Kodiak ROAR: Reminders, Opportunities, Achievements & Requests,

a CSS eCommunication newsletter

Reminders

ECS Blogs: Read All About It!

Tanzania ECS students carrying water.

Each year the Upper School student's share blogs about their experiences. Time and access to technology will vary for each ECS and frequency of posts will vary from ECS to ECS.

Experience Centered Seminars (ECSs) are an integral part of the Upper School program and give our students the skills necessary to conduct large-scale investigations in college and beyond. Each March, our students participate in a three- to four-week-long study that immerses them in academic subjects through a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach. ECS's approach broad, interdisciplinary questions to optimize the teaching of critical thinking, organized inquiry, in-depth analysis, and synthesis of information. They demand direct active participation and primary research in an environment outside of the classroom. Academic requirements include oral and written presentations, term papers, group work and projects, or final exams. The ECS experience sets our students apart as they move into the collegiate world and beyond.

Tanzania ECS Blog or follow them on Twitter @CSSTanzania2016
Cuervnavaca ECS Blog
Tall Ships ECS Blog
World Religions ECS Blog
Engineers and Entrepreneurs ECS Blog

Parent Coffee Connection

In this presentation, Head of School Aaron Schubach shares encouraging research on the benefits of sports. He also talks about the philosophy and positive culture of sports at CSS.

The next Parent Coffee Connection will be on Monday, March 7, 2016 at 8:10 a.m. in Louisa. The presentation will cover Arts 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.

Middle School Seminar II

Middle School Seminar II: Outdoor Leadership Caving Excursion

Middle School Seminar II is in full swing this week. A fundamental purpose of the Middle School seminar program is to encourage students to learn about and try new things as a means of discovering themselves and the world around them. Topics range in themes from Outdoors, Arts, Social/Current Issues, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and Life Skills.

Additionally, each Seminar II curriculum is designed to intentionally include the following components:

Impact - likely to have a positive, lasting impact on participants

Novelty - cannot or will not happen as effectively in the classroom

Hands-on - students spend the bulk of their seminar time in a student-centered, authentic environment

Comfort zone expansion - is significantly challenging in at least one way: psychologically, academically, physically, socially/culturally

Problem solving - at least one segment focuses on critical thinking, design thinking, innovation, or devising creative solutions

Collaboration - at least one segment includes working with other students and/or professionals in the field

Click here for complete listing of Seminar II topics
Click here for a photo album of Seminar II (more pics to come)

Upcoming In Sports

Upper School Spring Sport practices begin Monday, February 29th.

Middle School Spring Sport practices begin Monday, March 7th.

Scholastic Book Fair

Monday, March 14, 2016, noon - Friday, March 18, 2016, noon
Trianon

The "Feeling Groovy" Scholastic Book Fair will be at CSS starting Monday, March 14th at noon and run through Friday, March 18th at noon. A Wacky, Wild Wednesday Event will take place after school, featuring games and goodies (before the Chili Cook Off) as well as Donuts for Dads on Friday morning (during CS Dad's Day) are a few of the many exciting happenings that week.

Check back next week for a link to online ordering! A portion of proceeds from all book sales benefit the library!

8th Grade Chili Cookoff

Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 6:00 p.m.

Maytag Dining Hall

Save the date for the annual 8th grade Chili Cook-Off! Everyone is invited to come out for this favorite community event. Taste the chili submissions and find out who the judges will declare as the best chili on campus!

Stay tuned for more details. Questions? Contact Ms. Pereda at

mpereda@css.org.

The Colorado Springs School has been providing camp experiences for 30 years. All programs are open to the public. CSS is thrilled to welcome back long-time partners ---

Challenger British Soccer*
US Chess and Active Learning Camps*
Legos*
Science Matters in America*
Mad Science* (NEW in 2016)

We are pleased to announce the return of developmental and skills-based athletic camps:

Basketball Camp* with Coach Vicki Vaughan
Volleyball Camp* with Coach Misti Johnston and Bre Cullity Williams '09

Click here to view CSS summer camps.

* Indicates these groups will feature a donated campership at the Masterpiece Gala & Auction on April 16, 2016.

Curious About Overnight Camps?

Cheley Colorado Camps is internationally recognized as one of the top summer camps. Owned and operated by the same family since 1921, Cheley offers an amazing summer experience for girls and boys, ages 9-17, among the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Estes Park.

Please come by to learn more about this awesome opportunity by viewing an informational/digital presentation, and visiting with camp staff, other current camp families and alumni.

The Cheley Camps Open House will be hosted at the Head of School's house.

Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m.

Home of the Sass-Schubach Family

718 E Columbia Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80907

RSVP at (719)322-8595 or asass@css.org

Cheley Camps will feature a campership at the Masterpiece Gala & Auction on April 16, 2016. This 4-week camp experience is valued
at $5,500!

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

More Hardware for Matchwits!

Our high school varsity Matchwits team has had an amazing couple of weeks. Last month they won the Black Forest League by a resounding 21 points, our best ever! Last week, they won the Pikes Peak Regionals 2A Championship, and finished 2nd place overall ahead of 4A and 5A schools. Also our JV team took 1st for the season.

Up and coming, is our Middle School Matchwits team that placed on top after the first round at Peyton this past week. Middle School has two teams --- the second team was comprised of first-time Matchwits competitors and they are currently in 4th place.

Much Applause for the 2nd & 4th Dessert Theatre Performances

In the 2nd grade performance, all the animals of Pond City attempted to save their city and themselves from the beaver dam. Then 4th grade took the stage with three Colonial Day fables. These students were impressive and the effort and success put forward from these students shined on stage and off!

Click here for behind-the-scenes and on stage photos.
Click here for photos taken by Vaughan & Walker during the performance.

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.

Save-the-Date:
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Performances
Friday, March 11, 2016, 4:00 p.m.
Louisa Performing Arts Center

Basketball Season Comes to Close 4th/5th Grade Girls

What a wonderful and quick season for the 4th/5th grade girls basketball team. They competed in many of their games against 6th grade girls but showed growth as a team.

Click here for pictures taken by Vaughan & Walker Photography.

Kindergarten Community Service and Outreach

Kindergarten visited with the residents of the Myron Stratton Home and performed upbeat tunes in red, white, and blue. Students shared their knowledge of maps and American symbols with the residents.

Click here for more pictures of the visit.

Things That Roll with PreK

Mr. Jensen showed the PreK students the engine and how easy it is to open and close the enormous hood of the school bus. The children counted all of the wheels, peeked underneath the bus, and listened to the hiss of the air brake compressor. While on board the bus, Mr. Jensen reviewed the safety rules, honked the horn, and ran the engine. What a great addition to the Things That Roll theme!

Click here for more pictures of PreK exploring the school bus.

Check out the CSS Facebook page for up-to-date posts and highlights from around campus.

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).

Table of Contents: In This Issue

ECS Blogs

Parent Coffee Connection

Middle School Seminar II

Upcoming in Sports

Scholastic Book Fair

8th Grade Chili Cookoff

Summer Camps

Curious About Overnight Camps?

Masterpiece Gala and Auction

Achievements

Major Vacations and Important Dates for 2016-2017

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.