DouglassNewsletter2014-1024

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October 24, 2014
Fromtheprincipal’sdesk…
Dearfamilies,
Thelastthingyouprobablywanttoseeorreadisanythingelectionrelated.Butthisismylastopportunity
toremindyouthatthereisanitemontheballotthisfallregardingtheEducationalFacilitiesMasterPlan
thatincludessigni icantchangesforDouglassElementarySchoolthisfall.Iencourageyou,asyoudowith
allelectionissues,tochecktheinformationandhowitwouldimpactthechildrenatDouglass,andtovote!
Eachelectionyear,IzeroinontheissueofpubliceducationwhenIlistentocandidates,andnotjusthow
theyfeelaboutfundingforeducation.Thereareotherimpactsthatourlawmakersatthestateandfederal
levelhaveonthewaythatschoolsoperateandprioritizedecisions.Presently,theissueofrequireddistrict
andstateassessmentsisgarneringattention–andIwouldinviteyoutomakeyourvoiceheardifitisan
issuethatyouareconcernedabout.
OnMonday,youshouldhavereceivedaletterfromourSuperintendentBruceMessingerthatdiscussesthe
ColoradoDepartmentofEducation’sStandardsandAssessmentTaskForce,whichhasbeenmeetingthis
yeartostudytheimplicationsofthecurrentstatewidesystemofassessments–TCAP,PARCC,CMAS,READ
Act,andothers–andsubmitareportwithrecommendationstotheColoradoGeneralAssemblyasitbegins
itsnextsessioninJanuary.Therehavebeenvariousmeetingsscheduledthisfall(visithttp://
www.cde.state.co.us/cdedepcom/taskforce)formoreinformationonthemeetingschedule,content,and
otherinformationonthiswork),butIwouldliketospeci icallyhighlightanopportunityforpubliccommentviaemailto1202taskforcefeedback@gmail.com,answeringthefollowingquestions:
 HowcouldColoradoimproveitsassessmentsystem?Pleaseprovidespeci icexamples.
 Areyoufamiliarwiththelocalassessmentsthatareadministeredtostudentsaccordingtorequire-
mentsofyourdistrict?Ifso,doyoubelievetheseassessmentsarevaluable?Why?
IprovidedmyfeedbacktothistaskforceinSeptember,andIbelieveitisimportantforthefamiliesand
staffatDouglasstoshareyourfeedbackaswell.
AnotheropportunityfordialogueiscomingupinNovemberasourPTOandtheParentEngagementNetworkwillscreenthe ilm“RacetoNowhere”,agrassroots ilmthatdiscussestheimplicationsoftesting
andotherpressuresonkids.Wewillshowthe ilmonThursday,November13,promptlyat6:00p.m.at
thedistrict’sEducationCenter(6500ArapahoeAvenue).Ticketsare$10($15atthedoor)-moreinformationandticketsareavailableatthislink.LesleyCunninghamfromtheBoulderPsychologicalCenterand
Iwillfacilitateaconversationafterthemovie–ifyouhaven’tseenthis ilmyet,Ihighlyencourageyouto
checkitout(butthecontentisverymuchforadults).
Ilookforwardtothedialoguewithyouonanyoralloftheabovetopics!Sendmeanemail
(jonathan.wolfer@bvsd.org)orlet’ssetupanothertimetotalk.
Yourprincipal,
JonWolfer
Page 2
School Calendar
Mon.Oct27th
Tues.Oct.28th
Wed.Oct29th
Fri.Oct31st EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
ChoirPractice2:30-3:30pm Bricks4KidsRobotics-Grades3-52:35-3:35pm
Bricks4KidsInterestingInventionsGradesK-22:35-3:35pm
IntramuralVolleyballfor4th&5thGrade2:30-3:30pm
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
HalloweenParade1:15-1:45pminthegym HalloweenParties
Mon.Nov.3rd
Tues.Nov.4th
Wed.Nov.5th
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
ChoirPractice2:30-3:30pm Bricks4KidsRobotics-Grades3-52:35-3:35pm
Bricks4KidsInterestingInventionsGradesK-22:35-3:35pm
GirlScoutTroop3007Meetinginthegym2:30-4:00pm
IntramuralVolleyballfor4th&5thGrade2:30-3:30pm
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
Mon.Nov.10th
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
Tues.Nov.11th
NoSchool-VeteransDay
Wed.Nov.12thIntramuralVolleyballfor4th&5thGrade2:30-3:30pm
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
PTOMeeting2:30-4:00pmintheLibrary
ChildCareintheKindergartenEnrichmentRoom
Thurs.Nov.13th
DouglassCaringClub
RacetoNowhere,Movie&Discussion
presentedbyPEN&DouglassElementary6:30-8:30pm
Aspen,BlackDiamond,Crescent,&DavidsonMesaRooms
(map)
Fri.Nov.14th
Tues./Thurs.KindergartenAttendsAllDay NoMon./Wed.Kindergarten
DON’TFORGET
Fri.Oct31st
HalloweenParade
1:15-1:45pminthe
gym
HalloweenParties
Tues.Nov.11th
NoSchool-Veterans
Day
Wed.Nov.12th
PTOMeeting2:304:00pminthe
Library
Mon.Nov.17th
Tues.Nov.18th
Wed.Nov.19th
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
ChoirPractice2:30-3:30pm Bricks4KidsRobotics-Grades3-52:35-3:35pm
Bricks4KidsInterestingInventionsGradesK-22:35-3:35pm
IntramuralVolleyballfor4th&5thGrade2:30-3:30pm
EnrichmentSpanish2:35-3:35pm
Page 3
Douglass Elementary
YoursupportissoimportantandmakessuchadifferOurschoolwillbeparticipatinginShare-a-Giftagain
encefromextraliteracysupportintheclassroomtothe thisyear.Share-a-Giftisanannual,all-volunteertoy
abilitytobuymoreChromebooks.Belowaremore
collectionanddistributionholidayprojectencompasswaystoearnmoneyforDouglasswithoutdonating
ingtheBoulderValleySchoolsarea.Lastyearover600
yourmoney.
households(1600boysandgirls,agesbirthto14)re Smile.AmazonBuyholidaypresentsandmoney
ceivedthesecommunitydonations.Tobesuccessful,
willgodirectlybacktoDouglass.AmazonwilldoShare-a-Giftneedsthousandsofhighquality,newand
nate0.5%ofthepriceofyoureligibleAmazonSmile usedtoys,games,books,andpuzzles.Schoolcollections
purchaseswhenyoushopatAmazonSmile
arethebiggestsourceoftoysforShare-a-Gift.Thiscol(smile.amazon.com).PleaseselectDouglassElelectionallowschildrentomeaningfullyparticipatein
mentaryPTO-SitIncfromthelistofcharities.
giftgivingbysharingtheirowngentlyusedornewtoys
 MilkCapsforMooolaPleasedropoffyourLongwithlessfortunatechildreninBouldercounty.Toys
montDairymilkcapsintheboxinthefrontofmaybedroppedoffintheShare-a-Giftboxinourschool
ice.Douglassearns$.05foreachmilkcapcollect- beginningtheMondayafterThanksgiving,December
ed.
1st,throughWednesday,December17th.Thanksfor
 BoxTopsforEducationNotonlydoweearnfree sharingwithyourcommunity.IfyouwouldliketovolmoneyusinggiftcardsfromKingSoopersandSafe- unteertohelpwiththisworthwhileproject,pleasego
way(whichyoucangetfromthefrontof ice),
tovolunteers@shareagift.org
buteachBoxTopcouponisworth
10¢.ParticipatingbrandsincludeZiplock,Betty
Crocker,Hefty,GeneralMillscereal,Kleenex,
GoGurts,Mott'sApplesauce,ElPasoproducts,just tonameafew.Startsavingthemnowandtheywill
It’stimeagainfordonatingthosetoo-small,somewhatbecollectedinFebruary.
worn,butstill-warmcoatstotheannualShare-A-Coat
 GrandRabbitsToyStoreMentionDouglassEleprogram.Otheritemssuchashats,gloves,sweaters,
mentaryandaportionofyourpurchasewillgoto
mittens,snow-boots,etc.willalsobeacceptedfordonatheschool.
tion.
 TargetREDcardTargetwilldonate1%ofyour
CreditorDebitREDcardpurchasesmadeatTarget EachyeartheBoulderValleyRotaryClub,withcleaning
servicesdonatedbyArtCleanersinBoulder,collects
andTarget.com.
coatsfrommanyofourlocalschools,cleansthemand
distributesthemtofamiliesandchildrenwhoarein
needofthem.
DouglassNotes
ThankYou!
Aboxhasbeenprovidedatourschool,sopleasesend
coatsyouarenolongerusingtoschoolwithyourstuSuperjob,Douglassfamilies.Thiswasthebestclean-up dent.Bothchildrenandadultsizecoatsareneeded!
ever!Wepulled,raked,trimmed,shoveledandplanted
TheBoulderValleyRotaryVolunteerswillpickupthe
bulbsgalore.Waituntilspring...welookforwardto
coatsfromourschoolanddeliverthemtothecleaners.
amazing lowersalloverthecampus!
Many,manythankstoourparticipants:
iPodsfortheMusicRoom
Brighton,Themba&ThandiKhumalo,
AndyTidey
Monique,Ryan,Wade&LucasDouville
TheMusicRoomisinneedofseveraliPodsforlistening
Jeremy,Nicole,Rory,&ReeseDeBacker
stations.Anymodelandanygenerationwillwork!If
Katherine,Mark,Sarah&MalcolmHunter
youhaveanoldiPodthatyounolongeruseandwould
Steve,Julie,Katherine&AllisonLeichty
liketodonateittothemusicroom,pleasecontactMrs.
SvetlanaBurova,Eleanora&VasilisaMalenkiy
Klotzatkathryn.klotz@bvsd.org.
Fisher,Maxwell,Jocelyn&HaleyChandler
Page 4
Douglass Elementary
NutcrackerTickets
Only7moredaystobuyyourNutcrackertickets!
Douglasswillreceive20%ofproceedsifyoupurchase
throughthisOctober-onlypromotion.
Pleaseclickherefortheorderform.Ifyouhaveany
questionsaboutthisNutcrackerTicketPromotion
pleasefeelfreetocontactTerriLee,Douglass'Representative,at303-898-2410or
teri@livelymarketing.com.LastyeartheDouglassMusicDept.wastherecipientofover$500fromthispromotion.ThankyouforsupportingDouglassandthe
BoulderPhilharmonicOrchestraandBoulderBallet!
TrickorTreatStreet
TheHalloweenseasonishere!Whatbetterwaytocelebratethananightoffunwithyourchild?
Who:Everyoneiswelcome!
Where:FairviewHighSchool
When:Wed.Oct29th6:00pm-8:00pm
What:AFREE,trickortreatstyleevent, illedwith
games,activitiesandofcourse,candy!
GROCERYPROGRAM
ReloadingREWARDS
Douglass!
(May2013Douglassgraduate,RachelLee-Smith,and
otherolderDouglassgradslikeEricandBronwynElThetotalmoneyraisedbytheGROCERY
lissuccessfullyauditioned,andwillbeappearinginthe PROGRAMduringthe2013-2014schoolyear
Nutcrackeratthisyear'sMackyAuditoriumThanksgiv- was$22,237!The$22,237inFREEMONEYfundedeningholidayperformances.)
richmentprogramsforourstudents.
Our inalsummerREMARKABLERELOADERisPaula
Miller!EnjoytheStarbucksgiftcard!FromJuly13thHalloweenParade/Parties August9thourshoppersreloaded58cardsandwe
raised$1,023!
101
IfyoushopatKingSoopersand/orSafewayandarenot
 Theparadewillstartat1:15pm
yetparticipatinginthisprogramweencourageyouto
andwillendatapproximately1:45pm.
helpusraisefundsforthenewschoolyear!Reloadable
 Classpartiesvaryaccordingtoeachteacher.
KingSoopersandSafewaycardsareavailableinthe
Douglassof iceorbycontactingHeatherWeltzinat
 Unlessitisraining,theparadewillgoaroundthe
outsideofthebuilding.Allotherformsofinclement hweltzin@comcast.net.
weatherwillbetoleratedbecausethereisjustno
enjoyablewaytoholda450-childparadethrough
thehallways!
DouglassElementarySchoolTours
TourDates:
 Bleacherswillbesetupinthegymfortheparents
towatchasthestudentspassthroughthegym.
Wed.December10th,
DONOTPARKINTHEFRONTLOT!Ifyou’vebeen
aroundforafewyears,youknowhowmanycarswe
haveblockingthebuslanes.Wewillblockoffthefront
lotstartingatnoontopreventallofthepartyinterruptionsandaggravation.Sorryforanyinconvenience.
Pleasedon’tallowyourchildtobringtoyweapons,as
thisisagainstschooldistrictpolicy.Wealsosuggest
leavingthe“extras”(purses,wands,gloves,etc.)home
becausetheyfrequentlygetleftatschoolwhichisa
very,verysadthing.
Mon.January12th
Alltourswillbeginat1:00pm
Reservationsarenotrequired.
Pleasecometotheschoolof icetosigninandreceivea
visitor’sbadge.
Theapplicationperiodforopenenrollmentwillbegin
at8:00amonDec.1,2014andwillendpromptlyat
4:00pmonJan.16,2015.Applicationswillbeavailable
onlineonDec.1statwww.bvsd.org
Page 5
Douglass Elementary
BoulderCountyVotingInformation
ParentEngagementNetworkpresents:
TheBoulderCountyClerk&Recorder’sOf icewantsto
makesureallresidentshavetheinformationtheyneed
tovoteintheNovember4GeneralElection.
1.AllvotersinColoradonowreceiveamailballot.
ElectionsinColoradoareconductedbymailballotwith
selectVoterServiceandPollingCenterlocationsavailableforvotinginperson.Allactiveregisteredvoterswill
bemailedaballottotheaddressprovidedontheirvoter
registrationtheweekofOctober13.VotingbeginsOctober14.BallotsmustbereceivedbytheBoulderCounty
ClerkandRecordernolaterthan7p.m.onTuesday,November4.(Tip:Recentlymoved?Makesureyourvoter
registrationinformationiscorrectbyvisiting
www.BoulderCountyVotes.org).
2.Inpersonvotingisstillavailable–VoterService
andPollingCentersopenMonday,October20.Any
voterwhowouldlikeadditionalassistancewithvoting
orwhowouldliketovoteinpersoncandosoatanyVoterServiceandPollingCenterthroughoutthecounty.
(Tip:Locationsandhours/datesofoperationwillbeincludedinyourmailballotpacketandarelistedonline).
3.AnycitizenwhohasresidedinColoradoatleast22
daysmayregistertovoteuptoandincludingElectionDay.Monday,October27isthelastdaytoregister/
updateyourvoterregistrationandstillreceiveamail
ballot.AfterOctober27,avoterwillneedtovisitaVSPC
inordertorequestaballot.
TacklingTechnology
ByDr.JanHittelman
Inthefast-pacedworldofever-evolvingtechnology,itis
dif icultforparentstokeepup.Childrenarespending
moretimeinthevirtualworldresultinginlesstimefor
old-fashionedpursuitslikehavingaface-to-faceconversation,playingoutside,orgoingforabikeride.Thespeedof
thistechnologicalevolutionoftenoutpacesaparent’sabilitytodevelopeffectivestrategiestoaddressit.
Whilewecannotstoptechnologicalprogress,hereare
somesuggestionstoconsider:
 Consideryourownbehavior:Likeitornotweare
therolemodelsforourchildrenandneedtotryand
practicewhatwepreach.
 Createtechnology-freedays:Considersettingaside
timesforeveryoneinthefamilytoturnoffalltechnologyandactuallyinteractwitheachother.
 Discusstechnologyetiquette:Discusstheimportanceoftreatingotherswithrespectandonlycommunicatinginwaysthatwouldmakeyouproud.
 Maketechnologyaprivilege,notaright:Consider
havingyourchildearntechnologytimeasafunction
ofmeetingtheirresponsibilities.
 Developfamilyrulesregardingtechnology:Include
BVSDCommunityConnections:
ResourcesforKids&Teens
BVSD’sonlineguide,CommunityConnections:Resources
forKids&Teenscanbefoundathttp://guide.bvsd.org.
ThegoalofCommunityConnectionsistoconnectthe
BVSDcommunitywithgroupsandindividualsoffering
youth-orientedactivitiesandservices.Categoriesincludeacademicsandtutoring,healthandsupportservices,campsandclasses,sportsand itness,thearts,
teens,adventure,collegeplanningandmore.Westrive
throughouttheyeartomakeCommunityConnectionsa
valuableresourceforfun,educationalandtransformativeopportunitiesforkidsandteens.
TolearnmoreaboutCommunityConnectionsortodiscussadvertisingoptions,pleasecontactMarlaRileyat
720-561-5977ormarla.riley@bvsd.org.
yourchildrenindiscussionsaboutturningtheir
phonesoffafteracertaintimeatnight,howmuchis
toomuchdailyscreentime,andtheimportanceofotheractivities.
 Keeparealisticperspective:Rememberthatpartof
yourdif icultywithacceptingallofthistechnologyis
thatitismoreforeigntoyouthanyourchildren.
Tolearnessentialstrategiestohelpyourchildsuccessfully
navigatethewildworldoftechnology,participateinthe
nextFREEPathwaystoParentingSuccesswebinar:
Webinar:SocialMedia,Sexting,andGaming,OMG!
When:Wednesday,November19,Noon-1:00pm
Where:Yourhomeorof ice!
Presenter:RyanDawson,LPC
Toregister:www.BoulderPsychologicalServices.com/
free-webinars
Allregistrantswillalsohaveaccesstothereplay!
Douglass Elementary PTO and Parent Engagement Network
invite you to a special screening and discussion of
Race to Nowhere is a film that calls us to challenge current thinking about how we prepare our children for
success. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of students across the country who have been pushed to the
brink by over-scheduling, over-testing and the relentless pressure to achieve, “Race to Nowhere” points to a
silent epidemic in our schools. Through the testimony of educators, parents and education experts,
it reveals an education system in which cheating has become commonplace; students have
become disengaged; stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant;
and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.
When Thursday, November 13th, 2014
Cost Advance purchase tickets $10
Sign-in at 5:45
Click here to register & purchase
Film begins promptly at 6pm
Discussion 7:30-8:30 pm
Where BVSD Education Center
6500 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO 80303
Facilitators
Jonathan Wolfer,
Principal
Douglass Elementary
&
Lesley Cunningham, LPC
Boulder
Psychological Services
$15 at the door
A portion of the proceeds goes to Douglass!
Scholarship tickets available
Free childcare and interpretation upon request
(contact uvtbarry@yahoo.com)
ents the
BVSD’s School Food Project pres
l
a
v
i
t
s
e
F
t
s
e
Harv
2014
October 26
Noon-4 p.m.
Casey Middle School,
1301 High St., Boulder
at the festival
Iron Chef competition –
Best after-school snack
Kids’ activities
Live music by Left Hand Market Boys
Goats from Mt. Flower Goat Dairy
Local farmers and vendors
Raffle with fabulous local food prizes
Local food - demonstrations and
tastings from local chefs and vendors
Harvest of the Month - Taste the harvest of the
month, then get the new harvest trading cards and
have them signed by BVSD’s partner farmers
BVSD’s new food truck enjoy fresh local entrees
School garden demonstrations
and activities with Growe, Growing Gardens,
The Kitchen Community and BVSD
farm-to-school
The School Food Project
sources local foods when possible
and provides hands-on food and
farm-to-school education programs
that encourage students to try new
foods, eat more fruits and
vegetables, learn about where
the food comes from and develop
lifelong healthy eating habits.
seed swap
Do you have seeds you
saved from your garden? Or
organic seeds left over from
planting this year? Bring them to
the BVSD Harvest Festival Seed Swap!
Learn to grow, harvest, clean, dry, and
store seeds from your own garden! No
need to bring seeds to participate ~ All
are welcome. Label seeds with the variety,
year and what you love about them.
for more info
Contact:
Curry Rosato
The School Food Project Program Coordinator
720-561-6005
curry.rosato@bvsd.org