March 11, 2022

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A MESSAGE FROM


Middle School Division Director


Mr. Ron Hamilton


Greetings Kodiak Families,


Today, the Middle School feels like a hive of activity, yet there is also a note of collective held breath. Seminar II starts now! Bags are being packed, provisions are being parceled, and plans are being triple-checked to ensure the best possible experience for our faculty and families. Students and teachers alike are full of anticipation and expectation, and it’s an exciting time to talk with people in the Trianon. Whether heading to the desert canyons for nine days, participating in snow activities outside of Granby, learning how things fly, painting with electricity, or exploring the culture of cooking, I know they will have an amazing time. I’ll be in the Trianon every day throughout the week, providing support where needed, and am looking forward to checking in regularly on our on-campus Seminars as well as other experiences out in the field.


It’s also been very exciting to talk with Children’s School students who have been coming over to the Trianon for the Scholastic Book Fair all week. (How thrilling a magic, scented gummy bear eraser can be!) Thanks to those of you who have been helping your students track the total number of pages they’ve read thus far during March Reading Madness – keep it up! I’m constantly reminded of the progressive joy of seeing our students grow and develop their minds and imaginations. I also had the opportunity to spend time with our rising 5th graders (next year’s 6th graders) on Thursday, and am looking forward to seeing their enthusiasm for Middle School when they visit the Trianon and shadow our 7th grade ambassadors in a couple of weeks!


Upon returning from spring break, I will also be hosting an assembly for our Middle School faculty and students to discuss upcoming changes to our COVID protocols and masking requirements. During and after the assembly, we will encourage our students to be kind and supportive as some peers and adults on campus continue to mask and others do not. This is a time for understanding and positivity, and – as we make the transition – a time to remember that we care for and take care of all our partners at CSS. The recent addition of a Talk Box in the Trianon building has encouraged our 6th through 8th students to be more open about their struggles and to seek help even when they may not know where to turn. As parents, I encourage you to help your children understand that YOU are their first line of advocacy whenever they feel self-conscious, singled out, etc. Should you learn of any conflicts that create hardship for your child or another student, please inform me as soon as possible


Middle School is all about growth and learning; it’s about opportunities to become the best version of ourselves. Together, we play a vital role in making CSS a wonderful place of belonging.


I hope everyone has a great Seminar and wonderful spring break! Please find information on additional Middle School happenings below. See you all soon.



As ever,


Ron Hamilton, M.A.Ed. Leadership

Middle School Division Director


Middle School Selfie Station

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Throughout the week, Middle School English classes took turns attending the Scholastic Book Fair in the Trianon Terrace Room – thank you to all parents who volunteered and for Ms. Gaebler for putting on such a wonderful event. Here, I checked in with Mr. LePage’s 7th grade English class to see what literary finds they made. Hopefully our students found many wonderful books to add to their at-home libraries. This month’s March Reading Madness goal is 10,000 pages for the Middle School division. Already, our students have read more than 5,100 pages, with Sofia D. ’26 leading the way after reading more than 1,000 pages thus far.

Students joined in on the fun Thursday and dressed up as their favorite characters during Literacy Week. Characters included President Loki and Iron Man from Marvel Comics, Bad Kitty, and not to mention the blue, red, yellow, and green crayons from the book "The Day the Crayons Quit." The crayon pack debuted Thursday morning on our social media channels, and I’m happy to report I found blue!

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Middle School Happenings

Seminar II Reminders

Please remember that all forms for Seminar II, including permission slips and behavior contracts, must be submitted. All appropriate forms have been turned in for the Utah Canyons trip and the Winter trip to Granby. For on-campus Seminars, behavior contracts should be signed and returned by Monday, March 14, for the Things that Fly and Digital Arts, and on Tuesday, March 15, for the Cuisine Seminar.


Safe2Tell and Psychological Safety

While vacations and breaks from routine can be overwhelmingly enjoyable, such disruptions can also cause stress. After Seminar – as we head into spring break – I want to remind everyone that the School is available to support you during that time. We will have leaders in the area throughout the break, taking turns responding to any needs that come up within our community. If a student or family knows of anyone in our community who needs support, please don’t hesitate to contact the School at (719) 434-3550 or use Safe2Tell as a means for sharing concerns. Each division director and our head of school immediately receive reports from Safe2Tell concerning CSS. I’ll be checking email at least once a day as well, so let me know how I can support our young scholars and your family.


Yearbooks Now on Sale

Order your copy of Et Apres by noon on March 18 to save $10 off your purchase.


Parent-Teacher Conference Appointments

To schedule a virtual parent-teacher conference, please contact me at (719) 434-3550 or rhamilton@css.org to make an appointment; I’ll be coordinating these requests while our teachers are occupied with Seminar. Conferences will be held in the afternoons from Tuesday, March 29 through Friday, April 1.


Spring Concert Announcement

The spring concert will be held on Tuesday, April 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Tutt Field House this year. This start will enable us to transition the event outside if needed. Students should report to the Band room by 5 p.m. that evening.


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The Colorado Springs School

21 Broadmoor Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

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

rhamilton@css.org | www.css.org