Columbus Academy opened its 109th school year on August 19 with the Middle and Upper Schools beginning classes that morning and the Lower School hosting a Meet-Your-Teachers Ice Cream Social later that day.
The school year began in earnest on August 20 with all grade levels attending. Head of School Melissa Soderberg welcomed everyone back to school during that morning’s Convocation ceremony. “Kindness is contagious,” she told over 1,100 students gathered in the quad. “When you do something kind, you benefit as much as the person who receives it.”
Student Council President Kathan Reddy followed with a message that was obvious at the event’s conclusion when kindergartners were paired with their senior buddies for the year. “Academy is a wholly unique environment where even the youngest of us get to play and grow alongside the oldest,” said Reddy, a senior from New Albany who started at Academy in kindergarten. “It’s a place where aspirations can live and breathe right in front of your eyes, and where your goals are directly inspired by what you see right in front of you.”
Earning special recognition during the ceremony were second grade teacher Jennifer Thompson for reaching her 20th year at Academy and Dr. Joe Cantrell for his 30 years as the Lower School’s psychologist.
After the much-anticipated announcements of this year’s buddy pairings, the seniors and kindergartners spent the remainder of the morning getting to know each other better by playing on the lower school playground and having a cookout lunch together.
In just its second year, Columbus Academy’s 3YO Explorers program has expanded to two classrooms, and another pre-kindergarten room was added for 2019-20 as well.
If you are interested in learning more about Academy as an educational option for your children, please register to attend an Admissions Showcase Event for early childhood offerings (3YO, PreK and Kindergarten) on October 10 and an Admissions Open House for all grades (3YO-Grade 12) on November 10.