July 17, 2003
Volume 15, No. 11
Our esteemed principal and wonderful office staff are now enjoying summer break as are the rest of us! The Summit office will be open again as of August 4. The office support staff for 2003-2004 includes:
They will be back to work well before school starts, so save your questions and requests for them and call or stop by on or after August 4. The office will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, before the start of the school year on August 18. Between now and the time the office opens again, you may always direct questions to any Summit Board member (contact information at end of this newsletter).
Student awards were presented at an awards breakfast on June 5, for 6th and 7th grade recipients, and at graduation for 8th grade recipients. We offer warmest congratulations to every student recognized with an award this year.
Each year, the Summit staff chooses one boy and one girl from the 8th grade class who embody what Summit strives to be. These students contribute positively to the school through academics and extracurricular activities, whether music, sports, community service, and academic or non-academic clubs. The 2002-2003 student exemplars are Julia Hansford and Jesse Thurston. Thanks to both of them for their inspiring comments during the graduation ceremony.
A citizen contributes positively to the welfare of the school community, enhances the learning environment, is a behavior role model for others, and has a love of learning. The 2002-2003 recipients of the Summit Outstanding Citizen award are John Boylston, Nicholas Gerstle, Sebastian George, Andrew Hyde, Hannah Kapsak, Sabine Kunz, Katie Kopel, Annie Lewis, Matthew Markham, Tamara Sparks, Devon Thrumston, and Emily Woods.
Creative Ceramist: Jasmine Cooper
Celebrated Cartoonist: Julia Eckstein
Prolific Painter: Cassie Hickman
Sensational Sculptor: Nicholas Gerstle
Master of Fine Arts: Rachel Ertz
Most Outstanding Band Member: Paul Swirhun
Most Outstanding Orchestra Member: Theresa Adams
Most Outstanding Vocalist: Jesse Thurston
English I Literary Analysis Award: Brandon Evans
English I Creativity Award: Kayla Hayes
Outstanding Achievement in English I: Annie Smartt
Most Improved in English II: Ryan Schmitz and Alex Ting
Outstanding Achievement in English II: Megan Simpson and Haley
Thurston
Outstanding Achievement in English III: Rebekah Olstad and Betsy
Smartt
Excellence in English IV: Jesse Thurston
Outstanding Achievement in Beginning French: Zoe Ingerson
Most Improved in French 1: Megan Simpson
Etudiante Extraordinaire: Hannah Alpert
Most Outstanding German Student : Emily Woods
Estudiante sobresaliente: Anahita Khosravi and Tamara Sparks
Outstanding Focus on Effort and Personal Achievement: Cassie Hickman and
Andrea Rudman
Outstanding Effort and Achievement: Erin Dickson, Rebekah Olstad, and Ryan
Schmitz
Excellence in Math: Ben Kelthau, Sabine Kunz
Most Improved in Math: Markus Feyh
Outstanding Math Student: Brandon Evans, Matthew Eckstein, Eva Gerstle, and
Zoe Ingerson
Outstanding Effort and Achievement in Math: Elizabeth Fleagle
Outstanding Achievement in Math: Lauren Foster
Outstanding Contributions to an Exceptional Math Class: Betsy Smartt, chosen
by the class as the representative to accept this award on behalf of the
entire class
Excellence in Biological Science and the Environment and Enthusiasm in Learning:
Colleen Atcheson, Andrew Hyde, Haley Thurston, and Rob Van Dusen
Excellence in Advanced Topics in Science: Jeffrey Lee and Nadalie
Williams
Most Improved in Science Over Three Years: Mary Allen and Jake
Barba
Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry/Physics: Betsy Smartt and Jesse
Thurston
Outstanding Achievement in Physical Science and the Earth: Rachael Baum and
Sam Galler
Creativity and Beauty in World History: Kelsey Ketellapper
Courage and Persistence in World History: Paul Lemieux
Excellence in World History: Isabella Mazzei
Excellence and Enthusiasm in Pre-History: Adam Ollanik
Outstanding Achievement in American History: Alison Ferris, Sabine Kunz,
Caroline Melhado, and Daniel Weidlein
Outstanding Achievement in Geography: Tim Nguyen and Anne Stancliffe
This year, the Summit Board honored Wendy Blakemore, Spanish teacher, at graduation with the 2002-2003 Outstanding Teacher Award. This award carries with it a stipend of $750, and Sra. Blakemore's name will be engraved on the permanent award plaque kept at Summit.
The Board is also very pleased to recognize Dorinda Dercar with the 2002-2003 Outstanding Volunteer Award for her contributions to Summit this school year. Ms. Dercar was in class every day to teach and work with our Silver Rain students and she also put in countless hours to make the spring musical, Li'l Abner, such a success.
At the June 12 meeting, new Summit Board members Ashley O'Connor and David Schermerhorn were officially installed for two-year terms that run through May 2005. We are grateful to Tom Mahowald and Besty Phelan for serving second terms on the Board, also through May 2005.
Board officers for 2003-2004 are: Tom Mahowald, Chair; Betsy Phelan, Vice Chair; Ashley O'Connor, Secretary; Debbie Feyh, Treasurer.
Other continuing board members are Paul Atcheson, Barb Kostanick, and David Finell (ex officio). Paul will serve as AAA Committee chair, Tom will serve as Board liaison to the new Grant Writing Committee and to the Hiring Committee, and Barb will serve as Board liaison to the new Enrollment Committee.
CONGRATULATIONS to new members and the newly elected officers! Our sincere thanks to all the Board members for their exceptional service to our Summit community.
Members of the Hiring Committee are hard at work to fill teaching positions for Silver Rain (co-teacher) and technology and computer programming. Chair Ashley O'Connor and all members of this committee deserve our appreciation and thanks for their excellent work in bringing wonderful new teachers to Summit's staff.
We are very pleased to announce that Chris Koch (yes, Mr. Koch to our Mrs. Koch!) is returning to Summit's faculty and will be teaching World Geography and International Relations in the social studies department. Mr. Koch was a founding teacher and taught at Summit 1996-1999 before leaving Summit for a position in the business sector.
We also extend a warm welcome back Ms. Donna Wharton, who was a dedicated member of our office staff 2000-2002 and has spent time with her family on the east coast this past year.
The Fairview Odyssey of the Mind team recently placed 1st in the Colorado State Tournament in the Classics problem. The team was also honored with the Ranatra Fusca Award for outstanding creativity.
The team represented Colorado in the World Finals competition at Iowa State University in May. Team members include Summit graduates Tyler Fox and Kent Gonzales as well as current Summit 8th grader Stephen Harmon. The team is coached by Karen Fox and Summit parent Connie Harmon.
All regular Summit Board meetings are public meetings and we welcome guests from our community at any time. Our next meeting will be held August 14. Meetings are held in Summit's library and begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
The Summit Middle School Library has an opening for a paraprofessional beginning August 14, 2003. The responsibilities include supervision of students, staffing the circulation desk, and library clerical activities as assigned. Must enjoy working with students and have good general computer skills. Hours for this position are Monday and Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and Wednesday, 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. For further information, please contact Cathy Woods at 303-444-1791 or cathy.woods[at]bvsd.k12.co.us.
This summer, please be sure to stock up on your school and office supplies at Office Depot in Boulder, in the Marshall Plaza, located on 28th Street south of Pearl Street, or at the Broomfield store in Flatirons Marketplace next to Best Buy. Just say you want your purchase to count for Summit Middle School, and Office Depot will send us a donation worth 5% of your purchases. Time to stock up on inkjet/toner cartridges, office equipment, etc. as well as binders, paper, pens and pencils, and all of your school supply needs. Go to Office Depot, from July to early September only, and help support Summit!
Students entering 7th grade must have a second MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunization and a series of three hepatitis immunizations before entering school this year. Please remember to send in a copy of your child's latest immunization record from the doctor for our records. If you have already sent one in this year and there has been no change to your child's immunization record, you do not need to send us another copy. Thanks!
To see the current or back issues of Summit News, information about Summit, links to other charter schools, and related education information, refer to Summit's web site via: http://www.summitmiddleschool.org.
If you are changing your email address or would like to add an email address to the Summit News distribution list, please send an email to tmahowald[at]qwest.net. Thank you.
The next Summit News will be distributed before school begins. If you have news, notes, or announcements, forward them via email to pat.hyde[at]comcast.net.
(as approved by Summit Board of Directors)