Semester in Review

JANUARY

After a much-needed holiday break, Wichita Collegiate students, faculty, and staff were ready to return for a great second semester! Athletic team practices and games were instantly in full swing and 7th and 8th grade students started preparing right away for finals.

Following a favorite tradition of WCS students and parents, the 7th graders tackled the study of World War II in January, capping off a week of study with a USO Dance in the Lair. Students dressed up in 1940s garb and danced the night away! Third grade students studied biographies and historical figures to kick off their second semester, reading books and researching online about a person, past or present, to represent in the 3rd Grade Wax Museum. Students became their person of choice, coming to life for museum visitors to share biographical information, contributions to society, and interesting facts. Mary Lou Retton, Alexander Hamilton, and Elvis made appearances this year! Early Childhood kiddos celebrated Kansas Day and our state heritage with Pioneer Day on January 27. Students donned cowboy hats and gingham dresses to rope calves, wash clothes on a scrub board, square dance, and hang out with live farm animals. What a way to wrap up January!

Right: Elvis in the 3rd Grade Wax Museum

Below: 7th Grade Girls at the USO Dance

FEBRUARY

Despite the winter chill of February, Spartans were out and about all month long! WCS welcomed our Board of Trustees onto campus on February 8 for Trustee Day, a chance for Trustees to witness firsthand the powerful education Collegiate offers. Middle School Entrepreneurship and Design Challenge students flexed the knowledge from that education in WSU’s Innovation Challenge later that week, building innovative products out of cereal boxes and placing well in the competition. Lower School Spartans got active and philanthropic in Jump Rope 4 Heart on Valentine’s Day, earning just over $23,000 to help people affected by heart defects and heart disease. First grade students kept the love going, celebrating Kindness Day and committing acts of kindness for members of the Collegiate community and beyond. WCS celebrated itself in February, too, with a fabulous All-School Gala and “Dancing with the Star Spartans” entertainment celebration. Current and former Spartans mixed and mingled over delicious hors d’oeuvres and beautiful auction items. Six faculty and staff then competed for the coveted mirror-ball trophy, with Troy Fischer coming out on top with his routine to “Uptown Funk.” The Gala brought in nearly $40,000 to benefit projects from both the Collegiate Annual Fund Effort (CAFÉ) and Patrons of the Arts. Bravo!

Spartans ended February with more academic endeavors, traveling to Mars in the 5th grade on February 23 and testing literary knowledge on February 24 with “Battle of the Books.” The month was proof that Spartans can work and play with great success!

SEMESTER IN REVIEW

MARCH

March gave Spartans an opportunity to travel – whether in our imaginations through costumes and music or physically to other lands. First and second graders enjoyed their annual Dr. Seuss Breakfast the first Friday in March, becoming their favorite Dr. Seuss characters to enjoy scrumptious exotic breakfast foods. Seventh graders traveled with Mr. Hawley to D.C. to see, up close, much of the history taught in the classroom throughout the year. From the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery, students learned a ton and had fun, too! Early Childhood kiddos traveled to other worlds through books in WCS’ annual Read and Romp Day, listening to books then performing short, fun, physical activities. Bees were buzzing, pigs were squealing, pirates enjoyed argh-mazing snacks, and lemurs ran through obstacle courses for a full day of fun. Fourth graders transformed into adorable Dalmatians, lovable owners, and crazy villains later that same week in 101 Dalmatians, wowing the crowd with great costumes and a fun story. Spring break meant literal travel for many, including the Upper School Madrigals, who traveled to Italy for great food, breathtaking sights, and some beautiful singing (even into wells – go, Tiffany Ruan!). Middle School Spartans finished up a great month with some healthy competition in the Student/Faculty Basketball Game. Students won out in the end, but it was a great game of athleticism and entertainment!

APRIL

April showers may bring flowers but there was plenty of sunshine for Spartans this month. Upper School students traveled to Casady School in Oklahoma City for the annual ISAS Arts Festival, enjoying time together while showing off their skills in performances and evaluations for singing, dancing, drama, and art. First graders learned about our world’s rainforests and showed off their knowledge with a beautiful Rainforest Display the second and third weeks of April. Eighth grade students played out the 399-B.C. Trial of Socrates on April 13, with each class finding their respective “Socrates” actor/actress innocent of “corrupting the youth of Athens” and “undermining religious beliefs.” After the tension of the trials, all enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean feast and dancing. On April 27, kindergartners played on the track and football field in a monster-themed Field Day, enjoying games and relays named aptly for some of our favorite scary monsters. The next day, 5th graders celebrated and showcased the conclusion of their Civil War Unit in the Lair Center. Students displayed their Civil War diaries, enjoyed food from the Civil War era, experienced reenactments, and even visited a local home filled with Civil War memorabilia.

Seniors took the emotional “Lifer Walk” through campus at the end of the month, led by Mr. Mykel and holding tightly to a rope together as they did in their early years. While it may be a nostalgic walk, many of the seniors celebrated the “light at the end of the tunnel,” too!

SEMESTER IN REVIEW

MAY

The final month of the semester was abuzz with excitement, beautiful weather, and celebration on campus. Early Childhood students held their very own Kentucky Derby with horseraces, fascinators, lemonade mint juleps, and a partial singing of “My Old Kentucky Home.” Eighth graders traveled to Arkansas for the annual Heifer Project trip to experience firsthand the disparity and effects of poverty here in America and around the world, working together for shelter and food. Back on campus, the Early Childhood invited mommas to campus for a fun ’50s Sock-Hop on May 12 to celebrate Mother’s Day. Moms and children alike dressed up in glam ’50s attire and enjoyed games and dancing. That same day, Lower School students enjoyed their Field Day on the track and football field with games and fun physical activities. Sixth grade engineering students unveiled their fun and innovative chair designs to fourteen Middle School teachers on May 16, with each chair showcasing a teacher’s individual style and passions. Upper School students celebrated a year of work with Honor’s Day, too, before seniors departed for their Senior Trip that Friday. Eighth graders did a little celebrating of their own at 8th Grade Recognition, reminiscing on good times past while getting excited for new adventures in high school. The year wrapped up with a wonderful graduation ceremony for the Class of 2017 on May 28. Another year comes to a close but Spartans are always looking forward to what lies ahead!