As it gets chillier and chillier, our community wishes to help those in need. The National Honor Society at CSS is organizing a gently-used clothing drive for children and adults through the Springs Rescue Mission, a local homeless shelter.

Donations may be dropped off at the NHS table near the pond at the campus parade on Saturday, December 12, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. We deeply appreciate any donations your family can offer. Please clean items prior to donating.

The children and adult clothing that are needed most: coats, sweatpants and jeans, warm shoes, sweatshirts, warm sweaters, hoodies, gloves, mittens, and winter hats (no ball caps). They also need new underwear and new socks. Donations of face masks, hand sanitizer, nitrile gloves, and disinfectant spray are also being accepted.

Thank you so much from the Ursa Major Chapter of the National Honor Society for your generosity!

Colorado Public Radio featured a story on the radio play that Upper School students are creating with Theatre Teacher Jonathan Andujar.

Sophomore Haegan M. '23, senior Whitney R. '21, and Mr. Andujar were interviewed for the CPR news show Colorado Matters, which aired at 9:00 a.m. today. The show airs again at 7:00 p.m. today and may be accessed online through "Listen Live" or on the radio station KRCC 91.5 FM. The CSS segment will start at about 7:20 p.m. Or listen to a recording of the show through the link below.

We are excited the talents of our students and faculty are being recognized at this level. Well done, Kodiaks! The radio play is expected to be released soon.

Fifteen students worked on the radio play Trap. Mr. Andujar chose the radio play format as a way to adapt to COVID-19, allowing students to explore a creative outlet that they haven’t experienced before. Click here to read a feature story on the radio play.

What is your role at CSS? I currently teach PreKindergarten. That’s what I taught when I started at CSS in 2003. After a few years, I also taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades in the Children’s School. I’m thrilled to be working with our youngest learners again!

What would people be surprised to learn about you? I love growing vegetables, but I really love houseplants. Between home and school, I have about 80!

What is one thing you've learned from students? I’ve learned so much about resilience from my students. When reflecting on my days at school, I try to see the world through their eyes. We set a high bar for our kids and that inspires me to do the same for myself.

The CHSAA team has been working overtime with Governor Polis’ office and state health officials, trying to safely navigate the latest trends around Covid-19 cases and upcoming high school sports seasons. This week's announcement included a later start date for Season B (basketball) with an adjusted practice start date of January 25 and February 1 as the first day for competition. Click here to read the full story.

If you missed Dr. Leon Kelly's presentation before Thanksgiving break, you may view it through the link below. A special thank you to Dr. Kelly P'30, P'27, a pathologist and the Deputy Medical Director of El Paso County, for an insightful presentation on COVID-19, including the rising case numbers.

During the weeks that we are in e-Learning and during winter break, Dr. Melissa Hocate, CSS Health Coordinator, will continue to serve as the contact tracer for the CSS community (students, parents, and family members) due to the overwhelm from local contact tracers.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to Dr. Hocate about symptoms or concerns. She may be reached at melissahocate@css.org or (719) 434-3530. We encourage you to make a daily health assessment and keep track of your interactions with others.

There are known and unknown risks in navigating these uncertain times. But individuality and isolation from one another are not long-term solutions to the adversity presented by our current world. Instead, we aim to build and promote a community that is solution-minded, embraces the mindset and practice of "we before me", and collectively adheres to the guidelines of medical professionals and elected officials. The Community Pledge has been written in the spirit of developing a common language and understanding by which we will all commit for the 2020-2021 school year.

#GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. And this week, CSS launched its Gratitude Bucket List to extend the spirit of #GivingTuesday for the entire month. We invite you to click off a few items on the bucket list or complete the entire 30-day challenge. Share photos or reflections of your experience on social media to inspire others. Whether you are a student, a current or past parent, faculty/staff, grandparent, alumni, or friend we encourage you to participate.

Every day is a good day to make a gift to The Colorado Springs School! During this season of giving, we hope all families will consider making a meaningful gift by December 31, 2020. We are still working to reach the Claremont Leadership Giving Challenge. So far, we've secured 50 gifts of our stated goal of 60 gifts at the $1,962 level or more, and the challenge donors extended the deadline for reaching the $50,000 incentive. Colorado Childcare Tax Credits (50% tax credit) are still available and may allow you to increase your charitable gift.

The Parents Association Board will hold virtual meetings for the foreseeable future on the first Thursday of each month. Anyone is welcomed to join.

Next Meeting: Thursday, January 7, 2021, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Google Meet.

Join by phone: 540-680-4396 (PIN: 349712789)

Click here to learn more about the role of the Parents Association in building community in our school. Email the Parents Association at parentsassociation@css.org.

In a math session this week in Alex Schilperoort's 3rd grade class, students shared their answers to multiplication problems creatively. Students represented the digits using items in their homes. Mr. Schilperoort strives to make e-Learning as fun and engaging as possible for these incredible learners!

The CSS Matchwits team wrapped up its regular-season competition season this week - and what an incredible season! In January, they head to the virtual Regional Championships.

The varsity team was led by captain Aadi N. '21 and starters included Owen W. '21, Micah R. '24, and Nathan G. '23. The team had a great season and finished in a strong 2nd place in the Black Forest League (BFL).

Vanguard won the league this year, but we are happy to report that our team managed to win the final evening of competition, leading Vanguard 21-18! Six of the teams in our impressive league qualified for state last year, and the BFL is known around Colorado as one of the most competitive Knowledge Bowl leagues in the state!

Our junior varsity team was led by captain Dane C. '21 and included Finnegan T. '22, Alex H. '24, Oliver P. '24, and Adhista E. '24. They did an incredible job and won 1st place for the season in the BFL, with a lead of more than 40 points ahead of the next closest competitor.

Our team moves on to the Regional Championships, which take place online January 30, 2021. They will compete against some of the top teams in the state. Best of luck, Kodiaks!

Parents, teachers, and students are encouraged to submit nominations and digital photos of student achievements to Anslee Wolfe, Communications and Marketing Manager, at awolfe@css.org. These extracurricular achievements make us a well-rounded school and highlight the many unique talents and passions of our student body. A diverse selection of achievements is highlighted in ROAR and shared on social media. We also welcome alumni achievements!

Due to COVID-19 we will continue to make adjustments to the Major Dates calendar. We will continue to update school's google calendar as we progress from week to week. We are adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines regarding on-campus, in-person learning. As a result, planning for the 2020-2021 school year is ongoing and requires the school to respond with agility, grace, and a heavy dose of patience. View the calendar here.

As a result of COVID-19, CSS applied for and was subsequently funded with a Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan through the CARES Act. We're proud to put these dollars to work for our school. As a result of this loan/grant, CSS is a Federal Funds Recipient for the next several weeks. Members of the CSS administration have participated in several training sessions on Title IX (and Section 504, Title VI, and the Age Discrimination Act among other pieces of relevant Federal legislation), which apply to us as temporary federal funds recipients. Read the full notice here.