October 5, 1998
Volume 6, No. 4
Oct. 12: Summit Charter Day, no school
Oct. 13: Yearbook photo retakes
Oct. 13: School tours for prospective students, 8:10 AM
Oct. 13-16: Talent show tryouts
Oct. 21: Meet & Mingle with Dr. Sikora, George Reynolds Branch Library,
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Oct. 22: Summit concert
Oct. 30: All-campus dance, 3:15-5:00 PM, sponsored by Southern Hills
Nov. 3: End of 1st quarter grading period
Students who intend to have their photographs retaken must return their original proofs to the photographer on retake day. Students who were absent on the original photo date may have a picture taken on retake day if they provide a note from their parents.
Do you know a senior citizen who would enjoy sharing their life skills and educational experiences with the students at Summit? The Senior Tax Exchange Partnership (STEP) allows Boulder Valley School District residents, who are at least 55 years old, to earn up to $300 working at the school. Summit has been funded for a STEP participant but does not have any applicants yet. Applications are due before October 16, 1998.
Please see Judy in the office for applications or call Annette Mainland, the District STEP coordinator, at 303-447-5137 for more information.
By popular demand, more copies of the "Best of Summit '98" compact disk will be produced. Send a check for $12 in an envelope with the student's name on the front to the Summit office by Friday, October 16.
Dr. Sharon Sikora will give a mini-lesson on water molecules and talk about the science fair research reports and projects at the Meet & Mingle on Wednesday, October 21st. The gathering is scheduled from 7:00 - 8:30 PM in the meeting room at the George Reynolds Branch Library, located at the corner of Table Mesa Drive and Stanford Avenue.
Mid-quarter progress reports are one of several ways that Summit teachers communicate with parents about students in their classes. Generally, the reports are sent only for students whose grades in a specific class are low, or when teachers feel there has been a significant downturn in a student's performance. Occasionally, however, teachers will send a progress report for other reasons. For example, a teacher may notify parents that a student has made a notable improvement in his or her progress in the class.
For this quarter, progress reports were mailed on October 1. Parents who have concerns or questions about how their student is doing in a specific class should call and leave a message for their student's teacher via the new Bridgecom voice mail system. Parents with general concerns about how their student is doing in the Summit program, may call Ms. Bartley, the counselor, at 303-499-9511.
Dr. Sharon Sikora will be going to Washington, D.C., from October 7th through 10th as a guest of the Department of Education along with a group of select teachers. She has been invited as an outstanding educator to participate in a forum on educational reform, and meet congressional representatives. We are very proud that Dr. Sikora was chosen to participate.
Information is included with this newsletter about the Rocky Mountain Talent Search. This program enables capable and motivated middle-school students to take a challenging SAT or ACT college entrance test not usually administered until high school. High test scores entitle students to participate in various academically-oriented summer programs. For more information, you may call Ms. Bartley, the Summit counselor, at 303-499-9511
Please send e-mail for Bernie Grove to groveb@bvsd.k12.co.us.
The Summit Board of Directors will meet at 7:00 PM on October 19th and November 2nd in the staff workroom. Parents are invited to attend, as always.
Now that we are a few weeks into the new school year, it’s time for a brief update on parent volunteer activities and for several thank-yous. Most importantly, thanks to everyone who returned the volunteer survey form. Based on the surveys, parent volunteers are providing teacher and staff support every day of the week. Our teachers and staff are very appreciative, and true to their word, are keeping workroom volunteers busy! Margaret McKibbin does an excellent job of organization and training for our workroom volunteers. Also, teachers and office staff now have lists of parent names, specifically sorted by areas of interest and skills, so be ready for a call to request your help with a project or two.
Belated thanks for parent and student help on Back to School Night --- from Cindy Cederberg and the cookie crew for refreshments, to student council members who served as campus guides for parents trying to get to class on time. Special thanks to Michael Josey, the volunteer "designated shopper" for Mr. Mueller’s Applied Technology classes, and to Margie Riksheim for many hours spent organizing the sheet music library system for Mr. Burkhart’s instrumental music students. We would also like to thank Cinda Graubard who has agreed to be volunteer coordinator for the science teachers.
Most of you who offered your help with vision and hearing screening on October 27 will get a call soon about that day’s schedule. If you don’t get a call, it’s because we had far more volunteers than we have time slots to fill. Thanks for your interest, and we’ll find a way to keep you involved in other activities through the year.
Our first Meet & Mingle, held on September 16, was a congenial event for all who attended. We hope to see more parents at future Meet & Mingles (see separate article) for conversation about Summit, informal programs, and parent support. Thanks to Janet Christensen for keeping these events on track and on the calendar.
Our PVC goal this year is to draw in as many parents as possible through a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. We have just over 100 surveys returned to us, a terrific response representing most of our Summit families. However, if that form is still on your desk or kitchen counter, we encourage you to complete the survey and let us know how you are available to help this year. If you need another survey form, or have any questions about volunteering at Summit, please call any of us on the Parent Volunteer Committee.
Summit is looking for a used 486 PC with a monitor for teacher use. If anyone has one available, please call Ray Mueller or Bernie Grove.
The Boulder County Branch of the American Red Cross is offering a baby-sitting class for young people, ages 11 and older. This class will provide information on job responsibilities, providing safe care, elementary first aid, rescue breathing, and basic child care skills (diapering and feeding).
The next class will be held on October 12, from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, at the Boulder County Branch, 5378 Sterling Drive, Boulder. The cost is $40 which includes a manual and certificate. Pre-registration is required. Call 303-442-0577 for more information.
Thank you all for your patience as we learn to use the new voice messaging system. It was a challenge to set up the system. We have continued to have isolated problems with the system. Specifically, Mr. McGarrity's mailbox has not been taking messages. We hope to have the problems fixed soon. If you have had difficulty we apologize. Also, please remember that all calls won't be returned immediately. Some teachers have 130 students and will respond as quickly as they can.
Jim Delisle of Kent State University, nationally recognized expert in the field of gifted education, author of Biographies of Everyday Kids, Gifted Children Speak Out and Guiding the Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Youth, will be presenting on “Meeting the Social/Emotional Needs of GT Children,” on Thursday, October 15th, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Baker Middle School, 574 W. 6th Avenue, Denver. The parking lot is on the corner of 6th and Delaware. There is no cost for this program which is co-sponsored by the BVSD TAG Office and the Denver Challenge Program.
Parenting our daughters is an interactive, information-rich seminar for parents and other adults who influence girls. The sessions provide background information about raising girls, preparing them for educational opportunities and giving them positive messages to build their self-esteem and sense of competence. The seminar material also trains adults to teach girls to become mastery-oriented learners who persist when faced with challenges and frustration. The curriculum was developed for the national nonprofit organization Girls Count by Nicky Marone. The seminar will be held at Baseline Middle School, Room 507, on Thursdays, October 14 and 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. The cost is $12, which includes materials. Some scholarships are available. For more information, contact Christine Palafox at 303-443-4779.
Boulder Valley Rotary Club will be collecting coats and books starting October 21. Watch for information.
The 22nd annual CU Wizards program is an informal introduction to astronomy, chemistry and physics, intended primarily for students in grades 5 through 9. Each program will last about an hour and will include several lively demonstration experiments.
Come to the University of Colorado at Boulder. See below for specific building and room. There is FREE PARKING ONLY in LOTS 169, 378, 396, and 436.* There is also parking available for a nominal fee in the Euclid parking structure.
Shows are usually the last Saturday of each month, September through June. Please note that the June show is NOT on the last Saturday. All shows begin at 9:30 AM, EXCEPT the June show which begins at 10:00.
* Please note Lot #308 will be available in addition to the other lots on June 19.
** After January 1, 1999, Duane Physics Room G-030 will be renumbered to G-1B30.
If you have a special need or disability, please notify the Physics Office, 303-492-6952, a few days in advance of the show you will be attending. Best wheelchair access to Duane Physics is through the east doors.
One of the resources available to Summit parents and students is the Middle School Family Therapy Program. This program is sponsored jointly by the City of Boulder and the Mental Health Center of Boulder County and offers Southern Hills and Summit 20 hours a week of therapeutic services. The Middle School Family Therapist at Summit is Tom Fox. Mr. Fox has a degree in education as well as psychology. He has worked with children and adolescents for over 15 years in various settings, from schools to hospitals to residential treatment centers.
Mr. Fox is available to consult with families about individual and family concerns and can meet with children and families up to three times on an informal basis. If a family wants ongoing counseling, they can meet regularly on a formal basis where a sliding scale fee is assessed and insurance can be accepted. No one is turned away for lack of ability to pay. Mr. Fox can only meet with students only when parental permission has been established. All information discussed in any meetings is confidential. For more information, you may leave a message for Mr. Fox at 303-413-6331, or speak with Ms. Bartley, Summit counselor.
Summit students (and their families) are being offered a wonderful opportunity to learn history “hands on” with an educational tour of the Boston area next June 25-29. Some highlights of the trip include a walking tour of Boston, the John Hancock Observatory, an optional theater excursion, guided sightseeing of Boston and Cambridge, Faneuil Hall, an optional excursion to Lexington and Concord, a visit to the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, a tour of Plymouth Harbor and a visit to Plymouth Plantation and the Mayflower II, and a walking tour of Salem.
This educational trip is geared specifically for students and is offered through EF Explore America, which has been in business for over thirty years. Your group leader will be Nancy Laidlaw, a teacher and Summit parent. The cost is extremely reasonable. To receive a brochure with further details please contact Nancy Laidlaw, 303-665-6784.
The Boulder County Sheriff's Department Explorer Cadet Post will be hosting a haunted house with candy, food, games, music, dancing, and numerous other activities at the old Montgomery Ward site in the Crossroads Mall. Admission is $5 (kids under five years old and senior citizens admitted free). Food is purchased separately. The dates are October 22, 25, 28 and 29 from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM, October 23 and 24 from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM, October 30 from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM and October 31 from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM.