November 16, 1998
Volume 6, No. 7
Thank you to all of our parents who provided lunch and dinner to the staff during conferences. It is such a help to have a meal and a minute to relax before conferences. The food was wonderful.
Thanks. Ms. Grove
Help us make parent/teacher conferences more parent friendly. As you know, some of our teachers have as many as 128 students each term. Because of these numbers, it is not possible to make appointments for all parents to see each teacher. Thus, we are experimenting with methods to allow parents to see the teachers who they most need to see. We believe your input will help us do that. (For example, parents suggested a different way to sign up for conferences on the first morning, and we decided to try it for the rest of the time. It worked better!) Please take a minute to share your ideas with us.
This year's Tools for Learning fund drive begins with the mailing of the annual report of last year's effort, which totaled $42,778.38. An additional $800 given by parents employed by IBM helped purchase computers and related equipment at a considerable discount. Gifts ranged from $10 to over $1,000 and came from 159 families. The report will list how the money was spent.
Soon after that, families will receive this year's appeal letter. Board Chairman Jim Cederberg emphasizes the importance of the fund drive to Summit. "Because we are a charter school," he says, "Summit receives only about 85 percent of the per-student funding that other middle schools get. Financial support from parents is a vital part of keeping Summit strong and responsive to student needs."
Fundraising Chairman Jeff Bradley notes that it is important for each Summit family to participate. "Every student in this school benefits from Tools for Learning, so we hope that every family can do its part. We don't have the students spend valuable study time selling merchandise or engaging in other fundraising activities."
"I hope everyone can respond generously to Tools for Learning," he concluded. "Summit is the best educational investment you will ever make."
Course selection sheets for second semester will be available soon.
Our special guest speaker at the November Meet & Mingle will be Hayden Williamson, M.S.W., a prevention specialist from the Boulder County Prevention Connection. She will be speaking on the “Asset” approach. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM in the meeting room at the George Reynolds Branch Library, located at the corner of Table Mesa Drive and Stanford Avenue. Handouts will be available for $1.00. Refreshments and desserts will be served.
Eighth grader Jenny Rood participated in the 11th International Post Cup Swimming Competition held in Cologne, Germany, on November 7. She won a silver medal in the 200 meter backstroke.
On Saturdays, November 21, December 5, and January 9, students will be able to get help with their science fair project at school. From 10:00 AM until about 4:30 PM, the Summit science teachers and several volunteers will be available in the science lab to help students with their science fair projects. This will be on a drop-in basis, but let the science teachers know ahead of time if you need certain equipment or materials. This year's science fair is on January 12, a month earlier than last year, so get started now!
Ms. Woolsey would appreciate any donations of cookbooks, colorful magazines with food articles, kitchen glassware and bakeware, plus any utensils you no longer use. Please check your bookshelves and kitchens and bring donations to the Summit office. Thank you.
This year the media center has a new vendor, the same one that supplies books to Bear Creek Elementary school. There will be a better selection of higher quality books. Because the Media Center has an established policy of not profiting monetarily from its book fairs, it will offer a discount of 10% off of the published prices. The book fair dates are November 23 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM and November 24 from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Please mark your calendars. Summit Middle School students will have an opportunity to visit the book fair during school hours on Tuesday, November 24, during their language arts class. Purchases may also be made at this time. Checks should be made out to Southern Hills Middle School.
Pottery, woodwork, artwork, needlecraft, toys, and baked goods will be sold at the Holiday Craft Fair on Thursday and Friday, December 3 and 4, 9 AM - 5 PM at the Boulder Valley Schools Education Center, 6500 Arapahoe. To sell your crafts, call the Boulder Valley Schools Bus Drivers Association at 303-447-5120.
Geography Awareness Week, November 15-21, will be celebrated with a puzzle design poster contest for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Puzzle designs may be created in crayon, colored pencils, markers, and/or paint. Completed designs must be 18 inches by 24 inches and must reflect the theme, “People, Places and Patterns: Geography Puts the Pieces Together.” Entries will be displayed at the State Geography Bee. See the office for an entry form.
Boulder Valley Rotary Club is collecting coats and books at the school.
As flu season approaches, we thought it wise to reprint the list of Parent-Teacher Homework Hotline extensions. Remember, this service is not intended to replace responsible student recording of assignments, but to provide parents with a way to keep track of their students’ schoolwork, and for students to keep up with assignments while out sick.
| Hotline | 303-938-9090 |
|
| Teacher | Subject | Category |
| Ammon | Math | 0669 |
| German | 0670 | |
| Avallone | English | 0671 |
| Blakemore | Spanish | 0683 |
| Brakhage | English | 0672 |
| Burkhart | Orchestra | 0667 |
| Band | 0688 | |
| Choir, Silver Rain | 0678 | |
| Frohbieter | Math, Science | 0676 |
| Hanckel | French | 0679 |
| Kapsak | Social Studies | 0673 |
| Koch | Social Studies | 0680 |
| McGarrity | English | 0668 |
| Molenaar | Science | 0677 |
| Mueller | Math | 0684 |
| Sikora | Science | 0681 |
| Stough | Spanish | 0682 |
| Thompson | Math | 0675 |
If you have an interest in the success of Summit and would like to be involved in the real decisions necessary to run your child’s school, consider running for the Board of Directors. This is work, but it is also a tremendous opportunity to genuinely make a difference. The position carries with it the tangible reward of seeing our students thrive. Elections for the Board are held in early April. Candidates should announce by the first of March. The “campaign” consists of written responses to a questionnaire and one or two candidate forums at school.
Board meetings are held approximately every two weeks, with occasional periods of more intense activity. Each Board member is expected to perform additional administrative duties. Virtually any expertise is helpful on the Board. Someone with budget management expertise is always needed. Think about tossing your hat in the ring. Call any Board member for more information.
Extracurricular activities currently offered at Summit include six interscholastic sports, two extramural sports, six intramural sports, a student musical, student concerts, a play, a talent show, Science Fair, Quiz Bowl, MathCounts, History Day, yearbook and student council. Because of the enthusiasm of teachers and students, these activities have grown. Summit’s Board views these extracurricular activities as a vital part of the school. We see a correlation between participation in extracurricular activities and success in school.
With the success of these programs, costs have escalated. Summit’s budget for extracurricular activities has increased by approximately two-thirds since our first year. In order to continue to support all of these activities, the Board voted on November 9 to increase revenues in the following ways, effective at the beginning of next semester:
In addition, the Board voted to apply approximately $4,000 from Tools For Learning to support the extracurricular budget.
It is Summit’s policy that no student or family is prevented from participating in any activity because of inability to pay. Anyone experiencing hardship due to any of these fees, please speak to Ms. Grove confidentially.
In making hiring decisions, Summit’s Board relies heavily on a hiring committee. This committee reviews resumes and application packets, conducts interviews, monitors teaching demonstrations, and makes recommendations to the Board. If you are interested, please call Christa Askins at 303-469-4034.
The Summit Board of Directors will meet at 7:00 PM on November 23, December 14, and January 11 in the Summit faculty workroom, sometimes erroneously referred to as the faculty lounge. Parents are invited to attend, as always.