Teachers offer life advice about what you should know how to do before college 

by Annika Holliday ‘20

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Beyond traditional learning in the core subjects of English, science, math, social studies, computer literacy, and foreign language, there are life skills that every student should know before embarking on new adventures post-CGS. CatlinSpeak turned to the CGS faculty to get their advice.

As the seniors of CatlinSpeak head off new adventures, we thank our Upper School teachers for an incredible four years! After imparting a love of learning, we will try to master these life skills and heed their advice to survive and thrive out in the real world.

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Teachers offer life advice about what you should know how to do before college 
Teachers offer life advice about what you should know how to do before college 

Beyond traditional learning in the core subjects of English, science, math, social studies, computer literacy, and foreign language, there are life skills that every student should know before embarking on new adventures post-CGS. CatlinSpeak turned to the CGS faculty to get their advice.

What will fall semester look like? A poem
What will fall semester look like? A poem

Like many of my peers, I had to make a big life decision on Friday, May 1, the annual national deadline to formally accept admission offers and submit deposits for fall term. With so many unknowns, colleges are now pushing back making a decision about the fall semester until the middle of the summer, making the college decision even more difficult. My inbox has been inundated with emails from university presidents and admission officers trying to reassure a nervous incoming first-year class, while acknowledging a harsh new reality. I thought it would be fun to curate their words into the poem below.

Doctors in the Catlin Gabel community on the frontlines
Doctors in the Catlin Gabel community on the frontlines

Dr. Rick Kozak and Dr. Seth Mehr, ER doctors at Providence St. Vincent Medical and CGS parents, speaking about their experiences on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Securing food for low-income students
Securing food for low-income students

Food banks are struggling with a decrease in resources and volunteers as the coronavirus pandemic spreads and most are not currently accepting volunteers. Many people who staff volunteer food pantries are retirees who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infections.

Editorial: The Oregonian’s biased reporting of the sexual misconduct allegations at CGS
Editorial: The Oregonian’s biased reporting of the sexual misconduct allegations at CGS

“Where do you go to school?”

“Catlin Gabel.”

“Catlin Gabel?! Really? What’s going on up there? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why are you freaking out?”

“Well, the headlines…”

These are the types of conversations many Catlin Gabel School (CGS) students have encountered with people outside of the school community since the Oregonian’s reporting of the findings of the sexual misconduct investigation.

A lack of student accountability in the US Community Engagement program
A lack of student accountability in the US Community Engagement program

Nationwide, most private schools are in agreement that community engagement should be a part of the high school experience. A community engagement program can result in many benefits to students, including the following: cultivating compassion, developing a sense of social justice, self-discovery, encouraging civic and social responsibility, and learning about challenges facing local communities such as poverty, hunger, lack of quality education, and homelessness, among others.

Reflections on the School Chapter’s relevance today as an evolving tradition
Reflections on the School Chapter’s relevance today as an evolving tradition

The words passed easily over my lips as I prompted my brother Lucas with another line of 1 Corinthians 13. Like so many Catlin Gabel School (CGS) students before him, he stood before me, nervously practicing his first recitation for his ninth grade English class. He didn’t know that this would be his first and only recitation with a religious context. 

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Rethinking graduation requirements as the Palma Scholar pilot enters its seventh year

Most Catlin Gabel School (CGS) Upper School students can recite the graduation requirements backwards and forwards - a minimum of 18 total academic credits, with four years of English, three years of social studies, three years of the same foreign language, three years of science, two years of health, and two semesters of Lifetime Fitness (with a possibility for exemption based on  participation in after-school sports). 

Catlin NewsGuest UserAnnika Holliday, CGSComment