June 21, 1999
Volume 7, No. 11
Summit's third graduation and 8th grade awards ceremony was held on Friday, June 11, in the Fairview High School auditorium under the direction of Assistant Principal Kirk Adams. The graduating 8th grade class was the first to complete all three years at Summit. Dignitaries present were Board of Education member Janusz Okolowicz and Superintendent Tom Seigel. Unlike the previous two graduations, the weather outside was warm and seasonable, at least during the ceremony.
Pre-ceremony music by the Summit Choir, Silver Rain, and the Summit Orchestra was conducted by Mr. Bill Burkhart. Graduating student Daniel Kitayama was featured on the violin. Principal Bernita Grove, Summit Board member and outgoing Chair Jim Cederberg, and Student Council President Laura Farrell welcomed the guests. Laura introduced the graduation speaker, Jeff Bradley.
Ms. Valerie Ammon presided over the presentation of student achievement awards. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Ron Goldfarb presented the annual "Outstanding Teacher Award" to Mr. Ray Mueller. Student Exemplars Jessica Oreck and Timothy Burchett addressed the audience, after which they were presented with the first Summit Great Books awards by Dr. Okolowicz.
Ms. Kendra Bartley read the names of the members of the Summit Class of 1999, who were presented their diplomas by Ms. Grove and congratulated by Mr. Adams and Mr. Cederberg. Mr. Adams closed the ceremony.
Two students who exemplify Summit ideals were selected by the faculty to give graduation speeches. Jessy Oreck observed that, although students in the age of information sometimes feel that everything has already been said, tried, and accomplished, her experience at Summit has been different. "I am deeply grateful to my teachers who believed in us and believed in our ideas and who still made everything fresh and exciting. I am grateful to my fellow students for making it okay to ask a lot of questions and making it okay in general to be different."
Tim Burchett reflected on Summit's first three years. "Summit has proven to everyone that excellence counts, quality is imperative, and that we are here to stay." With reference to mixed-age classes, he noted, "We have made friends, not just because of grade level, but because of similar interests." He took the opportunity to thank "board members, teachers, founders, parents, volunteers, and especially fellow students for three of the best years of my life and I hope great years for you as well."
The Summit Board of Directors presented its third annual Outstanding Teacher Award to math and technology teacher Mr. Ray Mueller during graduation on June 11. 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.
Chairman of Tools for Learning and Dean of Fun Jeff Bradley addressed the graduating class with his unique brand of wisdom and humor. He analogized Summit’s promise, three years ago, of an “academically rigorous school” as being akin to a dentist saying “you will feel a bit of a pinch” or a doctor saying “this will hurt just a little.”
By a show of hands, students acknowledged that, when they first arrived at Summit, they knew very few of their classmates. The faculty similarly came from a wide range of places, with a wide range of experience. The good news was that they knew they would be dealing with smart and motivated kids; the bad news was that they would be dealing with the parents of smart and motivated kids.
Jeff recounted growing up in Tennessee and his experiences at the receiving end of whacks from teachers in response to his smart remarks in elementary and junior high school. He talked about his summer jobs in construction and later writing for The New York Times and teaching writing at Harvard.
Students at Harvard were not ashamed of excelling -- in academics, sports, music. Additionally, they had survived high school. Jeff said, “Summit has an environment where people are not ashamed of excelling. Your task, then, is to survive high school.”
He foretold some of the changes students could expect in the next few years: “Grow into your adult sizes, sing in a school choir with a bass section, learn to drive, meet the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, walk unchallenged into an R-rated movie, join the military, discover your passion in life -- the subject that you will pursue through college and make a career of.”
He cautioned, “Other possibilities are not so great. I hope this will not happen to you, but I can guarantee you will know someone who will begin smoking tobacco, who will have trouble with alcohol or drugs, who will have children.”
Jeff’s tips on how to survive high school:
Jeff hoped that the Summit graduates would occasionally hear the voices of their teachers and mentors from Summit and wished them good luck in high school.
Many thanks to the following parents who helped with graduation rehearsals, graduation logistics, and the lovely reception which followed the ceremony: Cindy Cederberg, Joan Reed, Patty Hansen, Susan Damon, Cornelia Boylston, Jackie Ross, Emily Weigel, Audrey Block, Mary Boulet, Jenny Lucas, Maribeth Schultz, Steven Schultz, Margie Riksheim, and Margaret Harrington.
The 8th grade graduation party was a huge success! Many, many thanks to Wendy Schermerhorn, who organized this classy party from start to finish. She polled students for their entertainment preferences; arranged for facilities, entertainment, and food; created and distributed invitations; and made sure it was a night to remember.
Thank you to Molly Colt and Susan Chunn for heading up the decoration committee, Jeff Bradley for taking pictures of the event, Diana Falloon for organizing the clean-up crew, and to all the parents who volunteered their time to help chaperone. Thank you also to those families who made donations to help offset the costs of the evening.
The students enjoyed the evening with dinner, dancing, and karaoke singing. Interspersed were drawings for prizes, dance lessons compliments of Truman Bradley, congratulatory cakes, and colored light ropes.
Each student also received a water bottle imprinted with the names of the 1999 graduating class. If you forgot your water bottle, or were unable to attend, please stop by the Summit office and pick up a water bottle. These are great mementos. Any items left at the Elks Lodge that evening are in the “lost and found” at school.
The Boulder Public Library has a wide variety of diversions this summer as part of its Young Adult Program. All programs are free and available to youth ages 12-18. Stop by the library or check its Web site, http://bcn.boulder.co.us/library/bpl/yaab/index.html.
Summit News has opportunities for volunteers who are interested in writing, editing, copying, or mailing the newsletter. The newsletter is published every two weeks. The next issue will come out in late August. If you would like to help with the newsletter, please contact Linda Parkhill at 303-665-9355.
The Colorado League of Charter Schools is accepting resumes for its Assistant Director position. Duties include: specific program management responsibilities for conferences, event planning and communictions (newsletter, website) and administrative and office support for overall operations. Please address questions or resumes to:
Jim Griffin
Executive Director
7700 W. Woodard Drive
Lakewood, CO 80227
303-989-5356
303-985-7721-fax
clcs@rmi.net
The PVC Committee is already making plans for next school year. We will need parents to coordinate and assist with preparation for the start of the 1999-2000 school year -- packing and moving teacher materials out of summer storage, compiling information packets, helping with new student orientation day, and being available for general site preparation tasks during the summer. Call Margie Riksheim at 303-440-5457 to commit a bit of your summer for Summit.
Rummage through your house for books to donate to the K-12 library which will be located at our new site beginning in August 2000. Look for books at garage sales. Some libraries have perpetual sales. Donate any book or educational magazine that you feel would fit in a K-12 library. Book donations are tax deductible. Drop them off in north Boulder at Angie Dorsey’s house, 4769 6th Street, 303-449-4342, or in southeastern Boulder at Cathy Woods’ house, 5236 Gallatin Place, 303-444-1791. A drop-off location for east county is still needed. If you would like to join the new library committee, call Sheryl Tippit, 303-499-1810.
Please consider reserving Thursday, August 12, fall registration day for incoming freshman, to volunteer for Fairview’s vision-hearing screening. They have full-day and half-day needs. It is a great way to make a valuable contribution to your child’s school for the ‘99-’00 year. Contact Chris Mayock at 303-460-1957.
Margie Riksheim wants to extend a big thank you to everyone on her “work crew” for the hours and energy spent helping to move furniture and supplies for teachers after the end of the school year.
Energy Education Workshops, on July 23 and August 5, will provide hands-on educational experiences on topics of energy utilization, production, and conservation. The program is designed to expose students to the joys and excitement of science, math, engineering, and technology. The workshops are free of charge and are limited to the first 30 student and 30 adult participants. They are a joint venture involving the Women in Engineering Program, the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory, and the Success in Engineering through Excellence and Diversity Program. Brochures are available from Ms. Bartley in the office, or call Robin Sandekian at 303-492-0083.
Be a host family for three weeks this summer for a teen from Japan. Pacific American Institute Homestay Program provides an opportunity for a true intercultural exchange within your own home and a contribution to the growth of international understanding. Students are in an academic program at C.U. and go on many excursions. It’s fun and can be a great experience for your family. Call JoAnne Corey at 303-665-9558 for more details.
The Denver Zoo is offering a wide variety of day camps, overnight education, art classes, and educational classes. For more information call 303-376-4888 or visit www.denverzoo.org.
“We Can Do It! A National Leadership Conference for Parents of the Gifted” will be held June 25-27 at the University of Denver. There will be a separate conference for children from ages 6 to 18 at the University of Denver’s Ricks Center. More information may be found at www.gifteddevelopment.com.
Incoming 1999-2000 6th graders will need a full series of DPT and polio immunizations and one MMR immunization. Incoming 7th and 8th graders will need DPT, polio, two MMR's, and a full series of Hepatitis B. Exemption forms are available in the office for those who require them. All students planning to participate in sports will need a new athletic-participation statement.
The Summit Board of Directors will have a regular meeting on June 21 at 7 PM in the teachers' work room. Parents and staff are invited to attend, as always.