A Year of Record-Breakers, Firsts, and Milestones

Colorado Academy 2018-2019 Timeline

A Year of Record-Breakers, Firsts, and Milestones

The past school year might be best remembered for the new facilities opened on campus, or for the many “firsts” in athletics, or numerous accolades in academic competitions. It was also a year remembered for unprecedented weather events, continued record interest in enrollment at CA, and even the second largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history. Here are just a few highlights from 2018-2019. n

SEPTEMBER 2018

In one of the most popular SPEAK

lectures ever, CA parent and Erik Weihenmayer spoke to a standingroom-only crowd about his life as a blind adventurer. He urged others to turn into the storm, convert challenges into greatness, and reach for nearly impossible goals

For the first time, the CA Boys Tennis

Team took State. Also, Senior Richter Jordaan won First Place in #1 Singles, and the rest of the team advanced to the finals in every position and won six out of seven matches.

CA unveiled its renovated extended-

day house, serving students ages 5-13 before and after school.

Computer Science students scored

second in the nation in the Lockheed Martin CYBERQUEST™ Competition, which involves solving offensive and defensive cyber challenges. NOVEMBER 2018

Seven CA student-athletes signed

National Letters of Intent to play Division-I sports. Later in the year, they were joined by another ten D-III athletes, doubling the average number of recruited athletes in a class.

Pre-K students learned about

vermicomposting with red wigglers in Mr. Goldstein’s science class.

Upper School drama students

performed Thornton Wilder’s 1938 classic, Our Town. DECEMBER 2018

For the first time, Students H.O.P.E.

was held in the new Field House, serving record numbers of people with donated clothing, supplies, holiday gifts, and more.

CA welcomed more than 400

grandparents to campus for Grandparents Day—an all-time record.

CA received a $3 million gift from Bryan Leach and Dr. Jennifer

Gaudiani to launch the major fundraising push for the school’s new Center for the Performing Arts, the second largest single gift in the school’s more than 100-year history.

Alumnus Murphy Robinson ‘06 was

named Denver Deputy Mayor, and he returned to campus to take part in an alumni panel.

Senior Sloane Murphy was selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches

Association All-Region Team for the Midwest, one of just two Colorado players selected. In the Spring, she was named State Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year. FEBRUARY 2019

CA’s parent-run Taste of CA: a Multicultural Celebration broke all previous records for attendance

and featured a “parade of nations,” celebrating the many origins of cultural heritage in CA’s community.

The school dedicated its new Athletic

Center and kicked off fundraising for a new Center for the Performing Arts.

Freshmen took part in the second

year of academic “intensives,” with a group of students traveling to El Paso, Texas to learn first hand about immigration at the U.S. border. MARCH 2019

Upper School students challenged the community to unplug from their

cell phones, and the school handed out “cell phone sleeping bags.”

CA hosted a community conversation titled “Designing for Inclusion”

with Liza Talusan, engaging parents, students, and teachers in topics on inclusivity.

Denver was hit by “bomb cyclone”

snowstorm, a meteorological phenomenon in which a storm has plummeting atmospheric pressure. High winds forced an unprecedented three consecutive snow days due to power outages.

Spring activities ranged from the Fifth Grade trip to Crow Canyon

to the Middle School staging of Dirk Smirk, Secret Agent, while Upper School students garnered accolades for their ambitious performance of Les Miserables.

In its first year, CA’s Ethics Bowl

team made it to the Final Four in the National Finals at UNC at Chapel Hill, competing against more than 4,000 students from 22 states. CA beat the former national champs from Stanford Online Academy before losing to Choate in the semis. MAY 2019

CA’s female athletes racked up three State Championships in as many

days, taking the top prize in Girls Golf, Girls Soccer, and Girls Lacrosse.

Senior Monika Williams set meet

records for the 100 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles and 400 in the Mile High League Meet. Coaches voted her Mile High Track & Field Girls Athlete of the Year.

CA produced the Superhero Soiree

and Auction to support financial aid and to honor Cindy Jordan’s 42-year CA career as Vocal Music Director.

In the 62nd running of the Giant Relay Race, the Class of 2019

captured the trophy and successfully held off a strong challenge from the Parent Team. JUNE 2019

Gatorade selected CA Senior Mari

Annest as the Colorado Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

CA hosted its first-ever event celebrating graduating Seniors who

represented the first generation in their families to continue to a four-year college or university.

On June 6, the Class of 2019

celebrated graduation, as elected class speaker Jane Doherty spoke on the power of words.