"And a cherry on top!"

The first time I witnessed the CCS Thanksgiving Feast "Whipped Topping" phenomenon, I was a bit aghast, I must admit. But this crazy ritual is a school favorite, and as you can see from the faces, the gang goes nuts for a bit o' whipped topping sprayed directly in the mouth--sans pumpkin pie. But these kids earn their dessert--here are middle school students doing dishwashing duty following our feast day.

More Thanksgiving Feast Pics

LINK students, Brandon Goodwin, Samantha Rudoff and Damien Mayo served the school community at the feast day. Students signed the "What are you thankful for?" Banner at the entryway to the POA hall. LINK student, Crystal Owens, dishes up sweet potatoes for guests. Karen Potter, Kathryn Brady, and Dee Rudoff say "Cheeeeze" at the end of Feast Day.

So much to be thankful for!

Here are more pics from our School-wide thanksgiving day feast. Students and teachers prepared turkey with trimmings, parents brought potluck dishes and desserts. CCS founder and parent volunteer extraodinaire, Karen Potter and her mother, Joan Stevens, (second pic) spearheaded the event which culminated a "thankfulness" initiative of Amber Leaf Awards that students shared with other students and teachers when they witnessed a kind or generous act during the past two weeks.

Intermediate Gingerbread Houses

Intermediate students baked and designed beautiful gingerbread houses for the WinterFest crafts fair with some help from local gingerbread whiz, Renee Hill. Here are some of the students at work on their creations.

Making a garden

Shumei volunteers and CCS parent, Kenji, help us to prepare a garden area on West Campus. Students all helped clear the ground and create a mulch bed which will be ready for planting in the late spring. We now also have a rotating composter on campus and students are practicing composting their lunch left overs daily to help in the garden.

Quilt of Compassion

Early Elementary students are working on handcrafts as part of their Early American studies. Students are creating a special quilt which is to be auctioned off at the Crestone WinterFest the weekend after thanksgiving. The students decided to donate all the proceeds of the quilt to the Heifer Foundation after seeing a video on families who live in poverty. Here are two students showing their detailed handiwork of gingerbread people who will comprise the quilt. Opportunities for compassionate service are part of the CCS curriculum and valued from the earliest learning levels with meaningful projects such as this.

Ancient Cultures Day

EE student, Maori Baca, checks out the headdress of a Roman Soldier (Zevin Garcia) at Middle School's ancient cultures day. Also pictured are Althea Beasley modeling a handpainted ceremonial robe from the Tlingit Culture, Greek Muses Katya Volz and Emily Booth, and Paige Caffrey representing ancient Mayan Culture with her display project.

Ancient Cultures Day

Middle School students Zienna Stewart (Anasazi culture), Trevor Storm (Celts) and Huitzi Diaz (Aztec) brought history to life for CCS students and guests at Ancient Cultures Day.

Hun-ey, It's Ancient Culture Day!

Tarquin Bartell peeps out from underneath his amazing Hun costume. Parker Stevens shares Viking history with Primary student, Addie Booth.

Ancient Cultures Day

Middle School students showcased their research on the rise and fall of various ancient cultures in an "Ancient Cultures Day Fair" last week. Here is Soliel Medina from Mesopatamia, Josh Carter from Mongolia, and Leaf Swordy from Ancient Egypt.

Thanksgiving Feast Day

The annual school feast was held at the POA hall on Monday, November 19th. Rosalea and mom, Grace Anderson, sign the "What are you thankful for" banner at the entryway. Charlie zaps LINK student, Damien Mayo, with some whipped topping for "dessert"--this is one of the favorite feast day rituals! LINK students served the school community during the feast. Karen Acker, LINK teacher and school founder, dishes up thanksgiving fare to Anikke Storm, New Facility Committee chair, at the feast day.