January 20, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM

Lower School Division Director

Mr. Nathan J. Mylin

Greetings, Lower School Families!

At the end of last week, we celebrated MLK’s birthday and the start of Black History Month with a special Lower School assembly led by the Class of 2030 in the Louisa Performing Arts Center. All classes from Kindergarten through Grade 5 participated, and they did an absolutely fantastic job of sharing what they’ve learned in class. Our 5th-graders were asked to lead this particular assembly, as the topic directly relates to their study of justice in the United States. Many thanks to Mrs. Emily Michelutti, CSS music teacher, for teaching and leading our students through the song, “We Shall Overcome,” which has roots in African American gospel and has become known as the anthem of the civil rights movement. “Lift Every Voice” – another song that became important during the civil rights movement – was also written in 1900 to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Here you will find a beautiful 1972 rendition of Kim Weston singing “Lift Every Voice.” It is followed by a short clip from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”

Dessert Theatre is a cherished, decades-old tradition at CSS whereby students spanning Kindergarten through Grade 5 perform their own original production complete with costumes, props/sets, and lighting. The first Dessert Theatre performances – presented by grades 3 and 5 – will take place in the Louisa Performing Arts Center (LPAC) on Friday, January 27, from 2-3 p.m. This year, we have restructured rehearsals to maximize academic time and, where possible, have integrated the Lower School curriculum into students’ performances. Throughout the Dessert Theatre season, our Fine Arts Department also organizes a Lower School Art Exhibit; yet another way to showcase students’ learning of the arts.

FEB. 9 & 10

No School – Lower School Report-Writing Days

Lower School will not be in session on February 9 or 10, as this time is set aside for teachers to write progress reports for each student. Both the Middle and Upper School divisions will, however, be in session on these two days. 

FEB. 24

Student-led Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mark your calendars for Student-led Parent/Teacher Conference Day on Friday, February 24. Student-led conferences are open to parents of children in Kindergarten through Grade 5 at CSS and have become a best practice in education. Teachers take time to assist students in organizing the most important projects, schoolwork, and topics to discuss, and the students enjoy taking the leadership role and learning how to assess their strengths and weaknesses. It can be a very powerful experience for children. As parents and family members, you serve as critical partners in supporting your child’s learning and growth. Please look for teachers to send out scheduling information soon, as we expect 100 percent participation in these conferences designed to allow your child to practice important self-reflection and leadership skills. The following article provides a glimpse into the benefits of Student-led Conferences.

Our rescheduled STEAM Day and Fun Run will take place on Friday, April 21, 2023. We need your help gathering plastic bottles and container caps! 

The Arts Department is in need of plastic caps of all colors and sizes in preparation for a special art station that will be offered on STEAM Day. Please set your bottle and container caps aside and send them to school with your student each week. All caps should be placed in the plastic bins located near the entrances of the Early Childhood Center (ECC) and the Children's Academic Center (CAC). Thank you for your support.

As always, it is an enormous privilege to take part in your student's education!

Regards,

Nate