The Savannah Country Day School ( SCDS , Country Day ) is an independent college preparatory school founded in 1955 in Savannah, Georgia , United States. The co-educational school serves students from pre-kindergarten through to twelfth grade , and has 1,028 students enrolled.
21-559: Savannah Country Day School originates from the founding of the Pape School by Nina Anderson Pape in 1905. Savannah Country Day School itself was founded in 1955 by a group of parents (including Cornelia Groves ), with the school taking over the assets and faculty of Pape School, including the facilities east of Forsyth Park, and the school's curriculum. In 1960, the school moved to its current Windsor Park location, south of Savannah. A book titled Service Through Knowledge and Character details
42-666: A wooded 65-acre campus on Savannah's south side in the Windsor Forest neighborhood. In 2005, the school completed construction on the Nina Anderson Pape Middle School building. In 2008, the school officially opened a new LEED Silver-certified lower school. In 2011, the Savannah Country Day School chorus was one of 14 choirs selected to perform Handel's "Messiah" live at Lincoln Center in New York. The show
63-431: Is located on a wooded 65-acre campus on Savannah's south side in the Windsor Forest neighborhood. In 2005, the school completed construction on the Nina Anderson Pape Middle School building. In 2008, the school officially opened a new LEED Silver-certified lower school. In 2011, the Savannah Country Day School chorus was one of 14 choirs selected to perform Handel's "Messiah" live at Lincoln Center in New York. The show
84-402: Is sixteen students with a student:teacher ratio of 10:1. A "Little School" exists for children between the ages of six weeks and three years. The school also offers summer programs for children in the form of day camp experiences. Activities include academics, arts , athletics, and outdoor experiences. The school has an acceptance rate of 50%. Savannah Country Day School's campus
105-408: Is sixteen students with a student:teacher ratio of 10:1. A "Little School" exists for children between the ages of six weeks and three years. The school also offers summer programs for children in the form of day camp experiences. Activities include academics, arts , athletics, and outdoor experiences. The school has an acceptance rate of 50%. Savannah Country Day School's campus is located on
126-593: The 1990s, when the Davenport House was in need of funding, Groves and Clare Ellis established an endowment. They regularly met at Groves' home to formulate fundraising ideas, hoping to raise a total of $ 1 million. Groves founded the Friends of the Davenport House in 2003. The Historic Savannah Foundation awarded Groves its highest honor, the Davenport Award, in 2008. In 2000, Rankin's husband died at age 82. Groves
147-502: The following environmental features: Since the school's first vegetable garden was planted in the 1970s, the school has expanded to include a Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Fruit Garden, Brown Thumb Garden, Monet Garden, Organic Spot, Shakespeare Garden and Pangaea Garden. Throughout the school year, third-grade students plant, tend, harvest and eat fruits and vegetables grown on campus in the SCDS cafeteria. Students also donate vegetables from
168-454: The following environmental features: Since the school's first vegetable garden was planted in the 1970s, the school has expanded to include a Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden, Fruit Garden, Brown Thumb Garden, Monet Garden, Organic Spot, Shakespeare Garden and Pangaea Garden. Throughout the school year, third-grade students plant, tend, harvest and eat fruits and vegetables grown on campus in the SCDS cafeteria. Students also donate vegetables from
189-463: The founding of the Pape School by Nina Anderson Pape in 1905. Savannah Country Day School itself was founded in 1955 by a group of parents (including Cornelia Groves ), with the school taking over the assets and faculty of Pape School, including the facilities east of Forsyth Park, and the school's curriculum. In 1960, the school moved to its current Windsor Park location, south of Savannah. A book titled Service Through Knowledge and Character details
210-747: The garden to a local food bank. Cornelia Groves Cornelia Rankin Groves (April 23, 1926 – October 31, 2021) was an American preservationist. She was one of the founders of Savannah Country Day School and was awarded the highest honor of the Historic Savannah Foundation , the Davenport Award, for her efforts in support of the Isaiah Davenport House . Cornelia Susan Rankin was born on April 23, 1926, in Savannah, Georgia , to William Scott Rankin and Hannay Ellis. Her father died when she
231-408: The school's headmaster. A Rhodes scholar who earned degrees from Princeton University , Harvard University and Oxford University , Dr. Pressly helped develop a long-range plan for the school. In 1991, a visiting committee from the U.S. Department of Education named Country Day a National School of Excellence, one of only ten independent schools in the nation to receive that award. The school
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#1732944421529252-406: The school's headmaster. A Rhodes scholar who earned degrees from Princeton University , Harvard University and Oxford University , Dr. Pressly helped develop a long-range plan for the school. In 1991, a visiting committee from the U.S. Department of Education named Country Day a National School of Excellence, one of only ten independent schools in the nation to receive that award. The school
273-509: The school's history. The first headmaster was Robert W. Trusdell and first upper school principal was Thomas Triol, whose wife Helen taught chemistry and physics. In the 1970s, the school decided to not affiliate with the Episcopal Church when the Bishop made it clear that the school would have to enroll substantially higher number of African-Americans . In 1983, Dr. Paul M. Pressly became
294-400: The school's history. The first headmaster was Robert W. Trusdell and first upper school principal was Thomas Triol, whose wife Helen taught chemistry and physics. In the 1970s, the school decided to not affiliate with the Episcopal Church when the Bishop made it clear that the school would have to enroll substantially higher number of African-Americans . In 1983, Dr. Paul M. Pressly became
315-669: Was also a member of the Trustees' Garden , and, along with her sister Ruth, the Colonial Dames of Georgia. During World War II , Groves "rolled bandages and ran the canteen." In 1955, Groves was one of the parents involved in the founding of the Savannah Country Day School , which originated from the Pape School. Groves and her husband were also involved in the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games event. In
336-539: Was five years old; her mother lived until the age of 98. She went on to graduate from Savannah's Pape School and Randolph-Macon Woman's College , located in Lynchburg, Virginia . Rankin married Robert Walker Groves Jr., and together they had two children. Groves fought in support of the Historic Savannah Foundation to get funding for the restoration of the Isaiah Davenport House in Columbia Square of Savannah. She
357-697: Was honored by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program in December 1992. In 2013, Kef L. Wilson became the school's new headmaster. He is the eighth headmaster since the school's inception in 1905. Savannah Country Day School has been named "Best Private School" by Savannah Magazine and has been honored as the "Best Private School" by Connect Savannah . The curriculum is divided between lower school ( junior-kindergarten to fifth grade ), middle school ( sixth grade to eighth grade ), and upper school ( ninth grade to twelfth grade ). The average class size
378-572: Was honored by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program in December 1992. In 2013, Kef L. Wilson became the school's new headmaster. He is the eighth headmaster since the school's inception in 1905. Savannah Country Day School has been named "Best Private School" by Savannah Magazine and has been honored as the "Best Private School" by Connect Savannah . The curriculum is divided between lower school ( junior-kindergarten to fifth grade ), middle school ( sixth grade to eighth grade ), and upper school ( ninth grade to twelfth grade ). The average class size
399-631: Was reviewed by The New York Times , which described it as a "full-throttle" experience. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Education recognized Country Day as a Green Ribbon School in honor of its commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2011, the school was given the nation's first Green Flag award by the National Wildlife Federation . In 2008, the school dedicated the first Silver LEED -certified lower school in Chatham County . The 52,500-square-foot lower school building includes
420-501: Was reviewed by The New York Times , which described it as a "full-throttle" experience. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Education recognized Country Day as a Green Ribbon School in honor of its commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2011, the school was given the nation's first Green Flag award by the National Wildlife Federation . In 2008, the school dedicated the first Silver LEED -certified lower school in Chatham County . The 52,500-square-foot lower school building includes
441-648: Was used as a source for Polly Cooper and Laura Lawton's book Savannah's Preservation Story (2016). Groves died on October 31, 2021, aged 95. She is interred in Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery , alongside her husband. Savannah Country Day School The Savannah Country Day School ( SCDS , Country Day ) is an independent college preparatory school founded in 1955 in Savannah, Georgia , United States. The co-educational school serves students from pre-kindergarten through to twelfth grade , and has 1,028 students enrolled. Savannah Country Day School originates from
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