CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE CHILD AT A TIME
THE TownleY FUND
AT CHARLOTTESVILLE DAY SCHOOL
ABOUT CHARLOTTESVILLE DAY SCHOOL
At Charlottesville Day School, dedicated teachers nurture children during the most important years of brain and academic development — preschool through 8th grade. Essential attitudes toward learning and school, along with a growth mindset, become hard-wired during these years. Academic skills learned before high school set the stage for success in future academic and life-long endeavors.
For children who are refugees from war-torn areas and have already survived so many traumatic experiences, the safe and nurturing environment at CDS is truly life changing. They come from different cultures, have different languages and are often misunderstood and bullied. However, at CDS, everyone is celebrated, allowing these children to learn, grow and contribute to a school community that welcomes and values them.
— Kari Miller, Founder & Executive Director of International Neighbors Charlottesville and CDS parent
A Safe Haven
The United States has a long tradition of welcoming persecuted people from around the world, including those escaping violence and human trafficking. Charlottesville is home to one of the country's 25 International Refugee Committee offices. Each year, more than 200 refugees settle in the Charlottesville area. The IRC works with government agencies to help thousands of brave people escape violence and rebuild their lives.
The Townley Fund - Joanne Boyle
WHAT IS THE
TOWNLEY FUND?
The Townley Fund provides full scholarships for year-round preschool through 8th-grade education. It assists children in deep financial need who need more support than our separate financial aid program allows. Currently, our student beneficiaries are from Togo, Sudan and the Congo. The program gives preference to children who are refugees, but is not exclusive to them.
Children in the program receive full tuition, aftercare, lunch, summer camps and optional enrichment programming, including music lessons. Reading and other specialists provide individualized support as needed. Perhaps most importantly, the children and their families are embraced by a warm community of teachers, children and parents who celebrate everyone at CDS.
About
Townley Cole
Townley Cole retired in 2020 after more than 50 years as a teacher. Townley’s dedication to all children, especially those in need, make her a guiding light for this scholarship program.
There's a tremendous need for preschool education, especially for economically disadvantaged kids, and CDS is unique in that they welcome children as young as two years old. There's been a lot of research on this and pre-kindergarten is in fact where you get your biggest bang for the educational dollar.
— Henry Peskin, whose Henry and Janice Peskin Scholarship Fund provides full support for two preschool students at CDS
A CARING school COMMUNITY
Children who are refugees and others who have experienced trauma or poverty benefit from teachers who love loudly. At CDS, that is the core of our mission — expert teaching professionals who love, challenge and celebrate their students. We are committed to preparing our students for success in an interconnected world and cultivating and embracing diversity is essential.