A Year Like No Other

Colorado Academy 2019-2020 Timeline

A Year Like No Other

The 2019-2020 school year began like all others, with treasured traditions, academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments, and events that brought us together to celebrate the Colorado Academy community. It was also a year that tested the strength of our commitment to be courageous and resilient, as we mourned the death of a beloved teacher and faced the threats and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some memories from a year like no other. n

SEPTEMBER 2019

Colorado Academy proudly unveiled its new nine-word Mission

Statement, the culmination of a year of collaborative discussion designed to create a succinct and straightforward message: “Creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders.”

To the delight of students from all divisions, the Reading Platform made

its debut. It’s a treehouse learning space, where students can enjoy books and the breeze.

Lower School Principal Angie

Crabtree launched Mustang Mentors, giving Fifth Graders the opportunity to mentor younger students and assist throughout the Lower School.

Back-to-back snowstorms and subzero temperatures closed school

and postponed the Field Hockey State Championship. But one day later, students returned just in time for a chilly, snowy Halloween parade. NOVEMBER 2019

The CA Field Hockey team capped off its undefeated season with a State

Championship title, defeating Regis Jesuit 2-1 at All-City Stadium.

Middle School Advisory leaders implemented a new program

with an emphasis on social and emotional competencies to help students grow into leaders, learn to respect diversity, achieve, collaborate, and develop mindfulness.

Thanks to the efforts of Upper School

Spanish teacher Lisa Todd, CA received permission to award the new Colorado Seal of Biliteracy Diploma Endorsement, honoring students who are proficient in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in both English and a second language. DECEMBER 2019

Young artists invited guests to the

Fall Kindergarten-Grade 6 Art Show, “The World Through Our Eyes.” Students displayed their works in the Ponzio Arts Center Main Gallery.

CA welcomed perfect weather and

more than 500 grandparents to campus for Grandparents Day—a record number of visitors and an incalculable amount of love.

As part of the Colorado Academy SPEAK series, Temple

Grandin spoke to a record-setting crowd of nearly 600 people about living with autism.

Upper School students performed Proof, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony

Award-winning play about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.

The Middle School Future City team took second place overall

at the Regional Competition of sustainable engineering projects, bringing home awards for Best Presentation, Best Physical Model, and Most Sustainable Infrastructure. FEBRUARY 2020

Middle School students presented

The Pirates of Penzance. Although no one knew it at the time, the COVID-19 pandemic would cancel all future productions for the year.

With record-setting attendance, Colorado Academy families honored the strength that lies in differences

at Taste of CA: A Celebration of Cultures, enjoying home-made food, a “Parade of Nations,” and enthusiastic international dancing.

More than 1,300 people—children, parents, colleagues past and present,

family, and friends—filled the CA Field House to honor the life and legacy of beloved Kindergarten Teacher Leslie Webster. MARCH 2020

Actor, singer, and songwriter Bryan

Terrell Clark, who played George Washington in Hamilton on Broadway, brought his talents and inspiring message to an All-School Assembly.

Sophomore Grace Trembath earned

a National Gold Medal in the 2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her photography. Her work was chosen from nearly 320,000 works of art and writing for excellence in originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

On March 24, students returned from Spring Break, but they did not

return to campus. Classes resumed remotely, as CA, quickly recognizing the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, became the first school in Colorado to sign a contract with the Zoom education platform.

Mariko Okazaki pivoted, changing her Senior Community Impact Project

in response to increasing cases of COVID-19. She began sewing masks for health care workers, family, and friends.

A group of outstanding alumni athletes, including Justin Bassey ’16,

who was in his final year playing basketball for Harvard, met with CA student-athletes virtually to talk about what to expect from college competition.

Senior Portfolio Shows, a valued

tradition at CA, continued despite the pandemic, with virtual presentations of outstanding student art created by members of the Class of 2020. MAY 2020

Senior Walt Jones was named a

Boettcher scholar, one of just 42 Colorado students to receive the honor.

CA celebrated 20 Seniors who had committed to playing Division I and

Division III college sports with a virtual ceremony, filled with pictures of the student-athletes in action.

Upper, Middle, and Lower School students and their families gathered

for the All-School Assembly ending the year. It was held virtually but still included the traditional reading of the Senior names and their class cheer! JUNE 2020

Middle School Student Council President Domonique Megginson spoke at the Eighth Grade

Continuation which, along with the Fifth Grade Continuation, was held virtually and included personal tributes to each student from their teachers.

Students, faculty, and alumni met with Director of Inclusivity Sarah

Wright via Zoom to discuss their thoughts about systemic racism, Black Lives Matter protests around the world, and the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others.

A CA first! The wildly successful

Diploma Parade brought the Class of 2020 back to campus for the first time since March to see their friends from a distance and to receive their CA diplomas from Head of School Dr. Mike Davis.