INTEGRATED NEWS Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies PRINCIPAL'S REPORT Parents: Fall Ed Council Community Meeting First, I would like to invite you to the Fall Community Meeting next Wednesday, October 11, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. You will have an opportunity to hear and see teachers share about their classrooms. We will have two important guests join us, Don Orr (Director of Planning, Engineering, and Construction for BVSD) and Ken Roberge (BVSD School Board Member). They will talk about the upcoming 3A BVSD Bond, and answer questions. Also, you will have an opportunity to give input on important school issues. *Please plan to join us on this very important evening!* School Safety The recent events involving violence in schools, both in Colorado and nationally, have been strong reminder for all of us that our first and foremost priority is the safety of our students. This week Rosemary (High Peaks Principal) and I completely reviewed and updated our emergency procedures, and shared a detailed Security Response plan with our teachers. We also had an "Indoor Secure Time" drill. In the event that we have an unsafe situation develop near or in the school, students know the procedures for making the classrooms safe. It would be great if you asked your child about these procedures. If you have any questions or concerns about safety at BCSIS, please do not hesitate to contact me at 303-447-5506. Thanks. Here is a direct letter from Dr. Garcia, Superintendent of Boulder Valley Schools regarding the heightened security concerns in the past week: Parents, I felt that I should write to all parents and legal guardians to first reassure you that our schools are safe and that each principal is always considering how to make her or his building even more secure. Second, every BVSD school is covered by an overall district safety plan in place. In addition, each building and site has its own crisis plan. Third, we have school resource police officers and other extensive law enforcement coverage for all of our schools. Fourth, BVSD has a District Crisis Team as well as crisis management teams in all of our schools. Finally, the district has evacuation and lock down procedures in each school and a system for visitors to sign in and our adults in the schools teach our children to report any individuals in the school who do not have the proper identification. This final point is a key one that you can help us most with your child. Many of you already do. I am asking each of you to reinforce at home this message that we are stressing in every BVSD school. That is that our students should always report any stranger that they see on campus to the closest teacher or staff member. If they know that the adults they rely on most in their lives—you—agree with what they are being instructed to do at school, then the likelihood that they will do it is significantly higher. Thank you for sharing your concerns with me and especially with your principals as each of them makes the safety of our students their first priority. I believe our schools are as safe as we can make them. George F. Garcia, Ed.D. Recess We are continuing to work to make recess more safe and enjoyable for students. Here are some of the action strategies that we have put in place to make this happen: *We are increasing the paraprofessional coverage during the recess times that are the most crowded. *Classroom teachers are having regular class discussions about playground rules and positive social behaviors. *We have a plan to organize parent volunteers at recess times. The parent volunteers will interact with students, organize games and activities, and keep a close eye for any safety concerns. If you are interested in being a recess volunteer, please contact Valerie Sloan at 303-494-2898. Thank you! *I will be doing "Principal Visits" in each classroom to remind students of playground rules and behavior expectations. Please let me know if you have concerns or observations about your child's experience at school. I will work with you to find solutions. Thank you very much. My new direct phone line is: 303-447-5506. Phil MARK YOUR CALENDARS! October 9 (Monday) District Professional Day—no school. October 11 (Wednesday) 6:30-8pm. All-School Parent Community Meeting in the Open Space. October 26 (Thursday) 3rd-5th Grades Fall Festival November 2 (Thursday) K-2nd Grades Lantern Walk November 10 (Friday) Veterans Day—no school. November 16 (Thursday) 6-8pm. Thanksgiving Soiree and Silent Auction. November 20-24 (Monday-Friday) Fall Conference Days and Thanksgiving Break—no school. NEXT PLAYGROUND BUILD As soon as we hear from our supplier about the final piece of playground equipment, we will be scheduling the build day and signing up volunteers. Stay tuned. Please plan to attend the BCSIS Community Meeting on Wednesday, October 11th from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Open Space. In addition to the principal's report and teacher presentations, Don Orr, BVSD Director of Planning and Construction, and Ken Roberge, school board member, will give a bond issue presentation. BCSIS SCHOOL CLUBS Start a club. Join a club. During most of BCSIS's 10-year history, it has been a "club school," meaning that numerous parents ran clubs such as a chess club, a math club, Odyssey of the Mind club and a robotics club. These were held before and after school and during lunch. Thanks to Kimberly Zerbey, TAG Coordinator, and Sabine Smead, we now have two school personnel who will be assisting parents who want to start a club. Do you have a skill or talent that you would like to share with students? Your commitment can run the gamut, from working on a month-long LEGO project to taking students to art museums or scheduling a monthly dance class. Please contact Kimberly at mamaberl@yahoo.com with your ideas. INSTRUCTIONAL IINTERVENTION MODEL PPP/SEAC ForumTuesday, October 17, 6-8 p.m. This is a great opportunity for district officials and parent to engage in meaningful dialog about important issues that affect the education of students with special needs. We'll begin with an overview from Dr. Judy Skupa, Assistant Superintendent, and Dr. Andie Kutinsky, Director of Special Education, about BVSD's new instructional model. Then we'll break into small round-table discussions on such topics as inclusive practices, the use of paraprofessionals, program placement, instructional interventions, and the impact of the new IDEIA regulations. Learn what's happening in BVSD and make your voice heard! Board Room at the BVSD Education Center, 6500 Arapahoe Road. For more information call Kathy McBride at 303-447-5176; kathy.mcbride@bvsd.org. V.I.P. (VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT) ALERT Safeway grocery stores are currently distributing Reward Certificates when you purchase products marked with a "10% Back To Schools" label. The Reward Certificates are handed to you with your receipt. Please keep these and drop them off at the front desk through October 16. Janet Rodelli will download them and redeem them for us. Believe it or not, almost $1,000 worth of certificates has already been collected, so let's make a concentrated effort to collect more. Tell your friends and neighbors. BOULDER VALLEY ROTARY CLUB - 2006 SHARE-A-COAT PROGRAM It is time for the 2006 Share-A-Coat drive that the Boulder Valley Rotary Club sponsors. In 2005, over 3,500 coats and many miscellaneous items of clothing were collected and distributed to needy families in Boulder County and to various charitable organizations. In addition to coats and other items of clothing, they plan to collect children's used story books and other books that can be recycled back through the schools and to other organizations. They plan to have collection boxes available at school on October 12, with pick-up dates of October 26, November 9 and November 30. There will be a first, second and third place prize for the most coats collected per student population. The prizes are $l50, $100 and $50 respectively for each category. Need a private plane to fly you and your family to the mountains? A marimba lesson? A home-cooked Brazilian dinner? These are a few of the offerings donated by our "Parent For Sale" at the Thanksgiving Soiree, Silent Auction and Talent Show, Thursday, November 16, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pizza and Eppie's Ice served, $2 donation requested. Parent donations will be accepted starting October 16 (watch for details in upcoming newsletters). Business solicitations are happening now. Please contact Kim Green if you know of a business supporter, would like to volunteer on this fun event, or have other questions. 303-443-6785 or 720-220-1036. Many classrooms here at BCSIS are participating in a sister-school project with the Rock Foundation School in Kampala, Uganda. Letters and projects have been going back and forth and children have seen a slide show about their sister school. To find out more about this project, look for Will's display in front of his 2nd grade classroom, check pages 10 and 11 of the September issue of Kidz magazine which just came home in your child's Friday folder, or visit rockfoundationschool.org. Also, keep an eye out for the October and November issues of Kidz magazine which will continue to profile the Rock Foundation School and our sister school relationship. If you have questions, concerns or would like to get involved, please contact Bay Roberts at 303-447-8836. <>