December 14, 1998
Volume 6, No. 9
Attached to this newsletter you will find an enrollment form for currently enrolled students who will be returning to Summit next year. All of our students must fill out this form and return it to us before January 29, 1999. If we do not have an open enrollment form from returning students by January 29, 1999, we will not be able to hold a place for those students for next year.
There are times when family circumstances require that you take your child out of school for a week or more at a time. Teachers will try to help your students by giving them assignments before they leave when possible and giving them time to make up tests when they return. Nevertheless, they will miss many opportunities for learning. We cannot recreate class discussions, labs, and debates, so be prepared for the possibility that your students may not do as well during the term in which they miss class for an extended time. If your child is having any particular difficulty in school, then we urge you to extended absences.
All donors to the 1998-99 Tools for Learning fund drive will receive a plastic Summit sticker suitable for display in the windows of cars and trucks. Jeff Bradley explains, "Brian Wilson always said 'Be true to your school,' and that's just what we have in mind." The stickers, which were donated by three Summit fathers, are one way of enticing every household to take part in the annual fund drive. "This money enhances the education of every student," said Jeff. "We hope that every family can do its part."
By now all Summit households should have received the annual report from last year's Tools for Learning drive. If you did not get one, call Jeff Bradley at 303-499-4275. Jeff and Brian Hansen will soon be dropping the 1998-99 appeal letters in the mail. "Some of our parents want to make gifts in calendar year 1998 for tax purposes," notes Jeff Bradley. "Since Summit is a tax-deductible donation, making a gift can, for some families, be a means of reducing their taxes.”
"If December is not the best time for your household to make a gift, make a pledge instead. You can pay off the pledge anytime during the rest of the school year," said Jeff. "Just send in your card."
You received a letter from me which was supposed to contain information on options available for all high school choices. This letter left out the new Peak to Peak charter high school entirely, and also contained no brochures for the Pre-IB Program at Fairview or brochures for Peak to Peak. Those brochures will be available in the student information sessions for Peak to Peak and the Pre-IB Program that all of our eighth graders will attend. Be sure and look them over when your student brings them home.
It is time for 8th graders to be considering where they will be attending high school next year. By now, all 8th graders should know the name of their attendance area (neighborhood) high school. Also, if they intend to apply for open enrollment at a district high school outside of their attendance area, they will need to pick up applications and submit them to these schools during the open enrollment period, from January 4 through January 29.
During the week of January 4-8, Summit will be hosting the following informational events to help 8th graders learn about some of the specialty high school programs available to Boulder Valley School District students:
High school registration will occur in late February. The Fairview High School counselors will register students who will be attending Fairview on Monday, February 22, at Summit. Students who will be attending Boulder High will attend a field trip with Ms. Bartley on Wednesday, February 24, 1:30-3:00 PM, to register. Parents are invited to accompany their students on this field trip. For all other high schools, parents will need to call the high school and make arrangements for their child to register during the month of February.
Summit will continue to publicize information nights and registration procedures for these schools in future newsletters. If you have any questions about your student’s high school enrollment, please call Ms. Bartley in the counseling office at 303-499-9511.
The evening of December 10 rang with music at Summit as Mr. Burkhart and the Summit musicians gave their Winter Concert. Summit Jazz 1 performed two numbers including "Jammin’ With Charlie." The Summit Choir gave us three songs ending with "The Birth of the Blues." The Summit Beginning Strings performed "Little Waltz in G" and "Minuetto." The Beginning Band performed two numbers ending with "Sawmill Creek." The Orchestra performed "Branden-burg Concerto No. 6," and "Allegro and Pastorale," ending with Bizet's "Farandole." Jazz Band 2 gave fine performances with "God Bless the Child" and "Yardbird Suite." There was an unexpected gift from Jimmy Lynch, who beautifully played Chopin's "Nocturn #15, Opus 55, Number 1 in F Minor." The evening finished with Silver Rain singing "Seasons of Love" from RENT and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
The audience enjoyed all of the music very much and expressed their pleasure with loud applause and gracious assistance in putting away the folding chairs. Thank you for a wonderful night!
Congratulations to all of the Summit fall sport teams and athletes who exhibited an awesome display of talent and sportsmanship. The Huskies participated in four different sports this fall which included: 8th grade interscholastic football, coed 7th and 8th grade intramural flag football, 7th grade girls’ intramural basketball, and 7th grade boys’ intramural basketball.
The interscholastic combined Summit and Southern Hills football team finished with a record of four wins and two losses.
Summit hosted the coed flag football district tournament for all Boulder Valley Middle Schools on September 25. The two Summit Huskies teams finished with an undefeated record of 12 wins and no losses.
The 7th grade girls’ hoop team participated in their annual tournament which was hosted by Monarch Middle School on October 9. Teams from Summit, Southern Hills and Monarch played with much enthusiasm and energy. The Summit girls finished with an outstanding record of 11 wins and one loss.
On September 4, Broomfield Middle School hosted the 7th grade boys’ basketball tournament. Teams of Summit, Southern Hills, and Broomfield put on a great show of talent for all the fans to enjoy. The Huskies finished with a super record of 11 wins and one loss.
Mr. Adams and Ms. White are very proud of all the students who participate in our wonderful sports programs. The work ethic and the sportsmanship of all these young athletes are a reflection of the character they uphold in our community and school.
If anyone has a small spare microwave, the Summit office could certainly use it.
Also, we have a space heater left over from conferences which we would like to return. The tape identifying the owner untaped itself and fell off. Please call the office so that we can return your property (which you so kindly loaned in our hour of need) to you.
Parents, please put your child's name in coats, sweatshirts, shoes, packs, lunch bags, etc. (in other words, in anything that your child might take off or put down and forget). The local charities are grateful for our contributions, but we would like to be able to return items to their proper owners.
Parents and students interested in Summit Middle School are invited to tour the school with a Summit administrator. Tours are offered on the second Tuesday of each month (except in February), and will last approximately 45 minutes. At the end of the tour, there will be an opportunity for questions and answers.
Student/Parent Information Night will be held on Tuesday, January 12, from 7 to 8:30 PM. This is an excellent opportunity to meet Summit staff and Board members and to learn more about the Summit program. Summit’s mission, philosophy, and curriculum will be discussed, textbooks and work samples will be displayed, and presentations will be made by core-subject and elective teachers. All prospective students and their families are encouraged to attend this evening program.
After School Rehearsals:
Dress Rehearsals:
Performances:
Open Space Communications is sponsoring “Beyond Giftedness VI,” a conference for parents and educators who live and work with gifted children. The conference will be held on Friday, February 26, 1999, 8 AM - 4:30 PM, at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. Early Registration, before February 1, 1999, is $75. Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and materials. Contact Dorothy Knopper, 303-444-7020, or http:// www.openspacecomm.com, for more information.
On Saturday, 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!
Noted Boulder educator Gloria Frender is offering a five-session course on study skills for 6th to 12th graders. Topics include learning styles, time management, organization, note taking, test taking, and memory skills.
Classes will be held at Fairview High School, room 426, from 7 to 8:30 PM on the following dates: February 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 2. The cost for five sessions is $100 per student, text included. Accompanying parents may attend free. To register, call Ms. Frender, 303-530-3195.
The Colorado Department of Transportation will offer direct bus service to four resorts -- Vail, Keystone, Winter Park and Silver Creek -- on the following dates:
Buses depart from four metro area locations, including the Broomfield Park-and-Ride and the Heritage Square parking lot, at 7 AM and leave the resorts at 4 or 4:30 PM. The service will cost:
Reservations will be taken starting on December 15 at 303-271-1028
The Summit Board of Directors will meet at 7:00 PM on January 11 in the Summit faculty workroom. Parents are invited to attend, as always. Agendas are posted outside the Summit office.