Jeffco Schools Pages 6 and 7
August 2014 Vol. 7 No. 2
A Jeffco Schools Publication
www.jeffcopublicschools.org
Books and breakfast boost summer skills
Our Mission To provide a quality education that prepares all children for a successful future.
Jeffco Public Schools is home to nearly 86,000 of Colorado's finest students. Step inside one of our 154 schools and you will see a staff dedicated to building a bright future for every student. Our staff is supported by a committed school board, involved parents and a caring community that combine to provide a quality education that prepares all children for a promising future.
Left: Edgewater Elementary School teacher Gina Martinez works with students on literacy skills in the school’s Jeffco Summer Early Literacy program. Below: Jeffco Schools Superintendent Dan McMinimee visits with Edgewater Elementary students at the school’s free breakfast program.
Six Jeffco schools kept their doors open this summer, inviting students to stay in class to boost their reading skills. Over 600 students at Edgewater, Molholm, Lasley, Stevens, Pennington and Swanson elementary schools, attended Jeffco’s Summer of Early Literacy program, a grant-funded reading curriculum supported and initiated by the Jeffco Schools Foundation in partnership with Title I. The program is in its third year of a five-year pilot project. Students received free breakfast and lunch and three hours of intensive literacy instruction in small classrooms of 15 students with licensed teachers. Since the program began three years ago, it has helped at-risk, low-income students make literacy gains, instead of being faced with the “summer slide,” or a loss of academic skills over the summer break. Teachers and principals at the schools said students are eight times more likely to reach TCAP proficiency in reading by third grade and are also seeing gains in students’ reading exams.
“For us, this summer program aims at closing literacy and achievement gaps because the classroom instruction mirrors the literacy blocks that occur in classrooms during the school year,” said Edgewater Principal Celeste Sultze. “This is serious work for our school and our kids, but we have masked the work as a fun and engaging environment.” Jeffco Superintendent Dan McMinimee visited Edgewater to see how the day of learning and instruction comes together. “I made a few friends at breakfast, talking to some of the students about their summers and their reading classes and it was good to see them excited about learning,” said McMinimee. “What a difference this kind of program can make for a community. I saw friends eating with friends, parents and grandparents. I like to see a school act as the hub of a community.” The literacy program emphasizes learning through fun and novel activities and engaging parents in the process. “Parent engagement is a key component of the program. It allows parents and families to
accompany students to eat meals and interact alongside their child,” said Jeffco Schools Foundation interim executive director Denise Delgado. “We have found that we have a high
success rate of students exceling throughout the summer when their parents are engaged, part of the process and understand what their child is learning.”
Creighton student’s doodle reaches Google Creighton Middle School student Ryan Shea recently created a Google of a doodle. The seventh grader’s artistic doodle creation caught the attention of Google’s Doodle 4 Google contest. The Google Doodle is known to computer users around the world as the interesting and creative artwork that appears on Google’s search engine homepage. The 2014 contest’s theme, “If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place…” encouraged curiosity, possibility and imagination. Shea designed “The Universal Nexus” drawing that modified the Google logo to resemble lunar landscapes and space shuttles. At the end of the school year, a school-wide assembly surprised
Shea with the news that he was Colorado state winner of the design contest. “I came up with the idea that it would be cool to visit different
worlds and see things we haven’t seen before,” said Shea. His prize for winning the state competition was a trip to Google
headquarters in California, an Android tablet and a T-shirt printed with his doodle design. “We were excited and honored to
Doodle 4 Google Colorado winner Creighton Middle School seventh-grader Ryan Shea with Principal Nick Kemmer and art teacher Maurine Moody.
be associated with an organization that represents creativity, innovation and learning of the highest caliber. Our art teacher, Maurine Moody, has always developed fun and creative projects that engage students,” said Principal Nick Kemmer. “That one of our students’ works will inspire others to dream big and use their imaginations, is a representation of our school.” In May, online voting determined the five national finalists and one national winner who received a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 Google for Education grant for the winner’s school. An 11-year old from New York won the competition out of more than 100,000 submissions from around the country.
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Jeffco Schools Quarterly
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Superintendent
MESSAGE FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
What are your hopes for the class of 2027? Ken Witt PRESIDENT
From the Jeffco Schools Superintendent Dan McMinimee started his first day with the school district on July 1.
Witt
Welcome to the beginnings of your public education journey, class of 2027! I wish you the joys of exploration and discovery as you embark on this passage to adulthood. Through your years in Jeffco education, may you find the sparks of insight that ignite your personal flame of intellectual passion. It is my hope that you will encounter in Jeffco schools the knowledge and understanding that empower success and achievement throughout your life. Seize the best educational offerings and program alternatives for you here in Jeffco. Give school your full commitment, doing your academic best in these years of kindergarten through 12th grade education, and I know that the world you enter upon graduation will hold great opportunity for you!
Julie Williams I am thrilled to be joining Jeffco Public Schools as we get ready to kick off the 2014-15 school year in a few weeks. Being the Jeffco superintendent is the opportunity of a lifetime for me because I believe in this great school district and want to build upon the tradition of excellence. My roots in Jeffco began in Arvada at Hackberry Hill Elementary School where I had wonderful teachers who instilled in me a love of learning. When my family moved to Littleton, I left Jeffco for many years but never forgot the lessons I learned from those excellent teachers at Hackberry Hill. I am in education today because of great teachers. I have been a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. I’ve taught everything from kindergarten to college classes and I know the power of having inspirational teachers in the classroom, a great principal in the school and strong parent/ community connections. I speak from personal experience because my two children graduated from Jeffco high schools where they were given a foundation of knowledge they will use for the rest of their lives. I believe in having an effective teacher in every classroom and ensuring that all students are college or work-force ready upon graduation. I believe in giving our Jeffco families choice in where they send their children to school and making sure that all choices are of the highest caliber. We are lucky to have excellent neighborhood, option and charter schools from which to choose. I believe in continuous improvement; we can always find ways to be better tomorrow than we are today. As superintendent, I will strive to create conditions where teachers can do their best work, where students can achieve to their highest potential and where every Jeffco employee can succeed in a safe and supportive environment. I will spend the next few months visiting our schools, meeting as many community members as possible and listening to ideas and input on how to make Jeffco even better. We can use our collective knowledge to build the future for this district and our students. I’m excited about beginning the school year and look forward to the important work that lies ahead. It is my honor and privilege to be leading Jeffco into a new year and a new beginning.
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Welcome to school class of 2027! Grab hold of a magic pencil Open your eyes and mind For now begins a journey Of the most exciting kind. A journey into learning A step . . . a start . . . a glow, And we will be there with you To help and watch you grow. — Unknown Author Williams
Dahlkemper
Brought to you by:
compensation for teachers and staff. The board, which is still in contract negotiations with the Jefferson County Education Association, added nearly $5 million to compensation as part of adjustments to the Adopted Budget. The 2014-15 budget includes an $18.2 million compensation placeholder across all employee groups pending a contract resolution. This represents a salary increase averaging approximately 2.5 percent across the district. The board also increased funding for charter schools in order to move toward equalized funding for charter school students. During the 2014-15 school year, charter schools will see an increase in funding from the district totaling $5.5 million. Other budget highlights include increased funding for math and literacy programs, school security and technology. Additional information regarding the district’s budget can be found online at www.jeffcopublicschools.org/ finance.
A free publication for parents and residents of Jefferson County, the Quarterly is published in partnership with Colorado Community Media. The school district's Communications Services staff provides the articles, photos and graphics in an effort to keep the community informed with news about Jeffco Schools. Citizen comments about the publication are welcome. Colorado Community Media provides layout, sells advertisements, prints, and distributes the publication at no cost to the school district. Photography courtesy: Lorie Hirose and Jack Maher, Jeffco Schools.
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
For the first time, the class of 2027 will walk through the doors of Jeffco schools this month with new backpacks and sharpened pencils in tow. Parents may pack a little extra Kleenex on the first day – perhaps more for them than their child. In just 13 years, today’s kindergartners will receive their high school diplomas. Your teachers are preparing you for careers in medicine, the arts, technology, and other fields that we have yet to imagine. Kindergartners – enjoy every moment! Get lost in a Dr. Seuss book… think your way through a cool math puzzle… or write a story about your favorite imaginary hideaway. Make lots of friends and learn from one another. Together, you will achieve even more than you think possible. If you get stuck, just ask for a little help. You are off to an amazing adventure! We can’t wait to see what you become.
John Newkirk S E C R E TA R Y
Jeffco’s 2014-15 budget focuses on student achievement The Jefferson County Board of Education approved a $1 billion budget for the 201415 school year, which reflects the district’s increased investment in student achievement, and the commitment to effective teachers in every classroom. The board of education has been working on the budget since January 2014 when it began receiving public input through a series of community meetings and a public survey. In addition, the board received input from the district’s Strategic Planning and Advisory Council, Financial Oversight Committee, staff, parent groups and employee associations. “Developing the budget is an intensive process. We must look at the needs of our students and balance those needs against available local and state funding. We feel confident that the adopted budget will move the district forward and support student achievement,” said Board President Ken Witt. The adopted budget includes an increase in
Lesley Dahlkemper
Newkirk
To my darling daughter, and to all those who’ve begun this odyssey of a dozen years plus one: my hope is that with the help of an excellent education, you’ll have all the tools you need to become a happy, productive, and responsible citizen of the 21st century. I hope this education will not only make you knowledgeable, but also build character and a life-long curiosity for learning. I hope you’ll realize that education is more than reading, writing, and arithmetic—it’s music, languages, literature, arts, sports, humanities and human relationships as well. Above all, I hope you’ll come to know that knowledge is power, and the best use of this power (and your one-of-a-kindness) is to do what you can to make this world just a little better.
Jill Fellman TREASURER
Fellman
As the class of 2027 begins their school career, I hope all students will dream, develop, thrive, and grow. DREAM: If you can dream it, you can do it! Never stop dreaming of all the possibilities that are ahead of you. DEVELOP: Never stop learning and developing your unique talents. Keep trying new things – athletics, arts, academics – everything is wide open at this point! THRIVE: Take care of all parts of yourself – your mind, body, and spirit can and will allow you to flourish! GROW: Whether it be learning to read, write, doing math, science, social studies, learning a new language, learning to play a musical instrument, or participating in a new sport (or lots of other opportunities), if you continue to challenge yourself, you will build a foundation for a productive, happy life.
Jeffco Public Schools Communications Services
1829 Denver West Drive, #27, Golden, CO 80401 303-982-6808 | 303-982-6816 Fax www.jeffcopublicschools.org Email: commsvcs@jeffco.k12.co.us
Colorado Community Media
303-566-4100 | www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com Publisher of the Arvada Press, Golden Transcript, Lakewood Sentinel and Wheat Ridge Transcript
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Jeffco Schools Quarterly
Capturing an
American Indian culture The students listened in rapt attention as the storyteller painted a picture of long ago when the Rabbit Dance could be heard echoing across the Colorado prairie. He told them of Kiowa Indians singing the Prairie Dog song and the meaning of the Snake Dance. This was summer learning for a group of 25 Jeffco students of all ages who took part in an enrichment program taught by Jeffco’s Indian Education Department at Wheat Ridge 5-8 School. “Jeffco has a lot of kids who really have no contact with their culture or have a limited amount,” said Jeffco’s Indian Education Coordinator Thompson Williams. “We try to boost that culture for them and give them an idea of the history of our people through teaching powwow social dances, bead work, crafting dream catchers or activities like learning how to build a teepee.” Students listened to Andy Cozad of the Kiowa tribe tell traditional stories passed down through generations about the origins of tribal songs and dances. “When our elders leave they take our history with them,” Cozad told the students. “You learn by listening with your heart and soul, that is where your culture comes from, within. Our youngest students can’t forget they come from our ancestors.” Junior David Strongheart is a mentor for the younger students in the program. He learned much of what he knows about his heritage from his mother and grandmother, but admits many Jeffco American Indian students don’t know anything about where they came from and he wanted to change that. “I used to dance in powwows and I play lacrosse and we’ve been talking about the history of the sport in our Indian culture,” he said. “I felt like I didn’t fit in when I was younger, but when I went to powwows to dance or other groups with kids like me, it made me feel like a part of something, that you belong to a group who accept you the way you are.” Jeffco Schools has identified more than 600 students as American Indian, but the true population number is closer to 900 because they don’t identify themselves American Indian, instead identifying as Hispanic or non-Indian. “When a family is not familiar with the culture themselves, some kids find it easier to blend in with other cultures, rather than stand out as American Indian,” said Williams. “There is an idea that to be an Indian you have to be a ‘super Indian’ and you have to know the culture and the language and that’s a myth. We want to break that stereotype.”
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Jeffco siblings LacyJay Left Hand Bull, Jericho Pacheco and Lucille Left Hand Bull are dressed in traditional powwow social dance costumes. Students learn and work as a team to build a teepee during the Jeffco Indian Education Summer Enrichment program.
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Jeffco student strikes gold
Together we build the path to success!
Jefferson County Head Start
Now Enrolling! Head Start is a NO COST preschool program for 3-5 year old children.
Wheat Ridge High School ceramic arts teacher Andy Yutzy and his student AJ Oehm celebrate winning Carnegie Hall awards for AJ’s ceramic work entitled Industrial Motion.
There were times when AJ Oehm’s parents wondered if their talented son would succeed in school. They never imagined the future that would await him thanks to finding the right school and people willing to help him in his journey. Diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD in third grade, AJ struggled with academics and his grades started to slide as a result. While core subjects left him unengaged, the sparks that ignited his passion for learning were music and art. In particular, AJ loved ceramics. “He skipped core classes in favor of the ceramics studio,” said AJ’s mother, Dayna Ashley-Oehm. When it was time for AJ to attend high school, his parents knew he would need a safe, alternative setting where his talents could be nurtured and his ADHD was understood. They chose Long View High School in Lakewood, one of Jeffco’s option schools. Its small class sizes and comprehensive curriculum was just what the Oehm family needed for their bright, artistic son. The only drawback was that Long View didn’t have ceramics as a part of its offerings. “The conversations began. Would Long View allow AJ to attend ceramics classes at Wheat Ridge High School? Would Wheat Ridge allow AJ to take ceramics classes without being formally enrolled? These are difficult
questions for teachers and administrators to answer, since they require additional communication. To everyone’s credit, the answers were, ‘Yes’,” said Ashley-Oehm. Because he could now combine his need to be creative with his academics, his parents knew their son was on the path to graduation and much more. “At Long View, AJ began to love learning; to understand that subject matter presented in creative ways can be inspiring and worthy of his time and attention. His grades became a reflection of his ability. He would graduate and he would thrive,” said Ashley-Oehm. Not only did AJ graduate, he won some awards along the way. He received the Best in Show Award at the Jeffco Schools Foundation art exhibit for one of his ceramic pieces. In addition, he was awarded gold and silver medals from the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for his work. He and his teacher accepted the awards at Carnegie Hall in New York in June. The next chapter of this remarkable student’s life will take him to the Maryland Institute College of Art where a scholarship will help him create and continue to thrive. “After an up and down educational path for AJ, we’re thrilled at the outcome,” said AshleyOehm.
Jeffco students land prestigious Daniels Fund scholarships
We provide: Healthy meals & snacks Family support services • School readiness • Hands-on learning fostering success & self esteem • •
Families must meet income guidelines. We welcome children with special needs. Call or visit us for an application today! 5150 Allison St. Arvada, CO 80002 Phone: 720-497-7900
12725 W. 42nd Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Phone: 720-497-7680
We serve: Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Littleton, Unincorporated Jeffco, Westminster and Wheat Ridge
Congratulations to Jeffco Schools graduating seniors: Kendall Lundquist Bear Creek High School
Vincent Jaconski Dakota Ridge High School
Sarah Street Zoe Miles
Jefferson Academy
Bryan Yoshida
Lakewood High School
Soham Shah
Standley Lake High School
Calen Cartlidge Haydar Ibrahim Wheat Ridge High School
Daniels Scholar and Lakewood High School student Bryan Yoshida celebrates his high school graduation with retired Principal Ron Castagna.
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Nine graduating Jeffco high school students have been awarded the prestigious Daniels Scholarship. The fund rewards students whose exceptional character, leadership and commitment to the community have earned them a place in the Daniels Scholarship Program. The 2014 class includes 166 high school seniors from Colorado, 39 from New Mexico, 23 from Wyoming and 16 from Utah. Daniels Scholars may attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the U.S., and the program covers the expenses that remain after all other scholarships and financial aid have been applied. Students also receive a laptop computer. “We provide Daniels Scholars with resources, encouragement, and support far beyond financial assistance to help them earn a
four-year college degree,” explained Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “This includes personal and professional development, online tools, and networking opportunities to help them succeed and thrive in life.” With this year’s announcement, 3,006 students have received the Daniels Scholarship. At any given time, there are nearly 1,000 Daniels Scholars attending more than 200 colleges and universities in 45 states. More than $108 million in scholarships have been awarded since 2000. High school seniors graduating in 2015 are encouraged to visit www.DanielsFund.org to apply online for the Daniels Scholarship Program in the fall.
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Science teacher wins national recognition Lakewood High School chemistry teacher Suzanne McClung is a teacher to watch. She’s one of only nine teachers in the U.S. who has been awarded the 2014 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence award. Now in its 21st year, the award recognizes extraordinary teachers at the kindergarten through 12th grade level who have an outstanding ability to inspire students and produce results in science education. Amgen presented a check for $10,000 to McClung, with $5,000 going to her personally and $5,000 going to her school. She plans to save her portion of the award for family travel. “We have spent a lot of time as a family researching different places in the world we would like to go and believe it’s very important for our children to experience different cultures to expand their world view,” said McClung. The school’s portion of the grant money will provide full-day workshops for her colleagues. “I realized Amgen appreciates the use of grant money to promote the professional development of teachers,” McClung said.
Her colleagues at Lakewood said she stood out as a great teacher because of the countless “little things” she does to help her students and peers. “When she sets up a lab, a demonstration cart or a podcast, she is thorough and generous in sharing and makes us all better teachers. She is a gem and Jeffco is lucky to have her,” said Lakewood teacher Don Cameron. McClung is like many teachers when describing her work in the classroom — humble. “It’s hard for me to talk about myself,” she said. “I love what I do and I love the people and students I work with.” She said her classroom instruction is what could have made her a stand out in the competition. “I have flipped my classroom,” said McClung. Flipping a classroom is structured for students to read or watch a teacher lecture over a certain subject or concept and then working on the student assignment during class time. “The best gift of all was a speech by one of my students who said I inspired him to study chemistry in college,” McClung posted to her Facebook page. “Made me cry.”
Lakewood High School science teacher Suzanne McClung, pictured with student Alejandro Arroyo, is the 2014 Amgen Science Teaching Excellence award winner.
Reading bench honors beloved school kitchen manager When beloved Warder Elementary School kitchen manager Sheila Moravec, or Miss Jo as her students called her, passed away last school year from cancer, students knew they wanted to show their school and community how much they loved her. Many students treated Miss Jo like a grandma. “She was just a spitfire and she loved coming to school every day and looked forward to seeing the students, she adopted every kid,” said student council teacher-leader Lauralee Huff. Warder’s student council started brainstorming ideas with Huff on how to honor Miss Jo’s memory. They decided on a memorial reading bench they could place in front of their school. “They searched through stores and catalogs and just couldn’t find the right one,” said Huff. “So, I reached out to Joe Buzzitta who’s
an ed tech teacher at Wayne Carle Middle School because I thought his students could design and build one.” Buzzitta knew when he heard the proposal he would get his students involved. “I thought what a great opportunity for elementary students and middle school students to work together,” said Buzzitta. “I wanted to give my students a chance to be involved in a real life project and be proud of an opportunity to help a community heal.” Students designed, planned and completed the bench in less than four weeks. They presented the original-design bench, engraved with Miss Jo’s image, to her husband and daughter in May. “One glance at the memorial bench that sits at the front entrance is all it takes to remind students of her presence in our school,” said Huff.
Wayne Carle Middle School teacher Joe Buzzitta and his students were proud to design and build a memorial reading bench to honor beloved Warder Elementary School kitchen manager Sheila Moravec.
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For more information, contact Joe Moore at Joe.Moore@gcu.edu or 303-638-5986 For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. 14COEE105
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Registration Checklist
Each school will have a calen dar that reflects special events an d test days, the district’s school year calendar showing holidays an d early release days in a PDF docume nt, or in Google Calendar, can be fou nd at: www.jeffcopublicschools.or g/ calendar/
To help parents navigate back-to-school registration, review the checklist at: www.jeffcopublicschools.org/back_to_school/ registration_checklist.html.
Registration Dates & Times Before the official first day of school, most Jeffco students need to register online, or visit the school for check-in. A list of registration dates and times, provided by schools can be found at: www.jeffcopublicschool.org
n T r a n s p o rtat io vices for a
nsportation ser Jeffco Public School offers tra dents who ride the bus to a fee to eligible students. All stu rged $150 per child, per neighborhood school will be cha ion schools will pay $200 year. Students who attend opt bus. Bus fees are waived per child, per year to ride the Free and Reduced Meals. for students who qualify for h individual needs and Special education students wit ibility for transportation an approved IEP specifying elig exempt from paying bus as a related service, will also be bus fee, please talk to a fees. If you cannot afford the more information about school administrator. Get w.jeffcopublicschools.org/ bus transportation at: ww r bus schedule through transportation/. Access you ublicschools.org/schools/ InfoFinder at www.jeffcop locator/infofinder_intro.
sites Individual school web formation provide a wealth of in bell about class schedules, school times, staff lists, and all school documents. Links to d at: websites can be foun ools.org/ www.jeffcopublicsch l schools/web_sites.htm
Jeffco Connec t
Jeffco Conne ct is used for school registr and to conne ation ct parents to m a n y o nline service such as fee a s nd meal pay m e n t, Campus P for grades an ortal d schedules a n d to a llow parents provide scho to ols with their e m e rg e n cy contact information . Schools pro v id e parents and guardians us er IDs and p asswords to the system. Jeffco Conne ct can be fou n d online at: www.jeffcop ublicschools .org/jeffco_c onnect/
t c u d n o C f o Coadned Related Policies
Immunizations are an important par t of your child’s health care because they protect against vaccine preventable diseases. To ens ure that students remain healthy, the Colorado School Entrance and Immunization Law req uires all students to provide proof of immuni zations to attend school. To check the min imum number of doses required for this cer tificate of immunization, see: www.jeffcopublicsc hools. org/health/medication.html. Please provide your student’s Certificate of Immuni zation record, or an exemption waiver to the school before the first day of school.
Emergency Closures
Meals
Jeffco Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Department prepares more than six million meals a year for students. The district participates in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School lunch, breakfast and snack program, which provides food and menu standards to schools. Menus for Jeffco’s school meals for the 2014-15 school year and meal prices are now available in an easy to download PDF format at: www.jeffcopublicschools.org/ food_services/. Payment for meals can be made online through Jeffco Connect. Some children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. To apply for free or reduced price meals, use the free and reduced price school meals application, which is available at each school, or online at https://lunchapps.jeffco.k12. co.us/. Meal prices will increase slightly for the 2014-15 school year, but meals will include more fruits and vegetables. Here’s what breakfast and lunch will cost: Elementary breakfast: $1.75, Secondary breakfast: $2, Elementary lunch: $2.75, Secondary lunch: $3.25.
In Colorado we expect bad weather and possible school closures. Being prepared ensures every one stays safe. All families are encouraged to ma ke advanced arrangements for their children in cas e of a weather-related sch ool closure. The district makes every effort to announce school closu res before 6 a.m. so that paren ts have time to complete their alternative child car e and transportation plans . Once a decision is made to close schools, a messa ge will be sent to the ph one and email address es provided by parents and guardians in Jeff co Connect. It’s important to keep this information up to-date and not block me ssages from schools. Loca l media will also be notifi ed and information poste d on social media. Unles s otherwise announced , weather-related school clo sures are for one day only. Occasionally, only “Jeffco mountain schools” will be closed. A list of mountai n schools and other schoo l closure related informatio n can be found online at: www.jeffcopublicschools .org/closures/
ghts and d parents have ri an ts en d u st co y of these ff Je co schools. Man ff Je to d te la re t responsibilities others are distric , ts en em ir qu re l each are based on lega tant to ensuring or p im e ar l al t practices, bu fe environment. sa a in on ti ca u od ed to student gets a go ties are provided li bi si on sp re d ol’s Code These rights an ffco Public Scho Je e th in ar ye ffco families families each ated Policies. Je el R d an ent ct u d of Con d help their stud an n io at rm fo in arents are should read this s of behavior. P on ti ta ec p ex n d understan g this informatio in iv ce re ge d le process. asked to acknow ect registration n on C co ff Je . e as part of th d online at www n u fo e b n ca ct du tes. The Code of Con on school websi d an g or s. ol o h jeffcopublicsc
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Expanded career opportunities offered to Alameda students The staff of Alameda International High School asked their students what future careers they would like to see the school focus on and the kids answered. Beginning this fall, Lakewood’s Alameda will be the first high school in the metro area to offer the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Certificate (IBCC) program. The track will offer students a curriculum in health careers. “The courses are focused on preparing students for work in healthrelated fields either at an entry level right after graduating high school, or to go on to secondary school,” said Alameda International Principal Susie Van Scoyk. The program will offer students bilingual IB diplomas and a unique opportunity for students to also earn bilingual certificates in medical terminology. “It’s very difficult to offer a bilingual certificate, but this program fits our population,” said Van Scoyk. “The IB diploma program is difficult enough, but then you add another layer on top and students must take two language classes.” Alameda IBCC program coordinator Steven Houwen said that by opening up access to a more rigorous education, students are stepping up. The program has tripled from 11 students in 2010 to more than 70 students. “When we told our students about the program, they were excited,” said Houwen. “Their parents were just as excited or more about the opportunity their children were getting.” The school’s diploma program has eight teachers, but with the expanded program there is a plan to add six more teaching positions. For more information, call 303-982-8160. A 2014 Alameda International High School graduate celebrates the completion of high school with a diploma.
Jeffco’s on-time graduation rate continues to climb
Over the past three years, Jeffco Schools has continued to graduate more students from high school. Jeffco is making steady gains with its on-time graduation rate of 81.4 percent. By comparison, Jeffco Schools outranks the state’s 2012-13 graduation rate of 76.9 percent as reported by the Colorado Department of Education. The 2012-13 on-time graduation rate for neighborhood high schools moved from 88.3 to 89 percent. The increase shows the district’s emphasis on maintaining an upward trend in graduation rates while lowering the district’s drop-out rate.
“In 2011-12 we had 853 students who dropped out and last year we had 710 students,” said Dave Kollar, director of Dropout Prevention and Recovery. “We’re excited about the reduction and that is Jeffco’s lowest dropout rate ever.” Kollar said a lowering dropout rate would not be possible without the focused work that often begins in neighborhood schools and alternative programs at schools like Brady and McLain high schools. “A positive change in a large district’s dropout rates can only be achieved when schools, programs, community agencies and interventions work in concert,” he added.
On-time graduation rates
2011-12
2012-13
Jeffco’s gradutation rate including option/charter schools
81.4%
81.5%
State of Colorado graduation rate
75.4%
76.9%
Jeffco’s neighborhood high schools’ graduation rate
88.3%
89%
Jeffco’s dropout rate
2.0%
1.7%
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Jeffco Schools Quarterly
August 2014 | 9
Learning to give back The neighbors around Patterson International Elementary School in Lakewood noticed that something had changed about the school this spring. There was fresh paint on the basketball court, the rust on the old gazebo was gone and brightly colored flowers greeted visitors at the front door. The school is in the process of getting a face-lift thanks to the efforts of its 51 sixthgrade students. “It made a difference. People who walk their dogs who don’t even have kids here stopped and said it is making the school look so much better,” said Patterson International sixth-grade teacher Roger Wright. Patterson is the only elementary school in Jeffco that has the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme designation — a source of great pride for the students and staff. “We’re not just teaching academics. We’re teaching children how to become good citizens and good human beings,” said Wright. The foundation of the program is built around helping students discover critical thinking skills and learning what it means to be a citizen in a global society. Students begin with the basics in kindergarten and by sixth grade they are expected to choose an end-of-the-year project that reflects the skills they’ve learned for the past seven years. Working in selfchosen groups, they formulate a community service idea, get it approved by the principal and then figure out how to get it done without any help from teachers or parents. “That’s where the learning comes. They learn you can’t get through something without thinking through the steps. They think you just start here and you get to the finish so they really learn that there are a lot of steps in between,” said Patterson International sixth-grade teacher LeeAnna Hooper. One group of students wanted to re-do the concrete
basketball court but when they discovered that it was a complicated process, they opted instead to repaint the court with the school’s logo. “They learned how the world works. It’s not just doing a project but what does it take to get it done right and what steps you have to go through,” said Wright. Some of those steps involved asking local businesses for donations of material and supplies. “If they were scraping paint, they had to come up with the scrapers. If they wanted to paint something, they needed to get a donation. They had to learn how to communicate at a different level by going to businesses and asking for help,” said Hooper. The projects included raising money through a yard sale to help pay the medical expenses of a classmate suffering from leukemia, planting a flower garden, painting the old gazebo and creating murals inside of Patterson that focused on IB principles. In some cases the students were so determined, they came in before and after school and on weekends to perfect their work. The projects aren’t given a grade but rather are shown during an exhibition for fellow students, staff and parents at the end of the school year. “The exhibition gives them the process to reflect on their own and not have teachers tell them this is what you’re getting based on what you did,” said Patterson International IB coordinator and teacher librarian Ryan Livingston. Staff members say the projects leave a powerful and permanent impression on the students and the Patterson community. “The kids just beam when they see the mark they are leaving behind in the school. It’s a great way for them to exit Patterson. They are leaving a positive mark in our school,” Hooper said.
Patterson International student Alec Wagner works on the school’s front planter.
We are a free Jefferson County Public Charter School and we are happy to announce our K-12 expansion is official! We are now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year. K-8 Core Knowlege Strong Music Emphasis Piano, Guitar, Theater Latin & Spanish Individual iPads College Prep Courses High Academic & Moral Expectations
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Jefferson County
Patterson International students Jazlyn Baca and Shane Madrid landscape the front of the school.
Steering technology and choice A newly created citizen committee has been formed to help advise the Jefferson County Board of Education on data privacy and technology issues. The nine-member Technology Data and Privacy Advisory Committee will meet monthly or quarterly during the upcoming school year and will take an indepth look at the district’s technology systems, its long-term technology strategies and data privacy safeguards. Participants had to apply to be on the committee and were appointed by a vote of the board. Those selected bring a variety of technology backgrounds to the group. “We are so fortunate to have amazingly skilled parents and community members who want to give of their time and talents on this committee. They will help us review our technology policies and other long-term strategic technology initiatives,” said Jeffco Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Lorie Gillis. To read more about the Technology and Data Privacy Advisory Committee, go to: http://www.jeffcopublicschools. org/community/technology_committee/index.html Another board of education committee, whose work is now completed, was the Choice Steering Committee. Formed in January 2014, its charge was to review Jeffco’s choice and
enrollment practices and identify the district’s highest priority choice and enrollment challenges to address over the next few months. The 29-member committee was made up of parents, community members, principals and support staff. In its final report to the board of education, the committee made four recommendations: 1.) Implement an online enrollment system. 2.) Enhance district systems and structures to support innovative practices and monitor corresponding outcomes of those practices. 3.) Explore ways in which transportation options can be better communicated to families without increasing the cost of transportation. 4.) Consistently enforce the district’s current choice policy. To view the work of the committee, go to: http://www. jeffcopublicschools.org/community/choice_enroll_committee/ index.html The committee also recommended that Jeffco parents be surveyed about their experiences with choice and enrollment. That survey will be distributed to parents in mid-August.
Mediation Services
Celebrating 20 years of free conflict resolution services for the citizens of Jefferson County. Clip this and save our contact information for when you need help resolving a dispute with your neighbor, your landlord or tenant, a public agency, a contractor or repair service, and more.
Fast, confidential, and free. Phone: 303-271-5060 www.JeffcoMediation.com Email: jsmediation@jeffco.us Like us on Facebook!
10 | August 2014
Jeffco Schools Quarterly
Summer time is prime time to prep school buildings for another school year When school is out for students in the summer, the real work is only beginning for Jeffco’s construction management and maintenance teams. “This summer we have construction projects at over 140 locations,” said Tim Reed. “The facilities department receives an annual allocation from the district’s general fund. These are used to make needed capital improvements to our schools and support buildings, plus minor and major improvements.” The budget allocation, combined with the voter-approved 2012 bond election, allows for substantial improvements to Jeffco school buildings. Funds that would be used to maintain systems cannot fund other district needs. This year’s savings were used to update or replace playground equipment, bathroom upgrades, school-exterior painting, carpet replacement and instituting a preventative maintenance program of applying seal coat to existing parking lots to extend their use. “When the 2012 bond passed we were able to address the high priority items that need to be replaced as opposed to using maintenance funds to keep our obsolete systems running,” added Reed. “The true benefit is that by making this bond investment we protect our assets and continue to provide a comfortable and safe environment for our students and staff.” The construction crews are busy putting the $15 million budget allocation to work in 40 locations. The work includes roof replacements, athletic field improvements, gymnasium floors, replacing classroom furniture, paving and sidewalk replacements and improving school kitchens to accommodate new state Breakfast after the Bell legislation.
This summer’s bond work includes $47 million in construction. School roofs were replaced at seven sites and improved at 40 more, mechanical and electrical systems were upgraded or replaced, new water heaters installed at 44 locations, fire alarm replacement or upgrades at 44 sites, paving and concrete work at 66 sites and numerous other projects. “We have a mission to keep our students and staff warm, safe and dry,” said Reed. “Those kinds of projects are things like window replacements, door and hardware improvements and improvements to the exterior of the buildings, those things that our community sees when they walk up to a school.” Reed points to his team and their hard work for streamlining building maintenance and creating an aggressive preventative maintenance protocol to save dollars on everyday work. “Many of the construction projects aren’t seen,” said Reed. “They may occur on the roof or above ceilings or walls. Those that are visible, we want our community to see and know that their tax money is being put to good use.” Reed credits the construction management team for completing the summer work in such a short period of time, along with consultants and contractor partners. Reed said the district is committed to its buildings and has a responsibility to the citizens of Jefferson County to maintain them. “We know that every dollar we save through preventative maintenance, energy management or using the best construction systems and practices, ends up back in the classroom and that’s our ultimate goal.”
Top Right: Construction crews replace 14 roof top heating and cooling units at Hutchinson Elementary School in Lakewood. Right: Jeffco’s construction management team pours new concrete at Lakewood High School.
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Jeffco Schools Quarterly
August 2014 | 11
Winning ways Jeffco student athletes took some of the 2013-14 high school athletic tournaments by storm, many schools winning their first-ever state title games. In February, the Arvada West High School wrestling team won the 5A state championship in a dominating fashion. Arvada West took the title, scoring 179 points and winning three out of four championship matches. Nine of the school’s qualifiers placed and three student wrestlers, junior Payton Tawater, senior Tony Silva-Bussey and junior Devin Rothrock, were crowned state champions. Bear Creek High School senior P.T. Garcia nabbed his third state title and was also honored as the high school wrestler of the year by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Colorado chapter. Pomona High School also finished second in the state wrestling tournament. Green Mountain High’s baseball team took a swing at the 4A title and brought home the state trophy with an 11-4 win over Niwot. To make the win even more impressive, the team pitcher Talon Schaller pitched a complete game two-hitter earlier in the day to advance against Niwot. “The end of the season became a really big grind for us with seven elimination games in the last two weeks of the season,” said Green Mountain coach Brad Madden. “Our team went in believing we could win and that shows what kind of spirit the kids had and they just never gave up. We played some of the best baseball we had all season in the semi-final and championship game.” Madden added that the community really came out to support his players. “I saw former students, players, teachers and parents coming out to cheer on our team,” he said. “It was a fun atmosphere and a win for our community.” It was Green Mountain’s first-ever state title in baseball and first team title in any sport since 1999. Madden also coached Golden to its first baseball title in 2003. Jeffco girls’ soccer rivals Columbine and Ralston Valley high schools squared off in the first all-Jeffco championship in more than a decade. The Rebel girls came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat the Ralston Mustangs for the 5A state soccer championship. “To play Columbine in the final was amazing,” said Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood. “It’s been a positive experience to do something we haven’t done before. For two Jeffco teams to make the final gives you great pride in Jeffco. It was exciting.” The team’s coach Brian Todd was also named 5A Girls Soccer Colorado High School Coaches Association 2014 Coach of the Year.
Columbine High School’s girls’ soccer team celebrates the 5A girls state soccer championship with retired Principal Frank DeAngelis.
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Reaching across the globe
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Student Sean Rehn packed his suitcase, said goodbye to his family and left his native Finland for a year of American culture and study at Golden High School. It was an experience he said he’ll never forget. Rehn was one of 12 foreign exchange students who traveled from different parts of the world to take part in the AFS study abroad program at Golden. “This is a great opportunity for our students to learn about different cultures by getting to know their peers from countries far and wide. Our students love the friendships they make with the exchange students; in some cases, it could be a friendship that lasts a lifetime,” said Golden Principal Brian Conroy. Because of its robust student-exchange program, Golden was one of only 79 high schools in the country named a 2014 Top AFS School. AFS is an educational leader in international high school student exchange. Golden has hosted eight students from eight different countries and sent nine students to seven different countries. “We’re so thankful and proud to work in educational partnership with schools like Golden High School,” said Tonya Muro, the director of School Outreach and Educational Partnerships at AFS-USA. “These educators are at the forefront of bringing global awareness and intercultural experience to their students. In doing so, they are providing students, teachers and the greater community profound opportunities to broaden their knowledge of other cultures and peoples.”
pril 26 from Noon to 3pm Exchange student Sean Rehn from Finland studied at Golden High School for a school year, and bids farewell to the school and Principal Brian Conroy.
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12 | August 2014
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Jeffco Schools Quarterly
Title IX – Sexual Harassment Reporting Notice Jeffco Public Schools is committed to providing a working and learning environment that is free from sexual harassment, and it is the policy of the district that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. Students, parents, and staff are encouraged to work together to prevent sexual harassment and to report promptly any conduct that could constitute a violation of this policy. The district is committed to conducting prompt investigations of any allegations of sexual harassment. To that end, any employee who believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment should report the alleged harassment to: Equal Opportunity/ADA Compliance Office 1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg 27, 4th Floor P.O. Box 4001 Golden Colorado, 80401-0001 (303) 982-6544
Call today for details 303-566-4071
www.jeffcopublicschools.org
Students and parents who believe that a student has been subjected to sexual harassment should report the alleged
harassment to the Achievement Director responsible for the student’s school area. District employees who witness or believe that that a student has been subjected to sexual harassment shall promptly report the harassment to the building principal for effective action. If the harassment is being committed by the principal, the report shall be made to the Achievement Director. Achievement Directors can be contacted at: 1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg 27, 4th floor P.O. Box 4001 Golden Colorado, 80401-0001 (303) 982-6805 Any person who is determined to have engaged in sexual harassment in violation of district policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, warning, reprimand, transfer, discharge, suspension, expulsion or other appropriate remedial action. For additional information, please see district policies GBAA and JBB.
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