October 14, 1996
Volume 2, No. 3
Summit will hold parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday, October 30, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM, and on Friday, November 1, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Students are cordially invited to accompany their parents to these conferences. Parents who would like to participate should see the counselor, Corky Strong, to sign up for individual conferences. She will be available before and after school in the cafeteria during October 16-22 with appointment sheets for each of the core teachers. (Other teachers will be available on a drop-in basis during conference time and will not need appointments.)
To accommodate as many parents as possible, individual conferences will be limited to 10 minutes. Even so, most teachers will have only enough time slots available for parents of about half their students. For that reason, we would ask that parents request appointments with teachers where concerns or issues have arisen. If a joint meeting with all a student's teachers, together with the counselor, seems advisable, Ms. Strong would be pleased to arrange a meeting outside the time constraints of the parent-teacher conference schedule.
October 25: End of first quarter.
October 28: Start of second quarter.
October 30, 3:30-7:30 PM: Parent-teacher conferences.
November 1, 8:00-3:00 PM: Parent-teacher conferences (no school)
November 11: Veterans' Day (no school)
November 28-29: Thanksgiving (no school)
December 23 - January 3: Winter break (no school)
The Summit Middle School Tools for Learning fund drive is off to a successful start. Within two weeks of mailing appeal letters, 77 families returned their response cards with gifts and pledges totaling just over $18,000 — well on the way to our goal of $30,000.
The money raised during the drive will be spent on "wish list" items compiled by the Summit faculty. These include computers, dictionaries, books, software, and other things necessary to offer a first-class education. As a new school, Summit has a great many needs, and every one of our students will directly benefit from the money raised.
Fund-raising Chair Judy Demarest said, "All of us have been gratified by the very strong response to this drive. Our kids have not had to sell anything, we have not had to call on hundreds of volunteer hours for an auction or similar event, and Tools for Learning has not taken up one minute of class time."
By now all Summit families should have received, in the mail, a letter, response card, and return envelope. The card should be filled out and mailed in the envelope; student backpacks are not the most reliable form of transport. If you have not received a fund-raising packet, please call Jeff Bradley at 499-4275 day or night. Volunteers will begin calling families this week to wrap up the campaign.
"We are hoping that Summit families can participate at whatever level is comfortable for them," explained Demarest. "Our goal of $30,000 works out to $120 per Summit student, but not every family is able to contribute that amount to the fund. I hope that everyone will be as generous as they can." Your contribution to Tools for Learning, even if modest, will help us reach our goal of 100% participation.
Some families are helping Summit every time they go to the grocery store. Judy reports that, since school began, income from King Soopers coupons has totaled over $1,800. "This is an excellent way to support the school at no cost to families," she noted. "If you get into the habit of buying coupons, it is virtually painless!"
Please call Summit's attendance line, 447-5529, if your student will be absent or tardy. If we do not receive a call or note from a parent, we will record a student's absence or late arrival as "unexcused." Unexcused absences limit a student's privilege to make up missed work. When students arrive late or leave early for appointments, they must sign-in or sign-out in the office.
Ellen Dole, 530-2762, and Betsy Phelan, 443-0832, have arranged an after-school care program. Summit is the host site. The program is self-supporting.
Summit participates in the reduced-price lunch program. If you think you qualify, please request a form from Lisa Singletary. All inquiries are respected as confidential.
Sixty three parents and 202 students participated in our homework survey. The average number of hours students spend on homework per week, as estimated by parents/students, is 13.9/14.6 (±0.2).
By subject area, the average numbers of hours are: English 2.8/3.1, foreign language 1.6/2.1, math 4.4/3.8, science 2.9/3.2, social studies 2.0/2.6. Thanks to Bruce Bland for compiling the data.
The survey also collected many wide-ranging comments from parents and students. The Summit Board and teachers are evaluating the input. You will have more opportunities to provide feedback on homework.
Another Survey Coming Your Way
We aim to meet the needs of our students, so periodic surveys will be a part of life at Summit. Your suggestions for improvement are taken seriously.
Students should not bring beverages to school in glass bottles. Plastic bottles and aluminum cans are OK.
We urge our bike-riding students to ride on the sidewalk rather than in the street. Please cross Knox Drive on foot, at the cross walk.
Mike O'Neill from Southern Hills reports that the Writing Center will be open for an hour after school, Tuesday through Friday, most weeks. Students may work but not play games.
Students can access the Internet and the World Wide Web through a direct connection in the Summit/Southern-Hills library. Students working on social-studies research papers may wish to try the new Social Studies Resources Series on CD in the library. The Southern Hills PTO donated a new Webster's International Dictionary and a 1996 National Geographic Atlas of the World to the library. The library is sponsoring a book fair November 25-26. The library welcomes donations of Time, Sports Illustrated, Science, and Seventeen magazines.
The YMCA hosts a "Teen Drop-In" every Saturday night, 7:30-11:00 PM, at the South Boulder Recreation Center (just west of Summit). Typical activities include: basketball, swimming, volleyball, movies, crafts, speakers, tournaments, workshops, and field trips. Snacks are provided. Middle-school students are welcome. There is no charge for YMCA members, $2 for nonmembers. More information is available from Kay Stone, 443-4474, ext. 349.
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. The program offers information, forms, and assistance to help select and register for the tests. Students are sent interpretive information to help them understand their scores. They also receive a booklet describing educational opportunities for high ability students.
Students may apply to participate in the Talent Search by filling out a form available now from our counselor, Corky Strong. High test scores entitle students to participate in the academically-oriented Summer Institutes at the University of Denver, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Northwestern. The Talent Search booklet also provides information on the popular Summer Enrichment Program at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley for talented or gifted students. More information is available from Ms. Strong.
Summit parents who are employed by IBM, please contact Hunter McDaniel, 530-1840.
Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park has a summer Junior Student Seminar, August 5-17, 1997, for students aged 10-14. It includes individual and group lessons, theory, chamber ensembles, orchestra, and performance opportunities. The application fee is $25 and it costs $800 for tuition, room, and board. Call 402-486-4363 (970-586-4031 after June 1) for complete information.
Thanks to our shovel-toting volunteers for the lawn preparation around the Summit buildings: Jim Cederberg, John Clough, Terry Cook (heavy equipment operator), Linda and Jeff Cowan, Debbie and Bill Fee, Joan Harig, Chris Howard, Tom McKevitt, Barbara and Noel and Kim Miner.
Get a glimpse of the everyday workings at Summit. Schedule yourself to come it for a few hours for teacher support. Projects include copying class materials, checking quizzes, and creating foreign-language flash cards with pictures. Or you can be a back-up volunteer for when a regular cannot come. Contact Linda Cowen, 543-7433.
Here are some of the parents who are already helping in the classrooms or on individual teacher projects: Sally Benjamin, Cathy Burchett, Janet Christensen, Susan Chunn, Liz Copeland, Linda Cowan, Linda Greenberg, Judy Hart, Barbry Hogue, Bill Horton, Chris Howard, Melody Johnson, Christa Kastner, Nancy Kellogg, Issy Killbride, Margaret McKibbin, Linda Parkhill, and Mary Smartt.
Contact Linda Cowan, 543-7433, if you wish to volunteer in these classes, one or two days a week:
World Geography (Ms. Cox)
Biology and the Environment (Dr. Sikora) — labs
French I (Ms. Hanckel) — conversation, drills, learning games
Spanish I (Ms. Hanckel) — conversation, drills, learning games
Painting (Ms. Hutton) — work with students
Sculpture (Ms. Hutton) — work with students
Symphonic Band (Mr. Burkhart) — work with small groups, musicianship
helpful
Drama (Ms. Hutton) — work with small groups
Music, Select Strings (Mr. Burkhart) — work with small groups, musicianship
helpful
Music, Select Winds (Mr. Burkhart) — work with small groups, musicianship
helpful
Creative Writing (Ms. Brakhage) — work with students
Social Studies (Mr. Koch) — current events, six class binders to be
checked each week (could be picked up and done at home)
Office assistance: Every other Monday, come in to copy, collate, and distribute Summit News.
"Dragon" teacher Susan Cox is looking for someone to demonstrate the art of Chinese cooking for one class in November. Please call the Summit office if you have someone to suggest.
We would like a few parents to help monitor the lunch room from 10:30 to 11:30 each day. Extra adults will help maintain the relatively calm atmosphere we have enjoyed during the lunch hour.
Our goal is to have two parents each day so that the teachers can get a much-deserved break at lunch time. You will enjoy getting to know the students. If you can spare an hour once a week or every other week, please call Sally Benjamin, 530-4354.
Would you be available to answer questions about Summit from parents at your younger child's elementary school? We are putting together a roster of parents of current Summit students who would be available to answer questions for those considering enrolling at Summit next year.
This will be an informal way to provide information and personal contact for parents not yet familiar with Summit's programs and educational goals. Elementary school parents might contact you directly, or might be referred to you from the Summit office. We would like to have contacts for every elementary school in the district. We need a few who can speak Spanish.
If you would like more information or are ready to sign on, please call Barbry Hogue, 665-3798.
We need a skilled video-photographer to make a Summit video. Contact Ron Goldfarb, 494-8373.
We have four openings for paraprofessionals to provide office assistance and to help with supervision duties. Hours would be 7:30 to 11:30 AM and/or 2:35 to 3:35 PM, five days per week. Call Lisa Singletary.
We would like a few more volunteers to help with the Summit/Southern-Hills vision and hearing screening on October 31, 8 to 11:30 AM. Call the Southern Hills office, 494-2866, identify yourself as a Summit parent, and sign up. We also need a few more volunteers to staff the Summit/Southern-Hills health room.
Summit and Southern Hills are participating in the "Coats for Kids" drive sponsored by the Boulder Valley Rotary Club. A coat collection box will be located outside the Southern Hills office beginning October 23.
The BVSD Department of Literacy and Language Support Services requested that this announcement be run in all district school newsletters.
The Boulder Valley School District, like many other school districts across the state and nation, has recently been reviewed by representatives of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR works to assure that all students receive the most appropriate program to meet their educational needs. As a result of this review, the District drafted a compliance plan that was accepted by OCR in July 1995. Major areas of the plan include:
The Department of Literacy and Language Support Services, which administers the Bilingual, English as a Second Language, Title I, and Title IX Indian Education programs, as well as the Colorado Preschool Project, has primary responsibility for ensuring that the District remains in compliance with state and federal guidelines for the education of second language learners.
A number of steps have been taken over the last year to put the plan into effect. For example, a Home Language Survey (HLS) is now completed for every child who enrolls in a Boulder Valley school, grades K-12. The answers on this survey help the District identify students who may need alternative language arts instruction to meet their needs as second language learners.
Courses are being offered through the University of Colorado at Denver to assist teachers in working towards the state endorsement for Teacher of the Linguistically Different. In addition, the Department of Literacy and Language Support Services is working with the Department of Special Education to coordinate efforts to assure that students are properly identified and, once placed, are served appropriately.
In the next few weeks your school's secretary will receive copies of the informational flyer "Know Your Child's Rights: A Parent's Guide to Second Language Programs in the Boulder Valley School District." This guide is currently available in English and Spanish and is being translated into other languages common in the District. If you have any questions about your child's rights under the law or the services the District provides to meet their needs, please contact the Department of Literacy and Language Support Services at 447-5073.