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FINAL BELL FOR CLASS OF 2020
On their final day of classes at Columbus Academy this past Friday, seniors were invited to drive through campus to hear the bell chimes signaling the end of the school day. Each member of our Class of 2020 received a gift bag and was greeted by their teachers and coaches who were spaced out along the route. It proved to be a unique event that exceeded all expectations for the amount of joy and much-needed bonding created for our community in this period of social distancing. To catch up on our daily senior spotlights and other efforts to recognize this 98-member senior class, including the newly released matriculation map, please visit our senior celebration page.
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ANNOUNCING THE ACADEMY COMMUNITY FUND
"This is a time of serious hardship and one for resilience, resolution and generosity from our school," wrote Head of School Melissa Soderberg in her recent letter announcing the Academy Community Fund. In addition to a tuition reduction for every student in 2020-21, the school has established a bridge fund to support families experiencing substantial and unforeseen hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families can request one-time grants toward tuition and fees separate from and possibly in addition to the school's usual financial aid, the funds for which are also being increased. Academy is also absorbing the administrative fees charged normally charged to families who wish to select a 10-month payment plan.
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WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR ACADEMY COMMUNITY
As we turn our philanthropic attention toward this critical initiative mentioned above, we have determined that All Day 4 CA will not be rescheduled this school year because we recognize that this is not the right time for this spirited online giving event. If you are able, you can show your support of our Academy community with a gift to the Academy Community Fund at any time by clicking here, or mark your calendar for The Columbus Foundation's online giving event, The Big Give on June 10-11, when donations to Columbus Academy and other participating Central Ohio nonnprofits will be boosted with a generous pool of bonus funds (more information will be coming soon).
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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS
We have an incredibly special opportunity for you to meet (virtually) with Rob Evans, a consulting psychologist and specialist in independent schools, this upcoming Monday (May 4) at 7:00 p.m. using the link below. Rob has been in high demand over the past six weeks speaking with independent school leaders about the crisis in which we find ourselves and the effects of it on our families, students, faculty and schools. This week, all our faculty and staff participated in conferences with Rob and cited his warmth and wisdom as particularly wonderful qualities of their meetings with him. This feedback made us want to extend the chance for you to benefit from Rob's expertise as well.
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ALL IN THIS TOGETHER VIKES
A recent addition to our "How To" series caused a great deal of excitement throughout the Academy community when Food Service Director Stephanie Campbell revealed how to make our dining hall's most popular dish, General Tso's Chicken! More recipes from Chef Steph are coming soon. Be sure to also check out our first alumni submissions as Dr. Paige Gutheil Henderson '94 shared "How To Improve Your Whole Health" and Will Westwater '12 posted a "How to Break into Professional Acting" tutorial that takes you through his career, starting with a commercial for Wendy's when he was still an Academy student as well as a reality TV series with John Cena and his latest gig with Kevin Hart!
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HEALTH & WELLNESS RESOURCES
Our school nurses have teamed up with our school psychologists, counselors, wellness experts and parent education committee to provide resources related to COVID-19, which are archived under "COVID-19 Health & Wellness Updates" on our special coronavirus webpage. The most recent additions are listed here:
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GRADE 10 ACADEMIC PLANNING CONFERENCES
Our college counselors will be hosting Grade 10 Academic Planning Conferences online via Zoom from May 4-15. These individual sessions are a time when students and parents/guardians meet with a college counselor to review individual academic records, look at Grade 11 course plans, introduce standardized testing/consider a testing schedule, and begin the process of self-reflection for college planning. You can find the Grade 10 Academic Conference Registration link under Upper School Resources at https://www.columbusacademy.org/parents. It is important that students and parents/guardians work together to find a time that works for everyone (please consult student schedule -- class is not to be missed).
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ARTS & MUSIC SCENE
Congratulations to Academy juniors Vaughn Armour and Calvin Wade in addition to seniors David Cooperman, Ryan Hunker, Alex O'Connor and Aniv Ray on having works selected for the 2020 Governor's Youth Art Exhibition! Their regional selections are showcased in this video narrated by arts faculty member Crystal Tursich.
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Additional Arts & Music Links
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SERVICE LEARNING
Our student-led Service Board has continued its efforts and created new ways to make an impact on the Academy community and around the state in recent weeks. After many brainstorming sessions with Service Board chair Christy Bening as to how they could best keep spirits up and help make a positive impact while being away from campus, president Abby Yakam and vice president Alisha Mohsin helped initiate the recording of stories to be shared with lower-schoolers and their teachers for a fun activity. Faculty member Michelle Schroeder-Lowrey also sparked an initiative with the group as they made "good cheer" cards to send to patients, doctors, nurses and other medical staff at Mercy West Hospital in Cincinnati, where her brother Lucas is an ICU nurse. Our relationship with Faith Mission has also continued as school nurse Beckie Hoagland recently delivered food items honoring the Service Board's monthly commitment to the organization thanks to the Galbreath Service Endowment.
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SPORTS REPORT
Five more seniors recently committed to continuing their athletic careers on the collegiate level: Annalise Grammel (track & field at DePauw University), Ezra Johnson (track & field at California Institute of Technology), Charlie Mueller (soccer at University of Chester), Rhian Seneviratne (tennis at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) and Annie Wimsatt (field hockey at Ohio University)! They join 12 others who we previously celebrated with fall and winter signing ceremonies: Kiersten Thomassey (field hockey at University of North Carolina), Ali Khan (golf at Ball State University), Matthew Cammeyer (golf at Lafayette College), Sam Massick (football at Princeton University), Griffin Mitchell (golf at Drexel University), Sarah Neltner (soccer at Washington University in St. Louis), Mitch Priest (basketball at Grinnell College), Olivia Seline (rowing at Bates College), Mackezine Smith (lacrosse at College of Wooster), Philip Soderberg (football at Kenyon College), Andrew Swartz (lacrosse at Christopher Newport University) and Carter Warstler (basketball at College of Wooster).
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THIS IS THE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE
More news you may have missed via email or on our social media:
Lower School
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