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Collegium Newsletter May 7, 2018

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.

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, May 7th - Day 1

  • 468/486 Building: 4th Grade Field Trip to National Liberty Museum
  • AP Exams Begin: AP Chemistry (AM) and AP Spanish Literature and Culture (AM)
  • Grades 5-8 Book Fair Begins
  • Teacher Appreciation Week Begins
  • 150 Building: 4th Grade AM Field Trip to Brandywine Red Clay Alliance (Ryan) 8:15am - 12:00pm
  • Boys' Varsity Baseball v. Community Academy of Philadelphia 3:00pm @ Boot Road Park
  • Boys' And Girls' Varsity Golf v. The Woodlynde School 3:30pm @ Ingleside Golf Club
  • Girls' Varsity Lacrosse v. Academy Park High School 3:45pm @ Academy Park High School
  • 150 Building: Kindergarten STEM Club 4:00pm - 5:15pm @ Room 951
  • 486 Building: 3rd and 4th Grades STEM Club 4:00pm - 5:30pm @ Room 575
  • 500 Building: 5th and 6th Grades Band Spring Concert Dress Rehearsal 4:00pm - 5:30pm @ 515 Auditorium
  • Intramurals: 2nd-4th Grade Cougar Fit Club 4:15pm - 5:30pm @ 150 Small Gym and 486 Cafeteria

Tuesday, May 8th - Day 2

  • AP Exams: AP Seminar (AM), AP Spanish Language and Culture (AM), and AP Physics I (PM)
  • 150 Building: 4th Grade AM Field Trip to Brandywine Red Clay Alliance (Morrison) 8:15am - 12:00pm
  • 486 Building: 4th Grade PM Shamona Creek Field Trip (Deegler) 12:00pm - 2:00pm
  • Optional Keystone Preparation Session 3:00pm - 5:00pm @ 535 Cafeteria
  • Middle School Art/Clay Club 3:15pm - 4:30pm @ 500 Building, Room 207
  • 150 Building: Principal Coffee Chat for Parents 3:30pm @ 150 Conference Room, Room 825
  • 500 Building: 5th and 6th Grade Jazz Lab Spring Concert Dress Rehearsal 4:00pm - 5:30pm @ 515 Auditorium
  • 500 Building: National Elementary Honor Society Student Meeting 4:00pm - 5:30pm @ Room 118
  • Intramurals: 5th and 6th Grades Kickball 4:30pm - 5:30pm @ 500 Field or Gym

Wednesday, May 9th - Day 3

  • AP Exams: AP English Literature and Composition (AM)
  • Barnes and Noble Book Fair Begins @ Barnes and Noble (Main Street Exton)
  • Grades K-6: ROAR T-Shirt Day with Uniform Bottoms
  • 150 Building: 4th Grade AM Field Trip to Brandywine Red Clay Alliance (Sayler) 8:15am - 12:00pm
  • 486 Building: 4th Grade PM Shamona Creek Field Trip (Putt) 12:00pm - 2:00pm
  • 150 Building: Junior Artists Club 3:45pm - 4:45pm @ Room 908
  • 150 Building: Little Artists Club 3:45pm - 4:45pm @ Room 827
  • 468 Building: Little Artists Club 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ Room 425
  • 486 Building: Junior Artists Club 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ Room 532
  • Intramurals: 2nd-4th Grades Cougar Fit Club 4:15pm - 5:30pm @ 150 Small Gym and 486 Cafeteria
  • Girls' Varsity Lacrosse v. Kimberton Waldorf School 6:00pm @ United Sports

Thursday, May 10th - Day 4

  • AP Exams: AP U.S. Government and Politics (AM) and AP Environmental Science (PM)
  • Middle School Field Trip to NYC 7:30am - 7:30pm
  • Middle School Art/Clay Club 3:15pm - 4:30pm @ 500 Building, Room 207
  • Boys' Varsity Baseball v. Octorara Junior/Senior High School 3:45pm @ Roy Skiles Baseball Field
  • 150 Building: Kindergarten STEM Club 4:00pm - 5:15pm @ Room 951
  • 468/486 Building: 4th Grade Band Spring Concert Dress Rehearsal 4:00pm - 5:15pm @ 515 Auditorium
  • 486 Building: 3rd and 4th Grades STEM Club 4:00pm - 5:30pm @ Room 575
  • 500 Building: Advancing Artists Club 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ Room 228
  • Intramurals: 5th and 6th Grades Kickball 4:30pm - 5:30pm @ 500 Field or Gym
  • Board of Trustees Public Work Session 6:00pm @ 435 Conference Room

Friday, May 11th - Day 5

  • AP Exams: AP U.S. History (AM) and AP Computer Science Principles (PM)
  • Grades 7-12: Cougar Pride Day - Wear Your Cougar Gear with Uniform Bottoms or Jeans
  • Grades K-6: Class Color Spirit Day Sponsored by Elementary Student Council (See Article)
  • Teacher Appreciation Week Ends
  • Boys' Varsity Baseball v. Penn Wood High School 3:00pm @ Boot Road Park
  • Girls' Varsity Lacrosse v. Oxford Area High School 6:00pm @ Oxford Stadium

Saturday, May 12th

  • Optional Keystone Preparation Session 9:00am - 12:00pm @ 515 Cafeteria

Our 468/486 Building is Phanatic About Reading

The Phillie Phanatic loves more than being the most popular mascot in Major League Baseball. He also loves reading! So much so that he turned his passion for books into the Phanatic About Reading program.

Presented by Comcast and founded in 2004, Phanatic About Reading encourages students to read for—or be read to—15 or more minutes a day. The program’s goals include enhancing children’s reading skills and promoting a love of reading.

This year, Collegium was selected for a special Phanatic Assembly based on student reading progress reports submitted by their teachers. During the assembly, several students received special recognition as top readers in their classes. Ms. Zane was also presented with a certificate acknowledging her classroom's top participation in the Phanatic About Reading program overall.

“Our Phillie Phanatic Assembly was a fabulous experience for all students and teachers. I am so proud of the 20 classes who participated in the Phanatic About Reading program this year!” said a pleased Ms. Zane. “So many of our students were excited and motivated to read for at least 15 minutes each night. It’s just great that Collegium was chosen for a visit by the Phanatic. The students were thrilled after the assembly. Many said they couldn’t wait to go home and read more so he would come back again to our school!”

Dr. Wight, 468/486 Building Principal, was honored that the Phanatic came to Collegium. “I am proud of each of the students who participated in this event by exploring, learning, and enjoying the world around them through fiction and non-fiction books.”

A highlight of the assembly was the Phanatic’s reenactment of The Phillie Phanatic's Philadelphia Story, narrated by Assistant Principal Mrs. Moore. The Phanatic's performance received loads of laughs as he used teachers and students to provide visuals for the story.

Collegium students and employees had a wonderful time during the Phanatic’s visit, and the students learned an important lesson about the rewards of working steadily towards a goal!

Collegium Athletics: College Decision Day

Most high school athletes aspire to play at the highest level of their sports. That dream is coming true for four Collegium student-athletes who recently committed to play at the colleges and universities of their choice.

In the 2018-2019 season, you will find: Destyni Wood playing basketball with Shippensburg University and majoring in Psychology; Lacy MacLachlin with Penn State Abington’s basketball program and pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education; Cassidy Dunn running cross country at Elizabethtown College while also studying Information Systems; and Jack Wagner on the golf team for Lebanon Valley College while working towards his Actuarial Science degree.

The individual achievement of these students showcases how they, their teams, and Collegium coaches have continued to build on the established legacy of Collegium's Athletics Program. The students were recruited for this next level in their academic and athletic careers, a clear indicator of their dedication and skill, and proof that CCS Athletics continues to be a force to be reckoned with!

Last week, Destyni, Lacy, Cassidy, and Jack gathered at Collegium’s Administrative Offices with their proud families to capture the excitement of these momentous events.

Jack Wagner

Jack (center) with his family and golf coach.
"I am very excited to continue my academic and athletic career at Lebanon Valley College. It has been a long journey for me with golf, and I can't wait to get even better over these next few years."

Cassidy Dunn

Cassidy (center) is joined by her family and cross country coaches.
"I am so excited to run and compete with Elizabethtown College. I am looking forward to making goals and accomplishing them with my team! With training already starting, it makes me even more excited!"

Lacy MacLachlin

Lacy (center) is joined by her family and basketball coaches.
"I am excited to start this new chapter in my life and use the skills that I have acquired at Collegium to grow as a student and athlete."

Destyni Wood

Destyni (center) joined by her family and basketball coaches.
"I am very happy with my decision, and I am looking forward to furthering my education and athletic career at Ship!"

John Allen, Collegium’s Director of Athletics and Extra-Curricular Programs, is thrilled for Destyni, Lacy, Cassidy, and Jack. “I’m exceedingly excited for these families and proud of our student-athletes as they begin a new journey toward achieving their dreams. They have worked exceptionally hard, and are wonderful role models for all Collegium students. We are very proud that they are part of the Collegium family, and that they will now take what they have learned here to the larger world of their colleges and universities. We will definitely be tuning in to see how they compete at this next level.”

Middle School Orchestra Members Included in 2018 PMEA String Fest

On Friday, April 27th, Collegium Middle School Students Malia Ford, Alexander Pham, and Magnolia Sommar joined about 100 students from Chester and Delaware Counties to participate in the PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) District 12 7th and 8th String Fest at Phoenixville Middle School.

At the String Fest, Malia, Alexander, and Magnolia spent the day with other student musicians rehearsing together as a large string orchestra. Robert Loughran, Conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County's Symphony Orchestra, was the Guest Conductor. The students also worked in breakout sessions with local teachers to refine the music pieces.

The day concluded with a 2018 PMEA 7th and 8th Grade String Fest Concert. The remarkable evening was filled with amazing music from amazing students. Congratulations Malia, Alexander, and Magnolia, on your diligent work and fantastic musical achievement!

High School Art Department Visits Philadelphia Art Museum

On April 26th, students from Collegium’s High School Art Department, joined by several Collegium teachers, made a thoroughly enjoyable visit to the Philadelphia Art Museum. There, they saw works by many famous artists, including Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Dali. The students also participated in two museum-designed workshops, STEAM in the Museum and Art Investigation.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch, and then spent some time investigating specific pieces with Art teachers Mr. Springer and Mrs. Steines, Librarian Mrs. Ferry, and Literature Teacher Mrs. McIntyre. Madison Mitchell, a Painting 2 student in Mrs. Steines’ class, did a study of Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers earlier this year, and was especially excited to see the original of his similar work, Sunflowers, at the Museum (see photos).

Maddie did a study of Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers painting earlier this semester.

During the STEAM workshop, students examined ways artists, scientists, and mathematicians share to create and solve problems. They built a shelter from limited materials, and then discussed its engineering and designing aspects. Molay Kollie (pictured below) was able to try on a 16th century German helmet, and looked positively daunting in it! In the Art Investigation workshop, students examined artwork in different ways and talked about the meaning they found in each piece.

A fabulous day was had by all. We recommend that you put visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the top of your summer “get there” lists!

National Spanish Exam Award Winners

On March 20th, 24 CCS students in Grades 7-11 participated in the National Spanish Exam (NSE). As described at the link below, the NSE is an online, standardized assessment tool that thousands of teachers throughout the United States use to measure proficiency and achievement of students who are studying Spanish.

The NSE's purposes are to: Recognize the skill levels of students studying Spanish; promote their mastery of interpretive Spanish communication; assess the national standards as they pertain to learning Spanish; and encourage interest in teaching and learning Spanish.

Award recipients from Mrs. Speers’ Spanish I class.

Certificates will be issued to all students who participated in the NSE. Several students will also receive medals based on their national scores and award levels:

  • Premio de Oro, scoring at or above the 95th percentile nationally
  • Premio de Plata, scoring from the 85th through the 94th percentiles nationally
  • Premio de Bronce: Scoring from the 75th through the 84th percentiles nationally
  • Mención Honorífica: Scoring from the 50th through the 74th percentiles nationally.

Test Level 1

  • Michelle Canel | 7th | Speers | Bronce
  • Kaleah Tuttle | 8th | Speers | Honor
  • Josue Roman | 7th | Speers | Honor
  • Liliana Martinez | 7th | Speers | Honor
  • Carina Sanchez-Valdez | 7th | Speers | Honor

Test Level 2

  • Lucia Garzon | 8th | Speers | Oro
  • Citli Tapia-Villegas | 9th | Riehl | Plata

Test Level 3

  • Abigail Garcia-Galan | 9th | Halpin | Bronce
  • Taylor Nagel | 9th | Halpin | Honor
  • Albert Sommar | 9th | Halpin | Honor

Test Level 4

  • Diana Galan | 10th | Rogai | Honor
  • Rose Garzon | 10th | Rogai | Honor

We are extremely proud of these students—and their teachers—for this great achievement!

Major Area Band Director Rehearses CCS High School Concert Band

Collegium’s High School Concert Band had a terrific opportunity recently when their Band Director, Mr. Motter, invited veteran musician, music teacher, and performer Scott Blanford to rehearse with them. Mr. Blanford is an accomplished musician and teacher, with 25 years of professional music experience, including 12 as a music teacher and band director. He is also exceptionally cool. Cool, as in he:

  • Grew up in Philadelphia and still lives and teaches locally
  • Performs with the Standard Time Jazz Combo
  • Is a Recording Academy member and participates in the GRAMMY Awards voting process, and
  • Was the saxophonist for Lunch Box Heroes, a West Chester rock band that worked with Sol 3 Records and Orchard Entertainment.
"The students and faculty at Collegium are to be commended on a job well done!”

Mr. Blanford rehearsed the band, and also provided instruction during a tenor saxophone lesson. Reflecting on his experience at Collegium, Mr. Blanford said, "It was a pleasure to spend the day with Mr. Motter and the band students at CCS. It was evident right from the start that the students are talented and well prepared. I was particularly impressed by their eagerness to learn, and appreciated their focus during lessons and concert band class. When students have opportunities to see different perspectives and gain new insights on improving musicianship, it just validates what their music teachers have already been teaching them. The students and faculty at Collegium are to be commended on a job well done!”

Samantha Acello (Junior Percussionist), was asked about her favorite part of having Mr. Blanford rehearse the band. She said that "Mr. Blanford had A LOT of helpful advice and critique to help the band excel.” Frances Carlson (Senior Saxophonist) commented on the specific piece of advice she took away from the rehearsal: “Mr. Blanford challenged us to consider that our sound is like a pyramid. Certain instrumental groups of the band need to play louder (foundation of the pyramid), and some groups need to play softer (top of the pyramid) to achieve a unified sound that is mature and pleasing to audience members."

Mr. Blanford’s insights on how to successfully develop a great ensemble while also improving individual musicianship are invaluable. We were ecstatic that he took time out of his very busy schedule to work with our students.

Friday, May 11th: K-6 Class Color Spirit Day

On Friday, May 11th, students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade can show their class pride by wearing T-shirts in their designated class color with their uniform bottoms. The class colors are described in the graphic and list below.

  • Kindergarten: Yellow
  • 1st Grade: Orange
  • 2nd Grade: Red
  • 3rd Grade: Blue
  • 4th Grade: Pink
  • 5th Grade: Purple
  • 6th Grade: Teal/Turquoise

Class Color Spirit Day is sponsored by the Elementary Student Council. Questions? Email Miss Perrino or your child’s teacher.

An Evening in Paris for 8th Grade Students

The Middle School Student Council formally invites all 8th Grade students to their 8th Grade Formal, An Evening in Paris.

The 8th Grade Formal is scheduled for Friday, May 18th, from 7:00pm until 9:00pm. The cost is $10 per student. There will be a DJ, dancing, and catering from Chick-fil-A. Attire is semi-formal; no jeans or sweatpants. All permission slips are due by Friday, May 11th. Tickets will not be sold after May 11th, and tickets will not be sold at the door.

Questions? Email Mr. Ford.

Upcoming 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony

Attention 8th Grade Parents/Guardians

You are cordially invited to the 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony on Friday, June 8th, at 1:15pm in the 515 Building's Auditorium. Please arrive early. Parking is available in the 515 parking lot. Parents/guardians are permitted to take their student(s) home after the ceremony, as long as they have signed them out first.

Due to limited space, this invitation is for parents/guardians, only. To make room for dismissal traffic and buses, all parent/guardian vehicles must clear the 515 Building's parking lot by 2:40pm.

The 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony will include various awards, an end-of-the-year video, and individual student recognition for successfully completing the 8th Grade.

Mrs. Shields is collecting baby pictures for our end-of-the-year video. Parents/guardians: Using the email link below, please send Mrs. Shields one of your favorite baby pictures of your student!

If you only have a hard copy of that favorite photo, you can send it to school for Mrs. Shields. She will scan and return the photo to you as soon as possible. Whether you are emailing or sending pictures to school, please include the student's name for correct identification in the video. All pictures must be submitted to Mrs. Shields by Friday, May 25th.

Questions? Mrs. Speers will be happy to answer them.

Respect Our Corporate Center Neighbors

Families are reminded that the parking lots of non-Collegium buildings in the Oaklands Corporate Center cannot be used as waiting areas or drop-off locations for CCS parent/guardian traffic.

If you arrive to our campus before the designated parent pick-up time, please do not park in our corporate center neighbors' parking lots. Instead, consider visiting the adjoining Festival Shopping Center.

If you have questions, email our Operations Department.

3rd Annual K-12 Bring Your Own Picnic

Our 3rd Annual K-12 Bring Your Own Picnic (BYOP) is the perfect event to enjoy spending time with your family and the Collegium Community.

The BYOP is free for all Collegium employees and families. CCS invites everyone to our 500 Building Field, Thursday, June 7th, from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. Get ready to bring your picnic blankets, chairs, yard games, food, and drinks (nonalcoholic). Collegium will supply the field!

We look forward to sharing more details as the event gets closer, but until then--please add the BYOP to your calendar for Thursday, June 7th from 5:30pm until 7:30pm on our 500 Building field.

Call for 468/486 Building Field Day Volunteers

Field Day 2018 for the 468/486 Building is approaching. We are looking for parent volunteers to help run our wonderful stations this year. Please use the link below to access our website and complete the Parent Volunteer form. Valid clearances are required to volunteer.

Zoup! School Night Fundraiser

On Tuesday, May 22nd, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm, grab some great food at Zoup! (Exton) with your family and friends, and participate in our Zoup! School Night Fundraiser.

Be sure to bring a voucher with you (below) to the Festival Shopping Center Zoup!, and a percentage of your sale will be donated to the 468/486 Building school-wide positive behavior intervention and supports program (ROAR).

Questions? Email Mrs. Sharon Ousey, 486 Building Assistant Principal.

Collegium Employee Spotlight: Allie Wolf

This Newsletter section highlights one Collegium employee each week, and allows families and students to get to know them even better. Now, when you see featured employees on campus, you will be better able to greet them by name and strike up conversations!

Education Explained

Each week, CCS Administrators highlight common terms and philosophies in education, and explain how they impact teaching and learning at Collegium. This week's contribution comes from Rebecca Ratti, Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator for Grades 7-12.

What are AP Exams?

The College Board’s Advanced Placement® (AP®) courses contain very challenging, college-level content and skills. Collegium’s AP Program allows students to take these courses while they are still in high school, which can help smooth the students’ way to college.

AP courses culminate with College Board AP Exams. Specifically designed to measure students’ mastery of their AP course material, AP Exams are important for other reasons: Students who do well can receive college credit and even advanced college placement.

The College Board currently offers 38 exams in courses such as AP Computer Science and AP World History. Each AP Exam is unique, but they do share some common characteristics:

  • Most AP Exams are between two and three hours long, with a ten-minute break between sections.
  • The first exam section usually consists of mostly multiple-choice questions.
  • Free-response questions (such as an essay, a solution to a problem, a spoken response) most often make up a large portion of the second exam section.

CCS High School students apply for AP courses in late winter/early spring of the preceding school year. Our AP Program has experienced amazing growth over the last five years, thanks to tremendous support from Collegium’s administrators, teachers, students, and families. In 2013, 24 students took 29 AP Exams at Collegium; in 2018, 100 students will take 182 exams!

This momentum will contribute to significant and positive change in our futures, and there is nothing the Collegium Community enjoys more than seeing students successfully moving forward!

Questions about Collegium’s AP Program? Email Mrs. Ratti.

AP Exam Procedures and Reminders

AP® Exams begin Monday, May 7th. For students taking exams, be sure to arrive at school on time for your scheduled AP Exam. Late admittance or alternate testing times are not permitted by the College Board.

  • High school students taking exams at 8:00am must report to the 535 Main Office by 7:15am to be transported to the Exton Campus of Delaware County Community College for their exams.
  • All students taking exams at 12:00pm must report to the 535 Main Office by 11:00am to be transported to the Exton Campus of Delaware County Community College for their exams.

If a student only has one AP exam on a given day, a parent/guardian may submit a note for early dismissal or late arrival, and the student will be excused from the rest of that school day. If students do not have alternate transportation and remain at school for the entire day, they will be expected to attend regularly scheduled classes.

All Advanced Placement students received personalized letters and permission slips with important details pertaining to each Exam.

Questions? Please email our Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator for Grades 7-12, Mrs. Ratti.

AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.

K-4 Book Fair Volunteers Needed

Our Spring Scholastic Book Fair for the 150 and 468/486 Buildings is approaching fast, and we are in need of volunteers! Our volunteers help students create wish lists and make purchases at the Book Fair.

Ms. Hollinshead is ready to work with CCS parent volunteers during the upcoming Book Fair events!

Upcoming K-4 Book Fairs are scheduled during school hours as follows:

  • 468/486 Building: Monday, May 14th through Friday, May 18th
  • 150 Building: Monday, May 21st through May 25th

To sign up to volunteer, please use the SignUpGenius link provided.

Feel free to email Ms. Hollinshead, our Elementary Librarian, with questions!

Upcoming Barnes & Noble Book Fair

Here is an opportunity to grab some coffee and look for some great reads for you and your children! Collegium's annual Barnes & Noble Book Fair begins Wednesday, May 9th and continues through Sunday, May 13th at the Main Street Exton location. This event supports literacy, Collegium library purchases (a percentage of your purchase amount* goes to Collegium), and family fun.

When you visit Barnes & Noble (Exton) between Wednesday, May 9th and Sunday, May 13th, be sure to mention that your purchases are for Collegium. Even better, join us for our kick-off event at 4:00pm on Wednesday, May 9th, featuring a live, in-store performance by the CCS Chamber Choir.

If you prefer, you can shop Barnes & Noble online until Sunday, May 13th using the link below. Be sure to enter the Collegium Charter School Book Fair Event ID Number, 12352159, in the designated field at the bottom of the payment page during checkout.

We hope to see you at Barnes & Noble during the Book Fair! Questions? Feel free to email Mrs. Ferry.

*The following products and services are not eligible for inclusion in online purchase totals: Barnes & Noble Memberships, Gift Cards, Gift Certificates, used and out-of-print books, textbooks, ebooks, digital hardware and accessories, and other select products. NOOK and NOOK accessories are eligible items but are not included in the online totals.

It's Book Fair Time Again for Grades 5-8

This year’s 5th-8th Grade Book Fair is scheduled for Monday, May 7th through Tuesday, May 15th in the 500 Building Library. We need parent/guardian volunteers to help the Book Fair run!

Please consider signing up for as many one-hour time slots as you can using the SignUpGenius link below. Book Fair volunteers have a great time helping students as they attend the Book Fair with their classes, and can also check out Book Fair items for their own children.

Book Fair hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm each day. Volunteers must have current clearances on file in advance with Collegium. Go to the Volunteering page of Collegium’s website for links and information on required clearances.

Another way you can help is to donate plastic shopping bags. Please send them to school labeled 500 Building Library, Attn: Mrs. Wallace. We will put them to good use during our Book Fair events.

All families are invited to come out and enjoy the 5th-8th Grade Book Fair at our Book Fair Family Night on Wednesday, May 9th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. There will be treats and prize drawings, along with a wonderful selection of books your family can choose from together. Can't make it to Family Night? No problem! You can shop our Online Book Fair now by using the link below.

Mrs. Wallace welcomes your emails with Book Fair and Book Fair Family Night questions.

May Keystone Exams

The Pennsylvania State Keystone Exams will be held in our 535 Building between Monday, May 14th and Friday, May 25th. The schedule is:

Biology Keystone Exam

  • Monday, May 14th
  • Tuesday, May 15th

Literature Keystone Exam

  • Wednesday, May 16th
  • Thursday, May 17th

Algebra 1 Keystone Exam

  • Monday, May 21st
  • Tuesday, May 22nd

All testing starts at 7:45am. Students should make sure to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast before taking their Keystone Exams.

If your student is absent during Keystone testing, they will participate in make-up testing on Friday, May 18th; Wednesday, May 23rd; Thursday, May 24th; and Friday, May 25th (as needed).

Please take a moment to review informative Keystone Exam resources below.

Questions? Email our Curriculum Coordinator for Grades 7-12, Mrs. Ratti.

Nominate Top CCS Teachers Today

With the CCS Home & School Association's Teacher Appreciation Week festivities starting this week (May 7th to May 11th; see the article below), the time is perfect for Collegium families to acknowledge CCS teachers they feel are truly outstanding.

To submit a nomination, follow the link below. When making your nominations, consider providing specific examples of how your 2018 Top Teacher nominees:

  • Demonstrate excellence in their field
  • Constantly go above and beyond their duties
  • Show their commitment to the Collegium Community
  • Exemplify CCS as The Smart Choice in Public Education, and
  • Make a significant impact on an individual or Collegium as a whole.

If you have questions about the nomination process, please email MLT's Lisa Dukart. Thank you!

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 the WWPD.

The email address and phone line are monitored by the WWPD Criminal Investigation Unit. We encourage anyone with information concerning suspected criminal activity to contact the WWPD using the email address, or by leaving a voicemail message on the WWPD phone 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 our Building Principals:

From the CCS Home and School Association (HSA)

The CCS HSA serves in a capacity similiar to a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). We owe our success to the enthusiasm and dedication of our many parent, teacher, and staff volunteers!

Pawsitive Praise

Thank you to our volunteers who worked the Uniform Resale Shop on Saturday, May 4th during Collegium's Kindergarten Screening Event!

Teacher Appreciation Week 2018

TAW Theme Schedule

It's a bird...it's a plane...no, it's Teacher Appreciation week (TAW)! Through our TAW celebration, the HSA is dedicated to showing our CCS Superheroes how much they mean to us—this week, and all year long!! We will be celebrating in different ways all week, and encourage you to participate as much or as little as you are able.

  • Monday - VITAL TOOLS: Keep your CCS Superhero headquarters stocked with essential tools (pencils, glue, and so on)!
  • Tuesday - ENERGY BOOST: Keep your CCS Superhero supercharged with their favorite snack!
  • Wednesday - GERM FIGHTER: Help your CCS Superhero ZAP germs away with soap, sanitizer, or wipes!
  • Thursday - SOUP-ER HERO: Save the day, and give your CCS Superhero a restaurant gift card, soup recipe, or meal ingredients.
  • Friday - RECHARGE: Pamper your CCS Superhero so they can recharge over the weekend.

TAW Ideas to Show Appreciation

To help the Collegium Community with ideas to show appreciation for Collegium's employees, the HSA asked our amazing CCS Superheroes to complete a survey about their favorite things. You can view the survey results, which are sorted by employees' last names, at the link below.

Please reach out to any CCS Superheroes directly if their information is not included in the survey results. Thank you!

*Results are shared using a View-Only link to a Google Sheet. If your company or professional network blocks access to Google Sheets, please access the information from your home computer, tablet, or smartphone.

TAW Donations S.O.S.

We also need volunteers and donations towards staff luncheons planned for each CCS building. A sign-up link is below, if you can help or donate. Thank you!

HSA Outgrown & Vendor Sale

We are less than two weeks away from our first Outgrown & Vendor Sale!

We are looking forward to an exciting event on Saturday, May 19th, but we will need lots of help and volunteers to help make this event a success. Please help us by signing up for a two-hour slot during the event.

Consignors: Tags are still available for purchase. Please email the HSA Officers directly and schedule a time to pick them up.

HSA Co-President Needed for 2018-2019

Interested in joining the HSA, collaborating with HSA Officers, and helping to move the organization and its goals forward? The position of HSA Co-President will be available at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. An election for the position will be held at our HSA meeting on Wednesday, May 2nd. For more information, please email the HSA Officers directly.

HSA Social Media Chair Wanted

Facebook is one way the HSA communicates with the Collegium Community. We need your help to develop, organize, and post photos and content to the HSA's Facebook page. Interested? Please email the HSA Officers directly.

Elementary School Store Volunteers Needed

Collegium's Elementary students love their School Stores! HSA Volunteers are needed to open the School Stores for students in Buildings 150, 468, 486, and 500 every Wednesday before school and at lunchtime. Please sign up to volunteer today! Clearances are required.

Ongoing Fundraisers

AmazonSmile

Simply shop at AmazonSmile and choose Collegium Charter School as your charity. A percentage of your purchase will be donated back to CCS!

Ongoing Fundraisers

Shoparoo

Download the free app, shop as you normally do, and then snap a picture of your receipt to earn money for Collegium.

Final 2017-2018 HSA Monthly Meeting

The next HSA General Meeting will be Wednesday, June 6th, at 4:30pm in the 535 Cafeteria. Please enter the 535 Building using the rear entrance furthest from the rear 535 Gym entrance (see photo). Building access is not available after 4:45pm.

Collegium Main Number

610-903-1300

Campus Main Office Extensions

  • 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 deemed to be inappropriate or of little or no interest to CCS families.

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