Congratulations to our 3rd and 5th graders for their fantastic performances in Dessert Theatre! Third graders performed Mysteries at the Mansion and 5th graders performed America, My New Home. The shows, which were filmed this year because COVID prevented us from gathering as an audience for a live production, premiered February 5, 2021. We are proud of you, Kodiaks! Click here to view a photo gallery on Facebook.

Upcoming Virtual Premieres of Dessert Theatre Performances:

For more than four decades, The Colorado Springs School has billed a signature theatre experience called Dessert Theatre for Kindergarten - 5th grade students. It is integrated with a robust theme of study and concentrated over several weeks. Often the topics of these grade-level plays are original scripts inspired by the curriculum the children are studying in science, history, and literature. This interdisciplinary exercise allows for complex ideas to be expressed on stage. Click here to learn more about Dessert Theatre.

We treasure having your family as part of the CSS community and look forward to many more years together!

Many of our Kodiak families have completed and submitted their 2021-2022 re-enrollment packet and tuition deposit. Thank you!

For families who have not yet completed re-enrollment, to secure your student's spot in the class and to receive the benefit of the Tuition Lock Program, your re-enrollment must be complete by February 16. Re-enrollment is complete after both the re-enrollment packet has been completed and submitted and the tuition deposit received.

In an effort to streamline the re-enrollment process, this year you are able to access the 2021-2022 Enrollment Contract, update your Family Demographic Forms, complete the Acknowledge & Release Forms, and pay your $1,000 tuition deposit in FACTS Family Portal through your existing login.

1) Log into your Family Portal

2) On the left look for Apply / Enroll

3) Choose Enrollment / Re-enrollment

4) Choose Click here to open enrollment

5) This will open to an option to Start Enrollment Packet

Thank you for sharing your CSS experience with families outside our CSS community! We have a record number of applicants at this time as compared to last year and will start offering open spaces when re-enrollment closes.

For questions about re-enrollment and/or Indexed Tuition please contact Joy Maguire-Parsons, Director of Admission at joym-p@css.org or 719-434-3520.

Upper School students are gaining their first glimpses into the Experience-Centered Seminars (ECS) they will embark on soon. Each March, our students undergo a three-week study that immerses them in academic subjects through a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach.

The 2021 offerings are Artful Recovery: The healing properties of Art, The Science and Art of Rock Climbing, The Great Iron Pour, Playwriting and Performance, The Science and Statistics of Epidemics, and Wilderness Survival From Past to Present: Native Women to Mountain Men and Modern Day Adventurers in Colorado and Beyond. ECSs are local this year and COVID safety precautions will be followed.

ECSs approach broad, interdisciplinary questions to optimize the teaching of critical thinking, organized inquiry, in-depth analysis, and synthesis of information. They demand direct, active participation and primary research in an environment outside of the classroom. Academic requirements include oral and written presentations, term papers, group work and projects, or final exams.

The ECS experience, which sets our students apart as they move into the collegiate world and beyond, is a continuum of seminar programs in Children's School and Middle School. Children's School is optimistically planning for Colorado Expedition, while Middle School seminars are scheduled to launch soon.

The CSS Scholastic Book Fair will run online from March 8-21, 2021. Selections include books for young children, young adult and even adults. Stay tuned for details! 

Families may order lunch online for the entire month of February instead of weekly as before.

If you prefer not to order for the month, please note that lunch orders need to be placed by 10 p.m. the Wednesday before the start of the next week. For example, if you want to order lunch for your child for Thursday, February 11, the order must be placed by 10 p.m. Wednesday, February 3.

Please note that due to supply and snow days, there may be times menu items are substituted.

There are known and unknown risks in navigating these uncertain times. But individuality and isolation from one another are not long-term solutions to the adversity presented by our current world. Instead, we aim to build and promote a community that is solution-minded, embraces the mindset and practice of "we before me", and collectively adheres to the guidelines of medical professionals and elected officials. The Community Pledge has been written in the spirit of developing a common language and understanding by which we will all commit for the 2020-2021 school year.

The 2-1 CSS boys' varsity basketball team is now 2-0 in Black Forest League play after beating the Calhan Bulldogs 55-53 on Wednesday in an exciting thriller at Tutt Field House. CSS took the lead early and never looked back as the Bulldogs clawed within a point in the final minutes. It was a physical game with both teams visiting the charity stripe down the wire.

Senior captain Ben Mc. '21 was the highest-scoring player on the floor, finishing with 27 points and 13 rebounds. His supporting cast stepped up to round out the scoring tally: Andrew H. ’23 (9), Aadi N. ’21 (8), James H. ’22 (7), and Graham B. ’21 (4). Andrew lit it up from behind the arc for his 3 buckets while also grabbing 5 boards.

“We won because of our team defense," said Head Coach DeLovell Earls '10. "The boys rode the waves of the ups and downs in the game and capitalized down the stretch with some important free throws. It was a nail biter but we stuck to the game plan and were able to pull it off.”

CSS is back in action at home on Friday night against James Irwin with junior varsity at 5:30 and varsity at 7:00 p.m. The Kodiaks visit Cripple Creek on Saturday evening for a Varsity only game at 5:00 p.m. Remember to bookmark the Athletics VNN website at www.csskodiaks.com to follow your Kodiaks this season and stay up on scores and schedule changes. Go Kodiaks!

Google Meet: Click here to join

The Gala & Auction Committee are well into their work to support and promote the school's largest fundraiser event of the year. From veteran parents to brand-new families we are seeing this committee come together in new and exciting ways. Last year, we hosted one of the region’s first virtual Gala & Auction events, resulting in a budget-busting $147,000 for student-centered learning, as well as pioneering a sense of community togetherness during stay-at-home orders. While we had hoped to be in a place in which our entire community could gather in person, but alas we are prudently making plans for a virtual program, plus new experiences to celebrate student success and elevate community connections.

A primary focus of the volunteers currently is soliciting auction items, generating ideas for auction baskets, experiences, and sociables. Sometimes, the work of gala can be messy and beautiful, as is the case with wonderfully creative projects coming to fruition for each class in PreK - 5th Grade. Class Creations often generate enthusiastic bidding among parents seeking these one-of-a-kind kid art creations.

For more information on how you can connect and make the Gala & Auction a success, contact Brooke Rawls P'30, P'32 at bkrawls11@gmail.com or (317) 902-8157 or Nancy May P'23 at nmay9393@gmail.com or (719) 210-9089.

The Parents Association Board will hold virtual meetings for the foreseeable future on the first Thursday of each month. Anyone is welcomed to join.

Next Meeting: Thursday, March 4, 2021, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Google Meet.

Join by phone: 540-680-4396 (PIN: 349712789)

Click here to learn more about the role of the Parents Association in building community in our school. Email the Parents Association at parentsassociation@css.org.

First graders welcomed Dr. Melissa Hocate, CSS Health Coordinator, into the classroom on Wednesday to learn about COVID-19 safety. 

Highlights from her age-appropriate slideshow included:

Thank you, Dr. Hocate, for helping keep us informed and well! 

The Middle School Matchwits Team competed in its first official competition of the season on Monday, placing 1st and 4th.

The Kodiaks started the night off in a great position thanks to the team's incredible work on the written test, placing them in 2nd place.

During the competition, Team Green began in 2nd place and had an awesome performance, winning 2 out of 3 rounds. They now leads the Black Forest League in 1st place, with a 7-point advantage over our closest competitor, Simla! Team Blue started in 8th place and dominated all 3 rounds, moving up to 4th place, just one point behind 3rd! Congratulations, Kodiaks!

CSS loves its traditions, and on Wednesday the Children's School continued its annual winter book exchange in which students gave and received a book. Giggling, squealing, cheering and pure joy filled the hallways as students celebrated friendships and kindness within their classrooms. "I never knew a book could make me so happy," said third grader Clare J. '30 while gathering with friends. Students also exchanged Valentine's Day cards. View more photos here.

Parents, teachers, and students are encouraged to submit nominations and digital photos of student achievements to Anslee Wolfe, Communications and Marketing Manager, at awolfe@css.org. These extracurricular achievements make us a well-rounded school and highlight the many unique talents and passions of our student body. A diverse selection of achievements is highlighted in ROAR and shared on social media. We also welcome alumni achievements!

Due to COVID-19 we will continue to make adjustments to the Major Dates calendar. We will continue to update school's google calendar as we progress from week to week. We are adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines regarding on-campus, in-person learning. As a result, planning for the 2020-2021 school year is ongoing and requires the school to respond with agility, grace, and a heavy dose of patience. View the calendar here.