Attendance Line Number - 490-3062

September 24, 2004

Shepardson's Home Page: http://schoolweb.psdschools.org/she/

In this issue...

	PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS		NEW POLICY REDUCES FLIERS IN STUDENT PACKETS
	CALENDAR		SPANISH CLUB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
	FOCUS ON IDEAS IN WRITING		ENRICHMENT PROGRAM ~ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
	ADULTS CAN LEARN ENGLISH AT SHEPARDSON!		PTO CORNER
	SHEPARDSON DIRECTORY - ON SALE NOW!		How to Contact SIT / PTO / VIPS
	SHEPARDSON STUDENT COUNCIL

(Back to table of contents) PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS

What do teachers do during their "summer" vacation? Besides finding time to relax and enjoy their friends and family, nearly all of them drop by the school throughout the summer to prepare for next year's class. Many use this time to take classes, redesign lessons, and work with their colleagues to seek even more effective teaching strategies. Paras will also take classes and read professional literature to increase their own skills. The cost of the summer experiences is usually the responsibility of the professional; however, funds from PTO are also used to offset part or all of non-degree workshops. Completion of coursework also helps most of them move forward on the salary schedule as well as satisfying educational requirements to maintain their teaching license. However, a listing as below is very common with the Shepardson team. We truly have a highly dedicated and professional teaching staff!

Congratulations to these teachers who completed their ESL Endorsement: Shelley Aust, Bev Addington, Colleen DelMonte, Sue Harbour

Congratulations for completing her Master's Degree in Education: Cecilia Bonertz

Below is a listing of summer classes:

Empowering Writers:		Cathy Sawin, Margo Miller, Sarah Harkins, Christine Hopkinson
Teachers Teaching Teachers ESL:		Bev Addington, Colleen DelMonte
Language Immersion Experience in Mexico:		Colleen DelMonte
Intel to Teach (using technology in classroom):		Sandy Winters
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment:		Heidi Hanson, Jan Hoffman, Gayle Eberhardt
Dimensions of Teaching and Learning:		Heidi Hanson, Jan Hoffman, Gayle Eberhardt
Multicultural Perspectives:		Lena Ziegler
Curriculum Theory and Evaluation:		Lena Ziegler
Six Traits; Making Writing Real:		Pamela Wyman
Learning Strategies for Children in Poverty:		Anita Martinez
English as Second Language:		Char Griffith

Staff development is accomplished throughout the school year as well. The team had several days of training before school started. This week the team was trained on how to use a new instructional resource that provides access to updated, appropriate materials to support instruction and to help differentiate for diverse needs. Margie Bucher taught the staff the basics of this program.

This week Margo Miller and retired teacher Patty Bell presented at the annual conference of the Colorado Council for Teachers of Mathematics. They have both been working hard to design lessons that will help the Colorado third and fourth graders be able to demonstrate their skills on this year's math CSAP test in the spring. It is truly a bonus for Shepardson to have teachers with this expertise on our staff. This is the first year for math to be tested at these grade levels as a requirement of the federal law No Child Left Behind. Patty has become a highly sought instructor of teachers in other schools in Fort Collins as well as around the state.

In two weeks, Rea Kreider, Margo Miller and Sarah Harkins will be attending the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference. Strategies from both of these conferences and many others listed above will be shared with colleagues and the whole team during after school staff meetings. Having a team who values and actively seeks continuous professional growth is one of the important attributes of an effective school. Thank you, team, for all of your professional efforts to help you use even more effective strategies to "Educate Every Child Every Day!"

Principal

-	Mary Kay Sommers
	email: msommers@psd.k12.co.us

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CALENDAR

September 24, 2004

SEPTEMBER 2004			OCTOBER 2004
27-29	Mon	6th grade to Pingree Park for Eco Week	7	Thu	New Family Coffee 8:30 -9:30 am. in gym
OCTOBER 2004			8	Fri	Student Council Meeting at 7:45 a.m. Media Center
1-15	Fri	Sally Foster Wrapping Paper Sales	12	Tue	5th Grade Music Program at 6:00 p.m.
1	Fri	Student Council Meeting at 7:45 a.m. Media Center	13-14	Wed	Enrichment Registration 7:45-8:30 a.m. and 3:15-4:00 p.m.
5	Tue	PTO at 7:00 p.m. Media Center

(Back to table of contents) FOCUS ON IDEAS IN WRITING

Our Curriculum/Assessment Committee decided that our energetic plan for accomplishing our first writing trait (ideas) in September was overzealous! We don't have all of our systems in place (like Star News that is dependent upon Student Council teams). We have decided to extend our first trait through October so we can do a better job of focusing on this trait as a whole school. We also decided to expand our collection of "instructional" library books so more could be used during the month and teachers can select different ones for this purpose. Classroom teachers will be communicating with parents regarding which books will be used in their classrooms. Having heard from some parents who want to strengthen this learning at home, we will be providing more ideas and suggestions through the newsletter. We truly appreciate your playing an active and interested role in the learning of these concepts and skills in the writing process. By the way, we have an opening for a parent to serve on this committee. Please let me know if you are interested.

As a review, we invite families to join us learning about the trait of "ideas" during the month of October! You may want to read and reflect on a book designated by your classroom teacher that focuses on this trait. Students, teachers, parents, office personnel, the principal, the lunchroom staff and the custodial staff will all read one of the books 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. Each classroom will have at least one example of a child's writing that exemplifies "ideas" posted on the Writing Bulletin Board. We hope you notice an increase in the examples of student writing throughout the building.

What does "ideas" mean? 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. Parents may want to ask questions like these when they are reading to their children or if you want to check on your child's comprehension of a book they are reading or ask about a writing assignment:

1. What do you think is the main idea in this book, chapter or paper you are reading/writing?

2. What kinds of details were written about the main idea?

3. What do you or the author want the reader to learn or think about?

Helping students think and verbalize their thoughts regarding "ideas" will help them become more comfortable with this "trait."

(Back to table of contents) ADULTS CAN LEARN ENGLISH AT SHEPARDSON!

Poudre School District and Education and Life Training Center are proud to offer classes for English as a second language. Classes will run from October 7, 2004 to December 16, 2004, at Shepardson Elementary School. Classes will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Free homework help will be provided for your children. Cost is $15.00 for books. For more information call Geri Cocco at 218-7072 for information in Spanish or Angie Joseph at 226-6370 or 221-3388 for information in English or Portuguese.

(Back to table of contents) SHEPARDSON DIRECTORY - ON SALE NOW!

The completion of the directory is nearing the end. It is time to order and purchase your directory. A form is attached to this newsletter. Please fill it out and return with payment to school by Wed., Sept. 29.

The cost of the directory is $3.00 each. If you filled out a form to be included in the directory, you must also complete the attached form with payment in order to purchase a directory. Many families purchase 2 directories, one for home and one for the car!

Directories will be sent home with your child when completed. Please feel free to call JoAnn Caddoo with questions at 226-3103.

(Back to table of contents) SHEPARDSON STUDENT COUNCIL

By Rea Kreider

The Shepardson Student Council was created to give students an opportunity to take real leadership roles, to help them become active, involved citizens in the world and to build community within the school. Under the guidance of myself, Lori Pibal, Margie Bucher, Beth Brown and Lena Ziegler, our Student Council has grown to become a very popular activity among 5th and 6th grade students, and we are proud of the very positive impact we have had on the school climate. During the 2003-04 school year, we received recognition from the National Association of Elementary School Principals as an "Honor Student Council" and we had over 65 students show up at this year's first meeting on September 3rd (and this did not include 14 students who could not attend due to their participation in the advanced math at Boltz Jr High!)

Student Council at Shepardson is open to any interested 5th or 6th grade student. We operate four Student Council Committees: School Spirit, School Store, Community Service and STAR News Communications. Interested students in either 5th or 6th grade who would like to run for one of the Student Council officers (President, Vice-president, Secretary or Treasurer) will have a chance to represent themselves in writing, make a speech to the General Assembly and then wait for the results of an election. To be an officer, one must have been attending Student Council meetings so far this year and have a sincere interest in being a chosen leader. The election takes place among Student Council members only, not the entire 5th and 6th grade. This year, students will learn about the election process at the meeting on October 1st and elections will take place on October 8th.

Student Council sponsors many activities at Shepardson. In the past this has included the Red Ribbon Celebration, Salvation Army Food Drive, The Holiday Mitten Tree, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly and Walk for Peace, Earth Day Celebration, Humane Society Collections, Shoes for Iraqi Children, Pennies for Patients, and many more. Student Council members are anchor people on our STAR News broadcasts, manage the Shepardson School Store and are called upon to represent the school on many different occasions. Each year the School Store raises approximately $1200 to help fund these great projects.

There is a Student Council Bulletin Board in the 5th/6th pod where announcements about committee meetings, upcoming General Assemblies and other important Student Council information is posted. Students need to check this board regularly to avoid showing up early on a Friday morning to an empty media center. General Assemblies (when all Student Council members gather in the media center) are usually held on the first Friday of each month from 7:45 to 8:25 am. Other Friday mornings in the month are used for committee meetings and project work. If you have a 5th or 6th grade student interested in taking part in our Student Council, all they have to do is show up! We'll get them assigned to a committee where they can get involved in making Shepardson and our larger community a better place. If you have other questions about Student Council, feel free to contact me at school anytime.

(Back to table of contents) NEW POLICY REDUCES FLIERS IN STUDENT PACKETS

If you've noticed your child's weekly folder contains fewer fliers on outside events and activities in the community, and strictly school information-you're very perceptive! Poudre School District's new flier distribution guidelines no longer allow fliers to be sent home with students, unless an organization has a contractual partnership with the district toward a common goal to increase student achievement, as is the case with the Healthy Kids Newsletter, and Discovery Science Center brochure.

Instead of individual fliers, you'll be receiving a Youth Program Guide three times a year that lists outstanding programs, activities and events for youth offered by a variety of community organizations. The guide was sent home with all elementary school students in late August. Watch for additional issues of the Youth Program Guide to come to you in January and May.

Fliers promoting events and activities can still be placed on a parent resource table in most schools, for pick-up by parents. For more information, call 490-3427.

(Back to table of contents) SPANISH CLUB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The Shepardson Enrichment Program is seeking volunteers qualified to teach Spanish Club classes this school year. Children will be grouped in common grade levels, so instructors will be needed for each grade level. Two Enrichment Sessions will be offered this year: Fall/Winter will run October 25 - December 10 and Winter/Spring will run February 14 - April 1. If you would be willing to teach Spanish this year, please contact Becky Woodcox, 226-6370 or bwoodcox@psdschools.org by October 1.

(Back to table of contents) ENRICHMENT PROGRAM ~ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Greetings, Shepardson Parents!

Another year of Enrichment fun and challenge is just around the corner! The 2004-2005 Shepardson Enrichment program will kick off the week of October 25. Registration will be October 13 and 14. I've got lots of plans for great classes and clubs, but to make them possible I need your help!

One of the ideas I am attempting to make succeed is to provide various "clubs" for our kids to participate in. Many parents are willing to help with the Enrichment Program, but are unable to commit to teaching a full six-week session. Thus the birth of the club idea -- my vision is to invite a parent or group of parents to coordinate the club by determining fun activities or topics for the kids to learn about and then either taking turns directing the club, or with the coordinator's support, arranging for other people with special talents to work with the kids in the weekly club meetings. Some of my ideas for this year are:

• Kindergarten Club Coordinator and teachers ~ plan fun, "hands-on" after school activities appropriate for Kindergarteners.

• Cultural Club Coordinator and teachers ~ invite parents from different cultural backgrounds to give a "hands-on" presentation teaching the children about their culture. This could be a different country each week, or maybe one presenter could take a couple sessions. By the end of the year, the kids in the club could learn about several different cultures and countries.

• Science Club Coordinator and teachers ~ provide weekly, fun, "hands-on" science activities and experiences for students grouped in a common grade level.

These are just some of the possibilities that I'm "dreaming" about. If you are able to help me make my club "vision" possible, please contact me no later than October 1. I'm also open for your ideas and suggestions. Call me at 226-6370, e-mail me at bwoodcox@psdschools.org, or drop by before or after school to visit with me!

Thanks to the PTO and Shepardson parents for their great support of the Enrichment Program.

Becky Woodcox
Enrichment Coordinator

(Back to table of contents) PTO CORNER

The next PTO meeting will be held Tuesday, October 5th, 2004 7:00 p.m. (committee work) 7:15 p.m. (Board Meeting) in the Shepardson Library NEW FACES AND INPUT ARE WELCOME SO PLEASE JOIN US AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT GOES ON AT SHEPARDSON! ATTENTION NEW FAMILIES Please join us for a New Family Coffee Thursday, October 7th 8:30 - 9:30 AM Stop in for an opportunity to meet some of the Shepardson staff, ask lots of questions, and get connected with a few other families. Questions? Please contact Michelle Murray at 226-6224. Looking forward to meeting you! Help Still Needed! PTO is looking for parents to help with various events and positions! A little time goes a long way to support our children's educational experience... Needed: 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. Treasurer School year 05-06: PTO is looking for someone to take on the role of treasurer next school year. Our current treasurer's term will expire and the position will be vacant. If you have a knack for numbers, please consider this position! Secretary: The position for secretary is up for grabs! Our current secretary will be moving into the President Elect position, which leaves the position of secretary vacant. This position requires little time at school, and can be done primarily from home. There are two meetings a month that take place at school. One in the afternoon, and the other is the PTO meeting in the evening. REACH Week Coordinator: This fundraiser is one of the more simple to organize and run yet provides the school with much needed funds. For more information, please contact Jennifer Burkhart @ 225-1873 Yearbook Committee Representatives: Representatives from each grade level assist the Yearbook Committee in collecting pictures and information from each grade level. ESL Buddy Coordinator: Assist English as a Second Language families as they become an integral part of Shepardson! Sock Hop Coordinator: This event helps cap off the end of the school year with a Twist and Shout! Other: Other positions might be identified throughout the year. Keep an eye on the PTO Corner for these announcements. An excellent way to explore the opportunities available through PTO is to come to the meeting or contact, Jennifer Burkhart at 225-1873, or Burkys@aol.com.

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