All-Inclusive Tuition and the Story of the Overnight Field TripGateway Giving funding helps ensure all CDS students receive the tools, programming, and related support to maximize their CDS experience as part of the total tuition cost. This means things like textbooks, school supplies, athletic uniforms, healthy lunches, and school counseling resources are paid for up front and not charged separately. This helps families budget effectively for the year and means that all CDS students enjoy the full range of opportunities together.
One special focus of the CDS program is our overnight field trip offerings in the upper grades. Field trips are a vital part of the curriculum, designed to enrich student learning while fostering independence and connection. Overnight adventures bring learning to life by engaging students with content in authentic, hands-on ways. From exploring our barrier islands in 4th grade to tracking stats at a professional baseball game in Atlanta in 7th grade, each trip reinforces classroom lessons with real-world applications.
Field trips create core memories, are confidence builders, and provide powerful moments of growth.
Supporting Teachers in Ongoing Education and the Story of the Advanced DegreeOver ⅔ of CDS teachers hold advanced degrees and certifications in education. To fully realize this expertise and ensure our faculty provides superior instruction, best teaching practices, and a supportive home-away-from-home for our students, Gateway Giving helps fund continuing education opportunities.
Teachers College at Columbia University offered Ms. Kilbride, 2nd grade teacher, the opportunity to explore curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy through the lens of mind-brain education, equity, and social-emotional learning—essential elements for designing thoughtful, student-centered instruction. Other examples of on-going learning include Responsive Classroom conferences, SAIS seminars, and regional K-8 school visits and collaborations. When donors invest in professional development for the teachers, it results in an enhanced education experience for every student at CDS.
Maintaining Our Historic Campus and the Story of the Art RoomOur downtown campus is a distinguishing asset of our program. From the Philip Simmons Gates at the school entrance to the historic houses flanking the property, we respect our location in Charleston and routinely enhance our campus.
This year, the School converted the historic Moore Learning House first floor from gathering and tutoring spaces into a renovated art room. The update brings both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. One hurdle is transforming the space into a vibrant, well-equipped art room while maintaining the integrity of the home’s original architecture and historic character.
To meet modern learning needs, renovations include improved lighting, new floors, and storage, while preserving original woodwork and architectural details. Additionally, equipment such as new flat work tables and easels, drying racks, shelving, and digital art tools is also necessary.
Many corporations have a matching gift program that can double or even triple contributions to CDS. Some will match the gifts of spouses and/or retirees. You can check to see if your company participates in a matching gift program on our Donate Now page.
When you make a gift in honor or memory of someone special, that person or family will receive a note that a gift was made in their name along with the donor’s contact information. The amount of the gift is not included.
Gifts to the Gateway Giving Fund are tax deductible. Once we receive your gift, you will receive a receipt verifying your gift.
Gifts of securities are accepted. Please contact:
Stock Gift Transfer Information
DTC#: 0547 (Robert W. Baird)
Account number: 7118-1359 Charleston Day School Gift Account
Robert W. Baird
Attn: Clark Samisch
843-579-503
If you would like to direct your gift to a specific need, please contact Mary Baarcke in the CDS Advancement office at 843-266-9798 or contact us by email.
