Volume 11, Issue 3
12 SENIORS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

Congratulations to our dozen seniors who were announced on Wednesday as 2018 Semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program: (from left) Michael Boeckman, Sebastian Bergman, Taylor McGowan, Abigail Jeffers, Andy Zhang, Randy Yan, Christopher Heermann, Austin Zhang, Jane Li, (seated) Sarah Morris, Kieran Law and Zachary Zhou! These academically talented students have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.
35TH ANNUAL CHARLIE DAVID DINNER

 
The Charlie David Dinner -- being held this year on Friday, September 22, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. -- is a Columbus Academy tradition. Now in its 35th year, this dinner continues to support many of the needs for Academy's athletic department and our 60+ teams. The dinner also supports student clubs and organizations who, in turn, provide great activities, games and challenges for the youngest Vikings at the always popular Boardwalk in the Jones Gym. Please come enjoy a City Barbeque meal, exciting silent auction items you'll want to take home, fun kid-friendly activities in the gym and the football-Friday atmosphere at the game against Whitehall. Also, parent volunteers are still needed so please consider signing up by this upcoming Monday for a 90-minute shift by clicking here.  
"BIG" KICKOFF TO THE NEW YEAR

Did you hear? Last week, The Columbus Foundation announced The Big Give is back on October 10, beginning at 10 a.m. We encourage everyone to join in this Central Ohio giving event! When you make your Annual Fund gift to Columbus Academy as part of this 26-hour online event, you will help the school earn bonus pool funds provided by the foundation and its partners. In past years, Academy supporters have earned $25,000-$35,000 in The Big Give bonus funds for our school. Wow! With your help, we can make this an especially "BIG" kickoff to the new Annual Fund year. We appreciate your Academy support and hope you are inspired by the foundation's efforts to ignite the spirit of giving across Central Ohio.
ALL WELCOME AT TOMORROW'S SOCCER TAILGATE

 
All are encouraged to join our Hispanic Outreach for Latino Awareness (HOLA!) group at its third annual Soccer Tailgate supporting Columbus Academy's soccer programs this Saturday, September 16, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Hondros Field. Come watch some great fútbol and enjoy music, food, snacks and games as Academy's boys soccer teams host Wellington (JV game starts at 5:30, varsity at 7:15).
SCHOOLWIDE APPLE-PICKING SERVICE EVENT
 
 
Join the Columbus Academy Service Board for the much anticipated Apple Picking Service Event at Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala on Sunday, October 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pick a bag for your family and one (or more) to donate to local food pantries. Again this year, prices are $15 for small bags and $25 for large bags. Families from all divisions are encouraged to attend! Please follow signs to the general public U-Pick area (do not head to the Market) and look for the Columbus Academy "Service Event" signs and tent in the orchard, as this is the specific area where fellow CA families will be picking. After you purchase the apples at the farm exit, Academy students will be waiting to collect your apple donation. If you have any questions about this event, please feel free to contact Bryane Roberts.  
SPRING BREAK TRIP TO SPAIN OFFERED

 
Academy's Upper School Spanish Department is pleased to announce that it will offer students an educational trip to Spain during the first week of Spring Break in March of 2018. The itinerary includes classes with local teachers, scavenger hunts, cooking classes, dance lessons and many other hands-on experiences in amazing places such as Parc Güell, Sagrada Familia, El Prado and the plazas of Madrid. Students who do not take Spanish are also welcome. An informational meeting for parents will be held on Wednesday, September 20, in Room A201 at 7:00 p.m. RSVP here by 5:00 p.m. Monday . If you are unable to attend but would like to discuss the opportunity in greater detail, please email your student's Spanish teacher or Ms. Eden directly at [email protected].  
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID PRESENTATION

Columbus Academy upper school students and parents/guardians are invited to an evening program titled "Understanding Financial Aid for College" on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:00 p.m., at Columbus School For Girls (65 S. Drexel Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43209). Our college counselors highly recommend attending this program, as there have been changes in the federal financial aid process. 
ARTS SCENE

Columbus Academy's student theater program has announced that it will perform "A Voice in the Dark" as its fall play at 7:30 p.m. on both Thursday, October 26, and Saturday, October 28. The cast includes Sidney Edson, Mira Bhasin, Julia Leet, Peter DiMaggio, Anna Shuff, Michael Hoffman, Taylor McGowan, Claire Budzik, Yas Salon, Jack Reifeis, Jay Whitney, Abby Jeffers, Sejal Jindal and Emily Munster. According to English teacher Beth Reifeis, this show about the Salem witch trials correlates well with the Upper School's curriculum. "Bri Stout and I are teaching The Scarlet Letter with our Advanced 10 classes. While The Scarlet Letter takes place after the witch trials, Bri and I used the prologue to The Crucible to tie in the idea of how quick Puritans were to judge and condemn others. A Voice in the Dark will give us a visual layer to what we teach in our American Literature classes." More details to come!
SERVICE LEARNING

 
A fitting message to share along with this photo of our soccer teams loading the Academy community's donated supplies onto a large truck headed for Texas last Friday came in a Lower School Weekly Email sent by our Parents' Association that stated: "We know many CA families have extended friends and family in Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are going out to all those who are caught in the crosshairs of Irma as well as the continued recovery from Hurricane Harvey in Texas. As we think of those in need at times like this, we can reflect how we may have different religions, different languages and different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race and our CA community coming together to help is truly admirable! We are very proud to be part of this CA family." 
SPORTS REPORT

Academy seniors Matt and John Schiano, twin sons of Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, were featured on NBC4's Football Friday Night show following highlights from last Friday's 38-0 win over Newark Catholic. Our 3-0 squad is ranked sixth in the state among Division V schools. Also in the state rankings: girls tennis 3rd for Division II, boys cross country 6th in Division III, girls soccer 11th for Division III, and if state rankings existed for golf and field hockey, it's safe to say our Vikings would appear there as well.   
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