October 1, 2003
Volume 16, No. 4
The BVSD October student count period began September 24 and continues through October 8. Our per pupil funding for the current school year is determined by the number of students enrolled and actually attending school during the October count period. We ask all families to make every effort to send their students to school during this period. We also ask that families take extra care to avoid travels, appointments, or other absences during the October count period.
We learned recently that Summit has been designated a Blue Ribbon School. Summit is among six schools in the state and 214 in the country honored by the U.S. Department of Education through its Blue Ribbon Schools program, recently enhanced under the new federal No Child Left Behind law. The program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or, as is the case with Summit, whose students score in the top 10 percent on state tests.
Schools are nominated by each state's school chief and then must submit applications to the U.S. Department of Education. The honored schools will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., at the end of October. (See Mr. Finell's comments below).
Last spring, I received a call from Ms. Jan Silverstein at the Colorado Department of Education. She informed me that Summit was the only middle school (and only secondary school) in Colorado that had been invited to submit an application, under the category of "Consistently High Achieving Schools," to be considered for the United States Department of Education's prestigious Blue Ribbon Award. I was, of course, most excited that Summit had been nominated for this highest national educational award. At that point there was an extensive application that needed to be completed and we did not know if we would eventually actually receive the award. But everyone at Summit realized that just having been nominated was a great honor.
That night I had a board meeting at Summit and did not head home until about 11 p.m. I knew that a middle school near where I live, Campus Middle School in the Cherry Creek School District, had received the award a few years ago. I remembered seeing the plaque over the entryway in front of the school proclaiming it to be a Blue Ribbon School. I decided to swing by Campus Middle School on the way home to take a look at this plaque. I pulled into the deserted parking lot, convinced I would be arrested if a policeman were to happen by at that late hour, and walked up to the building. There above the entryway was the large, round plaque proclaiming this to be a "United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School." As I stood there I allowed myself to imagine a similar plaque gracing the entryway Summit and found myself even beginning to think about where such a plaque might be placed. After a moment of such reverie I realized I was getting ahead of myself - there was still a lengthy application to complete and no guarantee we would even receive the award at the end of the day. Nevertheless, I fell asleep that night with visions of Blue Ribbon Awards dancing in my head.
Due to the efforts of many people on the Summit faculty, administrative staff, and Board of Directors, the necessary data was compiled, the required narrative sections were written and edited, and the application was submitted on time. The months passed as we anxiously awaited word from the United States Department of Education. Two weeks ago, as you know, we finally heard that Summit had, in fact, received the award. On October 30 and 31, Ms. Avallone, and I will attend the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. and accept the Blue Ribbon Award on Summit's behalf.
Having received this level of national recognition is truly a milestone in the history of our extraordinary school. Summit was born under adverse political circumstances but has not only survived, it has flourished. This is due to the work of many people of energy and vision on the Summit Board, faculty, and staff, and in the Summit parent community, whose commitment to Summit has been unwavering over the years. It is also due to the extraordinary students whom we at Summit have had the pleasure and privilege to teach year after year. While there is no monetary award that comes with this recognition, the stature that comes with being a Blue Ribbon School is significant and will help position Summit well for the future.
This is truly a time to sit back for a moment and feel an extraordinary sense of pride in the accomplishments of this little school that has now been recognized by the United States Department of Education as one of the best middle schools in the United States. Congratulations to Summit and to all of us who, by working together over the years, have made this day a reality.
Summit administrators and teachers will deliver a program from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight for parents who would like to help their child succeed at Summit and to learn about an anti-bullying program that Summit has in place. The "Succeed" portion of the program, particularly valuable for parents new to Summit, will be delivered through humorous skits.
The schedule is below:
Summit offers the Stand Up! program for creating a safe and caring community on the campus. Please don't miss our presentation directly following the "Succeed" program described above on October 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The program has been developed by Summit staff from materials created by Sally Stoker and Marla Bonds, authors of Bullyproofing Your School. Our goal is to encourage a theme of kindness and respect within the entire Summit community, and to teach attitudes and skills that support the development of a positive school climate.
Stand Up! emphasizes non-tolerance for bullying, harassment, and put-downs. Summit staff and parents learn how to monitor and respond to these types of problem behaviors. In addition, students are encouraged to take responsibility for each other, and learn how and when to take a stand for themselves and for others.. All participants learn skills for creating and maintaining a safe and caring school community..
We invite all members of the Summit community-students, parents, and staff-to join us in this effort. If you miss the program presentation on October 1, handouts will be available in the counseling office. We invite your participation in the Stand Up! program, as your involvement is very important for its success!
Don't forget, parent/teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, October 9, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday, October 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PLEASE NOTE: no school for students on October 10). All conferences are on a drop-in basis. Individual teacher schedules follow:
| Teacher | Room 13 | Library | Room 14 | M.P. Room | Hours Available October 9 |
Hours Available October 10 |
| Doug Ackerson | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 9-noon & 1-3 | |||
| Kirk Adams | X | 4-6 | 8-noon | |||
| Amanda Avallone | X | 6-8 | 9-11:45 | |||
| Kendra Bartley | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 9-11:45 & 12:30-3 | |||
| Sondra Barton | X | 6-8 | 9-noon | |||
| Wendy Blakemore | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-11:45 & 12:30-4 (break: 2-2:10) |
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| Drew Delaney | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-noon | |||
| Talya Dornbush | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-11:45 & 12:30-4 (break: 2-2:10) |
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| Polly Doyle | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-noon | |||
| Ingrid Fotino | X | 6-8 | 1-3 | |||
| Greta Frohbieter | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-11:45 & 12:30-4 (break: 2:10-2:20) |
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| Ben Hirshfield | X | 6-8 | 9-noon | |||
| Cheryle Kapsak | X | 4-5:15 & 5:45-8 | 8-11 & 11:30-1:45 | |||
| Chris Kilgore | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-11:45 & 12:30-4 (break: 2:10-2:20) |
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| Valerie Koch | X | 4-6 & 6:45-8 | 8-12:30 & 1:15-4 (break: 10-10:10) |
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| Chris Koch | X | 4-6 & 6:45-8 | 8-12:30 & 1:15-4 (break: 10-10:10) |
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| Cynthia Kolanowski | X | 4-5:15 & 6-8 | 8-11:45 & 12:30-4 (break: 2-2:10) |
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| Sam Havens | X | 4-5:30 | 8-12:30 & 1:15-4 (break: 10:10-10:20) |
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| David Liebowitz | Available to meet with parents after school, 3:15-5 PM, October 20-23. | |||||
| Haydee Phelps | X | 4-6 & 6:45-8 | 8-11 & 11:45-4 (break: 2:10-2:20) |
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| Peter Teasdale | X | 4-6 & 6:45-8 | 8-12:30 & 1:15-4 (break: 10:10-10:20) |
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| Stephanie Weber | X | 4-6 & 6:45-8 | 8-12:30 & 1:15-4 (break: 10:20-10:30) |
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| Neal Zettas | X | 4-6 & 6:45-8 | 8-12:30 & 1:15-4 (break: 10:20-10:30) |
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Individual student CTBS test results will be available in the front office of the school during parent/teacher conferences on October 9 and October 10 for any family that wishes to pick them up. We will ask to see identification before releasing test results. For families not picking up the CTBS test results at parent/teacher conferences, the results will be mailed with first quarter report cards during the first week in November.
Attention students, parents, and teachers! The Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools is offering grants funds to support independent study efforts related to the arts and sciences. The grants are geared to hands-on, student-driven independent study efforts; more information and the grant application are available online at www.fbvs.org. Please note that students are to develop the proposal but teachers and parents must agree to sign the application. Teachers must agree to provide supervision over the project, oversight of expenditures, and approve final project completion.
Projects must be in the fields of art or science (physical or biological) and should add value to the educational experience. Funds may be used to purchase equipment or materials; all equipment and materials purchased remain the property of the school.
Grant applications are due by October 30 and awards will be announced on December 1. Grants funds need to be spent by May 25, 2004. Awardees will complete a final report about the project, including an expense statement and a photo of the completed project.
Students, please give some thought to your upcoming History Day and Science Fair projects and whether this grant opportunity could assist you in completing these important projects. Up to four students may work cooperatively in submitting a proposal and completing a project.
For more information, please contact Cheryl Runyon, chair of the Summit Grant Writing Committee, at 303-494-0434, Tom Mahowald at 303-543-8903, or Mr. Finell at Summit. We look forward to a variety of interesting and challenging projects!
If anyone has any percussion equipment lying around waiting for the archaeologist, specifically Hi hat, pedals, cymbals, or cymbal stands, donations of equipment to our music classes will gladly be accepted! Thank you.
A hearty thank you to South Boulder Pizza Hut (30th & Baseline) and manager Laurence Archuleta for their kind donation of pizzas to the music class with the most music fees turned in by the September 19 deadline. Silver Rain students were overjoyed to win this coveted prize!
Speaking of music fees, these were NOT included on the fees form sent home on the first day of school. If you did NOT yet send the $20 fee in along with the yellow sheet, please put the fee along with the student's name and name of their music class in an envelope, and turn in to Mr. Ackerson right away. Note that if your child is taking more than one music class, only one fee is required. If you have more than one child taking music classes, the $20 fee is required for each student. Please speak with Mr. Finell regarding scholarship support for payment of student fees..
On October 8 at 3:15 p.m. Ms. Doyle and Mrs. Blakemore will hold an informational meeting for students and parents who are interested in taking a trip to Spain during spring break 2004. The trip will be March 20 through March 28. In addition to touring Spain and practicing Spanish, our trip will include service learning opportunities in a small, rural community. The trip is open to all 7th and 8th graders who are interested in experiencing Spanish culture. Parents should also feel free to stop by Wednesday during lunch in Mrs. Blakemore's room, when we will be introducing the trip to the Spanish Club students.
The Summit Club de Español is up and running for the 2003-2004 school year. We've elected new officers:
We have scheduled many activities and fundraisers and look forward to expanding our cultural awareness while helping others in the local Hispanic community. The following is a tentative list of activities and respective coordinators:
The Spanish Club was thrilled to donate their time to many causes the last two years, along with financial donations. In 2002-2003 we donated a total of $1,340 to EFAA, Ballet Folklórico, and Friends of the Youth in Longmont. New members are always welcome to join the Spanish Club!
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 qualify to participate, a student must have received a standardized test score in a major subject area of 90 percent or higher, or received a score of "Advanced" on one of the CSAP tests during the last two years. In some cases, a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher indicating that the student has demonstrated an outstanding area of performance in a major subject area will suffice.
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 and receive a booklet describing these educational opportunities.
Ms. Bartley will visit science classes during October to discuss the Talent Search and to pass out application forms. Additional forms are available by calling Ms. Bartley at Summit. For further information, you may also call the Rocky Mountain Talent Search at 303-871-2983.
Summit offers a mix of interscholastic and intramural athletic activities for students throughout the year, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, flag football, and track. To participate, students must turn in a BVSD interscholastic athletics parent permission form (available from Coach A or at the office), and a copy of a sports physical conducted no more that a year before the start date of the activity. First semester sports are:
BVSD's open enrollment season is about to begin. Summit will conduct school tours for prospective students and parents as well as two student/parent information evenings. Talk about Summit with your friends who have 5th grade students this year. The office has a large supply of informational brochures and open house flyers. Please consider delivering some to the office of your child's former elementary school. We have students from virtually every elementary school in the district, so help us spread the word. Thanks.
Monthly Scheduled Tours -- Parents and students interested in the Summit Middle School program are invited to tour the school with a Summit administrator. At the end of the tour, there will be an opportunity for questions and answers. All tours begin at 8:45 a.m. and are by appointment. Please call the Summit office to schedule a tour, at 303-499-9511.
Student/Parent Information Nights -- Student/Parent Information Nights are an excellent opportunity to meet Summit staff and Board members and to learn more about the Summit program. The mission, philosophy, and curriculum of the Summit program are discussed, textbooks and work samples are displayed, and presentations made by core subject and elective teachers. All prospective students and their families are encouraged to attend one of these evening programs, offered twice during the year.
Student Visitation Days -- Students who have been notified of acceptance at Summit are eligible to attend a student visitation day. This program is designed for students who feel they need to visit the school to make a final decision before open enrollment to Summit. On the day they visit, students shadow a "Student Ambassador" (current 6th grader) for a half day. Dates and sign-up procedures for student visitation days will be sent with letters of acceptance, which are mailed in January in coordination with the BVSD open enrollment timeline.
The entire calendar of events for prospective students and parents is:
If you would like to see, hear, and meet candidates running for the BVSD Board of Education this year, stop by the Boulder High auditorium on Wednesday, October 10, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The forum is sponsored by the "Save Our Schools" group, an organization formed last year during the school consolidation process.
The Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools is accepting nominations for its Impact Awards Program. This annual program honors five exemplary people who are making a difference for students in the Boulder Valley School District. Only individuals-such as teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, office personnel, service employees, or volunteers-are eligible for the award. Each winner receives $2,000 ($1,500 to benefit students and $500 as a personal award).
Staff, students, and parents are encouraged to nominate someone who has made a difference at their school. Nomination forms are due November 6, 2003. A nomination writing workshop is being offered on October 8 at the BVSD Ed Center to help nominators write the best possible nomination. Winners will be announced in the spring. For more information, please contact Christina Suarez, Program Officer for the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools, at 303-447-5132.
Two free forums have been announced for parents in the community. They are open to all. If you are interested, the topics, presenters, time, and place are:
"Strategies for Establishing Respect and Responsibility with Your Teens," Christine Denning, Intervention Specialist at Boulder High, October 7, 7 p.m., Boulder High Library
"Out Of Control Teens," Christine Denning, Intervention Specialist at Boulder High, and Kimberly Cerdorian, M.A. This presentation will explore behaviors such as truancy, running away, drug and alcohol use. October 14, 7 p.m., Boulder High Library
The 27th 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. Programs are free. The next Wizards' program is:
October 18: "Too Hot to Handle" by Professors Janet deGrazia, Brian Argrow, and Jean Hertzberg in Chemistry 140
Start time for all programs is 9:30 a.m. Free parking is available in lots 169, 308, 396, and 436 on the CU campus. Parking is also available for a fee in the Euclid parking structure. If you have a special access need or have additional questions, please call the CU Physics office at 303-492-6952.
If you are interested in comparing standardized test scores, check out a recently developed web site that tracks student state test scores nationwide. The Just for the Kids (www.just4kids.org) website includes all 2003 Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scores for elementary schools. In the near future the site will be further expanded to include test data for secondary schools.
Summit's library has an ongoing wish list of books we would like to purchase to expand and improve our collection. Parents are encouraged to buy books for the school library as a way of acknowledging a special person or event. For example, 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.
A book may be purchased in one of two ways-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 acknowledgment. Finally, we will place a bookplate on the inside cover of the book 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, our librarian, if you are interested in purchasing a book from the list. You can find her in the Summit library on Tuesdays, 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.; and Fridays, 8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Thank you for your support.
All regular Summit Board meetings are public meetings and we welcome parents and guests from our community to attend. Our next two board meetings will be held on October 2 and October 16. Meetings are held in Summit's library and begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
We ask parents not to e-mail or fax their child's homework to the Summit office. When parents rescue their children by faxing and e-mailing homework, students do not learn responsibility, planning, and good study skills. In addition, the office staff does not have time to receive and re-direct faxes and e-mails of this type. As a general policy, Summit teachers will not give credit for homework that has been faxed or e-mailed to the Summit office.
If you have not already done so, take time to complete and return your Parent Volunteer Connection (PVC) survey. They were sent home in your student's first-day information packet. Call the Summit office at 303-499-9511 if you need another copy.
Fall has arrived and the changing seasons remind us that inclement weather can result in school closures. Under most conditions, school officials have a responsibility to keep school in session. When the weather is bad but school is open, parents must make a family decision regarding attendance or late arrival for their children. A personal contact by the parent or a written note to school officials will excuse a student's late arrival or absence under these circumstances.
When the weather is severe enough to close schools, it is very important that working parents have pre-arranged care for their children. BVSD notifies TV and radio stations prior to 6:30 a.m. or as soon as the decision has been made to close during the day. Cancellation announcements are made on the following radio and TV stations:
Closures are also posted on the BVSD web site under "Cancellations" at www.bvsd.k12.co.us.
Summit News is distributed electronically. Printed copies are available in the Summit office and newsletter issues, current and past, are also posted on the Summit web site at www.summitmiddleschool.org. To update your email address, drop a note by the office or email jaime.simpson[at]bvsd.k12.co.us.
Summit News is distributed on the 1st and 15th of the month during the academic year. Please e-mail news or announcements to newsletter editor Patrick Hyde at pat.hyde[at]comcast.net.
Please note that we substitute [at] for the @ symbol in Summit News articles to reduce unwanted e-mail spam.