Attendance Line Number - 490-3062

October 22, 2004

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

In this issue...

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS

The harvest time reminds us of so many reasons for us to be grateful. Parents Diane Dahm and Dee Dern hosted a wonderful breakfast sponsored by PTO for our classified staff. Each staff member was treated with warm hospitality and a very special breakfast. We rely heavily upon our classified team to help us meet the diverse needs of our learners. Yet their salary is so meager that their commitment and motivation to work here is clearly beyond money. Most of our classified team is either certified teachers and/or staff who frequently take a variety of classes to learn new skills. They care about each child as if he was their own. During this week, we are thankful for and honor our classified folks who give of their heart and their passion to help each child have success and feel that strong sense of belonging. Please help me thank these wonderful and dedicated folks who help us "reach for the stars"!

Parent Michelle Murray hosted a PTO sponsored New Parent Coffee. We were so pleased to have you come and share information about this school with you. If you have more questions and ideas or there are other ways we can better understand your needs, please give me a call.

As I walk through Shepardson, I am always thankful for all of the parents who share some of their precious time with us. I would like to express my deepest appreciation for all of the volunteers who serve our students, our staff and our school. I am reminded daily of how much we depend upon your dedication and service to help us accomplish tasks that would otherwise be impossible. I am committed to ensuring that the response you receive from Shepardson feels friendly, responsive, and helpful. If there are ways we can help you feel more comfortable, please let the staff or me know. A feedback card will be available where you sign in to help us better know how well your school experience has been. Thanks for being an important part of our Shepardson team. Working together we can (and often do) reach the stars!

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

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CALENDAR

October 22, 2004

OCTOBER 2004			OCTOBER 2004
25	Mon	Fall Enrichment Begins	5	Fri	Vision & Hearing Screening - Grades K-3 & 5
25	Mon	Report Cards distributed this week	9	Tue	1st Grade Music Program - 6:00 pm
25-29	Mon	Red Ribbon Week	9	Tue	PTO Meeting 7:00 pm
29	Fri	"Mismatch Day" for School Spirit Day

(Table of Contents)   (Top) HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS

The federal law known as No Child Left Behind has mandated many new accountability measures for schools. All of the ideas were created with the best of intentions, but the reality is sometimes more difficult to produce. In Fort Collins and at Shepardson, we feel very fortunate to have an exceptional pool of teachers from which to select. Hiring the best teacher for your children and our school is one of the most important jobs I have. What happens every day between a child and his/her teacher is what makes the difference in learning!

You may have heard how all schools need to have "highly qualified" teachers which means they are to be licensed to teach in those areas they are teaching. It is with pride that I report that 100% of Shepardson's teachers meet these high expectations. Likewise, in our school district, 98% of the teachers are highly qualified for the position to which they are assigned. Not all schools in the area and especially in the more remote areas of Colorado and the United States are able to find teachers, especially part timers, who meet these criteria. We are so fortunate to live in a community like Fort Collins that highly values education, for such a culture appeals to the "best and brightest" of teachers!

MK Sommers

(Table of Contents)   (Top) FOCUS ON ORGANIZATION IN WRITING

As mentioned in our September 24th newsletter, Shepardson will be focusing on one writing trait per month. During the month of November, it will be "organization". There are a variety of good books that illustrate this trait well. Teachers will be reading at least one of the books chosen by the staff and Margie Bucher, our media specialist. Please feel free to check with Margie if you are interested in looking at the list of selected titles and reading one of these at home. Watch our Writing Bulletin Board for samples of student writing that exemplify this trait. Each classroom will have at least one example of a student's writing to showcase good writing.

We invite families to join us in learning about the trait of "organization". What does "organization" mean? Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing. Used correctly, it can make a piece of writing interesting, clear, connected, and complete. Often prewriting tools such as lists, pictures, informal and formal outlines, and webs are used to help a writer decide on the arrangement of their ideas. Parents may want to ask questions like these when they are reading to their children, want to check their child's understanding of a book they are reading, or ask about a writing assignment:

Does the beginning of the piece get the reader's attention or give clues about what is coming?

Is there an order of details or events that makes sense?

Does every detail add a little more to the main idea or story? Does the writing end with a conclusion that summarizes ideas and leaves the reader with something to think about?

Many consider this element of writing the most challenging for writers, especially children. Helping students think and verbalize about the internal structure of others' writing, as well as their own, will help them become more comfortable with this trait and hopefully, use it more effectively in their own writing.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) NEWS FROM STUDENT COUNCIL

By Monica Franco

Elections were held last week for Student Council officers. It was an exciting and close race. The results were highly unusual. Three fifth graders were elected to office this year. Brian Verde was elected president. His thoughts were "I was kind of scared, because it was a close race with a lot of people voting. It feels good, because usually a fifth grader isn't president". Monica Franco was the only girl elected to office. She felt, "It was a very close election. I was scared that I wouldn't make it, but I was very happy to be elected". Jared Miller was elected secretary. His reaction was, "I felt kind of nervous doing my speech, but I felt confident I could do a good job". Aaron Fleming was the only sixth grader elected to office. His thoughts on becoming treasurer were, "It was cool to be elected, because it was my first time".

The Student Council's first planned event will be Red Ribbon Week, October 25-29. As a school, we will tie red ribbons on trees, and put up a big ribbon in or outside the school. Every student will receive a red ribbon to wear everyday. There will be prizes given out to students who wear their ribbon. Please listen to the morning announcements to learn the history of Red Ribbon Week and how it feels to be drug free.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) COUNSELOR CORNER

By Rea Kreider

In the October issue of "Better Homes and Gardens" there was an article entitled "7 Secrets of Highly Happy Families." The article starts out describing a family who sets aside one day each week as family "Do Nothing Day." They stock up on favorite snacks and a couple of family videos, play Yahtzee, read and generally lounge around together. Everything else is on hold. "Ultimately, the highest salary and the best car aren't fulfilling. It's the loving relationships that are the foundation of who we are. Happiness isn't what happens to us, but it's the love, connections and support structure we have" says David Niven, author of 100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It. Here are the 7 secrets outlined in the article.

1. Put laughter on your to-do list. Find ways to build humor into daily life, even if it seems like effort at first.

2. Make giving a family affair. Doing for others helps kids realize the world is bigger than they are and that people need their help. To get started, make a list of good deeds you could do as a family.

3. Play hide and treat. It's important to reward and affirm kids when they are kind, helpful and cooperative. Use lunch boxes, napkins, sock drawers and jeans pockets to hide small treats, a note, or even extra pocket money when you catch your kids doing something good.

4. Play Chutes and Ladders. Research suggests that if you can develop a common interest, it's a wonderful way to spend time together. Try a family game night. It's relationship building. Kids learn how to win and lose. Teach the strategies behind the games and, most importantly, build relationships and memories.

5. Create new bedtime rituals for teens. When children are young, bedtime stories before sleep are wonderful, but as kids get older, it's important to create new rituals that are age-appropriate. Read Harry Potter with your child and talk about the book together. Create a family snack time in the kitchen before everyone goes off to bed. Adults sometime believe teens don't want to be touched, but they can feel abandoned by us as their bodies change. Offer foot massages or back rubs and they will be yours for 20 minutes.

6. Get out the memorabilia. Share family history and strengthen the bond between family members. Pull out the family scrapbooks, photos or videos. Kids long to belong. When they feel part of the tribe, it makes them feel secure and happy.

7. Create a talking stick for your own tribe. In Native American cultures a talking stick was used to bring order to council meetings. Make your own family "talking stick" (which could be a stick, or rock or hat or...) and use it to bring order to family meetings. "The underlying principal is to treat each other with kindness and respect" says Niven. "Happy families are open to individual differences. It provides for a comfort and a constancy of support that lasts a lifetime."

(Table of Contents)   (Top) RED RIBBON WEEK

Red Ribbon Week started in 1985 as a memorial to Enrique Camarena who was a DEA agent killed in the line of duty by drug traffickers in Mexico. Following his tragic death, family members and friends put red ribbons on the trees in his hometown to honor Enrique's life and important work. In 1988 the U.S. Congress proclaimed the last week in October each year to be "Red Ribbon Week" as a reminder for us all to be drug free in our lives. Tens of thousands of schools and government agencies across the nation celebrate Red Ribbon Week each year.

This year Shepardson will celebrate Red Ribbon Week on October 25-29. The newly elected Student Council officers have planned a variety of activities during this time. Each student will receive a red ribbon that they must wear every day that week. The Student Council officers will be making surprise visits to classes throughout the week to award small prizes to any student wearing their red ribbon that day. There will be large red ribbons decorating the trees in front of the school and red and white pennants will be strung along the fence next to the playground. The 6th grade students will be going to a Red Ribbon Rally at Poudre High School on Thursday, October 28th. The Student Council has purchased a new large banner entitled "Reach for the Stars, not Drugs!" which will be hung in the cafeteria during Red Ribbon Week each year.

As students celebrate Red Ribbon Week at Shepardson, our hope is that parents will take this opportunity to have meaningful conversations at home with their children about the importance of making safe and healthy choices in our lives, especially with regards to drugs. Thank you.

Rea Kreider

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PARTNERSHIP WITH UNC Shepardson is one of the schools that serves in the mentorship role for college students who are seeking a degree in Elementary Education. Each year the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) sends us a group of students who will be in classrooms to learn from their supervising teachers. This year our students are in their Junior Year and will serve more as a learner and tutor. During their Senior Year, they will serve in a Student Teaching capacity in a different school. The amount of time they spend here is considerably longer than is typical for this program, which allows them to truly master many critical skills as well as serve our students by having another educator in the classroom. Their internship will extend from Oct. 4th to Dec. 12th. This partnership is dependent upon teachers being willing to assume this mentor role. Major thanks to these colleagues and best wishes to their protégés! WELCOME, STUDENT TEACHERS With MRS. HARKINS: After three long years of college I am excited and ready for this teaching experience. I have worked hard to get to this point in my life and I am realizing how it is paying off. Graduating in May brings great hopes of returning to the Poudre School District. Thank you. Christine Meyer With MRS. MARTINEZ: Although I am a UNC student I was born and raised in Fort Collins and am very excited to be back in my home town with Mrs. Martinez and her first grade class. I spent this summer studying in Italy and the previous summer in Pennsylvania as a camp counselor which I feel are beneficial in the road of teaching that I am embarking on. I look forward to working with parents and students and learning all that I can in the next nine weeks. Alexis Pace With MRS. ZIEGLER: My name is Bethony Warner and this summer I had the joy of getting married to a wonderful man who shares a mutual passion for children. I currently work with two and three year olds in a day care setting of which I have been employed for over two years now. I am also working on my minor in special education, and I truly cannot wait to embark on my teaching career. Thank you for allowing me to work with such a talented bunch of kids at Shepardson. With MRS. HOFFMAN: As part of the first class to begin Kindergarten in Shepardson and travel through the 6th grade, I feel as if this school is an old friend of mine. After graduating from Fort Collins High School in 1991, I have spent time traveling the world, exploring nature, continuing my education and now raising my four year old daughter. I have many reasons for wanting to become a teacher; these reasons include an interesting history of volunteering for children's organizations, the belief that teaching is one of the most important jobs in the world and a desire to immerse myself into life-long learning. Mark Browning With MRS. HANFORD: My name is Amy Marie Seaman. I am a student at the University of Northern Colorado. I majored in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Speech Communication . I live in and am originally from Windsor, Colorado. I have two sisters and a brother. This is my second year coaching the Windsor High School Varsity Cheerleading squad. I have been a lifeguard for seven years and have taught swimming lessons to children for seven years as well. With MRS. WYMAN: Hi! My name is Annie DeVine. I was born in Harlingen, Texas and moved to Colorado when I was two. I grew up in Littleton, Colorado. I am a senior at the University of Northern Colorado and my major is Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts with a concentration in Spanish. I hope to graduate this May. I am very excited to be student teaching in the fifth grade here at Shepardson Elementary! With MRS. BROWN: Hi! My name is Audra Tweedy and it has always been a goal of mine to teach in the Poudre School District. After being a children's martial arts instructor for three years, I am so excited to get into the classroom and experience a new teaching atmosphere. With only thirty weeks until graduation, I am thrilled to get a hands-on experience with children in their learning environment before making my way into the exciting profession of elementary education.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM REPORT

The SIT committee last met 10/14/04 at 4 p.m. The first new item brought to the committee was the filling of a parent participant position during Lorna Green's extended absence. It was decided that Cathy Hager will fill in while Lorna is absent and the other interested person will be invited to consider a full year position next fall.

There was no recent activity of the DAB. Chuck Hubbeling updated on the activities of PTO and the final budgeting decisions. PTO is sponsoring the new entry remodel and the playground renovation. A coordinator for the entry project is needed. Please contact PTO if you are interested.

The District Accreditation Rubric shows Shepardson has strong achievement with a decline with some subgroups. Mary Kay and teachers will be working to identify possible causes and corrective courses of action. A district committee will review all annual reports and determine the level of accreditation for each school. We are hopeful that Shepardson will be fully accredited. Copies of the annual report will be available through the website and from the school office in mid-November.

This year's budget was approved and we are pleased to have an increase in funding per student. Thank you to PTO for their additional funding and support (over $29,000!).

Shepardson was chosen as a semifinalist for the 21st Century School of Distinction Award based on parental involvement. Although we were not chosen as a finalist for the award, we have been encouraged to submit again this year. Because of our success, Mary Kay has been asked to write a summary of our school practices for the upcoming book, Best Practices of Award-Winning Elementary Principals.

Shepardson has been chosen as a school to tour for the upcoming PSD Foundation program, "See the Future." This prompted a suggestion to hold an open house for our community members and home school families. Dates will be announced later.

The UNC Partnership program has gone very well. UNC student teachers teach in several classrooms to complete the graduation requirements. This program is good for both UNC and Shepardson.

New feedback cards will be available near the Volunteer sign in sheet. This will provide a medium for parents and community members to let Shepardson know what they think or offer suggestions.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) DRUG DOGS MAY SEARCH SCHOOLS

The district has a clear policy designed to assure parents and the community that their school is free from drugs. We will work closely with students, staff, parents and law enforcement to do everything possible to eliminate drugs from Poudre School District sites. Parents need to be informed of the procedures that may be used in any of the district schools. Please know that at Shepardson we have never had a reason to even consider this option.

Drug detection dogs will be used on a random basis.

Drug dogs may be taken to all areas of the school premises, including student lockers, classrooms, locker rooms, and parking lots.

If a dog sniff indicates the presence of drugs in a student locker, desk or other confined space on the school premises, reasonable suspicion is established for an immediate further search of this space. When feasible, a videotape record of the search should be made. The student may be present at the option of the principal.

If the dog sniff indicates the presence of drugs in a student's vehicle, reasonable suspicion is established for a vehicle search and student permission is not necessary. The student must be present for vehicle searches. Failure to allow the search of a vehicle's interior or trunk under these circumstances will result in the student's automatic loss of the privilege of parking at school for the remainder of the academic year - policy JIH.

A positive dog sniff under paragraph 3 or 4 is reasonable suspicion for the dog to sniff the student and student purses, backpacks, etc. A positive result is grounds to search the student. Someone of the same sex as the student must carry out the search.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) TUTORING PROGRAMS

EL CENTRO IS OFFERING A FREE TUTORING PROGRAM FOR YOUR CHILD - GRADE K-12

EL CENTRO STUDENT SERVICES
178 LORY STUDENT CENTER
FORT COLLINS CO 80523
970-491-5722

NEED HELP WITH HOMEWORK?

CSU STUDENTS ARE WILLING TO HELP WITH ALL SUBJECTS: MATH, SCIENCE, READING, SPANISH, ETC.

What?		El Centro "Triunfo" Tutoring Program at Colorado State University
When?		Thursdays, starting October 14
Where?		178 Lory Student Center, El Centro Student Services
Time?		5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Requirement: Parents/Guardian must drop-off and pick-up students at CSU/178 Lory Student Center. Tutoring Program is supervised at all times. Call 491-0590 with questions!

Please Note: Poudre School District does not endorse or take responsibility for programs or activities sponsored by other organizations.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PTO CORNER

The next PTO meeting will be held Tuesday, November 9th, 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! The Shepardson Directories are IN! Thanks to JoAnn Caddoo and Maria Smailes for a GREAT JOB! Target Reminder... If you use a Target Guest or Credit Card, you can designate Shepardson Elementary as your choice to receive proceeds from Targets educational support program. It's a great way to raise money for our school because it doesn't cost anything to participate. For more information, please contact, Jennifer Burkhart at burkys@aol.com or 225-1873. Thanks to the Sixth Grade Eco-Week Team for pulling together such a wonderful experience for our 6th Graders! The experience was wonderful as was noted in the fantastic thank you notes PTO received from each participant! If you'd like to take a peek at some of what the participants had to say, look at the notes displayed in the PTO Bulletin Board in the media center. AGAIN, THANK 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, Treasurer for School year 05-06 , Secretary: REACH Week Coordinator, Yearbook Committee Representatives, Sock Hop Coordinator 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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PLEASE VOTE! It's that time when children are watching their parents closely. Will you be voting? We strongly encourage you to model the important privilege we have in this country. Please become informed and be an active player in our democracy. Students have been reading and discussing the general rationale and procedures involved in elections, especially the one that elects our President. The third and fourth graders are using an established program called Kids Voting USA that creates many opportunities for understanding the process and important role elections play in our country. No teacher will be using this learning experience to influence a child's thinking with regard to any candidate. The district hopes this program can be expanded to more schools in the future. Special thanks to Christine Hopkinson for bring this program to Shepardson!

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