Attendance Line Number - 490-3062

April 7, 2006

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

In this issue...

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS

The technology of the information age has allowed for the rapid sharing of information and ideas. With innovation come new opportunities for people to interact with each other, and our Shepardson students are exploring some of these opportunities with their friends.

In the past week, we have learned that a number of our fifth and sixth grade students are participating in online communities at MySpace.com. Although much of the content and many of the interactions on MySpace are fine by most standards, I am sending this message home to inform you of some aspects of MySpace that are of concern for elementary age students.

• Although the minimum age on MySpace is supposed to be 14, there is no age verification system.

• Many children are using their real names, first and last, along with listing their hometown and posting pictures of themselves. Once posted publicly, this information can be accessed by anyone in the world. This causes us great concern regarding child safety.

• The content of these online communities is not strongly filtered, and there are a lot of images and postings that are not appropriate for minors.

• Some students have been using MySpace to post negative, nasty comments about other students. Since the targets of these postings become uncomfortable about coming to school and being with their classmates, this amounts to a form of harassment.

In all Poudre School District facilities, MySpace access is blocked, and everyone at Shepardson recognizes that what a child does in his or her home is for parents to monitor. We became involved in this issue out of concern for the safety of our students, both in school and outside of school. Although no students have gotten in trouble at school for using MySpace, we have contacted parents and met with students and parents to assist in guiding students toward safer and, when necessary, more appropriate choices.

If you are not sure if your child has a MySpace account, please take a moment to ask your child, and if he or she does, ask to see his or her profile. The Internet is a powerful medium for sharing ideas and information, and it is a useful part of everyday life. I ask that you join us in working with our children to make the most of this tool while avoiding the aspects of the online world that negatively affect our children and our community.

Thank you.

Mary Kay Sommers, Principal
John Passantino, Administrative Assistant, 5th Grade Teacher

email:		msommers@psdschools.org
		jpassant@psdschools.org

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CALENDAR

April 07, 2006

APRIL 2006			APRIL 2006
11	Tue	3rd Grade Music Program-6:00 pm-Gym	25	Tue	Choir Music Program-6:00 pm-Gym
13	Thu	SIT-4:00-6:00 pm	27	Thu	Class Group Pictures-8:45 am
18-21	Tue-Fri	Scholastic Book Fair 8:00 am-6:00 pm	27	Thu	SIT-4:00-6:00 pm
20	Thu	Book Fair Family Night-5:00 pm-8:00 pm	29	Sat	Cindy Mueller 4K Run-9:00 am-Shepardson
21	Fri	6th Grade Lock In-6:00-10:00 pm-Gym	MAY 2006
22	Sat	District Science Fair	2	Tue	PTO Meeting-7:00 pm

(Table of Contents)   (Top) STUDENT TEACHERS

My name is Jeri Cable and I am currently a senior at Colorado State University. I plan to graduate in May with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, along with a License to teach pre-kindergarten through third grade. I am currently student teaching in Mrs. Addington's first grade classroom and am looking forward to spending the next eight weeks with her and her students!

Hi! I'm Stefeni Maeda and a senior at Colorado State University. I am originally from Honolulu, Hawaii and can't wait for summer. I look forward to working with the awesome first graders!

(Table of Contents)   (Top) EARTH DAY POSTER DESIGN CONTEST

Topic: Closing the Loop
Grand Prize $100
3 First Place Awards of $25
4 Special Prizes for the runner-ups

Posters will be judged based on the following criteria:

Connection to the theme.
Overall neatness and design.
Creativity in getting your message across.

Need ideas? Buy products made from recycled materials. Feed your garbage to the worms instead of the landfill through vermicomposting. Buy items in recycled packaging. Find creative ways to use old things in new ways....turn that old tire into a swing. Shop and donate at second-hand shops.

Poster paper can be picked up from Mrs. Pibal. Please remember to include your name, grade, teacher and school on the back! Open to K-6th grade. Deadline is April 15th.

Posters will be displayed in businesses to send a message about how we all can make the world a better place for future generations.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) INTEL SPONSORING EARTH DAY COMPUTER RECYCLING ON APRIL 21

In conjunction with Earth Day 2006, Intel is sponsoring RECYCLE YOUR COMPUTER DAY. To properly dispose of computers, Intel has contracted with a computer recycling company to pick up old computer equipment from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m., on Friday, April 21.

The pick-up location is 4701 Technology Parkway, the parking lot of the former Celestica building, which is the new Intel site.

This opportunity is open to the entire Fort Collins community. Families (residential recyclers only) are eligible and encouraged to recycle computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, etc. (no businesses please).

Recyclers will be charged $10 per carload, and all funds will go to Poudre School District.

For additional information, contact: Donna Rupert, Intel, phone 207-8401.

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SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR Don't forget CAMP READ A BOOK will be open from Tuesday through Friday April 18th - 21st. The hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Thursday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We will have 4 more cases of books this year!! This means more books for older kids and adults and Spanish books too. Family night is Thursday, April 20th 5 - 8PM. Members of the student council have planned and will be working family night! We will have a mystery game, guessing games, fun door prizes, book reading and coloring for small children and S'MORES!!!! DEBBIE DADEY (a Shepardson mom) has written many books for Scholastics including stories for Bailey School Kids! Come hear her read part of one of her books at 7:00 PM during family night at the book fair! We still need a few volunteers. Volunteers receive every 5th book free all week long! Call Leigh Ann Dilley 377-3913. READ S'MORE BOOKS!!

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STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS The Art Service committee of Student Council has completed a mural to be hung in the 5/6 girls bathroom. Erin Dowdy, Kim Scott, Tori Oblender, Kayla Alstead, Gretchen Carow, and Jessy Knaus painted a 4'x8' mural of a sunset to be enjoyed by students for years to come. Fifth grade students are working on a mural of planets for the 5/6 boys bathroom.

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WATER BOTTLES FOR SALE NEW! At School Store! WATER BOTTLES FOR $3.00 EACH-THEY ARE BLUE AND IMPRINTED SILVER WITH:

(Table of Contents)   (Top) TALENT SHOW

Thursday May 11th, 2006
8:45 am to 9:45 am

We are happy to offer a talent show once again. Auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 3rd from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. When considering auditioning for the talent show, keep the following pointers in mind:

Students may audition in only 1 act.
Acts should be no longer than 3 minutes.
Acts should be well rehearsed.
All material should be in good taste and appropriate for a school audience.
The school will provide a piano, tape/CD player, or mats.

Fill out the form below if you are interested in auditioning and hand it to Mrs. Everett by Friday, April 21st. A permission slip, to be signed by your parent or guardian, will be delivered to you the following week stating when you are scheduled to audition.

For more information contact Sonia van Zyl at 282-3434.

Talent Show - May 11, 2006

I am interested in auditioning for the talent show.

Name........................................................................

Grade........................................................................

Teacher......................................................................

Category (circle one):

dancing		singing
gymnastics		skit
magic show		musical instrument (specify)......................
juggling		mime
other (specify).........................

Auditions will be from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3rd. Please indicate any time in this window that will not work for you. We will try to accommodate you.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PTO CORNER

REMEMBER to purchase your discounted tickets for Canyon Concert Ballet's Beauty and the Beast through Shepardson. Not only will you save but all proceeds from sales goes to help our school!

(Table of Contents)   (Top) PEACEJAM, A CONFERENCE FOR PEACE

Designed especially for elementary-aged youth

Come and learn how to be a peacemaker at this fun, interactive conference. Kids will have the chance to do team play activities, learn about Nobel Peace Prize winners, broaden their international understanding and much more.

When:		Saturday, April 8, 2006
Time:		Session 1 (for 1st-3rd graders) 9am-12pm Session 2 (for 4th-6th graders) 1pm-4pm
Where:		Fort Collins
Kid Cost:		$12.00 advanced registration is required
Adult Cost:		Free to adults wishing to accompany a child, but please register as well

PeaceJam Ft Collins is a dynamic educational-outreach program designed to encourage youth to develop the knowledge base, skills and attitudes to become peacemakers within themselves, their schools and communities. Service is a part of the PeaceJam program and this conference is a project of two PeaceJam groups in Fort Collins. Workshops have been designed by and will be presented by junior high and high school aged youth who have themselves participated in PeaceJam conferences.

To register or for more information, call or email Nancy Murray at 970-490-2434 or obermurray@comcast.net.

(Table of Contents)   (Top) ODYSSEY OF THE MIND 2005 - 2006

Three creative Shepardson teams competed on Saturday, April 1st, at Fossil Ridge High School. The first and second graders competed in the Ancient Egypt problem. The team members were Ethan Berndt, Nicky Hawley, Coleen Hubbeling, Deja Mullenix and Abby Nay; coached by Amy Lopez and Kevin Nay. The team had wonderful props and costumes, many detailed Egyptian artifacts the team had made, and an excellent script with a plot twist.

The third and fourth graders chose the "The Great Parade" for their problem. Their team was composed of the following students: Victor Bader, Kelsey Hartmann, Tess Hubbeling, Jasmine Smith and Jesse Williams; coached by Mike Smith. They had built a creative and fun float, powered by their own hands, which celebrated various holidays around the year. Again, there were terrific costumes and the wonderful float even had lights! This added a striking technical feature to their presentation.

Our team of fifth and sixth graders worked on the Tech Transfer problem. The members were Arun Chandra, Maisie Iven, Keilani McConnell, Randall McConnell and Lizette van Zyl; co-coaches were Sonia van Zyl and Nancy McConnell. They had a very creative script involving climate control; gnome, pixie, and retirement planets; and a mechanical device, built by the team, which transferred all of the characters and objects from planet to planet. Lots of work from all teams made for a very exciting Tournament Day and the fifth/sixth grade team placed first in their division. Congratulations to all of the teams for their great presentations and hard work! Thanks to the coaches and other parents who volunteered to make this program a success for all!

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