Back to School Welcome (2017-18)

7/26/2017

Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Dear Collegiate School Community,
I hope this letter finds your family enjoying the summer break and treasuring time with family and friends. Although the Collegiate campus is still in the midst of a busy summer schedule, serving more than 1,300 campers in 175 different camp offerings, many of us are already at work, making sure that our classrooms, facilities and various initiatives will be ready for the 2017-18 school year.

Back to School Reminders

As we start our countdown to opening day, we do have important information to share with you here, on our Back to School website. I encourage you to carefully read the information provided in this portal. In particular, and in support of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe environment for our young people, it is imperative that we continue to make campus traffic safety a priority. Please take a few minutes to review our traffic patterns and schedules that are also a part of our back to school information.

Campus Improvements

Similar to most years, we have undertaken a number of physical plant projects. I am pleased to report that all of these initiatives are on schedule. Highlights include:

Mooreland Campus

The renovations to McFall Hall, the Middle School and Upper School dining hall, are almost complete. I am pleased to report that this wonderful space will be ready for our students when they return to school in August. As you may recall, this expansion will increase the daily seating capacity from 300 to over 400. The kitchen will be completely renovated, allowing us to expand our menu offerings. The serving lines, salad bar, drink stations and dish return will all be revamped in order to improve the flow through the space and the efficiency of our operation. We remain most grateful for the generosity of several significant donors who made this project possible.
Jacobs Gym lobby has been renovated.
Keyless entry has been installed on all classroom building doors on both sides of campus, allowing us to electronically control access to all spaces on campus used by students.
Many areas in our major classroom buildings have received new carpet and fresh paint. Several Middle and Upper School classrooms have been completely renovated. The roof has been replaced on West Gym.
A second dance studio has been added in the Seal Center.

Robins Campus

Tennis courts have been repaired and resurfaced.

Looking Ahead

My September Head of School Report will provide an update on many of the key initiatives outlined in Focused Forward, our School’s strategic plan. In addition, I will share with you our response to feedback received in the 2017 Parents’ Survey.

The opening of a new school year is always exciting. It is a time for new beginnings. It is a time to act on dreams. It is time to be bold. It is time for a bit of magic. I have no doubt that the genius of the Collegiate story is ready for its next amazing chapter and that it will be a memorable one.

I thank you for your continued support of and commitment to Collegiate School. See you soon.

Sincerely,

Steve_Hickman_signature

Stephen D. Hickman
Head of School

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