Today is our first major school admission event of the season, our annual Admission Parent Preview. This is an event for which we throw open the doors to our campus and invite prospective families to see Colorado Academy in action.
Choosing a school for your child is never an easy task. There are many things to examine and explore. We want our families to understand our mission and approach to education. We intentionally have our open house on a school day, rather than weekends or school nights, because we want to be as transparent as possible about our work. This day usually consists of an overview of the school’s mission, philosophy, and program. Then, we have current parent volunteers lead tours of prospective families. Our visitors will go to classes in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools and see our students and faculty engaging in a variety of learning activities. Then, we have panels of students who answer questions from visitors about their school experience.
Having been a graduate of an independent school and having spent my entire professional career in independent school education, I believe strongly that our sector of the educational world offers students a unique learning opportunity. Individual independent schools are guided by unique missions. Ours is nine words: Creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders.
At Colorado Academy, we engage in an immersive program that exposes kids to quality teaching and learning in academics, the visual and performing arts, athletics, and experiential education. We are a school that serves students ages 4 through 18 and has an intentional program to prepare students for college and life beyond. We aspire to be an inclusive community that celebrates the dignity of all humans and values all kinds of diversity. We are deeply committed to helping parents raise emotionally healthy and resilient children. We provide $3.7 million each year for financial aid, so children from all economic backgrounds can attend CA.
If you come out for our Parent Preview today or November 7, I hope you will ask questions and pay close attention. When I roam campus and visit classes, I see students highly engaged with their teachers. As I walk the halls, I feel the positive nature of our community. CA is a place where we open doors for one another and greet each other with a smile. We are a kind and inviting community. If you talk to our students, particularly those who have been here since Pre-Kindergarten, you will meet poised, motivated, and interesting young people. If you speak with a faculty member, you will meet a professional who is an expert in their work and is student-centered in their approach to teaching. This is a community in which we support one another. I hope you get to experience what I see and feel every day.
We have a wonderful admission staff to guide you through this process. If you can’t make this event, you can always reach out to our office and schedule an appointment to visit CA. Here are some testimonials about parents who have gone through our admission process and their experience with CA.
“I voraciously read every word on CA’s website and in all of your materials and then visited campus several times during the admission process. Of all the schools we researched, CA stands out as truly doing what you say you do.”
“While we were initially drawn to Colorado Academy’s reputation for providing students with an exceptional academic foundation, we have come to learn about the many ways CA cultivates the whole child by placing a focus on important skills that build character and produce thoughtful leaders. Particularly, the focus on the 6 C’s highlights CA’s commitment to a human-centered program, which resonates with us as it is equally important to be a good human as it is to receive a good education.”
“When you pick a school for your child you hope you get it right and they will prosper. At last night’s event, I was reminded what a special place it is we’ve picked. We frequently talk about how much fun spending the day at CA is and as the year ends I find myself lingering on the copious amount of gratitude we have for this institution and its focus on cultivating curious and well-rounded students. Many of my friends talk about the disappearance of specials, lack of effective leadership and teaching kids to a specific test. When I hear about their experiences, I can’t help but wish American education looked more like CA.”
I look forward to seeing you on our campus.
RSVP for Parent Preview.
