November 9, 2000
Volume 10, No. 6
SUMMIT BOARD RECAP - November 6, 2000
The Board met following the community forum, held at Baseline Middle School, on proposed changes in BVSD open enrollment procedures. Summit's charter contract renewal application was submitted to BVSD on November 2, and the Summit negotiating team (Jim Cederberg, Hunter McDaniel, and Betsy Phelan) met with district staff on November 3 to open renewal discussions.
The Board approved a new possible elective for spring semester, "Introduction to Japan". Board observations of classroom teachers will begin later this week. We still need replacement English and Special Ed teachers. Ms. Grove will summarize staff discussions of issues and solutions for infrastructure problems for Board consideration. The Board will submit to BVSD a position statement regarding Summit's open enrollment procedures for 2001-2002. Informational open houses for prospective students and parents will be held on December 13 and January 18. Policies submitted with the charter renewal were ratified, effective November 1, 2000.
Other items discussed briefly include offering "Parents to School" days, scheduling quarterly faculty/Board meetings, attendance at District Parent Council, and formation of a committee to review teacher evaluation criteria and procedures.
The next regular Summit Board meeting will be on Monday, November 20, at 7 p.m. in the Summit Library. All are welcome!
Congratulations to Dr. Sharon Sikora and Lisa Hanckel for receiving grants from the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools to sponsor a variety of unique classroom activities.
Our fall Festival of Music will take place on Tuesday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. at Boulder High School. Bring friends! Bring family! Haul in your neighbors! Let's fill the hall and raise the roof in celebration of our marvelous music program. (Music students should arrive at BHS at 5:30 p.m. sharp!)
History Day projects are coming along nicely! Remember, all History Day projects need to be in class Monday 11/13 - Friday 11/17 for History Day in-class work. Parents, please feel free to call Julie Dotson (303-499-8749) if you would like to help students assess work progress and resources still needed. Parent helpers are needed during periods 2, 3, 4 and 5, especially on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 11/13 - 11/15.
Thank you to the following parents for helping with Kids Vote: Susan Damon, Cathy Woods, Silva Chang, Pat Daley, Lucy Buckley, Barb Metzger, and Mary Boulet. A special thanks to Susan Damon for coordinating Kids Vote!
Period 4: Steve Harmon The Tut Times
Period 5: Sydney Jacus The Weekly UDUG
Period 6: Madison Walker Cleopatra's Camera
Period 7: Anna Meiners The Pyramid Post
Sewing Machines are still needed for kite making. Do you have a machine that you can donate or lend us? It can be old but it must have "zigzag"! If we borrow it, we will return it in the same condition in which we received it.
As mentioned in the last newsletter, we are assembling a collection of German tapes in the library. 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.
How much do you really know about the Summit staff? Apparently not much :-) (just kidding). Last week's trivia question must have been too tough. Only one brave student offered an answer and unfortunately it was not correct. As promised, here is the answer: Which teacher used to skydive as a hobby? Who else but - Ms. Frohbieter!
See if you can guess the answer to this week's questions. Remember, it could be anyone on the staff.
Which high profile staff member once had Thanksgiving with Billy Joel, Christy Brinkley and Kathleen Turner when he/she was in high school?
Guess who has a grand dog whose name is Opus? That's right, a grand dog.
Staff Trivia winners will get a prize, maybe a trip to Disney World - but probably something else. The answer to the trivia questions will be published in the next newsletter. If you think you know the answer to the questions, email your guess to tomwhiteoc@earthlink.net.
Welcome to Sophia Claire Koch, the darling new addition to the family of Valerie and Chris Koch! She arrived two days early on October 27, weighing in at 7 lbs. 2.5 ounces and measuring a beautiful 19-1/2 inches.
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 last approximately 45 minutes. At the end of each tour, there is an opportunity for questions and answers. All tours begin at 8:10 a.m.
School tours will be held on: 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 are discussed, textbooks and work samples are displayed, and teachers of core subjects as well as electives offer presentations. 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.
On November 9, Summit students and staff traveled to Fairview High School to see the Broadway musical "Hello, Dolly" along with other BVSD middle schools. Our own Dr. Burkhart served as the conductor for this production!
Every winter for the past 16 years, Maggie Mesinger has traveled to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota bearing holiday gifts for Lakota families. If you have very gently used clothing (coats, sweaters, pants, shirts, etc.), and would like to donate it, Maggie will see that it is given to an appropriate family. All sizes are welcome - children to elders. If you wish to contribute money, it will be converted to food vouchers and/or gift certificates for home heating. Children's books, tape recorders, Walkmans and similar gifts are welcome, too. If you have questions, please call Maggie at 303-499-9511.
The Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts presents its fifth annual production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors," by Gian-Carlo Menotti, on November 16-19. Performances of this captivating one-act holiday opera will take place at the RMCMA, located at 200 E. Baseline in Lafayette. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 & under; tickets are an additional $2.50 at the door. For more information, call the RMCMA at 303-665-0599.
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)
Coach training sessions will be held on: Saturday, 11/11 and Saturday, 12/9 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the 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 students select and register for the tests. Interpretive information is provided to help students 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, has visited classes 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.
Do you know how to eliminate guilt associated with food consumption? Would you like to feel good about eating? We have the answer: grocery certificates! Every time you spend money on groceries you raise money for a cause you believe in - your school! Just stop by the school office and speak with Shelly Hendrick to stock up on grocery certificates. If you have any questions, please call Joan Jacus at 303-499-3013.
Parents: The Summit Lost and Found is overflowing with student coats, sweaters, and lunch boxes. We have made numerous announcements to students, asking them to please retrieve their belongings. Despite these pleas, the box overfloweth. What is not retrieved will be donated to charity on November 21. So, between now and then please make a visit to the Lost and Found box in the main hallway and check for your student's belongings. Thanks!
Do you have an extra microwave? Our students sure could use another one in the lunchroom. If you have one, please bring it to Coach Adams. Thank you!
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 in the school office.
The AAA Committee will meet on December 1 and December 8, both Fridays, 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.
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. Electronic distribution is fast, easy and saves postage and trees. What a deal!
Upcoming deadlines for submissions to Summit News are November 20, December 4 and December 18. Articles may be sent to tomwhiteoc@earthlink.net, or left in the file box in the school office.
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/univ_school/summit/
"Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best." Michael Johnson
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.