MOUNTAIN RANGE STUDENTS HEAD TO THE CAPITOL
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Two seniors compete in moot court competition
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Adams12.org
March 2015
District takes proactive approach to immunization compliance
VOL. 14 | NO. 3
McElwain and Coronado Hills earn IB authorization
Goal is 95 percent or greater immunization compliance by end of October each year The recent measles outbreak has brought the topic of immunization into the spotlight across the country. Fortunately, immunization conversations are not new to Adams 12 Five Star Schools and the district has had a strategic plan in place the past several years to increase immunization compliance at all schools. Julie McRae, the district’s health services coordinator, said the district’s goal is to have 95 percent, or better, immunization compliance by the end of October each year. Immunization compliance means there is a Certificate of Immunization on file at the school listing all required vaccinations for a student. Students also are considered compliant if the appropriate vaccination exemption
form is signed by a parent or guardian and in the student file. While vaccination and exemption rates vary by school, the Five Star District has the lowest noncompliance rate (1.4 percent) in the metro area and just 3 percent of district students have exemptions, according to data compiled and published by the Denver Post in February. Our compliance rates are high and our exemptions rates low due to the efforts of our school health aides, district nurses and our health services coordinator over the past several years. Their strategy includes: • Collecting an immunization inventory of students at the beginning of the school year and cross-referencing our data with the Colorado Immunization Inventory System (CIIS). SEE IMMUNIZATION | PAGE 5
Mrs. Laura Birdsill assists students in Ms. Rydzy’s third-grade class at McElwain Elementary. After undergoing a lengthy and rigorous qualification process, McElwain Elementary and Coronado Hills Elementary earned full authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer the IB Primary Years Programme. Thornton Elementary will learn the results of its February authorization visit within a few months. Leroy Elementary received IB PYP accreditation in 2013. As part of schools’ accreditation, students have the opportunity to participate in a curriculum that’s focused on inquiry-based learning and an international perspective to create a relevant, engaging, challenging and significant educational framework.■
New opportunity for parents and community members to engage in public education Five Star Leadership Academy set to begin in September 2015, applications available in April
Adams 12 Five Star Schools is launching a new way for parents and community members to increase their knowledge of school district and state education affairs. The Five Star Leadership Academy will begin in September 2015 and participants will obtain a foundation in district operations and governance, and become more effective participants in school district affairs. The leadership academy will be held once a month September through May and each session will be about two hours. Participants will learn about state and district funding, enrollment projections and planning, the district’s approach to learning, safety, gifted and talented and special education programs, and much more. After participating in the leadership academy, graduates will have made long-lasting connections with other committed parents and community members, and they’ll be empowered with information to help support them as partners in education and to take on leadership roles within the district. Additional information and an application form for the first leadership academy class will be available in April and will be announced through email, and on the district’s website and Facebook page.■
Growing problem with aging buildings plagues district Board explores band-aid solution to address most critical needs at existing schools As of July 2014, Adams 12 Five Start Schools had $90.7 million in deferred maintenance needs, or maintenance that should be performed but has been postponed due to funding challenges as a result of the Great Recession and no new bond dollars since 2004. That figure continues to grow as buildings age and maintenance issues are not addressed due to a shortfall of funds. A $220 million bond failed to pass in November 2014 that would have addressed many of the critical needs. As a result, the district is moving forward with the use of a $27 million Certificate of Participation (COP) to address some of the district’s serious critical failing needs that have the greatest potential to interrupt classes and/or pose a safety risk to students and staff. Some of the critical needs include roofs that are beginning to fail or are at the end of their useful lives, failing sewer lines, structural deficiencies, HVAC systems not performing properly, aging water mains, deteriorating fire protection systems and moisture intrusion. About 13 percent of the district’s most critical maintenance needs are at STEM Lab in the school’s aging west wing. The school has canceled classes two days within the last year due to water-main breaks. COPs are tax-exempt government securities used to raise funds to improve and construct buildings or purchase equipment. COPs help finance capital costs related to construction or acquisition and may A deteriorating structural beam at Centennial Elementary. The Five Star District faces mounting critical maintenance issues not be used to finance ongoing operating costs. SEE COP | PAGE 3
that must be addressed.
BOLLMAN TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER STUDENTS RENOVATE CIT Y OF THORNTON BUILDING An Adams 12 Five Star Schools Publication
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2 | March 2015
Board calls upon Legislature to reduce time spent on state assessments Resolution outlines board’s position on the future of state testing
2014 Official Postage Sponsor of the Five Star Journal 2015 By Mark Clark, President
Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education
The Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution calling for a reduction in the amount of time spent on state testing at its Feb. 18 regular meeting. The board recognizes the value of state assessments. We rely on results from these state assessments to make sure our students are making yearly progress to be college and career ready upon graduation. These tests also allow our schools and district to see how they are doing in meeting the needs of students as compared to other schools and districts. Having said that, the board believes we can still achieve this end without overburdening our staff and students with lengthy assessments. I would like to highlight a few of the board’s top priorities in terms of how we would like the Legislature to address state testing. Given the many high-stakes tests already completed by high school juniors and seniors, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and ACT/SAT exams, the board believes the value of administering state assessments in language arts, math, social studies and science in those grades is outweighed by the burden of those assessments. As a board we urge lawmakers to remove testing requirements in these grades and content areas. We’re encouraged that the recommendations of the Colorado Standards and Assessments Task Force, established by the General Assembly in 2014 (HB 14-1202), include eliminating state-mandated tests in 11th and 12th grade.
The board also urges state policy-makers to demand that PARCC, or any other assessment-creator engaged by the state in future years, develop a single end-of-year assessment that measures student learning rather than the separate performance-based and summative assessments mandated in the current system. The revised assessment system should emphasize, to the extent possible, measurement of critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical application of knowledge in each content area. Finally, we need to reduce the total testing time completed by students in language arts, math and science from the current level, which ranges from approximately 10-15 hours per year depending on a student’s grade level, to no more than 4-5 hours. The board of education commends the students and staff of Adams 12 Five Star Schools for their hard work in preparing for the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments this spring. We’re hopeful that the results of these assessments will reflect continued growth in student achievement. As a board, we will continue to work with state and federal policymakers to find a more appropriate balance in the amount of student assessments administered in the 2015-2016 school year and beyond. Should you ever want to contact the board of education, please visit our website at www.adams12.org/board_of_education/contact_us. ■
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March 2015 | Published Quarterly
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CMAS spring assessment begins in March Assessments reflect rigor of new state standards, measure annual academic progress Monitoring student learning through a variety of assessments is essential to ensuring your student’s success. Throughout the course of the school year, our teachers closely monitor what our students are learning and where they need additional support or enrichment opportunities. This is done through observation, asking questions and classroom assessments. Teachers make meaningful adjustments to instruction based on the knowledge By Chris Gdowski, that comes from these in-classroom, Superintendent formative assessments. Adams 12 Five Star Schools Similarly, we rely on results from state assessments to make sure our students are making yearly progress to be college and career ready upon graduation. This annual data comes to us through the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS). This information allows each of us – students, parents and teachers – to see the progress kids are making over time. It also allows our schools to see how they are doing in meeting the needs of our students, especially as compared to other schools. Finally, these assessment results help us monitor our district’s ability to raise the bar for all students and close the achievement gap for groups of students who have historically underperformed their peers. While we acknowledge the benefits of the CMAS results above, we also want to acknowledge the concerns among our community and our board of education in relation to the amount of time spent on CMAS. In the interest of advocating for local flexibility with assessments, less time taking assessments and more timely results from those assessments, our board of education recently adopted a resolution which communicates these interests and concerns to the state legislature.
The board’s resolution commends staff and students throughout the district for their hard work in preparing for CMAS. We are committed to providing a successful CMAS experience for your child. Please refer to the calendar for the assessment window at your particular school. CMAS is aligned to the new Colorado Academic Standards that reflect the rigor necessary for students to be college and career ready upon graduation. Throughout the course of the year, our teachers have used the standards as the goal posts. Through effective instruction, our teachers have been moving students down the field toward mastery of these standards. Throughout the CMAS window, we want to support student success and create an environment where students can demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities. We all play a role in supporting that success. Here are a few ways you can help your student(s): • Have your child get a good night’s rest and eat a healthy breakfast each morning. • As always, encourage your child to do his/her best. • Schedule outside-of-school appointments for another time. • Remind your child to carefully listen to and follow instructions. • Encourage your child to answer all of the questions and use all of the time allotted. • Relax and take a few deep breaths before the test begins. • Most importantly, remind them that this is an opportunity for them to showcase what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown over the year. Thank you for your continued support of our schools. Our students experience success because of the meaningful partnership that exists between students, parents, staff and the community. ■ Note: This information was originally emailed to Five Star families in February 2015.
March 2015 |
Adams 12 Five Star Schools’ graduation rate outpaces state Horizon and Legacy High Schools’ graduation rate continues to exceed 90 percent The four-year, on-time graduation rate for Adams 12 Five Star Schools’ Class of 2014 was 77.8 percent (this figure does not include district charter schools). The district’s graduation rate exceeds the state average of 77.3 percent as reported by the Colorado Department of Education. The 2014 graduation rate increased at four out of five of the district’s traditional high schools: Horizon, Legacy, Mountain Range and Northglenn High Schools. Horizon High School had the highest graduation rate of 93.6 percent. Mountain Range High School saw the greatest gain out of the district’s five traditional high schools. The school’s 88.2 percent graduation rate increased 2.5 percent from the previous year. “Our work to improve the graduation rate is ongoing, and I’m encouraged by
The alternative schools are also helping to lower the district’s dropout rate. In 2014 the dropout rate was 2.2 percent, compared to 2.3 percent in 2013 and 2.7 percent in 2010. “Improving the graduation rate is important and we continue to graduate more students on time,” Gdowski said. “More importantly, we continue to graduate students on time while increasing achievement. This is evident by our composite ACT and AP course outcomes.” The Five Star District’s 2014 composite score for the ACT was 19.5 compared to 18.6 in 2006. The district has increased access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses while simultaneously increasing achievement on the AP exams, which earned the district
“Improving the graduation rate is important and we continue to graduate more students on time,” Gdowski said. “More importantly, we continue to graduate students on time while increasing achievement. This is evident by our composite ACT and AP course outcomes.”
the impact our alternative schools are having on helping more students earn their diploma,” said Superintendent Chris Gdowski. Vantage Point High School and Pathways, the district’s alternative schools, help students in the Five Star District graduate by providing additional learning options such as credit recovery programs, online and classroom blended-learning courses, night classes and a variety of curricula to support the individual needs of students.
one of 547 spots across the United States and Canada on the 5th Annual AP District Honor Roll. The 2014 graduation rate for all of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools’ traditional, non-charter schools are as follows: Horizon High School’s graduation rate was 93.6 percent, Legacy High School’s was 92.0 percent, Mountain Range High School’s was 88.2 percent, Northglenn High School’s was 80.2 percent and Thornton High School’s was 77.3 percent. ■
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COP: District weighs critical maintenance option FROM PAGE 1
COPs do not require voter approval. Under a COP arrangement, the district leverages the asset (typically a building) to be constructed or acquired and leases the asset from an investor or group of investors. The investor, or investors, receives a return based upon the lease revenues and the district assumes complete ownership of the asset at the end of the lease payment schedule. The district has utilized COPs in the past to finance the aquatic center, building renovations and
Teacher Ian Simpson said a COP is becoming one of our few remaining options to address the district’s critical maintenance needs. Some panel members expressed reservations about using a COP. Community member Josh Bastian feels deferred maintenance issues should be addressed on a year-by-year basis through the operating budget rather than incurring more debt that would burden the district for many years to come.
Even with the use of a $27 million COP, the district has more than $63 million in deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed, and that figure continues to grow.
the transportation facility. Last month, the Strong Schools, Strong Communities Panel made up of parents, staff and community members, reconvened to weigh in on the use of a COP. Panelists were asked if they support the use of a COP to address critical maintenance needs and what trade-offs should be taken into consideration. The interest rate for the COP will be slightly higher (one-quarter to one-half percent) than that of a General Obligation bond and the principal and interest payment would be paid through the district’s operating budget over 20 years. “I would support a COP if we make sure we’re addressing safety, compliance issues and protecting the things taxpayers have invested in,” said Adams 12 Five Star Schools parent and panel member Jeff Jasica.
At its March 4 meeting, the board of education took the Strong Schools, Strong Communities Panel’s recommendation into consideration and authorized the use of a COP to address critical maintenance needs. The district’s financial advisor and bond company will prepare the necessary documents to place the COP in the market for sale. The district facilities team will begin to secure bids to complete the work to be paid for from the proceeds of the COP beginning this coming summer Even with the use of a $27 million COP, the district has more than $63 million in deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed, and that figure continues to grow. The COP also does not address the district’s school capacity issues. ■
Class of 2015 Here’s a listing of graduation ceremonies in the Five Star District. Vantage Point High School Thursday, May 14 at 11 a.m. Colorado Heights
Legacy High School Wednesday, May 20 at 2 p.m. CU Events Center
Mountain Range High School Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. CU Events Center
Northglenn High School Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. CU Events Center
Horizon High School Tuesday, May 19 at 2 p.m. CU Events Center
Pathways Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. Legacy High School auditorium
Thornton High School Tuesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. CU Events Center
A corroding beam in Rocky Mountain Elementary’s crawl space is just one example of critical maintenance needs the district must find ways to address with limited available funds.
March 2015 |
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Immunization: Compliance an ongoing process FROM PAGE 1
• Sending a letter to parents/guardians of children who are identified as being out of compliance. If needed, a follow-up letter is sent and personal calls are made to families of students who are still out of compliance to see how we can help. • Connecting our families to immunization resources and to our Family Outreach Program if there’s a need for financial or medical coverage assistance. “It’s an ongoing process and we review our compliance data throughout the school year and proactively reach out to families with children who are not up-to-date on their vaccinations,” McRae said. Having a high vaccination compliance rate and low exemption rate is important because when a significant portion of a school community is immunized it makes it more difficult for contagious diseases, such as whooping cough or measles, to spread because there are fewer susceptible students left to infect. This is often referred to as “herd immunity.” Herd immunity also provides a measure of protection for individuals who cannot have vaccinations due to allergies to components of a vaccine or those who have autoimmune diseases. The district’s proactive and personal approach has contributed to its immunization compliance success. It sets the district apart from our neighboring districts and, most importantly, it helps protect the health and well-being of school communities.
NEW RULE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS – Starting with the 2015-2016 school year, all high school students are required to have two doses of the Varicella vaccine. Varicella vaccine protects against Chickenpox. MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOSTER REMINDER – All sixth-graders are required to have a Tdap vaccine to start middle school. Tdap includes protection against Pertussis, also know as Whooping Cough. There have been a number of Whooping Cough outbreaks in recent years. Whooping Cough is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly for babies and young children. For more information about vaccination requirements, visit www.adams12.org/health-services/immunizations.
Vaccination Resources Tri-County Health Department’s Walk-in Clinics are held each Tuesday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. (or until capacity reached) at Tri-County Health Department’s Northglenn office at 10190 Bannock St. in Northglenn. For additional information, please call 303-451-0123.
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Bollman Technical Education Center students renovate City of Thornton building Working classroom a blueprint for authentic, hands-on learning A group of 60 students representing all five traditional high schools in the district are transforming a vacant building on Dorothy Blvd. in Thornton into offices for the Thornton Arts and Culture Center. Three classes of 10th through 12th-grade Bollman Technical Education Center (BTEC) construction technology students have spent about 21 hours each week over the past two months renovating the building under the direction of BTEC construction and technology teacher Aaron Cooper, as well as licensed contractors and building inspectors. City of Thornton Parks and Golf Manager Andy Jennings said the city approached BTEC to renovate the building because they thought it would be an excellent opportunity for the students and an interesting project for them to work on. The building sits on the property of a former church that was acquired by the city and now used as the Thornton Arts and Culture Center. “We’ve turned the building into a classroom,” Cooper said. “The students are doing most of the renovation work themselves and it’s been an incredible opportunity for them to work on a real-life project.” Students are framing walls and doors, installing ceiling joists, insulating walls, installing drywall, mudding, taping and painting. From simply seeking experience to tackling home improvement projects to planning to pursue a degree in construction management, the BTEC construction technology students are gaining hands-on experience and life-long skills that will help them achieve their personal and post-graduation goals. Thornton High School 11th-grader Adrian Kois hopes to use his experience to study construction management in college and to one day become a general contractor. Kairi Guimalan, a 10th-grader at Mountain Range High School says she’ll use the skills she’s learning to fix things on her own at home. The hands-on experience is what Holden Banks, an 11th-grader at Mountain Range High School, has liked the most about his experience. He said he has learned to read blueprints and the basics of electrical wiring. “I’ve been impressed by the students’ willingness to learn and take on new challenges throughout this project,” Cooper said. “They’ve learned residential construction skills, and gained a lot of leadership and teamwork skills too.” By the end of this school year renovation of the first floor of the building will be complete. During the 2015-2016 school year the next class of BTEC Construction students will finish the lower level of the building. ■
Legacy High School 11th-grader Victoria Medina (left), 12th-grader Max Arjona (below) and Mountain Range High School 10th-grader Teara Ben-Joseph (right) secure drywall in the Dorothy Blvd. building. Bollman Technical Education Center (BTEC) construction technology students are renovating the building in partnership with the City of Thornton.
“I’ve been impressed by the students’ willingness to learn and take on new challenges throughout this project,” said Aaron Cooper, BTEC construction and technology teacher. “They’ve learned residential construction skills, and gained a lot of leadership and teamwork skills too.”
March 2015 |
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Mountain Range students head to D.C. for national competition Two 12th-graders to represent Colorado at National Marshall-Brennan Moot Court Competition
Don’t get in an argument with the criminal justice students at Mountain Range High School. The odds aren’t in your favor. That’s because two students took top honors at the Colorado Marshall-Brennan Moot Court Competition and will put forward their best arguments at the National Marshall-Brennan Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C., March 27 to 29. The students competed with about 75 students from across the Denver metro area. Each competitor delivered oral arguments to panels of volunteer judges and lawyers. The arguments involved whether or not a search of a student’s cell phone by a school resource officer would have been allowed. In their first year at the competition, senior Nicole Siebels took first place and senior Krista Essmaker placed sixth. “I was absolutely shocked; it was a shock but it felt really good,” Siebels said. Through their criminal justice class at Mountain Range, students take part in public speaking experiences, including other moot courts and mock trials. In this moot court competition, the students worked with two college students from the University of Colorado Law School each week who helped them hone their arguments for mock Supreme Court cases made to a panel of volunteer judges. Mountain Range criminal justice class teacher Mandy Byrd says there’s no great way to prepare for a moot court other than knowing the case inside and out. “Much of the competition is about being able to improvise and think on your feet,” Byrd said. “I think that it adds this level of critical thinking that’s completely authentic.” Although neither Siebels nor Essmaker plan to become attorneys, Byrd says the skills they’ve learned will help them no matter what career they enter. “I think it definitely is going to give them skills that work in other points of life—particularly to be able to make a claim and understand how to support it,” Byrd said.
Essmaker plans to get her degree in criminal justice and then start a career as a conservation officer, enforcing laws related to natural resources, recreation and the environment. Participating in moot court solidified that this is the path she wants to pursue after high school. “Being able to do this brought up my confidence and made me realize how far I can actually go,” Essmaker said. Siebels plans to study veterinary medicine and marine
biology. She believes having the skills she’s learned through her moot court experience will allow her to make connections with new people and will enable her to excel and pursue her passions with tenacity. “I can make my school, my teachers, my family and even myself proud just by going [to the national competition],” Siebels said. “I will do my best for them and for myself.”■
Mountain Range High School 12th-grader Nicole Siebels delivers oral arguments to a panel of volunteer judges and lawyers during the Colorado Marshall-Brennan Moot Court Competition at the University of Colorado Law School. Siebels earned first place and will compete in the national competition later this month, along with fellow 12th-grader Krista Essmaker who earned sixth place.
“Much of the competition is about being able to improvise and think on your feet,” said Mountain Range High School criminal justice class teacher Mandy Byrd.
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8 | March 2015
Keeping kids safe in a high-tech world Learn Internet and cell phone safety tips for parents
Technology is here to stay and more children are using technology on a daily basis for learning and for fun. In our increasingly high-tech world, there are some fundamental strategies you can use to protect children. The Child Sex Offender Internet Investigations Unit (Cheezo Unit), a non-profit organization based out of the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office and under the supervision of Jefferson County District Attorney Peter A. Weir, has compiled some helpful safety tips for parents. Educate yourself, then your child Banning a child from certain sites may only motivate them to spend more time on them. They can go elsewhere to go online where you then have no control. Talk to your child about how to be safe in life and online. Talk with your child about the dangers of posting personal information. Talk about how people who are online may not actually be who they say they are. This same rule applies to cell phones. Teach children the obvious rules Tell your children not to put their photos on the Internet or to give out their names, addresses, phone numbers, schools, or other personal information. Once a picture is on the Internet there is no way to know where that picture has gone. There is no way to get it back. Pictures can be manipulated. Pictures can be saved by sex offenders. Install an Internet filter or family safety software Software is an effective way to filter dangerous content. This software usually comes with tools like time management, remote monitoring and reporting, and keystroke recognition. Check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some ISPs have filters you can purchase or they may provide filters for free. Visit a local electronics or computer store to examine and purchase a filtering software program or research and order a filtering software package online. Choose one that is best for your family. There are safety features available for cell phones as well, such as MyMobileWatchDog.com Know the dangers associated with sites your children frequent Whether it is MySpace, Facebook, Runescape or anyplace, talking to your child about the dangers associated with any social networking site is important. Communication is the most important thing you can do. You may control your child’s environment at home, but when they are away from home someone else might not have your same rules and concerns. Communicating and helping your child understand the dangers online is our most important message. Talk with your children about encountering pornography Teach your child that if they encounter pornography to quickly turn the power off and get an adult. This can prevent a child from attempting to stop the situation by clicking more buttons and thereby spreading the attack and being exposed to more pornography. Talk with your child about the dangers of pornography and how it can become an addiction. Many teenagers are now becoming addicted and obsessed with the viewing of pornography. The addiction to pornography can become just as dangerous as an addiction to drugs. Addiction to pornography can lead to boundary issues and worse. Manage your child’s time on the Internet/cell phones Scheduling times when a child can be on the Internet and the amount they can be online ensures that you know when they are on the Internet and for how long. When you set guidelines or limits on their Internet usage you reduce their chances of being exposed to inappropriate content. Many children use their phone to text message late into the night. Consider having your child check-in their phone at a certain time at night. Set Internet guidelines and enforce consequences if they are not followed Providing guidelines will ensure they know where they stand when it comes to how they use the Internet as well as the consequences when they break the rules. If you enforce consequences consistently, children will be more likely to follow the rules. Keep computers out of children’s bedrooms If you place the computer in a more open room, one that is commonly used by the entire family, children will be less inclined to view and access material that may not be acceptable. Create a relationship with your child that fosters trust and open communication Open communication and trust is the key. Many times parents overreact. If your child comes to you about pornography on the computer or about being approached by a stranger, they should be applauded. Many parents immediately react out of fear and love. They tell their child they cannot go to that specific site or prohibit Internet usage altogether. That defeats all trust and closes the door to communication. If you don’t understand the Internet, a website or a game site ask your child to show you Who likes to show off their skills and knowledge about the Internet to adults? Our children. You also are accomplishing other things when you ask for your child’s help. You are spending valuable one-on-one time with them as well as communicating with your child and learning where they go and what they do online. Compromise – Communicate Teenagers are attracted to MySpace and similar sites. Many parents do not allow their children to be on these sites. Keep in mind if a child is determined to be on a site, they will find a way. They can access these sites from friends’ homes and other places. Parents should keep in mind that some teenagers have two different accounts. They have one for mom and dad, and they have one for their friends. In Internet safety classes with teenagers, we warn them that if they can’t show mom and dad their account then they are probably putting themselves in harm’s way. We suggest that children set their account settings to private and limit who can access those accounts. Be careful with the personal information contained on the account. If you are communicating with someone online that you don’t know in person, they could be anyone. In these situations, do not give out any personal information. Video games – Game sites Many children and teenagers frequent popular game sites online, such as Club Penguins and Runescape, just to mention a couple. They are fun and very attractive to kids. Many of these game sites let you communicate with others who are also playing in these areas. Tell children and teenagers that if they choose to communicate with others, talk only about the game. If someone asks how old you are, your name, where you live or any other personal information that has nothing to do with the game. For more tips to keep your children safe while using technology, visit Cheezo.org. Learn more about keeping children safe in a high-tech world at the District School Improvement Team’s (DSIT) April meeting with nationally recognized experts Mike and Cassandra Harris, investigators in the Internet Crimes Against Children unit with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. The Cheezo Educational Program presentation is Thursday , April 23, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Educational Support Center, 1500 E. 128th Ave. in Thornton.
Source: Printed with permission from the First Judicial District Attorney Office’s Cheezo Unit.
March 2015 |
Legislature contemplates testing and education funding Multiple bills call for changes to academic standards, testing The Legislature is in full swing and a number of bills have been introduced that deal with standards and assessments. The House and Senate Education members will be faced with several dueling testing bills. Many of the stakeholders and school districts from around the state are awaiting a bill that includes the recommendations of the HB 1202 Standards and Assessments Task Force. The following is a summary of the bills that have been introduced. • Bills Seeking to Repeal Assessments and Standards: Several bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to roll back the Colorado Academic Standards as well as to repeal the state’s participation in PARCC assessments. Those bills include HB 1105 Revising CO Ed Accountability Measures, and HB 1125 CO State Academic Standards & Flexible Assessments which would require the State Board of Education to review and revise the standards every five years and would repeal the mandate that Colorado participate in PARCC. HB 1208 Repeal of Common Core Education Standards would repeal Colorado Academic Standards in math and English, and require new ones to be developed. • Bills Seeking to Reduce Testing to Federal Minimum: Three other bills have been introduced to reduce state assessments to the federal minimum. HB 1123 would allow local districts to pass a resolution to administer statewide assessments only to the extent required by federal law. SB 073 would restrict statewide tests to the federal requirements and SB 056 Frequency of Statewide Social Studies Testing seeks to roll back the state’s social studies assessment. The Colorado Standards and Assessments Task Force was established by the General Assembly in 2014 (HB 14-1202) and was charged with studying the implications of Colorado’s state and local assessment system for school districts. Their recommendations were presented to the Joint House and Senate Education Committees in January and will inform policy decisions regarding state assessments. The gist of their recommendations centered on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success and seek to get down to the federal minimums for testing including eliminating state-mandated tests in 11th and 12th grade. A bill that includes these recommendations is forthcoming and will likely be a bipartisan bill. Aside from the testing and standards conversation, the Joint Budget Committee will be presented with an updated revenue forecast on March 18. This forecast will inform the budget committee’s work on the state budget bill and School Finance Act. Additionally, the budget committee will figure set the budget for the Department of Education on March 10 and at that time, will determine an appropriate figure for the School Finance Act which is the annual spending bill that funds public schools across the State of Colorado. ■
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Are you fluent in English and another language?
Adams 12 Five Star Schools is looking for qualified people to translate and interpret as part-time independent contractors for the district. If you are interested in learning more, call Gladys Fernández, Translation Services Coordinator, at 720-972-7105.
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10 | March 2015
Colorado Preschool Program available to qualifying children Adams 12 Five Star Schools offers preschool to a limited number of Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) qualifying children. The program is funded by the State of Colorado and eligible children will attend at no cost to the family. Classes are four days per week for 2 hours and 55 minutes per day. Some eligibility requirements for the program include:
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The child and parent/guardian must reside within the Five Star District boundaries.
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The child must be 4 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2015.
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The child must go through a screening process.
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The child must meet the state’s criteria for eligibility.
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All students must have an up-to-date immunization record, physical and an official birth certificate.
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Individuals Families Groups Scouts Churches Vets
The parent/guardian must be responsible for transportation to and from the program. For more information about the program, call 720-972-8761.
Five Star District named to the College Board’s 5th Annual AP District Honor Roll
For More Information
Stop in for a cup of coffee and meet
Adams 12 Five Star Schools is one of 547 school districts in the United States and Canada to earn a place on the 5th Annual AP District Honor Roll for increasing access to AP course work while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams.
Call TODAY 720-502-4984
JOHNNY WALKER Gift Certificates Available!
Children’s Hospital Colorado and Five Star District offer free Comprehensive Athletic Physicals Registration begins Wednesday, April 15 Children’s Hospital Colorado is offering free Comprehensive Athletic Physicals (CAPS) to all Adams 12 Five Star Schools students. Students who register for the physical have the opportunity to receive a general medical exam, an efficient orthopedic assessment and a thorough cardiovascular evaluation free of charge. The exams will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Thornton High School, 9351 N. Washington St. Enrich your gifted, talented, creative and high-ability learners this summer! Students will participate in stimulating academic and social activities developed by gifted education specialists during this two-week residential program for students entering fifth through tenth grades. Register today, spaces fill quickly in this popular, affordable program held on the UNC campus.
Students must register by contacting their respective athletic trainer: Kristi Castellaw
Northglenn High School
720-972-4649
Kate Brooks-Bennett
Legacy High School
720-972-6801
Matt Brewer
Horizon High School
720-972-4507
Ruth Hart
Thornton High School
720-972-2804
Jenny Van Meter
Mountain Range High School
720-972-6431
Students should wear athletic attire (shorts, t-shirts, sports bras, etc.) for the physical.
Malley Drive Elementary celebrates 50 years Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Malley Drive Elementary’s 50th anniversary community celebration is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the school, 1300 Malley Dr. in Northglenn. Past and present students, families and staff are invited to attend the celebration to reconnect, reminisce and reunite with friends, old and new. For more information visit www.malley.adams12.org.
Upcoming District Calendar Dates March 23 – 27 Spring Break – all schools closed
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April 10
No school for K-8 students
May 1
Elementary assessment day
May 8
Elementary work day - no school for K-5
May 25
Memorial Day – all schools closed
May 27
Last day for students
Calendar dates may not apply to district charter schools, so please check each school’s calendar for school-specific information. Visit www.adams12.org/calendars for more detailed dates.
March 2015 |
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Community weighs in on 2015-2016 budget planning Modest opportunity for new investments expected As Colorado’s economy continues to grow, school districts are seeing more state funding, but not the amount required to erase the effects of more than $1 billion in cuts made during the Great Recession as part of a work-around mechanism used to cut funding referred to as the negative factor. Governor Hickenlooper’s November 2014 budget plan called for additional funding to reflect 1.3 percent in statewide enrollment growth and 2.8 percent for inflation. The governor also proposed $200 million in one-time dollars to reduce the negative factor from 13.1 percent to 9.8 percent. The exact amount of funding will not be determined until the Colorado General Assembly finalizes the School Finance Act for the 2015-2016 budget year, but the expectation is that schools are more likely to see about $100 million in one-time dollars, which would mean about $4.7 million for the Five Star District. For the second year, 174 of 178 Colorado school district superintendents joined together to ask the state
legislature for more funding for K-12 education: $20 million more for small rural districts and $50 million for districts with high numbers of students living in poverty. The superintendents also stressed the need for adequate additional funding to carry out new testing, teacher evaluations and academic standard mandates. In the Five Star District, 2015-2016 budget planning is already well underway. Last month a budget committee made up of about 30 parents and staff members met to identify and prioritize areas for new investment. After planning for increased costs associated with healthcare, the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), utilities, as well as funding for employee compensation, the district anticipates having approximately $7.8 to $8.2 million for new investments. As part of their work, the budget committee evaluated various investment priorities, including those identified as part of the mill levy override package that did not earn voter approval in November 2014.
The top priorities the group supports are: restoration of assistant principal support at the elementary and middle school levels; additional mental health support for schools; adding campus security supervision at secondary schools; and funding for technology maintenance, which includes keeping systems already in use running smoothly. The budget committee also agreed that dollars should be allocated for successful programs currently funded through grant dollars that are set to end soon. Some of these programs include the Colorado Graduation Pathways grant and the High School Counselor Corps. Both programs provide credit recovery courses and support to students to keep them on track to graduate. The budget committee’s recommendation will help inform the superintendent’s recommendation to the board of education. Decisions on new investments will not be finalized until the state legislature passes the 2015-2016 School Finance Act within the next few months. ■
Mountain Range High School students and staff created beautiful ceramic bowls that were sold at a cereal bar and chili cook off during the school’s 7th annual Empty Bowls event. The service-learning project raised $400 to fight local hunger through the Food Bank of the Rockies.
Colorado Supreme Court affirms vacancy in Director District 4 Board of Education seat Board establishes process to fill vacancy The Colorado Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Broomfield District Court to declare a vacancy in Director District 4 of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education. Rico Figueroa previously served in this seat since he was appointed to the Board in January 2012. He ran for election to the same seat in November 2013 in a two-candidate race against Amy Speers, which resulted in a court challenge. On July 11, 2014 the Broomfield District Court determined that while Figueroa’s opponent in the election was not qualified to take office because she didn’t reside within the director district; she was legally
elected because she received the most votes and was not deemed unqualified by a court prior to the election. The District Court went on to determine that Figueroa was not legally elected because he did not receive the most votes. Although the District Court’s order declared a vacancy, that order was stayed pending final resolution by the Colorado Supreme Court. On March 2, 2015 the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed the District Court’s judgment in this matter. This decision means the Board of Education must appoint someone to serve as the director of District 4 through the November 2015 election. The Board is responsible for determining
the process for how to fill the vacancy, and under the law, the Board has 60 days in which to appoint a person to fill the vacancy. If the Board does not fill the vacancy within 60 days, the President of the Board must appoint a person to fill the vacancy. The deadline for filling the vacancy is May 1, 2015. Until an appointment is made, the Board will comprise of four members. At its March 4 meeting, the board of education declared a vacancy in District 4. The board will accept applications from qualified individuals to fill the vacancy through midnight on April 8. ■
Information on Application Process for Director District No. 4 Position ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
HOW TO APPLY
• Reside within Director District No. 4 (visit www.adams12.org/board_of_education for map)
1. Contact Frances Mullins, Sr. Executive Assistant to the Board of Education, at 720-972-4007 or frances.mullins@adams12.org
• Registered to vote in Adams County
2. Applications due by midnight on April 8, 2015
• Have resided within Adams 12 Five Star Schools boundaries for at least 12 consecutive months before the date of appointment
3. Board of Education will conduct interviews that will be open to the public
• Members of the board cannot be employees of the district
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Cannot have been convicted of or pled guilty/nolo contendere to a crime involving a sexual offense against a child
• The appointee will fill the vacancy through the November 2015 election. • Seat for Director District 4 will be up for election in November 2015 and the elected candidate will serve in that position for a term of two years.
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12 | March 2015
Connecting your community with the classroom www.adams12.org/fsstv