Welcome to Collegium Charter School's weekly digital Newsletter. Access our Newsletter content by scrolling through to the end, just like you would for popular social media feeds and timelines.
CCS Family Calendar
Mon., Sep. 17th — Day 2
- Boys And Girls Varsity Golf vs. Perkiomen School 3:30pm @ Ingleside Golf Club
- Grades 9-12: CCS Morning News After-School Meeting 3:30pm - 4:30pm @ 535 Building
- Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball vs. Coatesville High School 3:30pm @ CASD 9/10 Center Gym
- Boys Middle School Soccer vs. Barrack Hebrew Academy 3:45pm @ United Sports TC
- Girls Middle School Volleyball vs. Renaissance Academy | Gym 4:00pm @ 500 Building
- Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Coatesville High School 5:00pm @ CASD 9/10 Center Gym
Tue., Sep. 18th — Day 3
- 535 Detention 3:20pm - 4:20pm @ 535 Building
- Boys And Girls Varsity Golf vs. Church Farm School 3:30pm @ Ingleside Golf Club
- Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Phelps School 3:30pm @ United Sports TC
- Boys Middle School Soccer vs. Kimberton Waldorf School 3:45pm @ United Sports TC
- Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball vs. Interboro High School 3:45pm @ Interboro High School
- 150 Building Little Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 827 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 150 Building
- Junior Artists Club (Session 1) | 486 Building, Room 515 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 468/486 Building
- Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Interboro High School 4:45pm @ Interboro High School
Wed., Sep. 19th — Day 4
- 150 Building Junior Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 908 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 150 Building
- Boys Varsity Cross Country vs. Church Farm School 4:00pm @ Church Farm School
- Girls Middle School Volleyball vs. Chester Charter School for the Arts 4:00pm @ Chester Charter School for Arts
- Girls Varsity Cross Country vs. Church Farm School 4:00pm @ Church Farm School
- Little Artists Club (Session 1) | 486 Building, Room 518 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 468/486 Building
- 535 Principals' Coffee Chat | Conference Room 8:30am - 9:30am @ 535 Building
Thu., Sep. 20th — Day 5
- Grades K-6: ROAR Dress-Down Day - BE RESPECTFUL - Wear Yellow Shirts With Uniform Bottoms
- 535 Detention 3:20pm - 4:20pm @ 535 Building
- Boys Middle School Cross Country vs. Phoenixville Middle School 3:30pm @ Technical College High School-Pickering
- Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Barrack Hebrew Academy 3:30pm @ United Sports TC
- Girls Middle School Cross Country vs. Phoenixville Middle School 3:30pm @ Technical College High School-Pickering
- Boys Varsity Cross Country vs. Kimberton Waldorf School 3:45pm @ Kimberton Upper Field
- Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball vs. MaST Community Center School | Gym 3:45pm @ 535 Building
- Girls Varsity Cross Country vs. Kimberton Waldorf School 3:45pm @ Kimberton Upper Field
- Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. MaST Community Charter School | Gym 4:45pm @ 535 Building
- Board of Trustees Regular Public Meeting | Conference Room 7:00pm @ 435 Administrative Offices
Fri., Sep. 21st — Day 6
- 500 Building ROAR T-Shirt Sale Ends (Began Monday, September 10th) @ 500 Building
- Grades K-12: Cougar Pride Day | All Buildings
- Girls Middle School Volleyball vs. Valley Forge Middle School | Gym 4:00pm @ 500 Building
Sat., Sept. 22nd
- Boys Varsity Cross Country Foundation Invitational 9:00am @ Parkview Cross Country Course
- Grades K-12: Hispanic Heritage Festival | 500 Field 11:00am - 3:00pm @ 500 Building
- Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Springfield High School 1:00pm @ United Sports TC
5th Annual CCS College Fair
Collegium High School’s 5th Annual College Fair took place on Friday, September 14th. An impressive 60 colleges and universities and two branches of the U.S. military attended to talk with students in Grades 9-12 about their future education and career plans. The variety of participating institutions included:
- Some of Pennsylvania’s most prestigious and popular schools (Temple, Penn State, and Villanova, to name a few);
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) (Lincoln University was one);
- Associate degree-granting schools like Harcum College;
- Technical schools such as UTI (Universal Technology Institute); and
- U.S. Air Force ROTC and U.S. Marine Corps representatives, who shared information with students thinking about joining the military.
Some strategic presentations and sessions were also offered:
- College and career readiness sessions run by representatives from Immaculata University, teachers, and community members;
- Sessions for CCS Seniors with their High School Counselors on the college admissions process;
- A Q&A session with an Immaculata Admissions Rep; and
- A session with Mr. Prieto about mental health and coping with college stressors.
"I’m looking to go into computer science or aeronautics. I plan to get experience in the Air Force and become a pilot." -William Lentz, 9th Grade
Ms. Whisler, CCS’s High School Counseling Administrative Assistant, was thrilled with this year’s College Fair result. “Although I've helped with the College Fair in previous years, this is the first year I've worked directly to invite and communicate with the college reps. It was so rewarding to hear what the reps had to say about Collegium and our students. Our Fair has built a reputation, and colleges are eager to be a part of this experience.”
"This is very eye-opening and gives a lot of information about where we could be in the future." -Messiah Washington, Alicerose Dempsey, and Savannah Anderson, 10th Grade
Mrs. White, one of our High School Counselors, was equally pleased with this year’s College Fair. “We are so grateful to the wonderful faculty and staff, community representatives, and colleges for their help to make this day possible for our students. This is a unique opportunity for students of all CCS High School grade levels to prepare for their futures and explore the different possibilities that exist beyond High School. Year after year, the college representatives who join us share how impressed they are with our students and how much they enjoy coming to Collegium’s College Fair.”
"I’m looking into Drexel. I want to major in something to do with science. I think we’re at a place where we’re starting to make important decisions for ourselves, and this is a good event." -Arsal Faisal, 10th Grade
Mrs. Wolfe, also a CCS High School Counselor, agreed. “I am thankful to work with the College Fair Planning Team: Mrs. White, Ms. Whisler, and Mr. Handley. Their tireless efforts made this event a huge success. In addition to colleges, universities, and the military, our presenters included members of the Exton Chamber of Commerce, which was a great way to bring the business community to our students’ attention. The College Fair has grown every year because of community and staff support. It has become an essential learning experience for our students.”
Juniors and Seniors were invited to bring their parents/guardians to the College Fair, and many wisely did. (Who else is going to spend hours driving them to college tours?) Parents know what a huge role financial aid plays in college planning. CCS was happy to have Mr. Michael Burke from PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) present a session with Juniors to help them better understand the financial aid process. Save the Date: Mr. Burke will be back at CCS on October 17th from 7:00pm-9:00pm for Financial Aid Night.
Collegium’s Mission Statement states: “Our goal will continually be to prepare each student for the rigors of college life, and to hold ourselves and our students accountable for our mutual success.” The College Fair helped both students and CCS contribute to this goal. Watch for upcoming High School events we have scheduled to help students and families plan for their futures!
Elementary Intramural Programs
Collegium’s Elementary Intramural Programs offer a variety of opportunities for students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade to participate in activities designed to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Our programs focus on athletic fundamentals and social interactions with an emphasis on sportsmanship. Programs this fall will consist of a variety of activities including running, soccer, and Cougar Fit Club.
Programs are scheduled after school and the number of sessions will vary depending upon the program. Registration is completed by submitting the required registration form and fee by the designated due date. Registration form links are shared in the weekly Newsletter and are posted on the CCS Intramurals webpage prior to the start of each program.
We begin with Running Intramurals, with dates starting October 1st. This program is for students with a passion for running as well as first-time runners. Students enrolled in the running intramural program will learn appropriate techniques for running. Coaches will motivate students to set goals, accomplish their goals, and set new ones. In addition, there will be meaningful lessons centered on team building, developing relationships, and making new friends.
Questions? Please email our Intramural Program Coordinator, Mr. Revnell.
8th Grade Field Trip
The 8th Grade Field Trip to Washington D.C. is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd through Friday, May 24th. During the trip, students will visit national monuments and some of the Smithsonian museums. We will be staying at the 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The hotel has an on-site recreational area, fully equipped with internet access and entertainment options.
Permission Slips were distributed on Tuesday, September 11th. Extra forms are included below and can also be found in the 515 Main Office. The first deposit of $65.00 (cash) is due by Friday, October 5th along with the signed Permission Slip.
If you have questions or concerns with the cost of the trip, contact Mrs. Wallace.
Collegium's Reading Olympics Teams
"There is no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.” -James Patterson
Collegium Charter School is excited to announce another year of participation in the Chester County Reading Olympics Program. This program is coordinated and sponsored by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU).
The goal of the Chester County Reading Olympics is to increase the quality and quantity of books students read for enjoyment. Reading for pleasure puts our brains to work and helps improve literacy and social skills, while offering us a chance to access the world at large. Each of our CCS teams will collaborate to read 45 books (per team) that are pre-selected by the Chester County Reading Olympics Committee. Each team member is asked to read four to six books on the list and later partake in a trivia competition against local schools.
Feel free to visit the CCIU's Chester County Reading Olympics webpage for more information.
High School students interested in joining the Page Turners, please email Mrs. Ferry.
Collegium Middle School students interested in learning more about the Middle School Reading Olympics Program can email Mrs. Wallace.
Elementary students can listen for upcoming announcements regarding the Reading Olympics Program.
Scholastic Book Fair For Grades 5-8
It's Book Fair Time Again
This year’s 5th-8th Grade Book Fair is scheduled for Monday, October 8th through Monday, October 15th in CCS’s 500 Building. Students will visit the Book Fair with their classes to preview and buy Book Fair items. Book Fair Family Night is scheduled for Wednesday, October 10th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm in our 500 Building.
Book Fairs are tremendous motivators for student reading. They provide the hustling, bustling atmosphere of an active bookstore, while generating students’ interests with a wide range of books on topics and characters that appeal to them.
Families will find the prices affordable, and will enjoy checking out selections in advance through our Online Book Fair (open from Wednesday, October 3rd until Tuesday, October 16th). Families can also use E-Wallet through Scholastic again this year to pre-load money into their children’s accounts. Students can use those funds during the Book Fair at school. E-Wallet will be available on Monday, October 8th at the start of the Book Fair.
Watch this video to hear 500 Building Principal, Mr. Shaun Murphy, share about our Book Fair going AFK.
All of the Book Fair details on our Book Fair webpage (linked below). We appreciate your support! The proceeds from CCS Book Fairs help our Libraries purchase new books and literacy programs for your children.
Book Fair Volunteers Needed
Of course, our fantastic volunteers help make our Book Fairs successful! Volunteers keep the Fair organized, assist students as they explore reading options, help keep them on-budget, and many other important tasks.
Please sign up for one or more times when you can help. Volunteers must have current clearances approved by CCS’s Human Resources Department in advance of volunteering. For information on clearances, visit the Volunteering page on the CCS website.
Collegium Employee Spotlight: Tom Schultz
This Newsletter section highlights one Collegium employee each week, and allows families and students to get to know them better. Now, when you see featured employees on campus, you will be able to greet them by name and strike up conversations!
Watch this video to learn more about Tom Schultz, 500 Building Health and Physical Education Teacher.
Education Explained: Suicide Prevention Efforts in CCS’s Middle and High Schools
Each week, CCS employees highlight common terms and philosophies in education, and explain how they impact teaching and learning at Collegium. This week's contribution comes from Dr. Pat O'Brien, CCS High School Principal.
Suicide rates among teenagers are alarmingly high. In response, Collegium’s Middle and High Schools have a strong team in place who work closely with one another and with our students and families. This positive and essential partnership is critical to helping ensure the safety and well-being of our students. We call this our SAP Team or Student Assistance Program.
Our SAP Team’s structure is modeled after Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program, “a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning.” The SAP Program integrates resources to help identify students dealing with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or mental health and other issues. It then connects those students with resources to return them to a level of well-being where they can fully be themselves and reach their individual potential.
Members of CCS’s SAP Team include:
- School Counselors: Mrs. Jocelyn White, Mrs. Tracy Wolfe, Mr. Peter Danenhower, and Ms. Jasmine Woodson
- Special Education Coordinators: Mrs. Maureen Wilkins, Mrs. Christine Koberg, and Mrs. Kristin O’Keefe
- School Psychologist: Mr. Mike Hendrzak
- Mental Health Therapists: Mrs. Natalie Corcimiglia, Ms. Karen Cook
CCS takes extensive measures to ensure that our SAP Team members are trained and prepared to recognize and respond to at-risk behavior in our students. Here are just a few of the trainings we’ve hosted most recently:
Minding Your Mind Trainings and Presentations
Minding Your Mind representatives visited the High School last year to teach faculty and students to recognize the signs of at-risk behaviors in others. Students and staff also learned about available healthy and appropriate supports that can help anyone who may be suffering alone with something that’s impeding their growth and happiness. The training also highlighted the stigma associated with mood disorders and other mental issues, how common these really are in our community, and how effective treatment and support is readily accessible. We look forward to working with the Minding Your Mind organization again this year.
QPR Gatekeeper Training
QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is an educational program designed to teach "gatekeepers" the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Gatekeepers can include anyone (e.g., parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, caseworkers, police officers) who is close enough to a person at risk of suicide to recognize and refer them to appropriate resources. The process follows three steps: (1) Question the person's desire or intent regarding suicide, (2) Persuade the person to seek and accept help, and (3) Refer the person to local resources that can intervene, assist, and/or support them to help avert a crisis. CCS SAP Team members and teachers from Grades 5-12 all underwent this training at the start of the school year.
If you have questions or would like to learn about additional student assistance resources, please contact your child’s School Counselor.
In the event of a mental health emergency, please contact Valley Creek Crisis Center (open 24/7), located at 469 Creamery Way, Exton, PA 19341.
Additional resources on suicide prevention follow:
2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival
Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with us during our 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival this Saturday, September 22nd from 11:00am until 3:00pm! Highlights include:
- Food trucks
- Live performances by CCS High School students and Herencia Jibara
- Zumba
- Face painting
- Games
- Arts and crafts
- Vendors
- Community resources
- Raffles, and more!
This event is open to all K-12 Collegium families and members of the community, so invite others to join in on the fun! Look for the event on Facebook for more details and updates.
This is a rain or shine event. If the weather is nice, the event will be on the 500 Building's Field. If it is raining, everything will be moved inside our 500 Building.
Email Mrs. Tobin for more information. We hope to see you there!
Cougar Challenge 2018 Information
What's the Cougar Challenge? It's our annual walk/exercise-a-thon to raise money for Collegium's Home & School Association (HSA). The HSA provides considerable financial support to Collegium by sponsoring student-oriented projects, hosting special events for families, providing additional funds for classroom materials, and offering scholarships for uniforms and field trips.
Why walking and exercising? These activities represent the huge efforts volunteers and Collegium founders made to secure the 1,000+ community member signatures that helped Collegium first open its doors in January 1999.
Last year, our families raised over $30,000 through the Cougar Challenge. We want to exceed that amount this year on Friday, September 28th, the day of the event. If each CCS family is able to solicit just $100 in donations, we will far exceed that goal! The HSA will use the proceeds for the needs of CCS and its students.
If your family and friends prefer to donate using a credit card, use the link below.
Earn Cash Rewards for CCS Through Giant's A+ School Rewards Program
Collegium participates in and earns cash from A+ School Rewards, a great fundraising program run through your local Giant!
To participate, visit the link below and follow the prompts to create your online Giant account. You’ll need your 11-digit BONUSCARD® number and Collegium's ID number, 23968. You do not need to re-register your card if your school selection(s) remains the same as last year's.
If you don't know your BONUSCARD® number, call Giant Customer Care at 1-888-814-4268, option #1.
You can earn cash for Collegium by using your registered BONUSCARD® every time you shop. The number of points you earn will appear on your store receipt. You can log into your Giant account to check the total cash rewards Collegium has earned so far (Giant calculates your points and converts them into cash rewards monthly). Collegium receives the total A+ School Rewards annually, and uses them for student educational needs.
Please encourage your family members and friends to support our school through Giant's A+ School Rewards program!
Home & School Association (HSA) Updates
Serving in a capacity similar to a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), our HSA owes its success to the efforts of our many parent, teacher, and staff volunteers! Proceeds from HSA fundraisers and activities help fund CCS education and operations.
Grades K-6 KidStuff Coupon Book Fundraiser Ends
Our annual KidStuff Coupon Book fundraiser ends this Monday, September 17th. If you are not interested in purchasing the book, please return it. If you'd like to purchase the book and/or buy additional books for friends and family, return the Order Form and payment by the deadline.
KidStuff Coupon Books are full of great discounts and values families can use for area businesses. The books sell for $25.00 each.
If you have questions or need assistance with the KidStuff Coupon Book Fundraiser, please email the HSA Officers directly.
Parent Representatives Wanted
The HSA is looking to appoint parent representatives to communicate HSA news and fundraisers to their respective buildings. If you are interested in finding out more, please email the HSA Officers directly.
West Whiteland Police Department Tip Resources
Collegium is committed to maintaining a strong and trusting partnership with the West Whiteland Police Department (WWPD). Together, we encourage all Collegium students, staff, and parents/guardians to contact the WWPD with any information they feel should be investigated.
The WWPD has a dedicated email address and phone number for the public to provide information quickly and directly to them.
The email address and phone line above are monitored by the WWPD Criminal Investigation Unit. We encourage anyone with information about suspected criminal activity to contact the WWPD using the email address, or by leaving a voicemail message on the WWPD Tip Line. Everyone utilizing the phone number or email address can remain anonymous, if they wish.
If your concerns are specific to the Collegium campus, we ask that you also contact your Building Principal(s):
Community Opportunities
In this section, Collegium passes along information on local events and activities our families may want to explore. We will not include information about activities that compete with Collegium programs, non-Collegium fundraisers, or information from for-profit companies.
Keeping Kids Safe Online
On Thursday, September 20th, the CCIU (Chester County Intermediate Unit), the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, and the Chester County Department of Emergency Services will partner to present a Keeping Kids Safe School Safety Summit focusing on how to keep kids safe online. Free and open to the public, this event will take place at West Chester’s Bayard Rustin High School from 6:00pm to 9:00pm on September 20th. Light refreshments will be served. To register, visit the link below.
Collegium's Main Number
Extensions For Our Buildings' Main Offices
- 150 Building: Ext. 6811
- 435 Building: Ext. 6002
- 468 Building: Ext. 6401
- 486 Building: Ext. 6501
- 500 Building: Ext. 6106
- 515 Building: Ext. 6336
- 535 Building: Ext. 6602
Collegium reserves the right to edit submissions and deny material for submission if it is deemed to be inappropriate or of little or no interest to CCS families.