| Providence Country Day School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| East Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, coeducational |
| Motto | Leadership and Learning for Life |
| Religious affiliation(s) | no affiliation |
| Established | 1923 |
| Headmaster | Vince Watchorn |
| Faculty | 50 |
| Enrollment | 300 |
| Average class size | 10 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 6:1 |
| Campus | Semi-Urban |
| Color(s) | Black and Red |
| Athletics conference | NEPSAC, RIIL |
| Mascot | Knight |
The Providence Country Day School (often abbreviated to the initials PCD) is a private middle and high school, founded in 1923. Located in East Providence, Rhode Island, United States, it serves approximately 300 students in grades 6 through 12. The school has no religious affiliation and has been co-ed since 1991.
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In 1923 a group of business leaders, educators and parents set out to establish a premier college-preparatory school in a rural setting. They wanted to provide area students with the advantages of a boarding school campus, but afford them the additional benefits of a day school. Initially a small, all-boys middle and high school, in 1991, the school admitted its first female students, and in 1998 the Board of Trustees hired Susan Haberlandt as Head of School. The new Head of school is Vince Watchorn.
In 1997 PCD completed an extensive campus consolidation and building project, in which two historical buildings, Metcalf and Chace Halls (1927) were moved to the east side of campus and renovated. At the same time Murray House opened as the new administration building and the Moran Annex was added to the West Field House, providing greatly expanded and improved athletic facilities.
There are 17 different sports played at PCD at the Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels of competition. Athletic teams compete in either the Rhode Island Interscholastic League or the SENE division of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference.
Most sports are played at the Division I level against other small schools, and each year at least 30% of the teams compete in league championships. The Boys Soccer program, which competes in Division 1 of the RIIL, has competed in the SENE Championship for 13 years in a row. They are one of the top teams in New England. The girls team continues to face an uphill struggle to maintain a team that finishes over .500. In 2009, the Boys Cross Country team won the New England Class D Championship, and the Girls Tennis team won the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) Division IV title. The wrestling team joined the RIIL in the 2009-2010 season, and the baseball team currently competes in Division II of the RIIL. The golf team has won two consecutive SENE championships behind the tutelage of Vinny Nocera and Charles Gwynne. Furthermore, the Boys Basketball team is on an upswing. They have been league championship contenders for the past few years. The Boys Hockey Team was also very strong because of Eric Vargas. Competing in the RIIL Division II, they are favorites week in and week out. The Mens Varsity Lacrosse team is rebuilding. They have a solid core of players, and are looking to win the RIIL Division II Championship.
The Mock Trial and Chess teams have also excelled in competitions against other schools in the area. PCD has an unbelievable chess prodigy at their disposal in the form of Senior Sam Kirsch. Kirsch has not only done well on a regional level but has also competed on a national level. His current record in the library at PCD is 87-4-3.
Head of School - Vince Watchorn
Assistant Head and Principal - Mark McLaughlin
Dean of Students - Nathan Groenendyk
Page to Stage
The PCD Players (PCD's theater troupe), presents a musical every spring and another play in the fall. Fall plays are written by a group of students in the Page to Stage summer workshop. For three weeks, students research, collaborate, and write an original play based on a topic in history, literature, or society. Page to Stage has written seven scripts, including a comedic murder mystery entitled "A Lethal Remembrance"[1]. In summer 2009, "Page to Stage" created a play based on the works of Dr. Seuss.
Study Abroad
Each year, students are invited to enroll in international programs that emphasize language mastery, cultural awareness, and community service. Some international programs are available each year while others vary, depending on student and teacher interest. Among the locations PCD students have studied and traveled are Ecuador, France, Spain and Italy. Currently, students have the opportunity to spend a trimester exchange in Ecuador, visit Quebec City for a long weekend, spend spring break studying marine ecology in St. John, USVI, and travel to Peru to visit Macchu Picchu and other archaeological and cultural sites.
Rhode Island Philharmonic Partnership
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School, across the street from the PCD campus, is home to state-of-the-art facilities available to PCD musicians. As a part of their daily schedule, PCD Upper and Middle School students can enroll in individual instruction with the Music School’s professional musicians, as well as use their facilities for class instruction and practice space. The Music School’s performance space is also available for PCD musical groups.
Chafee Leadership Forum
Since 2000, the late senator John H. Chafee ’40 and his family and friends have sponsored the Chafee Leadership Forum, an annual dialogue with a notable leader in politics and society. Students throughout Rhode Island are invited to the Forum to experience unfolding political events, meet international and national leaders, and broaden their perspectives and understanding of contemporary issues. Recent Chafee Leadership Forum speakers have included U.S. Senator Jack Reed and former U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee.