Attendance Line Number - 490-3062

April 22, 2005

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

In this issue...

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS

We are busily preparing for next year in many ways. We received our staffing for the 2005-06 school year. It is somewhat less, equivalent to either 2 days of a teacher or over 8.5 hrs of paraprofessional time, compared to what we had this time last year. We will again seek additional staffing in the fall if our numbers warrant more support.

The staff worked hard to keep our focus on having

• 3 full time teachers at each grade level
• 5 full time specialists in art, music, PE, media, counseling
• 1 full time ESL/Literacy teacher
• 3 full time special education teachers
• 6 hr computer lab and media paras, thanks to PTO support
• Additional para time to support special education, gifted, literacy, ESL and supervision needs
• Office staff remains the same with office manager (8 hrs), office clerk (8 hrs) and health tech (3 hrs)

Our use of staffing is committed to helping each child be challenged appropriately and recognize all of the talents and strengths. Classroom teachers will be working even more closely with all of the support teachers, specialists and paras to provide the best learning program for the diverse needs of our students.

Rea Kreider, counselor, is working with classroom teachers now to begin preparing for the most important task of classroom rosters for 2005-06. Many, many hours will be spent trying to construct the best working groups that value our diverse needs. We will use your input as well as all you have shared with your child's teacher during the year to ensure that we consider all critical factors. Our goal is to ensure that each child will be in a highly successful learning situation. We appreciate your support and trust as we take this task very seriously and do our best.

Enjoy these spring days with your friends and family. Life is a precious gift!

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

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CALENDAR

April 22, 2005

APRIL 2005			MAY 2005
25	Mon	McTeacher Night at McDonalds 5:00-8:00 pm	3	Tue	PTO Meeting - 7:00 pm
26	Tue	Class Picture Day	4	Wed	PSD Track-800 and 1600 Meter Run (see article)
26	Tue	6th Grade Music Program 6:00 - Gym	5	Thu	Kindergarten Music Program 10:30 am - Gym
28	Thu	5th grade Human Growth & Development Parent Meeting 7:00 pm	5	Thu	SIT - 4:00-6:00 pm
MAY 2005			6	Fri	Sock Hop
1	Sun	Cindy Mueller Memorial 4K Run/Walk - 2:00 pm at Shepardson	7	Sat	PSD Track Meet-grades 4-6 (see article)

(Table of Contents)   (Top) ROLLERLAND SKATE PARTY

We are having a skate party at Rollerland on Tuesday, April 26 from 6:30-8:30p.m. Admission is $4.00 and includes rollerskate rental; rollerblades can be rented for $3.00 extra. Invite family and friends to come join us for a fun night of skating and burn off the McDonald's from the McTeacher's night the night before. This is another way to get the sixty minutes of vigorous physical activity that is recommended for children (adults too) each day.

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STAFF NOMINATED FOR AWARDS! The Shepardson staff nominated our fifth grade teacher Mrs. Beth Brown for the newest Promising Teacher Award, sponsored by the PSD Foundation. Beth is most deserving for all she has accomplished in her first few years of teaching. We are so fortunate to have someone with her natural talents, her relentless search for new strategies, and her insatiable desire to plan for the diverse needs of her students. It was our pleasure to nominate her and to write letters of support for Beth! This year we also nominated both Mrs. Mary Gamble, Media Assistant, and Mrs. Becky Woodcox, Computer Assistant, for the PSD Classified Employee of the Year! As a team, they both work extraordinarily not just to complete the designated tasks but to support the entire staff, students and parents with their unique talents and skills. Media Specialist Mrs. Margie Bucher. Pauline Johnson was nominated by the fifth and sixth grade pod for the Honorary Award. This award is presented annually to honor staff who have demonstrated outstanding performance and dedicaton to students with special needs. Pauline has gone above and beyond as a paraprofessional at Shepardson for six years. She will be honored on April 28 at 6:00 pm at the Fort Collins Plaza Inn.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT ELEMENTARY TRACK MEET

The Poudre School District Elementary Track and Field Meet is an opportunity for fourth, fifth and sixth grade students to compete with their peers in an organized fashion. The intent of the meet is to allow students the opportunity to test their physical skills, to experience the social part of team and school spirit, and to feel the thrill of competing on J. Ray French Field.

The 800 meter run for fourth graders and 1600 meter run for fifth and sixth graders will be held on Wednesday, May 4 with fourth graders starting at 5:30 p.m., fifth grade at 6:15 p.m., and sixth grade at 7:00 p.m. All other events will be held on Saturday, May 7 starting with sixth grade at 8:00 a.m., fifth grade at 10:00 a.m., and fourth grade at noon. Girls run track events first while boys participate in field events. After running events are completed, girls move to field events and boys run track events. All participants should arrive at least thirty minutes before their scheduled time to warn up and find their event locations.

Since we can only take three students per event at each grade level, we are currently qualifying for the meet during PE class. The students that qualify in the 800 and 1600 meter run will be notified on Friday, April 29 and qualifiers for the other events will be notified by Monday May 2. Each student will receive a schedule of events, map and event name tag that must be worn to compete in the meet. If your child qualifies and cannot attend the meet, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can make substitutions.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) SPECIAL THANK YOU

My students and I would like to take the time to publicly thank Dr. Pricilla Dressen for generously taking time out of her busy schedule to look at our sick class pet, Shadow. After examining our hamster at her clinic, North Star Veterinarian Clinic, she gently informed us that our little one was gravely ill. Although our beloved Shadow is no longer with us, we have been comforted in knowing he received excellent care from a kind and animal-loving veterinarian. My students and I definitely recommend Dr. Dressen for any family seeking a vet form their special pets.

Sincerely,
Ms. Ziegler

(Table of Contents)   (Top) SPRING ZING

It is time for Spring Zing 2005! I am looking forward to another fun day in the sun. All students should come dressed for activity and the weather on hand. Shorts, tennis shoes, light colored shirt with sleeves, hats, sun screen and water bottles are highly recommended. Families are welcome to come and watch this fun and exciting day.

Monday, May 23rd,		9:00-11:15		Third and Fourth grade.
Monday, May 23rd,		12:45-2:45		Fifth and Sixth grade.
Tuesday, May 24th,		8:45-11:00		ALL Kindergarten.
Tuesday, May 24th,		12:45-2:45		First and Second grade.

Special thanks to the specials teachers for running the stations, without them this day would not happen.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) DISTRICT ART SHOW

The Poudre School District student art exhibition, Designs & Images, is currently on display at the Foothills Mall. The exhibit features work from schools K-12 & is a vehicle for celebrating the artistic accomplishments of students that result from good art instruction. Like language or mathematics, art involves the use of complex symbols to communicate. If you have a chance to view the exhibition, please keep in mind the 'products' you see are the result of a problem solving process taught by art educators. With limited space art teachers choose work that shows what is learned from a curriculum perspective.

The Shepardson art display is located in front of Foley's and runs April 12 - April 26.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PTO CORNER

April 22, 2005 The next PTO Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. (committee work) followed by the 7:15 p.m. Board Meeting in the Shepardson Library. NEW FACES AND INPUT ARE WELCOME SO PLEASE JOIN US AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SHEPARDSON! Volunteer Appreciation Week! A personal thanks to everyone who volunteers at Shepardson! Whether in the classroom, for various events, on PTO, or any of the other myriad areas, thank you for all you do to help make Shepardson the wonderful school it is! A special thanks to Becky Haberecht for coordinating Shepardson's volunteer program and for organizing this week's volunteer appreciation event. You and all your work is TRULY VALUED by us all! Schoolastic Bookfair - THANK YOU! Many thanks to everyone who participated in the SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR! We hope you enjoyed the selection and were able to stock up for the summer! Your support is greatly appreciated! Special thanks to LeighAnn Dilley who again, stepped up to the plate and organized this event! You and all your work is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! And to all volunteers who helped, Thank you! SOCK HOP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED PTO Soc Hop is May 6th and volunteers are needed for decorating, food and security. If interested, please call Amy Lopez at 282-0177 Thanks! McTeacher's Night Monday, April 25, 2005 COME HAVE YOUR TEACHER SERVE YOU AT MCDONALDS (Horsetooth & Timberline) and enjoy a very "Happy Meal" during McTeacher's Night - Monday, April 25th from 5 - 8 p.m.! Teachers scheduled to serve are: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.        6:00 - 7:00 p.m.        7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Ms. Miller Ms. Eberhardt Ms. Pibal Ms. Sawin Ms. Hoffman Mr. Neal Ms. Delmonte Ms. Shibles Ms. Wyman Ms. Bonertz Ms. Teague Ms. Addington Ms. Stetler Ms. Harkens Ms. Bucher Ms. Harbour Ms. Brown Ms. Aust Mrs. Sommers Mrs. Sommers Mrs. Sommers Mr. Kreider Mr. Kreider Mr. Kreider Your teacher could be making you a hamburger, fixing French fries or working the front counter. Tell your neighbors and bring your friends because Shepardson will receive 20% of the total sales for three hours. Mark it on your calendar today! See you there! UPCOMING PTO EVENTS It's hard to believe we're in the final months of school. We all know what a busy time of year it is with school events and the many extracurricular activities our families enjoy! Look to the school calendar for a complete list of activities... PTO's Calendar includes: Monday - April 25        McTeachers Night 5:00 -8:00 pm Tuesday, May 3 Final PTO Meeting Friday, May 6 Sock Hop Mon. - Fri., May 2-6 Teacher Appreciation Week Wednesday, May 24 Sixth Grade Graduation PTO COMMITTEE COORDINATOR SIGN-UP We would like to start the 2005-2006 school year running with Committee Coordinators in place. Here is a listing of committees needing coordinators. If you are interested in more information or wish to volunteer, please contact me at Burkys@aol.com, or at 225-1873. Thank you, Jennifer Burkhart *    Pod Reps for K, 3-6        *    6th Grade Graduation and Gift * Access Computer Cartridges * Cool Cuts, Albertsons, Target * Odyssey of the Mind * Gingerbread Social * Scholastic Bookfair * Barnes and Noble Bookfair * Sally Foster Wrapping Paper * REACH Week

(Table of Contents)   (Top) REMINDER:

If your child has an outstanding lunch charge, please send in the money with them as soon as possible. The last day for your child to charge their lunch will be May 2.

Thanks!

Carol See
Kitchen Manager

(Table of Contents)   (Top) READ ON! FT. COLLINS, JR.

A Shared Community Experience
To develop community unity through a shared picture-book experience

During the month of April, families with young children in the Ft. Collins community are encouraged to read, discuss, and have fun with the same book:

The Old woman Who Named Things By Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Kathryn Brown

Our last community event where families can come together to listen to the story, discuss it's themes, and do fun activities together will be on

Tuesday, April 26,

O'Dea Elementary, 5:30 p.m.

Refreshments! Projects! Drawings for free copies of the book!

(Additional copies available for purchase at family events & at local bookstores - or check it out at your school or public library)

Join the fun!

Get Ft. Collins families on the same page!

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