April 19, 2002
Volume 13, No. 7
Dr. Burkhart continues his recovery and we wish him and his family well. Here's how you can best help them:
We are providing food to the other Burkhart household, Mom Deborah and several of the kids. Linda Parkhill and Debbie Feyh have been asked to organize several volunteers to continue for several weeks, as needed. Many thanks to Linda and Debbie for their assistance in this and other aspects of our community response.
The Burkharts may need this kind of support for quite some time. Please coordinate support of this type through Debbie at 303-543-8646 or Linda at 303-665-9355.
An account is set up at 1st Bank for the Burkhart Family Recovery Fund. Donations payable to that fund can be left in a box at the Summit office and also can be deposited at any 1st Bank location (account in Connie Burkhart's name, no. 868-613-1573). Checks are preferred for donations left at school (cash should be in a sealed envelope, please). These are personal gifts to the Burkhart family, and are being collected at school as a convenience to Summit families and a gesture of Summit's support for Dr. Burkhart and his family, but do not involve school funds. As such, these donations are not tax deductible.
There was a regular Board meeting on April 15. The Board welcomed a presentation by Ms. Donaton, Ms. Phelps, and Mr. Teasdale about Summit's science fair success this year and suggestions for making it more manageable next year. We will continue checking options for better flooring and noise abatement in the multipurpose room. IBM families have the opportunity to assist in replacement of computer lab equipment through structured donations (see article below). Tools For Learning reminders will be sent soon to families that still have not contributed this year, and a letter will also be sent to alumni families.
The Board approved funds for a volunteer recognition event on June 1, being coordinated by Sally Benjamin and Risa Heywood. Teacher and staff contract offers are being presented this week, with the Board's hope that all will return to Summit next year. The Board approved a draft calendar for 2002-03, subject to review and comments from the staff. Revised Summit policies specifying guidelines for school day and school year length were adopted.
The Board adopted the preliminary budget for 2002-03, pending final information from the state legislature regarding per pupil funding. Mr. Finell will help convene a "Founders of Summit" group before the end of the school year. Board members and staff have begun the process of reviewing and updating information for inclusion in this year's Annual Report to BVSD and our Summit community. The Board agreed there should be a response in the Daily Camera, in concert with Peak to Peak and perhaps other local charter schools, to information presented to the BVSD board about how charter schools "cost" the district. A regular Board meeting and a brief meeting of Supporters of Summit will be held on April 29.
All regular Summit Board meetings are public meetings and we welcome guests from the community at any time. The next regular Board meetings will be on April 29, May 13, and May 28. Meetings are held in Summit's library and begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Several parents of 6th and 7th graders are needed to help at this year's graduation ceremony so the 8th grade parents can enjoy this special day with their graduating students and families.
Parents are needed to supervise students before and during the event, and to help with serving refreshments after the ceremony. To volunteer for either job, please call Margaret Sparks at 303-604-2441.
Summit's Shine Night, highlighting student excellence in all subject areas, will be on May 21.
A warm welcome to Ms. Rebecca Gauss, who will be our music teacher for the remainder of the school year. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Theater and has an extensive background in vocal and instrumental music, music performance, and theater direction and performance. She has even taught English grammar in China and traveled in Russia to research her dissertation topic. Ms. Gauss has her own personal Summit connection, as her younger daughter was an 8th grader at Summit the first school year Summit was open, 1996-1997.
We welcome Ms. Gauss to Summit and know that she will enjoy the full support of our students, families and staff as she teaches music in the coming weeks. Look for her in the music portable and directing rehearsals for South Pacific!
Summit has the opportunity to obtain new computers for our computer lab through a special IBM employees program. Whether or not you have already made a Tools For Learning donation to Summit this school year, please call Tom Mahowald at 303-543-8903 or Hunter McDaniel at 303-530-1840 to identify yourself as an IBM'er and to learn more about this opportunity. Thank you!
The History Department is proud to send four 7th graders on to the State History Day competition, to be held at CU on Saturday, April 27. These students qualified for judging at the state level, based on judging at the district competition held earlier in April:
All of the projects relate to this year's theme of Revolution, Reaction and Reform in History. Four other Summit students participated at the district competition: Quentin Karpilow, Jake Barba, Joey Baum, and John Boylston.
Congratulations to all that participated and thank you for representing Summit Middle School so well!
The Spanish teachers are proud to announce the results of the National Spanish Exam for the state of Colorado. Summit Middle School students swept the top three places in Level 01 (Beginning) and Level 1, as well as the top two places in Level 1, Outside Experience (our only two students in this category). Many more students scored exceptionally well. National results will be announced later.
Congratulations to all of you!
Congratulations to Elizabeth Fleagle, Robert Glissman, Anna Hermann, Daniel Weidlein, and Emily Woods for their participation at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair in Fort Collins, held April 11-13. Summit brought home nine top awards and over $600 in special awards. Following is a list of specific awards received by Summit students:
Mr. McGarrity, beloved English teacher at Summit, has been selected for inclusion in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2002. Who's Who honors a select 5% of the nation's teachers. Teachers are nominated by former students who have achieved a high level of academic excellence and recognition. These students are invited to nominate one teacher from their entire academic experience. The student who nominated Mr. McGarrity commented, "you made a difference in my life".
We can all attest to the truth of that statement! We see how this entire faculty makes a difference in our kids' lives everyday. Congratulations to Mr. McGarrity and thanks to all Summit faculty members. They could all be nominated for an honor like this.
The Journalism class is looking for volunteers to help with upcoming issues of the student newspaper. Anyone interested in helping students edit documents or work on design and layout may contact Ms. Kolanowski at school.
Hello! I am calling out to new volunteers and announcing a change in plans. I would like to meet with all volunteers interested in working on the set design for South Pacific on Thursday, April 25 at 3:15 pm in the Art room at Summit. The meeting will last about 30 minutes. We will be discussing materials and conducting a test of your ability to use a skill saw in your right hand and a paintbrush in your left! We will not be getting messy ... yet. The official workdays for the South Pacific Set design will be May 4 and May 11 at Summit.
It's not too late to help with other aspects of the play as well. We need volunteers to help with makeup, collecting props, and collecting costumes. No experience is necessary -- we will train you. Please call Joan Jacus at 303-499-3013 with questions and to sign up today.
Summit 7th grader Luke Rothschild landed a lead role in Longmont Theatre Company's "Lost in Yonkers" by Neil Simon. The play will run the first three weekends in May, at 513 Main Street in Longmont. For tickets, please call 303-772-5200. Way to go, Luke, and break a leg!
On May 3 the Spanish Club will host its first-ever dance. There will be Spanish music (as well as English), several piñatas to break, Spanish food, a raffle for Cinco de Mayo shirts, and a movie. The dance will start at 3:15 pm (right after school) and end at 5 pm. Admission is $2 and food ranges from $0.25 to $2. Please put this event on your calendars!!
Want to learn more about Japan and Japanese culture? Host a Japanese high school girl or teacher for 3 weeks in your home. Twenty-five high school aged girls (13-17 years old) come to Boulder from Japan to learn about our customs and culture by staying with families in our community. While they are here, the girls are involved in a program of classes on the CU campus and field trips during the week from 8:30 am to 5 pm. I am looking for families in the Boulder area who would welcome an international experience this summer, by hosting a student or teacher from July 21 to August 10. For more information, contact Diana Falloon at 303-530-9433 or dsfalloon@attbi.com .
How would YOU like to be involved in selecting your child's teachers? How about volunteering to work on the Summit Hiring Committee? This very important committee is made up of parents and representative staff members and is responsible for making hiring recommendations to the Summit Board. Our teachers are the heart and soul of Summit, and we carefully consider the selection of each and every one.
Specific hiring committee tasks include:
We want to be ready to start our hiring activities as soon as possible. We will hold the first committee meeting before the end of April, so now is the time to volunteer! If you are interested, please call Barbry at 303-665-3798 or Risa at 303-661-0282.
There are a couple of woodworking projects at Summit that can use the weekend skills of parents handy with a hammer and saw. We need to complete installation of the large TV/computer monitor in the library and build a shelf for auxiliary equipment. This is clearly a project for someone with tools and the willingness to use them! Please give Mr. Finell a call at 303-499-9511 for details and scheduling.
Students are required to have a signed permission slip in order to participate in the FUN NIGHT this Saturday evening and there is a second one to be signed if using the climbing wall. Bring your signed and completed permission slip(s) with you the night of the event. It's $10 for general admission and $5 to use the climbing wall. If paying by check (recommended method), make it payable to Summit Middle School. Students should bring these the night of the event only. For safety reasons, once signed in, students may only leave with the adult designated on the permission slip. Students are to remain inside the center until the designated adult comes for them. You don't want to miss this Summit fun event!
Space is limited at the climbing wall, so don't arrive late if you want to climb. Don't forget your bathing suit and towel and clothes for volleyball and/or basketball. You will qualify for a discount if you bring an item(s) for the "SHOWERS TO GO " program! And lastly, don't forget to check out before leaving the Rec Center at the end of the evening so that we can account for everyone.
If anyone is interested in taking photographs of the event, we would greatly appreciate it! There are numerous fun and interesting tasks needing attention before or during the event that you don't want to miss out on. Please call Merry Mungo at 303-494-5143 for more information and to volunteer to help. We hope to see you April 20 at the East Boulder Community Center from 8:00 to 11:45 pm for a night made for memories!
Summit offers a peer support group to discuss issues related to family change and divorce. This group provides an opportunity for participants to develop self-awareness and problem-solving skills. In addition, students focus on identifying personal strengths and ways to experience their life situations positively and constructively.
Meetings are held once a week on Fridays, during a different period each week to minimize lost class time. We believe that students who become involved in these groups can learn valuable skills and benefit from the shared experience of working on issues along with their peers. If you have any questions, or if you would like your child to participate, please call Kendra Bartley at 303-499-9511.
Thank you to the families who have responded so far to our first Tools For Learning solicitation. We're well on the way but haven't yet reached our dollar goal and participation goals. We are happy to have your donation at any time! Please contact Tom Mahowald, TFL chair, at 303-543-8903 or by e-mail at t.mahowald@summitmiddleschool.org, or Barbry Hogue at 303-665-3798 with any questions or comments about Tools For Learning.
To provide additional support for student learning, Summit teachers provide after-school tutoring time for extra help, study sessions, make-up work, and questions about assignments. The tutoring time schedule follows:
Social Studies, 3:10-4:10, Monday, Rooms 2 & 9
Science, 3:10-4:10, Monday, Rooms 14 & 15
English, 3:10-4:10, Wednesday, Rooms 3 & 5
Math
Foreign Languages
Programming, lunch Monday and Wednesday, Room 4
Tickets are still available for the May 1 Colorado Rockies game as part of National Charter Schools Week celebrations. Tickets are $12 each. Make checks payable to and order tickets directly from: Academy of Charter Schools, 601 East 64th Avenue, Denver, CO 80229, Attn: Bob Hughes. Come show your support for Summit and other Colorado charter schools while enjoying the baseball game!
OK, we have a trivia item this week. Can you guess which staff member ...
... Has 10 aunts and a 21 year old uncle from the same grandfather? And
...
Has a grandmother who gave birth to 13 girls and 2 boys.
Obviously this explains why this person became a teacher. He/she has to be around large numbers of people at all times.
Email your guess to tomwhiteoc@msn.com. The first one or two winners get a free trip to the school store.
THE SENILITY PRAYER
God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference!
Summer is coming! There are many summer art programs in the Denver metro area as well as in Boulder County. A list of programs is available on the Summit arts page at www.schoolnotes.com. There are packets in Ms. Bartley's office and in the art room with information about some of these camps. Interested students should sign up soon!
It's springtime and time to represent Summit in the Bolder Boulder Middle School Challenge. The Bolder Boulder is a 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) race on Memorial Day. It's a wonderful way to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, get some exercise and fresh air, watch the elite racers representing many countries and partake in the Memorial Day remembrances and festivities held in the CU stadium.
Prizes are awarded to the school with the greatest participation and fastest time. WE CAN WIN one or both of these challenges! Everyone in your family counts towards Summits participation total. To join in the fun, please pick up an entry form from Mrs. Blakemore, Mr. Havens or at the main office. In order to represent Summit, you must use this form and turn it in to Mrs. Blakemore.
Advantages: You have the option of walking, running, and/or jogging. You may participate in the wave of your choice or with friends in the middle school waves. You and your family save $4.00 per entry. You receive a special student-designed middle school t-shirt, along with a goodie bag that includes a water bottle, a CD case, a Cliff Bar, discount coupons and other surprises. This is IN ADDITION to your regular Bolder Boulder packet. You and all family members count toward Summit's total for participation.
Disadvantages: ??????????
Train to race well! Summit is offering training sessions to get you ready to race! Whether you walk or run, training can help you set and reach realistic goals for the Bolder Boulder (and it is also a jump-start for those of you planning on doing track this spring!). The training takes place daily after school.
Students and parents are welcome to attend! We've assembled a stellar coaching staff, including former Olympic Marathon Champion and Summit parent Frank Shorter, to help you realize success. Please join in whenever you can. Sign up with Mrs. Blakemore or Mr. Havens. Training is free.
Monday: Mrs. Lydia Potoff, Summit parent, runner
Tuesday: Mrs. Blakemore, teacher, runner
Wednesday: Mr. Frank Shorter, Bolder Boulder founder, Olympic Marathon Champion,
Summit parent
Thursday: Mrs. Irene Reese, Summit parent, runner
Friday: Mr. Havens, teacher, runner
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Blakemore at school or by e-mail: wblakemore2@attbi.com.
If you are interested in a creative summer internship and you will be a high school girl next year, consider this opportunity. The Integrated Teaching and Learning Lab at CU Boulder is seeking girls to participate in a part-time, six-week summer internship where they will develop interactive elementary-school level multimedia software for a Rube Goldberg-type exhibit (ask your parents what that is!). No computer programming knowledge or experience is required. You also get a $75/week stipend - wow!
For application info, go quickly (the deadline has actually passed) to http://itll.colorado.edu and click on K-12 Outreach.
This is a unique outdoor program developed to meet the needs and strengths of teen girls. In its 5th season, the Institute sponsors 6- to 12-day courses in backpacking, rock climbing and outdoor skills. The courses are designed to give teen girls the confidence, decision-making skills and self-efficacy needed to succeed in today's world. Call 303-938-9191 or visit their website at www.womenswilderness.org. The next informational slideshow will be held May 9.
The University of Northern Colorado will hold a summer enrichment program for gifted and talented students entering grades 5 - 10 in 2002-2003. The program has been designed to meet the diverse needs of gifted and talented students who are selected from all areas of the United States and other countries. Educational programs address general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative or productive thinking, leadership and visual or performing arts. The deadline for applications is May 15 and space is limited. For more information call 970-351-2683, email sep@unco.edu or visit the website at www.unco.edu/sep.
Consider joining one of Boulder County's premier summer swim teams, the Gators. The summer swim season is May 15 through July 27 at the Flatirons Golf Course pool at 55th and Arapahoe. Excellent coaches and a small coach-to-swimmer ratio provide the individual attention that supports learning. Swimmers enjoy mastering stroke technique, improving endurance and participating in five local meets on summer Saturdays. If you are interested in joining the team or would like more information, please call 303-527-0441.
All programs begin at 9:30 am. See the following for a specific building and room. There is FREE PARKING only in lots 169, 308, 378, 396, and 436. There is also parking available for a nominal fee in the Euclid parking structure.
Joan Jacus at 303-499-3013 and Diane Chicoine at 303-581-0754 have King Soopers grocery certificates available for those of you that are still eating. And for your shopping pleasure we now have Wild Oats certificates available. Do you shop at Albertson's? Pick up your Albertson's membership card at the Summit office. What an easy way to help support our kids.
Late order forms are available on the table outside the school office. Pick one up today. Call Joan Jacus at 303- 499-3013 if you have any questions about this year's yearbook.
The main branch of the Boulder Public Library at 1000 Canyon offers an after school homework center. Students from CU will work as tutors in English, math, and science. There is no charge for this service. The hours of the center will be from 4 to 6 pm each day. If you are interested in attending, please call the library at 303-441-3099.
Editor Alert
We are seeking a new editor for the newsletter! It's a fun job for someone who likes to write and edit. The majority of the work is editing articles that are submitted from staff and parents. You'll get assistance from our trusty crew -- how about it? Contact Tom White-O'Connor at tomwhiteoc@msn.com.
Interested parties are asked to contact Tom Mahowald at 720-422-6764 for referral and information.
The next newsletter deadline is April 29. If you have an article to be included, please e-mail it to Tom White-O'Connor at the above e-mail address.
To save on both paper and the cost of postage, we 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 see back issues of Summit News, information about Summit, links to other charter schools and education information, refer to Summit's website via the handy, new, improved, easier website address: http://www.summitmiddleschool.org
Things to be thankful for:
Comfort on difficult days,
Smiles when sadness intrudes,
Rainbows to follow the clouds,
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart
Gentle hugs when spirits sag,
Friendships to brighten your being,
Beauty for your eyes to see,
Confidence for when you doubt,
Faith so that you can believe,
Courage to know yourself,
Patience to accept the truth,
And love to complete your life.
-- Author unknown