Spark: From the Head of School

Dear Collegiate School Community,

Happy Centennial Act II! Our celebration continues.

I hope you enjoy this special fall edition of Spark. In the pages that follow, we celebrate and honor together this wonderful school and what it means and has meant to so many young people and their families.

CLASS OF 2015
We celebrate and honor the Centennial Class of 2015 for all that they have done to model well the Collegiate School mission. As I shared at Commencement, I owe a special thanks to the Class of 2015 for their warm welcome and for helping this new Cougar survive. I have learned from watching them what is truly valued in this community and what it really means to be a Cougar.

The Class of 2015 accepted eagerly the mantle of leadership that had been passed to them and they leave behind an outstanding legacy, distinguishing themselves in the classroom, on the field and stage, and in the community. In short, their example compelled our community to dream more, learn more, do more and achieve more.

100 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT COLLEGIATE
We celebrate and honor all of the things that set us apart. As you peruse the list of 100 Things We Love About Collegiate, you will be as amazed as I am with the breadth of traditions, values, activities and relationships that distinguish and differentiate the Collegiate experience. When you combine it all, you get a powerful glimpse into the enduring Cougar spirit that connects generation after generation. I have no doubt that this article will jog your memory and spark your Cougar pride.

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
We celebrate and honor Collegiate School's call to make a difference in our world. The tradition of citizenship dates back to 1915, when Ms. Helen Baker, our founding headmistress, set the course for a Collegiate School graduate: "Above everything
else, I would have you live for humanity's sake, I would have you be good citizens in the widest sense..." Ms. Baker's inspiring call is alive and well today and arguably is more important than ever before.

Inside this edition, you'll learn about our current Responsible Citizenship initiative, which builds upon our school's legacy of active citizenry. This important work unites in a very purposeful way our efforts in global engagement, inclusion, economic literacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability, ethics, civic engagement and service learning. Our goal is to develop a cohesive JK-12 curriculum in these areas by fully immersing them into the academic program and the Collegiate experience.
Given the connected and diverse world in which our young people will live, the timing could not be better.

OUR CALL TO LEAD
We celebrate and honor Collegiate School's call to lead. As the Class of 2015 has so ably demonstrated, that call continues to galvanize us. Entering the next 100 years, outstanding student achievement, superior teaching, challenging curriculum, and innovative programs and instruction will continue to be our bedrocks. The sense of spirited belonging that fosters life-changing relationships and instills enduring values will continue to guide us. The commitment to knowing every child well, which provides the opportunity for each child to realize his or her unique potential, will continue to be at the core of daily school life. Embracing our responsibility to make a difference in the world will continue to distinguish Collegiate graduates. You have my commitment that Collegiate School will continue to answer its call to leadership – we will inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.

THANK YOU
We celebrate and honor all who have given so generously to Collegiate School. I ask that you review carefully the Report on Giving at Collegiate. We are most grateful for our donors' wonderful support.

As we begin our second year, Mary and I are blessed to call Collegiate School our home. For that, we are grateful to many. Thank you. We are proud to be Cougars.

Sincerely,

Stephen D. Hickman
Head of School