October 26, 2000
Volume 10, No. 5
The Board heard feedback about the recent parent-teacher conferences and discussed several ideas for improving the logistics of both drop-in and scheduled conferences. In response to input about official outfits for Summit's performing music groups, the recommendation is to have each student purchase the necessary shirt and/or pants. Scholarship support is available to any student who needs it for this purchase. Funds were allocated for Bernie Grove and Sharon Sikora to attend a conference in Arizona to learn more about the Milken Family Foundation's Teacher Advancement Program.
English teacher candidate observations will begin this week. Most of the meeting was devoted to the review of new bylaws and contract renewal discussions.
The next Summit Board meeting will be on Monday, November 6, at 7 p.m. in the Summit library. Regular meetings are always open to the Summit community, and visitors are invited to attend.
We say goodbye fondly to Wendy McMillan, who has regrettably found that she must leave us for personal reasons. We will also miss Mary Dellabella, and wish her a speedy recovery.
Please pardon the difficulties that many of you experienced during the Thursday evening conferences. I am very sorry that so many of you had to wait so long - and so futilely - to meet with teachers. I also wish to thank parents for the excellent suggestions on how to improve this process. We plan to test these improvements on October 27; this will permit us to refine the process in time for the next set of conferences. Thank you for your patience and courtesy, and thanks as well to the parents who prepared the wonderful food for the faculty dinner!
Sewing Machines are needed for kite making. Do you have a machine that you can donate or lend us (it can be old but it must have "zig-zag"!) If we borrow it, we will be responsible for returning it in the same condition that we received it in. Thank you.
There are no tapes in German available for students to take home. Thus, all the German students hear is either from me or from the CDs that came with the textbooks. I would like to set up a "German shelf" in the school library. A tape recorder is available, but it needs headphones. More importantly, it needs tapes! If you have tapes of German songs or stories that you are willing to loan to the library for several weeks or perhaps a semester, please drop them off in the office or in the Library. A collection of this nature will allow students to either borrow them for home use or to listen to them during study hall. I have loaned some comic books and simple story books to the Library, and although these are useful, we really need some audio materials. Thank you!
Don't miss the first student concert of the year on November 14, 7:00 p.m. at Boulder High School. It will be a fantastic show! The next concert date is December 5, also at Boulder H.S. Students are asked to report at 5:30 p.m. each concert evening
Thanks to all the Summit families who supported the Book Sale during Conferences! In addition to the free books we earned, we are also now able to purchase the World Book Science Encyclopedia and an up-to-date Atlas - two extremely important resources needed by our students and faculty.
Summit is offering "Life Change" and "Friendship" peer support groups. If your student needs to discuss separation or divorce issues, or needs help to maintain good relationships with peers, please call Ms. Bartley at Summit at 499-9511.
In this new section of the newsletter we find out just how much you really know about the esteemed faculty of Summit Middle School. The answer to the trivia question will be published in the next newsletter. If you think you know the answer to the question, email your guess to tomwhiteoc@earthlink.net. Winner gets a prize!
And the question is ... Which teacher used to skydive as a hobby?
If you know of any families interested in finding out more about Summit, have them call the office at 499-9511 to receive a brochure, a calendar of events, and an open enrollment application form.
Prospective students and families interested in the Summit program are invited to tour the school with a Summit administrator. Tours are offered once a month (except in February), and will last approximately 45 minutes. At the end of the tour, there will be an opportunity for questions and answers. All tours begin at 8:10 a.m.
School tours will be held on the following dates: November 14, December 12, January 16, March 13, April 10, and May 8.
Student/Parent Information Nights are an excellent opportunity to meet Summit staff and board members and to learn more about the Summit program. The mission, philosophy, and curriculum of the Summit program will be discussed, textbooks and work samples will be displayed, and presentations will be made by core subject and elective teachers. All prospective students and their families are encouraged to attend one of these evening programs, which are offered twice during the year.
Student/Parent Information Nights will be held on Wednesday, December 13, and Thursday, January 18, from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will host Super Science Saturday, October 28th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at NCAR. This is a day of activities designed to promote science literacy and enrich the science experiences of area students (K-8), teachers and their families.
This year's events will focus on Halloween science! NCAR's own wizards will perform amazing and "frighteningly good" science demonstrations. Science Fair workshops (project ideas and the scientific method) will also be presented. Other public events include presentations by Zome and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center. "Creepy crawly" hands-on activity tables from Collage Children's Museum, Wild Bear Nature School, CU Science Discovery and WOW will be open all day.
For more information, contact NCAR outreach at 303-497-8612 or lcarbone@ucar.edu. The full event schedule is available at http://www.ucar.edu/vishome/super.html.
This program, which used to be known as Odyssey of the Mind, requires parent coaches. Are you interested in working with bright, young minds? Check out both the national and the local DI Web sites: www.destinationimagination.org (national) www.extremecreativity.org (Colorado)
Coaches training sessions will be held on: Saturday, November 11 and Saturday, December 9. Time: 8:00 - 3:00 at University of Denver. If you would like to form a team or help with an existing team, call Julie Dotson at 303 499 8749.
The Rocky Mountain Talent Search enables capable and motivated middle-school students to take a challenging SAT or ACT college entrance test not usually administered until high school. Students who have participated in the past have reported increased comfort and potential future score gains by receiving early experience with these types of tests. To qualify to participate, a student must have maintained a 3.5 GPA, received a standardized test score in a major subject area of 90% or higher, or received a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher indicating that the student has demonstrated an outstanding area of performance in a major subject area.
The program offers information, forms, and assistance to help you select and register for the tests. Students are sent interpretive information to help them understand their scores. High test scores entitle students to participate in various academically-oriented summer programs, and students receive a booklet describing these educational opportunities.
Ms. Bartley, the Summit counselor, visited science classes on October 24 to discuss the Talent Search, and to pass out application forms to all students. Applications to take the tests in January and February must be received by the Rocky Mountain Talent Search by November 14. Additional forms are available by calling Ms. Bartley at Summit. For further information, you may also call the Rocky Mountain Talent Search at 303-871-2983.
October certainly has been a busy month with school tours and parent teacher conferences. Thanks to the parents who helped the 7th graders prepare for History Day. Barb Metzger, Linda Parkhill, Kathleen Inman, Audrey Block, Linda Stancliffe and Renee Von Roenn went into the classes to work with the students and check their list of references. Margaret Sparks also helped Ms. Bartley show the interested students what a wonderful opportunity Summit can provide!
The conferences were a busy time for everyone. Our stylish Hospitality co-chairs Roxy Walker and Lara Spalding did an absolutely fantastic job of providing meals for the staff. They enlisted the help of the many gracious parents who stepped forward to provide sustenance. We discovered how many Martha Stewarts and Emeril Lagasses we have at Summit!
There was an excellent turnout of 8th grade parents for this informative evening, organized by the AAA Committee. The presentation was a good introduction to making decisions about high school. More specific information will be available for 8th graders in the coming weeks.
Special thanks to the Summit graduates who made up the student panel: Andrea Chunn '99, Laura Farrell '99, Brianne Ford '00, Ben Gilman '98, Baird McKevitt '99, and Tanith Rozanski '98.
Each student should now have received a copy of the 2000-2001 Summit Directory. If your family needs an additional copy, there are a few extras available for purchase at $2 each -- check with Maggie Mesinger in the school office.
Thanks to Cathy Burchett, Angela Marlino, Elizabeth Berbette, and Barbry Hogue for their hard work on this invaluable Summit community resource.
AAA Committee meetings are scheduled for November 10, December 1, and December 8, all Fridays and all at 9:30 a.m. at Summit. Contact Kathy Reims, AAA Chair, at 720-890-9874 or Mary Ann Dangelo at 303-440-7033 for details.
The Consumer and Family Studies Department at Boulder High School is offering a playschool through its Child Development classes. Children from the community are invited to apply. Students need to be between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. The playschool will be held three days a week and will run from early November through the end of December. There is a nominal fee to cover snacks and craft supplies. To apply and/or for more information, please contact Jan Scrogan, Boulder High School at 303-442-2430 x2243.
Our students and teachers make excellent use of computers donated for the Summit library and classrooms. If you have a surplus computer you can donate (Pentium I or faster), please call the Summit office at 303/499-9511.
Parents: The Summit Attendance Hotline number is 303-447-5529. Please leave a voice mail message at this number if your student is going to be either absent or late.
If you haven't received your emailed newsletter, there is only one thing to do: send an e-mail message to marthagorman@att.net. It's fast, easy and saves postage and trees. What a deal!
Grocery Certificates are an easy way to support Summit. Simply stop by the school office and speak with Shelly. Purchase any amount of groceries with Grocery Certificates and receive the change in cash. Grocery Certificates are accepted at King Soopers and Safeway. Also, if you shop at Albertsons, please be sure to pick up a member card. Then every time you shop there, Summit will receive a percentage of the sale. If you have any questions please call Joan at 303-499-3013.
The Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance and enrich the educational experience of students, to motivate and recognize those who guide student learning, and to increase community support for K-12 public education. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS and your own tax situation. Donations allow the Foundation to continue to support children, teachers and administrators in the Boulder Valley School District through programs such as the Classroom Mini-Grants, Tech 21, Students at Risk, Connect and Impact.
Donations can be mailed to Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools, P.O. Box 9011, Boulder, CO 80301. Mastercard or Visa are accepted. The federal identification number for the Foundation is 84-0943046. Thank you for your support!
Upcoming deadlines for Summit News are: Mondays - November 8, November 20, and December 4. Articles may be sent to tomwhiteoc@earthlink.net, or left in the file box in the school office.
Call 303-938-9090
Faculty Extensions: Alcantara Math 0680; Avallone English 0671; Blakemore Spanish 0683; Burkhart Orchestra & SelStrngs 0677, Choir & Silver Rain 0678, Bands 0688; Donaton Science 0686; Fotino Math 0675; Frohbieter Math 0676; Goldhaber App Tech & Program. 0802; Gorschboth German 0684; Hanckel French 0679; Havens Social Studies 0801; Hutton Art 0685; Kapsak Social Studies 0673; Koch Math 0669; Londos Social Studies 0689; McGarrity English 0668; McMillan English 0670; McMurtrey Library & ResCenter 0800; Sikora Science 0681; Stough Spanish 0682; Teasdale Science 0672.
Summit Administrative Extensions: Enrollment 6166; All about Summit 6167; School News 6168.
The imagination equips us to see a reality we have yet to create. Cited in BITS & PIECES.
What we can easily see is only a small percentage of what is possible. Imagination is having the vision to see what is just below the surface; to picture that which is essential, but invisible to the eye. (Courtesy of Julie Dotson)
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/univ_school/summit/
English Department: Wednesdays, 3:10 - 4:00, Rms. 107 & 108.
Foreign Language Department: Ms. Blakemore Before school, by appt.; Ms. Gorschboth Thursdays, 3:10 - 3:40; Ms. Hanckel Before school,during lunch, by appt.; Ms. Stough Mondays, 3:10 - 4:00, and by appt.
Math Department: Dr. Fotino Wed. 3:10 - 4:00, and by appt.; Mr. Alcantara Tues. and Thurs. 3:10 - 4:00; Ms. Frohbieter Tues. and Wed. during lunch.
Music Department: Dr. Burkhart Mon. and Wed. 3:10 - 4:00.
Science Department: Mondays, 3:10 - 4:00.
Social Studies Department: Ms. Kapsak Mondays, 3:10 - 4:30; Ms. Londos Mondays, 3:10 - 4:30; Mr. Havens By appt.