November2007 Page 1
Speak to Peak
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...... 1
Upcoming Events ...... 2
Whole School News ...... 3-4
Volunteer View...... 5
Peak Accomplishments ...... 6
Booster Club News...... 7
Tidbits...... 8
Fund Development News...... 9-10
Counseling Corner...... 11-12
Athletics ...... 13
Elementary News ...... 14-15
Middle School News...... 16-17
High School News ...... 18-19
The Puma Press Speak to Peak Sponsored by Friends of Peak to Peak Whole School News
Exciting to watch the new building go up, isn't it? We can see daily progress as the steel, cement and other materials are brought into place. Out of nothing comes our library and additional classrooms. This structure will provide many learning opportunities for all our students, staff and community.
In the classroom, we are also building - students of character, knowledge and skills. Our construction project for each person takes years and happens not only within our walls, but everywhere the student travels. Our mission is to help each person build a future that holds November 2007 many promises, the skills to turn the promises into reality and the sense of purpose to become a global and local citizen. Deadline for the next issue:
Friday, October 19 Each stakeholder in our community is helping us build both the library Email ALL Submissions To: and the future for our students. Our contributions come in many forms:
[email protected] volunteering, tutoring, money, time, being a positive role model, being solution oriented and acting in such a way that promotes the health and Main Office: 303-453-4600 growth of all our community members. Thanking someone for holding the K-12 Attendance: 303-453-4605 door, talking to students at the career fair, spending time in the K-12 Health: 303-453-4616 classroom are all ways we construct the future for our students - all K—12 Volunteer Line: equally important but all very different in the way it looks and sounds. Sandy Ray: 303-453-4755 As you watch the construction progress, please take the time to remind Athletic Line: 303-453-4707 yourself what you are building as a Peak to Peak community member. What words and actions (your construction materials!) are you using to lay a Upcoming Events solid foundation and provide the scaffolding for the future of all our NOVEMBER students? Perhaps you see your character as the cement that holds all your thoughts, words and actions together in a positive way. Maybe 11/1 - Board meeting 6:00 PM taking that extra moment to nurture a relationship becomes the material 11/2 - MS after-school event 3:15-5:00 that binds a student to a fantastic future. 11/5 & 11/7 - vision/hearing screenings 11/6 - Booster meeting 7:00 PM 11/6 - 5th grade MS tour day 12:35 We are all construction workers in building a great future for our 11/6 - 8th grade High School students and school. Together we construct a place where all our dreams information Night 6:00 PM come true. Got your hammer? 11/7 - fall HS athletic awards 6:30 PM 11/8 - 11/10 - HS fall play 7:00 PM Tony Fontana 11/9 - elementary trimester ends 11/9 - grandparents & special friends Executive Principal social 1:30-2:30 PM 11/12 - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day 11/13 - blood drive 11/14 - elementary science fair 11/15 - board meeting 8:00 AM 11/16 - elementary report cards home in Friday folders 11/19-11/23 - NO SCHOOL “Invest in Excellence” Thanksgiving break 11/26-11/28 - MS theater parents night 7:00 PM 11/29 - Board meeting 6:00 PM We are almost 20% to our financial goal of $200,000 ! Annual Gift donations are tax deductible…please donate today! W E NEED EVERYONE’S HELP TO M EET OUR GOAL! Page 3 Whole School News November 2007
From the Board . . . STUDIO B UPDATE
SCHOOL FINANCES "Studio B" is a 22-minute TV talk/magazine show hosted We are a school that challenges our students to follow their pas- by three "TALK TEAMS" recruited from BVSD schools and sions. Nowhere in our mission do we mention money, nor CU. It was produced at CU's ATLAS Center. Each Talk should we. However, did you know that the most likely reason Team provides news, sports and information for their re- for a charter school to close in Colorado is financial problems? spective age group and grade level, along with inter- Money is like air. It is only important when you run out. viewing a special guest. Students will write their own sto-
Fortunately, we are happy to report that thanks to this commu- ries and may submit their own video additions to the nity and sound fiscal management, our school is in good finan- show. cial health. Every year, Peak to Peak works from a conservative, Tony Perri, CU adjunct professor and BTV-Boulder Televi- balanced budget. We do not have the same resources as a Colo- rado district school, and every expense is weighed carefully. We sion executive producer, headed this effort that not only are frugal, and we spend money only where it supports our mis- gave BVSD students an opportunity of a lifetime in the TV sion. Our single largest expense rightly goes to pay the salaries of world, but Perri also used the time to really work with the our teachers and staff. Like any other school, we must also pur- kids and whole-heartedly teach them about TV, film and chase books and supplies, maintain the facility and pay the news etiquette. The students enjoyed Tony's presence power bill, and like any forward-looking organization, we also and his ability to gently nudge them to perform their best put money side every year to build a contingency reserve and work. save for the future.
However, unlike a neighborhood BVSD school, we also pay $1.5 Four Peak to Peak students were selected for the Studio B million per year against the bonds used to build our campus. cast! Congratulations to Alec W., Autumn P., Emily C., This means that Peak to Peak effectively works with $1.5 million and Andrew B! less (or about 10 percent per student less) than other similarly sized Colorado public schools. We make up for this gap every year with the generous financial and volunteer support of our community. Your support of the Annual Gift Campaign, the Denver Art Museum Visit a Big Success! Auction, and the Run for the Peak goes directly toward the yearly operating budget of the school and is used to purchase The High School Studio art classes went on a field trip to the technology, provide for teacher assistant positions and help pro- Denver Art Museum to see the show "Artisans and Kings: Se- vide competitive wages for our teachers. Last year, you also lected Treasures from the Louvre." We especially liked the oil helped complete the auditeria, and through your generous sup- painting by Titian of a woman looking at herself in a mirror. We port we now have a theatre with real sound and lighting and a stage worthy of our young performers. On behalf of our students, also liked the demonstration of gilding with gold leaf. In addi- teachers and staff, THANK YOU. tion, the students were given a tour of the Highlights of the Per- manent collection and some time to roam where they liked. Many This year, the board of directors also made a deliberate decision picked the most modern collection. The only complaint was that to dip into reserves to complete the current campus plan. For years, we have been saving to build better library and media fa- students wanted more time to look around, so we'll have to re- cilities to replace the three classrooms currently used for this pur- turn!! All five art teachers were refreshed by the inspiring works pose. Fortunately, last fall, we received a boost to these efforts they saw. when BVSD voters approved a bond initiative that included $1.6 million in construction money for Peak to Peak. While $1.6 mil- lion does not completely finance the new building, this amount combined with a portion of reserves has funded the new library/ media center rising in the center of campus.
This is an exciting year. Through years of sound fiscal practices, careful planning and your support, we are making progress to- ward completing our campus. We will continue to emphasize the highest levels of financial acumen to ensure that money never becomes the focus and our students, teachers and staff can focus on what is most important: the education of each student.
Peak to Peak Board of Directors Tahllee Baynard, Tim Carrig, Caroline Clark, Don Ferguson, Tony Fontana, David Hazen, Chris Howard, Kyle Mathews, Greg Richards, Noelle Roni, Sheryl Shafer and Sam Todd Peak to Peak Communications Page 10
Peak to Peak Blood Drive on Nov. 13
Peak to Peak is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, November 13 from 8:00 to 1:30. Bonfils Blood Center needs 4,350 volunteer donors each week to meet Colorado's needs. Please contact Celia Marshall at 303-673-0552 or at [email protected] to schedule an appointment to donate blood.
It takes just a little time to make a big difference in the lives of patients in our community, with one blood donation saving and enhancing the lives of up to three people -- like Shantae. Shantae's mother required intrauterine blood transfusions when she was pregnant. Thanks to blood donors, 8- year-old Shantae is able to laugh and play with her mom and sister Jolay.
Donor Eligibility: Must be in good health Weight at least 110 pounds Have not had a tattoo or body piercing in the last 12 months Have not traveled to a malarial area in the last 12 months Can pass a health and lifestyle screening
For more information please call Bonfils Blood Center at 303-366-2000, or visit www.bonfils.org.
SCHOOL CLOSURE INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH SEM INAR PROGRAM Fall is here and the changing seasons remind us that inclement The Peak to Peak science department is excited to announce weather can result in school being closed for one or more days. our participation in the BVSD Science Research Seminar pro- We all need to plan ahead and be ready in case that happens. gram. This program provides an opportunity for HS seniors to pursue independent scientific research. The students will Under all but the most extreme conditions, school officials have spend several months working in a lab or research facility with a responsibility to keep school in session. When the weather is science or technology mentors who provide guidance and su- bad, but school is open, parents must make a family decision pervision as the student pursues his/ her research. The stu- regarding attendance or late arrival for their children. A personal dents have a regular classroom teacher who meets with the contact by the parent or a written note to school officials will ex- cuse a students’ late arrival or absence during these conditions. students and mentors on a regular basis and helps the stu- dents prepare presentations for the Regional Science Fair in Occasionally, the weather is severe enough that it is necessary March 2008 as well as the Boulder Valley Science Symposium to close schools in all or part of the district. When this occurs, it in April. Typically, students spend 4-8 hours/week working in is extremely important that working parents have pre-arranged the lab with their mentor. The amount of time that the mentors child care available to them; arrangements with a friend or spend with the student varies depending on the nature of the neighbor; provisions at a child care center; child care leave from project. Currently, we have 9 students enrolled in the class work (if available); arrangements with a neighborhood teenager with 3 of those 9 students already placed in research facilities who also would be out of school; etc. It is very important that with mentors. We are actively recruiting mentors for the re- parents make these arrangements now, since the weather is maining 6 students, and welcome any and all individuals in our unpredictable and often we are hit with storms early in the community who have the capacity/interest in mentoring a stu- school year. dent. Below is a list of research areas that our 6 remaining students are interested in pursuing and encourage you to con- Whenever it is necessary to close schools, the district immedi- tact Adam DiGiacomo at 303-453-4764 should you have any ately contacts the following radio and tv stations: questions about the program or interests in mentoring one of these remarkable Peak to Peak students. KWGN-TV CHANNEL 2 KOA 850 AM KCNC-TV CHANNEL 4 KRCN 1060 AM Areas of interest: KMGH -TV CHANNEL 7 ONDA 1150 AM Engineering CHANNEL 8 ALICE 105.9 FM KUSA-TV CHANNEL 9 KBCO 97.3 FM Physics KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS KGNU 88.5 F Biom edical research BTV54 KOOL 105.1 FM Psychology BV22 KOSI 101.1 FM
Crim inology Notices will also be posted on the Boulder Valley School District M olecular Genetics web page at www.bvsd.org and click on “School Cancellations.”
Anim al Behavior Notification is given prior to 6:30 a.m., or as soon as the decision Clim ate is made to close during the day. Typically the media will release Environm ental research information only if school is closed. In most cases, no an- Chem istry nouncement will mean that schools are open.
Page 4 PEAK to PEAK CHARTER SCHOOL November2007
VOLUNTEER VIEW Part-time Elementary Library Assistant (Para position) We need you! Volunteer Opportunities: Available immediately!! • The Food Services Dept. is in need of volunteer help to serve lunches on Wednesdays. The hours Primary Duties: are from 10:45 - 1:15. Two people are needed as Assist the Elementary Librarian: soon as possible. Come have fun with other * Assist students and staff in the circulation of library materials volunteers and see your children and their friends at lunch. Please call Sharon or Deb at 303-453- and use of the online catalog 4782. * Assist with various elementary library programs * Perform a variety of clerical and computer-related tasks as as- • Friday Math Workshop 3:05-4:30, Rm N170— contact Mrs. C-Spotts at anita.chakraborty- signed [email protected]. We are looking for parents/ high * Prepare circ desk for services with needed supplies school students to assist with the club who have a * Shelve, shelf read, and organize library materials mathematical mind. Parents need to take * Pull library materials which need to be mended, discarded, or volunteer training (2 hrs) before working with replaced students. * Assist in the processing of new library material received • Immediate openings - Volunteers to help with * Check-in, sort, and shelve returned library materials traffic. If you are interested please contact * Process overdue notices [email protected] * Supervise and work with student aides and volunteers • Contact the Development Office at 303-453-4604 * Answers questions of students and staff on the proper use of to help with ongoing programs and special one- library materials time events. * Other duties as required
Hours: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Wednesdays - 8:00 am - 11:30 am (3.5 hours) We need volunteers to help form a committee to or- Thursdays - 7:45 am - 3:15 pm (7.5 hours) ganize, plan, and hold an "After Prom" event after Fridays - 7:45 am - 3:15 pm (7.5 hours) Prom on the night of April 26 (and morning of April Contact: 27!). This event can be as elaborate or as simple as Karen MacMeekin, Elementary Librarian the committee decides, and your participation can be 303-453-4634 or [email protected] as limited or involved as you would like. As you all know, many hands make light work, so we would like to have as many helpers as possible! Please contact Sandy Ray at 303-460-7081 or sandyray320- Peak to Peak's Food Service Dept. has open- [email protected] as soon as possible if you would ings for staff/cashiers during breakfast and like to help. lunch periods. These positions are part-time, with flexible days to suit your schedule. Du- Spanish Speakers Needed ties include cashiering, set-up and take-down, and minimal preparation of food items. The Spanish 40a class (conversation based) is work-
Please contact Sharon Noel or Deb Kleppe at 303-453-4782. ing on a chapter about the future and life goals, mostly relating to professions. As we wrap up the chapter I would like to draw on some of the re- Job Opening sources in the community. If you know a Spanish-
speaking professional who uses Spanish in their job, I Peak to Peak's Food Service Dept. has an immediate open- would love their names and information. Only, of ing for Kitchen Staff. Hours are from 8:00 - 3:00 P.M., course, if they might be interested in serving as a Monday-Friday. Duties include maintaining cleanliness of guest speaker or resource for these classes. Thank kitchen, assisting cook in preparing food items and serving you! food as needed. Benefits are available. LeeAnne Sanders Please contact Sharon Noel at 303-453-4782 for further details. Page 5 PEAK ACCOMPLISHMENTS November 2007
Ten Peak to Peak Seniors have been named as National Merit Congratulations Cross Country Runners! Semifinalists. Congratulations! They are: Josh C., Laura G, Zane H, Bernadette H, Christopher L, Congratulations to the girls and boys varsity cross Nathan O, Sarah R, Devyn S, Jay T, Margaret W. country teams who both won their first Metro This recognition was given due to their performance on League titles! The girls ran away with their title and the PSAT last October. Nationwide, about 16,000 semifinalists the boys beat Holy Family by 2 points, reversing last are named from over 1 million juniors who took the PSAT last year's 2 point loss. Senior Nathan R. was Metro fall. They are now eligible to apply to become National Merit Finalists and compete for scholarships. League Individual Champion and Nathan and Kate H. were both named Metro League Seniors of the Commended Students include: Year. Coach Tim Flamer was named Metro League Aaron A, Krista B, Sarah B, Coach of the Year. Kyle B, Tyler C, Katherine H, Eric W, and Nina Z. Nationwide, about 34,000 Commended Students were recog- MORE CROSS COUNTRY NEWS!! nized for exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship competition, The Girls Cross Country team finished 1st at the Re- Commended Students placed among the top five percent of the gional XC Meet and the Boys finished 2nd! Go Pu- juniors who took the PSAT last fall. mas! The teams will compete at State Oct. 27th in Colorado Springs! Senior Katrina J., who participated in the Leaders Challenge Program as a junior, will continue on and complete the Global Challenge Program. Katrina will travel to eastern Europe next year and work in a children's crisis center. Katrina was also cho- sen to attend the Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Chi- Shape Shifters Art Show cago last summer .
Congratulations to students Reed F., Haley, Drew, Ezra, Robert C. Caitlyn, Jasmine, Brooke, Lexie, Kim S., Congratulations to the students who auditioned for and Gabriel, Ricky U., whose artwork was chosen for the were selected for the Studio B cast! show "Shape Shifters, Investigations of Climate Change: Recent Evidence and Future Visions." The show runs TALK TEAM-1 Host: Alec W (8th) TALK TEAM-1 Reporters: Oct 19th until Nov 25th at the Boulder Public Library. Autumn P (7th) The student work is alongside photographs from the Emily C (6th) Extreme Ice Survey by James Balog. TALK TEAM-2 Host: Andrew B (10th)
Speech & Debate Awards Battle Mountain HS, October 13 Brush High School Speech Meet Peak to Peak in the Arts! Placements, October 6 1st Place Lexi M/Bernadette H – Public Forum Debate Congratulations to students se- Wes A – Humor Interp Creative Storytelling lected to perform in Ballet Nou- Josh C & Lexie M – Impromptu Duet Acting • Chris M – 3rd veau Colorado's professional pro- 2nd Place Wes A/Cindy Y – Duet Drama • Jessica H – 5th duction of The Nutcracker! Sarah Katie M – Value Debate • Maithreyi G – 5th J., Shelby R., Nicole C., and Megan K! If you Lexie M – Poetry Interp • Moriah H – 6th would like to see these Peak to Peak students rd 3 Place Sarah R/Nina Z – Public Forum Debate Impromptu Duet Acting perform in this holiday classic, you can call Ribbon of Superiority • Em J and Wes A – 3rd Josh C - Creative Storytelling Ballet Nouveau Colorado at 303.466.5685! (Maroon) Kate H – Value Debate Humerous Interpretation Congratulations to 5th grader Orion P. who Whitney M – Value Debate • W A – 2nd Alyssa C – Impromptu Speaking will be starring in the Christmas show "A • Kaylin D – 4th Ribbon of Excellence Child's Christmas In Wales" with the Colo- Original Oratory Alyssa C/Caitlin D – Public Forum Debate rado Shakespeare Festival. Additional infor- • Em J – 3rd Moriah H – Creative Storytelling rd m a t i o n c a n b e a c c e s s e d a t Kaatje J – Creative Storytelling • Gunsagar G – 3 th www.coloradoshakes.org. Katie M – Humor Interp • Chelsea D – 4 th Kate H – Original Oratory • Maithreyi G – 5 Know a P2P student who has accomplished something Caitlin D – Impromptu Speaking Duet Acting noteworthy? We’d like to honor all P2P student th Josh C – Impromptu Speaking • Katherine M and Olivia C – 5 accomplishments. Please email information to the Speak to Peak at [email protected]. Page 6 Speak to Peak November 2007
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the Following Sponsors and Generous Donators to the 2007 Fall Golf Outing. Over $5000 was made to benefit school Activity and Athletic Programs.
Indulge Bakery Tim Tymkovich Family Vista Management (Cindy & Tim Combs family) LifePic's (Nancy & Rick Patch Family) Salvaggio's Deli Bob & Sally Lopez Family Leanne Shepherd & Roper Families Tracy Grodsky & Mary Kay Cosmetics Val-U-Ads (Lora Bauder Family) Carolyn & Tom Jannsen Family Keith & Sue Sipperly Family Pete and Carolyn Crouse Family Indian Peaks Golf Course & 53 Great Golfers!!
Sponsorships could be designated to benefit specific activity & team programs up to 50% of the amount of the sponsorship. $750 was donated to benefit school programs in that way.
Other Booster Club news:
Our next Booster Club meeting will be November 6th, 7 pm in the Cafeteria.
Did you know that Booster Club funds were used to purchase the generator to run the new P2P scoreboard?
Did you know the Booster Club funds have been used to purchase the new portable concession stand? Did you know the stand is available for any school wide use (depending on availability)? The Puma Pride performs at the PAC Ribbon Cutting. Have you seen the Booster Club tile on the new PAC Ribbon Cutting tile wall of the Performing Arts Center? The Performing Arts Complex Ribbon Cutting was If you have a P2P student in any of the 22 extra- held on October 3rd. Between families, foundations, curricular activities offered at our school, you are businesses, and other special friends, we were able to a Booster Club member!! Please join us for our successfully complete the final phase of the PAC monthly meetings, the first Tuesday of the month with the summer installation of a lighting system, a in the P2P Cafeteria. ALL ARE WELCOME!! sound system, a house curtain and wings, an acoustical wall, a large drop screen, an LCD Pete Crouse, projector, and seat pads. A heartfelt thanks to President of the All Activity Booster Club everyone who supported our first capital campaign Contact: Postcard Pete from the Board, the staff, the Facilities Team, the
TIDBITS Vision and Hearing Screening News Briefs, Updates, and Notes
Good vision and hearing are important ingredients in CANNED FOOD DRIVE! the learning process. It is a Colorado state mandate The juniors are working to raise that students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, plus new to the district and special education students in all 25,000 canned/dry food item s for grades be screened. Classroom teachers are in a this year–s food drive! Please bring unique position to observe children and detect symp- toms of potential vision and hearing item s in! Collection bins are located problems, and may also refer a student to screening. in the north lobby. Thank you for your support of the vision and hearing screening. If you have any questions about the Mark your calendar for Upcoming Concerts! screenings, please contact the health room staff at 303-453-4616. Dec. 11 - Band Concert
Dec. 12 - Orchestra Concert Dec. 13 - Choir Concert Screening Dates: Monday Nov 5th & Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend our Free Wednesday Nov. 7th. concerts in our newly finished Auditeria.
NOVEMBER P2P EATS OUT! Please remember that students cannot use COLORADO WOK cough drops, Advil, Motrin, etc. (anything over- Tuesday, November 13th the-counter) at school unless we have a doctor's 10% of the receipts for the ENTIRE day will be signed authorization and they keep and use the donated to P2P!! medicine in the health room or a parent comes to NE corner of 287 & Baseline the school and directly gives it to the student in the presence of the parent. It may sound over- cautious, but it is BVSD policy and we have to Please note that we are having trouble with our follow it. Students will not be allowed to take any telephone service at P2P. We have a service call type of medicine in the classrooms. in, but the situation is not resolved yet. If you need to contact us, please try a few times. The calls seem to eventually get through to us.
Fun Research Projects for Kids!
The CU Cognitive Development Center in the psy- chology department is conducting projects on memory and language development! We wel- come all children from birth to age 7. Some pro- jects are particularly looking for toddlers or elemen- tary school aged children. A visit, scheduled at your convenience, lasts about 30 minutes. Parking is free and babysitting is available for siblings. Parents are compensated for travel and kids receive a fun prize and a certificate! Contact: Lauren Gindin, [email protected], (303) 492-6389, Ad- ditional information: http://psych.colorado.edu/ Crazy Hat Day — Spirit Week 2007 Peak to Peak Communications Page 8
“W orking to m aintain excellence in all w e do at Peak to Peak Charter S chool!”
Dear families and supporters!
Peak to Peak is off to a great start with our fund development efforts! A heartfelt thank you to ALL of our families who have supported the school with their time and financial donations. YOU are helping our school grow and strive for excellence by providing your support, which is GREATLY appreciated!
Annual Gift is the CORNERSTONE of ALL of our fund development efforts at Peak to Peak! Here are a few fast facts about our largest fundraiser… · Peak to Peak operates on less than other public schools and must use a healthy portion of our PPR (per pupil revenue) to pay down the debt on our buildings. We must fundraise to make up this difference. · You may give a monthly amount…to ease the gift giving process. A number of families give an amount per month-charged right to their credit card. Easy and convenient! · Your gift TRULY makes a difference…and helps foster excellence in ALL we do!
Pick up a pledge form in the front of the south building or go to www.peaktopeak.org and click on Annual Gift on the home page. Let’s make this our first year with 100% participation! Watch the thermometer go up as we meet our goal!
With warm regards, Carolyn Jannsen, M.Ed. Development Director 303. 453. 4604, [email protected]
PS. Our Annual Gift token of appreciation will be appearing in car windows soon! All those who donate to our Annual Gift Campaign will receive one!
Fund D evelopm ent Com ponents 2007/2008
A N N U A L G IFT CA M PA IG N ~ “Invest in Excellence!” • The cornerstone of all of our fund development efforts and Peak to Peak’s largest and most important fundraiser providing an average of 70 % of fundraised dollars. • Supports a myriad of programs, K – 12, helping to ensure excellence in all we do. • Participation by all families is critical for success and can assist with securing grant/foundation dollars and corporate donations. • Peak to Peak operates on $1300 less per student than other public schools, we need everyone’s help bridge this gap and exceed the margin of excellence. Matching gifts from businesses a big bonus, families are strongly encouraged to ask their employers about matching gifts!
How do I donate to this years campaign? All families and supporters will receive our Annual Gift Campaign packet and are invited to give a gift that is significant to their family!
FO O D LA BELS /BO X T O PS ~ Go to : http://www.labelsforeducation.com/pdf/eligible_products.pdf for a list of what to save. Provided excellent instructional materials for our staff. Friendly class competitions make it easy and fun w ith prizes for the w inning class collections.
*T H E D EV ELO PM EN T O FFICE IS LO O KIN G FO R A V O LU N T EER T O CO LLECT T H E LA BELS FRO M T H E ELEM EN T A RY CLA S S RO O M S A N D KEEP T RA CK O F T H E T O T A LS ~ CO N T A CT CO N N IE BRA D BU RY A T CO N N IE.BRA D BU RY @ BV S D .O RG IF Y O U CA N H ELP! Peak to Peak Communications Page 9
S PECIA L EV EN T S A U CT IO N N EW S : Peak to Peak’s A uction and D inner is set for M arch 1, 2008! M ark your calendars… and w atch your e-m ails for m ore inform ation! PLEA S E M A RK Y O U R CA LEN D A R ! T his N ovem ber 9, 2007, G randparents and S pecial Friends S ocial, K-5, M ore years them e is, “R each for the S tars”. inform ation on this to follow . Please call Carolyn J annsen, D evelopm ent M arch 1,2008, A u ctio n a n d D in n er. Please contact Peak to Peak’s D irector at 303 453 – 4604 or e-m ail her development Director if you would like to assist with this fun event that has become a tradition at jannsen@ com cast.net if you w ould like to at our school! assist w ith this event. W e are looking for A pril 25, 2008, Our Fifth Annual R u n fo r th e P ea k ! This year we are higher end item s for our LIV E and S ILEN T “stepping up” the prize packages and fun for everyone! A uction, help w ith decorations, set up and m ore! A portion of the auction proceeds w ill go to fund needed item s for our N EW Library M edia Center! J O IN T H E FU N and Please continue to bring in those food labels, box tops and support you school! Everyone is w elcom e! R ECY CLIN G items… your efforts make a difference !
O N -G O IN G FU N D R A IS IN G … turning everyday spending into support for your school!
SCRIP (GIFT CARD) NEWS! Many more families are choosing to funnel their everyday spending and gift giving through Peak to Peak resulting in excellent earnings! Just stop by the south office!
Gift Card(s)-these % to are available at all P2P Available times in the south amounts Watch your e-mails and Friday folders for office ! our Holiday Scrip (Gift Card) Program! This King Soopers 5% $25, $50, is a great opportunity to purchase your holi- $100 day gift cards (great for shopping OR gift Safeway 5% $25, $50, giving) through our school resulting in hun- $100 dreds of dollars of earnings for Peak to Kohls 5% $25, $50, Peak! No more traveling around to all $100 those stores-we will assemble your Vitamin Cottage 5% $25, $50, order for you! $100 Wild Oats 5% $25, $50, $100 Starbucks 7% $25 $10 Barnes & Noble 9% $25 I-Tunes 4% $15
D IN IN G O U T EV EN T S ~ A great w ay for our families/staff to get together and socialize, w hile supporting our great school !Establishes relationships w ith area businesses, and participation is key to success. S upports our Peak to Peak Booster Club! OCTOBER DINING OUT: Proto’s Pizza in the Black Diamond Center at 287 and Baseline.
R ECY CLIN G PR O G R A M ~ Cell phone and printer cartridge recycling A N D M O R E!! A ll proceeds w ill benefit Peak to Peak’s technology programming, K-12. Businesses m ake great partners, so spread the w ord!
*ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE DROPPED OFF NEXT TO THE LOST AND FOUND ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE SOUTH BUILDING!
Thank you for supporting Peak to Peak Charter School!
Your support makes a difference!
November 2007 Counseling Corner Page 11
Bully Prevention News AD/HD Support Groups for Parents!
There is a lot of great news to report about bully prevention at Whether you have a preschooler or a high schooler, raising P2P! First, I went to a learning circle on bully prevention and I kids with AD/HD is a unique journey! Share experiences, learn was reminded that bullying is sadly a part of human nature, and new strategies, and network with other parents who are strug- while we often hope that all of our hard work will eliminate bul- gling with similar concerns. Co-facilitated by BVSD school psy- lying altogether, it’s good to remember that prevention programs chologist, Dani Rudkin, PsyD with expertise in AD\HD and often take years to have a powerful impact. A good analogy is Anna Stewart, parent liaison from the PPP office. wearing seatbelts. It took a lot of years to change our society’s Mondays from 6-8 PM at Douglass Elementary School belief that wearing seatbelts was a viable safety precaution. In spite of negative reactions, the believers kept moving forward First meeting is October 22, then Nov 26, Dec 17, Jan. 28, with marketing, prevention programs and hope until wearing a seatbelt became the norm. That is how I view our bully preven- Feb. 25, March 17, April 21, and May 19 tion program. In spite of the handful of negative experiences some of our students have encountered which could make us feel Please contact Anna for more information and registration at the efforts aren’t working, we at P2P are moving forward with 303-245-5918 or email to [email protected] marketing and prevention programs and that gives me HOPE!
So here is what has been happening…
ELEMENTARY: 1) The elementary classes have continued learning how to PEN Parent Engagement Network “Stand Up, Speak Out” and we have discussed the different ac- Creating a Caring, Connected, Safe Community tions and the levels of courage each action takes while Speaking in Partnership with all Adults & Youth Out! 2007 - 2008 Community Conversations 2) All of the classes will begin learning that “Friendship is ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC a Behavior” and what behaviors a person exhibits in a friendship. Conflict resolution will be an important part of this unit including Contact Betsy Fox, Boulder County Healthy Youth Alliance, 303-441- using “I Messages”. 3981, [email protected] 3) The peer mediation program is up and running. There www.parentengagementnetwork.com will be peer mediators during the lunch recess as well as a “Helperador” who will be acknowledging helping/caring behav- Practical Ideas for Building Strengths & Overcoming Risks in Youth, ior on the playground. Families, and Communities
MIDDLE:: Tuesday, November 6 1) The “Peer Meducators” (a mix of mediation and educa- 9 am - 1 pm Bridging Cultures, Building Futures A team of experts tion) are in full swing, and what a fabulous group of 7th/8th will train and coach participants in cultural competence & uniting with grade students! They will be putting out a monthly newspaper for diverse populations. the middle school full of interesting issues, happenings, and crea- tive works. They are committed to providing peer mediation as Tuesday, December 4, 40 Assets in Action needed, and they will be working on character education lessons 9 am - 11 am BVSD Ed Center to share with the elementary students beginning in January. Tools to Enhance Positive Youth Development for Your Kids & All 2) The seventh grade is in the process of voting on a series Kids Corey Jones, Trainer Assets for Colorado Youth, www.buildassets.org
Thriving During the Teenage Years Importance of Peer Acceptance By Jan Hittelman
Q: My son has High Functioning Autism. He was recently not invited to a birthday party of someone whom he considers a friend. This may bother some children more than others; especially children with self esteem issues, like my son. What's a parent to do? Monarch K-8 Mom
A: It is reassuring to know that your son has peers whom he considers friends and hopefully gets invited to other friends’ events. If so, reassuring your child that due to various limitations, not everyone can be invited to a party and being available for him to share his feeling may suffice. In addition, helping your son participate in other structured activities in the community (e.g. Recreation Centers, YMCA, school clubs, etc) can increase his opportunities for peer acceptance. If this is a more frequent problem for your son, you’re not alone. It is estimated that about ten percent of school-age children have no friends in their classes and are disliked by the majority of their classmates. This is a reason for concern because studies show that children who experience significant peer rejection report being more depressed, anxious and angry, have lower self-esteem, and are at increased risk of academic difficulties, dropping out of school, substance abuse, relationship problems and juvenile delinquency. While peer rejection can often seem random, there are certain factors that can increase your child’s risk of being rejected by peers. The primary issue is often a lack of well-developed social skills. Social skills are tools that we use to interact with and understand others in our social environment. We are not born with these skills, but learn them through our social experiences. For children who are very shy or for a variety of other reasons are limited in their opportunities to engage in social interactions with peers, their social skills development can be restricted and they risk falling behind same-age peers. Because children with autistic features often have difficulties interacting with others in socially acceptable ways, this issue can be of even higher importance to their overall development. In order to strengthen social skills, it is important to expose children to a variety of opportunities to interact with peers. Due to social skill deficits or difficulties, however, it is sometimes necessary to first help them develop some of the skills they are lacking and then encourage them to practice these skills in both structured and unstructured activities. Typical social skills that are necessary for effective interaction include simple mechanical skills (e.g. eye contact, smiling, other facial expressions, tone/volume of voice, body gestures, listening, complimenting) as well as more sophisticated skills (e.g. joining a group activity, coping with teasing, sharing/cooperating, dealing with conflict, being supportive of others, empathy). Similarly, some of the negative perceptions that increase the risk of peer rejection include being: mean/aggressive, disruptive, bossy/ domineering, withdrawn/apprehensive, resistant/rigid, nonresponsive, and nonconforming to peer conventions. It is helpful to observe your child in social interactions and assess his/her social skills strengths and weaknesses, in order to determine the specific areas that require improvement. If this job feels a bit overwhelming, experienced child and adolescent mental health providers can often help address the issues of peer rejection and assist in developing an effective social skills training program. ------————————————------Upcoming PEN Events: November 6th Bridging Cultures, 9am – 1pm Recycling Center Building Futures (1901 63rd Street, Boulder)
December 4th 40 Assets in Action 9am – 11am Recycling Center Corey Jones, Presenter (1901 63rd Street, Boulder) ------————————————------Learn more about PEN by visiting their website at: www.parentengagementnetwork.com or by contacting Betsy Fox with the Boulder County Healthy Youth Alliance at 303-441-3981. Dr. Jan Hittelman is a licensed psychologist and Director of Boulder Psychological Services, LLC. What's your opinion? Questions or comments for this monthly column can be sent to: 1527 Pine Street, Suite B, Boulder, CO 80302, via email to: [email protected], or by phone: 720-217-3270 November 2007 Peak to Peak Athletics Page 13
Please join us . . . Peak to Peak X-C Places 1st in League
FALL SPORTS BANQUET Both the Peak-to-Peak boys and girls cross country teams won titles at the Metro League November 7th, 6:30 Cross Country Meet held on October 12th at Viele Cafeteria Lake in Boulder. Senior Nathan R. won the boys race with a time of 17:35 and Kate H. placed 2nd in the girls’ race with a time of 21:01. Both
Juggernaut volleyball is seeking MS girls for the 12-14 students earned Senior of the Year honors for the program. If interested, stop by Mr. Chandler’s office for Metro League Conference. Other members on the a flyer or contact Coach Townsend at cross-country teams finished as follows: Jasmine [email protected]. R. 4th, Jhenya N. 6th, Emily C.7th, Margaret W. 9th, Austin T. 8th, Josh C. 9th, Josh C. 13th and Calling all 8th grade boys basketball players! Matt H. 21st. Peak to Peak is hosting the Regional Meet at Viele Lake on October 18th, so stay tuned We’re having difficulty organizing an 8th grade boys’ for additional results. Coach Tim Flamer won basketball team to play for P2P. Please email Mr. Metro League Coach of the Year for his effort in Chandler if you are interested in playing beginning Nov. developing the P2P cross country program. 1st or we will not be able to offer a team through BVSD. Coach Flamer is currently training to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Marathon Trials. Unfortunately, they will not allow 7th graders on this team. To view all of the results for the League Meet please visit www.racingunderground.com
Each week the Athletic/Activities Department will post MORE CROSS COUNTRY an eligibility list of students who are failing classes NEWS!!
(students are listed by their student ID number). The Girls Cross Country team Students involved in athletics/activities should check finished 1st at the Regional XC this list to be sure they are not on it. This list is posted Meet and the Boys finished 2nd! in the cafeteria on the bulletin board every Tuesday. Go Pumas! The teams will compete at State Students failing even one class will appear on this list, Saturday, Oct 27th in Colorado Springs! but understand that failing more than one class would be classified as ineligible for athletics/activities. Students who are classified as ineligible who wish to petition Mr. Chandler as to the accuracy of their failing Winter Sports Registration grade or grades should bring a note from the teacher of the failing class to Mr. Chandler as promptly as Winter sports registration is now happening for high school Boys and Girls basketball and Ice possible. Sometimes students have more time to turn in Hockey. The winter season begins on November missing work which can cause a student's grade to drop 10th. Registration forms can be found on the to the failing range which will automatically appear on school's website. For HS sports the registration pa- the failing class list. Peak to Peak is bound by The perwork is under athletic/activities, then forms. For Colorado High School Activities Association to adhere Middle School sports log on to athletics and activi- to this policy of weekly checks on student eligibility. ties, then middle school sports which includes the We will do our best to ensure that students who miss registration paperwork with each sport or intramu- class are not being punished unfairly for missing work. ral. Please take a moment to peruse our website regarding those sport offerings that are coming up in the winter for both High school and Middle "5)-&5*$4 0''*$& school. Deadline for High School sports registra- tions is November 7th. Middle school sport regis- 1 &5&3 $)"/ % -&3 S "5)-&5*$ i trations are due prior to the start of those individ- "$5*7 *5: % *3 &$503 S B I B bC D B bC F H C ual seasons. All sports registrations require that a + &"/ / & $03 0/ " "/ % + 0% : )&*% 03 / S physical exam (cleared for athletics) be on file in the athletic office. Physical exam forms are in- "5)-&5*$ 1 "3 "4S B I B bC D B bC E D @ cluded with the registration paperwork. Page 14
Speak to Peak Elem entary News
Good Character Shines; Good Scholarship Enlightens.
News from Ms. Roni Safety-Please Read! There is a website I urge you to look at especially if your children walk to and from school. It is called Family Watch Dog. It can be accessed at this website: www.familywatchdog.us. After you go to the site simply punch in your state and zip code in the “Find Offender” section. It marks offenders around any neighbor- hoods and codes parks and schools. Peak to Peak’s zip code is 80026.
School-Wide Goals In the elementary as part of our School Improvement Plan, we are working on three school-wide goals (among many others). I wanted to make sure that you were familiar with them.
Equity (E): The elementary staff at Peak to Peak will improve the achievement of Special Education stu- dents in the area of reading over baseline and over time. The weighted index score for all Special Education students will increase from 54, as established in 2007, to 64 in 2008 and ILP data for K-5 for number of stu- dents removed from an ILP will decrease overall by 10%.
Achievement (A): The elementary staff at Peak to Peak will improve the achievement of all students in the area of Math over baseline and over time. The weighted index score for all students K-12 will increase from 97, as established in 2007, to 103 in 2008.
Organization (O): The elementary staff at Peak to Peak will continue to develop and improve perceptions among and with the student body and staff around bullying. Success for the school will be measured by in- crease over baseline and over time of 10 percentage points, as compiled in the Peak to Peak climate and snapshot surveys. Questions include the following: At school I have not heard students threaten to hurt someone or take their things: 54% in 2007 to at least 64% in 2008 Adults help if they see someone being bullied: 60% in 2007 to at least 70% in 2008.
Parent Surveys Thank you for helping elementary conferences run so smoothly. While you waited, surveys were provided so we could gather information on what could make our school better. Currently, we are compiling the re- sults and will share them with you soon. If you did not get a survey, please stop by the front office or email Traci Schoeneweis and we can email you one.
Character Assembly Remember every month we have a Character Assembly. Our goal is to recognize and encourage students in showing good Character; Academics (Reading Log Awards and Math problem Solving Awards); PE; the Arts; Attendance and overall best class behavior. In addition, we have a read aloud and a song related to the trait of the month. Each day, the students are reminded of the trait through a quote or question during our morning announcements. So far we had November 26 and October 29. Our next assembly will be at the end of November. Stay tuned for the date.
Y ou’re Inv ited . . .
Fifth grade students will soon be middle school students and likely have questions about that transition. To help fifth grade students learn more about Peak to Peak Middle School, we have scheduled a tour of the middle school on Tuesday, No- vember 6th from 12:35 - 1:35 p.m.
Parents of fifth graders are invited to join the tour. You can meet your 5th grader in his or her classroom. After a brief wel- come, we will break into small groups and visit an assortment of middle school classes while they are in session. Please contact the school office at 303-453-4601 with any questions. Page 15 November 2007
Reading and Your Child by Sherrie Walter Questions
Children who are engaged in rich discussions, and are encouraged to question their environment, are typically children who develop strong comprehension skills. Help- ing children to be inquisitive about the world in which they live will help foster the strategies necessary for reading development. Through questioning children ac- quire new knowledge about their world. By asking questions for which there are many possible answers, thinking is not limited to a single right answer, but rather a multitude of thoughts and ideas can flood the mind as the child evaluates, develops, analyzes, connects, com- pares, elaborates, and organizes information as they reflect on the questions asked.
Ask your child lots of questions that begin with “Why.” For example: “Why is it cold in the winter?” “Why do some animals live in the trees?” “Why do people use computers to communicate with each other?” “Why do children have the summer off from school?”
When reading, here are some possible questions to ask: “Where does this story take place?” “What made this in interesting story?” “Why would you recommend this story to your friend?” “How do you think the story will end?” “Is the main character someone you would like to have for a friend? Why or why not?” “Why do you think the author chose to put this character in the story?”
Lastly, always provide many opportunities for your child to ask questions. Questioning is one of the most powerful comprehension strategies a reader can implement. If no questions come to mind while reading, the likelihood of adequate comprehension occurring is very low. Always en- courage questions that begin with “I wonder why… ?” or “I wonder how… ?” Questions for which there is not always an answer, or questions for which there are many possible answers, are the most powerful questions readers can ask.
Elementary yearbooks are now on sale!
Elementary yearbooks are now on sale for $25 (cash or Elementary Science Fair check payable to "PEAK TO PEAK"). Please give order forms and payments to homeroom teachers or drop them in the black "Yearbook Order" mailbox in the south lobby. Date: Wednesday, November 14 All elementary yearbook orders are due by winter break. Students in Grade 5 are required to enter the science Please direct any questions to Traci Schoeneweis: fair, and the submission will be graded. The students [email protected]> or 303-453-4682). will be learning all about the process during science class in the following weeks. Students in Grades 2-4 Dear Elementary Families ~ are welcome to enter the elementary science fair. Please invite any grandparents or special friends to the social on Please pick up an information packet at the front of- November 9. We have sent out postcards, however-if you have fice. someone you would like to include, please do so. We want to be sure that everyone is included! Parents come support the science fair and check out all the cool exhibits! Thank you! Carolyn Jannsen
Good Job! We want to commend 5th grade student Drew L for a cool head during an emergency. Drew's mom received an emergency cell phone call in September saying that his older sister was having a seizure at her dance studio. As they rushed to the studio, without Drew knowing what was specifically happening and without his mom's prompting, he picked up his mom's cell phone and called 911, told the operator his sister was very sick, needed help and the name of the studio. He then called his dad, who was out of town and told him what was happening and to come home! And then, while his mom was taking care of his sister, he also called a neighbor to come and get Drew and his younger brother.
Page 16
Speak to Peak Secondary News
News from the Middle Latitudes . . .
Oprah Winfrey has said that parenting has to be the most difficult job in the world. Having raised three very different kids I w ould agree with her. Even as an educator I never was really satisfied with my own parenting. I fell short of my
expectations for myself on numerous occasions.
T he most useful parenting advice I ever received was from Jim Fay, renowned parenting and educational consultant. He
s poke of becoming a consultant for your child, rather than a drill sergeant or helicopter pilot. One of my children learned q uickly to become helpless when facing school dilemmas. The tendency of my wife was to swoop down like a helicopter p ilot and attempt to rescue her from her discomfort at school. My wife and I had more disagreements over this one p arenting issue than anything else. Years later, as my wife has watched our 21-year-old daughter's development, my wife c laims she was wrong in her approach. The only saving grace for our daughter's learned Helplessness has been
a ttending college away from home. Her emotional growth rate has been exponential in a setting where she has had to s tand up for herself and suffer some challenging emotional traumas. She still calls home regularly; my wife still feels d rained by some of those calls. Overall, she is now more of an adult than child, actually ready to move to Austria after g raduation.
T he consultant approach requires a blend of empathy, good questions and giving your children choices and options. The e mpathetic response can be as simple as, "I am so sorry that happened to you, I can see you are feeling sad about it." A
g reat question to follow your genuine concern: "How are you going to solve that problem?" Typically my helpless d aughter would whine and say she didn't have a clue.
M y response to that would be to ask her if she wanted to hear my advice (important to ask teens for permission to give a dvice). She usually reluctantly agreed to listen. I then would give her different possibilities on how she might solve the i ssue, and ask her to speculate on how each one would work for her. My final point was typically to give her a message of m y confidence in her ability to solve the problem.
Imagine your kid having the confidence to go to a teacher after school and address a thorny issue maturely and s uccessfully. Who could ask for more from our children? Obviously, the younger the child, the more difficult the issue, t he more likely parent intervention is required. Middle school certainly is a time to empower our kids to solve their own
academic and social problems.
Changing your approach will not yield immediate results. Kids will typically continue to draw you into their problems. After
a ll, there were payoffs to that behavior. Habitual ways of behaving will not change overnight. One interesting dynamic w ith high school students who have been weaned on the learned helplessness model is that they will resent you when y ou come to their aide, yet fiercely drag you into the problem. Pay attention to the resentment. Work on the empathetic r esponse, and your efforts will eventually yield results.
The final results of feeding the learned helplessness can be an adult who becomes a doormat, who is insecure and non- a ssertive. Sociologists have been exploring a new phenomenon with recent generations, the kids who never leave home. T hey move into their parent's home after college, and often stay for years. In addition, college professors are now dealing
w ith parent phone calls about tests, unfair grading practices and other college course issues.
Obviously, there are issues of safety of students that need immediate adult attention. With other problems that surface, if
w e can ask ourselves what is in the long-term best interests of our children, we can usually make the right decision about o ur own intervention.
Sincerely,
David Hazen
Middle School Principal
Middle School News & Notes Page 17
Dear Peak to Peak 8th Grade Families:
You are cordially invited to attend a parent/student dessert reception at Peak to Peak Charter School to learn more about the Peak to Peak High School experience, recently rated the best high school in the Den- ver-metro area. It will be held on Tuesday, November 6th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the dining hall.
~ Preparing our Students for Success in High School and Beyond ~ What makes the Peak to Peak High School experience unique?
* The Peak Scholar Program * Advanced Placement Courses * College-Planning/Counseling Center * Extracurricular Activities and Clubs * Academic Competitions * CHSAA Athletic Teams~ * Social Activities * The Peak to Peak School Culture * And more!!
Please plan on attending this very special event. It will be an opportunity to find out more about what Peak to Peak has in store for Peak to Peak Middle School students as they enter the next important stage in edu- cation ~ high school.
Warm Regards, Kyle Mathews High School Principal
“The City That Never Sleeps”
The Middle School Student Council would like to invite all middle school students to our first event--"The City That Never Sleeps" on Friday, November 2nd from 3:15-5. The event will include activities in the gym (dodgeball, basketball, etc) as well as a DJ and dancing in the cafeteria. Tick- ets will cost $6 in advance and $7 at the door and include a slice of pizza and beverage. Cash or check (made out to Peak to Peak) are accepted. Additional pizza and soda will be available for purchase. Tickets will be sold during lunches the week of October 29-November 2.
We welcome any parents that would like to volunteer at the event (set up, clean up, decorating or chaperoning). We are also looking for any decorations that would go with our theme of "The City That Never Sleeps" such as stars, glitter, cityscapes, streamers, balloons (white, silver, black and red), etc. We are also requesting donations of beverages for the event. (2L bottles of soda, juice, etc.)
Please contact the Middle School Student Council Advisor, Michelle Sugden at mi- [email protected] if you would like to help out or have any questions. Please leave any do- nations in the Main Office, labeled--Middle School Student Council. We hope to see you there!
Page 18
Speak to Peak High School
Education is not the filling of a pail, but rather the lighting of a fire...
Planning for College IMPORTANT SAT & ACT INFORMATION
We would like to extend a huge thank you to all juniors, There appears to be some confusion con- seniors and their parents who attended the College Plan- cerning how seniors are to report their test ning Nights over the past 2 weeks. We had our greatest attendance ever at both events! We’ve seen many sen- scores to colleges and universities. Some iors since this meeting making appointments or coming in of this is a result of our new online tran- to see us for personalized follow up meetings about their script request system that was imple- college plans, lists, recommendations and applications. mented on Naviance.
Congratulations to the 10 seniors who have qualified to * The first opportunity for students to be be semi-finalist National Merit Scholars. This is an amaz- sure test scores are sent occurs when they ing honor and the largest number of scholars Peak to register to take the ACT or SAT. If college Peak has ever had! codes are included, the ACT or SAT will send an official score report to the col- Additional dates to remember for all HS students/parents: leges indicated. • Nov 1st: 1st Application due for seniors out per P2P request. * When students use naviance to re- • Nov 6th: College Field trip for 9-11th graders (all sen- quest transcripts to be mailed, they must iors are expected to work on college applications OR check the appropriate boxes for school community service on their own at this time). Stu- copies of ACT and/or SAT scores to be in- dents are expected to wear nice clothing to college cluded with this mailed transcript. Most visits. No jeans allowed. state colleges and universities will accept • 9th graders will be going to Chatauqua Park in Boul- these as official, but many of the private der for a 9th grade field trip and need to wear warm colleges do not. clothes and bring a lunch. 8-3pm. • 10th graders will be attending either CSU or UNC * Schools that do not accept our tran- (possibly CU) 8-3pm. script test scores as official must receive an • 11th graders will be attending CC and UCCS in Colo- official score report directly from ACT or rado Springs 8-5pm. College Board (SAT). You can go to their • 12th graders will have this day on their own to do ei- websites to request official score reports at ther community service or applications for college. any time, and they do charge a fee for • Dec 5th: Financial Aid Night in Auditeria 6-7:30pm this service. • Jan 22nd: FAFSA Night (helping parents fill out this very important financial aid form). * If you are not sure if a college re- quires the official score report, this should If you and your child both missed the college nights you be stated clearly in their application in- missed a great deal of important information. Please structions. If still in doubt, perhaps a call to schedule a meeting (both parent and child) with Ms. Gan- the admissions office would be appropri- nett or Mr. Mitchell ASAP. ate.
In an effort to improve student safety on campus and to streamline the check-in and check-out process for juniors and seniors with off campus lunch privileges, off campus lunch drivers are required to park in the school's east lot. Our goal is to reduce student traffic on the north side of campus where construction is taking place and students are more at risk, and to facilitate our supervision of the 30-40 student drivers who will routinely be leaving at lunch time. Per our original charter agreement with Lafayette, our commitment to minimize traffic flow in the neighborhood, and our ongoing commitment to keep kids safe at Peak to Peak, off campus students are required to use the east lot and exit via EMMA to 120th. November 2007 High School News to Note Page 19
Need Community Service Hours? Italian Language, Culture and Arts in Italy!
Community service hour opportu- Florence and Tuscany nity!! The school needs seniors to Stay in Homes in Florence for two weeks work with the elementary school Parents, High School Students - All Welcome staff after school from 3:00 - 3:30 to We need to secure plane tickets quickly to guarantee cost – help with elementary pick-up and with ten deposits by November we can secure a good price car pool safety. In addition, if we have students Two weeks beginning of June helping with the car line, it will enable the ele- Approx: $3200.00 depends on airfare mentary teachers to tutor their students during We can customize our trip and see places where special per- this time. Truly a win-win for all involved. We mission is required – that the average tourist doesn’t get to will train you for this job. Right now, we need at see! least 20 students willing to help on a consistent basis. Please consider this request as a way to The Italian Trip is designed to allow teachers and help the school and for you to complete the re- students the unique experience of living the lan- quired graduation requirement for community guage and culture of Italy while also taking ad- service hours. vantage of this famous artistic center to observe the Arts in Italy. Students will take part in begin- ning Italian language classes, cultural lectures and excursions to historic points of interest. High School Students and Families: The historic city of FLORENCE, where we’ ll be based is known as the “ Cradle of the Renaissance” . It offers the visitor Buy your 2007-2008 yearbook today! numerous museums, churches, monuments and offers various The yearbook staff is working hard to artistic and cultural events. We will also have two days of tours bring you a fantastic full color book. to other cities – one will be Rome where we will see the Vatican Pick up an order form and purchase your book (Sistine chapel) Roman Forum, Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and now for only $50. Checks can be made out to many of the neighborhoods of Rome. Peak to Peak Charter School Yearbook. Email Heather Mitchell at [email protected] for The purity of the language of its people and the thousand memo- details. Drop off your yearbook order and photos ries of ancient art and culture, coupled with the present reality of in the black yearbook box outside the main office. a modern and active town, make Florence the ideal place for a foreign student to learn Italian and to come in contact with Ital- ian life, culture and the arts. Senior Trip Cancelled The HOST SCHOOL in Italy is the internationally known lan- The Senior Trip to Snow Mountain Ranch has guage school, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, where you will learn been cancelled due to low participation and lo- ‘survival italian’ taught by native Italian speakers, meet other gistical issues. Checks that have been subm itted students from all over the world, and learn more about the cul- will either be destroyed or returned. If you would ture of Italy and its people. The school is centrally located and like your check returned, please e-m ail Josh and hosts international students from more than 40 countries every Caitlin at p2pseniors08@gm ail.com and it will be year. returned to your child. Otherwise all checks will be destroyed. Thank you for your patience. LODGING is in shared rooms with Italian families, so travelers can experience authentic day to day life of the local people as an ‘insider’ , not just a tourist. Host families are all in the city of Florence, just steps away from all the little shops, cafes, architec- ture, museums, etc. that this world famous city has to offer! In- cluded meals will be typically Italian – eaten together with your host families. And think of the Gelato…ice cream!
Ms. Saporito founded and ran a program in Rome for 11 years for the University of Colorado. If you have questions call 303- 443-8605 or e-mail at [email protected]