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).
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, Sept. 18th - Day 2
- High School Soccer 4:00pm @ Springfield Township
Tuesday, Sept. 19th - Day 3
- 150 Building: Grades 2-4 Art Club 3:45pm - 4:45pm @ 150 Art Room, 827
- 150 Building: Grades K & 1 Art Club 3:45pm - 4:45pm @ 150 Art Room, 908
- High School Soccer vs. Phelps 3:45pm @ United Sports
- Middle School Soccer 3:45pm @ United Sports
- 468/486 Building: Grades K & 1 Art Club 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 468 Art Room, Rm. 425
- High School Cross Country TCISL League Meet 4:00pm @ Perkiomen School
- NEHS Student Meeting 4:00pm - 5:30pm @ Room 118
Wednesday, Sept. 20th - Day 4
- Middle School Cross Country 3:30pm @ 1580 Charlestown Rd, Phoenixville
- Middle School Girls' Volleyball 3:45pm @ 500 Bld Gym
- 468/486 Building: Grades 2-4 Art Club 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 486 Art Room, 532
- High School Volleyball vs. Marple Newtown 5:00pm @ 535 Gym
- Science Fair Committee Meeting 5:00pm - 6:00pm @ 435 Conference Room
- Board of Trustees Public Meeting 6:00pm @ 435 Conference Room
Thursday, Sept. 21st - Day 5
- High School Soccer vs. Perkiomen 3:15pm @ United Sports
- High School Cross Country 3:45pm @ Kimberton Waldorf School
- 500 Building: Grades 5 & 6 Art Club 4:00pm - 5:00pm @ 500 Building Room 228
- Board of Trustees Public Work Session 6:00pm - 7:00pm @ 435 Conference Room
- Board of Trustees Regular Public Meeting 7:00pm @ 435 Conference Room
Friday, Sept. 22nd - Day 6
- 468/486 Building: 4th Grade Zoo Field Trip @ Philadelphia Zoo
- High School Volleyball vs. Oxford 5:00pm @ 535 Gym
Saturday, Sept. 23rd
- 500 Building: Hispanic Heritage Festival for all CCS Families 10:00am - 2:00pm @ 500 Cafeteria and Field
- High School Volleyball vs. Boyertown 12:00pm @ 535 Gym
2017 Cougar Challenge
What's the Cougar Challenge? It's our walk/exercise-a-thon to raise money for the HSA. The HSA provides 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? To acknowledge the walking required by volunteers and Collegium founders to secure the 1,000+ signatures from community members in support of initially opening Collegium. Last year, our families raised over $20,000 and we want to exceed that amount for 2017-2018. This year’s event will be held Friday, September 29th and if each CCS family solicits just $100 in donations, we will far exceed our goal. Additional information is provided below.
If credit card donations are preferable for your family and friends, use the link below.
Special thanks to Latsha, Davis, McKenna who is sponsoring this year’s event and to our other corporate donors who have been so generous to Collegium – BeneServ, FlynnO’Hara, Charter Choices, and BB&T – The Addis Group.
Education Explained
Each week, Amanda Lake - our Director of Educational Services - highlights common terms and philosophies in education, and explains how they impact teaching and learning at Collegium.
Standards
Pennsylvania’s academic standards for students are called the Pennsylvania Core Standards. We usually just call them the PA Core Standards and they are essentially a list of specific skills and information that students should know.
The standards are separated by subject and grade level, with expectations for mastery building from one grade level to the next. For example, there are a number of English Language Arts standards related to "reading informational text" (standard 1.2). For kindergarten students that standard reads, “With prompting and support, identify the main idea and retell key details of text.” The fifth-grade standard says, “Determine two or more main ideas in a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.” And the grades 11-12 standard reads, “Determine and analyze the relationship between two or more central ideas of a text, including the development and interaction of the central ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.”
Everyone agrees schools should teach students to read. But the level of mastery that is required at each grade level is where we sometimes have differences of opinion. The standards ensure that we all know what the specific educational goals are for each grade and subject, and provide a framework for teachers to use when planning their lessons. The options are endless for fun and exciting ways of helping students to learn to read informational text, and teachers at CCS have the freedom to plan lessons that are differentiated to their students' needs and interests.
If you are curious about the rest of the PA Core Standards in English Language Arts and Math, you can find them all by accessing the link below.
Elementary Intramural Programs
Running Club
Running intramurals will begin in October. The running program is open to students in 2nd-4th grades. To register, complete and return the registration form with payment by Wednesday, September 20, 2017.
This program is for students with a passion for running as well as first time runners. Students enrolled in the running 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 around team building, developing relationships, and making new friends.
Participant rosters will be posted on the CCS Athletics webpage on September 27, 2017. Participating families will also be notified via email message.
Soccer Intramurals and Cougar F.I.T. Club
Registration is also open for the Soccer Intramurals and Cougar F.I.T. Club programs. To register, complete and return the appropriate registration form (below) with payment by Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
Cougar F.I.T. Club is a new program this year. It will incorporate a series of activities designed to promote an active lifestyle and encourage students to have fun while making new friends. The age appropriate activities will include games and challenges often found in the elementary physical education classroom.
Participant rosters will be posted on the CCS Athletics webpage. The Soccer Intramurals roster will be posted on October 6, 2017. Cougar F.I.T. Club rosters will be posted on October 11, 2017. Participating families will also be notified via email message.
Questions? Please email our Intramural Program Coordinator, Mr. Handley.
PSAT Preparation Information
The PSATs will be administered during the school day on Wednesday, October 11th. All students in 10th grade will be testing. Pre-registered 9th and 11th grade students will also be testing.
Students, please try your best to get a good night’s sleep and be on time for school. Remember to bring #2 pencils and a calculator with you on test day. No mechanical pencils, please. You will receive your testing room assignments the day of the test. Test prep materials will be distributed to students on Monday, September 18th during the High School stretch period and can also be found on the College Board website.
If you have any questions about this schedule, please email our High School Counselors, Mrs. Wolfe or Ms. Tracey.
New and Improved Collegium Website
Over the summer, Collegium transitioned to a new website. We are continuing to highlight several "bells and whistles," allowing everyone to understand just how powerful and resourceful our new website is for the entire Collegium Community. This week, we're focusing on the Upcoming Events section of the homepage.
Upcoming Events allows families to see what's happening on campus at a quick glance. Clicking on "Show More Events..." expands the events list and shows a calendar. Selecting a date on the calendar will display all campus activities for that date.
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!
Hispanic Heritage Festival for All CCS Families
The Diversity Committee at our 500 Building, along with the 500 Building's Spanish Department, is hosting our 1st Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th through October 15th).
Our event is scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd, from 10:00am until 2:00pm at the 500 Building Field. If the weather does not cooperate, we'll move the festivities into the 500 Building Gym.
The Festival is open to all CCS families and members of the community, so please invite your friends and neighbors. There will be vendors, food trucks, live performances, community resource tables, and more! The event is free; however, families are responsible for any purchase from the vendors and food trucks.
If you have questions or if you need additional information, please email Mrs. Tobin. We hope to see you there!
500 Book Fair Volunteers Needed
It's Book Fair time in the 500 Building!
Parent volunteers are needed to assist at the Book Fair October 9th through 17th. The Book Fair hours are from 8:00am until 3:00pm. Using the SignUpGenius link below, please sign up for as many one hour time slots as you can. All volunteers must have clearances and related information is posted on the Volunteering page of our website.
Questions? Please email Mrs. Wallace.
Science Fair Committee Members Needed
Calling all parents/guardians and CCS faculty/staff! We are in need of members for our Science Fair Committee.
The committee includes parents and CCS staff, and our meetings take place at 5:00pm in the Conference Room of the 435 Building. We meet approximately every 3 weeks (schedule below) to discuss ideas and plan this year's Science Fair events. Even though we have two separate events - a 1st-12th grade Science Fair in mid-January and a Kindergarten Science Fair a few weeks later - we all meet and work together as one group.
For questions and additional information, please email Mrs. Tobin. We hope to see you at our first meeting!
Science Fair Committee Meetings
- Wed. Sept. 20th - Meeting in 435 at 5:00pm
- Wed. Oct. 18th - Meeting in 435 at 5:00pm
- Wed. Nov. 1st - Open House for CCS Students and Families from 6:00-7:00pm
- Wed. Nov. 15th - Meeting in 435 at 5:00pm
- Wed. Dec. 13th - Meeting in 435 at 5:00pm
- Wed. Jan. 3rd - Meeting in 435 at 5:00pm
- Wed. Jan. 17th - 1st-12th Grade Science Fair, 4:30-8:30pm
- Wed. Jan. 31st - Kindergarten Science Fair - 4:30-6:00pm
Help Wanted at CCS
1. Custodian
Full-time, school year position. Duties include sweeping, mopping, empty trash, cafeteria set-up, and other duties as assigned.
2. Food Service Positions
Part-time, approximately 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday on days when school is open.
3. Substitute Nurses
Full or half day when a School Nurse is absent or to accompany students on a field trip. PA Nursing License required.
4. Substitute Receptionists
Full or half day when Building Receptionists are unable to report to work. Experience working in an office setting is required.
To Apply
Submit your application or resume via email to our Human Resources (HR) Department.
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!
What is the HSA?
The HSA promotes communication, cooperation, understanding, and active participation between parents/guardians and Collegium. We are responsible for planning fundraisers and events throughout the year. The funds that we raise help support many programs at Collegium including Uniform Scholarships, Teacher and Principal Funds, Field Trip Scholarships, and many others.
Want to join us? Complete our interest form and we will reach out to you! You can also connect directly with the HSA via our HSA Facebook Page and get the most up to date information on events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities.
PAWsitive Praise
Thank you to all of the families who participated in our KidStuff fundraiser!
School Stores
Our School Stores are stocked and ready for shoppers starting this Wednesday, September 20th, but we just need one more thing. Our School Stores need you to be open.
To volunteer at one of our School Stores, please access the sign up form below. Clearances are required and more specific information is available on the Volunteering page of the Collegium website.
HSA Volunteer Opportunities
1. Treasurer
Responsible for the budget process; receives all monies of the CCSHSA; keeps an accurate record of receipts and expenditures; pay out funds in accordance with the approved budget as authorized by the CCSHSA organization.
2. Social Media Chair
Develops content and serves as our HSA Facebook Page Administrator.
3. School Store Coordinator
Manages overall operations of the school stores. Ordering merchandise, keeping track of inventory, and refilling as needed.
If you have an interest in any of the following please email the HSA Officers directly.
Next HSA General Meeting
Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month in the Conference Room of the 435 Building. Times will alternate between 4:30pm and 6:30pm from month to month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 3rd at 6:30pm.
Community Opportunity
This section of our Newsletter lists information from local groups and upcoming community activities Collegium families may want to explore. Our Community Opportunities section will not include information about non-CCS fundraisers or information from for-profit companies.
Girl Scouts Information Session
Girls Scouts will be holding a girl scout information night Monday, September 18, 2017 from 6:30pm-8:00pm in the 535 Cafeteria. Girls in grades K-12 and their parents are welcome to attend. Questions? Email Jenna Robertson.
Collegium 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.