Founders’ Day 2022: Together Again

March 4th 2022

FWCD grades K-12 … Together. At last. Founders’ Day 2022 was a day of reflection and celebration as Fort Worth Country Day students, faculty and staff marked a significant event in gathering together for a Founders’ Day celebration for the first time since March 6, 2020. Common themes: smiles, laughter and cheering. The event featured a faculty/staff recognition and a fun wrap battle.

Student Body President Joaquin Castro-Balbi ’22 welcomed the community to the FWCD Memorial Caring Bridge green space and led the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Jazmine Gomez ’22 sang “God Bless America.”

Founders’ Day honors the official beginning of Fort Worth Country Day. “We are celebrating the signing of our sort of Declaration of Independence or our Constitution,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “We were officially recognized as a school on March 6 of 1962. That will be 60 years ago this Sunday, March 6. So we are here to say, ‘Happy Birthday, Fort Worth Country Day.”

The Memorial Caring Bridge green space was the perfect location for this year’s event: The School’s three original buildings could be seen from that vantage point. Lombardi shared his two favorite things about the School, both beginning with the letter “P.”

“My first favorite thing is the place we come to school. We are so lucky to come to such a really pretty campus with amazing buildings in an amazing location. This particular location, around what we call our Caring Bridge, has to be one of the prettiest places on any campus anywhere,” he said. “You could have lots of favorite places on our campus … maybe it’s by a fountain, maybe it’s under certain trees, maybe it's on the Hill, maybe it’s at the pond. We are so lucky that our school started right here with these three buildings and that we have been here for 59 years.

“Besides the amazing place we get to come to school, my favorite thing about FWCD is the people,” Lombardi continued. “We have amazing people … amazing students, amazing support staff, amazing coaches and teachers. So, all of those people are here, in one of our most beautiful places to be a reminder of things we love about our school as we celebrate our birthday.”

To get the community into the birthday spirit, a friendly wrapping contest took place. All this week, students voted for four teachers (one per Quad) to participate front and center in a Founders’ Day activity. The winners were revealed: Hugo Muñoz (Quad F), Austin Walton (Quad W), Theresa Fuss (Quad C), and Patrick Diamonon (Quad D). A Lower, Middle and Upper School Quad member was called out to help “wrap” their teacher in one minute. View the video for all the fun! The ultimate wrap battle winner: Austin Walton.

The celebration is also an important milestone for many FWCD faculty and staff. This year, 33 faculty and staff members were recognized for their years of service. Those with 5-15 years stood and waved as their names were called. Those with 20+ years of service walked down the steps toward the Caring Bridge and stage for special acknowledgment. Pepper Ackers ’92, Andréanne Annis, Bob Booth, Paige Farris Chisholm ’87, Dorrine DeChant, Laurie Valentine, and Robin Willis – were inducted into Club Viginti, an honor bestowed on faculty/staff who reach 20 years of FWCD service. Lidia Arenas, Joan Massey, and Anne-Lise Knecht Woods ’85 were recognized for 25 years of service. Ed Chisholm and Jon Shipley were applauded for 35 and 45 years of service, respectively.

Founders’ Day also features a service component among the Quads. For nearly two weeks, students have been bringing in donations for their Quad’s nonprofit organization: school supplies for Breakthrough Fort Worth (Quad F), household items for Ronald McDonald House Fort Worth (Quad W), hygiene items for Como Community Center (Quad C), and dog items for Saving Hope Foundation & Saving Hope Animal Rescue Fund (Quad D). Those donations will be delivered later today

All FWCD events end with the prideful singing of the School’s Alma Mater. Founders’ Day 2022 was no different but was perhaps more poignant with everyone together again this year.

FWCD FWCD Service Recognition

Club Viginti – 20 Years