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Kodiak ROAR, April 30, 2020
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Prekindergarten student Evan S. '34 sorted his stuffed animals into groups that live in a house (pets), a farm, the woods, and a snowy place. Early experiences in sorting items into groups help young learners better observe how things are alike and different. Evan and his classmates sorted lots of different groups through this
e-Learning hands-on lesson!
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Head's Holiday & Campus Car Parade
On Friday, May 1, we will celebrate a Head's Holiday.
This day off will give us all a break from our screens and routines and give kids a chance to go outside and take an optional trip to campus for a
parade route from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. featuring carline cookies, faculty waves, Class of 2020 Senior Honk, and auction top bidders pickup.
Feeling inspired? Decorate your car or create signs of support for teachers.
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An Open Letter to the CSS Class of 2020
"...Life lessons await to be discovered in the midst of this new landscape, all dependent upon how you choose to navigate and respond. The simplest way to cope with personal loss is to discover ways to assist the greater community, while also remaining aware of your own needs. Approach life with an attitude of gratitude, connect with others, embrace the simplicity of life, nurture your creativity, practice self-care, journal for posterity, engage the mind, and just breathe. When this crisis is over, you want to reflect and know that you became a better, well-rounded person by actively facing the challenge with positivity, grace, unity, and intentionality."
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UPDATE ON e-LEARNING SURVEYS: Thank you to all parents and students for their immense feedback on e-Learning at CSS. As we head into week six and the end of the school year, we are hitting pause on our survey to re-evaluate and adjust accordingly. The amount of feedback we have received since we started e-Learning on March 31 has been invaluable to how our programs have evolved in a relatively short period of time in this new learning landscape. As we enter the next phase of e-Learning at CSS, we are taking the time to compile all of the data reviewed each week to make informed decisions that will guide us through to the end of 2019-2020 and propel us into 2020-2021 with aplomb. Please be on the lookout for a revised survey in the weeks ahead. Until then, please feel free to contact Associate Head of School Sam Gaudet at
[email protected] with any additional questions or concerns.
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Social & Emotional Health
During this unprecedented time let's look to check-in with each other.
Offer each other patience, grace, and a little latitude as we find new rhythms.
Learn More
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CSS e-Learning Family Support
Click here to join this closed Facebook group to share tips and to help other parents positively navigate e-Learning. A team of school moderators will share tools and resources in addition to parents who can crowd source dynamic solutions.
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F
amilies can submit e-Learning questions or inform the school of technical concerns by emailing [email protected]
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NHS Students Available to Support e-Learning
The National Honor Society has scholars that are available to support you and/or your child with e-Learning. We will adhere to all safety restrictions at this time. NHS students are ready to work with Kodiaks remotely, even if it's to say hello or for a read-aloud. If interested, please contact Amy Johnson-Smith at
[email protected].
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Parents Association e-Meeting
Join us Thursday, May 7, 2020, at
8:05 a.m. for this virtual Parents Association meeting.
Attendees will vote on a slate of new board members to lead the Parents Association in 2020-2021.
If you are interested in attending or joining a committee, your attendance at this virtual meeting is encouraged.
Additionally, the Parents Association will review high-impact funding requests compiled by the school to disburse dollars raised by Parents Association. The group will discuss Faculty & Staff appreciation and generate ideas to carry out community-building efforts during the Head of School leadership transition.
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What is your role at CSS?
I am the Associate Head of School.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I genuinely like to wear color pink clothes. No seriously, I do. And I used to wear bow ties every day! Lastly, I also have skied one or more days each month for the last 16 months.
What is a favorite memory at CSS?
I think my very first bonfire at CSS would be among my favorites. It was a great way to see the community together. What I would do right now for a CSS bonfire!
What is one thing you've learned from students?
Never forget how hard it is to be one.
What did you want to be growing up?
Not sure, still waiting. Actually, I have always gravitated toward work that involved serving others, especially those less fortunate than myself.
What draws you to working with students?
That there is never a bad day and that learning happens around every corner - you just need to keep your head up!
What is one thing you enjoy about CSS and why?
I enjoy seeing students challenge themselves every day to be and do more. I love watching kids who say they "can't" and then they do. I enjoy working with teachers who often put the needs of others before their own.
If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
Today, I would love to read minds because some days I just don't know. Most of the time, I think scheduling requires a superpower. And just to be clear, Batman does not have any superpowers!
What is your favorite spot in the world and why?
Born and raised in the Northeast, my first love is the ocean. However, since landing in Colorado, my love for the mountains is strong, and that is where you can find me, especially if there is snow.
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What is your role at CSS?
I am a first grade teacher.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I built my first home with my husband. It was called an Earthship and was made of tires and completely off the grid.
What is a favorite memory at CSS?
Every memory involves the community - first as a parent, now as both a parent and teacher. We have such incredible people here!
What is one thing you've learned from students?
You can ALWAYS learn something new!
If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
I would invent a new one: octopus arms that I could deploy when I need to be doing several things at once!
What did you want to be growing up?
A teacher - a nurse was a close second.
What draws you to teaching?
The wonder and joy of children - helping to build on that is an incredible gift!
What is your favorite spot in the world?
Any place with my family!
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Dynamic Duo: The Crow Sisters
Kylie and Autumn with the Class of 2020 have attended CSS since the 6th grade. They reflect on being Kodiaks.
What has been your favorite aspect of your CSS experience?
Kylie: My favorite is the sense of community. I love being able to have close connections and interactions with students from many various grade levels, as well as the close relationships with teachers.
Autumn: I have to agree with Kylie. I love the community that has been established at CSS. I know that I will sorely miss even the people who aren't my best friends when we go to college; not seeing everyone everyday will be such a big change, but I'm happy to have been a part of this community. It has definitely been a second home to me since I came in middle school.
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A Thank You to the PreK Nurse Health Consultant & Kodiak Parent
The PreK team would like to thank
Kara Novak P '20, P '26, for volunteering as our Nurse Health Consultant. This is a requirement for state licensing in Early Childhood, and Kara has gone above and beyond expectations of that role. Since 2014, she met with us once a month to share her knowledge, experience, and advice on topics at our request. Whether training us to use an EpiPen or inhaler, or educating us about nutrition and how to foster healthy eating habits, Kara always exhibited passion and professionalism. She took her own time to conduct up-to-date research and then presented appropriate information to help us better serve our families. Her eldest son, Estin, will be graduating this year and her son Wyatt, who has been at CSS since PreK, is an upcoming 7th grader. As Kara expands her professional nursing career, she is passing the baton to another nurse. We will greatly miss her. Thank you, Kara, for all you have done for us. It has truly been a pleasure working with you for these past six years!
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CSS Yearbook e-Celebration
The yearbook team held an e-Celebration today after submitting the yearbook for printing. Congratulations, Kodiaks!
It's not too late to order the 2019-2020 CSS Yearbook.
Click here to order. You may choose options to customize your book.
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Donations for the Spring 2021 Garage Sale
Have you been spring cleaning? Your Parents Association garage sale team, Abby Ortega and Michelle Gates, are gearing up for the spring 2021 garage sale, which is held every two years. They will be accepting donations once campus re-opens. Please box up those household goods, toys, books, clothes, small furniture, and other treasures. Large items will be collected once a storage space is secured. If you have questions or a storage space for larger items, please contact Michelle Gates at (719) 440-2251 or
[email protected]
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NHS Holds Formal Induction e-Ceremony
On Monday, Upper School students had their Formal Induction e-Ceremony for the Ursa Major Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Written by Leggatt K. '20: This induction included four awards. Each of these awards is given to the student that shows outstanding achievement on one of the four tenants: Leadership, Character, Scholarship, and Service. The Leadership and Scholarship awards were given to Autumn C. '20. The Character award was given to Kate G. '20. Lastly, the Service award was given to Leggatt K. '20. Also during the ceremony, each senior executive council member passed a candle and pinned their respective pins on the upcoming council. Taking over next year in NHS will be Whitney R. '21 as president, Ty W. '21 as vice-president, Bailey R. '21 as secretary, Alex S. '21 as treasurer, Ben M. '21 as parliamentarian, and Owen W. '21 as historian. The future of the National Honor Society is bright, even though we sadly say goodbye to 16 seniors.
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Adopt a CSS Senior Facebook Group
Amy Kunstle P'17, P'21, launched a parent-driven initiative for our CSS community known as "Adopt a Senior." It is a closed Facebook group modeled after similar groups and is dedicated to showering the Class of 2020 seniors with encouragement and care packages during this time of shared loss. We wanted everyone to know about this heartfelt and authentic opportunity to connect. We invite the CSS community to "adopt" a senior to show support. Perhaps your kindergarten student is buddies with a senior. Anyone can adopt a senior! The strength of our community is showing up in so many beautiful ways, and this is yet another shining example of what it means to be #KodiakStrong!
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Alumna Requests Bed Sheet Donations
Alumna Requests Bed Sheet Donations for Nursing Facilities
Alumna Amber McClish-Strover '04 has reached out to the CSS community to request donations of bed sheets to help with shortages of personal protection equipment (PPE). Amber is Director of Admissions at Life Care Center of Colorado Springs, which operates nursing care centers. They are currently in "outbreak mode" because they have active COVID-19 cases.
Life Care Center is collecting full size and larger bed sheets, both fitted and top sheets, that will be sewn into gowns that can be washed as a way to help combat the shortage of PPEs. All color/pattern sheets are welcome, but please no sheets with holes.
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