Welcome to Collegium Charter School's weekly multimedia 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., Sept. 30th, Day 6
- CMS and 500 Building: Cycle A
- Grades 5-6: Book Fair Begins (Ends Tuesday, October 8th) | Library @ 500 Building
- Grades 7-11: School Picture Day
- Grades 7-12: Yankee Candle Fundraiser Begins (Benefits the MS/HS Music Dept.) (Ends Friday, October 11th)
- 150 Building: 2nd-4th Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 486 Building: Grades 2-4 Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 500 Building: Student Council Meeting | Room 126 4:15pm - 5:15pm
Tues., Oct. 1st, Day 1
- CMS and 500 Building: Cycle B
- Box Tops$ for Education Content (Sponsored by the HSA)
- Grades 9-12: Detention | Designated Classroom 3:00pm - 4:30pm @ 515 Building (HS)
- Boys V Soccer vs. Valley Forge Military Academy 3:30pm @ United Sports Training Center
- Girls MS Volleyball vs. Pottsgrove 3:45pm @ Pottsgrove Middle School
- 150 Building: K-1st Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 150 Building: Little Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 908 4:00pm - 5:00pm
- 486 Building: K-1st Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 486 Building: Little Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 518 4:00pm - 5:00pm
- 500 Building: 5th-6th Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 500 Building: Advancing Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 207 4:00pm - 5:00pm
- CCS Spirit Night (Sponsored by the HSA) 5:00pm - 7:00pm @ Downingtown Chick-fil-A
- Girls JV Volleyball vs. MaST | Gym 5:00pm @ 535 Building (MS)
- Girls V Volleyball vs. MaSt | Gym 6:30pm @ 535 Building (MS)
Wed., Oct. 2nd, Day 2
- CMS and 500 Building: Cycle B
- Boys and Girls V Golf vs. Sun Valley 3:00pm @ Rock Manor Golf Club
- Boys MS Cross Country vs. Kimberton Waldorf 3:45pm @ Kimberton Waldorf School-Upper Field
- 150 Building: 2nd-4th Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 486 Building: 2nd-4th Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 486 Building: Junior Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 515 4:00pm - 5:00pm
- Boys V Cross Country vs. Church Farm 4:00pm @ Church Farm School
Thurs., Oct. 3rd, Day 3
- CMS and 500 Building: Cycle B
- Boys and Girls V Golf vs. Woodlynde School 3:00pm @ Ingleside Golf Club
- Grades 9-12: Detention | Designated Classroom 3:00pm - 4:30pm @ 515 Building (HS)
- Boys V Soccer vs. New Hope-Solebury 3:30pm @ United Sports Training Center
- CougarTek EsportsTeam Meeting | Technology Lab (Room 705) 3:30pm - 5:30pm @ 535 Building (MS)
- Girls MS Volleyball vs. Faith Christian 3:45pm @ Faith Christian Academy
- 150 Building: Junior Artists Club (Session 1) | Room 908 4:00pm - 5:00pm
- 150 Intramurals: K/1 Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- 500 Intramurals: 5th-6th Grade Running Club | Parking Lot 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- Girls V Volleyball vs. Faith Christian 4:45pm @ Faith Christian Academy
Fri., Oct. 4th, Day 4
- CMS and 500 Building: Cycle B
- 468 Building: 1st Grade Community Helper Day | Rooms 429 and 468, and Parking Lot 9:00am - 2:30pm
- Girls MS Volleyball vs. Tinicum MS (Interboro) | Gym 4:00pm @ 500 Building
Sat., October 5th
- Boys V Cross Country vs. Paul Short Invitational 10:00am @ Lehigh University
- Boys V Soccer vs. Sun Valley 12:00pm @ United Sports Training Center
October K-12 Menus And Payment Information
The Food Service Department's October Menus and Payment Information are available using the button below. This information is also posted as a "Resource" on the Food Service page of our website.
Questions about the Food Service Department? Email our Director of Food Services, Mr. Mike Ely.
Collegium's 20th Anniversary Spirit Week
Last week, CCS celebrated a “20th Anniversary Spirit Week” that gave students and staff a variety of opportunities to show their support for our school. The photos below capture some of the positive and fun energy seen across our campus!
First, there was “Marvel Monday,” when Middle and High School students wore shirts embellished with their favorite Marvel characters and superheroes. High School student Manny H.’s “Silver Surfer” attire (complete with silver clothes and body paint) was a stand-out! Students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade celebrated Marvel Monday by writing letters to their heroes that their teachers plan to deliver.
On Tuesday, “Twin Day,” students and staff dressed like other people in their buildings. There were double-takes all day on CCS's campus. We could hardly tell some of the twins apart!
CCS opened its doors to all kinds of Disney characters on Wednesday, our Spirit Week's "Wish Upon A Star Day.” Disneyland must have wondered where everyone was, because Thanos, Scar, Anna, Belle, Spider-Man, Mike, and so many others were here at CCS!
Thursday was dubbed “Monster University," when students and staff were encouraged to wear gear from their favorite colleges and universities. Even in our Elementary school buildings, CCS’s focus on future planning was very apparent. Check out the photos below to see all of the post-secondary schools represented.
Our 20th Anniversary Spirit Week culminated with a day to “Show Your Cougar Pride." CCS students and employees happily wore their favorite CCS shirts, ranging from CCS Athletics to CCST, Cougar Pride, and ROAR t-shirts. There’s not much more that CCS likes to do than show its Cougar Pride!
Thank you to everyone who made September’s 20th Anniversary celebrations such a success, and thank you, our families, for making CCS a reality! We’ll share details about next month’s 20th Anniversary activities soon through the Collegium Newsletter and Family Calendar.
Time Travel Really DOES Exist!
One highlight of CCS’s 20th Anniversary Spirit Week was the opening of the Time Capsule CCS started in 2007.
At that time, CCS was moving from its building in the Borough of West Chester to the Oaklands Corporate Center. Teachers and administrators wanted to commemorate CCS’s growth and tasked K-12 students with selecting items to include in the Time Capsule. The plan was for the Time Capsule to be opened on CCS's 20th Anniversary in 2019.
In addition to photos and objects, our 2007 K-12 students included their thoughts on what would be different in 2019 when the Time Capsule was opened on CCS's 20th Anniversary.
“Wow! I was so excited to see that my class put a cell phone (flip phone) in the Time Capsule in 2007. During that time, we wondered what cell phones would be like in the year 2019. Amazing to see that yes, they are needed and they are digital.” –Mrs. Marie Covert, 150 Building Kindergarten Teacher
As the Time Capsule traveled through our buildings during Spirit Week, students got a real glimpse into what CCS and the world were like in 2007. The Time Capsule revealed items like a cell phone, Webkinz, Pokémon cards, an ink stamp with Collegium’s West Chester address, Letter People Puppets, photos of classes from 2007, and CCS curriculum from back in that day. Students were fascinated by what they saw and read, and brainstormed about what they would contribute to the Time Capsule for the next 30 years.
“It was cool to see some of the photos of kids from a long time ago. Those kids are like old now. I couldn’t believe there weren’t iPhones back then. How did people take pictures? And the green shirts are still a thing!” –Za Hyrah C., CCS 4th Grader
Ms. LaNae Horsey, CCS’s Director of Child Care Programs, watched in delight as our Middle School students examined the Time Capsule’s contents. “The experience was almost surreal at times,” Ms. Horsey said. “In one case, a student realized that she was holding a photo of her older sibling from a time when she hadn’t even been born yet! I could actually see our students' perceptions change and grow as they realized that so many connections between 2007 and today existed."
In some buildings, veteran CCS employees shared memories with students of previous students, colleagues, and activities that Collegium was part of over the years. As the Time Capsule made its way to our High School, several seniors were able to read letters from the Time Capsule that they wrote to themselves as Kindergarten students!
“As one of the longest-employed educators at Collegium, it brought back fond memories of the ol’ West Chester days. I loved seeing former coworkers and was truly astonished by the growth of our school. Collegium came a long way, and I cannot wait to see the next 20 years!” –Velda Baynard, Instructional Assistant
Elementary Art Clubs At CCS
Every school year, CCS’s Elementary Art Teachers host four after-school Art Club sessions for students in Grades K-6. Art Club provides an environment where students are surrounded by like-minded individuals who inspire them and help them to make artistic choices. Participating students can also work with different tools and skills that may not be included in their Art classes during the day.
“Each Club’s hosting teacher controls the mediums and concepts their Club members explore,” explained Ms. Amanda Shortridge, a 486 Building Art Teacher. “A lot of our decisions are driven by students' interests and the group's prior knowledge. This makes for diverse and exciting art experiences for our students!”
Current Art Club activities include advanced watercolor techniques, foil embossing, spirit animal masks, and paper mache. Future Art Club sessions will focus on making ink leaf prints, additional watercolor work, and clay.
“It's really nice to have a more intimate setting with students who all want to be there,” shared Ms. Allison Thomas, our 500 Building Art Teacher. “Art Club has more of a ‘studio’ or ‘art school’ feel. Club members arrive knowing what to expect,” she continued.
“Ultimately, our mission is to encourage every Art Club student to try new techniques and strengthen their individual skills in a small-group setting. Smaller group settings encourage peer teaching, which gives students more confidence to take risks with their artwork.” -Ms. Amanda Shortridge, 486 Building Art Teacher
Permission Slips were sent home with students and are also available from your child’s Art Teacher. The cost of each Art Club session is $25.00. “There’s no need to send in money now,” said Ms. Darci Galie, 150 Building Art Teacher. “Once students are placed in an Art Club, parents/guardians will be notified and can then send in their payment.”
“We are all very excited for another year of helping our students be extra creative in their Art Rooms!” - Ms. Darci Galie, Art Teacher, 150 Building
We’ve listed our upcoming Elementary Art Club dates below. If your child is in the 150 or 500 Building and would like to participate in Art Club, please contact their Art Teacher! The 486 Building’s Session 1 Art Club has already begun, but your child may still submit a Permission Form to participate in future sessions.
Little Artists Club (Grades K-1)
150 Building Art Club (Session 1) takes place in Ms. Galie’s Art Room (Room 908) from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on:
- Tuesday, October 1st
- Tuesday, October 8th
- Tuesday, October 15th
- Tuesday, October 22nd
- Tuesday, October 29th
- Tuesday, November 12th.
Junior Artists Club (Grades 2-4)
150 Building Art Club (Session 1) takes place in Ms. Galie’s Art Room (Room 908) from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on:
- Thursday, October 3rd
- Thursday, October 10th
- Thursday, October 17th
- Thursday, October 24th
- Thursday, November 7th
- Thursday, November 14th
Little Artists Club (Grades K-1)
468/486 Building Art Club (Session 1) meets in Ms. Shortridge’s Art Room (486 Building Room 518) between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM as follows:
- Session 1-Already in progress.
- Session 2-Begins Tuesday, October 15th
Junior Artists Club (Grades 2-4)
468/486 Building Art Club (Session 1) meets in Ms. Shortridge’s Art Room (486 Building Room 518) between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM as follows:
- Session 1: Already in progress
- Session 2: Begins Wednesday, October 16th
Advancing Artists Club (Grades 5 and 6)
500 Building Art Club (Session 1) is scheduled in Ms. Thomas’ Art Room (Room 207) between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on the following dates:
- Tuesday, October 1st
- Tuesday, October 8th
- Tuesday, October 15th
- Tuesday, October 22nd
Ms. Galie, Ms. Shortridge, and Ms. Thomas are waiting to hear from you! Use the buttons provided to email them for more information about CCS’s Elementary Art Clubs.
Update Available: PowerSchool Mobile For Android
The PowerSchool team has been working hard to bring parents and guardians a fully redesigned mobile app experience on Android! PowerSchool Mobile for Android Version 2.0 is now available for download in the Google Play Store.
This update is designed to improve and enhance families’ PowerSchool experiences and includes a new dashboard that allows families to gather their important information in one central location.
If you don’t have automatic updates enabled on your Android device, you'll want to download this new PowerSchool Mobile App now. You’ll need Collegium’s District Code, CCCX, for the update.
Questions? Email CCS PowerSchool personnel using the button below.
Upcoming PSAT Testing
The PSATs will be administered during the school day on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. Please try your best to get a good night’s sleep and be on time for school!
All students in 10th Grade will be testing. Pre-registered 9th Grade and 11th Grade students will also be testing.
Bring No. 2 pencils and a calculator with you on test day. (No mechanical pencils, please.) Test prep materials were distributed to students by Friday, September 27, 2019, and can also be found on the College Board website accessible via the button below.
If you have any questions about this schedule, please contact Mrs. Wolfe or Mrs. White using the buttons provided.
Reminder: 468 Building K-1 Rec Night Payment Due
CCS’s 468 Building is planning a Rec Night for their Kindergarten and 1st Grade students. The event will take place on Friday, October 25th between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM in the 468 Building.
Rec Night will be filled with games, crafts, and team-building activities created to encourage bonding between Kindergarteners and 1st Graders. The $5.00 per-student cost will be used to purchase equipment for the 468/486 Building’s playgrounds.
Permission Slips for the 468 Building's K-1 Rec Night were sent home last week with students. If your child is going to participate, please be sure to return their completed Permission Slip and $5.00 payment to Miss Stauffer (468 Building) by Friday, October 4th. Payments must be in cash; no coins, please!
Questions? Email Miss Stauffer using the button below.
500 Building Career Day
CCS will host a Career Day for our 5th and 6th Grade students on Monday, November 25th between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
One of the most important aspects of Career Day is when parents/guardians and community members volunteer to talk to our students about their careers. We can share all sorts of information with students about different careers, but hearing first-hand from adults in varied, real-life professions is especially meaningful.
Volunteers are asked to make three or four 25-minute presentations on Career Day, including a brief Question and Answer session with students after each presentation. “Career Day is a wonderful opportunity to increase our students’ awareness of the many possibilities their futures hold,” commented Mrs. Corinne Hirst, School Counselor in the 500 Building. “In this age of technology and rapid change, we’re especially interested in helping our 6th Grade students learn about entrepreneurial opportunities.”
If you’d like to volunteer at the 500 Building’s Career Day, please use the button below to email Mrs. Hirst.
Volunteering Is A Great Way To Support CCS
Collegium invites all parents and guardians to actively participate in their children’s CCS education. Volunteering is a great way to support CCS and show your children how much you value their experiences at our school!
Please note that before volunteering, parents/guardians must have three (3) background checks on file with CCS’s Human Resources Department:
- PA Child Abuse Clearance
- PA Criminal Record Check
- FBI Fingerprinting
These clearances are obtained through PA departments and vendors and can take up to two weeks to process. So, if you’re considering working in our Elementary School Stores, chaperoning a Field Trip, volunteering at events like Alex's Lemonade Stand or Field Day, or helping CCS in other ways, please start the process now to obtain your clearances!
Our Volunteering page (accessible using the button below) contains more information on volunteering at CCS, as well as links to the websites for the three background clearances.
Questions? Use the button below to email our Volunteer Clearance Coordinator.
From Our Home & School Association
Serving in a capacity similar to a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), our Home & School Association (HSA) owes its success to the efforts of our many parent/guardian, teacher, and staff volunteers! Proceeds from HSA fundraisers and activities help fund CCS education and operations. Questions? Email our HSA Officers using the button below.
HSA Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A
Don't worry about making dinner on Tuesday, October 1st! CCS’s Home and School Association (HSA) is sponsoring a Chick-fil-A Spirit Night that evening!
Please tell your friends and family to grab a bite between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Tuesday at the Chick-fil-A in Downingtown. Chick-fil-A will donate 10% of all sales during that time to our HSA to use for CCS students and operations.
We’re excited to offer this great opportunity. See MOO there!
BoxTop$ For Education
Our HSA’s BoxTop$ For Education contest is going on now! Please send your child’s Box Tops to school by Friday, October 18th.
Every Box Top collected is worth 10¢ for CCS. Don’t forget to scan your receipts and to check Box Top expiration dates.
HSA Officers will announce the class who wins our BoxTop$ For Education contest in November. To help the HSA give credit for Box Tops to the correct class, please clearly write the name of your child’s teacher on your child’s sealed bag of Box Tops!
Important Information From Our School Nurses
CCS’s Annual Flu Vaccine Clinic
CCS’s Annual Flu Vaccine Clinic for students is scheduled for Friday, October 11th. If you’d like your children to be vaccinated at the Clinic, please complete and submit an Influenza Vaccine Consent Form to your child’s School Nurse no later than Monday, October 7th. No late forms will be accepted.
The Consent Form is available as a “Resource” on the School Health/School Nurses page of Collegium’s website (see the link below). For Elementary students, you may also find the Consent Form on your child’s ClassDojo.
Magnus Health Reminder
Please be sure to review, update, and sign the pages on your child's Magnus Health account as soon as possible. Without this important information, students may not go on CCS Field Trips or receive treatments or over-the-counter medications at school.
Questions? Please contact your child’s School Nurse.
K-12 School Picture Days Scheduled
Collegium's K-11th Grade School Picture and Photo Retake Days are:
- Grades 7-11: Mon., Sept. 30th (School Picture Day)
- Grades 7-11: Mon., Nov. 11th (Photo Retake Day)
- Grades K-6: Mon., Nov. 18th (Photo Retake Day)
Students were given paper order forms from Barksdale School Portraits (Barksdale) to bring home. Each order form contains picture pricing and package information, Barksdale Customer Service contact details, and a unique access code for online ordering and payment.
Parents/guardians can prepay online using the button below and their unique Barksdale access code (located on the order form). Orders can also be submitted using the envelope portion of the order form.
Please return either your payment envelope or your online receipt from Barksdale on your child's scheduled Picture Day.
All questions about picture orders can be answered directly by Barksdale Customer Service Representatives. Don't hesitate to call them at 1-800-220-7667.
Todas las preguntas relacionadas con el Día de Fotografías, deben ser dirigidas al Departamento de Atención al Cliente de Barksdale School Portraits: 1-800-220-7667.
Final Reminder: Performing Arts Center Construction Impacting Campus Traffic
In May 2017, CCS announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center (PAC) alongside our 515 High School Building. Our Operations Department is very happy to share that the PAC’s construction plans are now moving forward. The construction will impact some of CCS’s traffic patterns, as described below.
Construction Steps Started Friday, September 20th
- The area behind our 515 High School (HS) Building was shut down and will not be accessible until further notice.
- A fence was installed that completely blocks the back of our 515 (HS) Building (see map).
Impact on CCS Traffic Patterns
- The entryway/driveway for the 515 (HS) Building is now a single lane (see map).
- The building/lane split has moved to the west side of the 515 (HS) Building (see map).
- Every school day between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM, the 515 (HS) Building entryway/driveway will be completely closed/blocked off.
- HS Parent/Guardian Pickup can begin no earlier than 2:30 PM. Vehicles cannot arrive before 2:30 PM as there is no room on campus for them to wait for Parent/Guardian Pickup to begin.
- Elementary Parent/Guardian Pickup can begin no earlier than 3:15 PM. Vehicles cannot arrive before 3:15 PM because there is no place on our campus for vehicles to wait.
We thank you for your patience. As a reminder, please do not use our corporate center neighbors’ parking lots.
Questions? Use the button provided to email our Operations Department.
News From Our Athletics Department
Elementary Fall Intramural Programs
CCS's Elementary Fall 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 include running, soccer, basketball, and Cougar Olympic Games.
Our Elementary Intramural Programs are scheduled after school from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Each program will be four sessions long.
To register your child for a program, complete and submit the required registration form and fee by the designated due date. Links to the Registration Forms are shared below and will also be posted on the CCS Intramurals page a few weeks in advance of each program.
Please feel free to email our Intramurals Program Coordinator, Mr. Revnell, with questions.
It’s Book Fair Time For Grades 5 And 6!
‘Tis the season for the 500 Building’s Scholastic Book Fair! Watch the video below to hear all about the Book Fair from Mrs. Wallace.
Our Grades 5-6 Scholastic Book Fair will run from Monday, September 30th through Tuesday, October 8th. Students will visit the Book Fair with their classes to preview and buy Book Fair materials.
Book Fairs are fun and interesting events for students. The hustling and bustling environment is similar to an active book store and generates student excitement about reading and finding new books.
At the 500 Building Book Fair, your children will be able to explore a wide range of affordable books and materials about topics and characters that interest them. Book Fair purchases also help to support our Library, as 50% of students' purchases go to CCS!
For Parents/Guardians
- You can check out the Book Fair selections in advance through our Online Book Fair (see link below).
- We are again using eWallet through Scholastic, which lets you pre-load money to your child’s account for them to use during the Book Fair at school.
- All Book Fair details can be found on our Book Fair web page (linked below).
- There won’t be a Family Night for this Book Fair, so please utilize our Online Book Fair and eWallet for your children!
- Note that advance purchase forms for the new Dog Man book, “Fetch-22,” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball” will be available at the Book Fair, in the 500 Building Library, and will also be sent home.
This is a Book Fair designed for students in Grades 5-8. Watch for information about our K-4th Grade Book Fair soon!
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 (while helping them stay on budget), and other important tasks. Our Book Fair Volunteers also receive loads of thanks and appreciation from everyone in the 500 Building, as well as 10% off at the Book Fair!
Please use the Volunteer Signup button below to sign up for one or more times when you can help. Volunteers must have current clearances approved in advance by CCS’s Human Resources Department. Use the Volunteering page link below to learn more about the clearances and volunteering with CCS!
Attendance Reminder
If your child is absent, please let us know by calling 610-903-1300, choosing Option #1, and following the instructions for your child's building. You must also send a signed excuse note with your child on the day they return to school.
Tip Resources From The West Whiteland Police Department
Collegium maintains 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 the WWPD.
The email address and phone line above are monitored by the WWPD Criminal Investigation Unit. If you have information about suspected criminal activity, we encourage you 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, please also contact your Building Principal(s):
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 (HS): Ext. 6300
- 535 Building (MS): 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.