May 2008 - JEFFCO Public Schools

Transcription

Special Supplement of Mile High Newspapers
Making their voices heard: MYVH survey
A or B grade to their schools (up six percentage points from the previous survey).
Second through sixth grade students were
asked about learning in various subjects; 89
percent of respondents agreed they are learning to become better readers, 87 percent feel
they are learning more about math
and 87 percent of the students
say they are learning to be better
writers.
The majority of high school
respondents agree they are getting a quality education in history,
social studies, English language
arts, world languages, math, science and electives such as art,
P.E., music, drama and computer
technology.
Students also say that more of
their teachers are incorporating
technology into lessons. More
than seven in 10 (72 percent) of
elementary respondents, 63 percent of middle school students and
54 percent of high schools students
agree or strongly agree that teachers use computers or technology to
help them learn (increase of
two, four and six
percentage points
for elementary,
page 3
▲
Every two years Jeffco
Public Schools’ students get to
turn the tables and are asked to
give their schools and teachers
grades. The Make Your Voice
Heard (MYVH) survey has been
given to Jeffco students since
1998 and the latest results show
that the majority of students
feel positive about their schools
and their learning experience.
The survey was conducted in
fall 2007 and asked more than
60,000 Jeffco students, in second through 12th grade, to give
their opinions on a variety of
subjects ranging from safety to
CSAP.
Secondary school students
were asked to rate their schools,
giving an A through F grade.
Sixty-eight percent of the respondents in seventh and eighth grades rated their school with
an A or B, (up four percentage points from the
previous survey) and more than six in 10, or
64 percent of high school respondents gave an
Raising the bar
There is change coming for Jeffco students! Beginning with
the class of 2013, more credit hours will be required for graduation
from a Jeffco Public high school. The Board of Education has voted
to increase the number of credits from 22 to 24, boosting the requirements in math, social sciences and science. The changes come after
months of study, input and debate, both in the community and within
the school district.
“Jeffco Public Schools has a long legacy of excellence and this
change once again raises the bar for our students,” said Jeffco Public
Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson.
The new requirements will closely align Jeffco students with
what is needed for entrance into a Colorado public college or university. The action by the board also comes as educational reform
work is being done on a national and state level to better prepare
students for life in the 21st century.
The groups which provided input into the new graduation standards included a task force made up of content-specific middle and high school teachers, counselors, principals, music and physical
education teachers, visual arts teachers and district administrators. The task force also sought feedback from students and the community before presenting a plan to the Board of Education.
“Graduating from a Jeffco school will be more rigorous for the class of 2013 and those that follow, but these students will have choices
when it comes to their elective classes – we heard that very clearly from the community,” said Stevenson. “Parents want their children to
be well-rounded.”
To help keep students on course for graduation, students, parents and school counselors will collaborate on a graduation plan that will be
updated every year. Support will be given to students who are struggling in meeting the increased requirements.
“Our goal is to make sure every student stays on track for graduation,” Stevenson said.
Our Mission
To provide a quality education
that prepares all children
for a successful future.
Jeffco Public Schools is home to
more than 85,000 of Colorado's
finest students. Step inside one
of our 148 schools and you will
see a staff dedicated to building a
bright future for every student.
Our staff is supported by a
committed school board, involved
parents and a caring community
that combine to provide
quality education that
prepares all children for
a promising future.
Message from the Superintendent
This is always a thrilling time of the year for me as a superintendent
because of the many graduation ceremonies I am honored to attend.
With the toss of their graduation caps, our children leave their public
school education behind and embark on an exciting and unknown journey. Most will go on to higher education; some will enter the working
world. Whatever their future, it’s my hope we have given them the life
and educational skills they need to be successful adults. It’s not enough
that we teach our children the basics of reading, writing, math and social
studies. At Jeffco Public Schools, we strive to teach them to be good
human beings with ethics and empathy for others.
In this month’s Jeffco Schools Quarterly, you’ll find a story about our
recent move to increase the graduation requirements for Jeffco students.
Our work on this began last year and included input from teachers, students, community members and district staff. The goal is to raise expectations for our students by requiring more credits for graduation. The
class of 2013, or this year’s seventh graders, will be the first to graduate
under the new requirements. But we’re not giving mandates without
support for our students. Our goal is to have every child graduate and,
with that always in mind, we will give students the help they may need
to successfully complete high school. Please read the story in this issue
for more information about the new graduation plan.
If you have a child, grandchild or a child you love who is getting ready
to begin a new chapter in their lives, I celebrate with you the possibilities
that await them!
Dr. Cindy Stevenson
Jeffco Schools
Quarterly
A free publication for parents and
residents of Jeffco Public Schools,
the Quarterly is published four times
a year in partnership with Mile High
Newspapers. The school district's
Communications Services staff
provides the articles, photos and
graphics in an effort to keep the
community informed with news
about Jeffco Schools.
Citizen comments about the
publication are welcome.
Mile High Newspapers provides
layout, sells advertisements, prints and
distributes the publication at
Jeffco prepares for possible bond and mill election
The Jefferson County Board of Education has directed the school district staff to begin preparing for a bond and mill election in the fall.
No official vote has been taken and isn’t expected until some time this summer. In 2004, Jeffco voters overwhelmingly supported a $323.8
million bond issue and a $38.5 million mill-levy override. The bond money has been used to build new schools and upgrade others, while
the mill-levy money has gone directly to people and programs that support student achievement. In 2004, the district promised voters that
it wouldn’t ask for any more increases for at least four years and has kept that guarantee.
Jeffco superintendent receives distinguished award
Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson will receive a distinguished service award from the University of Colorado
at Denver this month. The award is given in recognition of those people who have made great contributions to the state of Colorado. Dr.
Stevenson will receive her award during graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 17, at the Auraria campus of CU Denver.
Jeffco’s budget is the best
Who knew that preparing a budget could bring great rewards? It does and it has for Jeffco Public Schools. For the past 25 years, the
school district has been given the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers
Association of the United States and Canada. Jeffco’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) gets the highest form of recognition
in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The award honors Jeffco’s financial report for its spirit of full disclosure
and clear communication of the district’s financial story.
Key Communicator
Celebration of
Excellence Event
The fourth annual Celebration of Excellence
event, dedicated to recognizing the significant
accomplishments of our students, staff, schools
and communities will be held on Wednesday,
October 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The location will
be announced at a later date. The event highlights academics, athletics, arts, educators and
community service.
Did you know? Jeffco Public Schools
daily payroll for teachers is $1,546,000,
no cost to the school district.
To contact
Communications Services:
Jeffco Public Schools
1829 Denver West Drive, #27
Golden, CO 80401
303-982-6808
303-982-6816 Fax
www.jeffcopublicschools.org
e-mail: [email protected]
To advertise in the JSQ,
please contact:
Mile High Newspapers
Janice Holmes
303-339-4332, x35
or
John Tracy
303-279-5541
support staff is $397,000 and
administrative staff is $157,000.
Jeffco Public Schools General Fund Daily Payroll
Photographer:
William Bond
Teaching Staff
$1,546,000 (74%)
Cover photo, boy with books:
© Jacek Chabraszewski, Dreamstime.com
Adminstrative Staff
$157,000 (7%)
Cover photo, jumping graduate:
© David Davis, Dreamstime.com
Support Staff, $397,000 (19%)
Jeffco Schools Quarterly
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Board of Education encourages involvement
The Jefferson County Board of Education encourages you
to become involved in education. The district offers many
opportunities for community members to participate. You are
invited to attend Board of Education meetings, and you also
Scott Benefield, President
may get involved earlier in the decision-making process by
participating in one of the many advisory committees that
serve the schools.
To contact the Board of Education, send correspondence to
Jane Barnes, First Vice President
Directory of Services for
Main Switchboard ................................................ 303-982-6500
Assessment........................................................... 303-982-6565
Athletics/Activities .............................................. 303-982-6634
Benefits Office (medical, dental, vision
insurance, retirement) .......................................... 303-982-6527
Boundaries/Demographics (property
management) ........................................................ 303-982-2339
Building/Facility Use (community use
of school facilities) .............................................. 303-982-6500
Communications Services.................................... 303-982-6808
Education Center (main switchboard) ................. 303-982-6500
Employee Records ............................................... 303-982-6519
Employee Relations ............................................. 303-982-6544
Employment Services ......................................... 303-982-6500
Dave Thomas, Second Vice President
Board of Education, Jefferson County Public Schools, P.O.
Box 4001, Golden, CO 80401-0001. If you have questions,
call Helen Neal, manager, Administrative Services for the
Board and superintendent at 303-982-6801.
Sue Marinelli, Secretary
Vince Chowdhury, Treasurer
School district launches new Web site
Jeffco Public Schools has launched a new Web
site designed to strengthen communications with
the community.
With the launch of the new site at www.jeffcopublicschools.org, the district now provides a
more user-friendly Web environment for its parents, students, and the community. The site was
designed after the district completed user studies
to determine how people use the district’s Web site
and what information they need.
“Our Web team spent time getting to know the
needs of all user groups and learning how they
wanted to use the site,” noted Superintendent Cindy
Stevenson. “It was designed to meet the needs of
our community,” she added.
Information on the site is organized around audience groups as well as by subject categories. A
search engine provides additional quick access to information. The home page will feature frequently changing news
items from schools and from the district.
The site was developed internally by staff members representing Information Technology and Communications
Services.
Food and Nutrition Services ................................ 303-982-6748
GED Testing (located at Warren Tech) ................ 303-982-8633
Human Resources ................................................ 303-982-6515
Department for Learning and
Educational Achievement .................................... 303-982-6994
Jeffco Schools Hotline ......................................... 303-982-6600
Payroll Department .............................................. 303-982-6780
Registrar ............................................................... 303-982-6994
Security (24-Hour) ............................................... 303-232-8688
Student Records ................................................... 303-982-6715
Substitute Office .................................................. 303-982-6523
Superintendent ..................................................... 303-982-6800
Transportation Terminals
Central .............................................................. 303-982-2324
North ................................................................ 303-982-1998
South ................................................................ 303-982-9057
West.................................................................. 303-982-5215
Schools are listed in the business white pages of the Qwest
phone book under Schools, Public, Jefferson County.
For information, contact Communications Services
at 303-982-6808, or visit the Web site at
www.jeffcopublicschools.org.
MYVH survey
▲
Home School Option Program ............................ 303-982-6321
page 1
middle and high school, respectively,
from the previous survey).
Secondary students who say that their
school building is well maintained and in
good repair increased by four percentage
points for middle school (77 percent) and
eight percentage points for high school (67
percent).
“Thanks to Jeffco voters in 2004, many
of our older schools have either been
remodeled or replaced using bond money,
and this survey shows those improvements
are making a difference for our students,”
said Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent
Dr. Cindy Stevenson. “But we still have
work to do. Only one out of four of our
schools got the upgrades needed to meet
our educational standards.”
Students also gave high marks to school
safety and environment issues. The full
report may be viewed at http://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/publications/index.html.
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See the
Birthplace of
JURASSIC GIANTS
Display
Featured in
the May issue
of Smithsonian
magazine!
Discover Colorado’s dinosaurs at our
hands-on, family-friendly natural history museum. Explore
local fossil finds from Dinosaur Ridge, including recently
discovered hatchling dinosaur footprints!
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May 2008
Patterson Elementary goes international
The letter arrived and it’s official.
Patterson Elementary, wait, Patterson
International in Lakewood, has
been authorized as an International
Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years
Program.
The IB program’s goal is to develop
inquiring, knowledgeable and caring
young people who will help create a better world through intercultural understanding and respect. The
Primary Years Program gives students
a strong foundation in core subjects
(math, social studies, science and
Students use laptops for the international unit of inquiry.
language arts) while helping them
develop an international perspective.
“The process of gaining the official
IB designation was a lengthy and rigorous one, but we are thrilled that it
has finally happened,” said Patterson
Principal Susie D’Amanti.
In the eyes of the students and
teachers implementing the curriculum, the IB program is not only
teaching students to think more critically, but it is sparking a new passion
for life-long learning and teaching
students to be respectful to others
both inside and outside of school.
“The IB program is having a ripple
effect throughout the school, the area
and the district,” said Chris Curtis,
the IB coordinator and instructional
coach at Patterson.
“IB is representing Patterson and
you stand out because you show
others how to be respectful,” said
Mikaela Craig, a sixth grader in
teacher Lynn Jacoby’s class.
“It is bringing us closer together
and closer to others,” said Andrea
Depuy, a sixth grader in Jacoby’s
class.
In addition to learning respect
for others, students feel that the IB
program gives them more creative
experiences inside the classroom.
In Jacoby’s sixth grade class, the
students created a public service
announcement that communicated a
specific message about Internet safety. In this assignment, students were
allowed to look at technology with
a more critical eye and apply their
learning in a more creative approach.
“Assignments are becoming fun
because we are using different technologies,” said Nick Schneider, a
sixth grader in Jacoby’s class.
In teacher Stacey Maaser’s fourth
grade classroom, students put on
plays for one of their assignments.
“We are researching the circulatory
system because the boy in our play
has hiccups,” said fourth grader Arley
Molina. “We get to use more materials and laptops.”
Through the incorporation of technology in the curriculum, students
are able to research and inquire about
subjects more intensely than standard
curriculum.
“We dig deeper into things that
most students wouldn’t get the chance
to,” said Depuy.
According to teachers throughout the school, the IB program has
rejuvenated the love of learning at
Patterson. The assignments challenge
the teachers to be more creative in
their instruction. IB allows teachers
to incorporate a global perspective
into all areas of study.
“Every year I become a bet-
Fourth grade teacher Stacey Maaser helps
Bianca Cisneros with research.
ter teacher,” said Jacoby. “With IB,
teachers can make lessons even more
dynamic.”
A final component toward IB success is the implementation of a secondary language. At Patterson, students are learning Spanish which
they hope to incorporate into their
daily lives inside and outside the
classroom.
“If someone needed help and
spoke Spanish, then you could speak
Spanish and help them,” said Craig.
Patterson is not only the first elementary school in Jeffco to implement IB, it is one of 200 primary year
programs around the globe devoted to
developing caring, young people who
may help create a better world.
Kindergarten teacher fosters great
beginnings
Tammy Youngs, a kindergartener teacher at
Stober Elementary in Lakewood, has many years
of experience under her belt. Surprisingly, only
two years of which are in teaching. Youngs traded
in her corporate cubicle and career in business for
the classroom and went back to graduate school to
get her teaching license.
Youngs was inspired by one professor, in particular, in graduate school who demonstrated
teaching abilities that she hopes to bring into her
classroom.
“It was Dr. Sue Gilligan’s ability to engage me
and make me feel it. I hope I can do that for my
kids…” Youngs said with a smile.
When she began teaching, Youngs taught kindergarten and fifth grade, which was overwhelmKindergarten teacher Tammy Youngs works with student.
ing for the first-year teacher. In those stressful
times, Youngs developed a love and appreciation
for teaching that goes beyond any grey cubicle or
forty-hour week. “The kids are the best part. Without them, it would not be as much fun. I am really lucky that I get to
experience those first moments,” Youngs said.
Youngs may be new to teaching, but her colleagues say she is already a pro.
“Tammy is one amazing teacher! She combines an understanding of the development levels of her students with their
abilities and aligns those with the academic and social expectations in her kindergarten classroom. She then creates
unique, learning opportunities that encompass every minute of a student’s day,” said Dr. Susan Borzych, principal at
Stober Elementary. “Watching her teach makes me want to be a kid again.”
4
New building promotes new learning
Voters often wonder what happens to their tax money when they
support a school bond election. Bear Creek K-8 School fourth
grade student Spencer Fretwell can tell people exactly what that
money has meant to him. It means he doesn’t have to be away
from his school in a temporary classroom where sometimes
the heating and air conditioning worked well and sometimes it
didn’t.
Today, Spencer is a sixth grader and life at school he says, is
much better.
In August 2007, a new Bear Creek K-8 School welcomed students, teachers and staff into a new state-of-the-art building. To
say the change is dramatic is an understatement. The old school
was built in 1954 and was, at times, literally falling apart. Forty
temporary classrooms dotted the campus, causing many students
to feel disconnected from the rest of the school.
“Everything is so much better,” said Miranda Vigil, a sixth
grader at Bear Creek.
“I had one assistant principal in a large custodial closet, said
Bear Creek K-8 Principal Victoria Kaye. “Being in one building for the first time gives us an opportunity to truly be a united
school.”
In the new building there are all the amenities, technology and
equipment that students need to be successful and engaged. The
120,000-square-foot facility accommodates 1,080 students. All
classrooms face north and south to maximize day lighting opportunities. The school has card-key access and visitors can only
enter the school through the office which provides for improved
safety and security.
Major design features of the $19.8 million school include:
• 44 new classrooms
• Two art rooms
• Two music rooms
• An 8,500 square foot multi-purpose gymnasium
• Fitness room with exercise equipment
• Multi-purpose room
• Cafetorium (combination cafeteria and auditorium)
with performance platform
• Full-service kitchen
• Separate entries and play areas for different
grade levels
• A 300 x 150 foot multi-use play field, long
jump pit and high jump pad
• Parking for about 180 staff and visitors
• Parent drop-off in front and on the west side
In addition to all of the design features, staff
and students say the technology within the school
enhances instruction and makes education more
From top: The new Bear Creek library
takes advantage of natural light to save
on energy costs.
The new Bear Creek K-8 School offers
lots of space for students and teachers.
A photo of the old Bear Creek
Elementary School from the archives.
exciting for everyone. Every teacher has a computer, a computer
lab is hard-wired with more than 30 stations, the building is wireless and classrooms have the capability of becoming a SMART
Board.
A SMART Board is a large, touch-controlled screen that works
with a projector and a computer. Users can write on the interactive whiteboard in digital ink or use a finger to control computer
applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, just as with a
desktop mouse.
As a result, students have the technology to scroll the Web,
watch videos with more clarity and use online teaching tools to
enhance learning and participation.
“Like maps, you can’t always keep up. With the technology you
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can pull up updated information from the Internet,” said Michelle
Colby, an eighth grade history teacher.
“The computers and the SMART Board make learning more
fun,” said sixth grader Felipe Porras.
The students at Bear Creek K-8 may not understand the complexities of a bond election, but they do understand the difference
it has made for them.
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5
May 2008
Jeffco Public Schools Summer School
Summer is almost here and for some students that doesn’t mean school stops.
For those students, Jeffco Public Schools offers summer school to meet the needs of all grade levels.
Middle School Summer School (Grades 7–8)
Elementary Summer School (Grades K–6)
This year’s K–6 summer school continues with
a standards-based approach for meeting students’ educational needs. The program focuses
on student learning and student success for the
content standards in the areas of English language arts and math. This program is designed
for students who have just completed kindergarten through sixth grade.
Dates: June 4 – June 27 from 8 – 11 a.m.
Cost: Jeffco students $175, $275 for non-district students. No refunds after Friday, June 6.
Location: Slater Elementary, Swanson
Elementary and Westgate Elementary
Transportation: Parents are responsible
for transportation.
Registration: After May 15, students may
register by person or by mail at the Summer
School office. Complete the form online: http://
jeffcoWeb.jeffco.k12.co.us/isu/summer/k6_registration.pdf. Late registration: $15.
Traditional Summer School Program:
Designed for students who need to remediate academic skill deficiencies and/or make up
credit in a required subject area. Students may
take up to two classes and earn a maximum of
one unit/credit during the six-week program.
Supplies needed: pencils, 16-count crayons,
scissors, school glue and a 70-page spiral notebook.
Notice to parents of special
education students:
Special Education teacher support will be available for those students needing instructional
assistance as a summer school student. This
service is made available to assist those students who have enrolled as a tuition-paying
student as well as those who have Extended
School Year instruction on their Individualized
Education Programs (IEPs). The instructional
environment for all students will be an inclusive academic experience that can specifically
address their individual needs and learning
profile.
The Wilson Reading Summer School is available for IEP students needing intensive reading
intervention according to school assessments
and teacher input. Students currently in second
through sixth grade are considered for this
program if they:
Dates: June 9 thru July 18 (no class on
Friday, July 4). Students may enroll in one or
both sessions. One unit/credit classes meet
both sessions.
First session: 7:30 - 9:20 a.m.
Second session: 9:35 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Conifer High School
Cost: $150 per one-half unit/credit class and
$300 per one unit/credit class for Jeffco students. Non-district students pay an additional
$100. No refunds after Friday, June 20.
Transportation: Students responsible for
transportation.
Registration: Thursday, June 5 and Friday,
June 6 from 7:30-11:30 a.m., at Conifer High
School. Fees are due on the day of registration
via check, MasterCard or Visa. Students should
bring their final report card to registration.
1) Are unsatisfactory on CSAP (grades 3–6)
2) Currently receive Wilson Reading System
intervention
3) Are recommended for summer programming by current Wilson reading teacher
Alternative Summer School
Program: Designed for students who need
to develop their study skills, improve their
attitudes toward school and improve their
performance in the basic skill areas of English
language arts, math, social studies and science.
In this three week program, students will work
with a team of teachers for a three hour block
of time and will earn a maximum of one-half
unit/semester credit. Academic and study skills
will be integrated into thematic and experientially-based instructional units.
Students selected for this program will receive
targeted reading intervention in a small group
based upon identified needs and pre-testing
scores.
For more information on elementary
summer school including the
curriculum, please visit the Jeffco
Public Schools summer
school Web site at
www.jeffcopublicschools.org,
or call 303-982-6988.
Dates: June 4-24 from 8-11 a.m.
Location: Oberon Middle School, Ken Caryl
Middle School and Creighton Middle School.
Senior High Summer School (Grades 9–12)
The senior high Summer School program is primarily
designed for students who need to make up credit or
remediate skill deficiencies in required subject areas. It
offers classes in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education.
Dates: June 9–18, 2008 (no classes on Friday, July 4)
from 7:30–noon (times vary by location).
Session one: 7:30–9:20 a.m.
Session two: 9:35–11:30 a.m.
Students may enroll in either or both class sessions.
Classes that earn one credit meet the entire four
hours.
Location: Columbine High School, Conifer High
School, Lakewood High School and Ralston Valley High
School
Cost: One-half credit is $150 and $300 for one
credit for Jeffco students. Additional $100 fee for
non-district students. Students may enroll in a maximum of two one-half credit courses. No refunds after
June 20, 2008.
Transportation: Students are responsible for
transportation.
Registration: Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6
from 7:30–11:30 a.m. at the summer school site the
student will be attending. Fees are due on the day of
registration via check, MasterCard or Visa.
Notice to parents of special education
high school students:
Summer School provides for the individual needs of
special education students in an inclusive manner at
each high school site. A special education teacher at
each building provides support for students with IEPs.
Modifications and accommodations are utilized as
appropriate to help the student successfully complete
the courses in which the student is enrolled.
For more information on summer school, including
the curriculum, please visit the Jeffco Public Schools
Summer School Web site at http://jeffcoWeb.jeffco.
k12.co.us/isu/summer/index_new.html or call
303-982-6988.
6
Cost: Jeffco students $150; $250 for non-district students. No refunds after June 6, 2008.
Transportation: Students are responsible
for their own transportation.
Registration: Tuesday, June 3 from 8-11:30
a.m. at the summer school center where the
student will be attending. Fees are due on the
day of registration via check, MasterCard or
Visa. Students should bring their final report
card to registration.
Notice to parents of special education middle school students:
Summer School provides for the individual
needs of special education students in an inclusive manner at each middle school site. A special education teacher at each building provides
support for students with IEPs. Modifications
and accommodations are utilized as appropriate to help the student successfully complete
the courses in which the student is enrolled.
The Wilson Reading Summer School is available for IEP students needing intensive reading
intervention according to school assessments
and teacher input. Students currently in middle
school are considered for this program if they:
1) Are unsatisfactory on CSAP
2) Currently receive Wilson Reading System
intervention
3) Are recommended for summer programming by current Wilson reading teacher
Students selected for this program will receive
reading intervention in a small group based
upon identified needs and pre-testing scores.
For more information about middle school
summer school including the curriculum, please
visit the Jeffco Public Schools Summer School
Web site at http://jeffcoWeb.jeffco.k12.co.us/
isu/summer/index_new.html or call 303-9826988.
Online Summer School (Grades 7-12)
Online courses are offered through the Jeffco Extended Opportunity
Program. Online courses allow students the flexibility to work, participate in
activities, or even go on vacation during the summer. For each course, students
must attend a face-to-face class session on Thursday, June 12 or Friday, June 13.
After this initial session, students will access and work on their courses over
the Internet. Students will work independently, turning in assignments daily and
contacting their teachers via phone or e-mail during the seven-week session.
Students are graded on the work they turn in, not on the time they spend.
Students should expect to work at least two hours per day on each online
course they take. All students will have a face-to-face final on Wednesday, July
30 or Thursday, July 31.
For more information, including course offerings and our registration form,
please visit the Jeffco Extended Opportunity Program Web site at http://www.
jeop.org or call 303-982-8608.
Refunds: If a student does not attend summer school, there is a full refund.
After the first day, there is a fee of $15 per one-half credit each day to the
date of withdrawal. Parents must notify school by telephone or in person
to begin the refund process. Non-district fee will be refunded at the same
rate. Students who are absent from a class for more than three days will be
dropped from the program without credit and three tardies will count as one
absence. No refunds will be granted. Classes that don’t meet minimums will be
cancelled. If a class is not offered at a certain summer school center, students
may transfer to another summer school center where it is available.
Making a difference in two languages
Join us to see how you – like the characters in
our play – can move your financial picture
from just okay to GREAT.
“A Remote Possibility”
– a Theatrical Play
Rocky Mountain Family Council is
sponsoring this short, amusing parody
on family finances and how we
make decisions about money.
Admission is FREE.
Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express
I-70 & Kipling in Wheat Ridge
Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m.
Golden Church of the Nazarene
17455 W. 16th Ave. in Golden
Presented by the iMoneyCoach team at Integrity Financial
Please RSVP or for more information, call 303-462-2001
www.iMoneyCoach.com
When Leigh Hiester entered college she thought she would get into
politics because she wanted to make
a difference. Then, she realized that
she could make a bigger difference
working with kids.
As the principal at Foster
Elementary in Arvada, Hiester is
changing lives by leading a first-ofits-kind program in Jeffco.
Depending on which classroom
you enter at Foster, you can hear
English or Spanish and sometimes
both! It is the only Jeffco school
to offer a dual language program
that helps students become bilingual
by the time they leave elementary
school.
“At Foster, we provide experiences
for kids that they normally would not
have,” said Hiester.
Students have the opportunity
to become a fluent speaker, reader
and writer in English and Spanish.
Learning the curriculum in both
languages in separate classrooms,
the students have a rich opportunity
to acquire a second language in a
unique way.
“It shows students how powerful their native language is,” said
Hiester. “I believe in it whole-heartedly. Half of the students are native
Spanish speakers and half of the
students are native English speakers. It is a win-win for both groups
of kids.”
According to some educational
experts, a dual language program
can help develop children who will
be more competitive in a global
economy and more collaborative in
a multi-cultural society.
In addition to the bilingual program, Hiester supports programs that
make a difference for her students
and staff. Every Thursday, the school
partners with the Arvada Food Bank
to provide more than 100 students
with two breakfasts and two lunches
for the weekend.
And for the third year in a row,
students taking part in the Peace
Jam Junior Leadership Squad have
presented flowers to visiting Noble
Peace prize winners.
“If it weren’t for the support of
Leigh who sees great value in implementing this curriculum and the
enthusiastic teachers at Foster, our
students wouldn’t hold Nobel Peace
Prize winners as their heroes, have an
understanding of the many aspects of
peace nor be empowered to be lead-
Principal Heister stops to chat with students.
ers who learn to use their voice to
make change,” said Dawn Axelson,
third and fourth grade teacher.
“Kids learn how one person can
make a difference in the world,” said
Hiester. “They realize they do have
power.”
��
Join us for our Annual Showcase, “A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE”
June 14, 5:00 PM • Teikyo Loretto Heights Theatre
Register for our Summer Session! It runs from Jun 23 - Aug 15.
• Master Ballet classes by Colorado Ballet Soloist, Janelle Cook
• Social Dance workshops by Nationally Acclaimed
Instructor/Choreographer/Competitor, Keri L. McLean
YOUTH!
• “So we KNOW you can dance!”
- Specializing in kid’s & teen classes
• Get fit and maintain good fitness
• Limited class sizes to ensure a
one-on-one, quality education
• Dance for ages 3 through adult ranging
from beginning to advanced levels
• Annual Summer & Holiday Showcases
• Performing & Competition Companies
ADULT!
• “Dancing with our Stars!”
- Highly qualified & caring instructors
• Adult continuing education ranging
from beginning to advanced levels
• “Shall we dance?” - Custom programs
to fit your specific
needs and private lessons available
• Front Desk Assistants waiting to
provide you with personal help
during our hours of operation
303-979-6419 • www.SOTADANCE.net
In Lakewood on Wadsworth just north of Hampden (Hwy. 285)
in Westgate Center
7
May 2008
High altitude learning
Imagine a classroom at 8,000 feet
surrounded by Ponderosa pines and
majestic snow-capped peaks. That’s
what awaits Jeffco students when they
reach sixth grade. They pack a duffle
bag and head to either Windy Peak or
Mt. Evans Outdoor Lab schools for an
unforgettable experience.
Regardless of socio-economic status or physical abilities, every student
has the opportunity to embrace the
wilderness for five days of hands-on
learning, parental freedom and an all
around great time with their peers.
A typical day for an outdoor lab student begins at 6:45 a.m. when they get
dressed and clean their bunkhouse.
While personal cleanliness is encouraged, there’s not much time for it. “We
only get 2-minute showers, twice a
week," said Breanna Johnson, a sixth
grader at Vanderhoof Elementary.
After bunkhouse cleaning, “hoppers” report to the dining room to
set up and serve food. Students take
turns getting refills for their table and
cleaning up when the meal is finished. “It’s team building,” said Eric
Stephan, a sixth grader at Vanderhoof.
“We really learn how to help each
other out.”
Before going to outdoor lab, students in need of prescription medication submit their healthcare plans
to the school to ensure that students
are not only happy, but healthy durClockwise from top left: Outdoor lab is located in the mountains
of Evergreen; Chase Haymond studies Native American survival
tool; Kyle Rucker practices shooting a bow during archery course;
Heather Allison recreates a character from the early 1900s.
ing their stay. The medical clinic has
a certified nurse on staff during the
day and a clinic aid on-site in case of
emergencies at night. In addition to
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303-697-9666
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For Every
medication, the
clinic provides
clothing to students who don't
have adequate
gear for the trip.
Even students
with disabilities are able to attend
outdoor lab. When students can’t walk
on the forestry hike, the trail is condensed and placed in an accessible
area. “Some students have never been
to the mountains before – this is such
a different world,” said Leslie Bohn,
school nurse at Mt. Evans.
After a flag ceremony, students
eat breakfast where they are awarded points based on trail behavior,
respect, participation, responsibility,
bunkhouse cleaning and bunkhouse
behavior. From 8:45-9:45 a.m. students participate in special interest
classes which include arts, crafts and
acting. “It is great to see kids in a
different environment because we are
so used to seeing students in the classroom,” said Lori Caunterman, an art
teacher at Vanderhoof Elementary.
from different Jeffco high schools
spend a week with the sixth graders
acting as mentors, guides and friends.
The week is as much about relationships as it is about nature. Team
building activities are opportunities
for students to develop responsibility
and character.
After dinner, students relax and
write in their journals until the evening entertainment which includes
line dancing, storytelling and a visit
from the “mountain man,” a special
visitor who entertains with tales of the
wild west in the 1800s. “This is absolutely the best week I’ve ever spent at
school,” said Pohlenz.
For more information about
Windy Peak and Mt. Evans Outdoor
Lab schools, visit http://sc.jeffco.
k12.co.us/education/staff/staff.
php?sectionid=8145.
Life-saving lunch lady honored
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Mary Zimmerman smiles on stage while listening
to her students’ serenade.
After special interest classes, students attend their core classes which
include geology, mountain ecology
and astronomy as well as additional
classes such as forestry, astronomy,
wildlife, compass and mapping,
archery and first-aid.
“Kids are applying what they are
learning in an interactive way,” said
Sandra Stevens, principal at Mt.
Evans.
“The best part of outdoor lab is
being outdoors,” said Dakota Pohlenz,
sixth grader at Vanderhoof. “I saw elk
on our hike this morning.”
The week at outdoor lab is the
culmination of carefully planned lessons all year that focus on geology,
botany, biology and astronomy. What
students learn about in books they get
to see for real in a beautiful mountain
setting. Counselors, teachers and staff
8
The Shaffer Elementary Kitchen Manager, Mary
Zimmerman, is one of the most popular lunch ladies in
Jeffco Schools.
It was a typical day in the school’s cafeteria last April,
when third grader Brittnay Wilson began to choke on a piece
of bread. Zimmerman was behind the lunch counter and saw
Brittnay choking, but had never performed the Heimlich
maneuver, only seeing the move on TV.
Her quick thinking saved Brittnay and earned Zimmerman
the nickname of “Life-saving Lunch Lady.” The school’s
principal, Anne Sterrett, even made up an impromptu song
about her.
Zimmerman received an American Red Cross Mile High
Chapter award at the Breakfast of Champions, an event that
honors life-saving individuals and organizations who exemplify courage, compassion and unselfish character through
their acts of heroism in the community.
Shaffer students, Rebecca Updyke, Madisyn Barnes,
Michael Ardourel, and Brittnay Wilson, the student on whom
the Heimlich maneuver was performed, sang the “LifeSaving Lunch Lady” song as a surprise to Zimmerman at the
awards breakfast.
“It was awesome to see my students there,” said Zimmerman.
“When they started singing it brought tears to my eyes. I’m
just so glad I was there that day to help Brittnay.”
Beat the heat with a good book!
Jefferson County Public Library’s Summer Reading Club
June 1 – July 31
Our Summer Reading Clubs have something for everyone, including special
programs for kids and teens, and prize drawings for kids, teens and adults!
The summer will fly by for kids birth through elementary school who can
sign-up with “Flutter. Buzz. Zoom. Read!” With just eight hours to complete, kids
can read their way to a free book and other fun prizes.
Teens can check out “My Library. My Space” to learn creative ways to stand out.
They can also drop in for fun activities like “Who’s Got the Moves?” a Dance
Dance Revolution program.
Funding provided by:
One number reaches all Library locations.
(303) 235-JCPL (5275)
Friday, August 1st from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
Meri Cheri the Clown
Eric West Music for Kids
Meri Cheri the Clown
Wee Notables
Ronald McDonald Magic Show
Sue Schnitzer
FREE ACTIVITIES
Bounce House, Climbing Wall,
Slide, Petting Zoo, Bunjee Jump
Trampoline, 4H exhibits and
commercial exhibits, Westwood
College IGX Interactive Gaming
Exhibit, Dock Dogs and more!
EDUCATIONAL BOOTHS
The Butterfly Pavilion, Milk Maker Station, The Museum of Nature and Science,
Morrison Nature Center, Adams County Sheriff's Office,
Greater Brighton Fire District, The Front Range Library and much more!
SPECIAL PRICE ON CARNIVAL ARMBANDS – $10.00. Armbands can be purchased during Kids
Day from 10am-3pm and are good until 5pm. At 3:00 p.m. armbands will be the normal price.
Adams County Fair: July 30 – August 3, 2008
Adams County Regional Park • The Adams County Fair is located 1 1/2 miles west of
Highway 85 or .5 miles east of Riverdale Road on 124th Ave. 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton
Phone: 303-657-8000
www.adamscountyfair.com
‘Take E-470, The Official Road to the Adams County Fair’
Admission is free, parking is $5.00 per car
9
May 2008
Congratulations
2008 Good News
Breakfast Honorees
The following Jeffco Public Schools students were recognized on April 29, 2008 by the Good News Coalition as
great kids or groups of great kids who demonstrate a sustained commitment to building great communities.
Committee and was the sole youth in the
Wheat Ridge Civic Education and Governance
Academy. A freshman at Wheat Ridge High
School, Meiers also volunteered at Lutheran
Hospital and is serving as co-chair for the
American Cancer Society Relay for Life in
Wheat Ridge this summer.
The Good News Coalition includes representatives from the Jefferson County community in all areas including
non-profits, education, government, the faith community and businesses. The breakfast helps develop a cohesive
sense of community in Jefferson County, enhances and reaffirms spiritual values that form the foundation of
the community, and recognizes “good news” happenings. Now in its 17th year, the breakfast draws about 500
people in celebration of the “good news” in Jefferson County.
“Tom has been a very active teenager within
the Wheat Ridge community and I expect great
things from him in the future,” said Wheat Ridge
Mayor Jerry DiTullio.
Written by Marilyn Salzman
Junior
Optimist Club
at Arvada
Middle School
Since
2002
the
Arvada Optimist Club
has sponsored the
Junior Optimist Club
at Arvada Middle
School to support the
motto, “Bringing Out
the Best in Youth.” Arvada Optomist Club members
The club includes 10
to 15 students whose primary project is
monthly visits to the residents of Exempla
Nursing home, making connections between
youth and the elderly. They play bingo,
lead sing-alongs, help with crafts and host a
Valentine’s Day party. Other annual projects
of the Junior Optimists include making holiday
cards for soldiers, making bowls for the Empty
Bowls fundraiser, serving dinner guests at a
scholarship fundraiser, walking for the Second
Wind Foundation, and making 30 gift boxes for
homeless teens served by Family Tree.
“Residents really enjoy the students coming
in. Students have been coming for the last five
years and it’s been consistent; that’s awesome
for a school to do that,” said Jamie Chapa, activity director, Exempla Lutheran Nursing Home.
Nadia
Belkin,
a junior at
Lakewood High
School in the
International
Baccalaureate
Program, participated in the
summer leadership program,
Seeking Common Ground,
Building Bridges
Nadia Belkin
for Peace, a
two-week program for Israeli, Palestinian and
American teenagers. Her family hosted both a
Jewish Israeli and a Palestinian Muslim.
In the Lakewood community, she serves
as a representative for peace and recently planned an interfaith dialogue at
her high school. Additional community
efforts Belkin has accomplished are volunteering for political campaigns, the
Lakewood Arts Fair and The Children’s
Hospital. She is involved in the Civic
Canopy Project to develop policies to
ban youth smoking and was a summer
intern for the Jeffco District Attorney’s
Diversion Program.
“Earlier this year I had the good fortune
to see Nadia’s presentation about her experiences with Building Bridges. When I heard
about the Good News Breakfast theme honoring young leaders and what they were doing
for their community, I immediately thought of
Nadia. I was impressed with a young woman
who is poised, intelligent and passionate about
her mission,” said Barbara Martin, Lakewood
United Church of Christ.
BIONIC (Believe
It or Not, I Care)
Team, Green
Mountain
High School
reaches out to fellow
students experiencing
illness, family tragedies
and other challenges.
The BIONIC TEAM is
divided into groups:
the New Student Team,
Extended Illness Team, Hospitalization Team,
Loss Team and the School Tragedy Team.
Based on the area of concern, students pay
personal visits, deliver condolences and food or
find other ways to demonstrate their concern.
BIONIC was created by school counselor Sandy
Austin in 2004 in response to four suicides at
the high school. Since then, it has grown to over
200 students and reaches out to over 25,000
people. Over 160 schools from around the
world have inquired about starting a BIONIC
program.
“The BIONIC team at Green Mountain High
School is a true example of someone with a
heart for kids having the ability to “put feet” to
an idea. Sandy Austin saw a need at the school
and between her servant’s heart, leadership
style and the compassionate students involved
in the program, BIONIC allows students to
share in each other’s difficult times by helping
them carry the burden of a tough situation.
BIONIC allows teenage students to take the
focus off themselves and, instead, care for
others,” said Tami Shrader, public relations,
Bandimere Speedway.
Abbey
Friedman,
at the age of 13,
began volunteering to serve
her school, faith
community
and neighborhood. At her
suggestion, the
Honors English Abbey Friedman
students
at
Creighton Middle School are now required to
complete 10 hours of service each trimester.
She continues to volunteer an average of five
hours per week on several community projects. With the help of her fellow volunteers,
Friedman has raised over $19,000 for various
community efforts. In her religious community,
she has spent countless hours volunteering at
the Kosher Pantry, DARFUR efforts, Urban
Peaks, Denver Rescue Mission and the Delores
Project. In her neighborhood, she offers free
child care to families and has sold pumpkins to
raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. At
school, she participated in the PTSA Chili CookOff, tutored peers and served as a teacher’s
assistant in science.
“Abbey is an eighth student who involves herself in projects which benefit her faith, school
and neighborhood communities. She is an
inspiration to her fellow classmates at Creighton
Middle School and encourages them to join her
in efforts to make their communities a better
place to live,” said Sandy Cunningham, eighth
grade teacher, Creighton Middle School.
“As both the father of a BIONIC Team member,
and as a police Division Chief, I was greatly
impressed with the level of compassion and
community outreach that these kids have demonstrated under the innovative leadership of Ms.
Austin. These young people clearly demonstrate
that they care about more than just themselves.
They have compassion for fellow students who
are undergoing tragedies or medical difficulties
and they understand the sacrifices that members
of the military are making for the benefit of all of
Foster Elementary Peace Jam
Leadership Squad
BIONIC Team members
“The Foster PeaceJam Leadership Squad is
a group of students who are empowered to
make changes in their community based on
the inspiration of Nobel Peace Prize Winners.
By studying the lives of Nobel Laureates such
as the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Adolfo
Perez Esquivel, the students realize that one
person can make a huge difference in our
world. When asked who are their heros, they
often name a Nobel Peace Prize Winner,” said
Dawn Axelson, third and fourth grade teacher,
Foster Elementary School.
Marissa
Hughes
began
volunteering at
the
Hiwan
Homestead
Museum in
Evergreen in
2005. Since
then,
she
leads
tours
for children’s
groups, assists
and teaches
Marissa Hughes
children during the Discovery Days program, assists the Just
Being Kids craft classes and helps train other
youth volunteers. She interprets the “schoolmarm” in the museum’s 1876 school,
presenting the role professionally and
enthusiastically. She has also been on
the committees to plan, decorate and
direct activities during the Children’s
Teas at the museum each summer
“Marissa is an incredible volunteer who
has been serving at Hiwan Homestead
Museum for the past three summers
and is already planning activities for
Summer 2008. Her enthusiasm, dedication and dependability are remarkable,”
said Sue Ashbaugh, museum education
coordinator.
Foster Elementary Peace Jam Leadership Squad
us. Ms. Austin has developed an internationally
recognized program that provides comfort to
others and demonstrates to kids that it’s cool to
care about people other than themselves,” said
John Camper, patrol division chief, Lakewood
Police Department.
Nobel Peace Prize winner, Betty Williams from
Ireland. The group is currently involved with
the TAP Project, a nationwide fundraiser to
bring clean water to people around the world.
is an after-school group of third through sixth
graders who study the lives of Nobel Peace
Prize winners and implement service learning
projects that empower them to make positive
changes in their community and the world.
Started three years ago, the Leadership Squad
has conducted numerous activities including
organizing blood drives, launching Trick-orTreating for UNICEF, visiting the National
Center for Atmospheric Research to learn about
the environment, which started a water conservation project at school, getting Lowe’s
to donate an energy efficient light bulb to
every Foster student and presenting the Peace
Jam Junior curriculum at the National Youth
Service Learning Conference in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. The group has worked with
Tom Meiers
began volunteering for the Wheat Ridge Carnation
Festival three years ago while he was still in middle school. In 2007, he assumed a number of
major responsibilities for
the festival,
including
public relations, safety,
Teen Night,
communications, parking
and assisting
with entertainment. He is a
member of the
Wheat Ridge
Carnation Festival Planning Tom Meiers
Emily Nielsen’s
grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease a few years ago and being close to her
grandmother and troubled by her memory loss,
Nielsen chose
to be near her
grandmother
spiritually by
following in
her footsteps of
volunteering.
She volunteers
at the Jeffco
Action Center
every Friday
after school.
Through her
experience at
the action center, Nielsen
Emily Nielsen
has become
involved in several volunteering projects. She
has been very active in food drives at her school
through student council and has helped with
school supply and Thanksgiving basket distributions.
“Emily’s enthusiasm and energy is contagious
where ever she’s volunteering. Anyone can
see that she loves to help the less fortunate any
chance she can. She is a regular at all our special
events and volunteers weekly in our food bank.
If given the opportunity, I’m sure I’d see Emily
here every day. She is a great addition and we
all look forward to her smiling face,” said Ann
Vorick, volunteer coordinator, Jeffco Action
Center.
Robert Simpson
is the Student Council president at Bradford
Intermediate School and his passion and enthusiasm for service has spread among his peers.
Robert helped lead food drives for Lumberg
Elementary
and encourages students to
have pride in
their school.
He promotes
the new peer
mediator proand
gram
encourages
school unity
by getting students to work
together
in
positive ways.
Whenever a
Robert Simpson
task arises that
will challenge the students to participate, Robert
uses his positive energy, and he can encourage
even the most hesitant students to take part.
“Robert loves to get involved in a cause, and
loves getting others involved as well. The enthusiasm and joy he has in helping with things like
the Lumberg Food Drive spreads to everyone
around him, and they can’t help but join in. He
is a tremendous peer leader and shows us all
what can happen if everyone chips in to help
their fellow students,” said Sean Stevinson, sixth
grade teacher, Bradford Intermediate.
Kelsey
Smith,
a student at
Conifer High
School,
is
president of
the Key Club
and has coordinated several events to
raise money
for such charities as UNICEF
and the Emily
Kelsey Smith
Keyes fund.
She has served as PACT (violence prevention program) leader for middle and elementary school students and is a peer coach for the
physical education program for special needs
students. She was a LINK leader for incoming
freshmen and has been on the production team
of LOBOTRAX, Conifer’s television network.
Through Girl Scouts and the Key Club, Smith
has participated in community events including, the 9News Health Fair, Mountain Resource
Center’s Christmas Party, Parade of Lights and
the Run for the Resource Center. She also serves
as a bible school aide.
The Youth Advisory Panel
in the City of Westminster
is committed to raising funds for the city’s
Youth Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to families with children who
may not be able to participate in recreational
activities due to hardship. Annually this fund
sponsors in excess $7,000 worth of activities.
Youth Advisory Panel, Westminster
The youth have raised as much as $3,000 a
year through such fundraisers as the 4th of July
celebration, Westminster Faire, Holy COW Trail
Race and the Holiday Lighting Ceremony. Other
projects of the Youth Advisory Panel include
feeding the homeless, adopting a family for the
holidays, adopting a military troop overseas and
Community Pride Day. The panel also has input
on such community issues as cruising, teen
smoking, suicide, pregnancy and curfews.
“The Youth Advisory Panel was initiated in 1999
by Mayor Nancy Heil who felt it was important
for the youth in Westminster to have a voice
in issues dealing with their needs. Since the
inception, the panel has had input on issues
like cruising, teen smoking, suicide, pregnancy,
and curfews. The Panel felt that they wanted
to be involved in community service projects
and were committed to enhancing and giving
back to the community they live in,” said Cindy
McDonald, staff liaison, City of Westminster,
department of parks, recreation and libraries.
“Kelsey puts a magical touch on everyone
she encounters,” said Melissa Rae, challenge
teacher at Conifer High School.
Belmar Optimist Program Members
Warren Tech Honor Soceity HS Leader Members
Warren Tech’s National
Technical Honor Society
High School Leaders
include, Danielle Donovan, Michael Hake,
Kirk Hillman, Jace Nadeau, Paula Rhoades
and Lance Ware who come from six different
Jeffco high schools. They spend half-days at
Warren Tech, work part-time and participate
in internships. As leaders, they run monthly
meetings and encourage members in leadership
and community service. They have organized
two blood drives, collecting over 120 units of
blood, a Jeffco Action Center food drive where
over a half ton of food items were collected
and a Christmas Toy Drive where $6,000 worth
of toys were wrapped and organized for 120
needy children in Jefferson County. For the
Christmas Toy Drive, students worked with the
Lakewood Foothills Rotary Club. The Rotary
secured names of needy children from local
social service agencies and religious institutions,
gave those names to Warren Tech students who
then purchased age appropriate toys and gifts.
Rotary members then delivered the gifts to the
agencies. After putting so much time and energy
into decorating gift bags and shopping for gifts,
students expressed a strong desire to present the
gifts themselves and hope to do so next year.
“Our National Technical Honor Society students are the pride of Warren Tech. The community service work they do and the leadership
they demonstrate is an inspiration to our entire
student body,” said Joe Shaw, principal, Warren
Tech.
Belmar Optimist Programs involve Alameda High School student volunteers
from a number of groups, including National Honor Society, Cheerleaders, Scuba Club,
Vocal Music, Yearbook, Future Business, MVP and Peer Counseling. Started in 2006, students work with local businesses to raise funds to support enrichment and extra-curricular
activities at the high school and provide resources to students who otherwise might not
be able to participate in these activities. Students work with the Belmar Optimists to host
the pancake breakfast at the summer Sunday Market at Belmar. The program has raised
more than $15,000. The second program is the Fish Fry at Sunrise Sunset Restaurant,
which has raised more than $1,700.
“The AHS students who participated in the Belmar Sunday Market Pancake Breakfast
sponsored by Whole Foods and Belmar greatly enhanced the Sunday Market experience
by providing a delicious 100 percent natural pancake breakfast to the Sunday shoppers
and guests. They gained invaluable customer service experience through their contact
with the community in preparing the pancake batter, fruit and accompaniments, greeted
and took orders and served the pancakes with enthusiasm and warmth. They helped to
promote the entire Belmar District by getting the word out to their parents, friends, neighbors and other community members,” said George Valuck, executive director, Alameda
Gateway Community Association
The Junior Volunteers at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center is
a group of more than 70 teens, ranging in age from 14 to 18, who volunteer at the hospital
on a weekly basis. Their donation of nearly 11,000 hours in the past year is quite remarkable considering most of them are also involved in extra-curricular activities at their
schools. At the hospital, they assist in fourteen areas and each volunteer typically works
a 3- to 5-hour shift once
a week. Their donation
of time equates to a cost
savings for the hospital
of $195,250 and equals
the work of almost six
full-time employees. The
volunteers assist patients,
visitors and staff and their
mission is to foster healing and health for the
community.
“I am extremely proud
of the Junior Volunteers
at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center. They are a group of young adults who unselfishly
donate a portion of their free time in order to help others. They are responsible, energetic and caring individuals whose focus is providing exemplary customer service for our
patients and their families. I am pleased to have each one of them represent Exempla
Lutheran Medical Center and the Junior Volunteer Program. They are teenagers who
effectively dispel the negative perceptions about today’s teens,” said Debbie Anderson,
manager for Volunteer Services, Exempla Lutheran Medical Center.
Exempla Junior Volunteers
Arvada-Wheat Ridge youth program honors 46 youth
Wheat Ridge Mayor Jerry DiTullio poses with
Arthur Conklin, an eighth grader from Wheat Ridge
Middle School, at the Arvada-Wheat Ridge Service
Ambassadors awards ceremony.
The Arvada-Wheat Ridge Service
Ambassadors for Youth (AWRSAY) honored
46 youth who have overcome various forms
of adversity at its seventh annual recognition
ceremony held last month.
The AWRSAY program honors middle
and high school students from Arvada and
Wheat Ridge who have demonstrated personal strength, resiliency and determination in overcoming adversity and making
positive changes in their lives or in the lives
of those with whom they come in contact.
Areas where youth have overcome adversity
Students recognized this year:
Valentina Brown, Wheat Ridge MS
Jared Bryan, North Arvada MS
Arthur Conklin, Wheat Ridge MS
Yuliana Espinoza, Drake MS
Kailey Ford, Drake MS
Felicia Gilmore, North Arvada MS
Brooke King, Moore MS
Xia Laniel, Drake MS
Desiree Lawrence, Wheat Ridge HS
Fernanda Martinez, Jefferson HS
Genevieve Martinez, Wheat Ridge MS
Elijah Quintanilla, Arvada HS
Derek Riemer, Oberon MS
Tyler Salen, Oberon MS
Nicole Sanchez, Arvada HS
Richard Schemmel, Arvada HS
Alia Sheya, Drake MS
Ariel Tovar, Arvada MS
Kristen Vasquez, Drake MS
Amber Westerfield, North Arvada MS
Sheylinn Work, Drake MS
include education/learning, emotional,
personal, social, physical and academic.
The program is unique because it is a
collaboration of service clubs, businesses,
and the cities of Arvada and Wheat Ridge,
The Jefferson Foundation, Red Rocks
Community College Foundation and Red
Rocks Community College Arvada campus.
All funding is raised by the service clubs
with support from businesses and individual
contributions. In its first six years, AWRSAY
has recognized 330 students. With this year’s
honorees, 376 students have been recognized
with a total of 164 having received scholarships. Lockheed Martin generously donated
refurbished computers to all of the AWRSAY
recipients through a partnership with the
Jefferson Foundation and the Community
Computer Connection. For more information about the program call Dan Macy, Red
Rocks Community College Arvada Campus
at 303-914-6016.
Senior HS students recognized this
year with scholarships are:
Deacon Aspinwall, Arvada HS
Gabe Baca, Jefferson HS
Kevin Calkins, Arvada HS
Lucas Campbell, Arvada West HS
Kayoua Cha, Arvada HS
Amber Crowell, Wheat Ridge HS
Shumet Demie, Pomona HS
Brittany Fiala, Wheat Ridge HS
Maddie Holmes, Jefferson HS
Quianne Holmes, Wheat Ridge HS
Kamila Hosaja, Pomona HS
Kelsie Hutchinson, Ralston Valley HS
Mariam Ibdaiwi, Arvada HS
Amber Johnson, Arvada HS
John Kennedy, Wheat Ridge HS
Atsedu Kidane, Arvada HS
Luis Larios, Jefferson HS
Brittany Padgett, Wheat Ridge HS
Taylor Platt, Arvada HS
Christine Shehan, Pomona HS
Misha Trujillo, Arvada HS
Sasha VanHeesch, Arvada West HS
Jamie Wassam, Arvada HS
Cheng Yang, Arvada HS
Kandy Arellano-Treto, Jefferson HS
Jeffco Community Instrument Drive: More Music for Kids
Arvada Middle School students show off a refurbished bass with principal Rod
Pugnetti, Mona Sandoval of The Jefferson Foundation and Music Curriculum
Coordinator, Kris Edwards. The Jefferson Foundation helps to provide instruments for Jeffco schools through the Music for All fund.
Our kids need your help! Every year more students want to
play in band or orchestra; however, there are not enough instruments available at our local public schools. More than 10,000
Jeffco students participate in the instrumental music program.
Unfortunately, at least 2,000 students don’t enroll because they
can’t afford to buy or rent an instrument. That's why Jeffco
community organizations are sponsoring an instrument drive to
provide students more opportunities to participate.
How can you help? You can “clean out your closet” of used
musical instruments and put them to good use by donating them
for use in Jeffco schools. In addition, sometimes school-owned
instruments are inadvertently misplaced or forgotten. Here is a
chance to return them with no questions asked!
What instruments are appropriate? Any instrument normally
used in a school band or orchestra is welcome, including guitars.
Don’t have an instrument? We also welcome tax deductible cash
donations which can help with the purchase of new instruments or
repairs to older instruments. Checks should be made payable to:
More Music for Kids and mailed to: Jefferson Foundation, 809
Quail St., Building #1, Lakewood, CO 80215.
Are donations tax deductible? Yes. If you donate an instrument,
a receipt will be provided at the time of donation.
HOW TO DONATE
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Drop-off location: Jeffco Public Schools Education Center,
1829 Denver West Dr., Building 27 in Golden
Supporting organizations include:
Alameda Gateway Community Association; Jewell Wadsworth
Area Business Association; Arts Link Jeffco; Kiwanis Clubs of
Jefferson County; Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities;
Lakewood Cultural Center; Colorado Music Industry
Association; Lakewood Symphony Orchestra; Colorado
Honor Band; MyLakewoodGateway.com; Evergreen Chamber
Orchestra; Rotary Clubs of Jefferson County; Jefferson
Foundation; West Colfax Community Association; Jefferson
Symphony Orchestra; West Metro Chamber of Commerce
For more information, contact Kris Edwards, music curriculum
coordinator, Jeffco Public Schools, at 303-982-5971.
Students shine in high school music
and performance events
High school students rigorously prepare to put on a great show. Students,
staff and the public are invited to attend any of the following upcoming band,
orchestra and choir concerts, plays and musical events. Dates and times are
subject to change. Be sure to contact the school for confirmation.
Date
Time
Concert
May 15 7 PM Choir Concert
Location
Contact
Chatfield HS
303-982-3670
May 15 7 PM Intermediate Orchestra/ D’Evelyn
Advanced Orchestra
Senior
May 20 7 PM Combined Orchestra
Concert (Evergreen
Middle and High
Schools)
12
303-982-2600
Evergreen HS
303-982-5129
JAG program raises GPAs,
promotes philanthropy in schools
two students interview for a MWH
Global Information Technology internship position. Over 50 percent of JAG
students at Arvada raised their GPAs
last semester.
Jefferson High School JAG students
raised over $400 for Retriever Rescue of
Colorado. Another recent event raised
money for a fellow classmate who was
struck by a car. Even with a large
population of free and reduced lunch
students, 100 percent of the Jefferson
JAG students understand the power of
philanthropy.
Standley Lake JAG students worked
with the Architecture Construction and
Engineering (ACE) program to collect
stuffed animals for the Child Rescue
Left to Right: Carol Kittelson, Standley Lake JAG coordinator; Mona Sandoval of The
Jefferson Foundation; Vanessa Mirabal, a Standley Lake student; Heather Johnson, Arvada
Foundation, which earned them a Silver
JAG coordinator; Liz Connell, CEO, Colorado JAG Colorado; and Clair Monash-Klugler,
Bear Award for collecting over 2000
Jefferson JAG coordinator.
stuffed animals. The toys were delivered
to area hospitals, child services and fire
stations. Standley Lake JAG also helped
Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG, is a mentoring
with the trick-or-treat night and will be helping with a
program that is working to transform the lives of 107
Career Fair. Two-thirds of students at Standley Lake high
students at Arvada, Jefferson and Standley Lake High
school raised their grade point averages last semester.
Schools. Funded by The Jefferson Foundation and a
Vanessa Mirabal was the recipient of an internship with
WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic
MWH Global Technology.
Development Program) grant, JAG was designed to
Now in its 28th year, JAG is a school-to-career program
address students’ barriers to success, such as low academimplemented in 700 high schools, alternative schools,
ic performance, high dropout rates, and lack of marketable
community colleges, and middle schools across the counskills after graduation.
try.
Arvada High School JAG students raised over $300 for
For more information on Jobs for America’s Graduates,
the Table Mountain Animal Shelter. They will volunteer
visit the Jefferson Foundation Web site at www.jagcoloat the Arvada Food Bank and clean up school grounds for
rado.org, or call Anton Delgado at 303-982-2210.
Beautification Day this spring. Arvada students created
PowerPoint projects in their particular job interest, raised
approximately $300 for their career association, and had
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Middle school librarian young at heart
Four years ago, Everitt Middle
School Library Para-pro Pauline
Lubin was recruited out of retirement over a friendly dinner. Lubin’s
daughter, Polly Ortiz-Lutz, who also
works for the district as a special
education area coordinator, had
invited a friend and Jeffco colleague
to her house for dinner.
The special guest was Everitt
Principal Kathy Norton, who struck
up a conversation with Lubin, better
known as “Boots” by friends and
co-workers.
“We were just talking and I said I
was getting tired of lying around the
house,” said Boots. “Kathy asked me
if I would like to work at Everitt and
I said, ‘I don’t know how to teach.’”
Teaching wasn’t what Norton had
in mind. Instead, she invited Boots to
work in the school’s library two days
a week. At 88-years-young, Boots
hadn’t been in a school setting for a
while, but that didn't stop her.
“I’m not a teacher, but I told the
kids that we can find the answers
together,” said Boots.
Boots also works outside of the
library by visiting classrooms to
help students work on their reading
skills.
“I don’t teach them, but they read
aloud to me and I correct them when
they mispronounce a word and I help
WarrenTech
Pauline "Boots" Lubin
with their reading,” said Boots. “I
think I have really helped them.”
The Everitt staff keeps her busy.
“I like it very much,” said Boots. “I
shelve and cover books, help kids
find books and when I first started, I
helped with CSAP work and was the
office gopher.”
By now you might be wondering
how Boots got her nickname. The
story started when she was growing
up in Boulder.
“My best friend and her family
owned horses in El Dorado Springs
and on one riding adventure we met
some boys from California,” said
Boots. “One of those boys wrote me
a letter when he went back home to
California.”
The boy addressed the letter to
‘Dear Black Boots.’
“My girlfriends thought the boots
part was cute and I’ve been Boots
ever since,” she recalled. “My grandkids call me Grandma Boots.”
Not only do Boots and her daughter have a place in Jeffco schools, but
her grandson, Toby Lutz, also works
for the district in the IT department and her granddaughter once
worked as a para-pro at Kullerstrand
Elementary.
“We all believe in education,” said
Boots.
13
Wants You!
Space available in some programs
303-982-8600
www.warrentech.org
Career and Technical High School for Jefferson County Public Schools
May 2008
JPS partners with DA to warn students about Internet dangers
Katie LaViolette’s class gets a visit from Cheezo
after winning the Internet safety drawing contest.
Internet
safety tips
During the
s u m m e r,
kids may
s p e n d
more time
on the Internet.
Here are some
safety tips from the
Jefferson County District
Attorney’s Office that parents may
find helpful.
1. Educate Yourself, Then Your
Child. Banning a child from certain
sites may only motivate them to
spend more time on them. They can
go elsewhere to go online where
you then have no control. Talk to
your child about how to be safe in
life and online. Talk with your child
about the dangers of posting personal information. Talk about people
The age-old lesson of teaching kids not
to talk to strangers is not just for the streets
anymore. Today, “stranger danger” is moving on to the Internet.
“It’s not just MySpace, it is anyplace,”
said Mike Harris, Jefferson County District
Attorney's office investigator.
Harris has arrested more than 200 online
predators since his career began in 1996
and has since traveled to middle and high
schools to teach students about Internet
danger. But Harris wanted to do more to
educate young children and protect them
online.
During school visits, Harris discovered
that children as young as first grade are going
online unsupervised. Rather than scaring
kids into being cautious, Harris developed
an entertaining and educating mascot named
Cheezo that captivates students while teaching them about Internet safety.
Cheezo resembles the Cheeto Cheetah,
who are online may not actually be
who they say they are.
2. Teach Children The
Obvious Rules. Tell
your children NOT to put
their photos on the Internet
or to give out their names,
addresses, phone numbers, schools, or other
personal information.
Once a picture is on the
Internet there is no way
to know where that picture
has gone. There is no way to get it
back. Pictures can be manipulated.
Pictures can be saved by sex offenders.
3. Install An Internet Filter Or
Family Safety Software. Software
is an effective way to filter dangerous content. This software usually
comes with tools like time management, remote monitoring and
reporting, and keystroke recognition.
Check with your Internet Service
but Harris insists he is a “cooler cat.”
Cheezo got his name from Child Sex
Offender Internet Investigations (CSOII),
the unit Harris heads at the Jefferson County
District Attorney's office.
“He’s a captivating character and is visually entertaining,” Harris said. “The kids are
having fun, but the message is still getting
across.”
In February, Cheezo and Harris visited
Bergen Meadow in Evergreen. In the 25minute presentation, students watched videos, Cheezo danced to his Internet safety
song and students watched for important
messages. Students received stickers, tattoos and trading cards with Cheezo, reminding them of “stranger danger.”
Even several weeks after the presentation,
students remember Cheezo and his message
about Internet safety.
“I learned to never meet up with strangers
that you don’t know and to never give out
Provider (ISP). Some ISP’s have
filters you can purchase or they
may provide filters for free. Visit a
local electronics or computer store
to examine and purchase a filtering
software program or research and
order a filtering software package
online. Choose one that is best for
your family.
4. Know The Dangers
Associated With Sites Your
Children Frequent. Whether it
is MySpace, Facebook, Runescape
or ANYPLACE, talking to your
child about the dangers associated
with any social networking site is
important. Communication is the
most important thing you can do.
You may control your child’s environment at home, but when they
are away from home someone else
might not have your same rules
and concerns. Communicating and
helping your child understand the
dangers online is our most important message.
5. Talk With Your Children
About Encountering
Pornography. Teach your child
that if they encounter pornography
to quickly turn the power off and get
an adult. This can prevent a child
from attempting to stop the situation
by clicking more buttons and thereby spreading the attack and being
exposed to more pornography.
Talk with your child about the dangers of pornography and how it can
become an addiction. Many teenagers are now becoming addicted and
obsessed with the viewing of pornography. The addiction to pornography
can become just as dangerous as an
addiction to drugs. Addiction to pornography can lead to boundary issues
and worse.
6. Manage Your Child’s Time On
The Internet. Scheduling times
14
The Internet is here to stay. The Internet has a lot of good
information and can be a great learning tool as well.
The first judicial district attorney’s office is committed to
helping keep children and teens safe online.
their Internet usage, you reduce their
chances of being exposed to inappropriate content.
7. Set Internet guidelines and
enforce consequences if they are
not followed. Providing guidelines
will ensure they know where they
stand when it comes to how they
use the Internet as well as the consequences when they break the rules.
If you enforce consequences consistently, children will be more likely
to follow the rules.
8. Keep computers out of kid’s
bedrooms. If you place the com-
puter in a more open room, one that
is commonly used by the entire family, children will be less inclined to
view and access material that may
not be acceptable. Based on conversations with children in Jefferson
County, we have learned that 65
percent of them have online access
in their bedrooms.
9. Create a relationship with
your child that fosters trust
and open communication. Open
communication and trust is the key.
Many times parents overreact. If
your child comes to you about pornography on the computer or about
being approached by a stranger, they
should be applauded. Many parents
immediately react out of fear and
love. They tell their child they cannot go to that specific site or prohibit Internet usage altogether. That
defeats all trust and closes the door
to communication.
10. If you don’t understand the
Internet, a Web site or a game
site, ask your child to show you.
Who likes to show off their skills
and knowledge about the Internet to
adults? Our children. You also are
accomplishing other things when
you ask for your child’s help. You
page 18
▲
when a child can be on the Internet
and the amount they can be online
ensures that you know when they
are on the Internet and for how long.
When you set guidelines or limits on
your personal information,” recalled Elly
Landrum, a second grader.
Before the assembly in February, Harris
gave a presentation to the school’s parents, informing them of the dangers of the
Internet and sites like Club Penguin and
Webkinz where kids can chat with friends.
“Most of our students have access to a
computer and parents are not always there
to look over their shoulder,” said LaViolette.
“It is a dangerous avenue.”
"Wherever there are kids, there are perpetrators," Harris said. But he said if the seed
is planted now, children, along with support from parents, teachers and community
members, will be more aware and educated
about Internet safety.
If you would like Cheezo and Mike Harris
to visit your school, service club or PTA,
please call 303-271-6800.
Rewards are plentiful in volunteer work
From left: Volunteer Frank Hillenbrand works with Ryan Elementary student, Joey Iacobetta; Nancy Beach,
volunteer at Glennon Heights Elementary in Lakewood, works with her grandson, Cole Grunderman; Foster
Elementary volunteer and retired teacher, Mary Ross, sorts food for the weekend backpack program at
Foster Elementary.
Volunteering in your local neighborhood
school can be a very rewarding experience and
a great way to stay involved with the community. If you are a grandparent, helping at your
grandchild’s elementary school is a wonderful
way to not only spend time with your grandchild, but to be more involved in their education
and their interests. Nancy Beach, a grandparent
and volunteer at Glennon Heights Elementary
School in Lakewood, raves about the class that
she works with.
“They give back more to me than I could ever
misses a day. Frank has personally observed
individual student progress throughout the years
that he has been helping.
Some opportunities at the school don’t even
involve stepping into the classroom. At Foster
Elementary in Arvada, volunteers help out in
a different way. Once a week, approximately
10 seniors pack meals for needy children at
the school. The packed meals are for kids who
might not have any other source of food over
the weekend. The seniors who lovingly pack
the food each week provide a very important
give to them,” she said.
When the children enter the classroom, their
faces light up with pure joy at the sight of her
and they cluster around, eager to be the first
to give her a hug. As Nancy smiles from all
of the attention, she remembers, “My fondest
memories were with my grandmother. I want
to impress upon these kids values and love and
acceptance.”
Another senior volunteer, Frank Hillenbrand,
has been volunteering at Ryan Elementary
School one day a week for 10 years and never
service for those children and their families.
“We are very lucky to have several consistent
and dedicated volunteers who help us pack and
distribute the food bags each week. We could
not manage this project with out them,” said
Foster Elementary Principal Leigh Hiester.
If you would like to become a volunteer,
inquire at your local neighborhood school. It’s
an excellent way to become involved and to
make a difference in a child's life.
Red Rocks Community College
Offers Quality Education in a Supportive Environment
change your life,
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This past spring,
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15
May 2008
D'Evelyn senior finds hidden benefits in sports training
When Kevin Williams, a senior at
D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High joined
the cross country and track team
his freshman year, he did it to get in
shape for hockey. Four years later,
he no longer plays hockey and has
reached a level of success in cross
country and track that most can only
imagine.
“It’s almost like I need to run,” said
Williams. “Running is really reward-
THIS YEAR,
STUFF THEIR
PIGGY
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303-237-4338
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
ing and there is no way you can’t feel
like you accomplished something
after finishing a meet.”
In February, Williams competed in
the Junior Men’s Division, ages 19
and under, at the USA Cross-Country
Championship in San Diego. He took
fifth place and earned a spot on the
USA Team. The top six became provisional members of the USA Team
to represent the US in international
competitions.
One of those trips was to Orlando,
Florida on Saturday, March 1.
Williams finished fifth at the North
America, Central America and
Caribbean Athletic Association Cross
Country Championships at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports.
Over spring break, Williams hit the
big time. He traveled to Scotland to
compete in the World Cross Country
Championships. He placed an amazing third on the American team and
35th overall.
“It was great. Every kid was cool.
The race was difficult, it was more
physical and really muddy,” Williams
said.
Throughout his high school career,
Williams has set state records, won
four state championships, was named
the Colorado High School Activities
Association's (CHSAA) scholar athlete of the month and was named
the Colorado Gatorade Athlete of
the Year. Even with his success,
Williams’ coach, Micah Porter, said
that Williams remains humble and
dedicated.
“He just competed at the highest
level and there is no change in how
he treats people,” said Porter. "He is
incredibly kind. He appreciates the
lower level that got him here.”
This fall, Williams will be running
for the University of Oklahoma, but
will not forget the coach and team
that helped him achieve how far he
has come. “I got lucky that I came
here,” Williams said.
2008 Jeffco High School
Graduation Schedule
JEFFCO
SPELLBINDERS
A non-profit
organization
of volunteer storytellers
enhancing
Jeffco elementary schools,
and building imaginations –
one story at a time!
For information:
Beverly Brayden
303.233.0766
[email protected]
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FUN AND INSTRUCTIONAL TENNIS CAMP including 3 hours
of tennis instruction and games. Children can choose
the option of staying at the club from 12:00-1:00 pm for
swimming after the tennis camps. AGES 6 - 18 years.
Weekly camps: Monday - Friday, June 3 - August 15
9:00 am - 12:00 pm (optional swim time, 12 - 1 pm)
$188.00 per week for members
$198.00 per week for non-members
PEE-WEE TENNIS CAMPS FOR KIDS AGES 4-6
(No tennis experience required.)
Three 2-week sessions:
Session 1: June 10-19; Session 2: July 8-17
Session 3: August 5-14
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12 noon - 1:00 pm
$64/session
Meadow Creek Tennis and Fitness Club
6305 W. 6th Ave. in Lakewood
303-232-6272 • www.meadowcreektennis.com
Williams has set state
records, won four state
championships, was the
CHSAA scholar athlete of
the month and was named
the Colorado Gatorade
Athlete of the Year.
School
Date
Time
Location
Jefferson High School
Monday, May 19
7 a.m.
Boettcher Concert Hall
Alameda High School
Tuesday, May 20
10 a.m.
Boettcher Concert Hall
Pomona High School
Wednesday, May 21
7 p.m.
CU Events Center
Standley Lake High School
Thursday, May 22
10 a.m.
CU Events Center
Arvada West High School
Thursday, May 22
3 p.m.
CU Events Center
Chatfield Senior High School
Friday, May 23
9 a.m.
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Ralston Valley High School
Friday, May 23
10 a.m.
CU Events Center
Arvada High School
Friday, May 23
11 a.m.
Broomfield Event Center
Dakota Ridge High School
Friday, May 23
2 p.m.
Wheat Ridge High School
Friday, May 23
4 p.m.
Broomfield Event Center
Columbine High School
Saturday, May 24
9 a.m.
Coors Amphitheatre
Evergreen High School
Saturday, May 24
9 a.m.
Lakewood High School
Saturday, May 24
10 a.m.
CU Events Center
Conifer High School
Saturday, May 24
11 a.m.
Jeffco Stadium
Bear Creek High School
Thursday, May 29
9 a.m.
Green Mountain High School
Thursday, May 29
2 p.m.
Option and Charter Schools
Date
Time
Location
Miller Special
Tuesday, May 13
10 a.m.
Fletcher Miller
Collegiate Academy
Wednesday, May 21
7 p.m.
Water Stone Community Church
McLain Comm. HS/Achieve Academy & Thursday, May 22
JeffcoNet Academy
6 p.m.
D’Evelyn
Brady Exploration School
Thursday, May 22
7 p.m.
Brady Exploration School
Compass Montessori-Golden
Thursday, May 22
7 p.m.
Colorado Mountain Club
Jefferson County Open
Saturday, May 24
9 a.m.
Genesee Park
D’Evelyn Senior
Saturday, May 24
9 a.m.
Buell Theater
McLain Community HS/ACE
Tuesday, May 27
6 p.m.
D’ Evelyn
McLain Community HS/CB
Wednesday, May 28
7 p.m.
Green Mountain High School
Jefferson Academy
Thursday, May 29
7 p.m.
Green Center Colorado School of Mines
Long View High School
Saturday, May 31
11 a.m.
Long View High School
New America High School
Friday, June 6
7 p.m.
Tivoli Center
16
Before and after care extends to everything in-between
As summer approaches, every parent is wondering: Where do I put my children? Is it too late
to get a babysitter?
School Age Enrichment (SAE) is a program
licensed by the Colorado Department of Human
Services that provides an entertaining, educational and nurturing atmosphere for kids grades
K-6 during out-of-school hours. At the same
time, the program provides an environment of
acceptance to empower children to be resilient
and responsible, and it promotes self-esteem and
self-expression.
“It is more than daycare; it is an enrichment,”
said Krista Biaggi, assistant coordinator.
field trips to Water World, museums, Rockies
games, Golden Gate Park and the National
Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in
Boulder. Every summer, kids go on a three-day
retreat to Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby,
Colorado.
“It is exposing kids to things they have not
experienced,” said Biaggi.
SAE is a not-for-profit and is funded through
students’ tuition. Since the majority of SAE clients are working parents, the program does all
that it can to help alleviate the financial costs,
scheduling dilemmas and any additional concerns parents have when leaving their child in
someone else’s care.
Although field trips are additional, the tuition
covers all-day care from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., a
morning and afternoon snack and the cost of
activities. Eligible families can receive tuition
assistance through the Colorado Childcare assistance program.
The program also understands the schedule of
a working parent or parents. They have flexible
scheduling and parents should not feel obligated
to enroll their students in the program for the
duration.
“There is no penalty for part-time,” said
Lytle.
Another benefit of SAE is that not only kids
outside of Jeffco, but any child, no matter his or
her physical ability, is welcome. The program
has a contract with The Children’s Hospital to
help support and accommodate kids with special
needs. “We meet with the child and his or her
parents as well as any other individual who is
working with them,” said Lytle. “We discuss the
child’s needs and then we step back and plan.”
The biggest concern for any parent leaving
During the school year, the program provides
before and after school activities to approximately 1,200 children in the Denver Metro area.
At this time, 18 schools in Jeffco participate
and 20 schools are expected to join this fall.
“We recognize that it is a school day, but we
still make it fun,” said Cathy Lytle, coordinator.
“We provide learning through physical activity,
indoors and out.”
In the summer, SAE is a full-day program
running Monday, June 2 thru Thursday, August
7, for kids ages five to 12. Students engage in
a variety of activities such as cooking classes,
readers theatre, swimming and drama. They take
17
their child in another person’s care is safety.
What really sets SAE apart from other daycare
centers is the program's connection to safety
and security with the school district. The program has been written into the grant to provide
it with two-way radios that the staff can use to
communicate. The program works with security
dispatch to prepare for emergencies.
When answering the question of what is going
to happen when your kids are out of school, look
to SAE to provide a safe, nurturing, fun and educational environment. “We are deepening that
quality and support for kids,” said Lytle.
“We want to connect and make everyday a
great day,” said Biaggi.
For more information about School Age
Enrichment, call 303-982-1741.
YOU CAN BE IN
THE NEXT JSQ!
The next issue of JSQ comes out July
24. Call today to reserve your ad space:
Janice Holmes
303-339-4332 x35
[email protected]
John Tracy
303-279-5541
[email protected]
May 2008
Jeffco Public Schools…good environmental stewards
Jeffco Public Schools is continually
looking for ways to save energy and
reduce its impact on the environment,
while at the same time providing a
healthy and comfortable setting for
students and staff. The following are
a few examples of how Jeffco schools
are being good environmental stewards:
Reduced water use
Jeffco Public Schools is installing an efficient irrigation system
at Arvada West High School and
Chatfield Senior High School. The
computerized exterior grass watering
system takes into account weather
conditions, wind, heat, and soil conditions to maximize the use of available water. The district expects to
reduce up to 30 percent usage with
this system.
In addition, Jeffco Public Schools
is partnering with local water compa-
nies to implement water-saving strategies through replacing high waterconsuming fixtures in buildings and
installing advanced automation controls of irrigation systems.
Reduced energy use
With the installation of a new
condensing boiler at the district’s
Education Center, natural gas usage
has dramatically dropped nearly 50
percent in the first year. The boiler was part of an energy efficient
upgrade to reduce consumption.
This summer, Jeffco Public Schools
will be installing automated network
thermostats in 225 temporary buildings throughout the district. These
new thermostats will allow for central control and monitoring which is
projected to save the district up to
30 percent in energy usage in those
buildings.
In new construction or remodeling,
My name is Erin...
Jeffco Public Schools strives to be a
good steward of the environment by
taking steps to:
• take advantage of sun angles and
daylight to reduce the use of artificial lighting in new construction
• use low-energy lamps and automated lighting shut off systems
• participate in energy-saving rebate
programs by using energy efficient
products
• reduce water use through automatic sensor-type faucets and toilets as well as through water efficient landscaping and plantings
• use products made from recycled
content: carpet, vinyl tile, acoustic
ceiling tiles, asphalt and concrete
• purchase locally and regionally
produced products to reduce transportation impacts
• use renewable resources whenever
possible or practical to replace
inefficient mechanical systems
Xeriscape garden at Maple Grove Elementary
with models that are more efficient
and produce less emissions
• provide remote computer
monitoring for heating and
air conditioning conservation.
A couple of unlikely reading aides
First grader Eddie Delva reads with therapy dog, Sammi.
They are good listeners, they're patient, they don’t
giggle when you make a mistake and they lick your face
when you’re done. It sounds like an unusual end to reading out loud, but for students and staff at Columbine Hills
Elementary in Littleton, man’s best friend has become a
fixture at the school.
The black Labrador Retriever, Ramblin, and the yellow
Lab, Sammi, not only bring excitement and a wagging
tail to school, but help the staff increase reading fluency
among students.
“They make us smile and are a wonderful addition to
our staff,” said Principal Connie Brasher. “Kids probably
know who these dogs are more than they know who I
am.”
Every week, Ramblin and Sammi visit the school
and students get the chance to read aloud to them as a
reward.
“Last year, when my kindergarteners read a certain
number of books, they could then read with Ramblin,”
said first grade teacher Cynthia Sunde.
The Columbine Hills staff says that when students practice reading out loud with the dogs, it helps them increase
reading fluency and comprehension and is less scary than
reading to a person.
“The dogs are non-judgmental,” said Brasher. “If the
students make a mistake, they don’t feel embarrassed.”
Reading aloud to Ramblin and Sammi doesn’t take the
place of instruction or intervention, but is another opportunity for practice.
“It is such a positive thing for the kids,” said Sunde.
Ramblin began working at the school seven years ago
as a service dog with his owner, a former Columbine Hills
student with cerebral palsy. After his owner went on to
middle school, the family continued to bring Ramblin to
the school to work with students.
Sammi the dog joined the school a couple of years ago
after her owner, Chris Nelsen, who works at Columbine
Hills, saw the great work Ramblin was doing and decided
to send Sammi to service-dog training. Now Ramblin and
Sammi job-share during the school week.
...and my professors know it.
I am not a number. I am not a random face in an
oversized lecture hall. I am a poker player, a Spanish
speaker, and a resident assistant.
www.adams.edu/1-800-824-6494
▲
At Adams State College I have the
freedom and support to say, I am.
Internet Safety
page 14
are spending valuable one-on-one
time with them as well as communicating with your child and learning
where they go and what they do
online.
11. Compromise and communicate. Teenagers are attracted to
MySpace and similar sites. Many
parents do not allow their children
to be on these sites. The 1st Judicial
District Attorney’s Office recognizes
that this is a tough decision to make.
Keep in mind if a child is determined to be on a site, they WILL
find a way. They can access these
18
sites from friend’s homes and other
places.
Parents should keep in mind that
some teenagers have two different
accounts. They have one for mom
and dad, and they have one for their
friends. In Internet Safety classes
with teenagers, we warn them that if
they can’t show mom and dad their
account then they are probably putting themselves in harms way.
We suggest that children set their
account settings to private and limit
who can access those accounts. Be
careful with the personal information
(tip #2) contained on the account.
If you are communicating with someone online that you don’t know in
person, they could be anyone. In
these situations, do not give out any
personal information.
12. Understand video games and
game sites. Many children and
teenagers frequent popular game
sites online, such as Club Penguin
and Runescape just to mention a
couple. They are fun and very attractive to kids. Many of these game
sites let you communicate with others who are also playing in these
areas. We tell children and teenagers
that if they choose to communicate
with others, talk only about the
game. If someone asks how old you
are, your name, where you live or
any other personal information, that
has nothing to do with the game.
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May 2008 - JEFFCO Public Schools

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