INTEGRATED NEWS Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies February 10, 2006 BELLA LUNA FUNDRAISER FOR BCSIS Bacaro Restaurant Sunday, March 5th $60 per person $50 before February 20th Tickets available in the office Call Beth Parish for more information: 303-665-2450 LEAD TEACHER REPORT Dear families, It is February already! This period of time between Winter Break and CSAP is often a favorite for teachers. The children are settled into schedules and routines, and their class work tends to be the most focused. Family life after the holidays is more settled and relaxed. Of course this is all a build up to the next big distraction: Spring Fever! Third Grade Reading CSAP Our third graders will be taking their first CSAP test next week on Wednesday and Thursday. Here are some good reminders for families during the CSAP: * Please help your child get a good night’s sleep on testing nights. Very little extra-curricular activities the evening prior to a test day is recommended. * Children should eat a healthy and hearty breakfast on testing days, and please send in a healthy snack as well. * Remind your child to be positive and confident. It helps to remind children that the CSAP is a tool that helps a teacher know what to teach. It is not an evaluation that determines if a child is a "good student" or a "bad student." Baccaro The Baccaro Fundraiser is fast approaching. Last year this event generated a great deal of important funds that have gone directly to your child’s classroom and teacher. Some examples of what your generous donations buy: * Natural materials in the classrooms such as wool yarn and beeswax. * High quality art supplies such as charcoal pencils and watercolors. * High quality academic supplies such as main lesson books and science equipment. * Opportunities for teacher training and education including Passageways training and Art-Integration training * Whole class community experiences such as theater productions and nature trips We appreciate your participation in this fundraising event. All children benefit from your generosity. If you would like to attend the event, and have questions about financial support, please speak with Phil or Sabine. Front Lawn Grass Several parents have commented that the grass on the front lawn is quickly dying due to the increase in parents and children standing and walking on the lawn at dismissal. The staff will be meeting next week to discuss solutions for this issue. Until then, please walk or stand on sidewalks whenever possible. Thanks so much! Phil Katsampes and Sabine Smead BCSIS 2005-06 EDUCATION COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES These are the people to contact with ideas, concerns or accolades regarding classrooms, clubs, events, safety, curriculum or Education Council decisions. Representatives can then relay comments to the Education Council at a regular meeting for discussion or possible action. Please note: Questions about a specific teaching scenario or concerns about a particular student are best discussed directly with the teacher or teachers involved, rather than with a council representative. Co-chair: Erin Koening, teacher Co-chair: Anna Stewart, parent, 303499-7681, anna@motherhands.com Secretary: Pam Stratton, parent & para, pam_stratton@hotmail.com Treasurer: Michelle Wemple, parent, 303-527-0960, Skeet1222@yahoo.com K-2: Darcy Vanderbie, parent, 303-4999183, darcyvpace@comcast.net Grades 3-5: Liz Mack (Kreloff), parent, 303-938-1111, emac1004@msn.com K-1: Diane Furuya, teacher, dianefuruya@comcast.net Grades 2-3: Jen O'Brien, teacher Grades 3-5: Sara Benson, literacy K morning: Sandy Crowell, parent, 303-554-9263, s.crowell@comcast.net K afternoon: Marjorie Johnson, parent, 303-494-2971, kevinhreed@earthlink.net Will’s Grade 1: Ligia Bernardet, parent, 303-494-4384, ligia.bernardet@gmail.com Diane’s Grade 1: Teresa Southard, parent, 303-444-2638, southwest@earthnet.net Jen’s Grade 2: Patrick West, parent, 303-439-2289, Patrick@ewest.org Suzanne’s Grade 2: Cynthia Carosella, parent, 303-748-3037, cynthiacarosella@hotmail.com Erin’s Grade 3: Beth Parish, parent, 303-665-2450, monktong1@aol.com Kiley’s Grade 3: Julie Dolin, parent, 303-938-1672, bradarm@comcast.net, and Diane Bartko, parent, 303-443-1561, dbartko@indra.com Batya’s Grade 4: Liz Mack (Kreloff), parent, 303-938-1111, emac1004@msn.com Terry’s Grade 4: Kelly Simmons, parent, 303-417-1262, kelly@jakamusic.com Mona’s Grade 5: Robyn Lawrence, parent, robynlawrence@mindspring.com Lauren’s Grade 5: Sara Weatherley, parent, 303-248-9267, sarandan@msn.com NOTES FROM THE ED COUNCIL De-stratification proposal draws comments at Ed Council Parents and teachers responded to a proposal to end socio-economic stratification in the district at a council meeting Wednesday. Most concerns centered on the introduction of possible boundaries for future open enrollment into BCSIS. Others wondered if the district is still supportive of focus schools. Some parents questioned the high cost of additional staffing and busing that the proposal would require. Anna Stewart, council co-chair, encouraged parents to email class representatives with comments and to sign up to speak at the next school board meeting, 5:30pm, Feb. 14, at the Education Center, by calling 303-4475114. In the initial recommendation, new enrollment preferences would follow this order: (1) Siblings of current students; (2) Low socio-economic students, until free/reduced lunch percentages reach 20 percent; (3) Of the spaces remaining, 80 percent would go to those living in an as-yet unspecified geographic area; and (4) Open to all. Key details are missing, said parent Jeff Phillips. "My focus is on the 80 percent piece. But how can we let them know how we feel about an as-yet unknown geographic area?" Questions were voiced concerning if and how soon the school board would make decisions on the recommendations, as well as the need to clarify how much input the district wants. Can we agree to a 20 percent number, then problem solve at each school to help find the answer. One idea voiced was that another way to draw English Language Learners into BCSIS might be to bring an ELL staffer on board and get the word out to the local neighborhoods surrounding the Aurora 7 schools. The school has not been able to secure second-language staffing from the district previously. Erin Koenig, co-chair, and Sara Benson said they and other teachers welcome the possibility of adding diversity to the school. Playground improvement plans In other news, Denitta Ward, a parent of students at BCSIS and High Peaks, reported she is working with both schools to raise money for improved school playground equipment and landscaping. A total of $15,000 in donations so far includes $5,000 from the city for excavation and drainage, $2,000 from the Colorado Tree Coalition, approximately $200 toward boulders for the landscape, $1,000 in shade trees and shrubbery for the border from the Tree Farm, plus $7,000 more from a combination of tangerine sales, parent donations and the sale of grocery certificates. Ward is asking the city to apply for a small grant of $45,000 from Colorado Lottery dollars to help fund new play structures. Other items discussed: * The school seeks input from parents about its shared leadership model, now in the middle of its second year. The faculty and Leadership Team feels that it is important to hear parent input on how our model is working. Contact your class representative with comments. Input from teachers indicates the model is working, said teacher Diane Furuya. "We feel so well supported." * A group of local health and wellness professionals, the Children's Wellness Network, proposed monthly presentations at school for parents on topics of interest, such as immunizations and childhood asthma. The council will vote at a later date on whether to begin the presentations. * A children's marimba band will play at the 10th Anniversary celebration in May. The celebration committee seeks a new location that can accommodate 500 people. It also needs additional food contributions for a burrito bar. If you have connections, contact Robyn Lawrence. * The Friends of BCSIS reported 51 percent of families have contributed to its annual campaign so far. Last year, the campaign ended the year with 75 percent participating. Attending the meeting: Anna Stewart, Robyn Rathweg, Sara Weatherley, Beth Parish, Darcy Vanderbie, Marjorie Johnson, Diane Furuya, Sandy Crowell, Kelly Simmons, Julie Herma, Patrick West, Erin Koenig, Sabine Smead, Di Bartko, Michelle Wemple, Kim Green, Pam Stratton, Teresa Southard, Robyn Lawrence, Sara Benson, Jill Jenkins and Jeff Phillips. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Feb 17 (Fri) No school: District Professional Development Day Feb 27 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets Feb 20 (Mon) No school: President's Day March 5 (Sun) Bacaro Fundraiser March 7 (Tues) 7-9pm, Fairview High School. The BVSD Capital Improvements Planning Committee will discuss the building conditions, educational suitability, information technology infrastructure, capacity, utilization and historical significance of all BVSD schools. All BVSD parents are urged to attend a session. BCSIS is in the Fairview High School service area. March 13 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets March 27 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets May 1 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets May 11 (Thurs) 4:30-6:30pm. BCSIS 10th Anniversary Celebration at Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids May 12 (Fri) Community Service Day May 15 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets NEWS AND NOTES Win tickets to Bacaro dinner If you would like to enter the free raffle to win two tickets to the BCSIS Fundraiser at Bacaro Restaurant, please fill out an entry form in the office. Contribute to teacher fund for Bacaro dinner As with last year, the teachers will receive complimentary tickets to the Bacaro fundraiser. If you would like to contribute to the payment of their tickets, please leave your contribution in the envelop in the school office. Thank you to Bacaro Restaurant Thank you to Dante and Christina Medri, BCSIS parents and owners of Bacaro Restaurant in Boulder, for their generous donation of their restaurant for our BCSIS fundraiser. If you are looking for a wonderful night out with some great company, please attend the March 5th Bella Luna fundraiser at Bacaro Restaurant. ROOTS AND SHOOTS ESTABLISHED The dates for the Roots and Shoots meetings for the Spring semester are as follows: February 27, March 13 and 20, April 10 and 24, May 1 and 15. The teachers were noticing that the end time of 5pm was feeling too long, so the pick-up time was changed to 4:45pm. It's official. Now that the group has a club atmosphere (as opposed to a daycare feel), group members are being asked to make a regular commitment to the group. Attendance will be taken. Members missing three sessions may be asked to reconsider their decision to be in the group. Please know that the teachers recognize that valid reasons exist for missing meetings. Their hope is that members work as a collective and take seriously their roles in the group. BECOME A DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE (DAC) MEMBER FOR BCSIS! BCSIS needs a DPC rep. Here is more about the role: Q: What is the District Parent Council? A: The District Parent Council (DPC) is a parent advisory group to the Boulder Valley School District's Superintendent, Administration and School Board. Our purpose is to engage in regular, two-way communication between parents and the district, discuss and deliberate issues, and present the district with results of our deliberations. Q: What are the responsibilities of a DPC representative? A: Each school should send at least one parent to represent their school. The representative is responsible for bringing issues concerning their school to the attention of district administrators. A rep should make a report about each DPC meeting to the school's PTA, PTO, PAC, or SIT group. Q: What does a typical meeting look like? A: The meetings begin with a report from a district representative on subjects such as the BVSD budget, teacher negotiations update, etc. This is followed by a Round Robin with Superintendent Garcia, during which representatives advise the district about issues affecting their schools. The rest of the meeting is spent on a topic relevant to our children's education. Examples of topics covered in past years are peer pressure/bullying, candidates for school board, and increasing parent involvement in our schools. Q: How often does the DPC meet? A: We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month, from 6:30 PM until 9:30 PM at the BVSD Education Center at 6500 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder. No meetings in Dec. or March. Q: Who organizes DPC? A: A Steering Team of reps from at least 3 different schools is elected each year to pick the topics for discussion and line up a panel of speakers that will present well-balanced points-of-view about that topic. The Steering Team will try to include district administrators as well as other subject matter experts, and parents and/or staff from BVSD schools to share their experience and successes about the topic. The steering team members also facilitate the meetings on a rotational basis. Q: What is the relationship of DPC to the Boulder Valley PTA? A: The DPC is a part of the District's PTA. That means that DPC enjoys full 501(c)(3) tax exemption and legal protection, insurance for officers, and officer training. DPC often uses program materials developed by National and Colorado PTA as well PTA's connections to subject matter experts as input to the topics explored. DPC also makes full use of PTA's legislative resources and lobbyists when there are issues affecting children and public education. Meetings are at the Education Center Board Room from 6:30-9:30pm on the following dates: * February 23, 2005 * April 27,2005 * May 25, 2005 www.bvsd.org/schools/dpc/index.html Talk to Phil, Sabine, Erin Koenig or Anna Stewart if you'd like to go. It's a very important role for our school. <>