May 19, 1997
Volume 3, No. 9
New students and parents, don't miss it: Wednesday, May 21, 7:30-9 PM, in the auditorium. Meet the teachers, register for classes, ask questions, and get answers.
Summit students and families are invited to attend the formal dedication of the Harvey garden at 7 PM on Monday, May 19. The garden is located at the main entrance to Southern Hills and has been created by Southern-Hills students and parents in memory of Katharyn Harvey, a Southern Hills student who died of leukemia in April, 1996.
Several Summit students who knew Katharyn have been involved in creating and maintaining the garden, which contains items and flowers that reflect Katharyn's preferences and personality. As well as providing a haven of color and beauty, the garden serves as a reminder to us all of the fragility of life.
What better way to end the year than to spend an evening with talented Summit students? The Summit Music Theater classes will present fully staged scenes from The Sound of Music on Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23, at 7 PM in the auditorium.
On Wednesday, May 28, at 7 PM, the String Orchestra, the Beginning Band, the Advanced Band, the Jazz Band, the Summit Choir and soloists from Silver Rain will present the year's final music recital, which will include solo and ensemble pieces and a selection of popular songs.
The graduation and awards committees have planned Summit's first annual end-of-the-year ceremony honoring the 8th graders and the successes of our first year's student body. The ceremony will be on Friday, June 6, 12:45 - 2:30 PM in the Fairview auditorium. Classes will be dismissed at 12:30 PM and students will walk with their 5th-period teachers to Fairview. (Eighth grade students will be dismissed earlier for graduation practice and a group portrait.) Since Fairview's make-up final exams will be in progress, students must be quiet and orderly.
Seating in the auditorium will be in assigned sections. In attendance will be parents, guests, Summit board members, and faculty. Music will be provided by Summit's own talented musicians and Silver Rain. Invited speakers include Superintendent Lydia Swize, Board of Education President Stephanie Hult, Principal Kirk Adams, and two 8th grade students, Alix Oreck and David Shams.
Refreshments will be served in Fairview's cafeteria after the ceremony. School will adjourn immediately following.
Take a family outing on Sunday, July 20, to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival for a performance of Much Ado About Nothing. Order your tickets by calling the box office, 492-0554, or on line at http://www.tesser.com/csf. All students should be accompanied by an adult; there will be no direct supervision. This year's English II students and their parents are invited to meet at 7 PM on the green north of the Mary Rippon Theater. Bring a picnic dinner and join fellow students and Ms. Brakhage prior to an evening of Shakespeare under the stars. Tickets are $12, $20, or $32 for this performance.
The Organisation de Séjours Linguistiques et Culturels en Centres Américains is looking for families in the Boulder area to house French students between the ages of 13 and 18, July 5-27. A description of each student is available to help you select one appropriate for your family. You are expected to integrate the student into your regular family activities rather than trying to entertain him or her.
This is a good opportunity to learn more about France and French culture, as well as being an excellent way to make sure that your Summit student does not forget all his or her French over the summer. If you are interested, please leave your name and number with Ms. Bosch at Fairview, 499-7600.
Congratulations to all Summit participants in the 1997 Grand Concours French contest. Summit was the most highly placed middle school in the Colorado-Wyoming chapter. Many of Summit students scored higher than most of the high schoolers in the competition. Un travail excellent, tout le monde!
The Summit after-school intergenerational choir finished its last rehearsal for the year. Parents, students, and teachers enjoyed the time together and are looking forward to starting up again next school year. Thanks to Mr. Burkhart, an incredible musician and director, for sharing his time and talent. He made the experience enjoyable for all.
For complete information on these events, contact Jim Griffin, Colorado League of Charter Schools, 303-989-5356.
Six busloads of Summit students, teachers, and parents attended the Jason Project at the Denver Museum of Natural History on May 7. The focus of the day was a live broadcast from Yellowstone National Park featuring Robert Ballard, the man who found the Titanic and who now works to enliven science education. The school's participation was paid for by the EDS company, and nine EDS employees served as chaperones.
While Yellowstone was not a particularly exotic location to Boulderites, the Jason Project assembled an impressive amount of technological firepower to make science topics related to the park engaging and exciting. Summit student Alexis Wertz found it particularly so, for she conducted a conversation with Vice-President Al Gore over the Internet. Robert Ballard mistakenly introduced Alexis as "Alex" to the VP, and after a few humorous exchanges, Alexis got our number-two man straightened out.
Three EDS employees deserve special thanks for the trip. Summit parent Laura Chizzali headed up the EDS end of things, Kathy Marshall served as the project manager, and Robin Clark coordinated the actual visit. The generous EDS support of public education is most appreciated by the Summit community.
Colorado is having a Parent Institute on gifted and talented students on Friday evening, June 6, and Saturday all day, June 7, 1997, at the Holiday Inn at 120th and I-25 in north Denver. The Institute is co-sponsored by the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented, the National Association for Gifted Children, Adams 12 Five Star School District, the Association for Pre-Collegiate Talent and the Keystone Consortium, the University of Denver, the Gifted Development Center, the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development, and the Colorado Department of Education.
The purpose of the Institute is to provide information and assistance to parents of gifted and talented children and youth with regard to parenting issues, academic issues, advocacy and school relationships, stimulation of creativity, and support for the social/emotional needs of their children.
The Institute will include a leadership forum on Friday evening, and will include lawmakers, policymakers and representatives from commerce and industry. There will also be a reception, opportunity for networking, and student exhibits and demonstrations. On Saturday, nationally recognized experts in gifted education and the development of gifted children will make presentations, along with gifted education specialists from Colorado.
The registration fee is $30 per person, half price for a second family member. There are also special overnight rates at the Holiday Inn for people arriving from out of town.
For more information and to get registration materials, contact Julie Gonzales, 303-741-4764, fax 303-290-0807, e-mail arapcojg@netone.com.
Summit News will be published about monthly during the summer and mailed to the parents of incoming students.