It was like a virus swept through the student body.
No, not the flu that took out huge swaths of students and faculty over the past few weeks.
This virus was the oohs and ahhs that emerged from students when we unveiled the 3D flythrough of the Center for Math and Science. The entire student body was together for the first time since the handshake ceremony for a “launch party.” After hearing from Carbon3D co-founder and CA alumni Phil DeSimone (’07), students were treated to their first glimpse of building plans.
The reaction built slowly, with a single “ooh” when the video opened on a shot high above the SEA. Soon, though, the entire gym was pulsating with positive, almost giddy, reaction to the renderings. I suspect some of you heard about it that afternoon when your student(s) arrived home.
What we didn’t share was the “story behind the story.” What brought us to this point on November 27, 2017. What gave the confidence to move boldly forward with such ambitious plans?
It starts with the Cary Academy Fund.
A project like the Center for Math and Science is tightly linked to our strategic plan and many programs that have been nurtured over the past few years. However, it would not have been possible without the phenomenal growth in our Cary Academy Fund, up 109% since 2013. The support shown by the community gave us confidence to think boldly about the future of our school.
In our most recently community survey, innovation emerged as a key differentiator of our program from peer independent schools. There is no doubt that the Center for Math and Science will support innovation, with an expanded makerspace and much larger lab and prep areas for student work.
Just as important, though, is the school’s commitment to professional development for its faculty. The world is moving fast, and we must put resources toward learning for everybody in the organization.
The Cary Academy Fund supports this professional growth.
Here are some concrete examples from Dean of Faculty Martina Greene of what our professional funds (some from operations and some from endowment) supported this past summer:
“David Snively, middle school social studies teacher, and Meredith Stewart, middle school social studies department leader, received grant funding to create a cross-curricular unit and year-long framework for Language Arts 8 and U.S. History examining questions of American identity. Students will not only explore existing stories and resources related to identity, but will also seek out and capture new stories through interviews, oral histories, etc. These new stories will be compiled into a collection to be shared with a wider audience, providing a glimpse into who we are both as Americans and as a Cary Academy community.
“Andrew Chiaraviglio, middle school science teacher and department leader, received a Fellowship to participate in the Building Learning Communities education conference sponsored by November Learning and to work on development of two new Arduino projects for his students. Participation in the conference helped Andrew broaden his vision for STEM education, and he was also able to complete prototypes for a touch sensor robot and two mini weather stations.
“Kara Caccuitto and Kristi McGauley, upper school English teachers, received funding to attend the Oxford Teacher Seminar held in Mansfield College at the University of Oxford. Kara and Kristi joined a study group on Shakespeare in History, examining the playwright’s works, influence, popularity, and literary legacy, as well as looking at how Shakespeare can be taught in the classroom through performance. Kara and Kristi plan to use their experience to enrich the Shakespeare components of the current English curriculum at Cary Academy and to consider development of new elective courses.”
As you can see, there are many ways in which contributions to the Cary Academy Fund make a difference at our school. Thank you to everybody who has already given this year. To those waiting for the right time: That time is now. Our school is thinking boldly, and your contributions make an impact.