January 11, 2021
Greetings CSS Families,
On Monday, January 18, we will observe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. It is a day to celebrate his life, his legacy, and his struggle. It is essential that we use this time to reflect on his memory and how, through his life, we have all come to know many privileges and advantages. The heart of Dr. King was to serve humankind. Nobel Peace Prize-winning South African theologian Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to provide light at a dark time, and we hope to honor the MLK holiday and celebrate his life with our community through the theme “Service to mankind.”
Education
PreKindergarten - 5th Grade classrooms received a new collection of library books showcasing the contributions of persons of color around the world who used their life as an example of service or who contributed to minority leadership. Teachers and students are reading one book each day this week.In Middle & Upper School, conversations connected to MLK’s legacy are being woven into curriculum and advisory periods.
Follow our social media for highlights of these engaging activities and thoughtful prompts.
Dr. King’s Birthday Celebrations - Friday, January 15, 202110:30 a.m. - Children’s School Assembly (CSS families may tune in through a Facebook Livestream)
12:30 p.m. - Middle & Upper School Assembly for students
We will honor the life and service that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. provided this country with a birthday celebration. The birthday party will have candles and showcase a craft created by Children’s School students. We will ask students, “What does service mean to you? How can you be of service to others?” as the primary way to share the theme. The Middle and Upper School assembly will feature student speakers articulating their experiences through service. We will share out highlights and photos on social media from these assemblies.
MLK Day of Service - Monday, January 18, 2021
While Monday is observed as a day off of school, we want to model for students ways to give back to the community and use Dr. King’s life as an inspiration to contribute to others. We invite families to commit to completing an act of service on this day or in the near future. Wear a CSS shirt, mask, or other Kodiak gear and take a picture of you actively serving mankind. Please share your photos with us by emailing them to awolfe@css.org.
MLK Day Keynote - Monday, January 18, 2021, Noon (MTN)We have a special guest for our school community and friends on Monday, January 18, 2021, at Noon (MTN). Please join us for a Zoom gathering as we welcome Lt. Colonel James H. Harvey, III, the last remaining Colorado Tuskegee Airman, as our guest speaker. Please feel free to invite your family and friends to hear this 97-year-old leader and pillar of the Colorado community. We will listen to Lt. Colonel Harvey, have the opportunity for Q&A, and enjoy a special song shared to commemorate what it means to be a strong community of service.
Tech Tip: Be sure to download Zoom onto your device ahead of time and join the Zoom call a few minutes before the start of the session.
Soles for Service Shoe Drive: January 19, 2021 - February 10, 2021In partnership with the Parents Association, CSS families are invited to donate gently-used shoes. The shoe drive collection bins will be available from January 19 - February 10, 2021, throughout campus. El Pomar Academic Center, Early Childhood Center, Children’s Academic Center, and the Trianon will have a drop-off box. Please tie shoelaces or bundle with a rubber band to help keep shoes paired together.
Ultimately the shoes will be donated to serve the mission of a local charity. First, our community will engage in the simple act of collecting shoes. We will then display the shoes in an art installation to deepen educational conversations about historical boycotts and segregation during Black History Month.
For more information on the shoe drive or to assist, please contact Brooke Rawls P’30, P’32, at bkrawls11@gmail.com or (317) 902-8157.
Sincerley,
Tambi Tyler
Head of School
