It was 9 years ago that we enrolled Nick into kindergarten at Topeka Collegiate. He had made numerous trips to TCS over the years while his older brother was going to school there, yet he still found himself hesitant to leave his mom those first few days. It didn't take long however, for him to acclimate himself to his teacher, Mrs. Thiessen. It was in her room where he found his confidence and where he found his independence. 
 

Because we wanted to be sure Haley would have a "spot" in her kindergarten year at Collegiate, we transferred her mid-year to Mrs. Ford's Pre-K. "Everyone made me feel so welcome!" Haley recalled. So began her invaluable experiences in this remarkable school.  Each class brought its special memories. 
 

From the beginning, the classroom and special assemblies, including music programs, appealed to Haley. She gained confidence being on stage, projecting to an audience, taking direction, exploring creativity, and working with an ensemble.  Looking back, we smile when we recall an acquaintance who criticized Collegiate for "too much emphasis on performance." That's the school for us, we thought! 
 

She loved kindergarten with Mrs. Berryman.  "It was the first time we actually had desks! And every Friday someone brought popsicles," she remembered.  That was also the year she slipped, going into the classroom one day, and wedged her fingers under a shelf so tightly a janitor had to help release her.  Mrs. Berryman remembers that one too! 
 

Her first grade assembly with Mrs. Nolde was about "The Old Woman Who Swallowed A Pie"  (Haley was a carrot).  Mrs. Nolde, who "always walked around with a coffee cup," according to Haley, started her in poetry, grammar, and phonics, in preparation for the class's Poetry Tea. 
 

In second grade Mrs. McEvoy led them through the One-Room Schoolhouse project, ending with the spirited Line Dance for parents and friends. How could those little children remember all those moves, we wondered! 
 

In her third grade year, Haley began the "Junior Great Books" project, led by Shelley Waugh.  It was a year of academic growth, as she began participation in Math Olympics and in-depth study of rain forests, under Mrs. Redmond's guidance, culminating in the "tours" of the students' own Rain Forest.  Haley also remembers the Festival of Trees that year, because her class decorated a special tree, and her youth choir sang there. 
 

Singing has been a huge part of Haley's Collegiate life. In kindergarten, she began "Junior Singing Fun" under Mrs. Siebert and she has sung in choir every year since then, often presenting programs locally in rest homes and for special occasions, and competing at the Worlds of Fun Music Festival.  Those opportunities have been priceless.  In 2006 the Youth Choir was chosen to perform in Wichita for the Kansas Music Educators Association, and this past year Haley was selected as one of two students representing Collegiate in the Statewide Treble Honor Choir. 
 

Along with music, art under Mrs. Zachritz year after year has provided the creative outlet and balance that is central to Collegiate's mission: "educating children for life."  Mrs. Zachritz comes up with new ideas every year, suggesting a direction with a few lines here, a bit of shading there, and then allowing her students to follow their own inner notions of self-expression.  
 

Fourth grade with Mr. Park and Mrs. Oswald brought more "firsts"-her real taste of "history year," leading to the challenging History Day projects to come in Middle School years, under Mr. Lamb.  It was also her first trip to Hidden Pond, an activity she eagerly anticipated year after year, as the challenges increased in difficulty: the "ropes course" in fifth grade, the "pamper pole" in sixth grade ("I almost grabbed the trapeze bar!").  This year's eighth grade adventure was the "zip line!"  Hidden Pond combined many of the elements that make Collegiate unique, stretching students not only physically but also mentally, as they reflected, in that natural setting, and wrote poetry and memoirs of the experiences.  The challenges of Hidden Pond prepared her for the unparalleled Florida adventure, Sea Camp, where all her acquired self-reliance skills and her swimming background gave her a lifetime memory. 
 

"Festival of the Nile" was a highlight for Haley in fifth grade, with Mr. Philipp and Ms. Seals, as her class once again went "in-depth" on a project, studying, memorizing facts, and creating a presentation for family and friends.  She also recalled Ms. Seals challenged them to a "TV-free" week! 
 

Despite all the preparation through the lower grades for transition to Middle School, sixth grade was "big," as she learned to "switch classes," and actually to have a locker!  Throughout these years, she repeated, "The teachers are amazing. They really challenge us!"   But in that first year of transition, the teacher who helped her "survive" and balance her life was Mr. MacDonald, the "snow globe" teacher. Haley was by then on a competitive swim team in town, and managing her academic and daily swim practice schedule was daunting. During many early morning discussions before school, "Mr. Mac" provided support and taught her to write her thoughts and thus work through her anxieties. She borrowed his books, and from him she continued her love for reading, poetry, grammar, and creative writing.  
 

Also throughout middle school, Haley has appreciated Mrs. Lamb's enthusiasm and encouragement to continue the swimming, even though it is not a school sport.  Haley states that Mrs. Lamb is passionate about physical activity and health, and she "has always been positive about and interested in my swimming successes." 
 

From Mr. Shinn, Haley learned invaluable "hands-on" science lessons, and from the sixth grade science project ("it was a flop!") through the much-improved seventh grade project, she "finally got it" as the Scientific Method started making sense by eighth grade!  Haley's dream is to pursue animal science or marine biology. From Mrs. Baldwin in the lower grades, Mr. Shinn, and Mrs. Hoyt, she has made good strides in science and math.  Mrs. Hoyt has prepared her for high school math, teaching her "transition math," algebra, and geometry, and making it possible for her to compete in several math competitions. "High school math should be a breeze!" Haley joked. 
 

Years of study in Spanish, culminating in upper level classes with Mr. Martinez, have given her skills in understanding another language and its culture.  She has been likewise challenged by the multi-cultural opportunities Mr. Lamb has provided through History Club and History Day projects.  Mr. Lamb has also encouraged her to participate in Debate and Mock Trial sessions. 
 

Moving beyond the teachers and specific class memories, we think about administrative and support staff who have been an integral part of this journey for Haley and our family. Haley has especially fond memories of Mrs. Huff, recalling she "was the first Topeka Collegiate person I laid eyes on, and she was so warm and welcoming."  Haley also has appreciated the kindness and patience of Mrs. Buckland who has tolerated her many trips to the nurse's office as she battled allergies, asthma, and headaches, and accepted Haley's need to place "countless calls to my mom for reassurance and advice."  Our family has enjoyed Mrs. Mullican's calm manner and velvet voice as she pleasantly greets office visitors and accepts phone calls. And we thank Mrs. Loftus, who takes genuine interest in the children's activities and spends hours ensuring that successes are recounted and featured in the newsletter, to become a lasting memory.  We appreciate Mrs. Tilghman's patience in addressing financial and business matters with our family in a kind and understanding fashion.  Finally, Haley fondly recalls Dr. Roberts and the tone he set for the school and her learning for so many years, and most recently, the guidance given and the interest shown by Mr. Hudspeth and Mr. Tillona. 
 

Once each year, Collegiate celebrates the "Day of the Child."  But for Haley, like most TCS students, every day has been a Day of the Child. As Haley completes this decade of her life and transitions into the next, she will do so with fond memories and rich adventures for a lifetime. We could not have asked for anything more for our daughter, and we treasure the opportunities she has been given at Topeka Collegiate School.  

Ed and Kirsten P.

Parents of Haley P.