INTEGRATED NEWS Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies April 14, 2006 LEAD TEACHER REPORT Dear Parents, The last few months of the year are always a busy, exciting time. The kids are sensing the sunshine and green grass waiting for them outside. The teachers are making year-end plans for plays, field trips and class parties. The district is gearing up for next year's plans for destratification and a change in governance at BCSIS. Update on Destratification Plan The destratification proposal is now in its final round of changes before being considered for approval. This means now is the time for getting involved if you have questions or concerns. We want to give you an update on the current shape of the proposal. The BVSD Board of Education met on Tuesday night to hear details of the plan. The BOE is expecting to make a final decision on the proposal before the end of the school year. Two of our amazing parents, Darcy Vanderbie and Anna Stewart, presented parent concerns at the meeting. The proposal includes a tiered system of open enrollment preferences which will begin in the 2007/2008 school year for the kindergarten at BCSIS. First preference will go to siblings of current students. The second preference will go to students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL), and reside within a mile and a half walking distance of Aurora 7. This change in the proposal came about as a result of concerns over busing BVSD children to A-7, while our neighborhood students are bused to other schools. If we do not enroll 20 percent FRL students from the neighborhood, then any FRL child from South Boulder would get OE preference until the 20 percent criteria is filled. After the 20 percent FRL preference is filled, the remainder of kindergarten enrollment spaces will be based on the lottery system and would be open to any child in the district. Ongoing with the Open Enrollment process will be an Outreach program, which will provide information and extend a welcome to Latino families. In order to meet the educational needs of children whose primary language is Spanish, an ELL program will be established at Aurora 7. Funding will be provided for teachers to participate in professional development to prepare them to meet the needs of ELL students. The Ed Council parents prepared an excellent position letter for the district to consider. The letter included significant requests that the district include a plan for meeting the space issues in the A-7 building as part of their proposal. The parents also voiced a concern that parents and teachers should be actively involved in Outreach efforts, and in planning and shaping the professional development activities. I encourage you to contact one of us, or Anna Stewart, if you would like more details on the plan or if you would like to receive a copy of the actual proposal. Now is the time for questions and ideas to be voiced. Big Fish: Life Stories Theater One of our parents, Eeris Nissan, is generously offering a free evening event for BCSIS families with her "Playback Improvisation" company. The event is called, "Tell a story, Hear a story, Live a story." The entire Big Fish Company will be joining us. Come and share your life stories and watch as they are reenacted on stage. Please plan to join us on April 27 in the evening. More information will be coming later! 10th Year Anniversary Thank you to those of you who have volunteered to help setup and run the 10th Year Celebration and to those of you who have donated items. However, we still are in great need of more helpers and donations. We especially need people who are interested in: * Creating face paintings during the celebration * Helping to set up, hang art, and decorate before the event * Help supervise and run the event Please call Robyn Lawrence at 303543-1388. Of course, don't forget to save the date on May 11th, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. It's going to be quite the celebration! Imagination Makers This week our school was visited by the Imagination Makers acting company. They performed an outstanding production called, "Colorado Children." The play was a collection of real stories about the lives of children in Colorado history. Included in the story was a multicultural array of experiences of real children and their contributions to our state's history. The children and teachers enjoyed the assembly and reported that it was a quality learning opportunity. We are happy to have the Imagination Makers as a regular visiting theater company for our school. Phil Katsampes and Sabine Mead Community Ed Council Meeting is scheduled for April 26, 6:30-8:00pm, in the Open Space. Please plan to attend; our school is currently examining issues with long-term implications and we need your opinions. Plus, it is always beneficial to get to know each other better. MARK YOUR CALENDAR April 24 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets April 24 (Mon) Last day to drop off Plant Sale forms in the school office April 25 (Tues) 6:30pm. BVSC School Board Meeting. BCSIS and the Stratification Plan will be discussed April 26 (Wed) 6:30-8pm. Ed Council Meeting in the Open Space May 1 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets May 1 (Mon) BCSIS Spring Festival May 3 (Wed) 3-4pm. Pick up Plant Sale orders in the gym! May 3-5 (Wed-Fri) Free compost from Eco-cycle available in front of the school May 4 (Thurs) 8-9am and 3-4pm. Pick up Plant Sale orders in the gym! May 5 (Fri) 8-9am and 1-2pm. Pick up Plant Sale orders in the gym! May 11 (Thurs) 4:30-6:30pm. BCSIS 10th Anniversary Celebration at BCSIS May 12 (Fri) Community Service Day May 15 (Mon) Roots & Shoots meets NEWS AND NOTES The Spring Plant Sale is budding! And now strawberries are available too! Orders for the Plant Sale will be accepted until Monday April 24. Drop off your forms in the envelope in the school office. Extra order forms are available there. You can add strawberries to your order by writing it in at the bottom of the form. They sell for $3 for a 4.5" pot and are called "Berries Galore," which is an ever-bearing variety. New BCSIS web address We have a new address... web address, that is: http://schools.bvsd.org/bcsis/. Remember to change your computer’s bookmark. While you are at it, click on "Fundraising" in the left-hand column to access easy ways of generating funds for our school with your everyday and online (especially on amazon.com) shopping. Film Fundraiser for BCSIS Batya’s brother, Tony Krawitz, is the director of JEWBOY, an award- winning film which makes its Colorado premiere on April 30 at 10am at the Landmark Theatre in Boulder (near Whole Foods). Tickets are $7 at the door. Part of the proceeds will go to BCSIS. The movie is one hour long, and a Q & A will follow. It is rated R--so adults only, please. Synopsis: Yuri Kovner, son of a rabbi, is 23 when his father’s death triggers his return to the Chasidic community of Jewish Sydney. Through his grief, Yuri struggles with his faith, his family and community, as he comes to understand who he is and where he is from. JEWBOY is a film filled with longing, humour and hope about a young man finding his place in the world. Bolder Boulder If you are planning to participate in the Bolder Boulder this year, select wave "MM" which has a starting time of 8:39:00am and we can all run/walk it together. You can register online at Bolderboulder.com or you can register in person. Ongoing registration is available at two Bolder Boulder stores: 1) 3105 28th St in Boulder (across from the Puddle Car Wash) and 2) in Flatirons Crossing on the upper level between Nordstom’s and the food court. Also, when you finish and have collected your snack bag, head to Section 205 in Folsom Field to find each other again. Start training! <>