Hi Kindergarten Families!

Below are the details of the wonderful winter activities you and your children can participate in at Collegiate.  You should receive the 'Tis the Season packet this week, if you have not already, and I would suggest browsing through all of the fun opportunities!  Please let me know if I can answer any questions.

Thanks,

Liane Pace

Kindergarten New Families Representative

The Collegiate Parents’ Association invites you to join us for

‘TIS THE SEASON…

Saturday, Dec. 7

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Lower School Campus

Holiday Greens Sale

Friday, Dec. 6

8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

100 Luck Hall (New Location!)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! A Collegiate tradition you don’t want to miss! Shopping, entertainment for the kids, music and food, a day of fun for the entire family! Sponsored by the Parents' Association, proceeds from this event go back to Collegiate to fund programs and projects that directly benefit the entire Collegiate community. For more information and to order online, visit the Collegiate website here. 

New this year:

SUPERSTARS SPIRIT NIGHT –  Wednesday, Nov. 20, 4-9 p.m.

Nothing like a good pizza and subs to get you in the holiday spirit! Join your Collegiate friends at Superstars on Nov. 20, 4-9 p.m., 5700 Patterson Ave. Call ahead and take-n-bake your pizza at home if you are in a rush! A percentage of all sales go back to Collegiate!

HOLIDAY GREENS

Pre-sale pick up and shop on Friday, Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 100 Luck Hall

Shop on Saturday, Dec. 7, 8:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. in 100 Luck Hall

Take advantage of the easiest way to buy your holiday greenery like classic wreaths and roping, fragrant paperwhites and flashy poinsettias! Quantities of some items are limited, so pre-order to be sure or shop the Greens Sale on Friday, all in a new location in 100 Luck Hall! 

All sales benefit the Parents’ Association!

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE 

Shop on Saturday, Dec. 7, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Estes Building

The Estes Building will be filled with all kinds of unique and exciting gifts for everyone! You might even finish your holiday shopping! 15% of all sales go back to Collegiate! For a complete list of vendors, please visit here.

CUB BOUTIQUE

 Shop on Saturday, Dec. 7, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Nunnally Hall

No grownups allowed! Your kids will enjoy secret shopping for family, friends and pets! Elves will be there to assist your child. All gifts are $10 or less. Gift-wrapping is included! Print the sign-up form and shopping list here.

JINGLE MINGLE

Saturday, Dec. 7

First Seating: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Second Seating: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Third Seating: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

The holiday hot spot for family fun! Join us in Burke Hall where we will be encouraging culinary creativity, listening to beautiful live music or watching a fun holiday movie.

First Seating: “Decorate your own waffle” stations for the entire family! While enjoying your waffles, enjoy music by our very own Robby Turner.

Second Seating: The Lower School Cantorion is sure to pack the house again with their beautiful holiday music. “Decorate your own waffle” stations will still be in business for this seating!

Third Seating: Popcorn and drinks will be served, while your children watch a fun holiday movie and you shop BY YOURSELF! Children must be at least four yrs. old to participate.

Each seating is $5/person. Reservations are due by Tuesday, Dec. 3. Please make reservations through the ‘Tis the Season… packet, or online here.

Items to Pre-Order

PORTICO GOURMET DINNERS

Stock your freezer with delicious dinners compliments of the chefs at Portico Restaurant, formerly known as Franco’s Frozen Foods. Enjoy these delicious Italian classics that feed a family of five. Reheat and serve, providing the perfect answer to the eternal question: What’s for supper? To order online go here.

PLANTATION PEANUTS

The Plantation Peanuts Company offers a variety of gourmet peanut products cooked to perfection in small batches. Orders of six or more cans receive free personalized holiday labels! To order online go here.

‘Tis the Season 2013 Schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 4-9 p.m. Superstars Spirit Night

Friday, Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Holiday Greens

Pre-Sale Pick Up and Shop

100 Luck Hall

Saturday, December 7, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Cub Boutique – Nunnally Hall

Jingle Mingle – Burke Hall

Holiday Boutique – Estes Building

Holiday Greens Sale – 100 Luck Hall

Grab a Bite - Food for the kids (and grown-ups too!) available all day. Delicious donuts, coffee, drinks and other food offerings available for purchase throughout the day!

Invitation from our Math and Reading Specialists

Happy fall, everyone! What a beautiful day.  I loved watching your sweet children climb aboard their buses for the field trip to the apple orchard today.  What a perfect day to head up to Charlottesville and enjoy this crisp fall weather!

I wanted to pass along an invitation from our reading and math specialists. 

On Thursday, October 3rd, from 7 - 8 pm, Frances Coleman and Anne Gray Siebert will host a program in the Lower School cafeteria (Burke Hall) for all new parents.  Hopefully you have heard about this event.  I encourage new parents to attend if you can! 

Frances is our Lower School math specialist, and Anne Gray is one of our Lower School reading specialists.  The purpose of this parent program is to give you an overview of the math and language arts curriculum in our Lower School, with specific emphasis on the role Collegiate's math and reading specialists play in our student's lives.  Frances and Anne Gray will speak to some specifics of what to expect in Kindergarten.  They will also answer any questions! 

I hope this is helpful.  Please feel free to email Frances at fcoleman@collegiate-va.org or Anne Gray at asiebert@collegiate-va.org if you have any questions.

Enjoy the rest of this wonderful week!

Anne Bruce

A Welcome from the Parents' Association

Welcome Class of 2026!  Does it seem hard to believe that your child is in Kindergarten?  I know this is an exciting time for you and your child.

You and your child have such wonderful things in store in the coming year.  Not only is Collegiate going to be a great environment in which your child can grow and learn for the years to come, but you will find that it will also be a great place for you.  As a Collegiate parent, you are automatically a member of the Parents' Association, and we are thrilled to have you on board!  We have an amazing group of parents who really make our school community special.  I encourage you to meet as many other parents as you can.  They will be a source of support for you as your child progresses through school. 

There are many ways that you can get involved at Collegiate.  There are many opportunities to help in and outside of your child’s classroom, and I encourage you to do so. Volunteering is a great way to get connected to the Collegiate community.  Please refer to the Volunteer Opportunities link on the Collegiate website under "Parents" (Click here to access the link directly).  This site lists many ways to get involved on different levels, so please take a look.  You also will been informed of classroom volunteer opportunities by your teacher and room parent.  

I enjoyed seeing many of you at the kindergarten welcome reception in August, and look forward to getting to know you in the months to come.  In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact me at kmhidell@gmail.com. 

I looking forward to meeting you soon.

Kristin Hidell 
Parent's Association Lower School Coordinator

Happy Fall from Liane Pace

Happy Early Fall!

I hope this blog entry finds you all well and enjoying your second week of school!  I want to thank those of you who were able to join us over the summer for the playground playdate and Mom's Night Out!  It was wonderful to have the opportunity to get to know one another and let our children become buddies!  Since we had such a fantastic turnout, we will have additional get-togethers as the school year progresses.

So, we are off to a GREAT start ~  I saw many, many smiling faces walking through Luck Hall (might I add in a very neat line :)) the other day!  What fun it is to be in Kindergarten!!

I would like to pass along some helpful tips for fun Collegiate fall events! 

    ▪    Home football games and other athletic events ~ Come cheer on the Cougars!  A fun way to build the Cougar spirit in your little one!  Please view the Collegiate website here for the full Collegiate sports schedule as well as information on how to volunteer to work the football concession stand if you are interested.  I have two football fans in my house, so we will be sure to make a lot of games.  Hope to see you there!

    ▪    September 13 ~ Convocation! An exciting event that your children will love and remember always!!  School-wide (K-12) fun participation!  Your children are allowed to wear Collegiate t-shirts and jeans. 

    ▪    September 26 ~ Cougar Pause! Celebrate the beginning of the school year with the whole family on the Lower School Lawn!  DJ, games, and dinner - always a good time!  Rain or shine.  Please sign up here if you are interested in attending. 

    ▪    October 25 ~ Pep Rally!  Yes, similar to what you may remember having when you were younger, but increase the participation and excitement by 100%!!!!  Lots and lots and lots of green and gold!!  This is a moment to take pictures before school!  I am giving you the scoop - sometimes Kindergarten parents are not aware of how much green and gold to dress their little ones in - answer is - there is never enough on this day!!  Have fun with it!  Also, Collegiate t-shirts and jeans are allowed.
   
    ▪    October 30 ~  Kindergarten and First Grade Halloween Parade!  As a suggestion, after normal scheduled drop off, find a place to park or return quickly after grabbing a cup of coffee, because around 8:30 your little Kindergartner will parade through the entire school with their class to show off their fun Halloween costumes!  They will make their way from the kindergarten building, past the library and then across the football field on their way to the Upper School to fill their bathtub with their "Tons of Coins! "  You will receive more information regarding the coins and the parade from your classroom teacher.  Another fun photo opportunity!  :)      

    ▪    Also, after September is over and schedules become routine, you are allowed to come and have lunch with your child.  They LOVE to have you, a grandparent or a special friend come eat lunch with them!  And it's a great way for you to get to know some of their pals. 

As you can see there are many different and fun ways for your child to start to feel more and more like a part of the Collegiate family- we hope you do too!  It is a wonderful place to be a part of.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Take care and hope to see you soon! 

Liane Pace

Hi everyone, and welcome to week #2!  I hope you enjoyed the long weekend.

It was SO wonderful to watch all of your sweet children navigate their first week at Collegiate!  I am so glad they are here.  They already look like old pros! 

We are very fortunate to have some wonderful "new" teachers at Collegiate this year, and one of these teachers is Christine Hoffman, our kindergarten music teacher!  She joins Beth Tracy in our Lower School music department.  I wanted to pass along a message from Christine. See below.  

Here's to a wonderful second week!!

Anne Bruce

Hello Kindergartners and Parents,

 

 

My name is Christine Hoffman, and I am so excited to be a new Lower School Music teacher!

Before coming to Collegiate, I taught K - 5 music for 10 years in Hanover County at Beaverdam Elementary School.  Before that, I taught music and English in elementary and middle schools in Tomioka-shi, Japan. 

This year I will be teaching primarily Kindergarten and 1st Grade music.  In my music room, we will explore the world through music!  We will learn folk songs and dances from around the globe as we learn about other cultures.  If you or someone you know has knowledge about a certain culture and would like to come in and talk with the kids (or perhaps even share a song or dance), please let me know!

I believe in four stages of music learning, taken from the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education:  imitation, exploration, improvisation, and composition.  We will use our voices, bodies, unpitched percussion instruments (such as drums, triangles, maracas, wood blocks, guiros, tambourines, etc.) and pitched barred instruments (such as xylophones, glockenspiels, and metallophones) to move through these four stages.  I believe in creating a comfortable and respectful environment in my classroom that allows for mistakes and promotes creativity.

Again, I am really excited to be here at Collegiate, and I look forward to meeting you all soon!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  I have enjoyed the time that I’ve spent with your children in our first week together, and I know this is going to be a great year!


Christine Hoffman
christine_hoffman@collegiate-va.org

Directories for sale!

Happy almost-first-day-of-school, everyone!!  It was great to see so many of you this morning!!  I hope all of your Kindergartners are excited about their teachers and classrooms.  Tomorrow will be such a great day.  It was so much fun for me to see so many of our newest Cougars on campus. 

I wanted to pass along a note from Collegiate parent Claudia Rein, who is in charge of directory sales this year.  You will be able to pre-order directories at Kindergarten Parent's Night tomorrow night!  Read on....


Welcome kindergarten parents!  Be sure to stop by and pre-order your new Collegiate School directories at tomorrow night's Parent's Night!  We will be selling directories in the Watt Library (LS library).  We accept cash, check or student charge.  Be sure to stock up for the kitchen, office and car! 

If you are unable to stop by that evening, directories will also be available for sale at the LS, MS and US Parent's Nights (if you happen to have children in those grades and will be attending those events).

After those events, the directory will be available for purchase in the Cougar Shop. 

Thank you!

Claudia Rein

Important Health Form Information From Nurse Hall!

Nurse Hall has asked me to pass along a message to you all regarding health forms.  

All parents of kindergartners need to have completed two forms --

• The online "student health update" that is completed by parents annually
• The four-page state health form that includes immunizations and a pediatrician's signature. *This one is required by the first day of kindergarten by state law.

Please email Laura Hall at lmhall@collegiate-va.org or call her office at 741-9787 if you have any questions!!  It is imperative that she have these forms before school begins on Tuesday.

Thanks!

Hello from Anne Gray Siebert, Learning Specialist

Welcome to Kindergarten!  My name is Anne Gray Siebert. It is my pleasure to be the Lower School Learning Specialist working with kindergarten students in language arts and math throughout the school year. My main goal is to help all students reach their full learning potential through engaging, hands-on, multi-sensory learning activities.

In collaboration with the classroom teachers, I plan weekly lessons to support the language arts development of kindergarten students. We explore literacy in ways that will make reading come alive for your child. Just as children learn to walk at all different times, their path to reading will also vary. By physically being in your child’s room for an hour once a week, I am able to work side-by-side with classroom teachers to support the students on their individual journeys—stretching, challenging and guiding to ensure that they grow throughout the year. As the year progresses, support for those who need it becomes available outside the classroom in a small group setting.

In addition to daily time dedicated to classroom math instruction, your mathematician will spend 45 minutes a week in our fabulous Math Lab.  Your little one will work to build number sense, problem solve and increase spatial awareness through fun, hands-on games and higher level thinking activities. 

Come and visit when you come in August to Reynolds Hall, Room 102.  I would love to meet you and your kindergartner.  2013-2014 is going to be a wonderful year!

Sincerely,

Anne Gray Siebert

Learning Specialist

Hello from your Kindergarten teachers!

Hello to the Class of 2026!

I welcome this first opportunity to say “hello” from all of the Kindergarten teachers and assistants!  The Lower School campus is already buzzing with energy and excitement in the anticipation of beginning a new school year.  One of our favorite books is Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten and, just like Miss Bindergarten, we will soon be making our classrooms come alive getting ready for our new boys and girls. 

As August flies by and the start of school quickly approaches, we look forward to meeting all of you and putting names with faces.  Very soon, our classrooms will become more than just spaces filled with new crayons, paints and paper – it will become our own community of learners in which a thirst for learning and a sense of respect will emerge with the magic and wonder that Kindergartners bring to school each day!
               
We can't wait to meet you all!

Sincerely,

Eileen Beane and Your Kindergarten Team

Hello from our new K teacher, Mrs. Andrews!

Hello and happy last days of summer! My name is Elizabeth Andrews, and I will be teaching Kindergarten this year. I have been teaching 2nd grade for nine years at Collegiate. I am very excited and energized about this new path I am taking. I have two boys, ages four and six. My oldest son, William, just finished Kindergarten at Collegiate last year.  He became an avid reader, writer, mathematician, scientist, artist and of course, a Collegiate Cougar. Watching his growth throughout the past year was such a treat for me each day.

   Your child has so much to look forward to, as well. Meeting new friends, running and climbing on Fort Cougar, reading and listening to books, eating lunch in the cafeteria, participating in Collegiate traditions, such as Convocation and Pep Rally, writing stories, selling goods at the World Trade Fair--the list is endless. I am looking forward to seeing many familiar faces and meeting lots of new children in a couple of weeks. Until then, I hope you and your children enjoy these remaining long, hot, lazy days of summer.

Hello from the Lower School Nurse

Hello to all our newest Cougars!  My name is Laura Hall, and for those of you who don't know me, I am the Lower School nurse.  I am here everyday during the school year from 7:45 - 3:30....my office is just down the hall from the Lower School front desk.  Please feel free to stop by and say hello!

Just a couple of reminders as we approach the beginning of the school year:

There is a great deal of information about the necessary health forms required before the start of school and our sick policy in the Lower School Handbook, which you received in the mail recently.  There is also good information on our Back to School website (click here) about forms due, etc.  Also please refer to our website under LS Health and Counseling (click here) for suggestions about when to keep a child home.  Collegiate does enforce a 24-hour fever free policy.  

Any medication, prescription or OTC, must be given to me in the original container...no "loose" pills can be administered.  Action plan forms are required of students with diabetes, seizure disorders or asthma, and are available on our website. These will be kept in my office each year.  Students who have life-threatening allergies must have epi pens, and these must be kept current.  Children with epi pens must also have a food action allergy plan on file each year.  Please be sure you've touched base with me if your child has any of these health concerns, or if you have any questions at all.

I welcome your calls (741-9787) and visits....or you can email me at lmhall@collegiate-va.org.  I look forward to meeting you and all of your children.

Laura

Hello from LaNessa West

Hi, and welcome to the Collegiate community!

My name is LaNessa West, and I am the Lower School Chair of Academic Services.  I am delighted that your precious "babies" will be joining us this year.

I serve as a "point guard" for students, teachers, parents and learning specialists.  I am dedicated to meeting the needs of ALL students, especially those with learning differences.  Assisting in developing a plan for instruction and suggesting strategies to help students work toward their academic potential is my "claim to fame"!  I cannot wait to see those smiling faces enter Luck Hall!  I already consider it a privilege to be even a small part of one of the most important milestones of your little one's life.

Please feel free to email me with any questions at lwest@collegiate-va.org.  Otherwise, see you next week!

      LaNessa West
      Lower School Academic Services

Important Email from Collegiate School

Hello everyone....I hope each of you received your personal Back-to-School email from Collegiate....be sure you don't overlook it, it has important information in it about the start of the school year, and requires action from you.  Everyone's link is personal to your child, so be sure not to miss it in your inbox.  Let us know if you have any questions...I don't know if I'll have the answers, but I can certainly try! 

Also be sure to peruse the "Back to School" portion of the website.  There is a LOT of good and important information there.  Here is the link, just in case:

http://cougar.collegiate-va.org/backtoschool2013/

I hope you are enjoying your summer and this beautiful weather!

Anne Bruce

Hello all -- I am forwarding a nice note from our Lower School Guidance Counselor, Marella Gregory.  She is wonderful!  Please feel free to contact her with any questions about her services or Collegiate's Character Education program.

Anne Bruce



Welcome Kindergarten families!  Collegiate's Lower School guidance program has much to offer.  I like to think of it as one of our "diamonds in the Collegiate rough," which I know can be an overwhelming experience for incoming parents.  Like a diamond, our guidance program is made up of "four C's," but not cut, color, clarity, and karat weight.  As you're acclimating to Collegiate, please try the following on for size:

*  Counseling:  We offer individual and small group counseling sessions to meet our LS students' growing and changing needs.  Most visits occur during the lunch or recess time blocks in order to avoid interruptions to instructional time.  Parents and/or teachers refer students as needed, and of course, our students love to "self-refer."  Outside counseling sessions are occasionally recommended for those needs beyond the realm of predictable and developmental needs.

*  Classroom Guidance:  I meet with each and every class once a month to explore Collegiate's five values (honor, love of learning, excellence, respect and community), as well as to discuss and practice skills that contribute to the efforts of successful learners.

*  Consultation:  Many of our Collegiate parents like the opportunity to consult with our school counselor regarding how best to help their children learn and grow.  Teachers and other adults in our Richmond and school community work with me as well, to discuss best practices when it comes to meeting the growing needs (and wants) of our children in appropriate and healthy ways.  This piece of our program proves again and again that two (or three or four...) heads are better than one.

*  Coordination: Parent Education programs for Collegiate family needs are offered throughout the school year.  Outside professionals are often invited in to share their expertise with us in conjunction with our Lower School Counselor, administrators, and often classroom teachers.  Once again, the synergy of working together can be a great asset to our children.  Some frequently requested topics are:  The Birds and the Bees,  How to Recognize and Navigate Bullying, Social & Emotional Growth and Development (with an emphasis on technology), etc.  Still, as with most of what we offer, student needs drive this piece of our program.

Again, welcome!  I hope you will feel free to call or set up an appointment to meet with me.  I have been at Collegiate for over 10 years, and am fast approaching my 30th year as an educator.  I look forward to continued learning and growth with you and our newest cougars.


Sincerely,


Marella Gregory

Hello and an Invitation from Liane Pace!

With the excitement of Kindergarten rising for both parents and students, I thought I would initiate my blog to serve as a forum for reminders and tips as well as an invitation for two get-togethers. 

First, I would like to introduce myself for those I may not know, or did not get the opportunity to meet at the "play day" in May.  My name is Liane Pace, and my son Quinn is a rising Kindergartner.  I also have two other children -- Hudson, a rising third grader, and Ellis, a "rising" preschooler :).  I am the Collegiate Kindergarten New Families Representative this school year.  I am here to assist with questions that you may have through the year, as well as to provide you with brief reminders for fun school events…and there will be so many exciting ones!  For some of you, this will not be new information because you already have a child(ren) at Collegiate, but maybe still helpful reminders.

I know it is only July, but the start of school is right around the corner and our little ones, our pride and joy, our hard-to-believe Kindergartners will be off to start their "school career!"  This is big stuff!!  In their sweet little minds and lives probably one of the biggest events thus far.  You have prepared them for this amazing journey they are about to embark on, so hopefully I can provide information to better prepare you…..

FUN, FUN and more FUN!!  Meeting new friends, teachers, administrators, participating in exciting beginning of the school year activities, becoming part of the Collegiate community, proudly wearing green and gold and maybe being a little tired too!!  All normal, all expected and all reason to celebrate!  They have done it- started Kindergarten!

Speaking of starting school, here are some helpful reminders -

•    Collegiate-provided tote bags are in lieu of backpacks for the K students.

•    Please review the handbook for important information (it was mailed last Thursday, so you should have it by now or will soon!), and please make special note of the dress code before "back-to-school" clothes and shoe shopping.

•    Be on the lookout for a Collegiate email regarding forms needed to be completed (i.e. lunch order form), volunteer positions (great way to meet fellow Collegiate parents) and other pertinent information. You should have already received an email asking you to complete and submit the new driver's form.  I would encourage you to do so, so that you are cleared to drive the students on field trips.

•    Class assignments will be mailed August 13th!!!

Now, let's have our kiddos meet again to get to know each other more - if your fun summer plans allow, as well as if the weather permits, please join us on the Collegiate playground "Fort Cougar" this Saturday, July 27th, from 10-11am.  I sent an email invitation to everyone, I hope you got it!  Also, be on the look out for a Mom's Night Out e-vite, which will be held late August!

So, for now, I urge you to explore the Collegiate website, enjoy your summer and contact me with any questions.

I will leave you with a story from just a few (very quickly passing) years ago, from my oldest sons' first day of Kindergarten - my husband and I arrived to Collegiate early with our son to take the standard "first day of school" photo in front of school, and after taking the picture we were ready to walk him into his classroom until he turned to us and said, "Mom, please let's get back in the car and drop me off in the carpool line."  My heart wanted to walk him into school, I had trouble even letting go of his hand, but his mature comment and the confident manner in which he conveyed it, as well as his excitement, provided a moment in parenthood never to be forgotten.  He was ready - our kids are ready!!

 Looking forward to seeing you soon!  Go Cougars!

A Note from P.E. Teacher, Page Chapman

 

Welcome to Collegiate,

My name is Page Chapman.  I have been the Kindergarten and 1st Grade physical education teacher at Collegiate since 2000.  Along with my teaching duties, I coach the JV soccer team in the fall and the co-ed soccer team in the winter.   Sports and physical education have always been a part of my life, and I love teaching children the foundations of the importance of being active. My hobbies outside of Collegiate are playing/refereeing soccer, being with family, and most of all, fly-fishing.  

Kindergarten students have physical education twice a week for a total of one hour.  The main focus is on movement exploration as it relates to personal and general space.  Loco-motor and non-locomotor skills are taught in relationship to spatial awareness on a variety of levels, speeds, and directions.  In Kindergarten, the children will have the opportunity to develop eye-hand coordination by using many manipulatives.  We will teach elementary fitness concepts, as well as exercises to develop an appreciation for life-long fitness.  During each class the children will begin to develop essential values that promote good character.  

*IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROPER FOOTWEAR AT SCHOOL*

The following statement is from the Collegiate Lower School Handbook:  “Athletic shoes worn every day are the most appropriate footwear for school since active movement (recess and P.E. classes) is scheduled each day.   We request that students not wear slip-on shoes or sandals.   All shoes should be comfortable yet safe for active and vigorous movement/play, including climbing on equipment, running and stopping quickly, and kicking exercises.   The dress code for physical education classes requires that each child wear athletic shoes (with laces that really tie or two secured Velcro straps), and loose fitting clothes that allow for active and safe movement."  

I look forward to meeting your child in the fall and hope your summer is fantastic.  Please contact me at pchapman@collegiate-va.org  if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Page Chapman

Collegiate Website Parent Log-in

 Happy 4th of July everyone!!  I hope you are enjoying your summer, and that you are finding some activities to keep everyone busy despite this rain!  Hopefully it will move out before the long weekend, and we can enjoy some outdoor fun and festivities with friends and family.

I wanted to let you know that all new parents have now been assigned a "Parent Log-In" to access the parent section of the Collegiate School website!!  Here’s what you do:

• Click HERE to go to the parent section of the website. 

• In the top left corner, there is a place to enter a "user name."  Your user name is your REAL first name (as you submitted it to Collegiate) + your last name, and it is case sensitive.  So Peggy Smith would be MargaretSmith... Cathy Wall would be CatherineWall, etc.  After you've entered your user name, click "Log In Help" to get your temporary password. 

• The user name for any parent who is ALSO an alum of Collegiate will contain your class year at the end: for example, AndrewMiller91. 

If you have any trouble or questions, please email Dianne Carter in the Communications office at dcarter@collegiate-va.org, and she will help you out!

I also wanted to let you know that the Lower School Handbook is in production as I write this, and each of you will receive one in the mail in a couple of weeks.  The Handbook contains a great deal of wonderful information about Lower School -- including school hours, carpool information, dress code, etc.  So keep an eye out. 

I will post again when it's in the mail!

Enjoy the parent section of the website.  I encourage each of you, new or "old," to peruse the website occasionally over the summer....it's chock full of great information and is updated constantly with current news, reflections, and summer faculty activity.

As always, please let me know if I can answer any questions for you!

Stay dry,

Anne Bruce

Wow, time flies!  I can't believe we are nearing the end of June.  I hope all of you are enjoying some downtime with your families.

I have asked our kindergarten resource teachers to "say hello" and introduce themselves to you here in this blog.  Below is our first post -- it is from Holly Smith, our kindergarten art teacher.  She is fantastic!  Look for more to come soon.

And as always, please feel free to call or email (contact info to the right) if you have any questions over the summer, and I will find out the answer!  

Happy Summer,

Anne Bruce


Hello to the parents of the class of 2026!

It tickles me each fall to see to see a new crop of smiling faces, eager hands and creative minds. I feel privileged to guide your children in their study of art. During this year I will teach art elements like line, color, shape, form and texture using many media with varied techniques. 

 

I'll also introduce the stories and art of some master artists. We'll look at lots of art from lots of times and cultures. And I will be careful to find that fine line of teaching art skills and best practices, while fostering your child's innate curiosity and creativity. We'll have fun.

Rather than traveling much this summer, I'll be the happy recipient of many out of state guests (parents, sister and family, high school friends) as well as international visitors (daughter and her boyfriend taking a break from the Peace Corps in Cameroon.) In between those visits, I'm spending many hours in my studio, getting much appreciated, uninterrupted time to make art.

Ahhhh, summertime!

I look forward to meeting your children!

Holly Smith

 

 

Happy June!! I don't know about you, but I am very happy summer is here.  I am at school and our office is open, but the campus is eerily quiet with all of the students gone.  Teachers are busily cleaning up, working on final comments, and closing shop.  

There is, of course, one office on campus that is just beginning to hit its busiest time, and that's Summer Quest!  Beginning next week, campus-wide activity level will pick back up as some great summer camps get started.

I'm passing along a message from Collin McConaghy, our director of summer programs, about Summer Quest camps that your incoming kindergartner might be interested in!  Please give him a call if you are interested.  

Anne Bruce

Summer Better than Others!

Did you know that Collegiate Summer Quest offers over 100 different programs for preschoolers through adults over the summer months? There are a lot of camps offered for your rising kindergartner this summer, and this is a great opportunity to give them a chance to become familiar with Collegiate's campus before their official first day in the fall.  Whether your child is interested in enrichment, academic or sports camps, Summer Quest has a camp for them.  A few of our popular camps for this age group include 

• Give Yourself a Hand - Fine Motor Skills Camp
• Lets Play Cards - Math Camp
• Lets Get Ready to Read - Reading Camp
• Explorer Cubs - All day Enrichment, All-Sports and Discover Richmond.

For more information and a complete list of programs available, please visit the Summer Quest website here or contact the Summer Quest office at (804) 741-9714.

We look forward to meeting you in the fall and hope to see you around campus this summer! 

The SQ office staff ~ Collin and Marsha

Welcome to our family!  Thank you so much for choosing Collegiate for your child. We know that there are many excellent educational choices in the Richmond area, so we are very grateful that you have opted to join the Collegiate family. You have so many wonderful times ahead of you!  Below are a few pictures from this year's Kindergarten World Trade Fair, which just took place this week and marked the culmination of the kindergartners' yearlong culture studies.  Before you know it, your child will be making international products and selling their wares to classmates (ahem, I mean, students from other countries!) too.

Throughout the summer, we will use this blog to update you with information and helpful tips and suggestions that will help you get excited for kindergarten.  A variety of different Lower School faculty and staff will post information, so keep a lookout.  You should receive an email notification whenever something new is posted.  We hope you find this site helpful as you and your child prepare to transition into kindergarten. Please feel free to ask questions (see email at right), and we'll do our best to answer in a future post or directly to you.  We are thrilled to welcome you as the newest members of our community.

Thanks to so many of you for coming to our welcome party on the playground.  We loved seeing all of you and hope you and your children were able to start making connections.  The Class of 2026 is such a GREAT group!

Happy (almost) summer!

Sincerely,

Anne Bruce Ahearn
Associate Director of Admission