September 14, 2000
Volume 10, No. 2
School Photos will be taken on Thursday, September 21.
Summit is offering shirts with the Summit Logo. Orders are due in the office by September 22, 2000. An order form is attached to this newsletter. We are offering only T-shirts and denim shirts at this time. We hope to offer sweatshirts at a later date.
Last spring, Bob Franz (Dr. Sikora's husband) recorded all of Summit's wonderful music groups. CD's are available for $10. If you would like a CD, please have your order in the office by September 22, 2000.
To save both trees and the cost of postage, we would like to deliver as many copies of Summit News electronically as possible. Please send an e-mail message to marthagorman@att.net to indicate how you wish to receive the newsletter or return the form enclosed in the last newsletter to the office.
The Summit Board met Monday, September 11 at 7 PM in the Summit library. We discussed the importance of making sure all fundraising efforts are coordinated through the Principal. There will be a book fair during October parent-teacher conferences, with proceeds designated to support our library.
Bernie Grove will represent Summit at a special press conference at the Colorado Department of Education in Denver on September 13 for recognition of our CSAP science test results from last spring: 97% of Summit 8th graders scored proficient or very proficient on the statewide test! And we placed second and third in the state in Science and Math, respectively.
Funds were allocated for priority purchases for Music and the Library, and we also received an updated accounting of move-related expenses. Several items (World Geography textbooks, math textbooks, French materials) went astray during the move and will need to be replaced. Because of several generous donations, other items we had planned to purchase will not need funding.
Board members and the AAA committee have begun a full review of Summit's current contract in anticipation of contract renewal discussions with BVSD later this year. The September 26 joint staff/Board meeting will focus on refinement of staff and faculty observation and evaluation procedures. The Tools For Learning packet will go out to families in the next few weeks. The AAA committee is preparing for the 8th grade parent high school information night on October 25.
The next Summit Board meeting will be on Monday, September 25 in the Summit library, beginning at 7 PM. All regular Board meetings are open to Summit families and members of the community-at-large.
MA German and American Literature and Linguistics (minor in Psychology and Pedagogy), University of Göttingen, Germany.
Carola Gorschboth was born and raised in Edertal-Wellen, which is located between Frankfurt and Kassel in the state of Hessen, Germany. Folklore, story telling and visits to historic places were strong elements of her childhood near Kassel, where the Grimm brothers collected many of their famous fairy tales. She demonstrated a love of language, literature, and history early on and decided at a very young age to become a teacher.
After graduation, she spent one year in Cincinnati, Ohio studying and working as an AuPair. Upon returning to Germany, she studied at the University of Göttingen and worked as a tutor, a translator, a restaurant personnel manager and a research assistant. Combining her interests in literature and history, she wrote her thesis on "Role Models and Character Development in Novels of Adolescence by African-American Women Writers."
Other professional interests include teaching methodology and curriculum development. A post-graduate fellowship brought her to CU Boulder, where she continues to teach German to college students.
In her free time she enjoys music, biking, traveling and spending time with friends. She likes teaching students of all ages. After having taught preschoolers, teenagers, and adults, she now joins the staff at Summit Middle School with enthusiasm! She hopes to convey to her students not only knowledge, but also a never-ending interest in learning more about the language and the cultures of the German-speaking countries.
Ph.D. and B.S. in Physics from MIT.
Dr. Steve Goldhaber is teaching Applied Technology and Programming for Summit this year. Dr. Goldhaber grew up around the Apollo program and never lost his interest in Science and Technology. After studying and teaching Physics at MIT, he embarked on a career in high technology working as a software engineer at places like Thinking Machines and Cisco Systems.
In his spare time, he enjoys music, karate, hiking and skiing.
José Antonio Alcántara germinated in a land of sugar maples, eastern white pines, and paper birch. His name; however, comes from more southerly climes. A Honduran by descent, he is a Pennsylvanian by ascent. Having rooted in Amish soils and small town rituals, he nurtured an oft-repressed wanderlust through his adolescent years. When the opportunity arose, he unsheathed his thumb and traveled north to Alaska and a seiner [sic] lifestyle. After four such summer subarctic sojourns, he eventually graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Forestry.
Over the next 12 years, he earned another degree in zoology, spent a year and a half participating in an immunology Ph.D. program, taught science at the New Jersey School of Conservation, taught and led trips for the New Hampshire Audubon Society, taught at the Keystone Science School, worked with at risk children in the BVSD, taught for the University of Colorado Science Discovery program, completed a secondary science certification program through CU, did his student teaching at Glenwood Springs H.S., taught science at Roaring Fork H.S. in Carbondale, built a few houses in Boulder county, and has now arrived at the Bodhi tree of teaching: Summit Middle School.
He likes to rock climb.
The 2000-2001 school year began on an active note at the East Boulder Recreation Center, where 128 students enjoyed 35 pizzas, 17 cases of soda and four hours of rock climbing, swimming, volleyball, basketball, dancing and especially the camaraderie of each other. Thanks to the many parent volunteers who gave of their time and expertise, Summit realized a hefty profit of $474 for the evening! A special word of gratitude goes to Kate Majack-Sweet who filled in at the last moment at the climbing wall and worked tirelessly the entire evening. Without her, the climbing wall would not even have been available. Laura Spalding is thanked for her delicious parent Hospitality Table. Our Summit Middle School students demonstrated exemplary behavior throughout the evening. They can be proud, as we are of them.
Many of you already know that Valerie and Chris Koch are expecting their first baby at the end of October. Valerie will be taking off the months of November and December, but will return to work after winter break on January 8th. She is looking for a babysitter/day-care situation for Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 to 11:15. If you or someone you know is interested, please call the Kochs at 303-436-0479.
For the first time, this year interested Summit students can form their own Math Olympiad teams to compete against math teams from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Math Olympiads is for students who would like to be on a math team, attend weekly practice sessions, work on fun and challenging math problems and participate in five monthly competitions.
The sixth grade team will meet on Tuesdays starting on October 10 from 3:10 - 3:50 PM. The combined seventh/eighth grade team will meet on Wednesdays starting on October 11 from 3:10 - 3:50 PM.
Interested students are invited to sign up on the poster hanging in the math room.
Help wanted! We are still looking for a person who is interested in math and would like to coach the combined seventh/eighth grade team. Please call Connie Harmon (303-499-2061) or Anita Gonzales (303-494-5394) if you are able to help or if you have any questions about this program.
Students who are interested in indoor climbing may participate in an informal, after school group that is being formed through Summit. Climbing and belaying skills will be taught. To join, pick up a form at the Summit office.
In addition, the Boulder Rock Club is offering Summit students a 10-visit punch card at the special price of $69. To order a card, you must use the sign up form. You may purchase a card even if you do not wish to join the group. Please see the form for more information.
If you wish to sign up for the group and/or purchase a card, you must respond by September 27. Adult volunteer help for transportation and supervision is needed. No climbing experience is necessary.
Call Kate Sweet at 303-938-8772 with any questions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a Science Festival on Saturday, September 16, 9 AM to 2 PM. NOAA will have exhibits, presentations, hands-on demonstrations, special events for kids, food, drink, and plenty of parking. NOAA's new building is located on the west side of Broadway, between Dartmouth and Baseline in Boulder.
The following students received As in at least all five of their core classes for the 2nd semester last year: Genevieve Aguilar, Alexandra Barba, Emma Benjamin, Jessica Boulet, Hildur Boylston, Lisa Brownstone, Laura D'Ippolito, Erika Daley, Sarah Evans, Joy Fest, Allison Filderman, Ryan Hamerly, Thatcher Heumann, Cassie Houtz, Andrew Jarmon, Jess Johnson, Cari Jones, Joshua Karpel, Nikki Kilbride, Ross Logan, Nora McDaniel, Mara Meaney-Ervin, Stacy Metzger, D. C. Mungo, Dana Oppenheimer, Madeline Rovira, Aban Siraj, Erica Smith, Halley Theodore, Laura Tippit, Lauren Von Roenn, Victoria Webster, Emilyanne Weigel, Tracy Wilson.
Watch for more information on the Expanding Your Horizons Math, Science and Technology Conference for middle school girls and their parents, teachers and counselors.
This high energy, hands-on conference will take place on Saturday November 4, 2000 from 10 AM to 2:15 PM at the Integrated Teaching and Learning Lab at the University of Colorado Engineering Center. For immediate information, check out the web site: http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/aauw.
Weekly classes for 6th through 12th graders are available to provide help with learning styles, time management and organizational skills, note taking, test taking, and memory skills. Parents attend (free) with students.
Cost is $125 for 5 classes. For more information call Gloria Frender, 303-530-3195.
The following song was performed by the faculty with skill and enthusiasm for the parents at back to school night:
(Sing to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad")
We've been moving to Majestic
All the livelong day.
We've been packing and unpacking
Wince the month of May.
Can't you see those Lysol boxes,
Piled up so high they reach the sky?
Can't you hear Tom Jarmon calling,
"Report to Debbie Feyh!"
Students, won't you lift?
Munsons, won't you haul?
Parents, won't you paint the walls?
The Swirhuns can unpack,
While Julie puts away,
And Jim and Luke go sand the stalls!
T-H-A-N-K-S
P-A-R-E-N-T-S
T-H-A-N-K-S
'Cuz Summit families, you're the best!
(from Destination Imagination)
We begin the journey with anticipation of the wonders along the way. ...
We begin the journey with enthusiasm for the work ahead. ...
We begin the journey with hope that we are up to the task. ...
We begin the journey with some anxiety. ...
We begin the journey with affection for the people with whom we travel. ...
We begin the journey on a gently upward slope. ...
We begin the journey in the knowledge that the slope will become more pronounced.
...
We begin the journey in the hope of reaching the summit and touching the
stars. ...
We begin the journey together. ...
We begin the journey knowing we are never alone. ...
We begin the journey grateful for the support that will make us strong. ...
We begin the journey with a million questions. ...
We begin the journey with a million possible answers. ...
We begin the journey knowing all answers are good answers. ...
We begin the journey with the first step. ...
Wishing us all a wonderful trip!
(Read this to yourself aloud)
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted at a very last resort,
and the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.
If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash
and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash;
and your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash,
then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash!
If the label on the cable on the table at your house
says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
but your packets want to tunnel to another protocol,
that's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,
and your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,
so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse;
then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,
'cuz sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!
Eat for Education
On Tuesday, September 26, the following restaurants will donate a percentage
of their proceeds to the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools: Dolan's,
The Buff, The Greenbriar Inn, Foolish Craig's, Karen's Country Kitchen, The
Cooking School of the Rockies, Printed Page Two, Whole Foods, Noodles and
Company (all 3 locations), The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Stick Oven
and Zolo Grill.
The Starbucks' All Books for Children book drive runs from September 6 through October 3. Starbucks throughout the area will be collecting new or slightly used books for the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools Books in Homes project. Please remember to donate a book when you stop for a cup of coffee.
Gateway Park Fun Center is supporting the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools on Saturday, September 23 when a donation will be made from the days' activities.
Please contact the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools at 303-447-5132 with any questions about these programs.
Summit Board meetings will be held on Mondays, September 25 and October 9, 23 at 7 PM in the Library.
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/univ_school/summit/