Arlington Country Day School
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| Established | 1954 |
|---|---|
| Type | Private school |
| Principal | Deborah A. Lichtward |
| Faculty | 40 |
| Students | 500 |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Location | Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Green, White |
| Mascot | Apache |
| Website | Official site |
Arlington Country Day School (ACDS) is a K-12 private school, with about 475 students, located about 7 miles ENE of downtown in Jacksonville, Florida.[1] In 2004, Arlington Country Day School celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Head of school is Deborah Lichtward.
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[edit] History
Also known as ACDS, Arlington Country Day School opened its doors in 1954 to teach Pre-Kindergarten through 8th graders.Arlington Country Day School received full accreditation in 1968 by the Florida Council of Independent Schools. The school received its full accreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Independent Private Schools Association and the Association of Independent Schools of Florida in 2003. In 1995, ACDS introduced its high school, offering two academic programs.[2][3] Many of those first freshmen went on to graduate with the class of 1999. Arlington Country Day School is the largest privately owned school in Florida. ACDS operates on a four-quarter academic year.
[edit] Mission Statement
Our faculty and staff are committed to providing the finest possible service to our school community. We strive to guide the positive development of our students' talents academically, socially, and behaviorally. We believe engaging the cooperative teamwork of family and school will result in our students being most effectively prepared for lifelong success.
[edit] Philosophy
There are three interlocking blocks that make up the foundation of our philosophy and purpose at Arlington Country Day School: First, our school is invitational. No one is required to choose our school, nor is the school required to accept all students. We make no claim that we are for everybody, but we do provide a challenging and rewarding program for the willing child.
The second is a request our philosophy makes upon us: that we are cognizant of the individuality of each pupil. While we cannot realistically provide individual instruction, we can be aware of differences inherent within children physically, intellectually, and socially.
The third is a responsibility that we take very seriously: personal commitment to the child. Of course, in our school we intend to promote cognitive growth, but affective learning - congeniality, physical awareness, the ability to judge right and wrong and the morality to choose a virtuous style of life - all of these behaviors will be affected by the behavior model of a child's teachers. Therefore, it is our responsibility to be a proper role model for our students.
[edit] Academics
Elementary
Elementary School classes consist of Kindergarten through 5th Grade. Class sizes are limited to 18 students, where individual strengths and needs of a student may be addressed. Many teachers have an instructional aide to assist in the classroom. A solid foundation in the academics is the goal of the elementary program.
Elementary students have weekly Physical Education, Spanish, Music, and Library specialists to supplement the classroom teacher.
Middle School
Middle School classes consist of 6th, 7th and 8th Grades. Class sizes are limited to 18 students.
In addition to Math, English, Social Studies and Science Middle School students take literature and one elective. Elective options include Physical Education, Computer Science, Dance/Cheerleading, Art, Teachers Of Tomorrow, Newspaper and Yearbook.
Middle School students also have three course selection choices for most academic subjects. For instance, some 8th Graders take Geometry, others Algebra, yet others elect Pre-Algebra or 8th Grade Fundamental Math. 8th Graders may be assigned to Life Science, Physical Science or Introduction to Biology. In literature, different tracks are also offered. The curriculum is tailored to the individual student.
High School
Since the first graduating class of 1999, the number of students receiving academic or athletic scholarships has been around 70%.
High School students have many curriculum options. In addition to a standard curriculum, College Level and Honors courses are available in the core academic areas.
ACDS has three separate computer labs with computers connected to the Internet with high speed two-way internet access. This provides for a ratio of 1:6 (1 computer to 6 high school students).
As of the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year, Headmaster Fred Lichtward, B.S., M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D., had recruited a complete college level teaching staff. Every new teacher’s credentials allowed them to instruct at the university level. The decision presented a tremendous opportunity for students to earn college credits. The ACDS Dual-Enrollment program has continued to grow, offering more courses since Dr. Lichtward established it.
Junior and senior students with a 3.5 GPA and adequate SAT scores may take college level courses taught by certified college professors in the following areas: Math, History, Sociology, Criminology, Science, Education, Physics, English and English Literature. Teachers are available after dismissal to assist students who may need extra instruction.
[edit] Sports
ACDS has many sports programs. Its most notable is the boys' varsity basketball team, which has been called "one of the most celebrated programs in the country".[4] The team won the Florida state Class 2A championship in 2005.[5] ACDS repeated the championship in 2006, with a convincing 73-37 win over North Palm Beach Benjamin in a game played at the Lakeland Center.[6] Again in 2007, the team defeated Port St. Lucie, 72-43, to three-peat. In March, 2008, a four-peat was accomplished with ACDS again winning the state Class 2A title, beating Weston Sagemont, 54-53. The Apaches are only the fifth team in FHSAA history to have won at least four consecutive state titles. The boys basketball team has appeared on national television and often travel around the country to play.[7] Jason Bennett, a 7'3" center, agreed in December 2006 to play for Kansas State University.[8][9]
Arlington Country Day School finished eighth in the country in the USA Today 2005 boys basketball rankings, one of only eight schools to be ranked in the top 25 for the entire season.[5] The 2006 team finished the season ranked 14th nationwide by USA Today.[10]
In 2000 and 2001, the ACDS baseball team won back-to-back Class 1A titles, winning their second title on May 15, 2001, by defeating Archbishop Carroll High School of Miami by a final score of 10-8 in a game played at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida.[11] On May 18, 2006, the baseball team won their third state title in six years, with a 4-2 victory over Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic.[12] Nike is now the main sponsor of the team.
[edit] News
On August 18, 2000, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) placed ACDS on a two-year probation and fined the school $1,000 for several recruiting violations, including five baseball players who transferred from First Coast High School.[13]
In July 2002, Arlington Country Day paid a bill of nearly $33,000 to the FHSAA, who sent a letter notifying the school that the restrictive probation for ACD's boys basketball program had been extended through the next two seasons, along with a bill for $32,839.83. Nearly all of the money sought by the FHSAA was to pay for its legal defense for the lawsuit brought by the school. The rest, $2,500, was a fine for a bylaw violation.
In October 2006, the School was in the news when they fired a baseball coach for hazing a 13 year old boy, followed by a police investigation.[14]
In June 2007 the Headmaster, Dr. Fred H. Lichtward, resigned from his position despite his wife (Deborah Lichtward) owning the school. Dr. Lichtward was the Headmaster of ACDS from 1989-2007.
On April 23, 2008, the school was in the news when all students were sent home with a letter from owner and CEO/ Business Manager, Deborah Lichtward stating that she had suspended the head basketball coach, Rex Morgan, without pay for the duration of the school year. Coach Morgan was accused of spreading rumors about the school’s accreditation and ownership status. Coach Morgan led the Apaches to 4 Class 2A Basketball State Titles. Morgan’s suspension cast light on many underlying rumors. Rex Morgan later filed a lawsuit against both Deborah Lichtward and ACDS for breach of contract and defamation.
On June 1, 2008, after weeks of protests directed at the owner of Arlington Country Day School, Deborah Lichtward agreed to sell the private school to Ken and Irene Salerno, effective Thursday June 5, 2008.
At the last minute and without warning on June 5, 2008, just before the final contract was to be signed, Deborah Lichtward's attorney informed the Salerno's attorney that she was rejecting their proposal. Mrs. Lichtward believed the proposal resulted in her incurring tot much debt and requested that, along with more money, a clause be included in a new contract which resulted in her having no liability for her previous actions. As of June 6th, Mr. Salerno had suspended negotiations with Lichtward.
[edit] Controversey
On April 24, 2008, immediately following the suspension of Coach Morgan, outraged students, faculty and parents began commenting on various discussion boards. The discussion was largely focused on the feeling that there was not effective leadership at the school. All accusations were largely focused on Deborah Lichtward who was blamed for numerous problems the school encountered after Dr. Lichtward resigned in June 2007, following their separation. Many of the voices on the discussion boards declared adissatisfaction with Mrs. Lichtward and plead for her to save the school by selling it.
After Dr. Fred Lichtward’s departure, under the leadership of Deborah Lichtward, the school lost one of its accreditations and was in serious trouble of losing the two remaining. Although this information was verified through communications with the school’s accreditation agencies, Mrs. Lichtward never acknowledged it. AISF and SACS representatives have expressed interest in working with the new owners to maintain the school’s accreditation
On May 15, 2008, teachers did not receive their monthly paychecks, with Mrs. Lichtward blaming a "cash flow problem." The next day, teachers received about a fifth of the value of their paychecks in cash.
On May 16 or early May 17, 2008, the Arlington Country Day School grounds were vandalized, causing thousands in damage and classes to be cancelled until Friday May 23. Many windows were shattered, five major support beams destroyed, several air conditioners were damaged, doors were broken open, garbage strewn all over the campus and outdoor picnic tables were overturned.
On May 22, 2008, a faculty meeting occurred at the school where Mrs. Lichtward made a rare public appearance, belittling former Headmaster Dr. Lichtward and making a vulgar statement to reporters. She promised to “walk away” if it was for the best of the school. Teachers still had not received the balance of their monthly paychecks. Ken Salerno, present at this meeting, agreed to make a payment to the teachers on May 27, 2008.
On May 28, 2008, teachers held a meeting with parents and students at a playground near the Blue Cypress golf course.
On May 30, 2008, students and parents held a demonstration in front of the school in support of the school's teachers and demanding that Mrs. Lichtward sell ACDS. At the end of the day, many teachers, students, and parents staged a short protest in front of Mrs. Lichtward's home, an event covered by all major local media outlets.
[edit] References
- ^ "Arlington Country Day School", National Center for Education Statistics
- ^ Academic Programs. Arlington Country Day School. Retrieved on 2007-03-13.
- ^ "Building a school a year at a time; Country Day has sophomores now", Florida Times-Union by Monica Richardson, September 25, 1996. "Arlington Country Day School has something it never had since opening 42 years ago: sophomores.
- ^ recruiting: Rob Harrington, USA Today, September 27, 2004, "Rob Harrington: Well, I would say Arlington Country Day is one of the most celebrated programs in the country."
- ^ a b Super 25 boys' basketball rankings: 2005, USA Today, March 28, 2005
- ^ Akins, Mike "Apaches Easily Defend Title; Led By Versatile Stewart, Arlington Country Day Simply Dominates Benjamin, 73-37.; Class 2A Championship", The Ledger, Sports Pg. C3, March 5, 2006
- ^ ESPNU & ESPN2 Boy's High School Basketball Schedule, ESPN press release dated December 20, 2005
- ^ "ACD's Jason Bennett Chooses Kansas State", First Coast News, December 4, 2006
- ^ "Kansas State lands highly touted 7-footer", Topeka Capital-Journal, April 13, 2006
- ^ Final Super 25 boys' basketball rankings: 2006, USA Today, March 27, 2006
- ^ "Apaches capture 1A crown", Tampa Tribune by Rozel A. Lee and Erik Erlendsson, May 16, 2001
- ^ "Apaches take title with perfect chemistry", Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 19, 2006. pC1
- ^ "Arlington school penalized Probation, $1,000 fine for Apaches", Florida Times-Union by Justin Barney, August 19, 2000
- ^ "Arlington Country Day coach fired after hazing of student, 13", The Florida Times-Union, November 3, 2006
