A NOTE FROM

Upper School Division Director

Dr. Tila Hidalgo

February 24, 2023

I want to thank this community for allowing me to be a part of it for the last two years. I have been presented with an opportunity to work as the Teaching, Learning, and Innovation Coordinator at an international school in Tel Aviv and will not be returning to CSS next year. As I move into this whole school position focused on instruction, I will take so many lessons from my time at CSS. The faculty here are some of the most talented and innovative educators I have ever worked with and they have taught me so much. The thought of leaving this community that is full of students who I have truly grown to love was not an easy decision, but I am confident that they will be left in good hands, and I hope to find ways to stay connected. The world is big, but communities that are connected make it feel small, and I look forward to seeing how CSS becomes part of my future as I move forward.

Upper School Happenings

Course Selection Deadline Extended to Monday

February 27

Students have been given the 2023-2024 Curriculum Guide and a Google form through which to select their classes. They have had the opportunity to talk with teachers about their choices, however, I encourage you to take some time to check in with them as they plan out their courses for next school year. Google forms must be submitted by no later than Monday, February 27.

Matchwits Team Enters Rocky Mountain Quiz Kids Bowl

March 25

This year’s Upper School Matchwits team has represented CSS well, winning the Division 2A Regional Championship and taking 1st in the Black Forest League championship. Several Matchwits members likewise recently competed in the Rocky Mountain Quiz Kids Show, a televised trivia competition open to high school students across the region! Tune in to SOCO CW on Saturday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. and cheer on the CSS Kodiaks as they face Discovery Canyon in round one of this fun-filled competition.

Semester II Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 31

Classes will not be held in the Middle and Upper School divisions on Friday, March 31, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences regarding students’ progress in the second semester. These conferences will follow a different format when compared to the student-led, advisor-facilitated conferences that took place in the fall of 2022. This spring, the morning of March 31 – from 8 a.m. until noon – will be reserved for priority conferences with parents who will be contacted by their student’s advisor soon to schedule a time to meet with a number of teachers all at once. A priority conference may be scheduled with parents for a variety of reasons, ranging from their student being new at CSS to academic concerns. From 1 to 4 p.m., teachers will also be available to meet with any additional parents wishing to discuss their student's academic progress. To book an appointment that afternoon, please refer to the table here containing links to each teacher’s calendar. Conferences will be held both in-person and virtually depending on the parent's individual availability.

Experiential Education in Action

Experience-Centered Seminars Have Finally Arrived!

Excitement is in the air because our annual Experience-Centered Seminar (ECS) is launching on Monday, February 27! Upper School faculty have been busy planning amazing activities for our students and have been meeting every Wednesday this month during Flex time to prepare for these immersive experiences. Follow each ECS adventure in learning throughout the month of March by regularly visiting css.org/ecs, where student blogs will be updated in real time.

The Colorado Springs School

21 Broadmoor Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Work: (719) 434-3570

thidalgo@css.org | www.css.org