We invite our Summit community to join us in the Big Backyard on Tuesday, September 19th from 9:30-10:30 am as we recognize and celebrate The Schneider Foundation. The Schneider Foundation has been a major donor to The Summit for many years. Their financial support provides the funding for our robust financial aid program, but has also been instrumental in the school's move and purchase of our current campus at 202 East Walnut Lawn.

Please join us as we celebrate and say "Thank You!" on Tuesday 9/19 from 9:30-10:30 am. This will be a brief presentation, including a vocal performance by 4th and 5th graders, followed by a light reception. All Summit families are invited to attend.

Don't forget that West bound U.S. Route 60 (James River Freeway) will be closed Saturday, September 16th - Friday, September 22nd, according to MoDot. This will affect all west bound lanes between Hwy 65 and Glenstone Ave, and both Hwy 65 ramps to westbound Hwy 60. If your family uses this route for travel, please be aware that you will need to find an alternate route next week.

Uniform Buy Out Days at The Summit

Next Thursday, September 21st is the first Uniform Buy Out Day of the 2023-2024 school year. Typically, once a month students will have the opportunity to "buy out" of their uniform and wear other school appropriate clothes. Each buy out day benefits a different club, activity, organization, or student project. Sometimes, those groups set a theme to the buy out. This upcoming uniform buy out on. Thursday 9/21 has no specific theme and benefits the High School Classroom Renovation project.

Cost is $2 to participate. PLEASE SEND $2 CASH with students that morning. EXACT CHANGE is requested. Money will be collected by a Summit student/employee at the front entrance.

Summit buy out days are completely optional for students and employees to participate in, and students/employees may choose to wear their typical uniform/dress-code on these days at no cost (Note: This is not a spirit wear day, so uniforms are required for students choosing not to participate).

For your convenience, all 2023-2024 Uniform Buy Out Days are listed below and are also included on the school calendar:

2023-2024 Uniform Buy Out Days

• Thursday 9/21 - no theme, benefits the High School classroom space renovation
• Tuesday 10/10 - Spanish theme, benefits the Spanish Department's Dia de los Muertos week projects
• Wednesday 11/8 - Panama themed, benefits the June 2024 International Trip for Upper School students
• Thursday 12/7 - no theme, benefits Upper School Film Fest projects
• Thursday 1/18 - no theme, benefits The Summit Chess Club
• Wednesday 2/14 - no theme, group TBD
• *3/4-3/8 is Summit Spirit Week, themes vary by day and will be announced in January 2024 - no cost to participate
• Wednesday 3/27 - College theme, benefits Project Graduation
• *Tuesday 4/2 - Free Dress Day for Spring Pictures, no cost to participate

Check Your Emails for Info on Ravens Reach Out Day on Wednesday, October 11th

Summit families, be sure to check your class emails (sent on 9/7) for more information regarding all our all school service day, Ravens Reach Out Day, on Wednesday 10/11. Important information including parent volunteer opportunities, student volunteer timing and attire, and transportation are included in those emails. Please contact Becky Breckner with any questions.

All Day Wendy's Dine Out on Tuesday 9/19

Make plans to enjoy all your meals at Wendy's (3558 S. Campbell Ave in Springfield, MO) for The Summit's fundraiser on Tuesday, September 19th ALL DAY LONG, from 6:30 am - 11:00 pm. You read that right, from breakfast through your late night snack!

We're raising money to support The Summit Preparatory School! All you have to do is show up at Wendy's on South Campbell in Springfield, Missouri anytime on Tuesday, September 19th, show them the flyer (click here), order all the delicious food (from a Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant to Dave's Double to a Frosty and everything in between), and The Summit will receive 30% of all proceeds from that entire day!

Click here to RSVP to the Facebook event and invite your friends.

Save the Date: Parent Education Series on Tuesday 10/3

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend our first ISACS (Independent School Association of the Central States) Parent Series "Voice Lessons for Parents & Caregivers: What to Say, When to Say It & How to Listen" on Tuesday, October 3 from 3:45-5:00 pm. Students can head to Fun Zone while parents watch a virtual presentation by Clinical Psychologist and Author, Wendy Mogul. There will be a brief Q&A with Summit admin following the presentation for families to converse and discuss.

And we've got dinner plans covered too! Swing by Panera on South Campbell afterward (anytime between 4:00-8:00pm) to support The Summit at our Panera Dine Out.

More details coming soon.

Summit Senior Maren B., returned to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama this August to complete her next level of space training in a prestigious and highly selective program. "Elite Space Academy is the most advanced and in depth training program for those who want to go into space science," said Maren, who attended the Advanced Space Academy Program her Junior Year. "Through a rigorous curriculum, [Advanced Space Academy] teaches you the necessary skills needed to become an astronaut or a Mission Control specialist."

Maren, whose passion for space has permeated her life since she was young, understands the value of students attending these space programs today, as they prepare for the future of space exploration. "As the Artemis/Mars generation, we will be trained to be the first to live and work on the Moon as well as be the first to venture to Mars."

While at Advanced Space Academy, Maren participated in four missions to expand upon her previous training and test her astronautical skills. "These missions are no joke," Maren said. "All four of them were designed to be based on real life experiences and conditions. They were made to push your limits and help your critical thinking process."

Maren's first two missions were based on the shuttle program. "The first mission was on space shuttle Discovery where I was the commander of the International Space Station," she explained. "There, I had to oversee crew safety and help out with science experiments. The second one was shuttle Enterprise where I was in Mission Control with the role of FDO (pronounced “Fido”), which means Flight Dynamics Officer. I had to monitor all telemetry for the flight and calculated orbital burns in case we had to abort the mission which in fact happened. We had a ssme (space shuttle main engine) failure and had to abort to orbit and get the crew back down."

When asked if she recommended the program for other students, Maren replied emphatically, "Oh yes! For those looking for careers in space, whether it’s astrophysics, being an astronaut, or a Mission Control specialist, I highly recommend looking into this program. If you can’t find your fellow space enthusiasts here at Summit, there’s no doubt you’ll find them at space camp."

STEM Survival Camp: 4th Grade Edition

Imagine this: You’re deep in the heart of the wilderness, miles away from civilization, with nothing but your wits and a backpack full of essentials to keep you safe and comfortable. This is the challenge Summit 4th graders are taking on at STEM Survival Camp. Armed with limited supplies and boundless creativity, they set out to design and craft the ultimate hiking backpack.

Before delving into the exciting world of backpack design, the young adventurers first had to understand the essentials needed for survival in the wilderness. Here’s a glimpse of what they learned:

• Shelter: A backpack must have space for a compact, lightweight tent or tarp to protect against the elements.
• Food and Water: Pockets or compartments for water bottles and space for non-perishable food items were key components.
• First Aid: A well-organized first aid kit was a must, complete with bandages, antiseptics, and any necessary medications.
• Navigation: A compass, map, and GPS device, if available, were essential for finding their way.
• Fire-starting Tools: A waterproof compartment for matches, lighters, or fire-starting equipment ensured the ability to build a fire when needed.
• Clothing: Extra clothing, including rain gear, warm layers, and a hat, was crucial to staying dry and warm.
• Tools and Gear: Items like a multi-tool, flashlight, rope, and a basic sewing kit were included for versatility.

With a firm grasp of what makes a backpack essential for wilderness survival, the next step was learning basic sewing skills. This skill is essential for customizing and repairing gear while in the wild. 

Next week, armed with their newfound sewing skills and a myriad of materials, our young campers will set out to create their own hiking backpack prototypes. Each backpack will be unique, reflecting the personality and needs of its creator.

High School Economics Elective Class

Students in the High School Economics elective began the year with an activity to demonstrate some of the most important concepts of economics: choice, scarcity, and opportunity cost. Students were tasked with creating food, shelter, education, and clothing out of the supplies that they were given. Groups had to decide how to use the resources to best meet their needs while considering the requests of other teams. The task was completed with mixed success (as judged by their peers).

Students then moved on to learn about the possibilities production frontier and specialization with a series of memorably ridiculous videos about the superhero “Jack of All Trades.” As Jack guided the students towards the benefits of trade, they participated in a hands on activity in order to see the benefits of trading. They each received a piece of candy and had to rank their satisfaction before and after the possibility of trade was introduced. Students discovered that overall satisfaction went up and then analyzed individual rankings and what they can reveal.