BIG SANDY NEWSLETTER
The Cub Reporter
The Newsletter of Big Sandy Schools
April 2008Calendar of Events
School will be held on this Monday this year:
There will be no school on this Friday:
May 16thSchool Closure and Early Dismissal Information
Periodically weather and/or other factors necessitate the closing of school. If this is necessary, an announcement will be listed on the following stations:
Radio
KYZX FM 103.9
KVUU FM 99.9
KRDO FM 95.1
KILO FM 94.3
KVOR AM 1300
KRCC FM 91.5
KTLF FM 90.5
KKLI FM 106.3
PEAK FM 95.1
KSKX FM 105.5
KKCS FM 101.9
KKCS AM 1460
KOA AM 850
Television
KOAA Channel 5/30
KRDO Channel 13
KCNC Channel 4
KKTV Channel 11
In addition to radio and television stations,
there is an Internet web site that students and parents can access for school closures. The web site is: http://www.closureinfo.net
When you access the web site, you will need to scroll down and select Rocky Mountain, Colorado Springs to display the listings.
You can directly access the Rocky Mountain web site at: http://www.rockyinfo.net
The decision to close school will generally be made before 6:00 a.m. each school day. We will try to avoid middle of the day dismissals, but on occasion we may have to dismiss early.
We ask that you please make sure you have updated your child’s emergency contact and early dismissal form.
Board of Education Meetings
The regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for the third Wednesday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m. All board meetings are open to the public.
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Elementary Principal Notes
May 2008
Thank you staff, students, and parents for a great year. The students and staff worked hard this year and as I review the end of the year assessments, we made great academic progress.
Please have your child read all summer long and participate in the local library programs. In addition, a summer activity calendar will be sent home with your child at the end of the year. Please return the signed calendar next August and participants will receive an award.
Kindergarten 2008-09-There has been a year-long discussion about moving from a ½ day kindergarten to a full-day program. We are not projected to be fully-funded for this endeavor. Currently, if a kindergarten student goes a ½ day, we receive ½ the state allotment for a pupil. With a full-day kindergarten, the state will fund Big Sandy schools 58% of the allocated per pupil funds. To put this in perspective, our first through twelfth graders receive 100% state funding to attend school all day.
Our plan at this time for next year is to remain with two ½-day sessions. Once we know the number of kindergarten students for next year, we will know if we only have a morning session or a morning and an afternoon session. Our enrollment numbers will help us make this determination in early August. As the 2008-09 school year progresses, we may transition to a longer day after the first semester as we have done in the past.
Please plan on ½ day kindergarten for next year. In addition, please contact Mrs. Jenkins if your child is eligible for kindergarten, and you want he or she to attend next year.
Activities for May
May 2nd-Community Service Day for 1st through 5th graders from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
May 8th-Elementary Concert at 7:00 p.m. for kindergarten through third grades.
May 9th-Elementary Bike Rodeo for 1st through 4th grades.
May 14th-4th-12th grade Music Concert at 7:00 p.m.
May 15th-Elementary Field Day K-5th a.m. at the football field 1st-5th p.m. at the school
May 20th-Elementary Awards Assembly 9:00 a.m. in the old gym
May 21st or 22nd-Elementary Field Trips
May 23rd- School is dismissed at 10:30 a.m. Have a great summer.
Elementary Field Day-All kindergarten through fifth grade students participate in activities at the football field in the morning. Kindergarten students are dismissed at 11:25 a.m. In the afternoon, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., first through fifth grades will be doing various games at the school. Ribbons will be handed out to participants at 2:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Please dress your child in layers of clothing, put on sunscreen, and make sure he or she brings a water bottle.
School Year 2008-09-Each parent and student will be contacted in August to set up a time on either Thursday, August 14th, or Friday, August 15th, to come in to your child’s classroom for assessment, to put school supplies away, and fill out forms. In the past this was for just new students. This year will be for all students. We will be contacting you this summer.
Class Lists/Supply List - These lists will be sent home at the end of the year. Students are assigned to classes by the principal and the previous year’s teachers. Students are placed in the class we feel they will reach their full potential.
If you have questions about the supply list, please call the teacher.
Summer School-I sent a survey home in April. As soon as the surveys are returned I will determine if we are going to offer a program this year. If you have questions about this program, please call me.
Secondary Principal Notes
May 2008
Student Honors –
Energy Award Winner’s –. Congratulations to the following students for their winning efforts in the Big Sandy Energy Conservation Contest. 6th Grade – Thomas Covarrubias, Samantha Kaatz, Brianna Vullo, and Ashton Vanfasson. 8th Grade – Jaci Digby, Jamie Toney, Angela Wirsching, Leah Archer-Case, and Kiandra Chambers. 9th Grade – Jade Brewer, Chanse Mitchell, Kristen Wilson, Dani Roswold, and Janelle George. Everyone did a great job and teachers received some quality feedback from students and parents. Everyone’s cooperation during this process is appreciated.
18th Judicial Essay Winner – Congratulations to Kelsey Carter for her victory in the 2008 Teen Essay Contest. Kelsey was one of five finalists selected to be honored at the April 16th ceremony in Hugo, CO. Her selection is a tribute to her commitment to her academics.
BFL Honor Band – On Friday, April 18th thirty students participated in the Black Forest League Instrumental Clinic at the Colorado Spring School in Colorado Springs. They were gone for the day and provided an entertaining concert for parents and school members at 7:00 p.m. This was a great opportunity for our students and was enjoyed by all who attended.
Prom Queen and King – Congratulations to Master Nathan Landry and Miss RaeLynn Snyder for their selection as the 2008 Prom King and Queen. This year’s Prom was held at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs. The Junior sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker and Mrs. Golding, did a great job of making the event a special occasion. Furthermore, a special thanks goes to all the members of the Big Sandy Booster Club for providing a safe and entertaining After-Prom event at the high school. It is a blessing to know our students are safe and well-supervised by those who care about this school and community. Thanks again to everyone involved!
State FBLA Results – See the FBLA Insert!
Lockdown Update – On Thursday, April 17th you should have received a letter home to explain some graffiti that had been placed on the stall of the boys’ restroom in the high school pod. On Friday, April 18th, we did have the K-9 Unit from Colorado Springs Police Department come to the school to conduct another sweep of the facility before school began. The unit then was visible in the front of the school as the students arrived and completed a sweep of the parking lot after school had begun. In addition, entrances were closed and only one access point was open to visitors. These security measures funneled everyone to the main office to check into the school. I appreciate the help we received both from local law enforcement and from the Colorado Springs Police Department. In addition, I thank our teaching staff for their cooperation and assistance in monitoring our student body during this time. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you we identified the person who wrote the graffiti; however, we will continue to investigate any leads that arise. If you have further questions or any input in regards to this situation, please contact Mr. Dahl at the school.
Summer School – Big Sandy students are required to meet high academic standards. Sometimes we have to go beyond the regular school year to catch up with expectations. Thanks to a grant from BOCES, we will again be able to offer summer school for our 5th through 8th grade students. Mrs. Ashmore will be the teacher for summer school. An informational letter will be mailed to those students targeted for summer school in early May. For a high school student looking to regain credits or a junior high student needing to pass a course to advance to the next grade, he/she can take an on-line class through Colorado Online Learning or travel to Calhan during the month of June. The registration for Colorado Online Learning begins in early May. Information regarding both opportunities is located in Mr. Dahl’s office.
Dress Code Reminder – Warmer weather means shredding the coats and jeans and adorning clothing more suitable to summer-like conditions. Please be mindful of the dress code found in your Student Handbook on pages 2-3. Some things noted in the dress code that could be potential temptations include midriff shirts or other tight or low-cut clothing, sunglasses, shorts shorter than fingertips, pajama bottoms, and tank tops or other similar clothing with straps narrower than 1.5 inches in width. Thank you for your attention in monitoring these items in the past. We have had a successful year, primarily because everyone is on the same page.
2008-09 Class Registration – We will begin registration for next school year. For those students returning to Big Sandy Schools, a draft of the 2008-09 Master Schedule and a form to enter first and second class choices will be sent home. Students are to have parent’s signature when returning the form to Mr. Thieman. In coordination with this event, we will hold a freshman orientation for 8th grade students. In this orientation, we will outline high school graduation requirements, encourage students to become actively involved in extracurricular activities, promote leadership opportunities, and stress the importance of good study habits and positive choices. If you have questions pertaining to pre-registration and/or freshman orientation, please contact Mr. Thieman or Mr. Dahl.
Teacher E-mails – With the need for communication increasing, Simla schools has taken the plunge and acquired email addresses for all teachers. Mr. Tucker and Mr. Zimmerman have worked hard to evaluate the infrastructure, make needed changes, and monitored the implementation of a “Gmail” system. The result of their hard work is every staff member has an email address through the school. To communicate with your teachers, type the first letter of the teacher’s first name and the teacher’s last name. Then type “@bigsandy100j.org”. For example, you can contact me at rdahl@bigsandy100j.org. If you have difficulties emailing your teachers, please contact the school.
End-of-the-Year Dates – The following are a list of important events you may need to remember as we close out the 2008 school year.
Friday, May 2nd - Wolverton Scholarship Interviews
Friday, May 2nd - Talent Show in Old Gym @ 7:00 p.m.
Monday, May 5th - BFL Track Meet in Elbert – All Day
May 5th – 7th - 7th Grade to Keystone
May 5th - Energy Conservation Luncheon in Denver
May, 6th – 9th - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7th – 8th - Industrial Arts and Art Fair in Limon
Monday, May 12th - SCHOOL TODAY
Tuesday, May 13th - Athletic Banquet @ 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14th - Secondary Concert in Old Gym @ 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 15th - Elementary Track and Field Day in the AM
Thursday, May 15th - Academic Awards Night @ 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 15th - Seniors Last Day!
Friday, May 16th - NO SCHOOL
May 16th – 17th - State Track Meet in Pueblo
May 19th – 21st - Senior Trip to Orlando, FL
May 19th - Junior High Musical in Old Gym
Thursday, May 22nd - Graduation Practice @ 1:00 pm
Friday, May 23rd - Baccalaureate @ 6:00 pm – Site TBD
Friday, May 23rd - Last day of classes – dismiss @ 10:30
Saturday, May 24th - Graduation @ 10:00 am
Superintendent Steve Wilson
May 2008
Thank you to those that came to the Greater Colorado Grant (GOCO) organizational meeting for a new playground. We will need to get the Town of Simla’s approval in order to continue to move forward. This grant application will be due around the end of August; we are making good progress so far. If anyone wants to help with this project, please call Mrs. Maranville at 541-2870 or me at 541-2292.
Thank you to Mr. Cox and the students that painted the bleachers and walls of the big gym. There are also plans to paint the small gym this summer.
With one month of school remaining, we want to emphasize to everyone to have good instruction all the way through the end of May.
With all of the activities that will be taking place this month, I especially look forward to graduation, academic awards night, the athletic banquet, and the excitement along the way. Thank you for a great school year! Have a great summer!
Seniors, congratulations!
Chad Thieman/Counselor Notes
SENIORS:
Graduation is almost here! Our seniors are ready and we are excited to see what their futures hold. There are still some scholarship applications due in May so make sure to check on due dates. The Amy Wolverton Memorial Scholarship interviews will be held on Friday, May 2nd at the school and the Lasater Memorial Scholarship interviews will be held on Monday, May 12th at the Briarhurst Manor restaurant in Manitou Springs. The Kimble Scholarship interviews are still to be scheduled. Most scholarships will be announced at either the Academic Awards Night on May 15th or during the graduation ceremony on May 24th.
Each senior will be receiving an envelope of documents when we meet to practice for graduation. These documents include: cumulative file data, official transcripts, and immunization records. It is important to keep a copy of the transcript, ACT scores, and immunization records as they seem to be needed as time goes on. I will also keep on a copy of this information permanently on file at the school.
Seniors are finishing up the Senior Seminar course improving their communication skills by giving speeches. We are finishing demonstration speeches and will be ready to give an impromptu speech over the next couple of weeks. As we end this school year, feedback on the Senior Seminar course is appreciated. I would like to know the strengths and weaknesses of the course so that we can continue to mold its curriculum to best meet the needs of our seniors. Please call or write with comments about the course.
JUNIORS:
Our juniors took the ACT on April 23. Results should be mailed to each student in about 4 weeks. All juniors wishing to improve their scores should plan on taking it again in the fall at a National Test Site. Visit www.actstudent.org for more information.
Juniors should look for opportunities to be involved in the community over the summer. Colleges and scholarship committees are looking for students who are able to document community service experience. Be careful not to confuse the goal – community service is something that you do because you want to make your community better. As you complete community service projects you are able to use that on college and scholarship applications. Community service is not something that you do just to look good on applications.
2008-2009 COURSE REGISTRATION:
We have a tentative master schedule for the 2008-2009 school year. Pre-registration will begin during the first week of May. I will speak to each grade, starting with the juniors, and hand out scheduling forms and course descriptions. Parent approval is required on all schedules. My goal is to give each student a copy of their 08-09 schedule before they leave for the summer break.
PLEASE PLACE THIS IN A DIFFERENT SPOT IN THE CUB REPORTER – IT IS NOT PART OF THE COUNSELOR NOTES. THANKS!
2008 Big Sandy Schools Baccalaureate
The churches of Matheson, Ramah, and Simla are hosting the traditional Baccalaureate Dinner and Service on Friday, May 23rd. A baccalaureate is a religious service held for a graduating class. This year’s dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Matheson Community Bible Church. The dinner is for the graduate, their parents, class sponsors, and school board members. The service begins at 7:30 p.m. at Matheson and is open to anyone who would like to attend. Following the service, dessert will be served for all in attendance. Invitations will be sent out to senior parents in early May asking for an RSVP to Chad Thieman at the school or at 541-2046.