Je� co SchoolsQuarterly

www.jeffcopublicschools.orgMay 2014 Vol. 7 No. 1 A Jeffco Schools Publication

Wheat Ridge High School (WRHS) senior Taylor Roberts hit an obstacle on the track to graduation. Her personal life had become overwhelming and she wanted to give up – but, the people in her life weren’t ready to give up on her.

Taylor had dropped out. “I was struggling a lot with life in general, friends, family and just everything,” she said. “I thought I would dropout, get my GED and start working and that didn’t work out, it’s not that easy.”

Her mom, Julie, didn’t know where to turn. “I ended up on the Je� co Schools website searching to � nd another option for her and I stumbled across the dropout prevention site.” She called Je� co’s Dropout Prevention and Recovery department where she met Jason Firestone.

“Without Jason I don’t know where

Taylor would be,” she added. “He’s a great motivator and there’s no way she would be back in school without him.”

Je� co’s 2012-13 on-time graduation rate for neighborhood high schools moved from 88.3 to 89 percent. � e increase shows the district’s emphasis on maintaining an upward trend in graduation rates while lowering the district’s drop-out rate.

“In 2011-12 we had 853 students who dropped out and last year we had 710 students,” said Dave Kollar, director of Dropout Prevention and Recovery. “We’re excited about the reduction and that is Je� co’s lowest dropout rate ever.”

Kollar and Firestone said the positive change in Je� co’s dropout rates can only be achieved when schools, programs, community agencies and interventions work together.

“We play the role of the mediator and our goal is to remove any obstacles in a student’s way that may discourage or distract them from their goal of graduating,” said Firestone. He scheduled a meeting with Taylor, her mom and WRHS Assistant Principal Ken Trager and within a few days, Taylor reenrolled at Wheat Ridge.

� e WRHS sta� will admit they took risks with Taylor by allowing her to return to school. “We went through a pretty rough stretch and some tough decisions before we could take another chance on her,” said Trager. “We didn’t give up and put some tools in place to help her get through the tough times.”

Trager and Principal Gri� Wirth sat down and talked about what they teach their students. “Our sta� has talked a lot about perseverance and grit and how

those characteristics are lacking in some of our students because they quit and give up too easily.”

� ey decided to practice what they preach and not quit on kids. “It doesn’t work for us as a sta� to teach that, if we’re not going to live it as well,” said Trager.

Taylor’s mom said her daughter was so grateful to the Wheat Ridge sta� for giving her another chance. “She told me she wanted to get Mr. Trager a present,” she said. “I told her that the biggest gi� she could give him is graduating.”

Taylor can’t wait to have her mom watch her accept her diploma in May along with the other graduates. With her degree in one hand and an acceptance letter to Community College of Denver in the other, Taylor’s dream of becoming a veterinarian is closer than ever to becoming a reality.

Chat� eld High School and Warren Tech student Jacob Gilchrist was in command. He led his � re science team towards a car on � re at the Je� co Sheri� and Fairmount Fire Joint Training Center o� of Highway 93.

With sirens blaring, the � re engine raced by victims, being played by students pretending to be injured and unconscious. Gilchrist and his team dragged out the hose to � ght the � re. Once it was out, � re science instructor Tim Vaninger stepped in.

“When you came straight into the scene you had tunnel vision,” explained Vaninger. “We should have stopped and thought it out, “Hey, this isn’t just a car � re, we’ve got way too many people who are hurt. Let’s stop and evaluate, but, now it’s too late because you are all contaminated with sarin gas.”

� e emergency scene was all part of a mock emergency exercise that included 20 Je� co high schools and 240 Warren Tech students spanning over 12 educational programs including � re science, emergency medicine and cosmetology.

Warren Tech partnered with the Fairmount Fire Protection District, Je� erson County Sheri� ’s O� ce, Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Anthony Hospital, Flight for Life, Stadium Medical, Arvada Police Department, Adams County Sheri� ’s O� ce and the Colorado State Patrol.

“I love how real it is,” said Warren Tech cosmetology student Grace Roberts, as she applied red, blood-like makeup on another student who played the part of an accident victim.

Our Mission

To provide a qualityeducation that prepares

all children for asuccessful future.

Jeffco Public Schools is home

to nearly 86,000 of Colorado's

finest students. Step inside one

of our 154 schools and you will

see a staff dedicated to building

a bright future for every student.

Our staff is supported by a com-

mitted school board, involved

parents and a caring community

that combine to provide a qual-

ity education that prepares all

children for a promising future.

The gift of graduation

Warren Tech students practice for real life

“Everyone’s coming together. � is is an awesome opportunity.”

It was the � rst time Warren Tech had staged a � eld exercise this large. “� is exercise is such a large scale,” said student � re commander Gilchrist. “It is more real life, more realistic, so you get a feel for what the job is actually going to be like.”

Warren Tech science instructor Arlie Hu� man said the exercise played an important role in the students’ educations. “It’s the most important piece of all because it takes everything they have been learning over the last year or two at Warren

Tech and puts it all together,” she said. Student commander Gilchrist discovered

he failed to thoughtfully approach the car � re. “Hopefully, I can learn from it,” Gilchrist said.

“Better here than in real life.” Warren Tech emergency management

instructor Chris Mailliard answered, “We want to fail in this exercise, so we don’t fail in real life.”

Warren Tech � re science student Jacob Gilchrist leads his team while instructor Tim Vaninger observes.

Warren Tech cosmetology student Grace Roberts applies make up on Paul Grubb.

Wheat Ridge High School Assistant Principal Ken Trager and senior Taylor Roberts teamed up to keep Taylor on track to graduation.

---

Register Now for Summer/Fall 2014 Classes!

May 2014 2 www.jeffcopublicschools.org

Members of the Jefferson County Board of Education have developed ends policies or goals that guide the work of the district. The ends focus on what students should know and the work they should be able to do as a result of the education they received. The board’s governing statement is:

Every student will be taught by an effective teacher in a school led by an effective principal so that they are prepared for continuous learning and the world of work in the changing environment of the 21st century. Therefore,1. Every student will master the Colorado

Content Standards at grade level.2. Every student will achieve at least one

year’s growth, or more as needed to catch up, in every year of school and be ready for the next level.

3. Every student will graduate career and workforce and/or post- secondary ready.

4. Every student will learn in a caring, safe, and engaging school environment that maximizes parental involvement and encourages community support.

5. Every student will become a responsible citizen.

The following are the ends established by the board:

Ends #1Every student will master the Colorado

Content Standards at grade level.• Thepercentageofproficient/advanced

third-grade students in reading on TCAP will increase from 80 percent to 85 percent by August of 2015.

• Thepercentageofproficient/advancedfourth grade students in math on TCAP will increase from 77 percent to 80 percent by August 2015.

• Thepercentageofproficient/advancedstudents in writing on TCAP will increase by August 2014 to:

• Elementary–64percent• Middlelevel–66percent• Highschool–59percentEnds #2

Every student will achieve one year’s growth, or more as needed to ‘catch up,’ in each year of school and be ready for the next level.• The percentage of third graders

scoring in the unsatisfactory category on third- grade reading TCAP will decrease by 1 percentage point each year in 2014 and 2015.

• ThepercentageofALPstudentswhohave growth measures over 50 will increase:

• Inwritingfrom54to56

• Inmathfrom60to62• Inreadingfrom57to59Ends #3

Every student will graduate career and workforce and/or post- secondary ready.• ThecollegeremediationrateforJeffco

graduates will decrease from 29.8percent to 27.8 percent by spring 2015.

Ends #4Every student will learn in a caring,

safe, and engaging school environment that maximizes parental involvement and encourages community support.Ends #5

Every student will become a responsible citizen.

“Better outcomes begin with a plan, and the board’s plan is outlined in the five academic achievement goals weunanimously set in December,” said Jefferson County Board of Education President Ken Witt. “These goals ensure more students are on the path of success at a key checkpoint early in their education. The goals also help ensure more Jeffco kids graduate with the skills they need for the future.”

“Our goals reflect achievement for all students in Jeffco,” said board treasurer Jill Fellman.

Board focuses on student achievement

Members of the Jefferson County Board of Education have given preliminary direction for the district’s 2014-15 budget. The budget process began with board members identifying their ends or goals which are focused on student achievement.

“The Jeffco board is dedicated to responsible financial management. Wewant to see education dollars spent in ways that result in better academic achievement for our students. We will carefully review where the money is invested and what the results of those investments are in order to make informed decisions,” said Jefferson County Board of Education President Ken Witt.

The community and staff weighed in through an online survey, a series of public forums and public comment and correspondence. In addition, membersof the Strategic Planning and Advisory Council made recommendations as did the district’s Financial Oversight Committee.Here’swhatwillbe includedin the draft proposed budget:• Employee compensation: $11.7

million – a budgetary placeholderfor total compensation increases for 2014-15 including the increased costs of employer contribution to PERA and initial implementation costs for the Affordable Care Act. How theremaining funds will be invested in salary adjustments is just one item for discussion during negotiations with the Jefferson County Education Association.

• Special education transportation:$786,000–apartialoffsetofmandatedrising cost of transportation for special education students.

• Mobile device readiness: $4.5million – an investment in wireless

infrastructure enabling schools to handle increasing demands on technology in the classroom. This investment supports accessibility and capacity to the district’s technology infrastructure.

• Classroom Dashboard: $1.0 million– ongoing investment in thedevelopment of the online classroom dashboard that will give teachers access to data, resources and tools that will help provide better outcomes for their students.

• Primary literacy/reading proficiency:$2 million – additional professionaldevelopment for teachers, reading interventionists and extended learning opportunitiesforstudents,specificallytargeting early literacy goals.

• Elementary math instruction: $3.6million – implementation of newmath program, Math Expressions. This investment is for new math materials in support of the board goaltoincreasemathliteracy.Italsoincludes two years of professional development for teachers to support and ensure the successful roll out of the math program.

• Data security and privacy: $560,000–staffingandsupporttocontinuethedistrict’s commitment to data security.

• Additionalfundingtocharterschools:$3.7 million – this represents theallocation of new dollars to move toward an equal per-pupil funding to charter schools.

• Gifted and talented: $855,000 – aninvestment of funds to provide additional staffing for gifted andtalented services. This is aligned with the board’s goal to increase achievement performance for students on advanced learning plans.

• VirtualAcademyexpansiontoincludeK-6:$700,000–toattractandprovidehigh-quality services to elementary online students. This opportunity will be funded through increased revenues from the addition of new online students.

• Additional investments addressedthrough repurposing of existing funds include–$1.5milliontosupport theincreased cost of special education students placed out of district, $200,000 to support safety andsecurity to meet training and crisis management needs and $400,000for additional investment in athletic equipment and transportation.

“We need to reflect the community’s priorities and interests in this budget along with weighing the needs of all students,” said board treasurer Jill Fellman.

“The academic achievement goals set unanimously by the board in December can only be achieved if we have talented teachers in our classrooms. That means we need to attract and hold onto the best teachers possible,” said Witt. “They also expect to be paid on a competitive scale. We know we need to pay our newest teachers more to be competitive. And we want to pay all of our teachers at the highest rate possible for the quality of their work.”It’s important to remember that these

proposals are subject to change and other budget items may be added as the board continues to discuss priorities. Public hearings on the proposed budget will be held on Thursday, June 5 and Thursday, June 19 beginning at 6 p.m. in the 5thfloor Board Room, Education Center, 1829DenverWestDrive,Golden.

Budget dollars

www.jeffcopublicschools.org May 20143www.jeffcopublicschools.org

Ken WittI encourage you to remember the di� erence between

dreams and purpose. You are likely � lled with dreams of what you would like to achieve and experience. You are at the crux of big change and enormous opportunity, facing college and career decisions. My image of dreaming is sitting on an inner tube � oating down a gentle stream, eyes closed, dreams � owing. But you take control of your destiny when you open your eyes, � x your gaze on where you want to go, and take the steps needed to get there. Prepare for the future you want. Fill your heart with aspiration, but don’t stop there. Find your resolve, solidify your own sense of purpose for your life, and identify the steps needed to realize your purpose. � en do the hardest thing of all – take those steps. In short – don’t just dream – achieve!

Julie WilliamsAll your dreams can come true only if you have the

courage to pursue them. May you always keep learning, growing, and pursuing the best in yourself.

Congratulations!

Lesley Dahlkemper#1: De� ne success. What does success look like for you? Go

for it! How you de� ne success will change over time. Remember those who help you along the way.

#2: Focus on what matters most. And let go of all the stu� that doesn’t. You have way too much to do with your life!

#3: Push yourself. � e rewards are huge: greater con� dence, deeper knowledge and the sheer satisfaction of knowing that you did it. Next time, it will be a little easier.

#4: Give back. Tutor students at your old elementary school… volunteer at a shelter… run for school board. Our community – and you – will be better for it.

#5: Embrace mistakes. “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Cartoonist Scott Adams

We are so proud of you, and we cannot wait to see what you accomplish in the future!

John NewkirkCongratulations, Je� erson County graduates, on

reaching this critical milestone. Your graduation is called “commencement” because it marks the beginning of an exciting new era in your lives. � is moment, however, also marks a bittersweet end: it’s the last time you’ll all be together in the same place at the same time. So during these � nal few weeks of school, shake more hands, give more hugs, and both forgive and apologize. � ank your teachers for dedicating their lives to making yours better. Sit down with a World War II vet while you still can. Understand that you are the bene� ciary of generations of hard work and sacri� ce, and this world will soon belong to you. Take a road trip this summer. See what you’ve inherited. And no matter where your journey takes you, resolve to use your precious education to leave the place a little better than how you found it.

Jill FellmanAs I think about graduation – my thoughts immediately

turn to the future. Graduates, you have earned a high school diploma from Je� erson County Schools – which is indeed an accomplishment. You have so many options for your future – college, career, military, family, and a host of others. My advice to you is simple: NEVER shut the door on an option that may appeal to you later. ALWAYS be open to learning and � nding that passion that will guide you into � nding a career and a life that will allow you to follow your heart and soul. I wish great things for all of you!

MESSAGE FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Witt

Williams

Dahlkemper

Newkirk

Fellman

What advice do you have for the class of 2014?

� e process to choose a new superintendent for Je� co Public Schools is moving forward with Ray and Associates, Inc. leading the work. � e Iowa-based search � rm was chosen by the Je� erson County Board of Education to help the district � nd the next Je� co superintendent. Eleven public meetings have been held to collect input from parents, students, sta� and the community. Ray and Associates has also conducted a public survey to gather additional input. � e information has been used by the board of education to develop a superintendent pro� le to help guide the search for a new Je� co superintendent. Here’s the remaining timeline for the process:• Monday, May 5: BOE to screen candidates

in a closed executive session• Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10: BOE

to interview candidates in closed executive session

• Th ursday, May 15: BOE to interview fi nalists in open meetingIt is hoped that a new superintendent will be

named by the end of May.

Searching for a superintendent

Ray & Associates, Inc.’s Bill Newman meets with employees to talk about the search for a new Je� coSuperintendent.

Je� co students will see more servings of fruits and vegetables added to their breakfasts and lunches during the 2014-15 school year. Because of that, meal prices in Je� co will be increasing by 25 cents. Federal guidelines, established by the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, require school districts to add fruits and veggies to the menu; those extra servings mean an additional cost.

“Beginning this year, the serving of fruit and vegetable for a student at lunch increased from a total of ¾ cup to now being a total of 1 ½ cups. � e fruit serving for breakfast increases from ½ cup to 1 cup in 2014-15. We currently pay an average of 20 cents for a serving of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the regulations

now require that all grain products served must be whole grain. Whole grain products are priced higher than the enriched products that we have customarily served,” said Linda Stoll, Je� co’s executive director of food and nutrition services.

Here’s what breakfast and lunch will cost next school year:• Elementary breakfast: $1.75 (currently $1.50)• Secondary breakfast: $2.00 (currently $1.75)• Elementary lunch: $2.75 (currently $2.50)• Secondary lunch: $3.25 (currently $3.00)

Most school districts in the Denver metro area charge similar prices for breakfast and lunch.

Meal prices increasing

A free publication for parents and resi-dents of Je� erson County, the Quarterly is published in partnership with Colorado Community Media. � e school district's Communications Services sta� provides the articles, photos and graphics in an ef-fort to keep the community informed with news about Je� co Schools. Citizen com-ments about the publication are welcome.

Colorado Community Media provides layout, sells advertisements, prints, and distributes the publication at no cost to the school district.

Jeffco Schools QuarterlyContact Communications Services:

Jeffco Public Schools1829 Denver West Drive, #27, Golden, CO 80401

303-982-6808 | 303-982-6816 Faxwww.jeffcopublicschools.org

email:commsvcs@jeffco.k12.co.usPhotography courtesy: Lorie Hirose, Jeffco Schools

To advertise contactColorado Community Media:

303-566-4100www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

May 2014 4 www.jeffcopublicschools.org

When Bear Creek High School (BCHS) junior Kate Pitchford sang on stage at the Colorado Music Educator’s Association (CMEA) conference in January, she was following in her mother’s footsteps.

“I really look up to my mother,” explained Pitchford. “It was kind of cool to stand where my mother stood.”

Pitchford’s mother, Sharon Littlefield sang at CMEA with her college choir. She also attended the conference when she was a school choir director. But this year, she went to see her daughter sing with the Bear Creek choir, Onyx.

“All you can do is just be so proud,” said Littlefield. “And wonder to yourself, was I that mature at that age?”

BCHS was just one of three Jeffco music groups to perform at the conference. D’Evelyn High School’s Symphonic Band and Lakewood High School’s Chamber Orchestra also played for the music educators. There is a competitive selection process, and only the very best are chosen to perform.

“For us in the music profession, it’s the ultimate goal to be able to play there,” said D’Evelyn music director Steve Martin. “We’re playing for a very critical audience. Competitively, it puts pressure on you to

raise your level of teaching a little bit and to keep you on your toes.”

Lakewood’s music director Chuck Stephen says students learn hard work and extra rehearsals pay off.

“To be among the best in the state, I think it’s a huge thing for the kids and for the school,” said Stephen. “Jeffco is always well represented. We have some very talented directors in Jeffco and a lot of fine music programs.”

“In today’s world of technology and instant gratification, a music class can teach a student what good ‘ole hard work and perseverance can accomplish,” said BCHS music director Nathan Payant. “A well-polished, beautiful sounding ensemble doesn’t happen in a day or overnight. It takes literally hundreds of hours of hard work and preparation to pull off an awe-inspiring performance.”

For students like Kate Pitchford, the hours of work are worth it.

“I just have this freedom with singing,” she said. “Especially when you’re doing it right, creating music with a whole group of people with a common goal. It sounds so beautiful.”

Edgewater Elementary School sixth-grader Marlene Alba is one of 32 students who volunteers to stay after school for three hours a day, four days a week.

“I’ve learned how to program things,” Alba said. “I’ve also met many new friends, so I like it.”

Alba and her friends are learning how to write code and program computers thanks to a program from the not-for-profit OpenWorld Learning (OWL) Organization.

OWL brings digital technology and computer programming teachers to schools with a high free and reduced lunch rate at no cost to the students or school.

“It’s amazing,” said Edgewater Principal Celeste Sultze. “It goes deeper than just knowing how to look up information on an iPad or a laptop. It gets students to understand how technology works and how to develop technology.”

Maureen Padilla knows first-hand the difference the program can make. She was in one of first OWL classes at her elementary school. Now, Padilla is a student at Metro State University, majoring in education, and teaching Edgewater students how to program computers through OWL’s after-school program.

“I get to teach students how to animate things. Who doesn’t want to know that?” she said. “Who wouldn’t choose to do this?”

“What’s cool about it, is that it’s not just about programming,” added Sultze. “It is also about role models and it inspires kids to be leaders.”

Sultze says OWL students are more confident in their regular classrooms, and more excited about learning. Edgewater is one of eight schools in the Denver area, and the only school in Jeffco, with the program.

Alba said she might consider a career in computer programming. But for now, she said she loves learning how to write code.

“It’s just the results are making the animation move and the shape change,” she explained with excitement. “It’s like cool, I can make a cartoon now.”

A diverse group of Jeffco business and community leaders recently rallied around Jeffco Schools Foundation’s Fifth-Annual Love Our Schools Luncheon fundraiser to honor retiring Columbine High School Principal Frank DeAngelis. They also raised more than $25,000 to benefit the programs of the Foundation in the process. DeAngelis received the Norma Anderson Lifetime Service Award which recognizes individuals whose dedication to local schools have made the community a thriving, vibrant place to live. DeAngelis’ career spans more than 35 years in Jeffco Public Schools as a teacher, coach and principal.

After the Columbine tragedy in 1999, DeAngelis realized that he had been saved to fulfill an important role. “I thought about our students,” DeAngelis said. “I realized that my reason was to help rebuild the community.”

He has been doing that important work ever since. He made a promise to every student enrolled at Columbine in spring 1999 that if they came back to the school, he would be there with them.

“My heart and soul have been with this community,” he said. “I have been so blessed to have worked with and been a part of the lives of wonderful teachers, students, parents and community.”

“Frank truly embodies the spirit of the Norma Anderson Lifetime Service Award,” said Katie Tiernan, executive director of Jeffco Schools Foundation. “We are grateful that we had a chance to honor him as a community before he retires.”

Article submitted by Jeffco Schools Foundation.

Edgewater Elementary School sixth-grader Marlene Alba practices writing computer code.

Bear Creek High School’s Onyx Choir. So-prano I: Kimberly Bowles, Sierra Breeden, Ryan Comer, Emma Hartmann, Ashleigh Laws, Amissi Robbins, Clara Shannon, Priscila Sihotang, Noa Solove. Soprano II: Alexis Allensworth, Sydnianne Clawson, Ashley Deuel, Sarah Heller, Rayana McK-ee, Baylee Moench, Kate Pitchford, Jes-sica Todd, Amber White. Alto I: Bryanna Augustine, K’Lei DeLauro, Baylee Hurta-do, Madeline Koehn, Justina Longoria, Megan Martinez, Brittney Schock, Valerie Simon, Aimee Wakeman, Natalie Yribia. Alto II Margaret Angelo, Erica Eggman, Kharis Grams, Marie Lankenau, Emily Montojo, Jazmyne Reining, Abigail Rus-sell, Savannah Santana, Leanne Williams and Mikaela Zamora.

Music education offers lessons in life and humanity

Lakewood High School music director Chuck Stephen and the chamber orchestra take a bow at CMEA.

Learning the code

Honoring Frank DeAngelis

For more information, contact Joe Moore at Joe.Moore@gcu.edu or 303-638-5986

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. 14COEE105

As a professional educator, or someone considering becoming a teacher, you understand the importance of receiving a quality education.

3 REASONS TO CHOOSE GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY:1. Take classes 100% ONLINE2. Earn your degree in as little as 18 MONTHS3. Graduate from an ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY

14COEE105-JeffersonCO-Ad.indd 1 4/1/14 8:44 AMwww.jeffcopublicschools.org May 20145www.jeffcopublicschools.org

raise your level of teaching a little bit and to keep you on your toes.”

Lakewood’s music director Chuck Stephen says students learn hard work and extra rehearsals pay off.

“To be among the best in the state, I think it’s a huge thing for the kids and for the school,” said Stephen. “Jeffco is always well represented. We have some very talented directors in Jeffco and a lot of fine music programs.”

“In today’s world of technology and instant gratification, a music class can teach a student what good ‘ole hard work and perseverance can accomplish,” said BCHS music director Nathan Payant. “A well-polished, beautiful sounding ensemble doesn’t happen in a day or overnight. It takes literally hundreds of hours of hard work and preparation to pull off an awe-inspiring performance.”

For students like Kate Pitchford, the hours of work are worth it.

“I just have this freedom with singing,” she said. “Especially when you’re doing it right, creating music with a whole group of people with a common goal. It sounds so beautiful.”

Jeffco schools won three state team championships during the winter sports season. Ralston Valley High School brought home the 5A state hockey trophy for the second year in a row.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Ralston Valley coach Matt Schoepflin told the Denver Post. “I hope they (the students) realize how special and how rare it is in any sport, regardless of level, to go undefeated in a season, be the number one seed and bring the title home.”

Arvada West High School took the 5A state wrestling team title, beating out last year’s state champions, Pomona High School.

Evergreen High School’s girls swim team brought home the 4A state championship title, after finishing second in 2012, and third in 2013.

“You know the victory was even sweeter because of our third place last year,” said Cougars swim coach Jeanne Godarie. “This year we really redeemed ourselves.

I hope the girls learned if you persevere through difficult times and failures, when you succeed, it’s a testament to the hard work and following through on your dreams.”

Evergreen’s 200-yard medley team of Lindsay Morrow, Josie Pearson, Bailey Smith and Kamryn Holland won the 4A title. Morrow also won the 4A 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke titles.

In the 5A wrestling contests, the following athletes won state titles: Tomas Gutierrez, 106 pounds, Pomona High School; Josh Rosales, 120 pounds, Pomona High School; P.T. Garcia, 132 pounds, Bear Creek High School; Payton Tawater, 145 pounds, Arvada West High School; Tony Silva-Bussey, 170 pounds, Arvada West High School; and Devin Rothrock, 195 pounds, Arvada West High School.

Jeffco celebrates state championships

Pictured Above:1. Ralston Valley High School hockey coach Matt Schoepflin with the

school’s second 5A state trophy.2. Arvada West High School wrestlers bring home the 5A state trophy.3. Evergreen Girls Swim Team wins 4A State Championship.

1 2

3

Beginning with the August 2014 start of school, Jeffco’s 21st Century Virtual Academy will be a kindergarten through 12th grade school with highly-qualified teachers offering the Jeffco curriculum online.

“We see our elementary school as an option for families who want a different setting for their young children. We think of ourselves as an ‘at home’ choice for education where parents have the help of Jeffco teachers to guide learning,” said Virtual Academy Principal Glenn Moses.

Elementary students who attend the virtual elementary school must be Colorado residents and will be required to meet one day a week at the school which is currently located in the Jeffco Public Schools Education Center, 1829 Denver West Drive, in Golden. In addition,

K-6 students wishing to enroll must attend full-time and cannot be enrolled in any other school.

“We are in the process of meeting with some of the families who have expressed a desire to enroll their child in the Virtual Academy. We are asking them to help us refine our elementary vision to meet the needs of our students and their parents,” said Moses.

The 21st Century Virtual Academy also offers full and part-time options for middle and high school students in Colorado. The school is fully accredited by the Colorado Department of Education and is staffed with highly-qualified teachers.

For more information, call 303-982-6770 or learnonline@jeffco.k12.co.us

Virtual academy goes K-12

The ColoradoDepartment of Education awarded 41 Jeffco schools

honors for academic achievement.

Some of the schoolsreceived more than

one award.

JEFFCOSCHOOLSRECEIVE

ACADEMICAWARDS

Twenty Je� co schools received Governor’s Distinguished Improvement awards. � e award is given to schools that demonstrate excellent student growth. � ese schools exceed expectations on the school performance framework academic growth indicator. Je� co’s 2013 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement schools are: Bradford Intermediate, Coal Creek Canyon K-8, Dennison Elementary, Devinny Elementary, Edgewater Elementary, Elk Creek Elementary, Fairmount Elementary, Green Gables Elementary, Meiklejohn Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, Parmalee Elementary, Peck Elementary, Red Rocks Elementary, Ryan Elementary, Shelton Elementary, Stein Elementary, Ute Meadows Elementary, Vanderhoof Elementary, Warder Elementary and West Woods Elementary.

� irty-one Je� co schools received the John Irwin Award for excellent academic achievement. � ese schools exceed expectations on the indicator for academic achievement over three years on the school performance framework. Je� co’s 2013 John Irwin Schools are: Bergen Valley Intermediate School, Bradford Intermediate, Bradford Primary, Conifer High School, Deer Creek Middle School, Dennison Elementary, D’Evelyn Junior/Senior, Devinny Elementary, Elk Creek Elementary, Evergreen High School, Evergreen Middle School, Je� erson Academy Charter, Ky� n Elementary, Manning School, Maple Grove Elementary, Marshdale Elementary, Meiklejohn Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, Normandy Elementary, Parmalee Elementary, Ralston Elementary, Ralston Valley High School, Red Rocks Elementary, Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, Sha� er Elementary, Sierra Elementary, Ute Meadow Elementary, West Je� erson Elementary, West Je� erson Middle School, West Woods Elementary and Wilmot Elementary.

Red Rocks elementary students

Evergreen High School students dance during diversity day

Manning students celebrate a “Manning for (Peyton) Manning” day

Edgewater Elementary students learn how to write computer code

Ralston Elementary students through the years celebrate the school’s Blue Ribbon Award

Ky� n Elementary students at their annual veterans’ day celebration

Mitchell Elementary students and teachers celebrate learning every day

D’Evelyn students and sta� celebrate the highest public school ACT scores in the state

Ralston Valley High School’s marching band

Bradford Intermediate students participate in an hour of writing computer code

May 2014 6 www.jeffcopublicschools.org May 20147

They give of their time and talent to help Jeffco students, and at the April 3 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Education, more than 30 volunteers were honored for their service. The volunteers help with events, tutoring, playground duty and many other activities that keep schools and classrooms running smoothly. Board members thanked them for their time, skill, knowledge and caring. Please read the complete list of those volunteers who were honored.

May 2014 8 www.jeffcopublicschools.org

When Jefferson High School junior Elvira Miranda takes her Advanced Placement (AP) tests next year, the $89 dollar registration fee will be taken care of. And when she passes the test, she will get college credit and be awarded $100, thanks to a grant from the Colorado Education Initiative (CEI).

“Taking the AP and getting the score itself is a reward,” Miranda said. “But knowing that you have support, and that our teachers fought for us, and believed in us is an extra reward. And just to know that they (CEI) have faith in us to even give us this grant means a lot.”

This year, Jefferson High School and Wheat Ridge High School are each recipients of $10,000 grants. CEI partners with the National Math and Science Initiative and several corporate sponsors to provide funding for exam fees, Saturday tutors and teacher training.

“This $10,000 opens the doors to AP for all students,” said Jefferson counselor Molly Harrington.

Wheat Ridge High offers 15 AP classes. The grant will support all students in eight AP English, math and science classes. Students do not have to qualify for free and reduced lunch to benefit from the grant.

“This grant really sends a message to all kids that learning is cool, and that’s one thing I think as a society we’ve always had kids that don’t buy into that idea,” said Wheat Ridge High Principal Griff Wirth.

Last year, thanks to the CEI grant, Arvada High School increased passing scores on AP exams by 95 percent.

“We weren’t surprised, because we knew our kids had the skill set to make this happen,” said Arvada High Principal Kathy Norton. “ It validated the work that our students and teachers have put into this program.”

Arvada junior Herman Musimbi is taking AP Language Arts.

“The AP class itself not only affects my grades on a resume, there are things in AP that you can’t learn in a normal class,” said Musimbi.

Former Arvada High and current University of Colorado student Majica Smith said, “You learn what it means to learn, and you learn how to think.”

“Hello, I’m Memphis. In science we are studying how to incubate chicken eggs, butterfly larvae, and see the difference between an egg and a seed.”

That is how a third grader at Little Elementary School began one of his blog entries. That student and all of the third graders in Deanna Duray’s class each have an iPad, thanks to a grant from the Friedman Family Foundation.

With the iPads, students were able to make photographs of the eggs and newly hatched chickens, research baby chicks, create albums, movies, presentations, and blog about their experiences.

“Having the iPads has made learning very accessible,” said Duray.

“It really is kind of fun to pair something very old school, like hatching chicks, with something completely new school like the iPad, and to use that technology to learn more about science,” said Little Elementary Principal Robert Lopez.

“Waiting for 21 days was hard. I got bored quickly,” blogged one student. “But on day 20, one almost hatched! We saw its beak!”

Another student wrote a poem about the baby chicks: Personification Peep, peep!Guess who I am?Yes, yes! I’m a chickI just hatched,Me and my brothers and sisters match.

District 1 – Julie WilliamsJack Plummer Arvada K-8Kristi Geisz Lincoln AcademyCharmaine Freeny North Arvada Middle SchoolJulie Michaels Semper ElementaryBarbara Dachtler Swanson ElementaryAmanda DesMarais Wayne Carle Middle School

District 2 – John NewkirkPeggy Halderman Connections Learning CenterPam Morrison Conifer High SchoolTracy Gibbons Devinny ElementaryCara Adams Elk Creek ElementarySavina Lopez Foothills ElementarySheila Haggard Ralston ElementaryRyan Lucas Outdoor Lab SchoolsKathy Weiss Outdoor Lab Schools

District 3 – Jill FellmanRaechelle Tucker Campbell ElementaryMaria McVey Coal Creek Canyon K-8Lisa Cernick Free Horizon MontessoriKathy Axen Maple Grove ElementaryT.J. Hayden Meiklejohn Elementary

Tom Sublett Pleasant View ElementaryAlice Flood Stott ElementaryNikkole Cubbage Welchester ElementaryKim Johnson West Woods ElementaryJen Piel Wilmore-Davis Elementary

District 4 – Lesley DahlkemperJason Johnson Brady Exploration SchoolDana Hug Deane ElementaryKathy Vendeventer Lasley ElementaryCarole Benjamin Miller Special SchoolGloria Campos Molholm ElementaryMichelle Hill Patterson International ElementaryMarian Katz Stein Elementary

District 5 – Ken WittMary Jane Furgason Chatfield High SchoolMichael Klassen Dakota Ridge High SchoolAnn Benningoff Dutch Creek ElementaryVal Myers Falcon Bluffs Middle SchoolCarla Shepherd Governor’s Ranch ElementaryDebbie Riordan Leawood ElementaryAutumn Teff Stony Creek ElementaryLanie Garrison Ute Meadows Elementary

Jefferson High School counselor Molly Harrington and AP Calculus student Elvira Miranda.

Little Elementary School third-grade teacher Deanna Duray uses iPads to help students learn about life cycles.

Jefferson County Board of Education President Ken Witt with District 5 volunteers.

Grant funds college credit

Valuing volunteers

Hatching new technology

We go peep, peep, and cheep, cheep.We love our lives!Lopez says having the iPads is like “tricking students into

learning. Here is this great tool, but wow, look how much learning I’m getting from this piece of technology.”

The proof is in the student’s blogs.“The chicks are now cute and precious. They are a miracle! It was

fun to learn about their life cycle!”

www.jeffcopublicschools.org May 20149www.jeffcopublicschools.org

We go peep, peep, and cheep, cheep.We love our lives!Lopez says having the iPads is like “tricking students into

learning. Here is this great tool, but wow, look how much learning I’m getting from this piece of technology.”

The proof is in the student’s blogs.“The chicks are now cute and precious. They are a miracle! It was

fun to learn about their life cycle!” about

Jeffco Public SchoolsAs the largest K-12 school district in Colorado, Jeffco

Public Schools has a tradition of excellence spanning more than 50 years. Our students are high-achieving, our teachers are highly-qualified and our commitment to the community runs deep. We are the largest employer in Jefferson County with 14,000 full and part-time employees.

Our schoolsJeffco serves more than 85,000 students at:

• 89elementaryschools• 3K-8schools• 19middleschools• 17highschools• 9optionschools• 14charterschools• 1onlineschool• 2outdoorlaboratoryschools

U.S. News & World Report ranks six Jeffco high schoolsinthetop40ontheir2013BestHighSchoolslist.Jeffco’s D’Evelyn, Conifer, Evergreen, Lakewood, Ralston Valley, and Wheat Ridge high schools are among the list of83Coloradoschools.

Forty-one Jeffco schools received academic awards from the Colorado Department of Education, with some Jeffco schools walking away with double awards.

Our students• Jeffco students outperformed the State ofColorado

in all grade levels and content areas (reading, writing, math and science) on the 2012-13 TransitionalColoradoAssessmentProgramorTCAP.

• Jeffco’s neighborhood high school graduation rateis 89 percent, giving the district the third-bestgraduation rate of the nation’s 50 largest school districts, according to Education Week.

• Jeffco’s graduates earned more than $57 millionin scholarships to local and national colleges and universitiesin2013.

• Ourstudentscomefrommanydifferentexperiencesand backgrounds:

• AmericanIndian/AlaskaNative-1percent• Asian,PacificIslander-3percent• Black-1percent• Hispanic-24percent• White-67percent• MultipleRace-4percent• 33.75percentofour studentsqualified for freeand

reducedlunchin2013.

Our staffJeffco has approximately 4,250 teachers and many have

received national and state recognition for their work. • 99.86 percent of Jeffco teachers are considered

highly-qualified according to federal guidelines• 99.93percentofJeffcoclassesaretaughtbyahighly-

qualified teacher

The district’s strategic plan, or Call to Action, focuses on ensuring that all students graduate prepared for continued learning and the world of work in the 21st century. All employees are accountable for a high-performing organization.

Our budgetForapproximately$42.50aday,JeffcoPublicSchools

provides each student: • Highly-skilled and trained teachers that make a

difference in students’ lives• Specializedlearningservicesforstudentswithspecial

needs• Accesstolibraryresourcesandtechnology• Guidance,counselingandothersupportservices• Materialssuchastextbooksandequipment• Transportation to and from school (subsidized by

fees)• Extracurricularactivities(subsidizedbyfees)• Choicesforlearningenvironments• Cleanandwell-maintainedfacilities

May 2014 10 www.jeffcopublicschools.org

School emergencies are never planned, but the response to one can be.

Parents should partner with their child’s school to make sure the most up-to-date emergency contact information is on file. That information is what schools use to contact parents during an emergency situation. It’s also important that parents not block emergency messages that come from the school or they won’t receive critical crisis communications.

“We are constantly training with our schools on how to react to an emergency situation,” said Jeffco’s executive director for Safety and Security John McDonald. “Parents should do their part in knowing our protocol and their school’s reunification site.”

Jeffco Schools uses the Standard Response Protocol to train students beginning at the preschool level. The plan, shown in color-coded posters around the district, is created with easy-to-understand language and symbols. Lockout, lockdown, evacuate and shelter are all defensive steps that create space and time for staff and teachers when there is a threat against a school.

“Many school emergencies like a gas leak or other building and student emergencies, can lead to a school evacuation,” added McDonald. “Parents should know that our protocol has trained school staff to take control of the reunification process and they remain in control, sometimes with the help of law enforcement, until the job is done.”

McDonald added that the responsibility to school safety starts before the crisis begins and ends only when all students and parents are reunified safely.

SchoolMessenger is the crisis communications tool used by all Jeffco schools. “Parents should be aware of how they have elected to receive those messages,” said McDonald. “When an emergency message comes through in the form of a phone call, text or email, we want our parents to be empowered with information on next steps and how to respond.”

Nanci Barnes was a kindergartener at Allendale Elementary School the year the big building opened in 1964. Now, she teaches second grade at her alma mater.

“This is my community,” Barnes said. “I think when you have children come to their neighborhood school, it builds community and I think that’s important.”

For 50 years, Allendale has served the Arvada neighborhood. In March, staff, students, parents and community members came together to celebrate the school’s anniversary.

Allendale’s history began with the dedication ceremony on May 25, 1964. The original school cost $570,000 to build and was officially opened by then Jefferson County Board of Education President

Wayne Van Arsdale. Audience members at the dedication officially opened the building with these words: “We, the patrons and friends of Jefferson County School District R-1 dedicate this building to learning and thinking, and to the promotion and practice of peace and understanding.”

Fifty years later, the school is home to more than 200 students who use state-of-the-art technology and come from many different backgrounds and cultures. The anniversary celebration was like a homecoming for many people who shared yearbooks and memories of their time at Allendale.

“We want this to feel like home for our current students and those who remember it from the past,” said Allendale Principal Jennifer Harrington.

Allendale celebrates its history

Second-grade teacher Nanci Barnes with a student at Allendale Elementary School’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

When the Arvada West High School’s Sparkle team performs, they serve as an inspiration to not only their classmates, but the community as well. That’s one of the reasons that the A-West Wildcat Sparkles caught the attention of the Wilmore-Richter American Legion Post #161 in Arvada.

“These children are amazing and we wanted to recognize their spirit with the Proud to be an American award from our post,” said Legion member Bill Baldaccini.

The Sparkles are special-needs students who serve as cheerleaders at sporting and school events. The program at A-West is patterned after the national Sparkle Effect program which helps students across the country create inclusive cheerleading and dance

teams in middle schools, high schools and colleges that bring together students with and without disabilities.

At a special ceremony earlier this year, members of the Arvada American Legion Post #161 presented members of the Sparkles team with the Proud to be American award along with a separate Proud to be an American award to A-West for outstanding patriotism.

“The Legion strongly supports traditional family values and assistance for all children, but especially those with special needs,” said Baldaccini. “The enthusiasm of the Sparkles has a patriotic effect on the entire school. Their focus on succeeding is the very essence of patriotism.”

Sparkling patriotism

Commander Bill Pollack presents the “Proud to be an American” Award Citation to Arvada West High School Principal Robert Bishop.

Spreadsheets taped to a classroom wall, hand-drawn graphs, and note cards in a file box— all have been used by teachers to look at how students are progressing and explore ways to help students learn. For years, teachers have looked for a better way to understand each student’s progress and learning needs. They have struggled to find a system that will help them personalize lessons that address individual student’s learning styles. Technology has finally arrived that will give teachers a leg up when it comes to getting a broader view of student performance and will help teachers do complex tasks more efficiently. Since 2012, Jeffco Public Schools has been developing an online

Classroom Dashboard that will combine the information that teachers need into one tool. The Dashboard, which will be available in some Jeffco schools in January 2015, was designed by Jeffco teachers who understand how teaching can become more powerful and meet students’ needs with the right technological supports.

“We are excited to start using the Dashboard in Jeffco classrooms. We know this tool will help teachers to personalize learning for their students,” said Matt Cormier, executive director of educational technology.

The Classroom Dashboard comes to Jeffco SchoolsTeachers tape student information to a wall to organize data. The Dashboard would do this electronically.

A screen shot of the Dashboard in development.

Notice is hereby given that Jeffco Public Schools is seeking input on the implementation of its stormwater program as required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This program requires that the school district implement a program that educates the public and prevents water pollution from our sites. A copy of the current program can be obtained from Environmental Services by calling 303-982-2349. Any input or questions are welcomed and should be communicated by December 31, 2014.

Notice of stormwater program

22 weekly community papers and websites reaching over 400,000 readers

www.jeffcopublicschools.org May 201411www.jeffcopublicschools.org

School emergencies are never planned, but the response to one can be.

Parents should partner with their child’s school to make sure the most up-to-date emergency contact information is on � le. � at information is what schools use to contact parents during an emergency situation. It’s also important that parents not block emergency messages that come from the school or they won’t receive critical crisis communications.

“We are constantly training with our schools on how to react to an emergency situation,” said Je� co’s executive director for Safety and Security John McDonald. “Parents should do their part in knowing our protocol and their school’s reuni� cation site.”

Je� co Schools uses the Standard Response Protocol to train students beginning at the preschool level. � e plan, shown in color-coded posters around the district, is created with easy-to-understand language and symbols. Lockout, lockdown, evacuate and shelter are all defensive steps that create space and time for sta� and teachers when there is a threat against a school.

“Many school emergencies like a gas leak or other building and student emergencies, can lead to a school evacuation,” added McDonald. “Parents should know that our protocol has trained school sta� to take control of the reuni� cation process and they remain in control, sometimes with the help of law enforcement, until the job is done.”

McDonald added that the responsibility to school safety starts before the crisis begins and ends only when all students and parents are reuni� ed safely.

SchoolMessenger is the crisis communications tool used by all Je� co schools. “Parents should be aware of how they have elected to receive those messages,” said McDonald. “When an emergency message comes through in the form of a phone call, text or email, we want our parents to be empowered with information on next steps and how to respond.”

Prepared for the unexpected

Make sure your emergency con-tact information is up-to-date in SchoolMessenger.

303-566-4100ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Publisherof the

May 2014 12 www.jeffcopublicschools.org