May 17, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM

Middle School Division Director

Mr. Ron Hamilton

Greetings, Middle School Kodiaks!

Here are some goings on and happenings in the Middle School world for the rest of the school year and summer.

The School's Online Family Directory

Looking for the school's online family directory? You can now find it beneath the School heading in the FACTS Family Portal. Simply select the "Resource Documents" tab to locate PDFs organized by division.

Hush Children, What's That Sound?

This past semester, a group of intrepid content creators got together with our Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications Megan Winnicker to develop plans for a weekly podcast, and daily playlists and announcements. During their first semester, the KCSS club created the linked podcast heard here. Be on the lookout for more original Kodiak content in the future!

Summer Reading Lists

Book titles for the 2023-2024 school year, and the summer reading assignment list, can be found here.

Order 2023-2024 School Supplies Online Now Thru June 4

Here you’ll find the Middle School school supply list for next fall! For your convenience, CSS has partnered with EPI School Supplies for one-click supply ordering by grade (available to families Kindergarten-Grade 8). Simply visit educationalproducts.com/shoppacks and enter CSS’s School ID: COL060 (COL zero six zero). Place your order online now through June 4 to have these teacher-approved supply pack items shipped directly to your home this August. Note: To ensure consistency of materials and aid in establishing effective organizational routine for all students new to the Middle School, 6th grade supplies MUST be ordered online via EPI.

Upcoming Changes to Seminar Billing

Your student has been asked to indicate three choices for Seminar II and two choices for Seminar III for the upcoming academic year and will receive their 2023-2024 Seminar assignments by the end of May.

The cost for Seminars II and III varies based on activities and destinations. Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, billing for CSS's Experiential Education programs will be spread equally over a 10-month period, with the first payment to be reflected in your July 2023 tuition statement. You will see a line item under incidentals that says, “Experiential Education.” The academic cost for Seminar I is still covered by tuition, however, each family will now be required to cover the cost of food purchased by the school for their student. If you would rather pay for your child’s experiential learning fees all at once, you may do so.

The default for ExEd billing is 10 months, however, you may elect to pay your ExEd fees all at once with total payment on either July 1 or August 1. Please follow this link to let us know your billing preference. For those who do not complete the form, ExEd billing will automatically occur on a 10-month payment plan. Please direct questions to Bronwyn Holman at bholman@css.org or (719) 434-3572.

P.E. Class is Back for Middle School Students

Next year, we will be offering two sections of 7th and 8th grade Physical Education as a co-curricular offering. Students were able to choose this class during their April course selection process. Next year, all clubs will meet during lunch or after school.

May 24 Year-End Celebrations & Ceremonies

Seminar III Presentations (Open to Students & Faculty Only)

10–10:50 a.m. | LPAC

Middle School Awards Assembly (Open to All Middle School Families)

11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | LPAC

Eighth Grade Family Luncheon (Open to All 8th Grade Students and Their Families)

12:15–1:30 p.m. | Maytag

Bring your own lawn chair or blanket if you’d like to sit outside on the Quad.

Eighth Grade Continuation Ceremony

1:30–3:30 p.m. | LPAC

This is a larger-than-normal class. Arrive early and fill in all seats in the LPAC theatre.

I finish off every school year with the same old request to students: READ. Listen to books in the car and on planes; read aloud while sharing a funny anecdote or story from a magazine; encourage reading before bed. Summer is a time to explore with the mind, and we can travel much further in our imaginations than we can on foot alone.

In addition to encouraging self-directed learning, structured programs are another way to support our students and foster discovery and curiosity throughout the summer season. As we wrap up this school year and finalize plans for kicking off 2023-2024, I wanted to share with you the following list of local summer learning opportunities that might be right for your family: 

• Summer Camp Offerings at The Colorado Springs School >>
• Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) Programs >>
• Colorado Springs Kids Summer Camp Directory >> 
• Concrete Couch Programs >> 
• Colorado State University Summer Programs >> 
• Space Foundation >> 
• Catamount Institute Summer Programs >>
• Flying Pig Farms Social Happenings >>

Finally, play can be a great way to help our students learn about themselves and others without even realizing it. Whether on a team or in the yard – letting the imagination roam and the mind breathe in all that fresh mountain air – remember to play. Whatever your plans for summer, I wish all of our learners, young and old, in the Kodiak family a restful few months filled with fireflies, bomb pops, and discovery.

Yours,

Ron Hamilton, M.A.Ed. Leadership

Middle School Division Director

Middle School Finals

During finals week, 8th grader Amelia S. and Ms. Hannum each prepared for Mr. White’s final. Amelia dressed as Cleopatra for her presentation, while Ms. Hannum assumed the position of a lowly scribe. We all know that the stories don’t get told without the scribes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Ms. Hannum, who moved back to the Trianon front office this week. El Pomar will miss you, Holly!

Rolling Up Our Sleeves

If you’re going to lead, you’ve got to be ready to jump in and do whatever job needs to be done.

The Division Directors at CSS are on the front lines making sure that students and teachers have a clean, safe place to go to school each day. You’re looking at greatness here!

The Colorado Springs School

21 Broadmoor Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Work: (719)434-3537, ext.550

rhamilton@css.org | www.css.org