Early Childhood Pioneer Day, by Kathy Wagner

Early Childhood Pioneer Day is an event that has been going on since the 1980s. In an effort to celebrate Kansas’ birthday on January 29, students have gathered in various places to learn about the pioneer way of life.  Over the years, there has been a teepee in the quadrangle, a horse and carriage in the parking lot, and various farm animals throughout the campus.  When the multipurpose room was built, the entire event was moved to that location and activities were added. Roping sawhorse calves, grinding corn, making butter, eating cornbread muffins, playing pioneer games, cleaning clothes on a washboard, peeling and eating apples, watching a spinner or quilter, listening to a real cowboy, singing pioneer songs, and scatter square dancing, all became annual experiences.  As the event moved to the south gym in the 2000s, students continued to learn from many individuals who were willing to share their expertise about the pioneer days.

Enjoy these scenes from past Pioneer Days!

Collegiate Cares -- A Day of Service in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Sherri Newlin

The first MLK Collegiate Cares Day was in 2010. The day was originally started by the Focus on Diversity parent organization with Bunny Hill as the sponsor. MLK Day seemed like a perfect day for a family community service opportunity. The FODC group called it "Collegiate Cares - A Day On, Not a Day Off."  For four years, WCS students, teachers, and families joined forces with the United Way to help many local organizations and individuals.  Over the years, volunteers have assembled layette kits for new moms and babies, care packages for the homeless and the military, information cards and ribbons for local organizations, and gifts to be delivered to Meals on Wheels recipients. Bunny Hill loves this day, "seeing the kids and parents working together, and knowing that Collegiate families are always generous and do, indeed care!"

This year, we are not having organized projects at school due to a change in the United Way program, but we are encouraging families to use their "day on" in a way that will make someone else's life better. Each act of service matters to our community.  If families will send us photos and descriptions of their activities, we will feature them on our Facebook page and in the Connections.

Do you have favorite memories from Collegiate Cares?  If so, please post your memories and photos on this blog for all to enjoy!

Tradition of the Week: WCS Talent Shows, by Suze Anne Norton

WCS students are given the opportunity of sharing their talents with peers and parents at an early age. Talent Shows are one important way this is done.

In Lower School, students usually have Talent Shows by grade level in the black box theater in March before spring break. Talents range from skits and joke telling to accomplished musicians, vocalist, gymnasts, and dancers. This venue is where we begin to see the budding artists who will very likely become the stars on the stage in the Upper School.

Middle School students also have a long history of talent sharing. The most recent version of Middle School Talent Shows happens on the Friday morning of the All-School Picnic. Students gather in the U.S. Galichia Auditorium to share their talents. Again, the range of talents is broad, and the skills displayed can be exceptionally high.

Upper School Talent Shows have taken many forms through the years, being called The Connection and most recently, Show Stoppers. In the years when there was a fall and spring musical, the U.S. Talent Show was usually in January. When having just a fall musical, it would be held in the spring. These shows truly showcase the amazing talents that students have honed through years of opportunities to perform in the comfortable settings of their school.