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I have loved the first few sneak peeks at warmth and sunshine, and can’t wait to see what Colorado looks like in the spring. Spring is a time of growth and renewal. As we head into the 4th quarter, our community of faculty, staff, students, and parents is focused not only on ensuring a successful end to the 2021-2022 academic year, but also on preparing for the year ahead.
Already, students have informed us of their preferred course selections for 2022-2023. And, the School is hard at work developing a schedule that optimizes the academic opportunities available for students. Though each student’s final schedule may not directly reflect the requests they’ve made, all course offerings in the Upper School at CSS are thoughtfully designed to meet students' basic academic needs while allowing them to pursue their own intellectual interests.
Although academics remain our priority, we strive to support students’ personal endeavors beyond the classroom as well. Structures and systems are the first steps toward achieving this goal. Our team of expert faculty and staff looks to develop a structured curriculum that provides time for community-building, and social and emotional learning, opportunities for establishing relationships with stakeholders of all kinds, and a love of experiential learning, service, and leadership. And – perhaps most importantly – we aim to spark joy in every student. Each year for nearly 60 years, we’ve improved upon the systems put into place by our predecessors to better the student experience at CSS.
We still have so much to look forward to as we approach the end of this school year! Effective Monday, April 4, our COVID task force has announced that it plans to update the School’s mitigation measures to include a mask-optional learning environment. Though transitioning back to fewer restrictions is a welcome change, transitions can be a challenge for some. To that end, support will be made available via faculty and staff, and during a division-wide assembly on March 31. This assembly, in particular, will cover what mask-optional means for our Kodiak community and stress the importance of respecting others despite our personal differences.
We appreciate parents’ unyielding support and understanding throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and ask that they continue to act in partnership with our School. In that vein, parents will have several chances to meet virtually with faculty between March 29 and April 1 for our next round of parent-teacher conferences. (Learn more below.) Conferences not only present opportunities for faculty to provide parents with feedback on their child. They also drive partnerships among parents and faculty so that students can thrive. On April 5, parents and families are invited to hear about our students’ one-of-a-kind experiences acquired during ECS. This event signifies the launch of a two-month-long tribute to students’ learning and growth in 2021-2022, culminating with our annual Commencement exercises on May 26.
We hope you’ll join us for the many celebrations planned, including Commencement, which recognizes the impact of the Class of 2021 on CSS and inspires others to consider the legacy they desire to leave behind.
Wishing you a wonderful spring break!
Regards,
Dr. Hidalgo
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