Summit Country Day School Explained

The Summit Country Day School
Motto:Educating Leaders of Character since 1890
Streetaddress:2161 Grandin Road
County:(Hamilton County)
Zipcode:45208
Country:United States
Religion:Roman Catholic
Established:1890
Head Of School:Kelley Schiess [1]
Faculty:174
Enrollment:1,055
Ratio:10:1
Mascot:Silver Knights
Accreditation:North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Publication:The Summit Magazine
Yearbook:Rostrum
Enrollment As Of:2018–19[3] [4]
Campus Size:40acres
Free Label:Head of upper school
Free Text:Kelly Cronin [5]

The Summit Country Day School is a private, Roman Catholic, PreK–12 co-educational school located in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2021, enrollment is 1,055 students from ages 18 months through 12th grade. Although located within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the school is run by the board of trustees and head of school.

Background

The Summit Country Day School was founded in 1890 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as a school for girls. The Summit Boys Middle School opened in 1941 and the upper school began admitting boys in 1972. In 1980, the school became a private, Catholic, independent school when an independent board of trustees assumed operations. Edward Tyrrell was named headmaster, the first layperson to lead the school, and retired in 2003 after 33 years of service to the Summit.

The Summit is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, Ohio Association of Independent Schools, Independent Schools Association of the Central States and other agencies. The Summit continues to endorse the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame Education and maintains a relationship with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

The school has four divisions. The Montessori program serves ages 18 months to kindergarten. The Lower School serves Grades 1–4. Middle School is Grades 5–8. Upper School is Grades 9–12.

Rich Wilson served as head of school from 2010 through 2022. Following his retirement, Kelley Schiess has succeeded Rich Wilson as head of school as of July 1, 2022.[6]

Architecture

Summit's main building, designed by architect Edwin Forrest Durang, was first constructed in 1890, then renovated in 1930. It was built in the Gothic Revival style and includes a chapel with seating for 500.

In 1960 the school added a primary school building. In 1996, construction of a new middle school building was completed and the boys and girls middle schools were combined into one co-ed program. The athletic complex near Interstate 71 also opened in 1996.

In 2003 Summit began another project at an estimated initial cost of $20 million to renovate many sections of the school, and build a new stadium, parking lot, and lower school. In 2004, the school suffered a partial collapse after excavation for an adjacent foundation wall undermined the structure.[7] A renovation and expansion in 2015[8] included construction of a new a five-floor wing, renovation of all science labs in the middle and upper schools, expansion of the upper school library, and construction of an upper school art room and additional classrooms.[9]

In 2017, Pat and Joe Perin donated two antique brass candelabra to the school, items salvaged from the Albee Theater. The candelabra were made for John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthy financier, and stood outside the entrance to the dining hall of his New York mansion.[10] Astor perished during the sinking of the Titanic.

Programs and activities

The Summit Country Day Latin Club is a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL)[11] and National Junior Classical League (NJCL).[12] Summit Country Day holds the distinction of being the first Latin club to win the OJCL Convention state title after nearly three decades of consecutive wins from rival Stow-Munroe Falls.[13] Prior to Summit's 2007 win, no other OJCL Latin Club had won the Overall Sweepstakes trophy since 1979 (the start of Stow's 28-year win streak). Summit went on to win the top prize again in 2009 and 2010.

There are two academic centers in the high school, The Schiff Family Science Research Center and the Homan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Athletics

There is an athletic program for students beginning in kindergarten. Until Grade 7, the coaches are parent volunteers. In the high school, Summit fields varsity sports teams in 20 sports across three seasons. The school competes within the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Miami Valley Conference. Summit has a "no cut" policy for athletics.

Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships

Other state championships

Notable alumni

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Schiess . Kelley . Head of School .
  2. Web site: NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement . 2009-06-23 . NCA-CASI . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033455/http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/ . April 29, 2009 .
  3. Web site: Summit Country Day Elementary School. Archdiocese of Cincinnati. October 12, 2015.
  4. Web site: Summit Country Day High School. Archdiocese of Cincinnati. October 12, 2015.
  5. News: High School Open House Calendar. The Catholic Telegraph. Archdiocese of Cincinnati. October 22, 2018. 187. 10. 24. October 25, 2018.
  6. Web site: Telegraph. The Catholic. School News: Head of school at The Summit announces retirement plans. 2021-11-05. Catholic Telegraph. en-US.
  7. Web site: School Collapse. 2021-11-05. fox19.com. en.
  8. Web site: Sparling. Hannah. Summit Country Day launches $18M campaign. 2021-11-05. The Enquirer. en-US.
  9. Web site: Sellers. Forrest. Summit Country Day School may rebuild damaged wing. 2021-11-05. The Enquirer. en-US.
  10. Web site: Suess. Jeff. Our history: Historic Albee candelabra find new home at Summit Country Day. 2021-11-05. The Enquirer. en-US.
  11. Web site: 2009 Convention – Club Point Summary. 2009. Ohio Junior Classical League. 10 August 2009.
  12. Web site: Constitution of the Ohio Junior Classical League. March 2008. Ohio Junior Classical League. 18 September 2009. ...by paying both OJCL annual chapter dues and any annual chapter membership dues required by NJCL. Mr. Larry Dean is the teacher..
  13. Web site: 2005 State Convention- Club Contest Results . 2005 . Ohio Junior Classical League 2005 State Convention . Ohio Junior Classical League . 17 October 2009 . Congratulations to Stow as they achieved the top overall ranking for the 27th consecutive year. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050406182610/http://ohiojcl.org/0405/2005_overall_school.pdf . April 6, 2005 .
  14. Web site: Summit Country Day 4x200 Humble After Win | OHSAA Div 3 State Track and Field Championship .
  15. Web site: Cincinnati Enquirer. 2007-02-12.
  16. Web site: Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site. 2019-12-06. OHSAA.
  17. Web site: About Us / History. 2021-11-05. Lacrosse Ohio. en-us.
  18. Web site: International Soccer News, Scores & Videos | Sporting News.
  19. Web site: Summit’s Nicholson named first-team all-Ohio in football . www.summitcds.org . 14 December 2020.