Detroit Country Day School
Encyclopedia
Detroit Country Day School (also known as DCDS, DCD, or Country Day) is a private, secular school located in four campuses in Oakland County
, Michigan
, north of Detroit. The administrative offices, facility services, safety and security services, and the upper school (Grades 9-12) are located in a campus in Beverly Hills
, along with the middle school (6-8). The Lower School (PK-2) and Junior School (3-5) are located in two separate campuses in Bloomfield Township
, near Bloomfield Hills
.
DCDS was founded in Detroit in 1914 by Alden Shaw inspired by the Country Day School movement
. The school's motto is Mens Sana in Corpore Sano or 'Sound Mind in a Sound Body'.
Detroit Country Day School participates in Class B Michigan High School Athletic Association
athletics. The school has teams in many other sports, notably soccer, basketball, football, tennis, golf, lacrosse, field and ice hockey, baseball, softball, volleyball, skiing, bowling, and track and field. Intramural teams include ultimate frisbee and snowboarding. In total, DCDS offers more than 30 athletic programs. The DCDS mascot is the Yellowjacket.
While at Country Day, scholarship basketball players Chris Webber
and Shane Battier
each won the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award
, making Country Day one of only two schools to have multiple Naismith award winners. Webber and Battier are also the only Naismith winners from the state of Michigan.
In March 2004 the Michigan High School Athletic Association
recommended that DCDS voluntarily forfeit three state basketball championships won between 1989 and 1991, claiming that former DCDS star Chris Webber
had violated his amateur status via his relationship with University of Michigan
athletic booster Ed Martin. DCDS declined to follow the MHSAA's suggestion.
The Seligman Family Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2000, houses state-of-the-art digital sound, lighting and projection equipment, allowing for the production of all forms of performing art, including films and lectures. However, due to building height restrictions in the Village of Beverly Hills, the PAC lacks a fly system. The PAC has housed Off Broadway shows such as "The Stoop on Orchard Street" and is the home venue for the Chamber Music Society of Detroit (http://www.ComeHearCMSD.org). The PAC is frequently used for school assemblies and two major school productions, typically one drama and one musical per year.
During the immediate pre-war era and World War II, DCDS took on some aspects of a military academy. The school brought in Army instructors to teach physical education, and students were encouraged to enlist upon graduation. The school reverted to a civilian footing with the end of the war.
The period 1950-1980 marked a large expansion in DCDS' student body and facilities. By the mid-1950s the school had outgrown its Palmer Park campus, and the school's directors designed plans to expand into the northern suburbs. In 1957 the school moved into a considerably larger new campus on Thirteen Mile Road in the suburb of Beverly Hills. Shortly thereafter, further growth necessitated the split of the school into three (later four) campuses: the Lower School at Fifteen Mile and Lahser, and the Middle and Upper Schools at the 13 Mile campus. In 1986 DCDS added a fourth (Junior School) campus, and the Middle School moved into its own building behind the Upper School in 1991. In 2008, DCDS began construction on its third full-sized gymnasium, which was completed in 2009. Furthermore the school began construction of a full-sized multipurpose field house in 2010. The 120 X 70 structure is one of only two in the entire state of Michigan. Construction on the field house was completed in February of 2011.
Until 1940 DCDS was strictly a boys' school. Girls were first admitted to Grades K-6 in 1940, but were not allowed admission to the Upper School until 1972.
With the completion of the World Campus capital campaign in 2000, the 13 Mile Campus underwent a comprehensive program of expansion and upgrading. Improvements included a larger, renovated library, a new computer laboratory, two new wings of classrooms, a renovated Common Room, and a new Performing Arts Center (previously, morning assemblies were held in the gym and dramatic productions staged in the cafeteria). Other upgrades included new landscaping, and improved student and faculty parking. Additionally, the building was completely wired for Ethernet
and partially for Wi-Fi
connectivity in preparation for the pioneering "Knowledge Technologies" student computing program, which kicked off in the 1999-2000 school year. The above construction of athletic facilities was also part of this same campaign.
Former Assistant Headmaster Glen Shilling became the school's new Headmaster in July 2007. Former Headmaster Gerald Hansen retired from the Headmaster position to take over as President of the Country Day Fund, where he now concentrates on fund raising for Country Day. Shilling is the school's fifth Headmaster in its 93 year history.
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, north of Detroit. The administrative offices, facility services, safety and security services, and the upper school (Grades 9-12) are located in a campus in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, Michigan
Beverly Hills is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,267.-Geography:...
, along with the middle school (6-8). The Lower School (PK-2) and Junior School (3-5) are located in two separate campuses in Bloomfield Township
Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan
Bloomfield Charter Township, known officially as The Charter Township of Bloomfield, is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 41,070....
, near Bloomfield Hills
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan, northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,869...
.
DCDS was founded in Detroit in 1914 by Alden Shaw inspired by the Country Day School movement
Country Day School movement
The Country Day School movement is a movement in progressive education that originated in the United States in the late 19th century.Country Day schools seek to recreate the educational rigor, atmosphere, camaraderie and character-building aspects of the best college prep boarding schools while...
. The school's motto is Mens Sana in Corpore Sano or 'Sound Mind in a Sound Body'.
Academics
In addition to a series of honors and Advanced Placement courses, students at Detroit Country Day may pursue an International Baccalaureate Diploma. Most graduating classes consist of 140 to 180 students. 100% of DCDS graduates are accepted at accredited four-year colleges and universities. Detroit Country Day tuition starts at 26,000 dollars per year per student, not including bus fee, text books, sports equipment nor any summer services/courses. Alone one summer course at Country Day costs 750 dollars.Athletics
Extracurricular activities are required at DCDS. Under the "points system," these requirements are tracked by the accumulation of blue points (athletics), gold points (clubs) and white points (service). All students must play two competitive sports (one point may come from strength training, the debate team, science fair, robotics, drama, or extracurricular activities deemed appropriate), join one club, and perform ten hours of volunteer work.Detroit Country Day School participates in Class B Michigan High School Athletic Association
Michigan High School Athletic Association
-About:The Michigan High School Athletic Association is a service organization for high school sports in Michigan and is headquartered in East Lansing...
athletics. The school has teams in many other sports, notably soccer, basketball, football, tennis, golf, lacrosse, field and ice hockey, baseball, softball, volleyball, skiing, bowling, and track and field. Intramural teams include ultimate frisbee and snowboarding. In total, DCDS offers more than 30 athletic programs. The DCDS mascot is the Yellowjacket.
While at Country Day, scholarship basketball players Chris Webber
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
and Shane Battier
Shane Battier
Shane Courtney Battier is an American professional basketball player . He most recently played with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. He has also been a member of the U.S...
each won the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award
Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award
The Naismith Prep Player of the Year award, named for Canadian basketball inventor James Naismith, is given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to high school basketball's top male and female player...
, making Country Day one of only two schools to have multiple Naismith award winners. Webber and Battier are also the only Naismith winners from the state of Michigan.
In March 2004 the Michigan High School Athletic Association
Michigan High School Athletic Association
-About:The Michigan High School Athletic Association is a service organization for high school sports in Michigan and is headquartered in East Lansing...
recommended that DCDS voluntarily forfeit three state basketball championships won between 1989 and 1991, claiming that former DCDS star Chris Webber
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
had violated his amateur status via his relationship with University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
athletic booster Ed Martin. DCDS declined to follow the MHSAA's suggestion.
Arts
Detroit Country Day School offers an active fine and performing arts program, celebrated every April through "Celebrate the Arts" weekend at the Upper School campus. Visual arts are part of the student experience at the Lower and Junior Schools, becoming formal academic curriculum at the Middle and Upper Schools. Similarly, general music and keyboard is part of the student experience at the Lower School, but not formal curriculum. Band, orchestra and choir classes begin at the Junior School level, where they are taken as electives during or after school hours. At both the Middle and Upper Schools, multi level performing classes for band, orchestra and choir meet during school hours. These Upper School classes compete at MSVMA and MSBOA festivals. Bella Voce, a 20 voice mixed ensemble auditioned from the Upper School's Concert Choir, performed in Austria and Germany in 2001, Italy in 2006, and Carnegie Hall in 2008.The Seligman Family Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2000, houses state-of-the-art digital sound, lighting and projection equipment, allowing for the production of all forms of performing art, including films and lectures. However, due to building height restrictions in the Village of Beverly Hills, the PAC lacks a fly system. The PAC has housed Off Broadway shows such as "The Stoop on Orchard Street" and is the home venue for the Chamber Music Society of Detroit (http://www.ComeHearCMSD.org). The PAC is frequently used for school assemblies and two major school productions, typically one drama and one musical per year.
History
The Detroit Preparatory School was founded in 1914 by F. Alden Shaw, based on an educational philosophy espoused at the Country School for Boys in Baltimore, MD. The original school opened with four pupils, was briefly taught out of Mr. Shaw's mother's dining room, and stressed both academics and athletics. By 1923 the school had acquired a new name - Detroit Country Day School - and moved to a new campus on Seven Mile Road in the upscale neighborhood of Palmer Woods.During the immediate pre-war era and World War II, DCDS took on some aspects of a military academy. The school brought in Army instructors to teach physical education, and students were encouraged to enlist upon graduation. The school reverted to a civilian footing with the end of the war.
The period 1950-1980 marked a large expansion in DCDS' student body and facilities. By the mid-1950s the school had outgrown its Palmer Park campus, and the school's directors designed plans to expand into the northern suburbs. In 1957 the school moved into a considerably larger new campus on Thirteen Mile Road in the suburb of Beverly Hills. Shortly thereafter, further growth necessitated the split of the school into three (later four) campuses: the Lower School at Fifteen Mile and Lahser, and the Middle and Upper Schools at the 13 Mile campus. In 1986 DCDS added a fourth (Junior School) campus, and the Middle School moved into its own building behind the Upper School in 1991. In 2008, DCDS began construction on its third full-sized gymnasium, which was completed in 2009. Furthermore the school began construction of a full-sized multipurpose field house in 2010. The 120 X 70 structure is one of only two in the entire state of Michigan. Construction on the field house was completed in February of 2011.
Until 1940 DCDS was strictly a boys' school. Girls were first admitted to Grades K-6 in 1940, but were not allowed admission to the Upper School until 1972.
With the completion of the World Campus capital campaign in 2000, the 13 Mile Campus underwent a comprehensive program of expansion and upgrading. Improvements included a larger, renovated library, a new computer laboratory, two new wings of classrooms, a renovated Common Room, and a new Performing Arts Center (previously, morning assemblies were held in the gym and dramatic productions staged in the cafeteria). Other upgrades included new landscaping, and improved student and faculty parking. Additionally, the building was completely wired for Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
and partially for Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
connectivity in preparation for the pioneering "Knowledge Technologies" student computing program, which kicked off in the 1999-2000 school year. The above construction of athletic facilities was also part of this same campaign.
Former Assistant Headmaster Glen Shilling became the school's new Headmaster in July 2007. Former Headmaster Gerald Hansen retired from the Headmaster position to take over as President of the Country Day Fund, where he now concentrates on fund raising for Country Day. Shilling is the school's fifth Headmaster in its 93 year history.
Notable alumni
Notable alumni include:- Steve BallmerSteve BallmerSteven Anthony "Steve" Ballmer is an American business magnate. He is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, having held that post since January 2000. , his personal wealth is estimated at US$13.9 billion, ranking number 19 on the Forbes 400.-Early life:Ballmer was born in Detroit, Michigan to...
- CEO of MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions... - Shane Battier - Former Mr. Michigan Basketball, Duke University player, NCAA National Champion, MOP of Championship game, and current NBA player.
- Keith BensonKeith BensonKeith A. Benson, Jr. is a professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. He previously played for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team. Benson plays center and is the current The Summit League player of the year...
- Basketball player - Clarence BlackClarence BlackClarence Jamil Black is an African American multi-media personality, who currently resides in Rochester, Michigan where he serves as an on-air talent for both WDFN and Comcast Local. He competed on Survivor: Africa in the fall of 2001.-Survivor:Clarence Black was a contestant on Survivor: Africa,...
- WDFNWDFNWDFN is a sports-talk radio station in the Detroit, Michigan, market. It broadcasts in the AM radio band at 1130 kHz. WDFN is owned by Clear Channel Communications, and until the end of the 2008-09 NBA season, was the flagship station for the Detroit Pistons....
personality; appeared on Survivor Africa; - John IvankoJohn IvankoJohn D. Ivanko is an author, entrepreneur, and writer. He is the co-owner and innkeeper of the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, a small business completely powered by wind and solar energy generated on site...
- award-winning author of ECOpreneuring, Farmstead Chef, Rural Renaissance from New Society Publishers. - David Honigman - Michigan State Senator
- Javin HunterJavin HunterJavin Hunter is an American football wide receiver with Team Michigan of the All American Football League .-Education:...
- Football player - Paul KalasPaul KalasPaul Kalas is a Greek American astronomer known for his discoveries of debris disks around stars. Kalas led a team of scientists to obtain the first visible-light images of an extrasolar planet with orbital motion around the star Fomalhaut, at a distance of 25 light years from Earth...
- Astronomer - Semon Knudsen - Former head of GM's ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
division and former President of the Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. - Mara MacDonaldMara MacDonaldMara MacDonald is an American television reporter, known for her recent work at NBC affiliate WDIV-TV, owned by Post-Newsweek Stations in Detroit, Michigan.A native of the Detroit area, MacDonald is a graduate of the Detroit Country Day School...
- WDIV television reporter - Kate MarkgrafKate MarkgrafKate Markgraf , is an American soccer defender and was a member of the U.S. women's national team.-Early life:...
- Soccer player (née Sobrero) - JaVale McGeeJaVale McGeeJaVale McGee is an American professional basketball player who was selected 18th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft. He is a center who is listed at 7'0" and 252 lb...
- Basketball player. McGee left DCDS prior to graduation. - Betsy ThomasBetsy ThomasBetsy Thomas is an American television writer and producer living in Los Angeles, California with her husband, writer and actor Adrian Wenner.Thomas is best known as the creator of the sitcom My Boys that debuted on the cable television network TBS November 28, 2006...
- Television writer and producer - Buzz ThomasBuzz ThomasSamuel 'Buzz' Thomas is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 4th District since 2003 and currently serving as the Democratic Floor Leader. His district is completely located in the city of Detroit and includes portions of...
- Michigan State Senator - Robert P. Young, Jr. - Michigan Supreme CourtMichigan Supreme CourtThe Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
Justice - Chris WebberChris WebberMayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
- Former NBA All Star and University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
player part of the Fab Five (University of Michigan)Fab Five (University of Michigan)The Fab Five was the nickname for a 1991 University of Michigan men's basketball team recruitment class that is considered by some to be "the greatest class ever recruited." The class consisted of Detroit natives Chris Webber and Jalen Rose, Chicago native Juwan Howard, and Texas high school... - Robin WilliamsRobin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
- Actor / Comedian left prior to graduation - Courtney B. VanceCourtney B. VanceCourtney Bernard Vance is an American actor. He was formerly a regular on the NBC/USA television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver. He was also a series regular on the ABC series FlashForward. As of 2011, he appears on the TNT series The Closer as Chief...
- Actor - Patrick KanePatrick KanePatrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
- Professional Hockey Player left prior to graduation - Blake Damerow - Professional Hockey Player left prior to graduation