October 25, 2001
Volume 12, No. 6
A regular meeting of the Summit Board was held on October 22. Summit parent Beth McClellan will coordinate taking orders for Summit logo items and presented her ideas for items to be available for students and families to purchase. Ms. Avallone discussed issues surrounding state and federal literacy mandates and how Summit is addressing the literacy needs of our students. The Board will consider prioritized staff requests for Tools for Learning allocations at its November 19 meeting. Parent/teacher conferences went smoothly. At the February conferences, we will try a new system that will allow at least some teachers to be available at all times, rather than having a block of time during the meal break when no teachers are available.
The Summit Board will meet with representatives of the Peak to Peak Board on October 29 to discuss topics of mutual interest. The first Tools for Learning mailing will go out to parents by the end of October. At the recommendation of the AAA committee, the Board approved dropping the reading comprehension subtest from the CTBS tests given to Summit students in the spring. This subtest provides little additional programmatic or longitudinal information, especially with the CSAP reading test now given to all of our students. The updated Reach for the Summit! informational flyer is being finalized and will be available for Summit's prospective student/parent information nights in November and December.
The next regular meeting of the Summit Board will be on November 5.
All regular Summit Board meetings are public meetings and we invite members of our community to attend at any time. During the first semester, remaining Board Meetings will be held on November 5 and 19, December 3 and 17, and January 7 and 22. Meetings begin at 6:30 pm and are held in Summit's library unless otherwise noted.
For the second year in a row, Summit has been designated a John Irwin School of Excellence. Summit is one of 130 schools in Colorado to receive this designation. Schools receiving this honor are selected based on the results of the 2001 CSAP tests, on which Summit achieved an academic performance rating of "excellent" as reported in the recently released school accountability report. New this year is a grant of $10,000 associated with the award. We expect to receive the grant in the near future and there will be an awards ceremony in January. The grant will be used to support student achievement, with specifics of how the funds will be allocated to be determined by the staff and Summit Board. Congratulations to our amazing teachers and to our fabulous students for your hard work and excellent results -- this award belongs to you!
Picture day is on Tuesday, October 30. Students need to bring their picture order forms to school on that day if they wish to order any school pictures
We are still in need of a cashier to work with the BVSD food service at lunch time at Summit. Give some thought to this position, either for yourself or for someone you might recommend. We appreciate any and all help in finding a cashier so that we can continue cafeteria lunch service for our students! Please call the Summit office with any referrals or inquiries.
Nature is a wonderful teacher. There are many profound and inspirational lessons that the natural world presents to us. Living in Colorado, we are indeed fortunate to enjoy natural beauty as an important part of our lives. One aspect of this beauty is being able to see Canadian geese each year on their annual migration. Watching geese flying in formation brings to our consciousness the following worthy lessons, which I feel have important application to our lives as Summit parents and as American citizens.
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "up lift" for the bird following. By flying in a "v" formation, the whole flock adds 7% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker because they are traveling on the trust of one another.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.
Lesson: If we had as much sense as a goose, we would join in formation with those who are headed where we want to go.
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing the leadership--with people, as with geese, interdependent with one another.
The geese in formation honk from behind in order to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure that our honking from behind is encouraging--not something less helpful.
When a goose gets sick or is shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow goose down to help provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she is able to fly again or dies. Then they will launch out on their own, with another formation, or to catch up with their own flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we'll stand by one another as they do.
World History began its Egypt unit on October 19. We need donations of regular size shoeboxes with lids, blue and green tempera paint in bottles, paintbrushes, saran wrap, paper towels, and white Kleenex. Please send in any Egypt artifacts, books, or pictures to share with the classes. Be sure to label all your items with your name.
If you would like to donate any of the above items by October 25, please bring them to Ms. Kapsak's room.
On Friday October 26, we need donations of blue and green tempera paint and small paintbrushes for our Nile map project. All students will need to bring salt dough for this project on this day. The recipe was sent home with students.
We will build an eight-foot tall pyramid for our classroom. We need the following donations:
If you can donate supplies or time, please contact Mrs. Kapsak.
Also, many thanks to Summit principal Mr. Finell, who spoke in all six sections of World History last week on ethical monotheism and Judaism. He was superb and the artifacts be brought in were beautiful! Mr. Finell is a fine scholar and a great teacher. We all thank him!!
Mr. Finell, could we please book you for October 2002 ...?
Special thanks also to the Rawat family. Rishi's grandmother, Dr. Rawat, came to 6th period World History. She is a medical doctor who has "delivered many, many babies!" She spoke to us about life in India, Hindu gods, festivals, and famous people of India. We are so lucky to have the beauty of her culture illuminated for us. Dr. Rawat and Rishi's mother, Mrs. Rawat, also brought in special food for us. Students in 6th period ate all of it, perhaps to the amazement of Dr. Rawat. We thank the Rawat family for their generosity and kindness extended to Summit students.
Thanks to Shelly Hendrick who works behind the scenes at Summit to help the Social Studies department in so many ways. She was last seen creating the Nile River for the journey ahead. Thanks, Shelly!
On one of the most charming unit tests I recently graded in World History, a student was writing about the amazing King Cyrus in an essay question. I was touched to see that he had written, "The best thing about King Cyrus was that he finally let the Jews go back to their hometown, Jerusalem!" The end to the Babylonian exile sounded fresh and wonderful to me in that student's clear mastery of the concept.
Be sure to check out http://summitweb.dhs.org:801 to view Summit students' fabulous web pages! This site will be updated weekly.
We would also like to thank Carol Baum for lending us her robotics kits. Thank you!
Our first concert of the school year is quickly approaching, on Thursday, November 8 at 7 pm at Boulder High. The doors open at 6:45 and we hope to see you there. We need several volunteers to help the evening run smoothly. Please call Joan Jacus at 303/499-3013 to offer your help.
Attention, parents of music students: We need your child's polo shirt order NOW! Students must wear a Summit-issued polo shirt for all musical performances. Order forms are available in the music room and scholarship support is available as needed. We need to know your child's shirt size. If you have any questions, please call Joan Jacus.
To provide additional support for student learning, Summit teachers provide tutoring time for extra help, study sessions, make-up work, and questions about assignments. For a schedule of tutoring help, please refer to a previous issue of the Summit News from this fall. The schedule is also available in the office.
The BVSD has recently provided a list of the information nights and open houses scheduled by area high schools. Mark your calendar with these events! I will be updating this list regularly, so if you are the parent of an 8th grader, please make sure you carefully read this section in each issue of the Summit News. Please note that these events take place at each individual high school.
Boulder High School - On January 10, Boulder High will offer its "BHS Showcase" program from 7 to 8:15 pm in the auditorium to discuss opportunities for students who are considering attending Boulder High.
On Tuesday, November 27, from 6:30 to 9 pm, Boulder High will host an evening program to inform students about the Advanced Placement Course (AP) Focus Program and to discuss the AP courses to be offered.
For more information about these programs, contact Eileen Calaway at 303/442-2430.
Broomfield High School - There will be an information session on Monday, December 3, at 7 pm in the library. For more information, contact Paulette Laging at 303/447-5376.
Centaurus High School - There will be an information session on Wednesday, December 5, at 6 pm. For more information, contact Anna Hurley at 303/665-9211.
Fairview High School - On Tuesday, December 4, Fairview will host a general information night in the auditorium at 7 pm.
On Thursday, December 6 at 7 pm, Fairview will offer "Is IB for Me?" This is an informative presentation for students and parents interested in learning about the honors-level Pre-International Baccalaureate (PIB) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
For more information about these programs, contact Jenny McCarthy at 303/499-7600.
Monarch High School - There will be an information session on Wednesday, November 28, in the auditorium, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Daytime informational events will also be held from 9 to 10:30 am on November 26, 27, 29, and 30 in room #L107. For more information, contact Jackie Hendricks at 303/665-5888.
New Vista High School - There will be information sessions on December 3 and 11, and January 10, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Events will also be held from 9 to 10:45 am on November 27 and 29, December 4, 6, 11, 13, and 18, and January 8, 10, 15, and 17. In addition, events will be held from 1:15 - 3:05 pm on December 4 and 13, and January 8, 10, 15, and 17. For more information, contact Diana McKnight at 303/447-5401.
Peak to Peak Charter School - High school program information nights will be held on Monday, November 12 ,and Wednesday, December 5, from 7 to 8:30 pm at Peak to Peak, 800 Merlin Drive in Lafayette. A similar event is also scheduled for Sunday, November 4, from 2:00 - 3:30 pm. For further information, please visit the Peak to Peak web site at www.peaktopeak.org or call 720/890-5907.
The Rocky Mountain Talent Search enables capable and motivated middle-school students to take a challenging SAT or ACT college entrance test not usually administered until high school. Students who have participated in the past have reported increased comfort and potential future score gains by receiving early experience with these types of tests.
To participate, a student must have maintained a 3.5 GPA, received a standardized test score in a major subject area of 90% or higher, or received a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher indicating that the student has demonstrated an outstanding performance in a major subject area.
The program offers information, forms, and assistance to help you select and register for the tests. Students are sent interpretive information to help them understand their scores. High test scores entitle students to participate in various academically-oriented summer programs. Students also receive a booklet describing these educational opportunities.
Ms. Bartley, Summit's counselor, will visited all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science classes to discuss the Talent Search and passed out application forms. In order to take the tests in January and February, applications must be received by Rocky Mountain Talent Search by November 12. Additional forms are available by calling Ms. Bartley at Summit. For further information, you may also call Rocky Mountain Talent Search at 303/871-2983.
A full and busy volunteer work day is on for this Saturday, October 27. We ask and encourage you to come by with tools in hand and a willingness to pitch in. Please call Tom Mahowald at 303/543-8903 to sign up for the Saturday work crew, or reach him by e-mail at <t.mahowald@summitmiddleschool.org>.
Here is your friendly reminder to turn clocks back one hour this weekend! Helpful trivia: note that it is Daylight Saving (singular) Time, NOT Daylight Savings Time. We are saving daylight, so it is singular and not plural.
Many thanks to our Hospitality co-chairs, Loretta Melhado and Marlene Long for the great job they did organizing meals for our teachers and staff during conference days. Thank you again to all the parents who so generously contributed their delicious dishes and treats to make the teachers' dinner and luncheon a success: Carol Baum, Julie Oatman, Elizabeth Evans, Leslie Grady, Gloria August, Leslie Kaniecki, Sue Salinger, Debbie Bridwell, Diane Chicoine, Kathleen Brewer, Susan Karpatkin, Cathy Reisfield, Cindy Jarmon, Jan Markham, Linda Levy, Renee Von Roenn, Denise McIntyre, Connie Harmon, Jenny Lucas, Roxy Walker. We also appreciate the King Soopers donation of money for the flowers.
We also thank Paul Smith for coming to the rescue and securing the whiteboard in the technology room so that it wouldn't fall on an unsuspecting student (or teacher!).
The Summit Science Fair organizing committee is looking for individuals to judge projects for Summit's Science Fair on Thursday, January 31. These individuals may be parents, colleagues, or other community members with backgrounds in any of the seven content areas: math and computers, zoology, botany, earth and environment, physical sciences, health and behavior, and engineering. Our goal is to identify 60 judges who will be available to review student projects during all or part of the day (from 8 am to 3 pm). A large number of students will participate in this year's fair, and we anticipate that there will be 170-180 projects.
Many thanks to the parents who indicated on their parent volunteer form that they are willing to judge Science Fair projects. We will be contacting you soon! For more information, contact Pete Simpson at psimpson@ideo.com.
Summit's library has an ongoing wish list of books we would like to purchase in order to expand and improve our library collection. Parents are encouraged to buy books for the school library as a way of acknowledging a special person or event. Parents may purchase a book from the wish list in honor of their child's birthday, to pay tribute to a teacher, in appreciation of a parent, or in memory of a friend or family member, for example.
A book may be purchased in one of two ways. You can purchase the book directly and give it to the library, or you can write a check to Summit for the amount of the book and let Summit purchase the book on your behalf. Summit will send notification to the person in whose honor you have purchased the book. You will also receive a letter of acknowledgement. Finally, we will place a bookplate on the book's inside cover to indicate who purchased the book and in whose honor it was donated.
The wish list is available in the school library. Please speak to Mrs. Woods, Summit's librarian, if you are interested in purchasing a book from the list. You will find her in our library on Mondays from 8:10 to 3:10, Wednesdays from 9:10 to 3:10, and Fridays from 8:10 to 3:10. Your support of Summit's library, as always, is greatly appreciated.
Watch your mailbox soon for an introductory letter about Tools for Learning (TFL). The 2001-2002 campaign official kick off is in October. As in past years, one goal of our fund-raising campaign is participation by 100% of our Summit families. Please contact Tom Mahowald, TFL chair, at 303/543-8903 or by e-mail at <t.mahowald@summitmiddleschool.org> for details. Tom is also seeking volunteer help with this important Summit project. Thank you!
Monthly Scheduled Tours - Parents and students interested in Summit's program are invited to tour the school with a Summit administrator. Each tour begins at 8:45 am and at the end of each tour there will be time for questions and answers. Tours are by appointment only.
Please call the Summit office at 303/499-9511 to schedule a tour. The next school tour of the year will be on November 14.
Student/Parent Information Nights - These evenings are an excellent opportunity to meet Summit staff and board members to learn more about Summit. The mission, philosophy, and curriculum will be discussed, textbooks and samples of student work will be on display, and core subject and elective class teachers will give brief presentations. Prospective students and their parents are encouraged to attend. Student/Parent Information Nights will be held on Thursday, November 8, and on Wednesday, December 5, from 7 to 8:30 pm.
The Summit yearbook staff needs cameras -- do you have one you could donate for us to use? Bring it by the Summit office anytime.
Order your 2002 yearbook today. The price will increase on orders received after October 26.
Attention 8th grade parents and students: we need a baby picture of your 8th grader for the 2002 yearbook. All photos must be labeled, and let us know if you need the photo returned. There is a box in the hallway outside the Summit office for photos. Please deposit them no later than Tuesday, November 6.
Are there any amateur (or professional) photographers out there? We need your help. If you like taking pictures, this will be fun for you and a great way to help Summit's yearbook staff. Also, if anyone out there has photos of Summit students, we sure could use them. Just deposit them in the photo box on the table outside the school office. Please be sure to identify who is in the picture, their grade, and a brief description of the photo's content. Sorry, but once submitted they cannot be returned. Questions? Call Joan Jacus, yearbook advisor, at 303/499-3013.
There is a $60 PARTICIPATION FEE per sport or a maximum of $150 per student / $200 per family each year for interscholastic sports.
Participation fee for intramurals is $20 per sport.
A student asked Mr. Alcantara the other day if he was teaching Excessive Algebra next term. Mr. Alcantara said he was not but that he thought Coach might be offering that one for excessive students.
If you heard something funny or heart warming at Summit this week, send it to: <tomwhiteoc@msn.com>.
We may never know …
Which member of the Summit staff once scored a basket for the opposing team in a junior high school basketball game?
No one has guessed yet! Here's a clue: It's a female!
Send your guess to tomwhiteoc@msn.com today! Get a free trip to the school store! Good luck!
Q. Why don't witches like to ride their brooms when they're angry?
A. They're afraid of flying off the handle!
Q. Where do baby ghosts go during the day?
A. Day-scare centers.
Q. Who did Frankenstein take to the prom?
A. His ghoul friend.
Q. What do you get when you cross Bambi with a ghost?
A. Bamboo.
Q. What kind of mistakes do spooks make?
A. Boo boos.
Q. Why couldn't Dracula's wife get to sleep?
A. Because of his coffin.
Q. Why wasn't there any food left after the monster party?
A. Because everyone was a goblin!
Q. How did the ghost patch his sheet?
A. With a pumpkin patch.
Q. What is as sharp as a vampire's fang?
A. His other fang.
Q. What is a mummy's favorite type of music?
A. Wrap!
Q. Where does a ghost go on Saturday night?
A. Anywhere where he can boo-gie.
Q. What's it like to be kissed by a vampire?
A. It's a pain in the neck.
Q. Why don't mummies take vacations?
A. They're afraid they'll relax and unwind.
The Longmont Youth Symphony is an orchestra of middle and high school aged students that works under the guidance of professional musicians and members of the Longmont Symphony Orchestra. The youth symphony season runs from August through May, with 5 or 6 performances during the season. The first concert of the season is on Saturday, November 3 at Longmont High School, at 7:30 pm. Tickets will be available at the door.
Longmont Youth Symphony activities include weekly rehearsals, playing of standard classic repertoire, professional guidance and a small ensemble program, and an exceptional fall weekend retreat. The symphony provides an excellent opportunity for young musicians to participate in a wider music community that complements private lessons and their participation in music classes at school. Mid-season auditions will be held on January 12, 2002. For more information or to schedule an audition, please call 303/651-0167.
Super Science Saturday will be held at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, on October 27, from 10 am to 4 pm. Science workshops, fractiles and wedgits, free play, super science demos, and other activities and special exhibits will be featured. Admission is free! For further information, please call 303/497-1185 or log onto the web at: <www.ucar.edu/outreach/sss/schedule.html>.
The 25th annual University of Colorado at Boulder Wizards Program is an informal introduction to astronomy, chemistry and physics intended primarily for students in grades 5 through 9. Each show lasts about an hour and includes several lively demonstration experiments.
Free parking is available in lots 169, 308, 378, 396, and 436 on the CU campus. Parking is also available for a nominal fee in the Euclid parking structure. Shows are usually the last Saturday of each month, September through June. All shows begin at 9:30 am. If you have a special access need or disability, please notify the CU Physics Office, 303/492-6952, a few days in advance of the show. The best wheelchair access to Duane Physics is through the east doors.
The next program is on October 27, entitled Biology of Muscles in Motion, presented by Professors Todd Gleeson and Mark Osadjan in Chemistry 140.
BVSD's Lifelong Learning Program presents "How Computers Affect Your Child's Brain", a lecture by Jane Healy, on Thursday, November 15, 6:30-8:30 pm, Boulder High Auditorium. Admission is $15.
This lecture will explore the effects of digital tools at different ages and stages of development. Positive and negative applications will be considered and practical steps will be suggested for deploying technology effectively at home and school.
Jane's award winning books include: Your Child's Growing Mind: A Guide to Learning and Brain Development from Birth to Adolescence, and Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can Do About It. Books will be available at the lecture and 10% of sales will be donated to the BVSD PTA Equity Fund.
Please be sure that your child is observing the dress code at Summit! The dress code is printed here for your information. Thank you for your cooperation.
Student Dress:
Thanks to Summit parents Paul Atcheson and Ron Harmon for volunteering to represent Summit at District Parent Council meetings this year. The DPC meets once a month and each session gives school representatives the opportunity to address questions to and discuss school issues directly with Dr. George Garcia, BVSD Superintendent of Schools. It also allows schools to share ideas and learn about activities and issues at other schools in the district. Paul and Ron will report on the DPC meetings through Summit's AAA committee.
Please contact one of them if you have a question or issue to raise at DPC, or plan to attend a meeting yourself as all meetings are also open to other school community members.
Each student should now have received a copy of the new 2001-2002 Summit directory. If your family needs an additional copy, there are extras available for purchase at $2 each in the Summit office.
Don't forget how much fun it is to buy grocery certificates. Grocery certificates are available in $25 increments and can be used at Safeway and King Soopers as well as at other local grocery stores.
If you shop at Albertsons, it's even easier to support the school. Stop by the school office and pick up your Albertsons card. Present the card each time you shop there and Summit will receive a percentage of your sales.
Grocery certificates are available for purchase by stopping by the office or by calling Joan Jacus at 303/499-3013 or, for North Boulder, Diane Chicoine at 303/581-0754. Thank you!
Families and students are reminded that there is a convenient RTD bus stop on Table Mesa Drive, just a block north of Summit. Special reduced rate twelve-month RTD passes for students are available for just $62.50 for a full year by contacting RTD at 303/299-6464. A new pass is mailed directly to the student each month, and the program extends through the summer months as well.
Upcoming deadlines for Summit News are November 5, November 19, and December 3 (all Mondays). We welcome articles contributed by our Summit staff and parents! Articles may be sent to <tomwhiteoc@msn.com>, or place them in the Summit News folder in the Summit office.
To save on both paper and the cost of postage, we would like to send out by e-mail as many copies of the Summit News as possible. If you prefer to receive future issues of Summit News by e-mail, please send a message to Tom Mahowald at <t.mahowald@summitmiddleschool.org>.
To take a look at back issues of Summit News as well as a wide variety of information about Summit and links to other charter school and education information, refer to Summit's website via the handy, new, improved, easier website address: <http://www.summitmiddleschool.org>
We need the rocks in the road.