September 2014 - Mountain Phoenix Community School

MPCS
THE PHOENIX
FLYER
“I love Mountain Phoenix because everything is so
creative and unique in its own way. The teachers
are really nice and let you be yourself.”
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Olivia MacLeod, Grade 6 Student
ISSUE 8 :: SEPTEMBER 2014
In This Issue
2
Harvest Festival & Fun Run
3
After School Programs
4
Faculty Highlight
5
Specials Highlight
6
New Faculty & Staff Highlight
7
Meet the Councils
8
What is a Charter School?
9
Ongoing Fundraisers
10
Letter from Karen Bailey
11
Letter from Dirk Angevine
12
Volunteerism
13
Photo Highlights
14
8 Grade News
15
Before & After School Enrichment 16
MPCS Mission, Vision, & Values 17
Classified Ads
18
Upcoming Events
Our calendar is
filling up with
Parent Enrichment.
2014
Parent Enrichment classes are offered to
guide you, as parents, on the beautiful
journey of raising healthy and happy
children.
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Please join us for “Math Made
Meaningful the Waldorf Way” with Jamie
York on Friday, September 19 from 4:30
to 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall.
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Parent Enrichment Schedule
Upcoming Events
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“Math Made Meaningful the Waldorf
Way” on Friday, September 19 from
4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall
Math Made Meaningful the Waldorf Way
with Jamie York, Waldorf Math Educator
Friday, September 19
4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall
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Stewardship Day, teaching and
practicing good stewardship.
Saturday, Sept 20 from 9:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. at Woodhenge
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How to Cultivate “Living Thinking” to Comprehend the “Living World”
with Douglas Gerwin, renowned Waldorf educator
Thursday, October 2
7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Great Hall
Class Pictures on Wednesday,
September 24 and Thursday, 25.
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Governing Council Meeting,
September 24
Waldorf 101
with Noa Wotton (5th grade teacher), Michelle Hollandsworth (3rd grade
teacher), and Rob Erwin (7th grade teacher)
Wednesday, October 8
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Great Hall
Rollerskating Party on Friday,
September 26
Harvest Festival - A wholesome
celebration of the season on
Saturday, Sept 27 from 3:00 - 6:00
p.m.
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Waldorf 102
with Noa Wotton (5th grade teacher), Michelle Hollandsworth (3rd grade
teacher), and Rob Erwin (7th grade teacher)
Wednesday, October 15
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Great Hall
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Fun Run Wednesday, October 1
Foundation Meeting, October 2
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Talk with Douglas Gerwin on
Thursday, October 2 from 7:00 to
9:00 p.m. in the Great Hall
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Campus Stewardship
Parent Council Meeting, October 8
PARTY
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Waldorf 101 on Wednesday, October
8 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Great
Hall
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Last year we had such success caring for our environment through the fall
Waldorf 102 on Wednesday, October
15 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the
Great Hall
and spring Stewardship Days that we are now weaving into our annual
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calendar. When teachers, parents, and children work together to care for the
earth and our campus, we all gain respect and love for this place we call
school.
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School Tours
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Please break out your work gloves and mark these dates in pen on your
calendar:
Please invite anyone interested in
learning more about our school to one of
our monthly tours. Preschool classrooms
are only shown on Saturday. No need to
RSVP.
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Fall
Saturday, Sept 20, 9:00 - 1:00 p.m.
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Spring
Saturday, May 2, 9:00 - 1:00 p.m.
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Thursday, October 2 8:45 a.m. in the Great Hall
Saturday, October 4 10:00 a.m. in the Community Room
Harvest Festival !
September 27 from 3 to 6 p.m.
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The ancient festival of Michaelmas celebrates harvest, human courage, and the
triumph of light over darkness…
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Life at the Mountain Phoenix Community School is enhanced by a host of
festivals and celebrations, held throughout the year to mark the passage of
seasons and holidays, developmental milestones, and significant historical
moments. Our first festival celebration of the year is the Harvest Festival and
Michaelmas.
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Grades one through eight participate in a pageant on the field by the cottages.
Each class has its appointed role, and children eagerly anticipate their future.
The sixth grade takes the role of the fierce, fire-breathing dragon. The beast is
created in secrecy over many weeks, to emerge and challenge the assembled
crowd. Michael and St. George tame the mighty dragon for the good of all.
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Please look for detailed information in Friday folders and the Weekly Reporter.
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Annual Fall Fundraiser, The Fun Run!
The Mountain Phoenix Parent Council and MPCS Foundation are pleased to announce the 4th Annual MPCS Fun Run.
The MPCS Fun Run for 2014 will take place on October 1, and all of the funds raised will go towards supporting our
classrooms, teachers, and PE department. A percentage of all of the funds raised in each class will go directly back to that
class. Second, a portion of the funds raised will go directly to our PE program. Finally, the
remaining portion of the funds will go directly to supporting Waldorf-inspired education for
our teachers.
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Each student that participates in the Fun Run is eligible to raise money for all three
different needs. 1. 25% of each $1000 raised per class will go directly back to the classroom. i.e.,
$1,000=$250, $2000=$500)
2. 5% of the total amount raised by the community will go directly to the PE
program at MPCS. The PE program at MPCS is integral to the success and
development of each MPCS student.
3. The remaining portion of the funds will support Waldorf-inspired education for all
teachers at MPCS.
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Fun Run pledge sheets, event schedule, and pledge-raising tips will be supplied in
your Friday folders.
If you would like to see Mountain Phoenix Community School thrive, please do your part in supporting our school and
students by actively seeking pledges for your children.
Thank you and we look forward to another successful MPCS Fun Run,
MPCS Parent Council and MPCS Foundation
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Chess Club
Come learn a game of strategy, instructed by Mr.
Hunter.
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Grades 2-8
Session: First semester
Time: 3:30 - 5:00
Location: Upstairs in Faddick Hall
Wednesdays
Intramural Sports Schedule
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Middle school students are invited to participate in the following extracurricular
sports after school:
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Ultimate Frisbee !
The fee for the semester is $35. Donations of
complete chess sets are very much appreciated. Drop
off in the office. For more info, email Jessica
(jknowles@jeffco.k12.co.us).
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AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS
& CLASSES
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Monday 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Volleyball Tuesday 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Baseball Wednesday 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Basketball Thursday 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
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Cross Country
Thursday
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
This schedule will begin the week of September 15. The purpose of this
opportunity is to help students work on their physical and social skills in a fun,
athletic, and non-competitive environment. All teams are coed.
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If you did not sign up for a sport, you are still invited to attend. All sports will
meet in the Great Hall at 3:30 p.m. Parents can pick up students from the Great
Hall at 4:30 p.m.
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Any questions contact Mr. Kern by email at kekern@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Words &
Wisdom
With the beginning of
the school year, our families
must navigate both a change
in rhythm and a change in
season. It can be a very
challenging time.
These two books,
recommended by Brigitte,
remind us that slowing
down, taking the time to
find our rhythm, and
creating meaningful
celebrations to mark the
changing seasons all help
us find peace in times of
transition.
Festivals Family and Food
Seven Times the Sun
by Diana Carey & Judy Large
by Shea Darian
Faculty Highlight!
Kelli Cahoone, Spanish Teacher
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How did you figure out you wanted to be a Spanish teacher?
I studied Spanish from grades seven to eleven, and in the eleventh
year I finally was admitted to the fabulous Open School after many
years struggling in a traditional school. Up until my arrival at Open
School I didn't have passion for the language (or for anything else!)
Our
Amazing
Faculty
until meeting my new teacher, who introduced our small and diverse
group to the poetry of Pablo Neruda. I fell in love with the sound of the language and with poetry both
at the same time. Then, with the same teacher, we had the experience of going abroad to Mexico and
staying with a family. I was 17. It blew my mind. I also was already speaking with some fluency and so
finally had some confidence in myself.
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What do you enjoy most about teaching Spanish?
Well, I love the language, of course. There is so much poetry and beautiful music to draw from, and
that is where I start. Rudolf Steiner spoke of the "folk soul" that the foreign language teachers bring to
the students. I think of it as each culture has a heart, and it is both the same and different from ours at
PreK Joy Wegs
PreK Robin Brough
PreK Michele Ford Kuntz
K Laura Childers
K Andrea Thompson
K Liz McCune
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Special Education Teacher and
Chair of Special Education Lin
Welch
the same time. I also love grammar and find it very grounding and enjoy teaching this in creative ways.
I love inventing games with students in Spanish, and just standing by as they have fun and have no idea
they are learning something very useful! Mostly, however, I love all of our kids!
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How did you come to Waldorf?
I came to Waldorf at the now closed Front Range Waldorf. I had no idea what it was, yet I did at the
same time. It was an incredible blessing to come to Waldorf after many years teaching in "alternative"
programs. I thought, “Now this is an alternative with some serious depth!!” I was also a new mommy
and a bit scared about my new role and found that the more I read of Waldorf the more validating and
easy everything became. It not only gave me confidence as a parent, but it was right in line with the
way I had been teaching language as well.
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What brought you to MPCS?
I had wanted to take my daughter to the mountain campus for years but knew it wasn't going to work
with driving so far. She was at a dual language school in Jeffco and was also growing up so fast! In
1st Kim Cardona
1st Kelly Morrow
2nd Cristina Drews
2nd Jessamyn Lockhart
3rd Michelle Hollandsworth
3rd Christa Valdez
4th Eric Ebert
4th Noa Wotton
5th Rachel Riccio
5th Brice White
6th Josh Anander
6th Jenny Snyder
7th Rob Erwin
7th Joe Mason
8th Heather Ward
kindergarten they were getting lots of homework which gave her anxiety, and when I met with her
teacher for a conference, she was very sweet but also only told us about our daughter's reading level
which they were pushing to 3rd grade?!! That was it! I was so sad as I couldn't afford the private
Denver Waldorf as a single mom. I wanted a teacher to LOVE my child, not to rush her. So...one day
as I was teaching preschool Spanish, a parent told me that the mountain campus was moving down to
the Foothills. I think I cried. Then, I prepared my little mock Spanish Class as I was dying to work here.
And they hired me!
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What do you enjoy doing when you're not teaching?
So many things. First, quiet time. Spiritual time. Time with family. I enjoy reading, cooking, dancing,
yoga, and most of all singing and playing keys. I have a band called Kal Cahoone and the Dirty Pretty
and another one called Tarantella. I like to write songs alone and with others. I love long walks in
nature. My favorite thing used to be traveling the world alone. Now I am always desperately looking
for ways to travel without actually going anywhere. This takes some creativity!
Spanish Senora Cahoone
Spanish Senora Alban
Art Karen Smith
Handwork Liza Cole-Brant
Orchestra Justino Perez
Band Kevin Kern
PE Janell Ince
PE Kevin Kern
Special Education Beate
Hybinette
Math Intervention Mike
Rubenstein
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Specials Highlight: Foreign Language
by Kelli Cahoone, Spanish Teacher
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To teach a foreign language to a child or an adult is always a humbling and eye-opening experience. It becomes clear very early
that all of us learn in our own special way, when we are ready. It also becomes clear that learning another language is a non-linear
experience and that it is complex and often fleeting. The approach to foreign language learning in Waldorf Schools is, of course, a
very creative one, and shares something in common with other immersion methods. Foreign Language in Waldorf Schools also looks
quite different during grades one through four than it does during grades five through eight. The early grades are all about imitation,
singing, and gestures, and it should be a bit like conducting an orchestra. By the third or fourth grade, this orchestra changes a bit as
children become individuals and are ready to now understand what they are saying or singing. They awaken a bit like a seed and are
not as willing nor as able to literally jump in and dance and join with a group singing or reciting a memorized poem.
I enjoy very much the younger
grades (especially the preschool and
kindergarten, which are often not
given classes in Waldorf Schools), as
these children are open, they copy
without questioning, they sing,
dance, and repeat, and are not
quite in their heads yet (though there
are a few exceptions to this, too! —
especially the children who are new
or are coming from a different kind
of education). This experience is so
meaningful, as the child grabs the
essence or the emotion in the foreign
language, humor, pronunciation,
annunciation, and intonation. They
grab onto something Rudolf Steiner
called t he “f olk soul” of t he
language and culture of another,
with a profound respect for that
culture’s temperament and for
others. The child learns to depend
more upon gestures, facial
expression, and body language. So
wonderful!
Most Waldorf Schools have
two opposing or contrasting
languages like Spanish and German,
for example, (and most still do) three times per week. This is even more ideal as it opens up more pathways in the brain and the heart.
The upper grades (four through eight) are a time when the learning of grammar is encouraged in the Waldorf Method, as it is
grounding for the child. They are more in the head and are ready to write down that long poem memorized in the second grade, and
then later they even take it apart. Upper grades also do a lot of skits and short dialogues, as well as sometimes drawing and writing
songs in books, as the arts are encouraged for all subjects. The 7th and 8th grades also have readers. I usually use TPRS (Teaching
Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) books which for me are Waldorf in that they give the big picture. Using this approach,
children are able to read the whole book and understand most words without completely dissecting all of the grammar.
The upper grades are still an orchestra. Always at the beginning, and usually at the end as well, our classes sing, dance, do a
physical game like Simon Says, and act out verbs, and move! We also always have an opening and closing verse. I do my best to use
three different styles in one class everyday. This is a bit like the Heart (songs and poems), then the Head (writing and grammar), then
the Hands (games) so often referred to in Waldorf Education.
The language teacher also tries to sort of weave in the themes of each grade. For example, in 4th grade there should be a focus
on the Hispanic culture in the southwestern U.S. as they learn local history. In the 5th grade I do a lot with Mexico and the indigenous
cultures and mythology as well as geography.
It can be challenging to teach any subject in Waldorf Schools, as we do have more true freedom as teachers, and with this more
responsibility. But there is enough there to guide, and I love it mostly because it guarantees my students that what I am teaching is
always alive and is coming from my true self.
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Meet Our New Faculty Members
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Kelly Morrow - 1rst Grade
Jenny Snyder - 6th Grade
Kelly has enjoyed working in education for 24
years. Based on her strong interest in honoring
the individual and educating the whole child, she
pursued the Waldorf Grades Teacher Training
Program along with the Waldorf Transdisciplinary
Therapeutic Education Program in California.
Kelly is happy to be returning to Colorado and
joining the faculty at MPCS.
Jenny has been teaching for 15 years. She loves
the attention Waldorf provides for the development
of the whole child, and the curriculum that is
developmentally and cognitively appropriate,
comprehensive, and interdisciplinary with an
emphasis on world cultures and religions. She
especially loves the reverence for nature, ritual,
and spirit within each of us.
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Brice White - 5th Grade
Christa Valdez - 3rd Grade
Brice holds a bachelors degree in history
from the University of Colorado at Denver.
He is also an actor and director, having
studied at Naropa University. Prior to this
year, he taught at Temple Grandin School in
Boulder.
Christa completed her Waldorf Certification
through Antioch University New England. Her
favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher is
that every school day the teachers and the
students are co-creating an inspiring and
enriching learning experience together.
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Michele Ford Kuntz - Preschool
After working in the corporate world for
several years, “Auntie Chele” realized her
true calling in life is to teach. She feels
completely at home with the Waldorf
Curriculum and in the Early Childhood
Program at MPCS. #
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Andrea Thompson - Kindergarten
In 2005, Andrea completed her Masters in
Elementary Education at the University of
Colorado in Boulder. She has personally
experienced the effects of a Waldorf-inspired
education and wholeheartedly believes in this
method.
Staff Highlight!
Dee Roy, Business Manager
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Dee Roy is the business manager at Mountain Phoenix. She oversees everything that has to
do with human resources, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Her gifts include
being detail-oriented and methodical about seeing the big picture. Both attributes
contribute to her success as Mountain Phoenix’s business manager.
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Dee has been working for charter schools since 2000 and is now starting her third year at
MPCS. She loves that Waldorf education teaches “to the heart and soul” and considers
herself particularly lucky because she can hear the children singing and watch them playing during the day from her bright office in
the second floor of the Administration Building. She loves to interact with the students and often brings her granddaughter to
festivals at the school.
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When Dee’s not working, she does a lot of handwork. She spends her spare time knitting, crocheting, and doing other crafts,
including glass fusion.
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In Colorado since 1994, Dee and her husband of 33 years love to spend their weekends exploring the state, hiking, and taking
motorcycle rides together. She is particularly fond of the Maroon Bells and Glenwood Springs.
COUNCILS
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Parent Council
Foundation
Kyle Schurter (P)
Ruth Shepard Trode (P)
John Kaltenbach (P)
Jeff Wilhite (VP)
Thank you to all the
extraordinary parents
who give countless hours
and energy to help lead
our school.
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Governing Council
Victoria Hannu (Treasurer)
Robin Adams (Secretary)
Gina Schley
Nathan Ballenger
Gale Laurence
Amy Pardue
Sonja Pierce
Megan Aikman
Rich Peters (Treasurer)
Lora Adams (Secretary)
Kim Harr
The Role of Governing Council
The Governing Council (legally known as our Board of Directors) is a group of up to seven volunteers with a variety of professional
skills. They are a decision making body that provides high-level oversight to operation of the school.
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The Governing Council fills the following roles:
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We are your representatives to the school. We provide the link between the parents and the MPCS organization.
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We produce governing policies, at the broadest levels, that support the strategic plan of the school. For instance, given the
very rapid growth of our school over the past few years, the Governing Council decided to split the responsibilities of the
Principal into two new roles: Director of Education and Director of Operations.
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We hold ultimate responsibility for the financial health of the school.
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We hire and hold accountable the lead administrators of the school: the Director of Education and the Director of Operations.
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The Governing Council has several standing committees with volunteer opportunities:
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Finance Committee (currently fully seated) - The finance committee works with the Director to develop our school budget.
Committee Chair is Victoria Hannu, victoria@heartandsoulceo.com.
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School Accountability Committee (SAC) - currently looking for interested volunteers. The Mountain
Phoenix School Accountability Committee, or SAC, provides input to Governing Council on issues related to the performance
of the school. SAC members include parents, faculty, and school adiministration representatives. Chair is Nathan Ballenger,
ballenger.nathan@gmail.com.
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Master Planning Committee - looking for interested volunteers. The Master Planning Committee works with the Director of
Operations to ensure we have the environment (facilities and grounds) to support our program. Committee chair is board
member Robin Adams, radams@arcwestarchitects.com.
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Marketing and Communications Committee (currently fully seated) - The Marketing & Communications Committee works with
school staff to develop strategies for school communications both internally and externally. Committee chair is board member
Gina Schley, gina@blue-fusion.com.
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Policy Task Force - ad hoc (or temporary) committee is currently fully seated. They are charged to provide a detailed review
of our current school policies (governance, business, operation, education, and employee) and recommend needed updates
or improvements. Committee contact is board member Gina Schley, gina@blue-fusion.com.
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We have a vacancy on the GC that may be filled by appointment. If interested, please send a letter of interest to Nathan
Ballenger: ballenger.nathan@gmail.com or call him for questions: (970) 739.6236. Reminder: all families are strongly encouraged to
donate 40 hours of their time during the school year. MPCS is all of ours. Giving of your time is a great way to collectively support the
education of our children. All meetings of the Board are open to the public and typically occur on the last Wednesday of the month
from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
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The Role of the Foundation, Cultivating Philanthropy
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The Governing Council has a formal agreement with the Mountain Phoenix Community School Foundation to raise and house the
funds necessary to support the mission and vision of Mountain Phoenix. In the past many operational expenses were supported through
the Foundation. This year, with more financial support from Jeffco, the Foundation intends all of its funding to be given to Mountain
Phoenix to enhance its program more intentionally (faculty development, capital improvements, classroom supports, etc). They will no
longer only be housing the funds of Parent Council’s efforts, they will also be engaging more actively in cultivating philanthropy
internally, within MPCS’ parent body, but also externally through grants and developing relationships within our greater community.
This shift in roles is a step towards being more conscious about how and why parents are asked for financial support and greater
success in building relationships with donors for the long-term benefit of public Waldorf Education. Annually they organize the Annual
Give and the school auction and would also launch capital campaigns and other special events when special needs arise.
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continued…
The Foundation is lead by a group of five volunteers who sit on their board. They
make key decisions on how the funding is distributed and play an active role in
cultivating relationships with donors. There are currently two seats open and they are
seeking individuals with marketing, sales, fundraising, and other philanthropic skills.
If you are interested, please contact Foundation president, John Kaltenbach,
johnekalten@yahoo.com. They meet regularly on the 1st Thursday of each month
from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
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The Role of Parent Council, Cultivating Community
The Parent Council (PC) is a group of many parent volunteers that help cultivate
community in a way that supports our educational program. They work with faculty and staff
to organize the rich festivals and other special events that are cornerstones of our school
culture. The Parent Council is lead by a board of 7 volunteers; however, all families with one
or more children enrolled at MPCS (Pre-school-8th) are automatically members of the parent
council. Each family has one vote at regular meetings.
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There are many volunteer opportunities that support the work of Parent Council. Please
contact the Parent Council at mpcsparentcouncil@gmail.com.
Attending meetings will help keep you up to date on school-wide activities. Regular
meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (no meeting in December) in the
Great Hall starting at 3:45 p.m. Childcare is provided, separate from aftercare, at no cost to
the parents. !
Join us!
Governing Council
Meetings
If you are interested in helping
develop school policy, please attend a
GC meeting. They are held every 4th
Wednesday of the month (unless there
is a major event on campus) at 6:30
p.m. in the Community Room. Every
meeting begins with public comment.
If you have questions or comments
please email the board at
board@mountainphoenix.org.
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Upcoming Date: Sept 24
Parent Council
As parents, we can be change makers.
Please show up and help build our
school! Meetings are typically the 2nd
Wednesday of every month at 3:45
p.m. in the Great Hall. If you have
questions please contact the parent
council at:
mpcsparentcouncil@gmail.com.
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Upcoming Date: October 8
What is a Charter School?
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Mountain Phoenix is a Jefferson County charter school. What does that mean?
Like our neighborhood schools, we are a public school.
•We are open to all for a free education.
•We accept tax monies from the JEFFCO school district.
•The district holds us accountable for our performance on state-
Foundation
The Foundation is the 501 (3)c nonprofit organization that holds and
distributes funds for our school.
Meetings are the first Thursday of
every month at 6:30 p.m. in the
Community Room. For questions or
comments, please email John
Kaltenbach at:
mpcsfoundation@gmail.com.
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Upcoming Date: October 2
mandated standardized tests.
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•We follow discipline policies as required by the district.
Like an independent (or private) school, we are granted a certain level of
autonomy.
•We define the curriculum used to educate our children.
•We are financially responsible for providing the property and
buildings that make up our school.
•It is our role to define and uphold the governance of our own school. Interestingly, it is generally the parents who are charged with this role.
Weekly Emails
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Every family should be
receiving a weekly email from
the school called our “Weekly
Reporter.” If you are not,
please email Sandra at
skonta@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Ongoing Parent Council Fundraisers!
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Grocery Cards
Our Grocery Card program is an easy, no-cost way for families to support Mountain
Phoenix Community School while you shop! Currently, we have partnership with King
Soopers, Safeway, and Vitamin Cottage who give MPCS 5% of each dollar spent. All of
these cards can be purchased in the office.
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The stores currently participating this year
are:
King Soopers
5% reloadable
Safeway 5% reloadable
Vitamin Cottage 5% not reloadable
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Instrument Donations
Our Music Department is in need of
donations of used instruments for the band
and orchestra students. We would gratefully
accept donations of the following:
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guitars and other string instruments
electric keyboards
brass instruments
woodwind instruments
percussion instruments
If you have questions or can help, please
email or visit Mr. Kern
(kekern@jeffco.k12.co.us) or Mr. Perez
(jep44@humboldt.edu).
Pizza Friday
We are offering an optional pizza and salad lunch every
Friday for Grades 1-8. This gives you a break from packing
lunches while raising funds for the school. You can sign up
anytime in the office. Tuesday is the deadline for each week.
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Rollerskating Party
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Come have fun with your friends and family at Skate City. A portion of
the proceeds from your entrance fee will go to MPCS.
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When
Friday, September 26, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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Where
Skate City
5353 West 64th Avenue
Arvada, CO 80003
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Cost
$6.00 for entrance and skates
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“I
love
Mountain Phoenix
because it’s an
a m a z i n g, a r t s y
school that knows
what they are
doing.” - Megan
Mize, 6th grade
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Letter From the Interim Director of Education!
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Dear Mountain Phoenix Families,
Welcome to Mountain Phoenix’s 2014 - 2015 school year!
The first three weeks of school have unfolded so beautifully, with new friends being welcomed into
every class, new teachers finding their way into the community, and for those of us returning, a
reconnection to the children and the mission of our school. Welcome to everyone and thank you for
being part of this amazing school community.
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Many parents attending the Back-to-School Nights heard me talk about some of the changes in our
school. I highlighted the need to read the Student Handbook, the partnership model of leadership I
have been working with called the Relational Star, the Foundations Studies program that is starting
here in October, and the new charter high school that will be starting in 2016 in the Fruitdale school
building on 44th Avenue that is being donated for that purpose by the Wheat Ridge Housing Authority.
I did not mention that one change is that we have no eurythmy classes at this point. We have been hard at work looking for a new teacher
since Ms. McKenna resigned this summer and have some good leads for next year. We hope to hire a full-time eurythmy teacher with a
pianist to do more eurythmy with music as well as continue the great speech eurythmy that Ms. McKenna brought to our school.
!
In the upcoming issues of the Phoenix Flyer I will be sharing different aspects of our educational philosophy, practices and questions
that come up which we can explore as a community. For the first month, I would like to start the conversation about what it means to be a
charter school inspired by Waldorf Education.
!
I have been involved in Waldorf Education for the past twenty-five years. I started a kindergarten in Knoxville TN, because I couldn’t
find anything that was just right for my three year old daughter. I actually started with a Montessori room and a “Waldorf-inspired” room,
where the children spent part of their morning in each room. The twenty-five children, ages 3-6, taught me that first year that the Waldorf
approach met them where they were at, and we quickly dropped the Montessori approach and set off on a path to become a “real”
Waldorf school. I had many great mentors along the way, and at this point in my life, after thirteen years of teaching and four college
degrees, I feel that I have a beginning understanding of the wisdom that stands behind Waldorf Education.
!
Coming to Mountain Phoenix three years ago, I had a clear intention to work in the public school sphere where the Waldorf-inspired
model was blossoming in Colorado. Mountain Phoenix Community School is positioned to be a leader as a Waldorf Inspired School of
Excellence (WISE). I have conversations every day with parents and teachers about what it means to be both a public charter school and
one which is inspired by Waldorf education. I have conversations with experts in Waldorf Education, some of whom are skeptical about the
possibility of Waldorf in the public sphere, and some who say that charter schools attempting to embody Waldorf wisdom are leaders in the
field, as the vast growth has been in the charter school movement with a declining enrollment for most independent Waldorf schools across
the country. Is this trend just a reflection of the recession and economic changes? Or is there something new coming into the world at this
time? Perhaps we are part of a new realization of intentions embedded in the early Waldorf school movement to provide this form of
education to all children, free of charge. Perhaps we are poised to move out of the “private” school movement and into the mainstream to
influence education for the benefit of all children. !
!
!!
I invite everyone to participate in this conversation about what it means to be WISE- a Waldorf Inspired School of Excellence.
Warmly,
Karen Bailey
Dress Code
Creating a positive
environment for all to
focus on learning.
1. Neat and Clean
Clothes must appropriately cover the
body. No halter tops, mini skirts, short
shorts, overly baggy pants, or tops that
expose the midriff. Make-up, nail
polish, and distracting tattoos,
discouraged.
!
!
2. Clothes must fit.
No undergarments are visible.
3. Media free.
No distracting logo, symbols, or
pictures such as media characters,
gangs, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco on
clothing, bags, or purses.
!
4. Hair should be neat, clean, and out
of the face.
Natural and not dyed.
!
5. Simple jewelry.
Jewelry is kept to a minimum with
piercings only on the ears. For safety,
no dangling earrings.
!
6. Proper shoes.
Shoes that cover and support the heel
are highly encouraged.
!
7. Suitable for the season.
Warm jackets, hats, and gloves in the
winter, sunhats in the warmth of the sun.
!
!
8. Wearing hats indoors is discouraged.
No hats are allowed during class.
Please read the Jeffco Code of Conduct
and Parent Handbook found on our
“I love Mountain
Phoenix because
everyone is friendly and
the teachers make
everything fun. This
community cares about
the learning.” - Sofia
Forney , 6th grade
Letter From the
Director of
Operations
!
Hello to All MPCS Families,
!
It has been an enjoyable week
wit h t he Bac k to Sc hool night
meetings and getting to learn more
about our community. A quic k
summary for those who were unable to attend — I highlighted how the
new Superintendent of Jeffco, Dan McMinimee, has been emphasizing
how all the district schools are choice schools now and that we are on the
same par as neighborhood and option schools! This means we should be
treated equally, but we must also meet many of the same expectations
too.
I requested volunteers for our Master Planning committee, which will
be meeting for the first time next week on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.
We also need someone with experience and time to assist us with grant
writing. My e-mail is dangevin@jeffco.k12.co.us if you have interests or
skills in either area.
A couple of clarifications regarding pick-up on the Miller Street side
now that we are beyond the first two weeks of school. We are using two
lanes to enter now and then merging into one at the pull-in area. This
means that parking in the front lot will be mostly inaccessible during pickup, but the time frame is shorter, only 10 minutes, ending around 3:30
now. It also looks like the city will be stripping for our cross walk soon and
that it will be just south of the exit; therefore, when exiting, left turns are
preferred now instead of right turns.
!
Thanks again for helping to keep our community safe,
Dirk
!
Homeschool Program
Mountain Phoenix began a home school program this year. It is for children in
grades 1 to 8 who are home schooled who then come to Mountain Phoenix on
Fridays for their extension classes. The students are learning handwork, Spanish,
art, orchestra, and P.E. from our dedicated teachers, Ms. Cahoone, Ms. ColeBrandt, and Mr. Perez. We currently host 15 children in this program and hope to increase and have
enough enrollment to add kindergarten next year. The first day was a nice gentle day for the new students and teachers to get to
know one another and begin their instruction. If you need more inf or mation, please cont act Leslie Hillen at
lmhillen@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Volunteerism
Volunteering is an essential part of Mountain Phoenix Community Charter School.
One of our goals is to have100% volunteer participation, which means every family
contributes 40 hours of their time per school year or pays the equivalent of $10 per
hour. To do that, we are working on providing opportunities for volunteering that can
be done at home, after school, or during school hours.
Why is tracking hours important?
Because our school/teachers/children need us, and when everyone volunteers it
shows strong family support that helps when we apply for higher level grant funding for
the school.
Tips to making the most of your volunteer experience:
• Choose an activity that you enjoy! There are a lot of different kinds of volunteer
opportunities. Check Help Counter for a list of current opportunities.
• Think outside the box. Example: You want to volunteer in your child’s classroom but
there aren’t any time slots or opportunities that fit your schedule...so volunteer for
handwork, Spanish, Art, PE, Orchestra, or after school events with the class.
• All family members count! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or close family
friends! All of their hours count towards your time. It might be a challenge to
coordinate everyone’s schedules, but volunteering as a family has many benefits.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or make suggestions. If you need clarification on a
task, ask. Or if you have an idea, share. Communication makes a difference!
• Get to know the MPCS community and find out about resources and opportunities.
• Keep track of your hours. The Help Counter is working; however, we ask for your
patience as we work out the kinks.
• Have Fun! Helping others kindles happiness! Your kids learn best by example so
have fun and show them how rewarding volunteering can be.
Most Valuable Skills Needed: Compassion, an open mind, a positive attitude, and a
willingness to do whatever is needed! If you have questions, please contact Brigitte
Baehre at BBAEHRE@jeffco.k12.co.us.
!
“The interior joy we feel when we have
done a good deed is the nourishment
the soul requires.” -Albert Schweitzer
New Volunteers
!
Parents and guardians who are new
to MPCS, please come see Brigitte in the
Development Office to sign up for Help
Counter and to sign a Volunteer
Confidentiality Agreement, which must
be on file before you can volunteer at
the school.
“I love Mountain
Phoenix because it is
creative, fun, and we
get to do a lot more
hands-on work
compared to a
traditional school.” Noel Forney, 6th grade
GRATITUDE !
To Ruth Trode for spending her valuable time at the development office helping Sandra and
Brigitte get their heads around all the amazing events being planned at MPCS.
♥
We g i v e t h a n k s t o t h e
musicians, artists, and
professional organizers who
share their time and talents.
To Melissa Kaltenbach for creating beautiful cover sheets for the new Friday folders.
!
To Maia Larkin for donating a dorm fridge for the clinic - very important for keeping ice
packs and medications. !
To Chrissie Larkin for donating a Keurig coffee machine - very important for keeping the
office staff going! Rose Ceremony & Back to School Night Highlights
!
!!
Photos taken by Chris Orwat
A Waldorf tradition, the Rose Ceremony marks the beginning of the school year
and welcomes incoming first graders to our community. To celebrate this significant
milestone, every first grade student is handed a single rose by an eighth grade
student. This is the beginning of a special relationship that is revisited at the end of
the school year when the first grade student presents the same eighth grade
student with a rose to celebrate his/her graduation from middle school.
Photos taken by Maia Larkin
Thank you to all the volunteers,
parents, faculty and staff who made
all three Back-to-School Nights such a
huge success.
8th Grade News
What’s Happening in 8th
Grade!
by Sasha Pettus, 8th Grade
!
As we open our 2014-15 school year,
we the eighth grade will be focusing our
curriculum on our four corner stones —
revolution, community, current events,
and freedom. We will be starting with
the French and American Revolution.
You may also notice we are no longer
using our traditional Main Lesson Books
but instead a binder used as a portfolio
(this may come in handy in the future
for high school).
Special Events and
Electives!
by Leah Downey, 8th Grade
!
In middle school, students are given
a choice of electives. Some electives
are physical, musical, or art-based.
Some of the electives are veil
painting, handwork, songwriting,
guitar, music for the soul, frisbee disc
golf, and outdoor games. These are
only some of the electives that provide students with
the freedom of choice.
On Thursday, September 11, we had a disco-themed
dance. 8th grade fundraised by selling popcorn and
snacks. It was a fun, social night for students to really
get to know one another.
Before & After School Enrichment!
Before School Enrichment
After School Enrichment
Before school enrichment is available during the following
On Monday through Thursday, after school enrichment is
times Monday through Friday (barring holidays and snow
available during the following times:
days):
•ECE: 7:00 - 8:25 a.m. in the Sunflower Class
•Grades 1 to 5: 7:00 - 8:25 a.m. in the Community Room
•Grades 6 to 8: 7:00 - 7:55 a.m. in the Community Room
!
Grades 1 to 5 are supervised from 8:00 to 8:25 a.m. by onduty staff free of charge.
•ECE: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the Skylarks Class
•Grades: 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room
!
On Friday, after school enrichment is available during the
following times:
!
!
•ECE: 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the Skylarks Class
•Grades: 1:30 - 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room
!
For before school enrichment, please escort your children and
sign them in. There is no teacher outside. Please help us keep
your children safe.
Emergency Numbers for After Enrichment:
•Jerry (Grades Lead Teacher): 720-939-5100
•Ashley (ECE Lead Teacher): 214-455-2656
The mission of Before and After School Enrichment is to provide
students with a safe and nurturing environment that supports the
physical, intellectual, social, and creative development of each
child. Your child will have the opportunity to have a snack (please
bring your own), do their homework, and participate in various
creative and physical activities.
Pre-registering for a punch card, whether you happen to be
late or are in need of daily care for your child(ren) due to your
occupation, allows for peace of mind for your child and
convenience and flexibility for your family.
Before and After Enrichment is not free; they are pre-paid
services which require the purchase of punch cards in the main
office. Visit or call (303-728-9100) to purchase.
Sibling Discount, per punch card:
2 Children = 5%
3 Children = 7.5%
4+ Children = 10%
!
!
!
!
!
Per Visit = 1 punch per child, each visit to
Before or After Enrichment
Late Pick-up Fee = $1 per minute, per child
if after the designated pick up time.
All children must be signed in and out by an
adult.
Punch Cards
Before School Enrichment
After School Enrichment
Before & After Enrichment Combo
5 Punch Card $40
10 Punch Card $72 20 Punch Card $135
5 Punch Card $75
10 Punch Card $135
20 Punch Card $250
5 Punch Card $105 $20.90/visit
10 Punch Card $190 $19.00/visit
20 Punch Card $350 $17.50/visit
!
!
!
!
!
!
$8.00/visit
$7.20/visit
$6.75/visit
$15.00/visit
$13.00/visit
$12.50/visit
!
Mountain Phoenix Community School
History
O u r c h a r t e r s c h o o l wa s
founded seven years ago as a small
school in Coal Creek Canyon
inspired by t he humanitarian
curriculum of Rudolf Steiner. In
2011, we opened a Wheat Ridge
campus then merged the two
campus into one school in 2012.
We now educate nearly 500
students from preschool thru eighth
grade from over 10 counties.
4725 Miller Street!
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033!
!
Administration Main Office!
p. 303-728-9100 f. 303-728-9801
Vision
Our mission is to graduate students who have a
vested interest in their role in the world and are mature,
conscious, thoughtful, and personally responsible in their
interactions with others and self; and who are able to
transition into and excel in higher level learning
environments with a sense of individuality as achieved
through an innovative Waldorf education model while
also building a strong, supportive, engaged community
of families and educators.
Our vision is a world where education brings forth individuals who are
imaginative thinkers, creative problem solvers, and active members of the
greater family of humanity, who compassionately serve and contribute from
a conscious sense of self and their innate gifts, and view the world as
abundant and full of possibilities.
MPCS
Mission
Core Values
• Individual, community, and academic excellence
• Co-creative relationships
• Community with service, contribution, and active engagement that
embraces the rhythms of life, nature, and the individual
• Beautiful, artistic, inspirational, nurturing, peaceful, and joyful
environments
• The appreciation and expression of the Arts
• Confident, authentic, reflective, intuitive, innovative self-mastery and selfexpression
• Internal motivation, creativity, imagination, wonder, exploration , curiosity,
and discovery
• Compassion, acceptance, and cultural diversity
• Healthy boundaries through order, responsibility, accountability, respect,
and relevance
• Gratitude, prosperity, and abundance
• Divergent, free thinking, and action upon inspiration
• Preservation of childhood
• Developmentally appropriate instruction inspired by the wisdom of
Rudolph Steiner’s educational philosophy
• Honor the strengths of each individual
!
CLASSIFIED Ads
While we cannot provide endorsements, we do ask you to think of our community first.
If you have an ad, please email an all-text ad to skonta@jeffco.k12.co.us.
All ads are free but donations are appreciated. Deadline for submission is the last day of each month.
Services
!
Denver West Limo is the answer to
your transportation needs in the metro
area - DIA, Red Rocks, a night on the
town, and more. An executive black
car service specializing in VIP and
corporate travelers. We can take you
anywhere you need to go. First time
riders receive $10 off. Call us today at
303-260-9542 or visit us online at
DenverWestLimo.com.
!
Sharon Rohr, Esq., business
services: Employee investigations,
contract drafting and negotiation,
board training, leadership coaching,
and strategic planning. Services for
individuals: mediation, leadership and
success coaching, and contract drafting
and negotiation. Call 303-378-8255
for more info.
!
YOUR BABY CAN TALK! Rina
Coury, parent of two MPCS students,
teaches Signing Smart Play Classes to
hearing infants and toddlers and their
caretakers. Signing Smart babies can
begin communicating with signs as
early as 7 months, can have up to 100
signs by 18 months, and tend to learn
spoken words easier than non-signing
babies. Join our fun-filled classes
starting soon! Contact Rina at
rina@SigningChild.com,
303-777-7078, or
www.SigningChild.com and ask about
the special class discount for MPCS
families!
!
Insurance that works for you!
Auto, Home & Business insurance
Pam & Corey Clyncke
303-895-9376
clynckeagency.com
Individualized tutoring in reading
for children in grades 2-5, after school
sessions. Contact Kelly at
kelinelmorrow@gmail.com for more
info. !
For Sale
!
Lovely, gently used bedroom set
for sale - chest of drawers, long bureau
with mirror. Neutral color in a slight
grecco/roman look. One owner (me)
bought 10 years ago at American
Furniture Warehouse. Can text or
email pictures. Asking $200 for set.
Comfy recliner in suede-like material a
neutral light brown color also
purchased at AFW 5 years ago, asking
$50. Call, text or email Tiffany at
303-519-8384 or
tmharrold@yahoo.com
!
Reduce your toxic load! L.C. of
Acirema offers all natural, herbal, spa,
baby, body, and facial skincare
products. Lori has been making and
using these handcrafted and herbal
products on her sons Judson (2nd) and
Chase (PreK) since they were born.
Lori is a trained herbalist and started
creating from scratch, all natural body
products over 10 years ago because
she wanted no part of any chemicals
that were so commonly found in body
care products. Check out the products
and much more info here:
www.etsy.com/shop/lcofacirema. If
you would like product conveniently
shipped directly to your door (USPS),
order through the listed Etsy site. If
you would like to pick up (pick up is
located about 4 blocks outside Old
Town Arvada), save on shipping, AND
get 20% off when you order $40 or
more, email Lori at
lcofacirema@gmail.com or call
303.898.3597 for complete details on
this deal.
!
Wanted
Wanted: an iPad 2 or better, or an
iPad mini with a working earphone
jack to run Credit Cards at MPCS
events and the Middle School office.
This gift may be exchanged for 40
hours of volunteer time. Got one lying
around? Worried about not being
able to meet your volunteer
requirements? This would be a perfect
solution!