Columbus Academy graduated its largest class on June 6 as 112 seniors received their diplomas. It was a lighthearted morning of hugs and laughs with a short rain delay thrown into the festivities.
“Tim Robbins, Christopher Meloni, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay… ladies and gentlemen, I am one degree away from Kevin Bacon,” joked guest speaker Bob Turton ’01 about his acting career during the Commencement Address. “If someone told me all of this when I was sitting in your shoes right there on graduation day, I think my head would have literally exploded. I actually make a living doing what I love. And all of that started right here.”
“The past 31 years have just been unbelievable,” Anne Horton told the large crowd filling Columbus Academy’s dining hall for her retirement celebration on May 14. Anne’s record as a head coach – 12 state titles in field hockey, 3 state championships and a midwest title in lacrosse, national field hockey coach of the year, Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame, just to name a few – are unprecedented but her legacy is in all the young women she helped to develop in so many ways. A large number of them attended in-person or sent in their well wishes from afar, making the event a memorable one.
In addition to the school's 2022-23 Key Calendar Dates, please also note the following dates for parent-guardian forums hosted by the Parents Association of Columbus Academy (PACA) from 8:00-9:00 a.m. on the fireplace side of the dining hall. All are welcome to these Wednesday morning gatherings!
September 14, 2022
October 12, 2022
November 9, 2022
December 14, 2022
January 11, 2023
February 8, 2023
March 8, 2023
April 12, 2023
May 10, 2023
Advertising to Our Community
PACA is offering the opportunity for businesses/organizations in our community and the local area to advertise in the 2022-23 arts and sports programs. There are spaces for full-page color and full-, half- and quarter-page ads that get your business recognized in all four programs for the price of one. For more details on pricing, ad sizes and how to purchase space, please visit columbusacademy.org/pacaprogramads. Deadline for ad purchases and artwork submissions is Friday, August 19. To view the spring sports program, click here.
Final Grades/Progress Reports
Instructions for accessing and understanding final grades and progress reports were shared with families in mid-June. Please click on the following links for each division's instructions.
Recordings from all of the Lower School Parent Coffees that provided families a glimpse of the next grade level for their children can be accessed by clicking on the following links.
At last month's Honors Assembly, longtime lower school art teacher Lloyd Cicetti delivered a stirring Cum Laude Address. “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t adhere to tradition, to rules, convention or protocol,” he told our upper-schoolers and guests. “I’m just saying that if you play it safe and take no risks in life, you are destined to lead a dull one.” Watch his full speech, which earned a standing ovation, by clicking here. To view photos and a list of this year's award recipients, click here.
Retirement Celebration for Susan Carter
Family, friends and colleagues of Susan Carter gathered in our art gallery near the end of May to celebrate her 35 years of service to Columbus Academy. Susan is stepping down from her leadership role as Dean of Middle School to transition to a part-time role that has yet to be determined. “I cherish my time at Academy,” Susan stated. “It’s been a wonderful ride!” Learn more about her successful and impactful career by clicking here.
Middle School Closing & Awards
Outstanding student speeches highlighted our recent Middle School Closing Ceremony. For complete coverage of the event, which included student reflections by Jackson Amato and Taylor Gillett, please click here. At the Middle School Awards Assembly, 14 students were recognized across art, language arts, music, physical education, science, social studies, technology, theatre and world languages as well as the Robert Smith Character Award (Chris Hill) and the Frank B. Rasor II Cup (Allison Frickel). View all of the award recipients by clicking here.
LS Concert & 5th Grade Closing
A successful year ended for our Lower School on June 2 with each grade singing a special song for family and friends followed by a collective performance of “Miles of Smiles” and a farewell tune for the fifth-graders. For photos and a video link to all the songs, click here. And complete coverage of our Fifth Grade Closing Ceremony, which included speeches by Head of School Melissa Soderberg and Head of Lower School Mark Hansen, can be viewed by clicking here. Keep an eye on our social media this summer for coverage from the parent-organized Lower School Carnival!
News from the Service Board
A summer opportunity for Columbus Academy families and students to help support our ongoing Blessing Boxes initiative is highlighted in the Service Board's June newsletter. Please click here to learn more about how to sign up to stock Blessing Boxes around Gahanna, read about the successful shoe drive completed by Jaden Gilbert, see a new informative service brochure and more. Click on the following links for more recent service learning news.
After a successful opening-night performance of “Mamma Mia!” in late April, the final two shows were postponed until mid-May. To watch the final curtain call and presentation of theatre awards, click here. Coverage from our year-end band and choir concerts can be accessed with the following links.
The end of our spring sports season was highlighted by high-jumper Alli Klinefelter placing fourth in the state. She broke the school record by clearing 5 feet, 6 inches at the district meet while another school record was set by fellow sophomore Zoya Arnold in the 300 hurdles (48.12 seconds) at the league meet. Click on the following links for more athletics coverage:
Our Student Support Services Team recently released its final newsletter of the 2021-22 school year, and all parents/guardians are welcome to check it out by clicking here. This edition has year-end comments from our counselors and a final update from health class as well as an important note about health forms from our nurses for next school year. Additional coverage of recent events happening within our classrooms, campus and community on our social media has included:
Earlier this month, Academy alum Will Westwater ’12 guest starred as a stormtrooper in a scene on episode 3 of the “Obi Wan Kenobi” television series on Disney+. “I remember, as a kid, pointing to the credits at the end of a Star Wars movie and saying to my mom: ‘I gotta believe I can be one of those names!’ Now I am. Honored to be a part of Obi Wan Kenobi.” Click on the following links for more alumni and faculty/staff news: