High Point Academy 2010-2011 Annual Report

2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT

W W W . H I G H P O I N T A C A D E M Y. N E T

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Message from the Board President 4 Message from the Principal 5 Guiding Principles 6 Our Students 7 Our Team 8 Student Achievement 9 Accomplishments 11 Student and Parent Voices 13 Financial Accountability 15 Parent Volunteers High Point Academy

MISSION High Point Academy’s mission is to provide a strong foundation of academic excellence in partnership with family and community in which each individual is challenged to achieve his/her highest potential academically, socially, and personally.

HISTORY High Point Academy was founded in 2006 by a group of parents and local business, civic and educational leaders. The founders sought to create a school focused not only on high academic standards, but also on character education, community involvement, technology, language, and wellness.

2010 - 2011 GOVERNING BOARD Brandon Wyszynski President

Barbara Johnson Secretary

Bryan Gieszler Director

Ryan Frazier Vice President

Quanda Singleton Director

Joshua Raines Director

Joni Johnson-Powe Treasurer

Kevin Miller Director

Message From

Brandon Wyszynski

GOVERNING BOARD PRESIDENT

The 2010-2011 school year was quite a monumental time in High Point Academy’s history! During its fifth year of operation and during an extended winter break, the dedicated staff and administration said goodbye to the modular campus and its “outdoor hallways” and prepared to begin educating students in the school’s permanent home.

As we made the transition into the dynamic new facility, it was also time to reflect upon the history of the school. Nearly six years ago, High Point Academy began as a vision by the founding board members to provide a new community called High Point with a solution to certain challenges. At the boundaries of the three intersecting school districts of Denver Public Schools, Aurora Public Schools and the Brighton 27J School District, the challenge of improving the academic standards of students within a growing community was evident. With strategic direction provided by Dr. Terry Croy Lewis, the founding board submitted an application for a new charter school on August 15, 2005 to the Charter School Institute. The Institute accepted the application and approved a contract to operate under its purview. We are grateful to the Institute for granting the formation of this charter school, and we are grateful to the legislators and public servants in Colorado that provided an opportunity for charter schools to exist through the Charter School Act and the State Charter Institute Act. As a charter school, we believe that charters provide choice to the community, enable innovation, and give autonomy to leadership to make decisions quickly based on what works and what doesn’t, in order to provide the most effective instruction for each individual student. It is truly important that the bar of academic achievement is continually raised in every community, and we pledge to meet this goal within our new building.

We shall continually focus on the mission of providing a strong foundation of academic excellence in partnership with family and community.

High Point Academy

Message From

Dr. Terry Croy Lewis principal/executive director

The 2010-2011 school year was our fifth year of operation and was a very significant year for HPA. Being able to move into our brand new facility was an incredible holiday present and was an excellent way to begin 2011. From one perspective, our school year was divided into two separate and distinct years; in January we had to learn the new building, new ways of doing things, and of course, a new carpool routine during the bitter cold winter weather. While the physical move divided the year, our mission and academic programs did not change, nor did our strong school culture based on expecting the best from our students and providing an academically rigorous school.

From the beginning of the school year, the entire community worked together to focus on data-driven instruction. This meant that students were released early from school two Wednesdays per month so that staff could analyze student assessment data to determine the best instructional strategies to meet students’ needs. This time proved to be extremely valuable and we are thankful to our families for allowing us to do this critical work. In addition to implementing Data Teams last year, we greatly expanded our Response to Invention (RtI) Program, which allowed us to provide more intensive intervention to students who were struggling academically or behaviorally.

Moreover, we implemented Fast ForWord, a program that provided intensive instruction for our English Language Learners and students who needed Speech and Language Services.

Our focused attention on our academic program resulted in a much higher state rating on our School Performance Framework - we scored 14 percentage points higher than the previous year. This academic success is both thrilling and gratifying. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much we accomplished in one school year, thanks to our strong, hard-working, unified, and dedicated school community.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES We foster a family-centered learning environment, including active and substantial parental involvement at all levels.

Our primary focus is always on achieving the highest academic standards.

We encourage and facilitate parental and community review of measurable school results in all areas of focus (academics, social, environmental, etc.)

We maintain extended school hours to ensure students receive the student/teacher interaction and instruction they need to succeed.

We employ the Core Knowledge Sequence to provide students with a rigorous, yet well-rounded education based on proven methodology and curriculum. Through Core Knowledge, we emphasize language arts (including classic literature), history and geography, visual arts, music, math, and science.

All students participate in service learning projects to increase confidence and self-esteem and to raise students’ community awareness and sense of civic responsibility.

We provide proven character education programs and implement strict enforcement of our school policies to ensure a safe and secure environment at all times.

We offer a diverse range of language, wellness, fitness, technology, and social programs and activities to ensure development of well-rounded students.

We utilize school uniforms to minimize parents’ costs and to ensure that students focus less on outward appearances and more on character.

We ensure that students develop life management skills and that they demonstrate personal responsibility in order to prepare them for success in future academic endeavors in high school and beyond.

High Point Academy

OUR STUDENTS

460

High Point Academy is proud to serve a culturally diverse student population from preschool through eighth grade.

4% Asian

K-8 Student Count

75

2% Native American

Preschool Student Count 35% Caucasian

26% Hispanic

Free and Reduced Lunch Rate:

44%

33% African American

24% of our students

Districts of Residence: 4.5% Brighton27J

are English Language

2.5% Other

Learners. They represent 62% Denver Public Schools

31% Aurora Public Schools

14 different languages.

7% of students receive special education services.

Enrollment, 2006-2011 600

535 397

400

200

455

327 189

06-07

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07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

6

OUR TEAM Executive Director/Principal:

Business Manager:

Intermediate Team Lead:

Dr. Terry Croy Lewis

Alejandra Kemp

Nick Stachokus

CFO/Financial Consultant:

Office Manager:

Middle School Team Lead:

Rick Boos

Jacqui Carter

Angela Cummins

Dean of Students:

Enrollment Coordinator:

Specials Team Lead:

Kelle Bongard

Wendy Kimball

Erica Konieczny

Director of Assessment:

Preschool Director:

Michele garver

Evie Kight

Director of Communications:

Primary Team Lead:

Annette sloan

Candace Beasley

19 K-8 Classroom Teachers 5 Specials Teachers 3 Special Ed/Learning Support Teachers

11 Instructional Assistants 7 Preschool Teachers 2.5 Support Staff 4 Office Staff High Point Academy

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 2011 CSAP Results:

High Point Academy Compared to Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) and Aurora Public Schools’ (APS) District Averages Elementary School % Proficient and Advanced

Middle School % Proficient and Advanced Key HPA DPS APS

High Point Academy Compared to Neighboring Schools Elementary Schools

Reading

Math

Writing

Archuleta

45%

51%

36%

Clyde Miller

51%

57%

40%

Florida Pitt Waller

46%

40%

33%

Green Valley

44%

39%

30%

Greenwood

38%

41%

27%

High Point Academy

67%

62%

51%

Marrama

61%

58%

47%

Omar D. Blair

69%

66%

56%

Second Creek

62%

59%

45%

Middle Schools

Reading

Math

Writing

Florida Pitt Waller

55%

41%

40%

Greenwood

61%

52%

58%

High Point Academy

62%

41%

52%

Martin Luther King

33%

21%

21%

Omar D. Blair

58%

51%

52%

*The numbers above refer to the percentage of students who scored proficient or advanced.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS Permanent Facility

SMART Technology

In January, after four and a half years on a temporary campus, HPA said goodbye to its modulars and moved into its new, 62,000 square foot home. The new building was debuted to families at a Family Grand Opening on January 7 and then was officially introduced to the community at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on January 14.

Thanks to generous grants from SMART Technologies and the Morgridge Family Foundation, HPA was able to greatly increase its investment in interactive whiteboard technology. When the school moved into its new facility, almost every classroom came equipped with a SMART Board.

Building Awards SLATERPAULL Architects, the company that designed HPA’s new building, won a Vision Award in the Education category from Floor Focus magazine for their innovative and colorful floor design. In addition, SLATERPAULL and Saunders Construction won an Excellence in Achievement Award from the Tilt-Up Construction Association for demonstrating creativity, quality, and ingenuity in their use of tilt-up concrete construction.

New Playgrounds Thanks to a generous grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, and with the help of many dedicated volunteers, the HPA community built two new playgrounds in spring 2011. The playgrounds were designed with the goals of encouraging moderate to vigorous physical activity and increasing community access to recreational exercise.

Data Teams During twice-monthly data team meetings, teachers analyzed student performance data and used their findings to make decisions about instructional methods, intervention, and allocation of resources. This close attention to data-driven instruction resulted in significant student growth and a feature article in the Leadership and Learning Center’s magazine.

School Performance Framework HPA’s School Performance Framework rating increased 14 percentage points in 2010-2011 compared to the previous school year. The school credits teachers’ work in Data Teams and an improved Response to Intervention program for this significant jump in student achievement.

A1 Organics HPA partnered with A1 Organics to compost school lunch waste. Over the course of the school year, over 24,000 pounds of biodegradable waste was turned into rich organic compost.

High Point Academy

Improved Communication

Thinking Maps

HPA debuted a new website, a monthly High Point Perspective newsletter and parent and community e-blasts. It also began using SchoolCast, a rapid communication system that allows the school to quickly send text and phone messages to parents and staff.

Having previously implemented Thinking Maps in select classrooms, HPA teachers brought this useful tool to every K-8 classroom. Thinking Maps provide a common visual language for learning within and across subjects.

Service Learning

High School

HPA students helped local and national organizations, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Denver Dumb Friends League, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, and the Gathering Place. Students also helped to raise money for victims of the tsunami in Japan.

Many 8th grade graduates went on to attend highly regarded high schools, such as VISTA Peak and the Denver School of Science and Technology.

AVID After successfully bringing AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) to 4th and 5th grades last year, HPA expanded the program to 6th grade. AVID helps students to develop successful study and organization habits.

Summer Tutoring HPA successfully conducted a one-on-one tutoring program focused on providing overthe-summer support to a select group of students.

Fast ForWord In order to provide students who are English Language Learners or use Speech and Language Services with more intensive instruction, HPA began using Fast ForWord, a research-based reading intervention program.

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VOICES

Student Voices “Everybody here appreciates me.”

“I always come to school feeling safe.”

“At HPA, they push you to your highest ability.”

“I enjoy how the teachers don’t allow slacking and they can see the students’ potential.”

“The teachers here always believe in you, no matter what.”

High Point Academy

Parent Voices “HPA has been such a wonderful experience for our family. I have recommended so many friends to HPA and am happy to see them benefiting from such a great program as well!”

“My children have excelled at High Point Academy. They are excited about the things they learn in their classes and enjoy the instruction of their teachers. The faculty is exceptional and really strives to push our students to their full potential.”

“HPA is innovative and cares about student, staff, and parent needs. HPA is on the right track delivering higher education expectations and teaching parents and students the importance of wellness and volunteering. I am proud my children attend HPA.”

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FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY 2010 - 2011 ACTUAL BUDGET Beginning Fund Balance

$442,044.49

Revenues Per Pupil Revenue Preschool Revenue Full-Day Kindergarten Tuition Other Revenues

$2,734,960.17 $154,072.51 $58,100.00 $237,442.81

Total Revenues

$3,184,575.49

Beginning Fund Balance and Revenues

$3,626,619.98

EXPENDITURES Salaries and Benefits Salaries

$1,717,013.15

Benefits

$472,906.16

Instructional Purchased Services Supplies and Materials Property-Related Services

$53,813.18 $249,224.83 $68,589.60

Administration Property-Related Services

$304,360.12

Purchased Services

$169,088.05

Supplies and Materials

$39,098.86

*Transfer to Food Service Fund

$60,123.70

Total Expenditures

$3,134,217.65

High Point Academy

GRANTS Federal/State Grants $63,250.00

Title I Title III - ELL

$2,100.00

Gifted and Talented

$2,742.16

IDEA - ARRA Funds

$41,280.00

Title IIA

$1,500.00

ELPA

$2,339.06

Foundations Buell Foundation- Qualistar

$6,435.99

Colorado Health Foundation

$72,334.00

Total Grant Revenue

$191,981.21

Total Revenues with Grants $3,376,556.70 Beginning Fund Balance and Total Revenues $3,818,601.19 Total Expenditures with Grants $3,326,198.86 Ending Fund Balance $492,402.33

An important part of High Point Acad partnership with the families it serve tirelessly gave their time and energy Coly Alidou

Teresa Frasier

Vynessa Allsop

Ria Galindez

Bernice Alvarez King

Michael Gassert

Melissa Anderson

Bryan and Kelli Gieszler

Jogita Auzina

Linda Gomez

Michelle Axelrod

Jeremy and Tonya Gray

Nancy Ballester

Stephanie Greene

Tara Barnes

Penny Hamilton

Audrey and Jason Bixler

Angela Harris

Angie and Jeff Blackwood

David and Lynda Hildred

Herman and Becky Bohnhoff

Ja’Net Hurt

Amy Bowen

Stacey Jaszkowiak

Larry and Laura Burdette

Jennifer Johansen

Renee Burnes

Michelle Johnson

Nicole Byrne

Evette Juarez

Brad and Jodi Byrnes

Christi and Devan Julian

Debbie Cera-Butler

Michelle Kassisse

Chris and Christina Chavez

Alejandra Kemp

Nya Cooper

Meheza Kilou

Linda Copeland

Wendy Kimball

Joan and Joe Cordo

Yvonne Kohlmeier

Liz Crowson

Aaron Larson

Charlotte Davidson

Deanna and John Lee

Celina Ellis

Dena Loftin

Sherry Epps

Andrea Lopez

Marilyn Faamatuainu

Linda Loth

High Point Academy

demy’s mission is working in es. Many thanks to the parents who y during the 2010-2011 school year.

Drue Lovgren

Jonathon and Magdalena Rodock

Lori and Rocky Lucero

Felicia Rodriguez

Amelia Matarazzo

Jenn Sanders

Russell Mazurik

Stephanie and Travis Schadegg

Gina McCloud

Cecilia and Robert Sciba

Diane and Tiger McDonald

Mike Selle

Beth and Jay McGee

Eva Solorzano

Melinda McKenzie

Darlene Stacie

LeDawn McQuarters

Jacque Stallman

Sandra Mele

Cookie Steen

Kevin and Sarah Miller

Joe and Shaunda Steffen

Sharmane Miranda

Dan Stevenson

Della Montoya

Jared Stong

Jennifer Moore Toal

Beth and Kristopher Swanson

Cassandra and Keith Moy

Valerie Sweely

Cheryl and Nathan Nash

Cheryl and Pat Taylor

Nickole Nieto

Louise Torrie

DeShaun and Shanna O’Dell

Rhonda Truesdale

Addy O’Riley

Andrew and Lisa Valencia

Thomas and Vicki Price

Aleice Vazquez

Katherine Prough

Kathy Weber

Renee Pryor

April Williams

Susan Radaelli

Rachel Wilrye

Jill Richardson

Tina Yono

Amanda Riegel Gregory and Lavinia Rodgers

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We’re forever grateful for the generosity of our supporters.

Our community partnerships make it possible for us to achieve our mission.

Buell Foundation Colorado Health Foundation Colorado League of Charter Schools Enterprise Holdings Foundation High Point Educational and Community Foundation King Soopers Morgridge Family Foundation Noodles and Company Premier Manufacturing SMART Technologies Sporting News Grill Tracy Carolyn Photography Walmart

A1 Organics Charter School Institute Colorado League of Charter Schools Colorado Preschool Program Denver Dumb Friends League Denver Preschool Program Far Northeast Principals’ Leadership Council Grades of Green HPA Parent-Teacher Organization Hope Valley Church Revolution Foods Slow Food Denver Sporting News Grill The Wellness Initiative YMCA Before and After School program Special thanks to the team that took our building from ground-breaking to ribbon-cutting in just eight months.

6750 N. Dunkirk St. Aurora, CO 80019 (303) 217–5152 www.highpointacademy.net

LNR Property Inline Management Saunders Construction SLATERPAULL Architects Consilium Design J3 Engineers Silver Bluff Companies