03 and Dwayne Smith
Eleanor (Mauze) ’83 and Jon Snyder ’78
Alexandra and Houston Sullivan
Tara and Robert Warren
$10,000 - $99,999
Tasa (Lefler) ’88 and Frank Anderson
Anonymous
Bari (Buckner) ’83 and John Brookman ’80
Ann and Frank Bumstead
Robin and Gantt Bumstead
Evie and Geoffrey Butler H’98
Jan and Bill Clinkscale
Morgan and Walter Coleman
Georgina (Moncrief) ’94 and Cliff Condrey
Elyse (Stoltz) ’93 and C.D. Dickerson ’94
Garvey Texas Foundation
Robyn and Dak Hatfield
Melissa and Scott Huffman
Elizabeth (Murphy) ’88 and Mark Jones
The Korman Family
Lindsay and Bradley Lawrence
Maribeth and George LeBus ’77
Debra and Eric Lombardi*
T.J. Brown and C.A. Lupton Foundation
Michelle and Scott Marlow
Tanya and Patrick McClanahan
Alison E. McManus ’95
Courtney and Matt Mitchell
Keelie and Matt Montague
Sheridan Morris
Marty and James Norman
Pam and Jamie Packer
Matt Rainwater ’94
Gail Rawl
The Roach Foundation
Merianne and Steve Roth
Anne and Bob Semple
Katie and Rob Semple ’95
Carol-Sidney and Houston Simmons
Wesley (Van Wyk) ’94 and Marcus Snyder ’93
Carol and Vern Spurlock
Kathleen and Randall Stepp
Claudia and Rod Stepp
Jerry and James Taylor
Helen and Michael Todora
Sandra and Troy Tuomey*
Malathi Ravi and Avinash Vallurupalli
$1 - $9,999
Shannon and Craig Allen*
Christy and Manuel Alvear*
Andréanne and Alan Annis*
Debby and Bill Arnold ’86 *
Crisanne (Potts) ’93 and Jeffrey Barker*
Elizabeth and Connor Baxter*
Chelsy and Anthony Beninate*
Trey Blair*
Sarah and Stephen Blan*
Cheryl and Dan Bloch H’06 *
Mandy and Leigh Block*
Stacy Bourne ’02*
Andrea and Joe Breedlove ’78*
Kena and Ricky Brown
Hester and Michael Burdman*
Claudia Coscia and Julio Cedillo
Carrie and Li Chou Cheng*
The Clifton Foundation
Alicia and David Coke
Dorrine DeChant*
Tanya Charfen and Hugo Del Pozzo
Stephen Dickey ’89*
Karla and Christopher Dunning*
Siouxsie and Ed Easter*
Yumiko and Johnny Evans*
Theresa and Douglass Fuss*
FWCD Class of 2023
Rebecca and Brian Gleason*
Heather and Elliot Goldman ’90*
Tricia and Byron Gossett
Clint Hagen*
DeAnn and Todd Hall*
Joy Ann and Bob Havran
Tammi Hodges*
Sarah and Drew Hollingshead*
Teresa and David Hoppe*
Mel and Keven Hurst*
Aimee Jenkins*
Kelly Jenkins*
Lexi and Reggie Johnson*
Kris and Ben Karr
Libits Kendall
Lisa and Ken Koger*
Catherine and Wilfried Lampka*
Kristin and Todd Larsen*
Christy Lennox*
Shari and Dave Lincoln*
Mandy and David Lofquist*
Courtney and Wayne Lundquist
Jerry Mahle*
Monika Mathur
Lori McCormack*
Alvin Morales
Martha (Oswald) ’99 and Paxton Motheral
Brittany Nelson*
Katherine Nelson ’16
Rebecca and Marcus Ozaeta
Lisa and Michael Parker*
Katie (Malone) ’97 and Clay Peterson ’96*
Renee and Tony Pierce*
Laura and Robert Piwetz
Denise and Gary Pointer
Meredith (Nieswiadomy) ’06 and Breck Ray ’06
Alison and Nelson Robinson*
Maria and Jose Saldana
Myrna and Steve Sam*
Lisa and Randy Shaw*
Ned Smith*
Christine and Kevin Spikes*
Cynthia and Robert Sturns
Cristina and Peter Szmigiel*
Laura and Bruce Terry*
Kelly (Lanier) ’93 and Buddy Tierce ’92*
Jerre and David Tracy
Whitney Truax*
Peggy Wakeland*
Carrie and Kenneth Wall*
Lisa and Neil Wallace*
Kathy Welch*
Geraldine Williams*
Amy Witten*
Tammy and Greg Wolford*
* Denotes Faculty/Staff
This list reflects gifts to the campaign as of March 1, 2024.
