June 11, 1998
Volume 5, No. 11
Summit's second graduation and awards ceremony was held on Friday, June 5, in the Fairview High School auditorium under the direction of Assistant Principal Kirk Adams. Following the weather tradition established with last year's tornado, the morning featured an unseasonable, light snow fall.
Pre-ceremony music by Silver Rain and other ensembles was directed by Mr. Burkhart. Student Council President Nick Demarest and Principal Bernie Grove welcomed the guests. Dignitaries present were Board of Education members Don Shonkwiler and Janusz Okolowicz. Former Summit Principal Boyd Dressler was in attendance.
Ms. Dozeman presided over the presentation of student achievement awards. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Jim Cederberg presented the annual "Outstanding Teacher Award" to Ms. Brakhage (see article below) and announced an "Outstanding Volunteer Award" for Barbry Hogue.
Ms. Bartley read the names of the members of the Class of 1998, who were presented their diplomas by Ms. Grove. Student Council Vice President Faith Weller and Mr. Adams closed the ceremony.
The keynote speaker was former Summit Board member Charlie Demarest, just returned from the summit of Mt. Everest. Charlie's talk included several slides of his recent trip. He recounted his interest in Everest since the age of eight. As years passed, he read every book he could find on the various attempts to climb the mountain. When he moved to Colorado, he became a member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and worked on the skills he would need to reach his goal. In 1995, Charlie made it to within 300 feet of the peak. He was determined to return.
Finally, on May 20, he did reach the summit as a member of the 1998 Everest Environmental Expedition. He told the students, "You set your own limits and goals. Each and every one of you can reach your own summit. You have chosen a challenge by choosing Summit Middle School, and if you continue on the path of challenge and excellence, you can all reach your own summits." In closing, he presented a rock from the summit of Mt. Everest, which Ms. Grove received on behalf of the school.
Two students who exemplify Summit ideals were selected by the faculty to give graduation speeches. Eric Gonzales talked about his memories at Summit, and how the hard work was balanced by the fun and good experiences. Using a hiking metaphor, Eric said, "School is like a mountain. In elementary school, you walk along a flat, well maintained trail. As you enter middle school, there comes a fork in the road. One trail is a little rocky and more difficult than the elementary one, but still not very hard. It takes you to a little lookout. The other is steeper, more exhausting, and very rocky, but it leads to the peak. We have all chosen the more difficult trail and made it to the summit." Eric observed that "being a good student doesn't mean that you understand everything right away when it is taught to you, and it doesn't mean that you ace every course you take. A good student strives to do the best that he or she can do and tries to get the most out of each class that he or she takes. And that, I believe, is what Summit is all about."
Lindsay Fox reflected on choosing Summit. "Challenge is the reason I came to Summit. I wanted more — more knowledge, more fun, more life." Lindsay thanked the teachers for "challenging us and pushing us to do our best." She said, "I realized this year that students need teachers . . . to not only give them an education, but to inspire them. The teachers at Summit have done both . . ." Lindsay also reminisced about her participation in Odyssey of the Mind and her team's win at the State competition. "I had worked extremely hard for five years and had finally accomplished my goal. It was the best feeling in the world. . . . As we graduate from Summit, this class of 1998 should all have that same feeling of accomplishment. We've worked hard, and it has paid off. Our exit from Summit is our entrance to new challenges and opportunities."
The Summit Board of Directors presented its second annual Outstanding Teacher Award to English teacher Ms. Krista Brakhage during graduation on June 5. The award consists of a plaque and $750. A companion plaque is displayed in the Summit administrative office.
The Board established the award to recognize a teacher who exemplifies qualities valued at Summit: love of learning, hard work, knowledge of subject matter, exceptional teaching skill, dedication to students, and inspiration for students. The Board considers quality of teaching in relation to number of years of teaching experience.
The recipient is selected by the Board in executive session at the end of the academic year. To qualify, a teacher must have been employed at least half-time at Summit for at least one semester. Two intervening years must elapse before a teacher can receive the award again.
Enclosed with this newsletter is your child's report card and CTBS test report. The TerraNova Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) was administered in April. The test had several components: English, math, science, and social studies. The CTBS is an achievement test that measures applied knowledge.
A Test of Cognitive Skills (TCS) was given immediately before the CTBS. The TCS is intended as a test of native ability and serves as a predictor of how a student might be expected to score on the CTBS ("anticipated percentile"). The anticipated national percentile and the actual national percentile scores on the CTBS are both reported.
The difference between actual and anticipated scores is the "anticipated difference score." Anticipated difference scores may be positive or negative. If the actual percentile is significantly higher than anticipated, it means that your child is achieving above that expected for his or her ability. This might indicate effective education at school or home or that your student is a hard worker. If the actual percentile is significantly lower, it might indicate poor instruction or that your student is not working to his or her ability.
National Percentile — National percentiles are between 1 and 99. A percentile rank of 90, for example, means that the student scored higher than 90% of students in the national norm group.
Anticipated National Percentile — Anticipated percentile is the expected national percentile score for students of similar age, grade, and aptitude.
DIFF — If there is a statistically significant difference between actual and anticipated scores, "Above" or "Below" appears in the DIFF column.
National Percentile Range — This range encompasses one standard error of measurement above and below each obtained score. It indicates the range of scores a student would likely obtain on repeated administrations of the test. A narrow range indicates greater precision of measurement than a wide range.
Percentile Bands — The graphic representation in the upper right part of the report shows the national percentile score and range.
Performance on Objectives — The lower part of the report describes performance in terms of the objectives measured. The Objectives Performance Index (OPI) estimates the number of items a student could be expected to answer correctly if there had been 100 such items for each objective. An OPI of 75 or above indicates mastery of an objective.
This summer would be an excellent time for your child to practice basic skills where deficiencies are noted. The Performance on Objectives section provides some guidance.
If your student consistently is above the 90th national percentile, it means the grade-level CTBS may not be the best tool to measure his or her academic growth. (Note that, because of the nonlinear national percentile scale, students with very high anticipated scores are unlikely to have even higher actual scores.) Such students should consider taking the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) through the Rocky Mountain Talent Search (see article below). Information will be available in the counseling office in the fall.
The CTBS is normally given to all district 7th graders. Summit is the only school to test all its students (although six did not participate because of absences). No student was excluded because of special education status.
The table below gives the actual ("Act.") national percentile score for a median ("average") Summit student in all areas for all three grades, along with anticipated ("Ant.") scores and differences ("Dif.").
1998 CTBS |
6th Grade |
7th Grade |
8th Grade |
||||||
| Act. | Ant. | Dif. | Act. | Ant. | Dif. | Act. | Ant. | Dif. | |
Reading |
89.8 | 78.0 | 11.8 |
91.5 | 85.0 | 6.5 |
89.5 | 87.8 | 1.7 |
Vocabulary |
88.2 | 72.7 | 15.5 |
87.0 | 83.3 | 3.7 |
91.4 | 83.0 | 8.4 |
| Reading Composite | 92.0 | 78.3 | 13.7 |
92.8 | 87.0 | 5.8 |
94.0 | 87.7 | 6.3 |
Language |
88.9 | 80.0 | 8.9 |
87.8 | 83.6 | 4.2 |
91.1 | 86.4 | 4.7 |
Language Mechanics |
81.5 | 79.6 | 1.9 |
75.8 | 83.6 | -7.8 |
80.7 | 86.0 | -5.3 |
| Language Composite | 88.5 | 82.3 | 6.2 |
87.2 | 86.4 | 0.8 |
90.8 | 89.5 | 1.3 |
Mathematics |
92.2 | 81.3 | 10.9 |
84.9 | 84.2 | 0.7 |
90.3 | 88.0 | 2.3 |
Math Computation |
74.0 | 69.4 | 4.6 |
81.0 | 78.9 | 2.1 |
88.5 | 84.7 | 3.8 |
| Math Composite | 86.6 | 77.5 | 9.1 |
85.0 | 82.8 | 2.2 |
90.6 | 88.0 | 2.6 |
| Total Score | 91.6 | 81.5 | 10.1 |
91.6 | 86.8 | 4.8 |
94.6 | 89.0 | 5.6 |
| Science | 88.7 | 77.7 | 11.0 |
88.4 | 85.5 | 2.9 |
92.6 | 88.5 | 4.1 |
| Social Studies | 87.0 | 78.4 | 8.6 |
90.5 | 85.1 | 5.4 |
89.0 | 87.7 | 1.3 |
| Spelling | 80.2 | 74.6 | 5.6 |
73.3 | 81.0 | -7.7 |
72.8 | 80.0 | -7.2 |
| Number of Students Tested | 74 |
96 |
94 |
||||||
Overall, Summit students performed very well this year, as they did last year. Areas of relative deficiency are math computation for 6th graders, language mechanics and spelling for 7th graders, and spelling for 8th graders. These are areas that teachers will review with students in the next school year.
How will Summit use the data? It is our goal that each student achieve more than one year of academic growth in every subject every year he or she is at Summit. We want each student to increase in national percentile score from year to year, especially in areas of deficiency. Parents should compare this year's scores to those of last year and confer with the school if growth is not evident. In addition, Summit intends for its most of its students to have actual scores higher than anticipated.
How will the public use the school's average data? One indicator of a school's effectiveness is its "anticipated 50th percentile difference score," the difference between the actual and anticipated performance of an average student at the school. A positive difference indicates value added.
Another possible use of the data is to help parents select schools under open enrollment. Some parents might wish to consider, in addition to anticipated differences, a school's average level of achievement compared to that of their own child.
Nationally normed tests, such as the CTBS, are but one measure of student performance and school effectiveness. Results can help in student placement and serve as an early warning of deficiencies. Tests can provide useful information to students, parents, schools, and the public.
The table below compares last year's to this year's actual median scores of our current 7th and 8th graders.
| Current 7th | Current 8th | |||
| 1997 | 1998 | 1997 | 1998 | |
| Reading | 87.2 | 91.5 | 91.1 | 89.5 |
| Vocabulary | 88.7 | 87.0 | 90.7 | 91.4 |
| Reading Composite | 90.8 | 92.8 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| Language | 88.4 | 87.8 | 87.7 | 91.1 |
| Language Mechanics | 78.5 | 75.8 | 79.5 | 80.7 |
| Language Composite | 87.3 | 87.2 | 86.6 | 90.8 |
| Mathematics | 87.9 | 84.9 | 87.1 | 90.3 |
| Math Computation | 64.6 | 81.0 | 84.4 | 88.5 |
| Math Composite | 80.5 | 85.0 | 88.2 | 90.6 |
| Total Score | 90.0 | 91.6 | 92.8 | 94.6 |
| Science | 91.1 | 88.4 | 88.3 | 92.6 |
| Social Studies | 86.6 | 90.5 | 92.4 | 89.0 |
| Spelling | 83.3 | 73.3 | 78.8 | 72.8 |
There was significant improvement in math computation and significant deterioration in spelling for our current 7th graders. Total scores increased somewhat for our current 7th and 8th graders.
The following table gives the national percentile "Total" scores for Summit's own 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile students.
| Grade | No. | 90th | 75th | 50th | 25th | 10th |
| 6th | 74 | 99.0 | 96.9 | 91.6 | 79.0 | 61.7 |
| 7th | 96 | 98.6 | 96.0 | 91.6 | 81.6 | 68.2 |
| 8th | 94 | 99.1 | 98.2 | 94.6 | 84.3 | 65.4 |
Summit students are narrowly clustered about the median, well above the national average. Even Summit's 10th percentile is above the national average.
Last year's CTBS reports that were sent to parents did not include anticipated percentiles because they were not yet available. The Summit office now has these reports. If you would like a copy of your child's CTBS report from 1997, which includes both actual and anticipated scores, please call the office, 303-499-9511. The staff will be happy to mail it to you.
Colorado House Bill 98-1267 provides that State assessments in reading and writing will be administered to all 7th grade students beginning in 1998-1999. Beginning in 1999-2000, math and science assessments will be given to all 8th graders.
The Summit Odyssey of the Mind team earned 18th place out of 59 teams competing in the "Marvelous Mentor" category, Division II, at the World OM competition in Disney World. Congratulations to Lindsay and Tyler Fox, Eric Gonzales, Cara Harmon, Wendy Harig, and James and Dale Swirhun.
Many thanks to the following businesses which donated awards for programmers in the "Programming in C++" class: Software, Etc. (Crossroads Mall), Electronics Boutiques (Crossroads), Camelot Music (Crossroads), Boulder YMCA Skate Park, and Laser Storm.
If you are a graduating 8th grader, you may take summer school courses for high school credit at Boulder High or Centaurus High this summer. Tuition for a five-credit class is $150. Sessions are June 15 - July 2 and July 6-23. Call 499-1125, ext. 223, to register.
Students with high verbal or math abilities are invited to participate in the Rocky Mountain Talent Search (RMTS). RMTS provides information and assistance to help students select and register for the SAT and ACT college entrance tests.
Middle-school students benefit from early exposure to the tests. The significantly higher ceilings on the SAT and ACT (compared to the CTBS) help students identify their strengths.
Once students take the tests, they will receive an interpretive guide to help understand their scores relative to other RMTS participants, and brochures describing academically challenging summer opportunities. Students whose SAT or ACT scores meet the summer program criteria are invited to attend the Summer Institute at the University of Denver and other Talent Search summer programs.
For more information, or to have an application mailed directly to your home in the fall, call 303-871-2983.
Aug. 27: First day of school for 6th graders
Aug. 28: First day of school, beginning of 1st semester
Sep. 7: Labor Day, no school
Sep. 10: Back to School Night, 6:30-8:30 PM
Oct. 12: Summit Charter Day, no school
Oct. 13: School tours, 8:10 AM
Oct. 13-16: Talent show tryouts
Oct. 22: Summit concert
Oct. 30: All-campus dance 3:15-5 PM, sponsored by So. Hills
Nov. 3: End of 1st quarter grading period
Nov. 10: School tours, 11:20 AM
Nov. 11: Parent-teacher conferences, 8 AM - 4 PM, no school
Nov. 12: Parent-teacher conferences, 4-8:30 PM
Nov. 19: Talent Show
Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving, no school
Dec. 7-9: Musical tryouts
Dec. 8: School tours, 8:10 AM
Dec. 9: Student/parent information night, 7-8:30 PM
Dec. 10: Summit concert
Dec. 11: All-campus party, sponsored by Summit
Dec. 21 - Jan. 1: Winter Break, no school
Jan. 12: School tours, 11:20 AM
Jan. 12-14: Summit Science Fair
Jan. 14: Student/parent information night, 7-8:30 PM
Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Day, no schoolJan. 25: End of 1st semester
Jan. 26: Beginning of 2nd semester
Jan. 27: Student visitation, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Feb. 3: Student visitation, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Feb. 5: All-campus party, sponsored by Southern Hills
Feb. 9: School tours, 8:10 AM
Feb. 10: Student visitation, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Feb. 11: Parent-teacher conferences, 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Feb. 12: Parent-teacher conferences, 8 AM - 3 PM, no school
Feb. 12: Presidents Day, no school
Feb. 17: Summit Science Fair finals
Feb. 17: Student visitation, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Feb. 18: Summit concert
March 2: Summit History Day competition
March 9: School tours, 11:20 AM
March 22-26: Spring Break, no school
April 7: End of 3rd quarter grading period
April 13: School tours, 8:10 AM
April 23: Summit Day, no school
April 30: Summit musical
May 1: Summit musical
May 11: School tours, 11:20 AM
May 14: All-campus party, sponsored by Summit
June 3: Summit concert
June 11: Last day of school, graduation and awards assembly
Four-day summer sessions in applied technology sponsored by the BVSD Gifted and Talented Office and Colorado State University will be held the week of July 27-30 at Monarch K-8 in Louisville and August 3-6 at Martin Park Elementary in Boulder. Classes are from 9 AM to 3 PM. The sessions are open to all students who will be in middle school in Fall 1998.
The classes include aviation design, a behind-the-scenes tour of Denver International Airport (aircraft operations and air traffic control), electromagnetic machines, and building a roller coaster, a bridge, or a virtual machine. The cost is $10, due the first day of class. Bring a sack lunch each day.
Send your registration before June 25 to Cheryl Rapp, BVSD TAG Office, 6500 E. Arapahoe, Boulder 80301. Include your name, address, phone number, school attending in Fall 1998, gender, choice of session, parent signature, a paragraph telling why you want to participate, and acknowledgment that you will attend all four days from 9 AM to 3 PM. Early registration is advised.
Kathy Kinskey, 303-642-1781, will be conducting two summer support groups. One, beginning June 30, is for children and parents in divorce situations. The other, beginning July 2, deals with the parenting of teenagers.
Mr. Burkhart would like to borrow a Mac LCII-compatible printer, a MIDI box, and a small MIDI keyboard.
With this issue, Ron Goldfarb concludes his tenure as editor of Summit News. If you would like to help with the newsletter beginning this summer, please contact Chris Howard, 303-673-0978.