Attendance Line Number - 490-3062

February 18, 2005

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

In this issue...

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS

Several teachers have worked hard this past week to submit a grant to HP for new technology equipment along with technical support. Commendations to Gayle Eberhardt (6th), Sandy Shibles (6th), Margo Miller (3rd), Cathy Sawin (3rd), and Colleen DelMonte (3rd) for their extra efforts to seek additional funding and resources to our school. It is a powerful grant that will assist these staff members to integrate new technology into their teaching and communication with students and parents.

We are especially proud of Sue Harbour (ESL Teacher) and Bev Addington (2nd grade) for taking a Teacher of Teachers class that enables them to teach ESL techniques to teachers in this district. Attending this district workshop entitled Enhancing English Language Learners are so many of our teachers and staff---June Holmstrom, Debbie Stradt, Sarah Harkins, Anita Martinez, Cathy Sawin, Beth Brown, Rhonda Ewan, and Frances Belling. I am so proud of these extra efforts that so many staff members do on behalf of the students at Shepardson. Being eager to learn more strategies to help children be successful is indeed a strong indicator that our mission is operating well at Shepardson!

This week Rea Kreider (counselor), Greg Neal (PE), Christine Hopkinson (4th), Sharon Aberegg (office mgr.) and myself attended the district sponsored Crisis Response Team Training. We learned much about what is happening nationally and at the state and local levels. We were briefed on special sessions regarding Meth. Use, Youth and Grief, Local Gang Update, and Threat Assessments. These staff members serve on the Shepardson's Crisis Team and ensure that we practice drills for the purpose of creating comfort and improvement in our systems, creates action plans in the event of any crisis, and becomes informed of issues and incidents that may need special attention. Overall, we felt validated for our efforts, our plans, and our practices in the event that a crisis of any kind occurs. We will continue to review and make needed changes as we keep a strong focus on the safety of every child...every day!

Third graders are completing their first CSAP test on Reading this week. They have done their best and we are proud of their efforts and the critical support of their parents to help them be physically and emotionally prepared for this assessment. The rest of these state tests as well as those given to grades 4-6 will be given after Spring Break. If you have questions about the state testing, please contact Rea Kreider or myself. Watch for more ideas on ways to prepare your children in the next newsletter.

Shepardson's Annual Report to Parents for 2003-04 has been revised and will be placed on the website. If you would like a personal copy, please contact the office.

Have a wonderful weekend and stay healthy!

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

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CALENDAR

February 18, 2005

FEBRUARY 2005			MARCH 2005
Feb 14 - Apr 1	Mon-Fri	Enrichment	1	Tue	PTO Meeting 7:00 pm
21	Mon	PRESIDENTS DAY NO SCHOOL	2	Wed	Read Across America Day-Dr. Suess' Birthday!!
Feb 26 - Mar 4	Sat - Fri	Week of Reading for Reach Week	2	Wed	School Spirit Day-Wear your pajamas!
MARCH 2005			11	Fri	Wax Museum 1:30-2:30-Gym
1	Tue	4th Grade Music Program 6:00 pm	14-18	Mon-Fri	Spring Break

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CHOIR NOTES Four members of the Shepardson Choir participated in the District Honor Choir concert on Tuesday evening at the Lincoln Center. Those members were Abby Smith, Miranda Blas, Maisie Iven, and Arun Chandra. Singers from all across the district rehearsed together for five weeks under the direction of Ms. Linda Hall who is the choir director at Webber Junior High School. They did a wonderful job and it was an experience they will always remember. This performance will be aired on Channel 10 several times; you can check the district website for the schedule http://www.psd.k12.co.us/services/channel10. Choir Director Mrs. Everett will try to find out the schedule; contact the office or her for these details. Congratulations!

(Table of Contents)   (Top) SIX TRAITS FOCUS

VOICE

Continuing our year long focus on the six traits, February's focus is on "voice." Voice is the heart and soul of the writing and it is unique to each writer. Readers should feel a connection to the writer and the writing should be lively and engaging.

Here are some ideas to help your child with voice

• Read! Read! Read!
• Look for individuality in writing
• Play the voice game...(read from a familiar author and have the child guess who it is)
• Write notes and letters
• Be on the lookout for items with individuality and personality

Margie Bucher, our media specialist, has a list of books that can be used to illustrate this trait. Check with her if you are interested in reading one at home. Watch our bulletin board for examples of student work from each class that exemplifies this trait. We appreciate your help in our efforts to make each and every child a successful writer!

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CONGRATULATIONS, SHEPARDSON SPELLING BEE PARTICIPANTS! The second annual Shepardson Oral Spelling Bee was held on Friday, February 4, 2005. Thirty-four 4th - 6th students made it to the final Bee. Once again, our students excelled in the event, spelling difficult and challenging words in front of an audience of classmates, teachers, and parents. We're proud of all our GREAT spellers! Special recognition goes to the top six spellers: Collins Wang, 1st; Steven Tang, 2nd, Arun Chandra, Grant Fourcroy, and Tait Rutherford, tie for 3rd; and Andy Gloor, 4th. Collins Wang represented Shepardson at the District Oral Spelling Bee on Wed., February 16. We're proud of you, Collins! As a side note, Peter Chen, former Shepardson student and winner of the 2003 and 2004 Spelling Bee at Shepardson was the Boltz Spelling Bee Champion this year. Way to go, Peter! Final participants in the 2005 Shepardson Oral Spelling Bee: 4th Grade: Colton Davis, Julie Barstow, Adam Berry, Nicole Finnman, Hannah Murphy, Jackie Pfaffinger, Charlie DeMoss, Cale O'Donnell 5th Grade: Gema Caballero, Jared Miller, Tait Rutherford, Lauren Samiles, Arun Chandra, Brittany Drake, Grant Fourcroy, Andra Helton, Nichol Ngo, Steven Tang, Michael Hurley, Randall McConnell, Trey Seale, Bryan Verde 6th Grade: Anne Haas, Kassie Hawley, Tori Kauffman, James Rubesne, Mckenzie Smotherman, Collins Wang, Sadia Azia, Andy Gloor, Joey Heiserman, Tess Stackhouse, Matt Carroll, Reecie Dern

(Table of Contents)   (Top) 2005-06 SCHOOL YEAR

Please let us know if you are NOT expecting your child to be at Shepardson next year. Having a more accurate picture of the enrollment enables us to make our best decisions. If you find you are leaving or will not be leaving as expected, please contact us. You can simply leave a message, especially in the summertime. Thanks for keeping us informed.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PTO CORNER

The next PTO Meeting will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. (committee work) followed by the 7:15p.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 PTO Nominations Committee The PTO Nominating Committee has a slate of nominees to vote on at the next board meeting. Nevertheless, we will continue accepting nominations until 12 noon, Tuesday, February 22, 2005. If you would like to volunteer or nominate someone for the board, please contact, Jennifer Burkhart @ 225-1873. Thank you for your continued interest and support. REACH WEEK 2005 - Promoting Student Literacy AND Supporting Shepardson! Our REACH WEEK Campaign has begun! We hope everyone has had a chance to review the materials sent home. If your family has not written your sponsor letters yet and would still like to participate, you can. We will accept sponsorship letters through next week. As a reminder, the classroom with the most letters written in each grade level will receive a pizza party. The Reach Week Reading begins on Saturday, February 26th and continues through March 4th! Please look for your yellow reading card in next Friday's Folder. Thank you for your contributions to this important fundraiser for our school! And remember, we encourage you to participate in the reading activity regardless of participation in the fundraising portion! Let's REACH for the STARS and READ!

(Table of Contents)   (Top) YEARBOOK

It's that time of year already! Please look for a yearbook order form attached to today's newsletter. Orders are due by Friday, February 25th. Don't miss out!

(Table of Contents)   (Top) COGAT NEWS RELEASE

Poudre School District will be administering the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to all third graders the week of May 9, 2005. This nationally normed test of reasoning ability which returns percentile scores that are compared with peer groups across the nation includes three sub-test areas: nonverbal, verbal and quantitative, which are approximately 45 minutes in length. The Nonverbal Battery measures reasoning abilities using shapes and visual patterns. The Verbal Battery measures verbal reasoning abilities that are essential for successful learning across the curriculum. The Quantitative Battery measures the ability to organize, structure and give meaning to quantitative concepts. Data from this test will be used along with achievement test data to better identify a learner's needs and develop programming to meet those needs, especially in the area of gifted and talented. If you are not interested in this test being administered to your child, please notify the office of your child's school in writing prior to May 2, 2005. Please address additional questions regarding this test to Kathryn Friesen, PSD Gifted and Talented Coordinator at 490-3076.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) KIDS A COOKIN'

PSD, in cooperation with the Kansas State Research and Extension's Family Nutrition Program, is now airing Kids a Cookin' - a kid-oriented cooking TV show on PSD Channel 10. Host (and mom) Karen Arnold leads school-aged children step by step in preparing nutritious, delicious, but most of all, fun recipes. Each half-hour block includes 2-3 different recipes repeated again in Spanish.

Kids a Cookin' airs each Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. on PSD Channel 10.

For more information about Kids a Cookin', please visit www.kidsacookin.ksu.edu.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) ENRICHMENT PROGRAM NEWS!

There are openings in the 4th- 6th After School Science Club class. Information on the class is listed below. Please contact Becky Woodcox, 226-6370 or bwoodcox@psdschools.org by Wednesday, Feb. 23, if you are interested in having your child participate in this class.

4th - 6th After School Science ~ brought to you by the Discovery Center

"Where in the World?"

Where in the World Are We? How do we know where we are in this big and gigantic world? Learn how to use a map and compass to find your location, navigate, and identify local natural features. We'll explore the area around our school, learn clues for figuring out where we are, and learn skills that will help us discover the bigger world around us! Come have fun learning how to figure out where you are!

Class Size:		Minimum 5, Maximum 15
Grades:		4th - 6th
Day:		Monday, February 28, Mar. 7, 21
Time:		3:10 - 4:10
Fee:		$30.00

ENRICHMENT HELP NEEDED! We need an adult assistant to help Mr. Kreider with Chess Club which meets after school on Mondays. If you are interested in being an assistant, please contact Mrs. Woodcox.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) MARK YOUR MARCH!

Circle Wednesday, March 2, on your calendar. It's "READ ACROSS AMERICA" day and Dr. Seuss' birthday! Shepardson students will be researching facts about Dr. Seuss or reading a Seuss selection and matching it with the book. A wall-sized U.S. map will record our Seuss success as each state offers a selection or a trivia question for classes to choose. Teachers will be planning their own reading activities in their classrooms in keeping with the REACH week promotion.

BEST OF ALL, the day will be the School Spirit Day, PAJAMA DAY! Students may wear appropriate pajamas or loungewear to school for the day. Get ready for March 2 and the celebration by marking your calendar now! And as Dr. Seuss might say, "I will not mark it in a day, I will not mark it after play! I will not mark in the shower. I will not mark it in an hour. I'll get my pen; I'll get my chalk. I'll mark the day and will not balk!"

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