| Attendance Line Number - 490-3062 | December 2, 2005 |
 |
|
|
|
Shepardson's Home Page: http://schoolweb.psdschools.org/she/ |
|
|
|
| In this issue... |
|
| Attendance Line Number - 490-3062 | December 2, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
Shepardson's Home Page: http://schoolweb.psdschools.org/she/ |
|
|
|
| In this issue... |
|
|
|
After a different November and a restful holiday filled with incredible thankful thoughts and hugs, I return reenergized for the mission of Educating Every Child Every Day! Our focus will continue to be on the academic goals to help each child reach their highest level of performance and we will continue to improve our instructional approaches to enable each child to reach these high goals.
Our emotional world, however, can affect our ability to work and learn. Having a full time counselor will continue to serve the needs of our students and their parents and staff. The death of a child always serves to remind us of the fragility of life and how precious each moment should be. As Mrs. Bonertz's class attempts to make meaning of Haley's death, they have led us to a special level. They so valued what she brought to them for she filled their lives with smiles, friendship and happiness; it is almost as if she knew some of life's real secrets better than most of us. This class will be making meaning of her death in a way that will transfer to our school climate. They are composing a School Pledge in her honor and will be presenting it to the staff next Wednesday. We hope to finalize this message and present it to the entire student body in December and have it serve us as a daily reminder of the climate we want to instill at Shepardson.
Last week we were fortunate to have Janet Severance from Hospice here to talk with parents and staff about what is normal to expect. We were reminded that thoughts are likely to reoccur but less frequently. Sometimes it's three months later when a different event brings these unresolved feelings back to the surface. For a child, they can be scary and cause a child to respond strangely without any warning or understanding on the part of the child or the caretakers. Some will need opportunities to ask questions that may be difficult to answer. Sometimes children will exhibit exaggerated responses or may play or draw about death. They may even regress to a younger level as a way of saying, "I don't want to grow up." It is important that all adults in the lives of children are able to model tolerance, show patience and understanding, and be non-judgmental. It's a time for extra hugs, lots of love, and simple statements of "I understand how hard this is." When children or adults ask for help, it is a healthy way of learning to cope. Our response creates the reassurance they need when we face such trauma.
The outpouring of love and caring from this community is impossible to describe with words. As one parent shared in a card, "...the love that comes out in people (at this time) is spectacular. You all have just warmed our hearts! ...It has been so comforting to feel your love and care." These words are for the entire school community who came to assist us as well as those of us who were most directly impacted by this life-changing event. As George Eliot said, "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" We do our best and depend upon our sense of community, our common areas of agreement and our focus on the children in our care. We are so grateful to be working with and for a community of parents who care first about all children. This world will be a better place because of how you model this daily with your children. Thank you...from the depths of my heart!
| - | Mary Kay Sommers |
| email: msommers@psdschools.org |
|
|
|
| CALENDAR | December 02, 2005 |
| DECEMBER 2005 | DECEMBER 2005 | ||||
| 5-12 | Mon-Mon | Beanie Baby Collection | 20 | Tue | 1st grade music program-6:00 pm-Gym 2nd grade music program-7:00 pm-Gym |
| 5-20 | Mon-Tue | Mitten Collection | 21 | Wed | All School sing with Choir-1:00 pm-Gym |
| 7 | Wed | Lesher Choir Performs-1:15 pm-Gym | 21 | Wed | Winter Parties-2:00 pm |
| 8 | Thu | Winterfest Social-6:30-7:35 pm-Gym | 21 | Wed | End of Quarter/Semester |
| 8 | Thu | SIT-4:00-6:00 pm | 12/22-1/3 | Thu-Tue | Winter Break |
| 9 | Fri | National Geo Bee Finals-8:45 am-Gym | JANUARY 2006 | ||
| 16 | Fri | Choir Sings at the Mall-12:00 pm | 4 | Wed | School Resumes |
|
|
|
Principal Mary Kay Sommers met with district specialists to begin the design process of our remodeling project. The purpose, as explained in the mill levy, included the need for a separate facility for lunch as well as upgrading our gym for PE. While our original vision included a new gym to serve these two purposes, it appears that the funding may not be sufficient. As with your own home, there are different ways to address the changes you need. We are very pleased that our allocation has been increased to $950,000 for this purpose.
We will have a Task Force that will be meeting with the architects in January and February, maybe as often as weekly and after school, and then less frequently through the spring of the year. This team may want to visit some sites as well. We will have two parents, one from SIT and one not from SIT, who are interested in this project and who can make these meetings. If you are interested in serving on this Task Force, please send an email to Mary Kay (msommers@psdschools.org) with an explanation about why this project interests you. SIT will finalize the appointment at its meeting on December 8th. Please watch for updates in the newsletters and at SIT and PTO meetings.
Having more time for children to eat has been an issue Mary Kay has complained about for the last 16 years! It is often one of the most frequently requested improvements that even students share with us! This level of project will begin after school is out and will be completed after school resumes in the fall.
|
|
|
On Friday, November 18th, we had the wonderful opportunity of listening to an Australian teacher and author, Ian Trevaskis. Ian read some of his published children's books, talked about the stages of the writing process and the concepts and skills we teach students at school. What a great day! Thank you to PTO for funding this special event! Mr. Trevaskis complimented Shepardson on its well-behaved students! |
|
|
|
As the media specialist, this goal drives me to find creative ways of enticing children to read. One of the activities that started several years ago was the Festival of the Trees. This event began with almost full participation by the teachers with many different books selected for decorating the trees. Through the years, I noticed some things happening: pressure was added to teachers' December work load; changing staff brought other perspectives from other schools that made me question the event; the Silent Auction became the focal point more than the reading; the books that were selected did not portray the variety and balance of celebrations for children to become acquainted with what I had intended and what board policy requires; students became more interested in getting Mom or Dad to bid and buy their tree rather than in reading as many of the books as they could. My silent inner self must have been making the decision for me as I didn't buy trees this past year and stash them away in the closet.
I've decided to let the Festival of the Trees be replaced with something that gets the kids reading in other ways. The activity that keeps coming back to me as the one that promotes reading in the best ways for everyone is the OBSTACLE COURSE that required selected reading designed especially for each grade level. The focus was that READING IS EVERYWHERE. . . on cereal boxes, in the newspaper, in an encyclopedia article, in a magazine, on a sign, in a book by a specific author and so forth. Some of the older students still remember the big, black spider, the bungee jumper, and the pirate ship. Most of the students at Shepardson did not get to participate in reading to get past the obstacles. When I found those cards while sorting this summer, I said, "YES! This is it!" I appreciate your understanding and respect for my decision to make this change.
P.S. If any of you have connections to any items considered to be prizes, let me know. The Obstacle Course results in nine choices as a year-end celebration and that's a lot of prize-items!
Margie Bucher
|
|
|
Hello, Shepardson Families! As the season of giving continues, we are reminded of our new friends at Chackbay Elementary in Louisiana. The students on the community service committee for Student Council would like to help bring a little more joy and happiness to the lives of these children by sending them a gift of stuffed animals. All next week we will be collecting donated items, and, due to shipping costs, we are asking families to primarily give small stuffed animals such as Beanie Babies. Our goal is for every child to receive a new furry friend in time for the holidays. You can help support us by bringing in new or gently used stuffed toys from Monday, December 5 through Friday, December 12.
Thank you!
|
|
|
The SIT committee has approved the 2005-06 budget, with special thanks to PTO for their $22,645.32 contribution. The committee also reviewed school of choice admission priorities. The details about this policy were listed completely in the October 13th newsletter which is also available on our website.
As part of a District wide Strategic Priority, the committee discussed ways to further involve families and volunteer partnerships. Shepardson has a strong volunteer program and enhances community involvement. Recent projects in this area are the Timberline Church partnership. Ways of improving these programs will consist of increased announcements in newsletters and measured by parent surveys and number of hours logged by volunteers. Next time we will be discussing district communication as part of its strategic plan.
|
|
|
Cub Scout Pack 194 will be taking over a project usually done by Student Council. They will collect mittens and gloves for children who can use them this winter. If you and your family would like to donate some mittens, please have your child bring them to school. The Cub Scouts will have a Mitten Tree near the Media Center for this purpose. If you want more information, please contact Byron Alcorn, Cubmaster @ 970-226-5590.
|
|
|
The local "Hoop Shoot" free-throw shooting contest will be held Saturday, January 7, at the Fort Collins Senior Center at 1200 Raintree Drive. The contest, sponsored annually by The Elks Club, is a chance for all students, ages 8-13, to compete for prizes and recognition. Each contestant gets 25 free throws divided into two sessions.
The Hoop Shoot is a nationwide competition, starting at the local level and proceeding to district, state, regional, and national levels. The six Fort Collins champions (one girl and one boy from each age group) will advance to the district finals in Sterling, Colorado. Age group is determined by a student's age as of April 1, 2006, and proof of birthday is required.
All Hoop Shoot participants will receive free admission to a Colorado State University men's basketball game, which will include a half-time presentation and basketball shooting on the court. Information: Mark Lee, 221-0330.
|
|
|
Watch for the PSD Annual Report for the 2004-05 school year-coming to you as an insert in the December issue of the Fort Collins Forum. It is being mailed to the homes of all Fort Collins, Timnath, Wellington, and mountain school areas. The 12-page PSD Annual Report summarizes the progress and achievements of our staff and students during the past year. You may also access the PSD Annual Report in January on the PSD web page at www.psdschools.org/psdinfo/annualreport.
|
|
|
|
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 10th at 7:00 p.m. (committee work) followed by the 7:15 Board Meeting in the Shepardson Library. For more information, please contact Jennifer Burkhart @ 225-1873.
Jeff See Foundation Thanks to the many generous people at Shepardson, we were able to deposit $395.00 in the Jeff See Medical Fund. Words alone cannot express the thanks the See Family wishes to send. THANK YOU!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE WINTERFEST SOCIAL!
Interested in Making Direct Donations to support our school? Simply use the following form:
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
