| Attendance Line Number - 490-3062 | August 27, 2004 |
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| Attendance Line Number - 490-3062 | August 27, 2004 |
Welcome to Shepardson! We are pleased to have 488 students this year. The enthusiasm displayed by both students and teachers is contagious! The staff arrived before they were paid to prepare for the school year; several were in and out all summer long. Many took classes to extend their instructional skills. The new students are quickly adjusting and making new friends. Both the counselor Rea Kreider and I have spoken with every class, personally welcoming them, sharing our expectations, and explaining how we can support them. This year I connected their learning goals to the Olympics. It takes many hours of practice to develop skills of any kind, especially when it's difficult. We look forward to working with parents to help your child achieve their "personal best" this school year!
We thank all of you who were able to join us for our Back to School Open House last Friday. We truly appreciate your rearranging your schedule to make this visit a priority. As a result, it was very calm on Monday when the students arrived for they knew their teacher, knew where they sat and already had their supplies put way. We are looking forward to conferencing with parents! We highly value your partnership in this learning experience. Working together for your children we can "reach the stars"!
One of the special strengths of Shepardson is our diversity! We embrace having students with differences related to language, culture and disabilities. We value our students having the opportunities to learn in a natural environment how each child is important and has something wonderful to contribute regardless of differences. We believe in including all students in the typical classroom. Some of our stories come from parents who have said, with tears in their eyes, that this is the first time their child has been invited to a birthday party with friends. This year we have around 50 students who will need second language support with around 85 students who speak at least one other language. This year we are pleased to welcome students representing cultures from American Indian, Asia, Mexico, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, Vietnam, China, Saudi Arabia, and India. We are so excited to have a school culture that in some small way is becoming a microcosm of the real world that your children will live and work in as adults. What extra sensitivity, gifts and skills your children are learning at Shepardson! They will be prepared to be exceptional leaders, able to work successfully with all cultures and create a better world.
We thank you for sharing your children with us and trusting us to serve as their teachers. Have a wonderful weekend with your precious gifts!
| - | Mary Kay Sommers |
| email: msommers@psd.k12.co.us |
| CALENDAR | August 27, 2004 |
| AUGUST 2004 | SEPTEMBER 2004 | ||||
| 31 | Tue | Parent Conferences (grades K, 2-6); 3:30 - 8:00 pm | 7 | Tue | Parent Conferences (grade 1) 3:30 - 8:00pm |
| 31 | Tue | First Grade Parent Curriculum Night; 6:30 - 8:30 pm | 7 | Tue | PTO Pod Rep Meeting; 6:00 pm in Media Center |
| SEPTEMBER 2004 | 7 | Tue | PTO Meeting 7:00 pm in Media Center | ||
| 1 | Wed | Parent Conferences (grades K, 2-6); 3:30 - 8:00 pm | 8 | Wed | Parent Conferences (grade 1) 3:30 - 8:00pm |
| 2 | Thu | Parent Conferences (grades K, 2-6); 3:30 - 8:00 pm | 9 | Thu | Parent Conferences (grade 1) 3:30 - 8:00 pm |
| 3 | Fri | Gold C ends today | 9 | Thu | Back to School Ice Cream Social 6:30 - 7:30 pm |
| 3 | Fri | 1st Student Council Meeting 7:45 am-5th & 6th Graders | 9 | Thu | 6th Grade Curriculum Night 6:00 - 7:00 pm |
| 6 | Mon | Labor Day - NO SCHOOL | |||
Please help us welcome our newest teaching staff!
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The Colorado Association of Libraries awarded an Award of Merit worth $50 to Mrs. Margie Bucher, our Media Specialist. This unexpected honor was given for the Celebration of Trees event she organizes in December. At this event, classrooms decorate a tree using the theme of a favorite book. Parents bid through silent auction and the proceeds help improve the media center. Margie's creative ideas are often used to generate more interest among students in her area of passion...books! Congratulations, Margie! We are so proud of you! The Breakfast Rotary Club at University Holiday Inn will be recognizing Mrs. Sue Harbour Literacy and ESL coordinator/Teacher, on September 1st at noon. Each school is given an opportunity on alternate years to identify its own winner, one who represented the Rotary International Principles. We are pleased to have Sue represent our school as our winner. As her nomination explains, "to say that Sue goes 'above and beyond' is a gross understatement" for her commitment to children, their parents and the staff is phenomenal. Congratulations, Sue! You represent the Shepardson team so well! |
We have just received your personal reports of your child's CSAP tests taken last spring for all students who attended Shepardson and are currently in grades 4, 5 and 6. If you have moved here from another district school and we receive the summaries from those schools, we will send them home. Please look for them in the next couple weeks in an envelope addressed to "Parents." Teachers may be able to get them ready to give out at conferences. If you have a different request, please contact your child's teacher.
In addition, several teachers, the counselor, and the principal are trying to arrange time to have individual chats with every child who took the CSAP tests last spring. We hope to help them feel good about all of their efforts in learning by recognizing their strengths. The test summary includes specific skills so they can identify their strongest areas and then pick a few areas they want to improve or simply reflect on areas they feel the need to grow. Classroom teachers will be using this information to better understand each child's feelings and needs since testing is a real part of their school life. It is difficult for classroom teachers to find the time to meet with every child for this purpose, as it is for other teachers. We believe it will also give students an opportunity to realize how all teachers are interested in their learning in all areas of the curriculum. If a parent has a concern, you should contact the principal, counselor or your child's teacher.
Collins Wang and Spencer Hoffman were among only a few students in Fort Collins who were invited to join community leaders including the mayor to discuss the city's "Potential City Issues." They shared their ideas about how the city might address them. Mrs. Beth Brown and Mrs. Cece Cooke, fifth grade teachers, have agreed to involve their students in a special learning experience that will involve community mentors as they research topics related to city issues. There are even plans underway for the students to share their ideas with a group of community leaders to validate the critical thinking generated by our students. Having an authentic audience is so motivating for students. Collins and Spencer represented Shepardson very well and will assist the fifth grade in finding relevant topics for research. Great job! |
We have a request for safety if you are using our limited parking lot.
Many thanks to all of you, your neighbors and friends who joined us at Shepardson for this special program. We had 562 participants who checked out 240 books! This program is funded by a grant from the Foundation of Northern Colorado and the Marti and Hermann Meyer foundation. We were so pleased to have families in our school over the summer to enjoy the love of reading and learning. Each unique program was fascinating and fun. Special thanks to Pauline Howard who served as our coordinator and to Margie Bucher, Media Specialist, for ensuring that this program could be arranged at this site again this year. We are hopeful that we will again offer this program next summer.
District Boundary Committee: We need an alternate to assist parent Peter Stackhouse. There will be discussion this year about all students in Shepardson attendance area attending only one junior high school (Boltz). Meetings are in the evenings.
Policy: This building committee meets weekly at Shepardson 7:40 - 8:20 am on Tuesdays to determine operational decisions.
Technology: This building committee may meet monthly to discuss the types of upgrades needed to address instructional needs.
Newsletter Production Team: We need about 4 parents to come on Friday mornings of "newsletter week" to help make copies and collate packets for teachers to distribute to parents. We need help right away even if you can't do it all the time. 9:30 - 10:30 am.
Even though fall is approaching, it's still mosquito season, continuing the threat of West Nile virus infections.
Last year, thousands of people in Colorado were infected with West Nile virus. Sixty-three died and many others became seriously ill; leaving some with permanent disabilities and others still recovering.
It is impossible to kill all mosquitoes which carry West Nile virus, but everyone can take action to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
AVOID MOSQUITO BITES
- Stay indoors, if possible, during mosquito biting time (from dusk to dawn).
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors.
- Treat clothing with repellents containing DEET or permethrin.
(Always follow product directions).- Do not disturb shrubs and tall grasses where mosquitoes hide.
- Maintain screens and keep doors closed to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
USE REPELLENTS
- Repellents containing DEET are safe and effective to prevent mosquito bites.
- Choose a product to match the time you are outdoors:
- (23% DEET protects for up to 5 hours
- 5% DEET protects 45 to 90 minutes).
- Soybean oil products protect up to 90 minutes
- Citronella repellents protect 10 - 20 minutes.
- Use products containing no more than 30% of DEET for children.
- Do not use DEET on infants under 2 months of age.
ELIMINATE MOSQUITO HABITAT/BREEDING AREAS
- Empty water in birdbaths and wading ponds every week.
- Treat livestock water tanks with BTI (mosquito dunk to kill mosquito larvae).
- Stock ornamental ponds, and fountains with fish that eat mosquito larvae or treat with BTI.
- Do not overwater lawns and gardens to prevent sources of standing water.
- Trim shrubbery, remove garden debris and junk piles.
- Clean gutters so they drain properly.
Other information: Colorado toll-free line: 1-877-462-2911
| On the web: | www.fightthebitecolorado.com |
| www.healthinfosource.com | |
| www.larimer.org/health |
Don't miss out! Each year Shepardson PTO publishes a directory for the families of Shepardson. This directory includes class lists, staff names, plus phone numbers and addresses of Shepardson families. If you wish to be included in this directory, please fill out and sign the attached form and return it to school no later than Tuesday, September 7.
If you wish to advertise in the directory, complete the bottom portion of the form and send it in with your payment.
If you have questions or want to confirm that your form was received, please contact JoAnn Caddoo at 226-3103 or coloradocaddoo@msn.com.
Register to Volunteer! Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks inside and outside the classroom. To volunteer, you first need to register. This may be done online either at home or from any computer with access to the internet. Go to www.psdschools.org and click on Volunteers and Resources, then on Volunteers. To search for Shepardson Opportunities select "Search all opportunities" tab. A background check is conducted for all volunteers new to PSD. If you registered as a volunteer last year, you do not need to register again; however, you need to make sure your volunteer profile is up to date - at the registration screen, click volunteer login. If you have any questions, contact your school volunteer building coordinator. Help shape the future - Volunteer!
Becky Haberecht, 204-4822.
The connections in reading and writing continue to be made at Shepardson. This year, a new piece will be added to the picture. Each month, all classes will focus on one of the 6 Traits. 6 Traits is not new; it is simply a convenient way to think and talk about what good writers do. The traits provide a common language to students, parents, and teachers for describing the qualities that most readers think are important to good writing.
To help with learning about the traits, each month the entire Shepardson family will read and reflect on a book that focuses on the trait for that month. That means students, teachers, parents, office personnel, the principal, the lunchroom staff and the custodial staff will read the book and share their thoughts on it. Written reflections will be shared throughout the month. Additionally, the book and the trait will be used as a "connector" across curricular areas.
September's book, William Gordon McDonald Partridge, will begin our new adventure by modeling the trait of "Ideas" for students. Ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, and the details that enrich and develop that theme. The trait of "ideas" help students keep their writing clear and focused with relevant and interesting details.
Each teacher has a copy of the month's chosen book. This idea is a work in progress and the current plan is to have the families check out the book from the teacher.
We area very excited to begin this new journey with you and look forward to your thoughts on William Gordon McDonald Partridge.
Parents, students, and members of the community are invited to attend the open house and dedication of Fossil Ridge High School from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, September 19. Tours of the school, located at 5400 Ziegler Road, will be given by students from 1-5 p.m. and a brief dedication ceremony will be held at 2 p.m.
Fossil Ridge is Poudre School District's first new high school to open in 31 years. The school opened with 10th and 11th grades and 12th grade will be added in fall 2005. In addition, Kinard Core Knowledge Junior High is temporarily located in one wing of the facility until it moves to a permanent location in fall 2006.
The first PTO meeting will be held Tuesday, September 7th
7:00 p.m. in the Shepardson Library
The remainder of meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month.
NEW FACES AND INPUT ARE WELCOME SO PLEASE JOIN US AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT GOES ON AT SHEPARDSON!
Attention Pod Reps: There will be a brief informational meeting prior to the PTO Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
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Ice Cream Social - Back to School Kick-off!
Thursday, September 9th
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
At Shepardson Elementary
For all Shepardson Families!
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Help Wanted!
PTO is looking for parents to help with various events and PTO Vice-President. The Vice President role has changed in that the VP no longer moves into the position of President automatically. The VP simply serves to assist the President throughout his/her term.
An excellent way to explore the opportunities available through PTO is to come to the meeting, Tuesday, September 7th at 7:00 p.m. The help we need requires little time commitment but can go a long way. Contact, Jennifer Burkhart at 225-1873, or Burkys@aol.com.
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