Volunteer for carline through October 30 using the link below. Several more people are needed or next week. Extra volunteers are needed for the Monday, October 19, carline to assist Children's School students bringing back their school supply crates.

Recently, Head of School Tambi Tyler sent a letter about upcoming important dates. Please be sure to read it here especially as it pertains to adding back instruction days at the end of the semester on December 17 and December 18.

Thank you to everyone who joined in for the virtual parent meeting on Wednesday, October 7. Ms. Tyler and Dr. Melissa Hocate discussed the recent pivot to e-Learning, COVID-19, and answered questions from parents. If you were unable to attend, you may watch the recorded session here.

The Parents Association has been hard at work planning the annual Fun Run! They debuted the 2020 Fun Run Shirt, shown above. It features a masked Kodiak bear and the following quote by Martin Luther King, Jr: “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” Stay tuned for a link to order Fun Run shirts online!

Depending on COVID-19 protocols and where we are on November 20, 2020, we are hoping to hold an in-person version of our Fun Run. If we are not able to, we will coordinate a virtual version of our Fun Run for families to participate in during the week of our Thanksgiving break. A virtual Fun Run will leverage our sense of community and social media to encourage families to take time on the break to go for a walk or run with their family. Prizes will be awarded for various feats such as best costume, most participants, and longest run.

The Fun Run shirts feature business sponsorships. If your business would like to be a sponsor, please see the form below. Deadline for sponsorship is Saturday, November 7, 2020. Goodie bags will be distributed to Fun Run participants, and sponsors may include goodies, coupons, or other appropriate info. Questions? Please contact Sponsorship Chair Lynn Shepherd at lynn@docshepherd.com or (632) 680-3442.

The lunch menu for October 19-23, when students are scheduled to return to campus, has shifted due to the pivot to e-Learning.

Because Chef Lori has already ordered items, the deadline to order lunch for next week has been extended for this week only from Wednesday to Friday. Please place orders for October 19-23 by 10 p.m. Friday, October 16. (Then order will return to being placed by 10 p.m. Wednesday for the following week.)

Children's School students are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to school on Friday, October 30, 2020, and take part in a parade on campus. Costume accessories such as masks, wings, and wands, need to be brought to school in a separate bag and will be set aside for later in the day, as students need to be able to function in class. Sturdy shoes for the day are recommended. Face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 must be worn.

Students will parade twice around the quad as Middle and Upper School students and faculty and staff watch in a socially-distanced fashion. PreKindergarten students prade at 8:15 a.m., and students in kindergarten through 5th grade will parade at 2:00 p.m. Students will return to classrooms for Halloween activities.

Middle School students will continue the tradition of carving pumpkins. They need to bring their own pumpkin to carve October 30. To allow for maximum carving time, students should hollow out their pumpkins at home, remembering to incorporate the stem or base into the design.

For your Halloween planning at home, Dr. Sarah Bartz, P ‘29, ‘31, with Children's Hospital Colorado shared the below article. It is a great resource to help families plan Halloween fun!

Retake day for Lifetouch pictures, which are used in the yearbook and for student achievements throughout the year, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

We got many of the picture proofs and orders in the Children's School (except for prekindergarten) sent home just before the school pivoted to e-Learning. We plan to send home the remaining proofs and orders for Middle and Upper School the week of Monday, October 19, when we are scheduled for On-Campus, In-Person Learning.

If you would like to see your child's proof before then, please contact Lin Hooley with Lifetouch at Lhooley@lifetouch.com or (719) 314-1582. She will provide a code specific to your child for you to view proofs online at mylifetouch.com.

Lifetouch is offering a complimentary class picture to each student photographed. An order does not have to be placed to receive a class photo. Please note the class photos have not yet come in. We will send them home with students once we receive them.

Last Thursday was a perfect afternoon for a cross country race in the midst of fall colors, moderate temps, and modest crowd of masked parents and teammates. Monument Valley Park has provided the backdrop for many CSS races, but this year’s Regional was one for the record books. Personal bests were abundant throughout the team, and for the first time in school history, the Kodiaks will send a male runner to the CHSAA State Championship meet this weekend.

Senior captain Orlando M. '21 earned a trip to the State Championship on Saturday, October 17, with a personal best 5K run of 18:54 for 13th place. This achievement is a first for any Kodiak boys’ cross country runner with the closest attempt last season by Clay Roles ’19.

Sophomore Andrew H. '23 ran a gutsy race and finished just shy of his season best at 24:02 while freshman Alex H. '24 finished with a personal best of 24:57. Senior Aaron Y. '21, who has competed for 4 years, was unable to attend the meet.

Senior captain Heather H. '21 led the girls’ team again with a season best of 25:03 for 28th. Freshman Lucia S. '24 finished in 30th with a personal best of 26:22, senior Brooke A. '21 ran a season best of 27:15, and senior Kaylin P. '21 also ran a personal best of 29:33. This group of girls captured the Black Forest League title last week at Peyton.

“Coach (David) Benson and I are very proud of the individual and team efforts today. Nearly every runner ran a season or lifetime best and reaped the rewards of weeks of consistent training and hard work,” commented head coach, Jolly Cunha. “Orlando realized his long-time goal of qualifying for the state meet showing his talent, experience, and true grit. He’s earned the right to toe the line with the state’s best runners next week and compete one last time as a Kodiak.”

CSS says farewell to five senior runners who have committed years, miles, and sweat for the Kodiak XC program. Congratulations, Kodiaks!

Orlando runs in the CHSAA State Championship Saturday, October 17, at 2:00 p.m. at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. If you aren't able to join us to cheer him on in person, the event will be live streamed through the link below. Best of luck, Orlando!

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.

As a result of COVID-19, CSS applied for and was subsequently funded with a Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan through the CARES Act. We're proud to put these dollars to work for our school. As a result of this loan/grant, CSS is a Federal Funds Recipient for the next several weeks. Members of the CSS administration have participated in several training sessions on Title IX (and Section 504, Title VI, and the Age Discrimination Act among other pieces of relevant Federal legislation), which apply to us as temporary federal funds recipients. Read the full notice here.

Through the robust network of the CSS community, alumni, parents, faculty/staff, and past parents assist students in exploring their passions and career interests through Senior Capstones. These independent projects conducted over several weeks in May forge real-world opportunities and connections as seniors prepare to make their way in a dynamic world. Students have taken on research and writing projects, shadowed engineers, medical professionals, and artists. They have coordinated large-scale events, interned with local companies, interviewed industry experts, and gained valuable professional skills.

As mentorship is central to our mission and to the Capstone process, we encourage you to take this brief survey to learn more about how you can engage with a senior. Learn more here.

Calling all artists, decorators, builders and/or parade float enthusiasts! CSS has applied for entry to participate in the 36th Annual Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Event on December 5, 2020.

If our entry is accepted, an estimated 40,000 spectators will view the CSS float at the Broadmoor World Arena. Guests will drive through the stationary lighted floats from the safety (and warmth!) of their own vehicle.

Help us design our float! Let's help our community carry on this tradition of dazzling displays of lights and performances and do our part to bring joy to the hearts of thousands.

Thanks to Brian and Kristin Kirkland (P'30, P'31), we have a 48-foot long flatbed trailer and truck to host our float. In 2018, CSS won the Snowflake Award for Best Themed Float. We seek to defend this title in 2020!

Float Design: If you are interested in submitting a float design or have questions, please contact Joy Maguire-Parsons at joym-p@css.org or (719) 434-3520. Float Design entry deadline is Monday, October 19, 2020. The overarching parade theme is "Through the Eyes of a Child."

If our CSS Float entry is accepted, we will assemble a 2020 Festival of Lights Float Committee and need volunteer builders and decorators. Stay tuned!

Given our pivot to e-Learning last week, Views & Vibes, an all-parent social that was scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2020, has been postponed.

When the timing is right, we look forward to sharing a beautiful evening together on campus in celebration of our wonderful parent community.

Questions? Please contact Joy Maguire-Parsons at 719-434-3520 or joym-p@css.org.

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: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, November 5, 2020

Where: Google Hangout, Let's chat during lunch!

Join by phone: ‪+1 617-675-4444‬

PIN: ‪881 238 046 0913#‬

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.

The Parents Association is excited to launch Parent Mixers, grade-level events that are designed to give new and returning parents an opportunity to socialize at the beginning of the school year.

In previous years, a families have hosted mixers in person. This year, the Parents Association is seeking hosts to plan virtual mixers. Maybe it's a trivia night via Zoom, a scavenger hunt on Google Hangout, or perhaps a virtual mixology class. The host gets to decide!

Questions? Contact Parents Association President Lynn Shepherd at lynn@docshepherd.com or (623) 680-3442.

Congratulations to the CSS United Model Nations team for an incredible performance this past weekend, including earning the Outstanding Small Delegation Award! A dedicated team of five Kodiaks participated online in the virtual Washington University Model United Nations (WUMUNS) conference.

Aadi N. '21, Dane C. '21, Finnegan T. '22, Owen G. '21, and Asher D. '21 took on a wide variety of topics and roles in the challenging format of "crisis councils." CSS participated with schools from all over the nation, including nine teams that are ranked amongst the top in the nation. Based on cumulative points earned by each student, our team was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Small Delegation Award, which is the equivalent of 2nd place, amongst the smaller schools participating.

While all of our delegates did an amazing job, our club leader, Aadi, was singled out for his remarkable performance as Lajos Czinege, Hungarian Minister of Defence, in a historic council simulating the Prague Spring crisis of 1968. He won the 3rd-place award in his council. Our students did an incredible job, and we are very proud of this team!

The WUMUNS conference is renowned in the Model United Nations settings for its unique crisis councils, which are often set in the past where delegates are encouraged to "rewrite" history through creative debate and diplomacy.

Asher played the role of Marvin Watson, President Lyndon Johnson's informal Chief of Staff, in a historic simulation of the 1968 H3N2 Pandemic response task force.

Owen represented Brazil in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2016.

Finnegan represented the small island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the UN Security Council set in the modern-day.

Finally, Dane took on the challenge of the ad-hoc council, a committee where students were given no prior idea of what they would be debating until the council began. Dane represented Prussia in a simulation set in the period of World War 1.

Well done, Kodiaks!

Tuesday was Colorado's Free Application day. Seniors joined a Zoom session to learn about the final steps needed to submit their Colorado applications! #diaryofaCSSsenior

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.