Upper School Extracurricular Activities

A variety of clubs, sports, theater, outdoor education, and other extra-curricular activities offer each student numerous opportunities to explore a variety of interests, to further develop talents, and to work together toward common goals.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is an honorary organization for Upper School students who are nominated by the five-member Faculty Council. The Colorado Springs School's Ursa Major Chapter of the National Honor Society has been a well-respected and active chapter since its inception in 1993. To be considered for nomination, students must meet and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA, meet high expectations of the faculty in the areas of personal conduct and leadership, and have a visible desire to render service to the school community.

Our dynamic Theater Department prides itself in the variety of shows that are produced. From Shakespeare to musicals, avant-garde to traditional, the Upper School puts on at least two major productions per year. The quality of our productions is high and a high percentage of the Upper School students are involved in our exciting productions.

Our students employ traditional and digital photographic techniques to create Et Apres, our 200+ page CSS yearbook. Students learn to use professional graphics software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and PageMaker. Advertising is sold to help subsidize the printing costs.

The Upper School student government organization is called Forum and is affiliated with the National Student Council Association. Members are elected to serve for a one-year term. Forum leads social and service events in the school and community.

Competitive Athletics is an integral component of our physical education program. At CSS, girls and boys have many opportunities to participate in team sports, and any student who wishes to participate may do so. In Middle and Upper School, athletic teams compete against teams in the Pikes Peak region and along Colorado's Front Range. Our offerings include soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross-country, tennis, lacrosse, and golf. To learn more about CSS Athletics click here.

At the beginning of the year, the entire Upper School community spends two days at a mountain camp retreat. This is a time for returning and new students and faculty to get better acquainted in preparation for a year of collaboration and partnership. We participate in a variety of activities, such as swimming, hiking, a challenging zip line (aka "The Screamer") and a ropes course, which encourage active participation and interaction across the grades.

The visual arts are an integral part of the CSS program. Student work is continually displayed in the J. Randolph Campbell Gallery in the Trianon, in the Louisa Performing Arts Center, in the art studios in the Carriage House, and in the El Pomar Academic Center. Students participate in local art shows, as well as regional and national shows.