
CCDShowcase: A Centennial Celebration
The CCDShowcase marked the exciting beginning of our centennial year with a joyful, all-community celebration of the arts on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The Country Day community enjoyed a full day of performances and exhibits from students across every division — plus a few special surprises. In place of our traditional evening performances, this year’s CCDShowcase served as the year-end presentation of student work in the performing and visual arts while also kicking off our centennial celebration. It was truly a memorable day celebrating the creativity and talent of our students and community!
Take a look at some of the highlights!
Click here to view the program!
The Details
The Schedule
11:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremonies – Carey Family Amphitheater (weather permitting)
Celebrate the official launch of both our centennial and this spectacular arts event with a welcome from Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98, introduction of our recent Arts Hall of Fame inductees, and the singing of our Alma Mater, performed by one of the largest choir groups ever. Let the festivities begin!
12:00 p.m.
Lower School Choir (grades K-1) – Keeler Theater
Come celebrate our Kindergarten and first-grade choirs' year-end concert led by our amazing performing arts teacher, Hollyn Orr!
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Meet our Arts Hall of Fame Inductees – Room 201/202
Meet some of our Arts Hall of Fame inductees and learn about their impact on the world through a panel discussion.
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Centennial Photo Booths – South Gym
Swing by our South Gym to get a photo taken by students in our Photography department, guided by our new photo teacher, Mason Hershenow, and check out the ASCII photo booth, hosted by our AP Computer Science A class.
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Welcome to the Makerspace – Makerspace (US Upper Level)
Stop by our makerspace, headed up by Jamie Back, our director of makerspace and innovative design, to get a sneak peek at some of the cool projects our students have been working on. Learn about 3D printing, laser cutting, graphic design, electronics … and make your own button!
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Interactive Arts & Crafts Activities
- Button Making – US Library (note: this will finish at 2 p.m.)
- Make Your Own Stamps – US Library
- Note Station, write a note to your favorite artists – Dining Terrace
- Beading – MS Commons
- Token Response, Art Conversation Starter Game – Main Entrance
- Tote Bag Decorating – Dining Terrace
- Community "Mural" Drawing – Dining Terrace
- Paint-By-Number, presented by AP Computer Science A class – Front Reception Desk
- Chalk Art – Carey Family Amphitheater (weather permitting)
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
All School Art Show – MS Commons, Messer Art Gallery, Main Lobby, US Hallways
Throughout the day, take a stroll through the school to enjoy our year-end All School Art Show.
- ECC/ECX: Messer Gallery
- Pre-K I: US Library
- Pre-K II: MS Commons, Dining Terrace, US Library
- Montessori: US Library
- Kindergarten: Messer Gallery, outside Messer Gallery, MS Commons hallway
- 1st Grade: Dining Terrace
- 2nd Grade: US hallway
- 3rd Grade: Messer Gallery, main entrance
- 4th Grade: US Library
- 5th grade: US Library, US hallways, US Commons
- 6th grade: outside Messer Gallery, MS Commons
- 7th Grade: outside Messer Gallery, Dining Terrace, MS Commons
- 8th grade: Messer Gallery, Dining Terrace
- Art II: Messer Gallery, MS Commons, outside MS Commons, US hallways, US Commons, US Library
- Photo II: outside Messer Gallery, outside MS Commons, MS Commons, US hallway, US Commons, US Library
- Adv, Honors, and AP Studio Art: Messer Gallery, outside Messer Gallery, Dining Terrace, US Library
- AP Photo: Messer Gallery, US hallway, Dining Terrace
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Analog/Digital/Analog Installation – Main Lobby
Contribute to our community art piece set up by our Computer Science department using color-by-number. Watch as the picture comes to life over the course of the day!
12:30 p.m.
Lower School Choir (grades 2-3) – Keeler Theater
Come celebrate our second- and third-grade choirs’ year-end concert led by Hollyn Orr!
12:30 p.m.
Middle School & Upper School Violin and Voice Recital – MS Commons Stage
Stop by our Middle School Commons stage to enjoy some of the great vocal talent of our individual voice and violin students in our Middle School and Upper School.
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Young People’s Imagination Stations – Room 211/212
Oh, the creative thinks we can think...
Dr. Seuss and his imagination started somewhere. Fine-motor tinkering sparks creativity by strengthening hand muscles and coordination, enabling children to turn imaginative ideas into tangible art. Building fine motor skills by tinkering is a precursor to writing in kindergarten and beyond. Manipulating small objects such as Legos and snap blocks works in two ways to enhance skills needed to further their academic futures: building the muscles needed to do more intricate, detailed work and allowing children to freely create and build. Stop by our imagination station with your young ones and watch the creative juices flow!
1:00 p.m.
Lower School & Upper School Piano Recital – Keeler Theater
Stop into our theater to hear our piano students from Lower School and Upper School present their year-end recital for the school.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Ully Marin – MS Commons
For years, retired CCDS teacher Ully Marin has entertained our students with a variety of children’s songs and interactive entertainment. Swing by the Middle School Commons and have your kids enjoy the joyful and interactive music of Mr. Ully Marin.
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Caricature Art – Main Lobby
If you missed getting your caricature drawn by our own Kuan Zhao `28 during FallFest, now is your chance to get yours!
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Art Show Artist Talks (session 1) – Room 201/202
Support (and learn from) our AP and Honors Visual Art students as they present their work and discuss their process. Led by our visual arts teachers, Amy Brand and Mason Hershenow, each student will give an individual presentation. Artists in this session include: Oliver Jeffries `27, Owen Kern `26, Rui Guan `27, Zeyu Chen `27, and Jessica Chen `26.
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Collaborative Storytelling (D&D Experience) – Room 213
Enroll your creative student in a one-time interactive storytelling experience. Run by our very own D&D expert, Marisol Allison-Prophater, this experience is guaranteed to be a wonderful introduction to Dungeons and Dragons as well as collaborative storytelling. To celebrate 100 years of CCDS, Marisol Allison-Prophater is hosting a special Dungeons & Dragons adventure where players must travel through a century of school history to save CCDS from collapsing into the ground. This session is open to eight students in grades 5–8. All experience levels are welcome — from introductory to advanced players. Please note that the band performance will conflict with this session. Registration is required and space is limited, so click here to register today!
1:30 p.m.
Learn to Line Dance - Carey Family Amphitheater
Join 5th Grade PE Motion & Dance at 1:30 in the Carey Family Amphitheater to learn the high-energy line dance “Boots on the Ground”! Watch them lead the way, then jump in with Mrs. Wood—grab a fan and help us bring a little country flair to Country Day!
2:00 p.m.
Lower School Violin and Vocal Recital – MS Commons
Stop into the Middle School Commons to enjoy the year-end recitals of our individual vocal and violin students.
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Art Show Artist Talks (session 2) – Room 201/202
Support (and learn from) our AP and Honors Visual Art students as they present their work and discuss their process. Led by our visual arts teachers, Amy Brand and Mason Hershenow, each student will give an individual presentation. Artists in this session include: Reese Garringer `27, Ally Radulescu `26, Dakota Moesker `27, Bee Kohler `26, and Ellie Texter `26.
2:30 p.m.
Middle School & Upper School Year-End Band Concert – Keeler Theater
The Nighthawk Band performs its final year-end concert in Keeler. Stop by and support one of our great CCDS traditions led by our own band director, Stephanie Wietmarschen.
3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Art Show Artist Talks (session 3) – Room 201/202
Support (and learn from) our AP and Honors Visual Art students as they present their work and discuss their process. Led by our visual arts teachers, Amy Brand and Mason Hershenow, each student will give an individual presentation. Artists in this session include: Shiva Shyam `26, Nia Irby `26, Sammy Greenstein `27, and Jonas Copeland `26.
4:00 p.m.
Middle School & Upper School Year-End Choir Concert – Keeler Theater
The Nighthawk Choir has become one of our brightest stars at Country Day. Enjoy the musicality and joy of our choirs, from fourth grade through Upper School, as they perform their year-end celebration of song!
Food Options
Whether they were with us for just a couple of hours or the entire day, attendees enjoyed food from our food trucks and were able to treat themselves with a picnic lunch in the amphitheater, while enjoying the outdoor entertainment from our local school talent.
Food Trucks
We had three food trucks on campus from noon until 3 p.m.:
- El Cardenal Taquería: Mexican street food, tacos, and quesadilla
- Queens of the Crop: Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, vegan burgers, and more
- Street Fried: Chicken tenders & fries, chicken & waffles, corndogs, and side items
Café Ars Gratia Artis (open noon until 5 p.m.)
Our Dining Terrace was converted into a café-style spot for you to lounge while attendees waited for the next big event. The community was able to enjoy free snacks and beverages by SAGE Dining Services, color their way through our special edition coloring book, check out the limited edition CCDShowcase spirit shop, and swing by the Arts Alliance table to learn more about how this incredible organization is supporting the arts at CCDS.




























