Volume 11, Issue 2
COLUMBUS ACADEMY OPENS 107TH SCHOOL YEAR

 
"Welcome to the 107th school year at Columbus Academy," said Head of School Melissa Soderberg at the start of Convocation. The ceremony began with the recognition of faculty and staff members who have reached their 20th and 30th years serving Academy. For reaching his historic 50th school year at his alma mater, John Exline '64 was surprised with family, classmates and former colleagues while the pep band played the fight song. After delivering a welcome speech, Student Council President Shreyah Mohanselvan announced the pairings of Senior-Kindergarten Buddies to conclude the event.
HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF EFFORT

If you would like an easy way to send needed supplies to those affected by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, look for the blue carts at all dropoff and pickup locations this Tuesday and Wednesday (September 5-6). All items collected by Columbus Academy will be shipped free of charge to Red Cross mini-distribution sites in the Houston area. On behalf of our faculty, staff, students and Service Board, thank you for assisting us in this effort!
ALUMNI BOARD ANNOUNCES AWARDS

 
Columbus Academy's Alumni Board is pleased to announce the following awards for 2017-18:
  • Distinguished Alumnus Mike Crane '71
  • Alumni Service Award recipient Annette Kuss
  • Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jenny Bush Gagel '02
  • Young Alumni Award recipient Asim Haque '98
Please help us honor and congratulate all four honorees for this school year!
35TH ANNUAL CHARLIE DAVID DINNER

This year's Charlie David Athletic Dinner is scheduled for Friday, September 22, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in our Dining Hall. Unlike other schools, CA does not have a parent athletic booster club. Rather, it relies on contributions during the Charlie David Dinner to support our athletic department. In addition to food by City Barbecue, there will be over 100 silent auction items to bid on, a raffle for $1,000 cash and free games in the gymnasium for youngsters. The dinner will be followed by the varsity football game against Whitehall. It really is a fun, relaxed evening for the entire Academy community. If you would like to volunteer, please click here. More details on becoming a sponsor and purchasing tickets will be arriving soon! 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS
 
All are welcome to the first Parents' Association meeting of the school year, which will be held this Wednesday, September 6, at 8:00 a.m. in the Dining Hall. Come hear updates from Head of School Melissa Soderberg, new Lower School Head Mark Hansen and Interim Middle School Head Bob McGrath while you enjoy a free breakfast after morning dropoff. Also, consider joining our Parent SEED group that begins a year-long series of seven meetings next week with selected readings, videos and speakers, as well as discussions on important and sometimes uncomfortable topics in a confidential and safe space. Parent SEED brings together CA parents and guardians who are interested in looking at issues in diversity (such as racism, class, poverty, gender identity, etc.) through their own eyes and those of fellow parents. Meetings will be held in the Dining Hall from 8:00-9:30 a.m. on September 11, October 10, November 10, January 18, February 13, April 9 and May 11. For further information or to confirm participation, please contact Parent SEED facilitator Joyce Simson P'08 at 614-554-9238 or [email protected]. 
FIRST FRIDAY TAILGATE & FOOTBALL WIN

Before each season's first home football game, Academy upper-schoolers hold a festive tailgate before marching to Hondros Field to support our Vikes. In a highly anticipated matchup against Bishop Ready, Robin Miller's squad dominated all aspects of the game to pull off a 31-0 victory. The team followed that up with a 42-0 win at Linden last Friday. Click on the following links to watch Game 1 all-access video and Game 2 highlights. 
SENIOR-KINDERGARTEN BUDDY PAIRINGS

One of the most heartwarming things we do at Academy is the Senior-Kindergarten Buddy program. At the beginning of each school year, we end Convocation with kindergartners walking out of the ceremony hand-in-hand with their new senior buddies. Then, at least once a month, they will get together for fun activities and bond over shared experiences on our campus. Many of these friendships last long beyond graduation and even college, as we often receive photos of former buddies reuniting. You'll be seeing more images of these activities throughout the year.
SUMMER SCIENCE TRIP TO COSTA RICA

 
Through a Seeds of Change summer trip, Columbus Academy upper-schoolers will have a chance to accompany science teacher Joel Davis to Costa Rica in order to do ecological microbiology on leaf cutter ants with noted Costa Rican microbiologist Dr. Adrian Pinto. In addition to conducting an original science project on leaf cutter ants complete with a presentation, students will take scenic hikes, go horseback riding and zip-lining, and get a chance to do turtle research at the beach.
FALL ASA REMINDER

The deadline to register for Fall ASA programs is Wednesday, September 6. There is still space available in most programs. Registrations should be sent with payment to the attention of the Special Programs Department. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
ARTS SCENE

Seven of our Upper School Orchestra members were accepted into the OMEA 2017 SC Region Orchestra by audition. Congratulations to seniors Andy Zhang (violin) & Won Jae Lee (viola, also an alternate for All-State Orchestra), juniors Virginia Ma (violin) & Eric Menq (cello), sophomore Jacob Liu (viola, also an alternate for All-State Orchestra) and freshmen Tara Alahakoon (violin) & Hanrui Xu (cello)!
SERVICE LEARNING

Amidst a full week of professional development, Columbus Academy's faculty and staff members spent a day doing service in the community at a variety of organizations and locations throughout Central Ohio including LifeCare Alliance and its Meals-on-Wheels program, Broad Street Food Pantry, Faith Mission, Homeless Families Foundation, Hoover Community Garden, St. Vincent Haven, Lettuce Work, Local Matters, LSS Food Pantries, Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Ronald McDonald House, Shepherd's Corner Farm and Ecology Center, Gahanna Parks & Recreation Department, Westerville Area Resource Ministry, Worthington Resource Pantry and YWCA Family Center. Thank you to all of these wonderful organizations for hosting us and for all of their inspiring efforts in the service of others! 
SPORTS REPORT

Academy junior Callista Popp was the Field Hockey Athlete of the Week in this past Saturday's Columbus Dispatch! She scored another goal in an 8-0 win at Dayton Oakwood over the weekend as our Vikes improved to 4-0.  
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