Summit News

February 1, 2006
Volume 21, No. 1

Download a PDF version of this newsletter.

From the Principal's Office
—David Finell

If you had been hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park a couple of weeks ago you might have seen Summit's faculty and staff, snowshoeing along a trail or taking a group photo on a windswept, frozen lake. On Friday, January 13, the faculty and staff at Summit went up to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park for the day. This retreat was meant to provide some time for us to celebrate our 10th year as a school. We all work so hard and always seem to be running from thing to thing. As a result, I felt that it was important to take this time to be together, have some fun, take a look at where we are as a school after 10 years, and to look down the road at where we are heading. (Incidentally, the Summit Board of Directors will be engaging in a similar assessment at its annual retreat on February 4). The weather was glorious and we all had a great day!

After meeting at Summit in the morning and having some refreshments, we carpooled up to Rocky Mountain National Park and went snowshoeing. In the cars and on the trail people had a chance to talk and connect with some colleagues they might ordinarily not have the opportunity to interact with that often. Afterwards, we headed over to the Stanley Hotel for lunch and for some presentations. Ms. Koch prepared the first presentation. Using old announcements from the first years of the school, she created skits and commentary to take a look at the fun, the craziness, the challenges, and the amazing level of commitment that was present as Summit got started. (“There will be an emergency faculty meeting in one hour! Everyone needs to be there!”). Ms. Blakemore and Dr. Fotino prepared the next presentation. They focused on how we have changed and yet, by maintaining our core values as a school, how we really have not changed. Teachers and staff have come and gone, we moved to a new site 6 years ago, we have added students, and have won numerous awards and recognition for being such an exceptional school. And yet we have remained true to our mission as a school and so we are fundamentally unchanged. Ms. Kapsak developed the last presentation. After some introductory comments she had us take a look into the future and write down on large pieces of paper our ideas, our dreams for Summit over the next ten years. It was as if a faucet had been opened up and the ideas came pouring out. People wrote down their visions for where Summit could go in the years to come, and the Board and I will be looking closely at this input to help chart our future course. Finally, Ms. Kapsak had us all get in a large circle and everyone went around and shared one thing they appreciate about Summit. There was a great sense of community of shared purpose during this exercise, and a great sense of appreciation for this special school.

After these presentations, there were two final presentations that needed to be made. Ms. Avallone and Ms. Koch have been at Summit since the beginning of the school in 1996 and I presented each of them with awards honoring them for their ten years of service. It is because of fine teachers like Ms. Koch and Ms. Avallone that Summit is such an amazing school and such an exemplary learning community. When you see them at the school, please be sure to take a moment to congratulate them on having received this recognition and for all they have done for the students at Summit over these past ten years.

After taking some pictures out in front of the Stanley Hotel, we loaded up the carpools and headed back to Summit. As Dr. Fotino wrote afterwards, it was “one of the most enchanting and visually dazzling days” many of us could remember having experienced in Colorado.

One of our missions as a school is “to create a community of peers who value scholarship, academic achievement and creativity.” When the mission statement for Summit was written ten years ago this line obviously referred to the type of student community we were seeking to develop. But in addition to creating a community of student peers who value scholarship, academic achievement and creativity, over the past decade we have also evolved into a community of faculty and staff that values and embodies these qualities as well. This confluence, this synergy of values between our student body and our faculty and staff is certainly one of the reasons Summit has evolved into one of the best middle schools in the United States. As we move into our second decade as a school I hope we continue to be, on every level, a community of peers who value scholarship, academic achievement and creativity. If we remain true to this mission our next decade is certain to be every bit as bright and exciting as our first!



Summit Faculty & Staff at the Stanley Hotel

Impact on Education
Supports Excellence in the Classroom

Studies consistently show that teachers are one of the single most important factors in impacting student achievement!

This is why Impact on Education, formerly the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools, supports and promotes excellence in teaching. We impact teacher excellence through our Classroom Mini-Grants and Impact Awards programs.

Classroom Mini-Grants: This program annually awards teachers funds to complete creative classroom projects. During the 2005–06 academic year, Impact on Education awarded 148 projects in 48 schools for a total of $83,770. Projects are supported through donations from community members and local businesses and organizations. A donation of $750 underwrites an entire project.

Impact Awards: Impact on Education annually recognizes five excellent educators in Boulder Valley. Community members and peers nominate teachers and other educators. Impact Award winners receive a personal award and $1,500 for their school or department. In addition, they are publicly recognized at the Impact Awards Dinner. This year's award recipients will be announced in February and the awards dinner will be held April 6. To purchase tickets, which are $35 each, call Impact on Education at (303) 245-5937 and provide a credit card number, or send a check to the organization at 75 Manhattan Drive, Suite 205, Boulder, Colorado, 80303.

Impact on Education is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to raising community support for public education in Boulder Valley. The organization impacts student learning through three focus areas: teacher excellence, science and technology and “at-risk” students. For more information or to learn how you can help, log on to www.impactoneducation.org.

Amanda Cherry
Development Associate
Impact on Education
amanda[at]impactoneducation.org

Summit Middle School
Parent/Teacher Conferences
February 14th and 15th 1:30–6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 14—For families whose children's last names begin with L–Z.
Wednesday, February 15—For families whose children's last names begin with A–K.

High School Registration for 8th Graders

The high school registration and course placement recommendation process for Summit 8th graders will occur during the month of February. The high schools listed below will be holding academic planning and course registration nights to assist 8th graders and their parents in choosing appropriate courses for 9th grade. Parents and students should attend these evenings to gather information about placement, course offerings, and registration procedures, as well as extracurricular activities and athletics.

Summit will have a high school course placement recommendation day on Friday, February 24. On this day, Summit core subject teachers will meet individually with their 8th grade students during each class period to provide course placement recommendations. Students will then finalize their course selections and have their parents sign their course registration forms. Students (or their parents) will need to hand-deliver the completed registration materials to the high school they plan to attend.

If your student's high school is not listed below, you will need to make an appointment with the counselor at the high school your student plans to attend to complete the registration process.

Boulder High School: 8th Grade Course Selection Night will be held on Thursday, February 23rd from 6–9 p.m. Students will receive registration materials and course selection forms. The deadline for returning completed course registration forms is March 10. Students may also be able to complete the course selection process online, by following the directions provided in the course description booklet.

Fairview High School: Evening of Transition and Registration will be held on Wednesday, February 15th. Students and parents will receive registration materials, and be provided with instructions regarding course selection. Also, students and parents will have the opportunity to meet with teachers from different departments, and hear about curriculum and course offerings.

Monarch High School: 8th Grade Registration Night will be held on Wednesday, February 15th. Students with last names from A–M should come at 6:00 p.m, and N–Z at 7:00 p.m. Registration materials will be sent home to students but may also be available at Summit in the counseling office.

If you have any questions regarding high school registration, please feel free to call Kendra Bartley, Summit's guidance counselor, at (303) 499-9511.

Cell Phone & iPod Policies!

In order to ensure that as a community we are focused on learning, we need to foster and maintain an atmosphere that is respectful of teachers and cognizant of every student's right to a distraction-free learning environment. Therefore, the following is Summit's policy on cell phones and iPods.

Cell phones are to be turned off and should never be visible or audible during class or assemblies. This includes receiving calls and text messaging. Cell phones may not be used in the hallway during passing periods or while classes are in session.

Cell phones are permitted before the first bell of the day, during lunch and after 3:07.

Should you need to make an emergency phone call at another time please ask the front office for permission to use the school phone.

The following is the consequence for using a cell phone in a manner contrary to that described above: 1) the cell phone will be taken away and placed in the front office; 2) a call will be made home requesting that a parent pick it up; 3) if it happens a second time, your cell phone loses the privilege of being used at school for one month; 4) if it happens a third time it is “three strikes the cell phone is out.” The cell phone may not be used at school for the remainder of the school year.

iPods (and similar technological marvels) are permitted before the first bell of the day, during study hall, during lunch, and after 3:07. During study hall you may not share headphones; during lunch you are welcome to share headphones.

The consequence for not following this policy is the same as that described above for cell phones: 1) your iPod will be taken away and placed in the front office; 2) a call will be made home requesting that a parent pick it up; 3) if it happens a second time, your iPod loses the privilege of being used at school for one month; 4) if it happens a third time, it is “three strikes the iPod is out.” The iPod cannot be used at school for the remainder of the school year.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Parent Engagement Network

Three Events for BVSD Parents:
  1. Power of Parents—Youth Voices & Preview, Parents Who Host Lose The Most
    Youth Presenters
    Thursday, February 9th, 8:30–11:00 a.m.
    BVSD Ed Center, 6500 Arapahoe.
  2. HOPE—Moving Suicide Prevention into Hope and Inspiration
    Suicide Prevention Coalition of Boulder County
    March
  3. Intentional Parenting Transitions That Support Our Kids and Family, Elementary–High School
    Sue Wong, Transitions Expert and Consultant
    Thursday April 13th, 8:30–11:00 a.m.
    BVSD Ed Center, 6500 Arapahoe.
Please join us for these three informative and engaging events! Questions? Want to volunteer? Contact Betsy Fox: (303) 441-3981 or bfox[at]co.boulder.co.us. Visit our website at www.parentengagementnetwork.com.

Yearbook Club

The yearbook club is looking for photos from any of this year's Summit's sports teams, both interscholastic and intramural. They could be action shots or team pictures. If you have any, the yearbook club would love to put them in the yearbook. You can submit them to Ms. Baruch. Thanks.

—The Yearbook Club

Flu Season

Many Summit students are coming down with a variety of illnesses this month, and it's probably time to remind your child of some tricks to stay healthy.

To help prevent Colds and Flu:

  • Wash your hands. This is the best preventive measure—do it often! Hand sanitizer can be found in many classrooms and at the front desk.
  • Cough into your sleeve. This helps keep germs off other surfaces like keyboards and desks.
  • Stay home from school if not feeling well. Rest is needed for recuperation, and staying home while you are coming down with a cold or flu helps keep it from spreading to others. Parents, Summit policy allows two days to make up work missed due to illness—please keep sick children at home!
  • Get enough rest and healthy food along with healthy exercise. Overdoing it can weaken your immune system.

Summit's Annual Spelling Bee Results . . .

Congratulations to Summit's spellers! Summit's English Department held its annual Spelling Bee January 9–17 in three rounds of very challenging words. Our schoolwide winner this year is a grade 8 student, Robin Betz. Robin has made it to the final round every year and is eager to go on to compete this year in the Broomfield and Boulder County bee, sponsored by the Daily Camera, on February 25 at 9:00 a.m. at Monarch High in Louisville. The winner of this bee will compete in Washington, D.C. later this spring.

Other finalists who made it to the “sudden death” 3rd round included Nina van Loon, James Hastie, Charles Xu, and Elisabeth Meyer.

Congratulations, too, to all of the other classroom winners who earned a spot in Round Two: Evan Witt, Erin Biringen, Matt Johnson, Alyssa Carson, Miles Rufat-Latre, Katie Steen, Nicky Schardt, Galen Goldsheiter, Luke Light, Allie Davis, Jesse Shapiro, Chris Guthrie, Stephen Wong, Christian McGill, Trevor Rowley, and Taylor Weed.

CPR Training for Infant/Child and First Aid

Gain the Skills and Confidence to Be a Great and Effective Babysitter
Thursdays 4:00–6:00 p.m.
March 2–23
Ages 11–14
Manhattan Middle School $69, Materials Fee $7

Call BVSD's Lifelong Learning Program at (303) 499-1125 x222 to register or for more info.

Class News

American History

As American History wraps up our study of the multitude of changes in our young Republic, students will have an opportunity to create a newspaper of the era for their Final Assessment. In this newspaper, patrons may read about the Feminist movement of the 1830s, or Andrew Jackson's Native American policies. Grab a cup of coffee and peruse your child's "first edition" Saturday morning!

Also, History Day Finalists—don't forget to turn in your paperwork this week!!

World History

6th graders in World history are enjoying our study of Ancient Greece. Special thanks to Makenna Drake's parents, Bob and Delyn Drake, for coming into period 5 class and setting goat cheese on fire for us! It was fascinating, very Greek and delicious. We especially liked that they cooked on a camping stove at our picnic tables so that we did not set off the fire alarms and we could all see. Summit parents are as imaginative as students and faculty when it comes to making Summit space work!

We need to adjust our schedule slightly from what is printed on the blue syllabus, so please make note of this. On February 7th typed scripts (60 seconds) for our Greek movie are still due. This will be a peer-editing day. No costumes or architecture are needed 2/7. Dress rehearsals will now be held when each class meets either February 14th or 15th (1/2 days for parent/teacher conferences). Students should bring their costumes, architecture and their scripts with any final editing completed back to school on 2/14. Filming will now be on February 16th and parents are welcome. The Greek unit test has been rescheduled to 2/21 and will be open note. (Reading notes may be used.) 6.1 will be due on 2/23 and 6.3 on 2/28. My goal is to help balance the pixie workload with our in-house testing and other projects and assignments. I think that this will work better for our students.

—Mrs. Kapsak

French Class News

Les Tartes! Ooh la la!

The French I classes made tarts at Summit on January 11th and 12th. The first day, we learned about kitchen cleanliness and safety. We made the pâte sucrée by hand, using only flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, and mixing them together with our fingers in the traditional style. On the second day, we made fresh Crème Chantilly and filled our pastry shells. Then we looked at photos of professionally made tarts for inspiration before decorating our own tarts with berries and kiwis. With extra ingredients, we made a tart for the faculty that was greatly appreciated. Then, bien sur, we ate! Thanks to Breadworks for allowing the photos. Merci infiniment to parent and community volunteers Chuck and Catherine Woodard, Chris Velds, Lori Jones, Carol Brandt and Jennifer Wallis (2 periods each!), and Andrea Feldman (4 periods!).

Criminal Justice

In Criminal Justice we loved having Sheriff Deputy Bill Manes and his bomb-sniffing dog Chewie in class. He is a beautiful animal and we liked seeing him work so well with his human companion. We have been listening to the National Public Radio broadcasts on sentencing and DNA evidence, and studying about the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center. On February 21st an advocate from Voices for Children will be in class to speak.

—Mrs. Kapsak

NJHS News

National Junior Honor Society continues to do great work. Our final total for Trick or Treat for UNICEF was $1502.34! At winter holiday time we donated a large bin of toys, nail polish, lotion, books, balls, and games to Children's Hospital in Denver. Thanks to every Summit family who donated these much needed items from the Hospital wish list. They were very grateful. Please remind your student to wear red on Friday, February 3rd, because we are raising awareness and funds for the American Heart Association with our all red bake sale! Any Summit family may send in red baked goods to room 2, individually wrapped, for us to sell at lunch for .50 each. Cupcakes and brownies are the best! The American Heart Association is a worthy cause and will receive all proceeds from our sale. Thanks to Graham Morgan's mom, Mary Copeland, who will make a red cake for our cake raffle that day.

The School Calendar

February

Tuesday, 14
Parent/Teacher Conferences, 1:30–6:30 pm
(Summit students will be in class 8:10–12:20 pm. NO LUNCH SERVICE)
Wednesday, 15
Parent/Teacher Conferences, 1:30–6:30 pm
(Summit students will be in class 8:10–12:20 pm. NO LUNCH SERVICE)
Friday, 17
NO SCHOOL
Monday, 20
NO SCHOOL—President's Day

March

Monday, 27, through Friday, 31
NO SCHOOL—Spring Break

April

Monday, 3
School Resumes
Wednesday, 5
Third Quarter Ends
Friday, 21
NO SCHOOL—Summit Day

May

Monday, 29
NO SCHOOL—Memorial Day
Monday, 29
Bolder Boulder Race