Welcome to the weekly digital Newsletter for Collegium Charter School. Just like popular social media feeds and timelines, access our Newsletter content by scrolling down to the end. For best results, orient mobile devices horizontally (sideways).
To view a plain text version for printing, please access the link at the bottom of this Newsletter.
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, Dec. 5th - Day 3
- AP Midterms (6th-10th Periods): Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science
- Elementary Band Winter Concert 6:30pm - 7:30pm @ 515 Auditorium - Ticketed Event
Tuesday, Dec. 6th - Day 4
- AP Midterm (1st-5th Periods): Spanish Language
- AP Midterms (1st-5th Periods): Computer Science, European History, and Spanish Literature
- 4th - 6th Grade Choir & Orchestra Winter Concert 6:30pm @ 515 Auditorium - Ticketed Event
Wednesday, Dec. 7th - Day 5
- AP Midterm (6th-10th Periods): Music Theory
- AP Midterms (6th-10th Periods): English Literature and English Language
- Science Fair Committee Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm @ 435 Conference Room
- 2nd & 3rd Grade Winter Concert 6:30pm @ 515 Auditorium - Ticketed Event
Thursday, Dec. 8th - Day 6
- AP Midterm (1st-5th Periods): U.S. History
- AP Midterm (1st-5th Periods): World History
- HS Art Field Trip: Brandywine River Museum
- Tri-M Annual Stocking Stuffing 3:30pm - 5:30pm @ 535 Band Room
- Board of Trustees Public Meeting 5:30pm @ 435 Conference Room
Friday, Dec. 9th - Day 1
- Toys for Tots Collection Ends (All Buildings)
- AP Midterms (6th-10th Periods): Calculus and U.S. Government & Politics
- Grades 7-12: Cougar Pride Day - Wear Your Cougar Gear with Uniform Bottoms or Jeans
- Grades K-6: Character Counts Dress Down Day for the Character Trait of Fairness - Orange Shirt w/ Uniform Bottoms
- K-12: CCST Candy Gram Fundraiser Ends
- HS Girls' Basketball vs. Cheltenham 3:30pm @ Cheltenham HS
- MS Girls' Basketball vs. Coventry Christian School 3:45pm @ 535 Gymnasium
- MS Boys' Basketball vs. Coventry Christian School 4:45pm @ 535 Gymnasium
- HS Boys' Basketball vs. Motivation HS 6:00pm @ Sun Valley HS
Annual CCS Spelling Bee
Congratulations to 6th grade student, Zoe Greene, for becoming our newest CCS Spelling Bee Champion! Zoe competed against 28 students on Wednesday, November 23rd and won after correctly spelling the word "adherence".
As our winner, Zoe will now compete at the 2017 Chester County Spelling Bee where she will compete against approximately 55 other local district finalists. The champion of the Chester County Spelling Bee will win a $1,500 trip to compete in the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington D.C.
We also congratulate this year’s classroom winners, who also competed in the CCS Annual Spelling Bee: Charles Adams, Ednah Asiema, Anand Bohm, Traci Bourquin, Michelle Canel, Michael Ewing, Adia Gallagher, Zoe Greene, Sophia Hernandez, Mark Hinlo, Eesha Jadhav, Rishab Jain, Mikhael Joseph, Anailah Lamb-Towles, Daniel LaRue, Essence London, Hannah Luong, Ryan Miller, Sadie Miller, Delaney Mitchell, Chaitra Moligi, Sienna Morales, Alexander Ohrn, Aidan Oliver, Lyndsey Reef, Olin Rubinow, Tristin Schuette, Belle Sethachutkul, Foram Shah, Madeline Soliven, Aidan Stubblebine, and Madison Wachter.
Toys for Tots
Our Toys for Tots campaign ends this Friday, December 9th. Collegium partnered with Toys for Tots to collect new, unwrapped toys for local children in need. Donation boxes are located in all CCS buildings.
As a reminder, our Home & School Association is sponsoring a fundraiser at Five Below. Purchase toys at Five Below for our Toys for Tots collection using the HSA's flyer and CCS will earn 10% of your purchase price. More details are available on the HSA Five Below Flyer, below.
CCS Art Show at the Mall
Collegium student artwork will be on exhibit at the Exton Mall on the second floor (near Boscov's) from Saturday, December 3rd through Sunday, January 1st. Stop by, check out the display, and you're sure to be impressed!
7th Grade Field Trip
Attention parents of 7th graders students - permission slips were distributed last week and payments are due by Friday, January 27, 2017. If you have any questions please email Ms. Pouncy.
Character Counts
Grades K-6th Character Development Program: Fairness, Responsibility, Respect, Citizenship, Trustworthiness, and Caring.
Here at Collegium, students are recognized by staff for their good character and their names and photos are added to the Good Character Walls. We have new additions to our Good Character Walls:
- Jordynn McAleer
- Elena Lopez
- Dyuman Muvvala
- Yanni Kouras
- Clarence Stewart
- Jordan Lynch
- Gavin Tilling
- Michael Coleman
- Henry Herman
- Camryn Johnson
- Curtis Kallon
- Victoria Agatone
- Isabella Nast
- Ryanne Allen
- Jack Sherman
- Isaiah Brown
- Chaitra Chigurupati
- Nicholas Falkowski
- Vahini Sadhuvenkata
- Shrija Singh
- Hunter Christman
- Jordan Wood
- Nathaniel Minniti
Collegium Employee Spotlight
This Newsletter section highlights one Collegium employee each week and allows families and students to get to know them even more. Now, when you see featured employees on campus, you'll have a better chance of being able to greet them by name and strike up conversations!
This week, we feature Sergeant Karla Melendez. Sergeant Melendez is a CCS Spanish Teacher, but she's also an Aviations Operations Specialist, 15P with the Army National Guard.
In January 2017, Sergeant Melendez will head to Kuwait for a year long deployment. We will miss you, Sergeant Melendez, and wish you a safe return. Additionally, we sincerely thank you for your service to our country and recognize the sacrifice you are making regarding the time away from your beautiful family.
Candy Grams
The cast and crew of Collegium Center Stage Theatre's (CCST) upcoming production of The Music Man are selling Candy Grams until Friday, December 9th.
Candy Grams cost $1.00 each and include candy and a personal message. They will be distributed across campus on Friday, December 16th. If you would like to send a student or employee a Candy Gram, please print out the form below and follow the directions.
Please note - Candy Grams must be purchased with cash (no coins, please!) and orders must be received by Friday, December 9th. Late orders will not be accepted.
Questions? Please email Ms. Stell.
Approval for Planned Absences
Will your child be absent from school because you are planning a trip, visiting relatives, scheduling college visits, or for religious instruction/observation? Ten days prior to the first date of absence please submit a Request for Approval of Planned Absence Form for your child. Principal approval is required for these days of absence to be excused.
From the CCS Home and School Association (HSA)
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!
PAWsitive Praise
Thank you to all of the students, families, teachers and staff who collected and turned in your Box Tops!
AmazonSmile
Don't forget to raise money for the HSA just by shopping on Amazon while completing your online shopping this holiday season!
Use the link below to shop AmazonSmile and select Collegium Charter School as your charity. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Collegium.
Direct HSA Donations
Are you looking to give a less-traditional gift this holiday season? Consider a direct donation to the HSA in your student's name or your family's name.
All donations are tax-deductible and all funds raised by the HSA benefit Collegium programs including field trip scholarships, uniform scholarships, and even the 468 playground fund. There are two ways to donate:
1. Print the form below and return to school with cash or check in an envelope marked "ATTN: HSA".
2. Visit to make your donation online using the link below.
Box Tops Update
Our classroom contest ended Wednesday, November 30th. HSA volunteers continue to feverishly count thousands of Box Tops, so we can announce the classroom winners before Winter Break.
Stay tuned, but also continue collecting those Box Tops...we will have another contest in the spring!
CCS Night at Urban Air
Looking for something fun to do during Winter Break? The HSA is sponsoring CCS Night at Urban Air Trampoline Park in Downingtown, Wednesday, December 21st from 4:00pm-8:00pm. Mention that you are with Collegium when you check-in and the HSA will earn 20% of the proceeds.
Collegium families can choose between two packages*:
- $15.00 for 2 hours of trampolines, Dodgeball, Battle Beam and Basketball Dunk.
- $19.00 for 2 hours of trampolines, Dodgeball, Battle Beam, Basketball Dunk, and the Warrior Obstacle Course.
*Urban Air jump socks ($2.00/pair) required. Taxes not included. All jumpers need waivers.
HSA Volunteer Opportunities
School Store — Stores are open every Wednesday in the morning and at lunchtime. Due to the overwhelming success of the school stores we have added additional slots for volunteers! Please sign up by using the link below.
Uniform Resale Shop — Our children are growing and the weather is changing. Check out our Uniform Resale Shop for good-condition uniforms at greatly reduced prices. Have your students outgrown their uniforms? Please consider donating good-condition uniforms to our Uniform Resale Shop. All Uniform Resale Shop sales go directly into the Uniform Scholarship Fund, benefiting CCS families in need. If you are interested in helping to sort, organize and shelve uniform donations, please sign up below.
Community Opportunities
While CCS does not endorse programs occurring outside CCS or included in this Newsletter section, we pass along information on community opportunities CCS families may want to explore.
CCS Winter Tree at Longwood Gardens
CCS was once again accepted into the juried Children's Tree show. This year we are excited for the inclusion of our high school students' contributions to the tree. The exhibition will be available for viewing now through January 8th. Please check Longwood Gardens' website for ticketing information. Some days require timed-tickets.
Chesco Pops Holiday Concerts
Under the direction of Music Director Joseph Gehring, the Chesco Pops will be performing their Holiday series at two locations in Chester County.
- Sunday, December 11, 7:00PM at Immaculata University
- Friday, December 16, 7:00PM at Unionville High School.
Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $15.00 for seniors, and FREE for all children and students! Tickets are available at the door or online via the link below.
The Chesco Pops will be joined by soprano Lyndsay Varsaci, alto Georgia LaRue, tenor Daniel K. Williams, and bass Michael Spaziani, members of the Brandywine Singers, singing classics like "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" as well as the popular song "Believe" from “Polar Express.” There will be plenty of fun and great music, all for “kids from one to ninety-two.”
Collegium Main Number
Campus Main Office Extensions
- 468/486 Building: ext. 6401
- 150 Building: ext. 6811
- 500 Building: ext. 6106
- 515 Building: ext. 6336
- 535 Building: ext. 6602
All content for the Newsletter must be submitted by 7:00am on Thursday via email to slake@ccs.us. Our Community Opportunities section will not include information about non-CCS fundraisers or information from for-profit companies. CCS reserves the right to edit submissions and deny material for submission if deemed inappropriate or if it is determined to be of little or no interest to CCS families.