“Real learning happens as a community endeavor,” stated Head of School Melissa Soderberg in her speech welcoming students to Columbus Academy’s 114th school year. “Individually we may know things, but only together can we truly understand.”

In addition to welcoming 132 students who are new to Columbus Academy this school year, Melissa reminded our 113 seniors – constituting the largest class in school history – that they will be sitting in the same location in 283 days when they graduate.

Speaking on behalf of students, Student Council co-presidents Katie J. and Hansheng X. shared words of advice with our youngest Vikings, middle-schoolers and all the way up to their fellow seniors.

“We have to appreciate that Columbus Academy has so much to offer,” said Hansheng. “Whether you’re starting out as a new student or you’ve been around campus for as long as you can remember, with this new year anything is possible.”

Katie ended their speech with: “Each one of us sitting here today is a part of something bigger than ourselves. Look around you and take it in… there’s a lot of us. So don’t worry, don’t stress, because through ups and downs, tribulations and problems, our community will be right behind you waiting to hold you up.”

Honored during the Convocation ceremony on August 23 were faculty and staff members who reached their 20th (Amy Brooks, Matthew Carter ’00, Alicia Crain, Katy Frickel, Kristen Oeth, Sarah Penney, Amy McLaughlin, Jessica Sneeringer) and 30th (JoAnne Adams, Stefan Farrenkopf, Debbie Newman, Cyndi Yakscoe) years in service to the school.

The event concluded with the 33rd annual pairing of Senior-Kindergarten Buddies, a tradition started in 1992 that has the kindergartners walk out of the quad hand-in-hand with their senior buddies, with whom they will bond during monthly activities together.

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