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A NOTE FROM
Upper School Division Director
Dr. Tila Hidalgo
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Faculty and staff in the Upper School division focus regularly on encouraging community engagement, and I'm pleased to share that it feels as though our students and families are on board to achieve this goal! With the first quarter come and gone already, Homecoming was a wonderful event involving dancing and a fun evening had by all. In addition, we've formed a new student-led Spirit Club responsible for engaging the student body through attendance at athletic games. If you have not done so already, I invite you to join us for an upcoming basketball game in the Tutt Field House. The Pep Band has also begun its return, making CSS sporting events even more exciting and full of school spirit!
Our parent volunteers – referred to as Class Coordinators – are likewise working hard to engage the Upper School community. Our Class Coordinators Lina Mansour (Grade 10), Dan Hill (Grade 11), Nancy May (Grade 12), and I will be meeting monthly to generate new ideas, revamp existing offerings, and support our students and faculty. If you are the parent of a 9th Grade student and are interested in learning more about becoming a Class Coordinator, please email me. Under the leadership of Ms. May, senior parents have begun planning a new tradition – senior lunches – each quarter. Our first lunch will be held on Nov. 3, and we are so excited to bring this class together as we look to celebrate them all year long! Additionally, our Class Coordinators are planning a small initiative that will ultimately bring snacks and cheer to students when they begin their final exams in December.
Each one of the above examples has me looking forward to witnessing all the ways in which we will come together throughout the year.
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Campus Clean-Up
October 29
9 a.m.–12 p.m.
The Parents Association is hosting a clean-up on campus tomorrow. Upper School students are welcome to join as well and will receive some of their required service hours for participating. Sign up here.
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Conferences
NO SCHOOL
October 31
Our faculty advisors are eager to speak with parents and students during Quarter 1 Conferences on Oct. 31 to share what students have learned and how they've grown thus far this year. Students have prepared a portfolio of work and will be sharing that at the conference as well. Progress reports will be emailed today, Oct. 28, and made available in the FACTS Family Portal. We encourage you to read these in advance of your Conference appointment. These progress reports reflect students' grades as of the end of Quarter 1 and include narratives from each academic teacher, who has not only provided a summary of learning for the Quarter but also highlights your student's strengths as well as areas of growth. Faculty advisors will review these narrative comments during conferences in addition to having students share their portfolios of work. If you have not yet made an appointment with your student’s advisor, please be sure to do so.
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Veterans Day Ceremony
November 11
8:15 a.m.
Parents, grandparents, and family members are encouraged to join us in this yearly celebration of veterans. The CSS community will gather at the Trianon flagpole to show its gratitude for the individuals currently serving our country and those who have served in the past. If you plan to attend, kindly RSVP by Thursday, Nov. 10, at bit.ly/veterans-day-22.
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Watch highlights from last year's ceremony. | |
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Experience-Centered Seminar Parent Information Night
November 16
6:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars for our ECS Parent Information Night on Wednesday, Nov. 16, in El Pomar. This is an important meeting to learn details about your student's ECS, including safety, curriculum overview, and logistics. This year’s meeting will be held in person and at least one parent is required to attend.
NOTE - Parents of students participating in Italy or France ECSs:
Both parents must be present. Please bring either your student's passport with you so we may make a copy OR a color copy of your student’s passport. In addition, both parents will be asked to sign a “permission to travel” form that needs to be notarized (we will have a notary at the meeting).
Meetings will be held in the following classrooms in El Pomar:
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Aviation Science: Mr. Takacs - EP 104
Fly Fishing: Dr. Moulton - EP 209
Wilderness First Responder: Mr. Johnson - Room EP 108
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Hawaii: Ms. Hanson - EP 109
France: Mr. Frugé - EP 207
Italy: Mrs. Kunze - EP 204
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"Puffs" or "Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic"
November 18 & 19
7 p.m.
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For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is NOT his story! This is the story of the Puffs....who just so happened to be there, too; a tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world! Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is the story of Wayne Hopkins: a regular boy who finds out he's a wizard and goes to school in England, where he makes two best friends and has adventures. This perhaps sounds familiar. But, Wayne is sorted as a Puff; he and the other Puffs simply want to learn how to be wizards and avoid attacks by evil wizards.
Join us for this fun-filled Upper School comedy in the Louisa Performing Arts Center. Learn more and reserve your FREE seat (Promo Code: MAGIC) at bit.ly/css-puffs.
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Experiential Education in Action | |  |
Constitution Simulation Exercise |
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Sometimes, experiential learning can be a deeply immersive experience, like our Tall Ships ECS. At other times, however, it can consist of engaging in experiences inside of the classroom, where students learn by doing.
CSS's AP U.S. History class, taught by Dr. Jim Moulton, has been participating in a Constitution Simulation Exercise, wherein students have been tasked with taking on the perspective of the original writers of the Constitution and addressing "imperfections" in the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. There are two sections for AP U.S. History; one section has been assigned a Federalist perspective, and the other has been assigned an Anti-Federalist perspective.
Taking their stance, students will have to address the political positions of the time and justify their decisions from the research they conduct on actual historical events, in addition to bringing their own innovative and creative perspective to their writing of a Constitution. The two classes will then be tasked with reconciling their Constitutions to create one unified Constitution. This kind of learning allows students to delve into research and practice, critical thinking, and creativity, and discussions are lively, reasoned, and well-researched. This experience will build skills and prepare students for success on the AP exam and beyond in ways that simply reading about history cannot.
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