February 11, 2000
Volume 9, No. 3
The Summit Board met on Monday, February 7 at 7 PM in the faculty workroom. The Board discussed a faculty Tools for Learning request for a Scantron bubble scanner. The extracurricular budget and a class imbalance issue were discussed. The Board was briefed on Staff Survey results, including the following points: the administration team is well-liked; the teachers are becoming more comfortable with interactions with parents and the Board; teacher attention is turning more to long term quality issues like maintaining our high standards, keeping our focus and planning for growth; teachers continue to be concerned about demands on their time and potential burnout.
Bernie Grove reported that Summit is one of just 13 middle schools in Colorado invited to apply for the prestigious John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award. Recent staff changes in the office are working well. Last week's Teacher Work Day was very productive, as teachers worked on departmental issues, accommodating 504 and special education needs, classroom management techniques, and other projects. Teachers and administrators appreciated the opportunity to work together on that day. Bernie and Amanda are working on structuring teacher peer observations.
The Board discussed issues of math placement in high schools for Summit graduates and implications for revisions in Summit's math curriculum. Appropriate placement is dependent more on a student's performance and aptitude than on course titles. For placement guidance, parents and eighth graders may need to talk to Summit math teachers as well as with math teachers from the high school. Math curriculum will be discussed at future meetings.
Hunter McDaniel asked board members to submit budget priority preferences so that the planning process for next year's budget can begin. Barbry Hogue reported that we now have approximately 243 applicants for next year. Incoming sixth graders make up 185 of this number. Thirty three of those 185 have priority. There are just 87 slots available without expansion. No seventh or eighth grade applicants have been offered enrollment at this time. Pending and future grant applications were discussed.
The Board then met in executive session to discuss site issues. Significant developments are occurring. The BVSD Board discussed Summit site issues in a work session last Thursday (February 3). It appears likely that the district will move us to Majestic Heights next year. It is uncertain whether this would be for one year or longer. Several Summit board members and administrators toured Majestic Heights on Monday evening (February 7). The building contains a sufficient number of classrooms to allow for moderate expansion, and would be a substantial improvement over our present quarters. It would require several improvements to be truly serviceable as a middle school. It lacks a suitable gymnasium/auditorium. Summit is discussing with the district ways to work together to meet these needs to see if Majestic Heights can be a long-term solution that works for both Summit and the BVSD. The matter will be discussed by the BVSD Board this Thursday (February 9).
The next Summit Board meeting will be held on Monday, February 21 at 7 PM in the faculty workroom.
Sophisticated voice analysis techniques have revealed the identity of the hackers who have been recording over messages on the Homework Hotline. Cease and desist with your animal noises, or face the consequences!
Seriously. Summit teachers spend a significant amount of time recording Homework Hotline information. If their efforts are for naught, they will stop providing this valuable service. Don't ruin it for everyone.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the CSAP tests will be given to all Summit students on March 7-9. Please do not plan vacations or medical appointments on those days.
All Summit families should be receiving in the mail their Tools For Learning packets for this year. Summit, in case you haven't noticed, is one of the very few schools that does not ask students and parents to sell things. In most such efforts, only 20 to 30 percent of the dollars actually come back to the school, and the community is nagged into purchasing over-priced items "to support a good cause."
Summit has a better way. To raise the $45,000 we need to keep Summit strong, we ask parents for contributions-cash or stock. No muss, no fuss. Our faculty and administrators do not take time away from their important job of educating students, and our children are not sent out into the streets to knock on the doors of strangers.
When you get your Tools For Learning appeal letter, please respond generously. Last year the average contribution was just over $300. Your dollars help pay for faculty salaries, books and other teaching materials, and extracurricular needs, as well. If you have any questions about this year's drive, please call Chairwoman Janet Christensen at 303-499-5786.
If you are a Summit parent who has applied for open enrollment into Fairview for your student and received a wait list letter, please call Jim Cederberg at 303-4999-0449 or 303-494-5647.
The deadline for submitting Amgen award nominations is February 25, 2000. If you would like to nominate more than one person, just make additional copies of the nomination form. Nominations can also be submitted on the Amgen website at: www.Amgen.com/TeacherAward.
The Summit Jazz Bands and Drumming up a Storm will give their Spring concert on March 14 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium. Students performing in the concert should arrive at 6:00 PM. Selections will include "Jammin' with Charlie," John Williams' "Trilogy," Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues," and Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va".
On March 21, the Summit Vocal and Orchestra concert will be held at 7:00 PM in the auditorium. Silver Rain, Starlight (a.k.a. Summit Choir), Summit Orchestra and Select Strings will perform their Spring Concert (on the first day of spring!).
A delegation of educators from Osaka, Japan visited Summit Middle School last month as part of their tour of successful U.S. charter middle school programs. Following a morning observing our students, our guests attended an elegant luncheon graciously hosted by Sheryl Tippit. Through their interpreter, the educators said they were especially impressed with the respect shown our teachers by the students, and by the focused intensity they saw in the classroom.
The charter school movement is in its infancy in Japan. The educators are interested in charter schools because they are locally initiated and separate from the Japanese bureaucracy, which they said makes it difficult for public schools to respond to rapidly changing needs. In Japan, we learned, teachers are forced to change schools at least every six years, and poor teachers are rarely dismissed. The delegation was looking at just a handful of successful charter schools and was particularly interested in how charter schools are founded, the ways in which parents initiate and participate in this process, and the impact of this partnership on the education of the students. They were fascinated by the political process that has led to the charter school movement in the US and asked many interesting questions.
The delegation, together with colleagues who had visited other two other Colorado charter schools, then hosted a reception at a Denver hotel which was attended by several Board members and Summit parents. The exchange of information and ideas was valuable for all involved, and it was a great honor to have been chosen from among the thousands of charter schools nationwide.
Parents of cast and crew members: watch for rehearsal schedules to come home by February 11. Scripts are available to purchase for $8 from Mr. Burkhart. Rehearsals begin on March 6. All male roles will rehearse "To Life" and the "Matchmaker" scene will be rehearsed and staged.
The production will require many helping hands - we still need more students to be on crew. We also need parents to help with costuming, props (old books, clothes that pass for 19th century Russian clothing, farm equipment, 19th century sewing machine, prayer shawls, etc.) and sets.
We are able to borrow set pieces from Broomfield High School's production, but help with reconstruction and adaptation is required. Carpenters (or people with Habitat for Humanity experience) are invited to help!
High School Registration begins during the week of February 22-25 at Summit. Fairview counselors will visit on Tuesday, February 22 during 7th period, and Boulder High counselors will visit on Wednesday, February 23, during 7th period to provide students with course booklets and registration instructions and materials. On Thursday, February 24, Summit core subject teachers will meet individually with their 8th grade students during each class period to offer course placement recommendations and to sign off on students' high school registration forms. After reviewing these recommendations, students should finalize their course selections and have their parents sign the forms.
On Tuesday, February 29, the Fairview counselors will return and on Thursday, March 1 the Boulder High counselors will return during 7th period to collect students' signed and completed registration forms. Students who do not bring their forms or who have not obtained the signatures of all of their core subject teachers and parents will have to complete these at a later date and deliver them to the high school they plan to attend. Students who will be attending high schools other than Fairview or Boulder High will need to make an appointment with the high school counselor at the school they plan to attend to complete the registration process.
The high schools listed below will be holding academic planning nights to assist 8th graders and their parents in choosing appropriate courses for 9th grade. I encourage all students and parents to attend these evenings to gather information about placement, course offerings, and registration procedures, as well as extra-curricular activities and athletics.
If you have any questions regarding high school registration, please call Ms. Bartley at 499-9511.
The next deadline for Summit News is February 21. Articles may be sent to LDParkhill@aol, or left in the box in the staff workroom.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) invites students to participate in its Earth Day Poster Contest. This year's theme is "Energy From the Sun Lights Up the New Millennium". NREL is the nation's premier lab for researching and developing renewable energy from the sun, wind and plant life. The artwork should focus on solar energy, which can be harnessed to generate electricity, heat water, and warm and light our buildings. Posters can use any medium and must be created or mounted on poster board (maximum size is 30"x40"). All the posters will be featured as part of the Earth Day celebration in Currigan Hall in Denver on April 14, 15, and 16, 2000. The first place winner in each category (K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 grades) will receive a $50 US savings bond. Contest registration forms must be completed by March 1, and all posters must be received at NREL by March 30, 2000. For more details and registration forms contact Ms. Molenaar.
The dates for the trip to Costa Rica will be Tuesday, June 14th to Sunday, June 25th. Ms. Donaton and Ms. Stough along with Robyn Fernandez from Educational Destinations invite students and parents to attend an informational meeting about the trip on Tuesday, February 15th at 7 PM in Ms. Stough's room. We will discuss the flight times and international travel preparations, distribute a detailed travel itinerary and payment schedule, and answer any questions. ¡Nos vemos!
The Summer Enrichment Program at the University of Northern Colorado will have two sessions, July 9-22 and July 23-August 5. Students who are selected for the program are enrolled in four 70-minute classes which encourage them to explore new topics and expand their interests. Recreational and social programs and time for relaxing and reflecting are also part of the program. Students stay in dorms on campus.
Nominations to the Summer Enrichment Program may be initiated by teachers, parents, or others who have knowledge of a student's abilities. The deadline for receipt of applications is May 15, 2000. To obtain an application or for more information, contact Teresa M. Mecham at 1-970-351-2683 or 1-970-351-1061(FAX) or e-mail: sep99@bentley.unco.edu..
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/univ_school/summit/
The Parent Professional Partnership is a BVSD program for Special Needs Students. Upcoming forums include:
Information is available from Kathy McBride at 303-447-5176 or 303-499-4781.
There continue to be cases of pertussis in Boulder County. Summit Middle School was recently notified that one student has been diagnosed with pertussis. There may be other students who have severe coughs attending school but who have not yet been diagnosed with pertussis. Boulder County Health Department and Summit Middle School want you to be aware of this situation.
Generally, with older children, the disease will begin with cold-like symptoms (runny nose, dry hacking cough) and will progress over the next few days or week into spells of coughing. Often, this coughing will cause the person to gag or vomit. The cough is usually worse at night and wakes the person up. Between the spells of coughing, the person may look and feel fine.
In infants and young children, especially those who have not had 3 doses of vaccine, pertussis may be very severe, resulting in hospitalization, seizures, long-term neurologic problems, and even death. Prevention efforts are therefore intended to prevent the spread to infants and young children, who could acquire the disease by contact with contagious older siblings and adults. Pertussis can occur in fully immunized individuals. Pertussis strikes older children and adults largely because the immunity gained from childhood immunizations wanes as children get older. Currently, there is not a vaccine licensed for children over the age of seven.
If your son or daughter has had a persistent cough or is developing signs or symptoms of pertussis, please contact your health care provider immediately. Please contact the school and Boulder County Health Department if your health care provider suspects your son or daughter has pertussis. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please call Boulder County Health Department's Pertussis Information Line at 303-441-1420.
Here is an explanation of school homework policy:
Students should not spend more that 90 minutes per night. This time should be budgeted in the following manner:
Long Term Assignments:
These are given the night before they are due. This explains the name "long term." It is a long term commitment to time that begins at 9:30 PM and ends at 11:50 PM or later. It is important that the whole family is involved in the project. It is imperative that at least one family member races to Walmart/Kmart for posterboard, and that at least one family member ends up in tears (does not have to be the student). One parent needs to stay up and complete the project. The other parent needs to call the school and leave a message that the student is out sick.
It is not ever necessary to have the student's name on the assignment.