LETTER from the HEAD of SCHOOL

Dear Wichita Collegiate School Family,

We are excited to share with you our Fall 2022 Connection magazine. In the following pages, you will have the opportunity to read about numerous ways our school defines itself and truly what it means to be a Spartan.

Back in 2019-20, which was my first year at Collegiate, the question of “Who is a Spartan?” was a cornerstone of our work as I got to know the school community and they also got to know me. The result of the many conversations I had was our new mission system that included the “Who is a Spartan” series of statements.

Those statements can now be found posted all around our campus and in every classroom. They act as a guiding star to our work and have helped us through many of the challenges of the past three years. They also help us to look to the future and initiate conversations about how best to facilitate the skills and traits we want to develop in each of our Spartans. Decisions about schedules, new programs, and instructional methods are centered around how best to deliver on the promise to create those traits.

Every day as I visit classrooms, walk hallways, and meet with our community, I see our work in action and recognize the progress we are making. This is a school where amazing things are happening every day. It is a true privilege to observe our outstanding educators and students in action.

When I talk to our teachers, they are particularly drawn to the features of creativity, experimentation, and compassion in our “Portrait of a Spartan.” When I speak to our students, they repeatedly mention how much they appreciate the fact that they can lean on and support each other and that they are challenged to be better by their peers.

Reflecting on the question “Who is a Spartan?” can lead down many paths. What is consistent in those reflections is that they all are directed towards constant improvement and equipping our Spartans to lead lives of impact.

Enjoy the examples of the wonderful work going on within our school in the following pages. From the arts, to alumni, to chickens - there is something for everyone.

I am proud to be a Spartan!

Best regards

Nathan Washer Head of School