Banner Website Blue
Kodiak ROAR: Reminders, Opportunities, Achievements & Requests, 
a CSS eCommunication newsletter
  Reminders  
August Head's Letter and Blog 

On August 4th, Mr. Aaron Schubach, Head of School, shared his head's letter and blog: Proud Preview of 2015-2016.

We look forward to welcoming students and parents back to campus as we start the new school year. 

Dean's Packet and WebForms Checklist
Thank you to everyone who completed the required forms for your student(s) to return to campus this school year!

Students may not return to campus for athletic practices, orientations, or classes if this paperwork is not completed. Please complete the required forms and return them promptly to Ann Runte in the Trianon.

Fund Your Student's Lunch Account (PDF) or fund it through RenWeb 

Venetucci Farm Permission and Waiver Form (PDF) (Middle and Upper School)  

Rocky Mountain Field Institute Permission and Waiver Form (PDF) (Middle and Upper School) 

RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Student Demographic Form 
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Student Medical Form 
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Over the Counter Medications  
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Permission and Release of Liability  
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Custodial Parent Form  
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Emergency Contacts  
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Transportation Form   
RenWeb WebForms > Family Demographic Form > Grandparents       
* Please review instructions below to access new webforms through RenWeb.


Click here for further direction on completing these forms and an instructional video for navigating webforms in RenWeb.  
Back-to-School Events
Start the school year off right and connect at these community-building events.

6th Grade and New Middle School Student Orientation
Thursday, August 13, 2015, 9:00 a.m. - noon
Friday, August 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m. - noon
Trianon
 
PreK, Kindergarten and 1st Grade Parent Meeting
Thursday, August 13, 2015, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
In Classrooms

9th Grade and New Upper School Student Orientation 
Friday, August 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m. - noon 
El Pomar
 
New Student/Parent Welcome Meeting   
Friday, August 14, 2015, 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. 
Louisa Performing Arts Center
(Hosted by Head of School, Academic Dean, and Division Lead Teachers)
Students and parents should attend this welcome meeting together and then head out to the Quad for the Ice Cream Social!

All School Ice Cream Social  
Friday, August 14, 2015, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The Quad
(Hosted by the Parents Association and Admission Office)
New families, returning families and CSS Ambassador families will gather and celebrate the start of the school year by welcoming new families and welcoming back returning families. Come casual and consume the last tastes of summer with a frozen treat. Teachers will gather near grade level signage to meet and greet students and families. This is a perfect evening to get back into the flavor of the new school year. 

First Day of School for Middle and Upper School
Monday, August 17, 2015
8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

First Day of School for Children's School 
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. 
* (half of PreK class reports and half of K reports as specified by teachers)

Wednesday, August 19, 2015
8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
* (other half of PreK and other half of K reports as specified by teachers)

Thursday, August 20, 2015
8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
* First full day for all PreK and Kindergarten students   

Parents Association logoParents Association
Welcome Coffee and State of the School 
Friday, August 21, 2015,
8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. 
Trianon Terrace  
This wonderful gathering is sponsored by the Parents Association and is an opportunity for the entire CSS community to welcome our new parents and visit with all parents. This year's Welcome Coffee will be held on the first Friday of the school year!

Come, connect, and learn about volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved with the Parents Association this year.

Following the Welcome Coffee, Aaron Schubach, Head of School will present the State of the School at 9:00 a.m. in the Terrace Room of the Trianon.  

Grades 2-5 Parent Meetings
Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
In Classrooms

Middle School and Upper School Academics in the Spotlight
Wednesday, September 2, 2015, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Trianon

ECS Parent Meetings
Wednesday, September 16, 2015, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
El Pomar Academic Center  

For an overview of events through out the school year, view the Google Calendar or 2015-2016 Major Dates (PDF). 

Need help navigating between buildings on campus and finding the locations of upcoming events? View a campus map.   
Back-to-School Dean's Packet, Supply Lists and Summer Reading
 
Please visit the website (under Community>Current Families > Forms and Handbooks) to further reference the July 9th Dean's Packet and to access school supply lists, textbook lists, summer reading lists and handbooks. 
Brain Food Awaits You In Maytag 
Click here for the August Menu.

 
Chef Allison is ready to welcome students back to Maytag Dining Hall and to fuel student learning through lunch and snack shack offerings.

Click here to bookmark the lunch page of the website (under Community > Current Families > Lunch) and access the monthly menu, box lunch orders, and instructions for funding your lunch account.   
Fall Sports Practices   

CSS Fall Sports practices begin on August 17th. In order to practice, athletes need a current physical exam (physicals are good for 365 days) on file with Ann Runte in the Trianon. Also athletes need to have the Student Medical Information form filled out. This can be filled out in RenWeb. 

 

For information regarding summer practices and open gyms or to get set for the fall practices, contact the following coaches:

 

Middle and Upper School Boys' and Girls' Mountain Bike Training and Racing: Head Coach Will Biedermann; wbiedermann@css.org or (719) 651-5396.

Upper School Girls' Volleyball: Head Coach Kyong Lee; kyonglee1991@yahoo.com or (719) 238-1824.

Middle School Girls' Volleyball: Head Coach Misti Johnston; mjohnston@css.org or (719) 494-4558.
Upper School Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country: Head Coach Jolly Burke; jburke@css.org or (612) 210-5419
Middle School Boys' and Girls' Cross Country: Head Coach Kelly Walker; photog64@mac.com or (719) 205-4212.
Upper School Boys' Soccer: Head Coach Jordan Zand; zandsoccer@comcast.net or (719) 321-4599.
Middle School Boys' Soccer: Head Coach Tony Bigbee; tony.bigbee@gmail.com or (719) 272-1150.
Upper School Boys' Tennis: Head Coach Marc Knutila; marcknutila@gmail.com or (505) 615-4324.

  Opportunities 
Fundraising Overview and Impact  
As prepare for the school year, please take a moment to review this new fundraising one-pager. This informational piece provides guidance as to the "why" behind our Annual Fund, Gala and Community Event fundraisers and also showcases your fundraising impact.

Click here for the Fundraising Overview.

Additional opportunities to thoughtfully consider and discuss your fundraising commitments for the year will be shared as we start the school year.
Fun Run Sponsorships and Tshirt Order Forms Available

Get geared up! Fun Run registration is only $10.00 and includes a Fun Run t-shirt to wear on the September 25th Carnival and Fun Run day and on Spirit Days (Fridays) throughout the year.

All you need to do is fill out a registration form and return it, along with a check or cash, to the Trianon. Deadline for tshirt orders and sponsorships is September 7, 2015. 
2015 Fun Run T-shirt Sponsorship Form (PDF)   

All proceeds go to the Parents Association and help support future events as well as classroom and club needs.  
Gala and Auction Planning
Tuesday, August 25, 2015, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.,
Advancement Office (2nd floor of the Trianon)

We will host a planning meeting for the April 16, 2016 Gala and Auction! Proceeds from next year's gala and auction will raise funds for student's to innovate and create through arts and technology.

We will further define volunteer roles and sign up for a variety of tasks. Our Gala and Auction chair for this year will be new parent, Don Gibson.

Additional Roles:
Sponsorship Solicitors 
Ticket Sale Gurus 
Class/Club Liaisons for Art/Class Creations 
Auction Solicitors 
Cork Pull Organizers 
Sociable Coordinator  
Description Writers  
Database Detailers 
Day of Decorators 
Registration and Check Out Crew

How do you want to get involved this year?

For more information, contact Jessica L. James, Director of Communications and Advancement at jjames@css.or or (719)210-3499.  
Volunteer Opportunities


Click here to consider ways for parents and grandparents to volunteer at the school this year.

Learn more about volunteering through the Parents Association, Advancement Office, Admission Office or inquire within your Division. 
  Achievements 
Achievements

 

Recycle, Reuse, RePurpose an Iron Boiler  

As the school replaces the 112 year-old boiler original to the historic Trianon building, art teacher, Hans Wolfe, saw a gold mine amidst the rubble...or rather an iron mine. Saving the 1905 patented nameplate was just one of the treasured outcomes of the boiler replacement project.

 

Every four years, The Colorado Springs School (CSS) conducts the Great Iron Pour seminar with high school students. CSS is the only high school in the country to conduct an iron pour. Students smash over a 1,000 lbs of broken iron with sledge hammers for a successful pour. The art teacher purchases this iron from salvage yards and creates a stock pile of iron for several years. During the iron pour, students build a cupola and raise its temperature to 3,000 degrees thereby melting the iron. The melted iron is then poured into molds to create artistic sculptures.

 

By salvaging our own boiler, the school will have an iron stockpiling for many future iron pour seminars. Beyond the collection of this vast amount of iron, student creations will tell a story of the school's connection to a 100+ year-old campus landmark. Several students and alumni returned to campus to help dismantle the boiler and transport the materials away from the Trianon building.

 

Click here for a video clip of the Iron Pour from 2014.

 

 

Colorado Springs' Jenkins brothers making their mark on national mountain biking stage

A blur of brightly colored spandex caught Nolan Jenkins' eye, and a passion for mountain biking was born.

 

The rising Colorado Springs School freshman, now 14, went to the Leadville 100 race about four years ago, and Durango-based national champ Todd Wells blew past the preteen fan.


"I wanted to try it out," he said. "I played all the ball sports, and this was the perfect combination of all those. At my first national championships (2012, Sun Valley, Idaho), I could see the lead group and wanted to be up there with them. I suppose that is what hooked me. (Placing sixth) told me I could compete at that level."

 

Click here for the full Gazette article.

 

Rocky Mountain State Games Success
Our very own Facilities Director, Gil Vasquez took home four gold medals at the recent Rocky Mountain State Games. He medaled in Discus, Javelin, Shot Put, and Archery (Hunting & Bow Division).   

 

Congrats! 

 
Submit Achievements and Photos  
Parents and teachers are encouraged to submit nominations and digital photos of student achievements to Jessica James, Director of Communications, at jjames@css.org. These extracurricular achievements make us a well-rounded school and highlight the many unique talents and passions of our student body.  Each week, a diverse selection of achievements is highlighted in ROAR.
  Requests 
Summer Admission Tours 


Summer Admission Tours

The Admission Office has been busy touring prospective families around campus. Do you know of a family who would like to learn more about sending his/her students to CSS?  Please ask your friends to contact Faith Madsen, Admission Assistant at (719) 434-3520 in the Admission Office to register for a Tuesday morning, 8:30 a.m. tour.
Table of Contents: In This Issue
August Head's Letter and Blog
Dean's Packet and WebForms Checklist
Back-to-School Events
Back-to-School Dean's Packet, Supply Lists, Textbook Lists and Summer Reading
Brain Food Awaits You In Maytag
Fall Sports Practices
Fundraising Overview and Impact
Fun Run Sponsorships and Tshirt Order Forms
Gala and Auction Planning
Volunteer Opportunities
Achievements
Summer Admission Tours and Exit Interviews
Join Our Mailing List
Mission: Through superior academics and mentoring, The Colorado Springs School prepares students to think independently and meet the challenges of a dynamic world with leadership, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and personal integrity.
To submit content for future Kodiak ROAR communications, please email details to
Jessica James, Director of Communications, at jjames@css.org.