| Attendance Line Number - 490-3062 | December 12, 2003 |
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| Attendance Line Number - 490-3062 | December 12, 2003 |
Strong parent support of education is one of the BEST GIFTS you can give your children. One of the differences found in other countries is the value that a society places on education. In those countries where education is most highly valued, the children are more motivated to reach their personal best. It is my honor to work with and for the Shepardson parents who truly value education!
You read with your children, especially over the long holiday breaks!
You help your children master math facts
You help them with their homework
You talk to your child's teacher when you are worried about their learning.
Parents who make education a priority in their home find that their children are the ones who are best prepared for the best jobs and opportunities in their adult life.
Thank you, parents, for giving your children and our nation the best of all gifts!
This newsletter will be the last one in 2003! At this time of year, our busy lives become even busier but hopefully full of much joy and wonderful memories with family and friends. Losing a loved one is a gentle reminder of how precious every day must be. May each day of this holiday season be filled with smiles, hugs, forgiveness, empathy and acceptance. On behalf of the Shepardson staff, I wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
| - | Mary Kay Sommers |
| email: msommers@psd.k12.co.us |
| CALENDAR | December 12, 2003 |
| DECEMBER 2003 | JANUARY 2004 | ||||
| Mon | Dec. 16 | 1st Grade Music Program 6:00 pm. | Wed-Fri | Jan. 7 - 16 | Sign up for parent conferences |
| Mon | Dec. 16 | 2nd Grade Music Program 7:00 pm. | Thu | Jan. 8 | SIT Meeting 4:00 pm |
| Wed | Dec. 17 | Choir performs in Mall 11:00 am. | Wed-Thu | Jan. 14-15 | Winter Enrichment Registration |
| Mon-Sun | Dec. 22 - Jan. 4 | Winter Break | Fri | Jan. 16 | End of Quarter |
| JANUARY 2004 | Mon | Jan. 19 | NO SCHOOL - M. L. King Day | ||
| Mon | Jan. 5 | Elementary resumes on Monday! | Tues | Jan. 20 | NO SCHOOL - Elem. Teacher Workday |
| Tue | Jan. 6 | PTO Meeting 7:00 pm | Tues | Jan. 20 | 2004-05 Kdg Parent Information Night 7:00 pm |
We are pleased to report that Shepardson was again rated Excellent by the Colorado Department of Education for the third year. This is the third year for the School Accountability Reports. Our Academic Improvement rating is described as "stable" when determining changes in performance. We are again being recognized as a winner of the John Irwin School of Excellence Award for 2002-03! Congratulations, Shepardson Students, Staff and Parents!
It is impossible to accomplish such an achievement without dedicated teachers, highly supportive and engaged parents, and students who want to learn. We are so fortunate at Shepardson to have all of these factors working at very high levels. I thank everyone for working "above and beyond" to ensure that our students, your children, are receiving the best education we can offer. We will continue to strive to "reach for the stars" as we seek more strategies that help all children hold high expectations and reach their potential.
These School Accountability Reports will be distributed when they arrive from the state. Please note that they do calculate some data differently than we do. For example, we wish we had the class sizes that they show in this document!
The Shepardson Annual Report, which shows even more information about our school and our school goals, will be made available on our website and in print to parents upon request. The information in this report is a more comprehensive summary of all of the efforts and accomplishments of our entire school community. Contact the school if you would like to have a printed document.
With December being a short and busy month, we want to give you advance notice of your opportunity to sign up for parent conferences. Parents may begin to sign up for conferences on January 7 - 16 by calling the office. Teachers adjust their schedule since conferences occur after the school day ends, making a very long day for teachers. Our goal is always to have 100% participation.
At this conference, your child's teacher and maybe your child will be sharing his/her academic performance and will review the goals you set with the teacher in the fall conference. It is a perfect time to make plans on how parents and teachers can best help a child achieve his/her personal best as the year progresses. When families work together, the academic progress made by the child is astounding! Your role is critical to your child's success. We thank you for making this a priority.
Next Wednesday, we will pre-schedule conferences that involve more than the classroom teacher as well as those families who have 3 or more children at school. If you are one of those families and you know of conflicts you may have on January 28-29, please call the office with your best times. We will send home notices of your conference time on Tuesday, January 6th. Please contact us as soon as possible if we need to make changes.
Shepardson's SIT Committee met November 13 2003 in the computer lab. The committee discussed Ms. Winter's Eco Week/Pingree Park Proposal and unanimously decided that the proposal be accepted. Shepardson 6th graders are penciled in for September 27-29, 2004.
PTO representative Cathy Hagar reported that $6555 was collected from Gold C fundraiser. PTO gave $300 to Lori Pibal toward a sculpture project with Brad Chiodo (parent/artist). Enrichment program had 182 children enrolled. The Reach Week fundraiser will be starting at the end of February.
Shepardson students made Adequate Yearly Progress as required by state and federal law and as defined by the Poudre School District. Test results will be contained in the Annual Report and will be online to save copy and distribution costs. Hard copies will be made available upon request. After examining last year's test scores, teachers have already begun identifying and planning ways to achieve new and even higher goals for 2003/2004.
The committee also decided to move unspent monies from the Excellence Award to offset the purchase of fans for every classroom. This addition to the school budget will then provide a contingency fund for non-budgeted expenses.
Mary Kay provided an update re: District restructuring. The restructuring plan is still moving forward with some "tweaking". PSD cut $2.4M at the District level last year (so as not to impact students at the school level) to handle the budget shortfall for 2003-2004. However, due to expected future budget shortfalls, it is anticipated that PSD will need to cut another $3M in 2004/2005. If these cuts materialize as expected, they will likely impact students, teachers and staff at the school level.
Yes, we do have one parking stall that is designated as Handicapped Parking; it is located at the south end of the parking lot under the light pole. One is probably not enough to have during times of a high volume of traffic. Last week, one grandparent was late for a program since he couldn't find a stall. I would like to recommend that if that stall is filled, that the area on the east side of the parking lot along the curb next to the gym and kitchen be used. It seems that location would be closer and perhaps more accessible than in the lot that is already too small for our needs. The curbing in front of the school must be reserved for buses. Thanks for honoring the special use of this one slot!
Once again, it's FESTIVAL OF THE TREES time at Shepardson Elementary. Slip into the Media Center and sample our celebration of books, children, and holidays. Various classes selected a holiday book and transformed a tree into a wonderful retelling of the story with their decorations.
Through this week and until Thursday noon of the coming week, a silent auction bidding sheet will be placed beside each of the trees each day. Interested buyers may register for their bid number with Mary Gamble at the media center's circulation desk. Bidding by number is a must because number bidding keeps it silent, secret, and sane! We are also asking that students who want to bid should have a note from a parent granting permission for the student to participate in the auction.
The catalog for this third Festival of the Trees includes:
The purpose of Poudre School District's evaluation system is to improve instruction, enhance the implementation of curricular programs, and measure professional growth and development as well as the level of performance of its teachers. As a part of this evaluation process, Poudre School District will be sending surveys to parents of elementary students for input on teachers who are being evaluated during this school year. Results are compiled, and principals use the data in conjunction with other parts of the evaluation process.
This year the surveys will be sent home with students during the week of January 5. If your child's teacher is being formally evaluated this year, you will receive a survey. A random sample of parents is selected for feedback for specials' teachers. The teacher's name will be clearly identified on the form, and directions for completing the survey will be included. Only forms with signatures will be considered as valid input; however, your input will remain anonymous and not shared directly with the teacher. The deadline for returning the forms to your school will be January 16. Your input is valuable, and we thank you for completing the survey.
Human Resources, Poudre School District
We have several families who often think of us throughout the year and share special gifts and talents with us. Shepardson is able to provide more services and have better materials and equipment as a result of your generosity. Parent and Artist Brad Chiodo is one example described below. We thank you all!
When Is A Dilley Bar NOT a Dilly Bar?
When it comes as a gift of furniture from the David Dilley family and doesn't melt! The Lab West at Shepardson has been blessed with the capability to fine-tune the area where students do video editing and where staff often works with Publisher and digital photography. We received a desk unit, a worktable unit and a metal bar that connects the two. The new arrangement will offer students and staff more workspace and never-before storage. Plus it LOOKS great. Another set is being used by a lucky teacher! Plus we have some new dividers that will provide a more effective means of using our space. Thanks to the Dilley's for sharing office furniture with Shepardson in such a positive way.
As has become tradition at Shepardson, Friday January 16th will be the date for this year's all school assembly to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. followed by the Shepardson Walk for Peace. The assembly will take place in our gymnasium at approximately 1:45 pm. Students from the Student Council will make short presentations to honor Dr. King's important contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and his teachings about non-violence. There will be quotes from some of his more famous speeches and Mrs. Everett will lead us in a few songs to mark the occasion. Following this assembly, our Student Council Officers will lead all students on a "Walk for Peace" through the Shepardson community, returning to classrooms by approximately 2:30.
Parents are invited to take part. You are welcome to join us for the assembly and walk. If you live along the route (Pepperwood to Centennial and back down Fernwood to school) it would be wonderful if you would put signs or posters in your yards, or stand outside as we walk by. Last year a few parents had put up quotes from Dr. King's speeches, or had made posters with their own messages of peace and/or tolerance.
We have found this to be a meaningful way for students to not only study about this great American, but to experience, in a small way, what it might have actually felt like to peacefully "demonstrate" for an important cause.
If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact Rea Kreider at 226-6370.
Brad Chiodo, Shepardson parent and sculptor, is working with Mrs. Pibal and the 6th graders to create a bronze sculpture to possibly be installed in a school flower garden. A parent and PTO have donated money towards the project. Mrs. Pibal is also applying for grants. If you would like to contribute to this exciting art project, please contact Mrs. Pibal as 226-6370.
Remember what day students have art so that they do not wear their 'Sunday Best' to art. Students do wear paint shirts when they are working on a messy project and are asked to keep their paint shirts on until the whole room is clean but accidents still happen. Crayola.com has stain removal tips if you ever have trouble getting a stain out.
Student Council still has a few Shepardson shirts available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing one please call Mrs. Pibal or stop by the art room.
Grey long sleeve Shepardson Athletic Department t-shirts
Youth M and L - $10
Adult S, M, L - $12
Grey short sleeve Shepardson Athletic Department t-shirts
Youth M and L - $8
Adult S, M, L, XXL - $10
Navy short sleeve Shepardson Stars t-shirts
Youth L - $8
Adult M - $10
Navy short sleeve polo shirt with Shepardson Stars logo
Adult S, M, L, XL - $20
Denim long sleeve shirts with Shepardson Stars logo
Adult S, M, L - $25
Thank you for your continued support of Student Council and the many projects they sponsor.
The character trait being promoted by Character Fort Collins for December is deference; defined as limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me. The definitions are provided by the International Association of Character Cities (IACC).
Character Fort Collins is a community effort to promote character traits amongst family, business, education, government, law enforcement, and faith community members. As a community partner, Poudre School District will promote the Character Fort Collins trait of the month. This is in addition to the Character Education programs that are already in place at each school.
During the school year, Character Fort Collins will have a monthly program broadcast on Poudre School District's Channel 10, available through AT&T Cable, U.S. Cable and WANTV (wireless). For the entire searchable program schedule, visit www.psdschools.org/services/channel10/, or check local TV listings. The programming will be broadcast on Channel 27, the City of Fort Collins' station, during the summer months. More information can be found about Character Fort Collins by visiting their Web site at www.characterfortcollins.org.
There are several upcoming informational meetings and application deadlines scheduled during the months of December and January, for all grade levels. Please visit the PSD Web site at www.psdschools.org and look under "News and Events" for a complete listing. You can also call the IB office at 416-6118.
Next PTO meeting is Tuesday, January 6
7:00 p.m. in the Shepardson Library
Shepardson Directory
The directory is completed! They were delivered to the students on last Thursday, Dec. 4.
If you did not order a directory but would still like to purchase one, we have a few available for sale at the front desk.
Many thanks to Tia Oblender and Maria Smailes for the long hours put into completing this project.
We would also like to recognize and thank Alpha Graphics, owned by parents Steve and Carolina Hoffman, for donating the full cost of printing the directories.
This was a large and appreciated contribution!
Questions? Call JoAnn Caddoo at 226-3103
Shepardson Yearbook
As holiday events approach us, keep in mind that your photos of school events are needed!
You can submit digital photos on disk or regular prints. Group pictures work best as space is limited and we want to include as many students as possible.
Questions? Contact Marcie Dietrich @ 282-9336 or Michelle Murray @ 226-6224
Happy Holidays from Shepardson PTO
If you have questions or comments regarding PTO, contact JoAnn Caddoo @ 226-3103 coloradocaddoo@msn.com or Jennifer Burkhart at 225-1873.
The Nutcracker - Presented by Canyon Concert Ballet
Join the talented dancers of Canyon Concert Ballet (CCB) in the 24th annual production of The Nutcracker at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center. Evening performances will be Thursday through Saturday, December 11-13 at 7:00 p.m. with matinees on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets range from $12 - $18 and are available at the Lincoln Center Box Office at 417 W. Magnolia or by calling (970) 221-6730.
Christmas at the Farm
Decked with wreaths, boughs, lights and of course, cows - everyone is invited to an old-fashioned Christmas celebration at Lee Martinez Farm, 600 N. Sherwood, 4 - 7 p.m., December 12 - 14 and December 19 - 21. There is no admission fee and free cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Crafts and hayrides will be available to purchase. Santa will also make a special appearance.
Family Story Time During Winter Break
Join storyteller Giny McConathy and the staff at the Fort Collins public library for family story times during the winter break. All ages will enjoy these engaging presentations.
Monday and Tuesday, December 22 and 23, at 10:30 a.m., in the Main Library's Delatour Room, "By the Fireside" - stories to warm up the coldest days.
Monday and Tuesday, December 29 and 30, at 10:30 a.m., in the Harmony Library's Community Room, "Out of Africa" - beautiful books and stories from the huge continent of Africa.
All story times are free, and no registration is required. For more information call 221-6680.
Basketball for Boys - Grades 4-6
City of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation are sponsoring basketball for boys in grades 4 - 6. The seven-week season begins the week of January 26. The fee is $41.00, plus $15 for a jersey, if needed. For more information contact the Parks and Recreation staff at 221-6640. Registration deadline is January 9 or when teams fill up.
Holiday Basketball Camp for Girls - Grades 4 - 8
The girls' basketball team at Poudre High School is hosting a "Holiday Hoop Camp" for girls in grades 4 - 8, January 2 & 3, 2004, 12:00 noon - 3:30 p.m. Basketball fundamentals, positive motivation sessions, prizes, a camp T-shirt, and a special guest speaker are all included in the $60.00 cost. A $20 deposit is due by December 27. For more information, see your PE teacher or call Coach Kari Doering at 416-6183.
Blizzard 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
Start winter break off with a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Prizes for top finishers and sportsmanship awards will be distributed to high school, junior high, and elementary school divisions. Meet at noon on Monday, December 22 at the Northside Aztlan Community Center, 112 E. Willow. The fee is $20 per team and you can register at Northside Aztlan Community Center. For more information contact the Northside staff at 221-6655.
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