Feedback needed about your child's school

Your child's school may be included on a list of recommended options for possible repurposing of buildings, school closure, and/or boundary/ transportation modifications. There are currently 45 different options; some are mutually exclusive and not all could be implemented. For every million dollars reduced, up to 20 teaching jobs could be saved. A complete list of options is available on the district’s Web site at: www.jeffcopublicschools.org

No final decisions have been made yet. You have a chance to have your voice heard in a number of ways:

Community forums: come 30 minutes early to sign up to speak
-Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6-7:30 p.m., Alameda High School auditorium
-Saturday, Nov. 14, 9-10:30 a.m., Manning School auditorium
-Monday, Nov. 16, 6-7:30 p.m., Summit Ridge Middle School auditorium
-Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6-7:30 p.m., Pomona High School auditorium
E-mail: facilities@jeffco.k12.co.us
Letters: addressed to Jeffco Public Schools, Communications Services, 1829 Denver West Drive, Golden, CO 80401
Phone message: 303-982-6837
Web site feedback: www.jeffcopublicschools.org

Over the next two years, the district is faced with having to make significant budget reductions - $35-$40 million. As a way to reduce costs, the district convened a Facilities Usage Committee to look at ways to use buildings more efficiently. That 30-member committee is made up of community and district volunteers who have met since March 2009. They have studied hundreds of documents, received initial input from both staff and community members and have prepared a list of options. In drafting the options, the committee considered capacity of schools, choice enrollment, condition of buildings, enrollment trends, operating costs and academics.

Watch an interview with Committee Co-chair Phillip Infelise regarding the Committee's work. If you need a sign language interpretor please e-mail us at parentnews@jeffco.k12.co.us and tell us which forum you plan to attend.

Give us your feedback online

Drive to help heal

“It’s saving a lot of people’s lives,” said Columbine High School Senior Kaleigh Atzman, as she donated blood at the school’s drive early this month.

Students like Atzman are the reason Bonfils Blood Center recognized Columbine with a special award. Last year, the Columbine community gave more blood than any other similarly sized high school.

“We’re really proud of that,” said principal Frank DeAngelis.
“I feel pretty strongly that because so much support was given to us after the tragedy, that we’re always looking for ways to give back.”

This year, Columbine will likely donate more blood than ever before. That’s because lawmakers passed House Bill 1023, which lowers the eligibility age for donating blood from 18 to 16 with parental consent.

Students at Arvada High School learn math on computers.

Topping the Nation in Technology

Jeffco placed first in the nation for its use of technology in education. On October 29th, the National School Boards Association honored Jeffco as the best in its category.

In Jeffco, the philosophy is about teaching students to use the right technology for the right job, instead of providing every student with a laptop. The idea is to help students become ethical digital citizens.

"The result is technology in the classroom that not only supports our teachers but gives our students the tools they need to succeed in this new century,” said Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson.

Watch the video about technology in our classrooms

Give us your best shot

Columbine Hills third grader Hunter Shkapich learns about electricity at the National Science Center's Mobile Discovery Van. To submit your photo for consideration for Chalk Talk, e-mail a 150, 4 x 6, dpi photo to parentnews@jeffco.k12.co.us. By submitting your photo you give Jeffco permission to publish your photo.

Snow days make-up

With the first big snowstorm of the season came two snowdays.The district included two emergency makeup days on the district calendar for June 1 and 2, 2010. Those emergency closure days will now need to be used.

District calendar

Good News About Jeffco Schools

JEFFCO SCHOOL EARNS TOP HONOR
The Colorado Department of Education recognized Stein Elementary School in Lakewood as a Title I Distinguished School of the Year. The school was honored for its efforts in closing the achievement gap associated with race and poverty. Stein, a school where many students come from disadvantaged homes, increased the percentage of low income students who were at or above the proficient level on reading and math CSAP from 80.1 percent in 2008 to 88.9 percent in 2009. The achievement gap between low income students was decreased by 4.7 percent. The school will receive $10,000 and will be recognized at the National Title I Conference in Washington, D.C. in January.

STUDENT SCORES BIG 12 RECOGNITION
The University of Colorado Buffs say Casey Nicholls, an eighth-grader at Evergreen Middle School, has a great attitude. Qwest, Fox Sports Network (FSN) Rocky Mountain and CU have named Nicholls the second 2009/10 Winning Attitude Award winner. Winners are selected from a pool of written stories submitted by middle school students explaining how their “Winning Attitude” made a difference in their communities. Students are honored for their outstanding efforts in sportsmanship, community involvement and teamwork. Nicholls and his classmates were recognized at the CU home football game on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Folsom Field. Nicholls also received a $1,000 contribution for his school from Qwest.

Stay on top of homework

It is never too late to develop great study habits. If your child is starting a new school year or just wants to improve grades and school performance, take a look at this list of good habits and start making some changes in your child's routine.

1. Write Down Every Assignment
The most logical place to write down assignments is in a planner, but students might prefer to keep a to-do list in a simple notebook or in their cell phone note pad. It doesn't really matter what tool they use, but it is absolutely essential to success to write down every single assignment, due date, test date, and task.
2. Remember to Bring Homework to School
It sounds simple enough, but many F's come from students forgetting to bring a perfectly good paper to school with them. Does homework have a home? Is there a special place where your student always put their paperwork each night? To avoid forgetting homework, establish a strong homework routine with a special homework station where they can work each night. Then they must get in the habit of putting their homework where it belongs right after they finish it, whether this is in a special folder on their desk or in their backpack.
3. Communicate With the Teacher
Every successful relationship is built upon clear communication. A student-teacher relationship is no different. Miscommunication is another one of those factors that can cause bad grades, despite good efforts. At the end of the day, make sure your child understands every assignment that's expected of them. Imagine getting a bad grade on a 5-page paper because your child didn't understand the difference between an expository essay and a personal essay. Tell your child to ask questions and find out what format to use when writing a paper or what type of questions might appear on the history exam. The more questions your child asks, the more prepared they willl be.

Read more