Kodiak ROAR: Reminders, Opportunities, Achievements & Requests,

a CSS eCommunication newsletter

Reminders

When Thursday Feels Like A Monday

After three snow days, we are thrilled to be back in session. A special thanks to our maintenance crews for clearing driveways and pathways so we can safely enjoy our commutes across campus. Please take extra precaution when traveling to and from campus during these winter months.

Our students love to get outside and play in the snow so be sure to send them to school with all their warm-weather and waterproof snow gear!

Re-Enrollment for 2016-2017 Now Open

Re-enrollment for 2016-2017 school year is open through Friday, February 19. How to get to your student(s) re-enrollment packet:

Please go to www.renweb.com
Select Logins from the menu bar and ParentsWeb Login from the drop-down menu
Enter TCS-CO into the District Code field
Enter your username and password. If you have forgotten your username or password, please click on the link provided.
After logging in, click on the Family Information button in the left menu.
Click on the Enrollment/Re-enrollment button

Enrolling your student is quick (less than 10 minutes per student) and easy! Watch our 5-minute video tutorial and it will walk you through the online process. Additional Re-enrollment Resources are archived on the website.

Questions? We are here to help! Please feel free to call us anytime or plan to visit us on Thursday, February 11 in the Trianon Terrace Room from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. for a dedicated Re-enrollment Help Session. We will be ready to help you with re-enrollment and we will have tea or coffee ready for you!

If you have questions or would like help with the process, please call the Admission Department at (719) 434-3514. We are here to help!

Family Fun Night

Friday, February 5, 2016, 5:00 p.m. (NEW START TIME)

Louise Honnen Tutt Field House

All CSS fans welcome! Students of all ages, parents, faculty/staff, alumni, neighbors and friends, grab your favorite blue sweatshirt and join the Kodiaks for a dynamic evening brimming with school spirit. Dust off those cold weather blues and spend a Friday night with CSS.

Kiowa at CSS; JV Boys' 5:00 p.m.

Varsity Girls' at 6:30 p.m., Varsity Boys' at 8:00 p.m.

Come for the games...stay for the free hotdogs, giveaways, free admission, halftime shooting contests, concessions, Girl Scout cookies, and the pep band!

Calling All Alumni Band Members:

Alumni band members are welcomed to bring your instruments and jump in with the Pep Band. Give Band Director, Mr. Brent Moorhead at bmoorhead@css.org a head's up if you are coming.

Countdown to Graduation: Last Chance to Order Graduation Announcements

Friday, February 5, 2016, Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Maytag Dining Hall

Class of 2016 place your graduation announcements now online! The very last day to order is Friday, February 5. Herff Jones will be in Maytag on 2/5 to assist with any last-minute orders or feel free to contact them at (719) 573-1384.

Each senior family will receive a $30 credit from CSS for placing an order with Herff Jones. For additional support, please contact, Receptionist, Ann Runte at (719)434-3510 to guide you with your order.

NEW DATE/TIME: Parent Coffee Connection

The next Parent Coffee Connection orginally scheduled for Monday, February 1, 2016 has been rescheduled for Monday, February 8, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. in Louisa. The presentation will cover Athletics at CSS. Click here for a schedule of future topics.

Find past presentations recorded as webinars on topics ranging from Data-Driven Instruction, to an Upper School program overview, The Marshmallow Test: Non-Cognitive Skills, and State of the School archived on the website in the webinar library.

AP Parent Meeting

Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Trianon, Terrace Room

As students and families begin the process of signing up for next year's classes, this is an opportunity to learn more about the Advanced Placement program and the specific AP courses being taught next year. All US parents welcome; this meeting will be especially helpful to current sophomore and junior parents.

Adventurer to Keynote Mission Day

Thursday, February 11, 2016, 8:10 a.m.

Louisa Performing Arts Center

The Colorado Springs School is honored to welcome adventurer, photographer, and philanthropist Jake Norton as the keynote speaker for Mission Day. The keynote speech is open to the public and will take place February 11, 2016, from 8:10-9:10 a.m. at the Louisa Performing Arts Center at The Colorado Springs School.

Jake is a man of many talents and is described as all around humble and kind. He is a Seven Summits guide, a National Geographic photographer, the founder of Challenge21 (a non-profit aimed at bringing safe drinking water to communities in need), film maker, inspirational speaker, and was a team member on the expedition that discovered George Mallory's body on Everest in 1999.

Click here to read more about Jake Norton's speech, titled Finding Joy- in Life and Career, Jake will speak to the Upper School students about the importance of finding, discovering, and creating joy. Joy - not happiness.

Upcoming Middle School Parent Meeting to Learn More About Upper School

Parent Advisory Team and Student Panel Night
NEW DATE: Wednesday, February 18, 2016, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Middle School parents are invited to a panel discussion with Upper School parents and current Upper School parents. Gain a deeper perspective on the culture, curriculum and challenging opportunities of Upper School.

We invite all Middle School parents to watch the shared screencast on the Upper School prior to attending either of these meetings. It is a great primer for follow-up discussions to learn about what differentiates CSS from other schools in the region.

This Week In Sports

Upper School Basketball:

Friday, February 5, 2016 - Kiowa at CSS; JV Boys at 5:00, Varsity Girls at 6:30 and Varsity Boys at 8:00pm. "Family Fun Night"

Saturday, February 6, 2016 - CSS at Calhan; JV boys at 1:00 p.m., Varsity Girls at 2:15 p.m. and Varsity boys at 3:45 p.m.

Friday, February 12, 2016 - CSS at Peyton; JV boys at 4:00 p.m., Varsity Girls at 5:15 p.m. and Varsity Boys at 6:30 p.m. (early dismissal JV boys at 2:30 p.m.).

Saturday, February 13, 2016 - ECA at CSS; JV boys at 1:00 p.m., Varsity Girls at 2:15 p.m. and Varsity boys at 3:45 p.m.

Upper School Girls' Swimming:

Thursday and Friday, February 4 and 5, 2016 - CSS/FVS at TPL Championships at 8:00 a.m.

4th/5th/6th Boys' Basketball:

Thursday, February 4, 2016 - CSS at Cheyenne Mountain Elementary at 3:45 p.m.

Opportunities

Masterpiece Gala & Auction

Saturday, April 16, 2016, 5:00 p.m., The Pinery

Momentum is building for this year's gala & auction. With proceeds to benefit arts and technology, this year's volunteers are actively soliciting auction items and securing sponsorships to highlight this mission-motivated celebration.

Get ready for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) at this year's event as we will boast a tech-savvy platform with online ticketing, mobile bidding, pre-swiped credit cards, bidding scoreboards and easy electronic check-out! Watch your inbox for more details.

Event highlights:

Silent Auction featuring items such as student creations, front row seats at graduation, summer camps, community sociables, getaways, and ever-popular themed baskets
Wine Cork Pull - Take a chance to pull the best vintage
Mix & Mingle - Meet new people with open seating and dining and dessert stations
Student performances will captivate the crowd
Auctioneer and retired Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers will entertain as guests Raise Your Paddle and participate in the Live Auction. Live auction items will include a 4-week campership at Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park and a Mexican Riviera getaway.
Finish the evening with s'mores and nightcaps around the campfire overlooking the city.

Childcare available through special Saturday Night Out for K-5th grade students.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Jessica James, Director of Advancement at (719)434-3506 or jjames@css.org.

Interested in donating auction items, contact CSS Parent and Auction Chair, Don Gibson, P'27.

Interested in donating wine to the cork pull, contact CSS Parent, Kristal Alfonso, P'24 or Donna Taylor, P'20, P'18

Interested in sharing a talent/expertise and hosting a Sociable, contact CSS Parent, Lina Klaus, P'27, P'25.

Achievements

Famous Americans

What do Daniel Boone, Sally Ride, Thomas Jefferson, and Susan B. Anthony all have in common? In the eyes of our first graders --- they are Famous Americans!

As part of this theme of study, each First Grader carfeully researched the lives of Famous Americans and presented to an audience of proud parents, grandparents, classmates and visitors about the lives of these heroic individuals. They shared important details, dates and meaningful events in history.

Some students used notecards or cues from the presentation board while others memorized their speeches. Truly impressive work was witnessed during these presentations.

Click here for more pictures. The second half of the class will give presentations on Friday morning.

Take A Bow: Dessert Theatre

Under the direction of Mrs. Sandra Bray and Mr. Max Ferguson, the 3rd and 5th graders took the stage on Friday, January 29 in the Louisa Performing Arts Center. From space mischief to medieval sword fighting the characters on stage transformed the hearts and minds of the captive audience.

Dessert Theatre is a hallmark course at The Colorado Springs School for Kindergarten - 5th grade students. The discipline of Theatre enables a child to become more in tune with his/her own unique attributes and gifts. Children are free to identify and solve problems within the rehearsal process, promoting their intellectual curiosity. They grow in their ability to express ideas clearly, helping to build confidence in their own communication skills. Theatre is a truly collaborative art form where children learn to be responsible for themselves and others. This social cooperation reinforces and motivates positive behavior, building personal integrity. The very process of developing a character challenges the child to see the world from a different point of view than its own and teaches him/her how to bring intellect and emotion together. Plus, the art of presenting theatre engages whole minds through the genuine application of literacy and the integration of knowledge across the curriculum.

Click here for more pictures of the 3rd and 5th grade performances.

Save-the-date for additional Dessert Theatre performances:
2nd/4th Grade: February 26, 2016, 6:00 p.m.
Kindergarten/1st grade: March 11, 2016, 4:00 p.m.

Second Place in the League

Congratulations to the Middle School Girls' basketball team who took 2nd place in this weekend's tournament in Ellicott.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Hannah T. '17, Gold Key, Sculpture

Scholastic Art announced its regional award winners. Several pieces created in the Advanced Art course during first semester took top awards.

Congratulations to Hannah T. '17, Kaela G. '17, and Hannah L. '17 on these fine pieces of art and for representing The Colorado Springs School.

Hannah T. '17, Gold Key, Sculpture

Kaela G. '17, Honorable Mention, Photography
Hannah L. '17, Honorable Mention, Sculpture

Click here for additional award winners.

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

Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017

Click here for a link to the Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017 (PDF).

Inclement Weather Procedures

As we are in the throws of winter weather, please let us

First, tune into local television and radio stations, or their websites, for listings.
Visit the school's website, at www.css.org In the event of a delay or cancellation, the school's website will display prominent weather-related messages. Please refresh the homepage to ensure proper viewing.
The school's Facebook page will announce weather-related news.
Call the school's general line at (719) 475-9747. A recorded message will convey any weather-related announcements.
ParentAlert: To receive a text message alert about delays or cancellations, please include your cell phone information in RenWeb. Students may also list their cell phone information. Please be sure your settings are activated to receive text messages. If you did not receive this week's ParentAlert, please contact Nadja Hunter at nhunter@css.org.

As always, we encourage each family to use good judgement about the roads and conditions in your area and stay safe.

Table of Contents: In This Issue

When Thursday Feels Like Monday

Re-Enrollment Open

Family Fun Night!

Order Graduation Announcements

Parent Coffee Connection

AP Parent Meeting

Keynote for Mission Day

Upcoming Middle School Parent Meeting

This Week in Sports

Masterpiece Gala and Auction

Achievements

Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017

Inclement Weather Procedures

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.