August 29, 2022

Dear Upper School Families,

Welcome to week #2 of school! I hope the start of the new school year has gone well for everyone so far. Given the number of special events in the weeks ahead, we wanted to share some important details to help you plan your schedules.

Wednesday, August 31: US Back-to-School Night at 7:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, August 30, you should receive a text or email directly from your upper school children with a copy of their schedules. Please save it. This shows the order of class visits for US Back-to-School Night.

7:00-7:15 p.m. – US Back-to-School Night “Welcome” (dining hall)

7:20 p.m. – Parents/guardians begin visiting classes, starting with block 1

• Class visits are 10 minutes each with a five-minute passing time in between
• Where your child has a “free” period, you will simply have open time
• A few classes will meet in the dining hall (for example, band)

9:15 p.m. – Final class (block 8) concludes

In the event you don’t receive a copy of your child’s schedule, they can help fill in the schedule with you by going into their MySchoolApp account and sharing it. Another option is for parents to log into their MySchoolApp account, pick your child’s name, click on the progress tab, scroll down to “courses” and their classes will be listed. The block # is listed after the course name.

We hope you’re able to join us and get a taste of your child's school day and the faculty who work with them. While the time allotted is not as conducive to specific individual questions, it’s a great way to hear about the format and expectations of the classes.

Friday, September 2: “First Friday” Tailgate at 5:00 p.m.

Outdoor music, activities and tailgate food on the Senior Quad make for a wonderful kickoff to a home football game that starts at 7:00 p.m. All upper-schoolers are invited. Please note that a signature piece to this evening is that students are encouraged to wear white clothes that they can decorate with spirit paint, so it’s not a bad idea to have a towel or two in the car for the ride home.

Monday, September 5: Labor Day – No School

Friday, September 9: US Service Day & Club Fair

All upper school advisory groups will spend the first part of their day doing off-campus service in Columbus and surrounding areas. Dress is casual but school-appropriate. Everyone must wear close-toed shoes. Lunch is determined by advisory. Watch for a communication from your child’s advisor with more information and a possible request for assistance with driving. We’re always looking for a few extra adults to help make this day come together.

Friday afternoon upon their return from service, the US hosts its annual Club Fair in the quad. This is a chance for students to check out the variety of clubs and affinity groups available to them in the Upper School.

September 12-13: Parent Academy Series with Devorah Heitner, Ph.D.

Over two school days, Columbus Academy will be hosting nationally renowned speaker and author Devorah Heitner, Ph.D. She is the founder of Raising Digital Natives, a place for parents and educators to get practical, timely and non-judgmental advice to set our kids up for success in a digital world and in life. The author of “Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World” will present to our parent community from 7:00-800 p.m. on Monday, September 12. Doors to the dining hall will open at 6:30 p.m. All parents and guardians are encouraged to attend by registering here.

Thursday, September 15: Grade 10 Parent Coffee at 8:05 a.m.

Join us in the dining hall for a conversation on topics related to Upper School in general and your child’s grade level more specifically. Coffee and tea will be provided.

Monday-Wednesday, September 19-21: School Photos

Ordering details coming soon.

Tuesday, September 20: Grade 11 Parent Coffee at 8:05 a.m.

Join us in the dining hall for a conversation on topics related to Upper School in general and your child’s grade level more specifically. Coffee and tea will be provided.

Friday, September 23: Grade 12 Parent Coffee at 8:05 a.m.

Join us in the dining hall for a conversation on topics related to Upper School in general and your child’s grade level more specifically. Coffee and tea will be provided.

Wednesday, September 28: Grade 9 Parent Coffee at 8:05 a.m.

Join us in the dining hall for a conversation on topics related to Upper School in general and your child’s grade level more specifically. Coffee and tea will be provided.

Tuesday, October 4: Financial Aid Night at 7:00 p.m.

All parents and students of upper-schoolers are invited to the College Counseling Financial Aid Night to be held on Tuesday, October 4, at 7:00 p.m. in our Schoedinger Theatre. We highly recommend attending this program if you are interested in learning more about how and when to apply for need-based financial aid, and it is strongly recommended for any senior parents applying for aid this year.

Tuesday, October 6: College Funding Webinar at 7:00 p.m. 

Parents and students of upper-schoolers are also invited to attend the “What Parents Need to Know Now about Paying Less for College” webinar presented by SMARTTRACK® College Funding on Thursday, October 6, at 7:00 p.m. This program was highly recommended by other independent schools, and we are offering it as an option for families this year.

“Most families are surprised to learn that with a little planning, they can significantly lower out-of-pocket college costs, maximize grants and scholarships, and minimize debt. We are providing the SMARTTRACK® College Funding High School Initiative to assist our 9th-11th grade families with the financial piece of college planning. If you’re concerned that you won’t qualify for financial aid, haven’t saved enough, or don’t have an effective plan to cover the considerable costs of educating all your children, SMARTTRACK® can help. Click here to create your complimentary account and register for the webinar.”

~ Information from SMARTTRACK®

Also, I want to confirm some very sad news that you may have already heard from your children. Jennifer Lange, who has been an integral part of our upper school office since 2004, has been out since the beginning of the school year because her husband Andrew passed away suddenly on August 17 (read obituary). In her absence, recently retired Susan Carter has been filling in admirably. Should you have any questions, please continue to contact the upper school office at 614-509-2281, or you can email Susan at carters@columbusacademy.org.

We look forward to seeing many of you this coming Wednesday evening or at an upcoming athletic event.

Kind Regards,

Cory Izokaitis

Head of Upper School