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Collegiate Community Comes Together

4/3/2020

Even in these most unprecedented and challenging times, the Collegiate community finds a way to — as the School’s motto states — Parat, Durat, Ditat.

The following are just a few examples of how the #CougarCommunity continues to prepare, enrich and endure:

Preparing Health Care Workers

In the weeks before the COVID-19 surge, a group of doctors and nurses drilled for the Veterans Affairs COVID-19 drive-through clinic where patients could be screened for the infection without having to enter the hospital. Since this drill, current Collegiate parent Dr. Bo Vaughan ’97, an infectious disease physician at the VA, has helped more than 4,000 health care workers of the Central Virginia VA Health System mobilize to care for Virginia veterans.

Offering Expertise to Other Educators

Collegiate 4th Grade teacher Jessica Catoggio was one of several veteran educators who lent her expertise and led drop-in coaching sessions for teachers through The World Leadership School. Mrs. Catoggio offered tips on “Creating a Classroom Culture Online” on March 31, 2020.

Creating Useful Devices

Through a Facebook group, Middle School librarian Catherine Clements, a maker, artist and sewist, is creating door grabbers (minimal-contact devices) using her home 3D printer at the request of VCU Health. She is also printing some for Collegiate community members. Next, Catherine hopes to start sewing masks for hospitals and other facilities. “I love to make things and it's even better when those things are useful,” she said.

Helping the Community Cope

Brock Saunders '02, Alexandra Saunders '03, Paul Saunders '05, Taylor Saunders, Paul and Vicki Saunders (The Saunders Family Foundation) are on a mission to #saveRVArestaurants while giving back to the community during these uncertain times. They hope to raise $100,000 to purchase food from local independently owned RVA restaurants in April and to donate those meals to people in need — kids once reliant on schools for food, displaced workers or anyone who needs a bit of extra help.

Brightening Someone’s Day

Collegiate Kindergartners in Kim Hines’ and Courtney Brooks’ class each created a special sign to post on our door or window that would brighten a person’s day when they walked by or delivered packages. The signs have a whale drawing (they are the Whale Class) and a few pictures of things they love about Kindergarten. The signs also let visitors know that a whale is learning inside.

Sending Messages of Hope

Some secret admirers have left heartfelt and uplifting messages on sidewalks and paths since the campus has begun remote learning. We can’t wait to be back together again!

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