SHERIDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT N ews & R eport April 2015 Volume 7 • No. 2 Sheridan High School Seniors Set Sights on College With graduation drawing close, four Sheridan High School seniors are blazing trails to higher education and reeling in major scholarship opportunities in the process. In the case of Joel Marquez, who will pick up his high school diploma in May, he can already check the college box. He’ll graduate with his Associates Degree, having spent the last two school years as a full-time student at Arapahoe Community College. (He turns 18 years old in April). Not surprisingly, Marquez has his sights set high—on an Ivy League school like Harvard University, for instance. But he was also provided with a grant and flown to Centre College in Danville, Kentucky for a look around that campus. He’s not alone—the work of many Sheridan High School students has drawn attention of higher education and those who grant scholarships. There are many fabulous students in the Sheridan High School Class of 2015, but here are updates on four: Sarah Howell A finalist for the Daniels Fund Scholarship Program, Sarah Howell attends Arapahoe Community College full-time. “I feel like I’m on my own, doing my own work,” she says of the ACC experience. She’s “almost done” with classes that would complete the equivalent of a freshman year of college. She applied to University of Colorado (Boulder), University of Northern Colorado and to the University of Memphis and Tennessee Technological University, too. Howell wants to be a doctor, working in Intensive Care. She also wants to learn American Sign Language. “I want to be a doctor who can facilitate sign language to deaf patients,” she says. “I want to help someone in their time of need. I’ve always had a weird fascination for the anatomy of the human body.” She raves about her experience at Sheridan High School. “It’s more one on one time here,” she said. “It’s a huge difference that all the teachers know your name and you really get to know them—all the staff.” Alina Munoz Another ACC student, Alina Munoz started with Sheridan schools in the Early Childhood Center. Coursework at ACC this spring includes statistics, biology and a course in inter- personal communication. She has an eye on a bachelor’s degree working toward becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Assistant—or becoming a Kindergarten teacher. Alina was also a finalist for the Daniels Fund Scholarship (“kind of eye opening and pretty awesome”) and applied to Regis University, the University of Colorado at Denver, Adams State in Alamosa and Mesa University in Grand Junction. College work has taught her one thing for sure. “You have to be willing to seek out help,” she says. “You can’t expect things to come to you. Professors don’t care if you fail a test.” Even though the ages range from teenagers to adults, Alina said she’s bonded with her college-level peers and has enjoyed every minute. Joselyn “Poco” Loya Joselyn found out in early March that she was accepted to be a student ambassador at Mesa University in Grand Junction— meaning that full tuition is covered in exchange for her efforts to recruit prospective students, give tours to high school students and make a few telephone calls from time to time. She’s applied for a grant to cover some of the housing costs, too. cont. on p3
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S H E R I D A N S C H O O L D I S T R I C T
News & ReportApril 2015 Volume 7 • No. 2
Sheridan High School Seniors Set Sights on CollegeWith graduation drawing close, four Sheridan High School seniors are blazing trails to higher education and reeling in major scholarship opportunities in the process.
In the case of Joel Marquez, who will pick up his high school diploma in May, he can already check the college box. He’ll graduate with his Associates Degree, having spent the last two school years as a full-time student at Arapahoe Community College. (He turns 18 years old in April).
Not surprisingly, Marquez has his sights set high—on an Ivy League school like Harvard University, for instance. But he was also provided with a grant and flown to Centre College in Danville, Kentucky for a look around that campus.
He’s not alone—the work of many Sheridan High School students has drawn attention of higher education and those who grant scholarships.
There are many fabulous students in the Sheridan High School Class of 2015, but here are updates on four:
Sarah Howell
A finalist for the Daniels Fund Scholarship Program, Sarah Howell attends Arapahoe Community College full-time. “I feel like I’m on my own, doing my own work,” she says of the ACC experience. She’s “almost done” with classes that
would complete the equivalent of a freshman year of college. She applied to University of Colorado (Boulder), University of Northern Colorado and to the University of Memphis and Tennessee Technological University, too.
Howell wants to be a doctor, working in Intensive Care. She also wants to learn American Sign Language. “I want to be a doctor who can facilitate sign language to deaf patients,” she says. “I want to help someone in their time of need. I’ve always had a weird fascination for the anatomy of the human body.”
She raves about her experience at Sheridan High School. “It’s more one on one time here,” she said. “It’s a huge difference that all the teachers know your name and you really get to know them—all the staff.”
Alina Munoz
Another ACC student, Alina Munoz started with Sheridan schools in the Early Childhood Center. Coursework at ACC this spring includes statistics, biology and a course in inter-personal communication. She has an eye on a bachelor’s
degree working toward becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Assistant—or becoming a Kindergarten teacher. Alina was also a finalist for the Daniels Fund Scholarship (“kind of eye opening and pretty awesome”) and applied to Regis University, the University of Colorado at Denver, Adams State in Alamosa and Mesa University in Grand Junction.
College work has taught her one thing for sure. “You have to be willing to seek out help,” she says. “You can’t expect things to come to you. Professors don’t care if you fail a test.” Even though the ages range from teenagers to adults, Alina said she’s bonded with her college-level peers and has enjoyed every minute.
Joselyn “Poco” Loya
Joselyn found out in early March that she was accepted to be a student ambassador at Mesa University in Grand Junction—meaning that full tuition is covered in exchange for her efforts to recruit prospective students, give tours to high
school students and make a few telephone calls from time to time. She’s applied for a grant to cover some of the housing costs, too. cont. on p3
Sheridan School District Teach it. Learn it. Demonstrate it.
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Superintendent Michael Clough – Letter to the Community
Sometimes it is just easier to just go along, get along.
In other words, not rock the boat.
And then there are times where you are compelled to stand up for what’s right.
The decision to file a lawsuit against the Colorado Department of Education in early March was not taken lightly. But it was the right thing to do.
Taking the dispute to court was a necessary step in the effort to protect a key district program. For years, starting with the vision of former superintendent Ken Reiter, Sheridan School District 2 has maintained a bridge to higher education through the state’s
concurrent enrollment program.
It works! Read the cover story of this newsletter for outstanding examples of students who are taking advantage of our 21st Century Program with Arapahoe Community College. The program has given the students a seamless pathway to college and a jump start on their professional careers. It has worked for years. And years.
And then along comes politics. Yes, politics.
As you recall, last year we spent considerable effort appealing the state’s decision about where we ranked on the accreditation scale. What you might not know is that, behind the scenes, our pupil count audit was suddenly placed on hold while the accreditation appeal played itself out.
What had long been a routine process (counting students and occasionally being audited) turned into a hot potato. Why? Because in order to keep Sheridan’s accreditation rating downgraded, in a category where we didn’t belong, the state had to suddenly re-define our hard-working 21st Century Program students and count them the same way the system counts dropouts.
Reminder—these are students who have far surpassed the basic requirements for a Sheridan High School diploma. They are leading the pack in terms of academic achievement and they are taking advantage of the more rigorous college setting. Dropouts? How about “leaders” or “shining stars”?
By not giving Sheridan credit for the work of these students, the state could keep our official graduation rate low. And the graduation rate plays a critical role in the accreditation formula.
The “logic” flies in the face of common sense, but there you have it.
And what happened to the pupil count? In the end, after all the accreditation debate was over, the state decided that Sheridan School District 2 owes the state roughly $1.2 million based on the same “thinking” that those students were counted incorrectly for all those years. (The amount of the “fine” is based on the annual per-pupil revenue we receive from the state multiplied by the number of students in question and then multiplied by the number of years.)
So this seemed like a good time to rock the boat. So many Sheridan students have benefitted from this program over the years and I could not imagine taking the “go along, get along” approach.
Not this time.
We are fortunate to have a Sheridan Board of Education that has stood strong in the box on this issue. My heartfelt thanks to them for their steadfast support. Their patience might be tested—no doubt this process will take a long time to resolve, given the slow wheels of bureaucratic motion.
What’s right is right, after all, and it’s time to right the wrong.
Sheridan School District Teach it. Learn it. Demonstrate it.
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Sheridan High School Seniors, cont.
Los Estudiantes del Grado 12 de la Escuela Preparatoria Sheridan Tienen la Vista Puesta en Estudios Superiores
She’s thrilled and wants to study political science or international relations. “I want to learn more about the world and help people out,” she says. “I want to help people and make them happy.” On a visit to Grand Junction, she said, she fell in love with the surroundings, including opportunities for ice climbing, rock climbing and water rafting.
She said Sheridan High School made a huge difference in her life. “Every student here should be grateful for the education that they have,” says Loya.
Joel Marquez
Joel (pronounced Hoe-el) moved to Sheridan from Mexico when he was third grade. He didn’t speak a lick of English. Today, he has a reached a native-like proficiency in English. He’s graduating in May with a full Associates Degree and a high school diploma. He’s been taking ACC courses since freshman year of high school (when he took one). By his junior year, he attended ACC full-time taking courses from Principles of Microeconomics to Calculus II, from Astronomy II to The World (1500 to Present).
“I fit in more with the college style,” says Marquez. “Though I still consider myself a high school student.”
He has applied to schools across Colorado and to Harvard, Yale and Cornell, too. From a low-income family (his mother works maintenance at a fast food restaurant), Marquez is proud of what he’s accomplished—and credits a mother and sister (13 years older than Joel) for pushing him. His first trip on an airplane was as part of the TRIO Talent Search program to visit colleges in southern California.
Joel is amazed by the opportunities he’s had. “Concurrent enrollment,” he said, “is one of the greatest opportunities ever.”
La fecha de la ceremonia de graduación se acerca y cuatro estudiantes se están abriendo camino y tratando de atraer importantes oportunidades de becas en el proceso.
En el caso de Joel Marquez, quien recibirá su diploma de graduación en mayo, él ya puede mencionar que estudio en el colegio. Al mismo tiempo, Joel se graduará del Arapahoe Community College y recibirá un título de Asociado, ya que fue estudiante de esa institución, a tiempo completo, por los últimos dos años. (En april cumplirá 18 años de edad).
No es de extrañar que Joel tenga la vista puesta en una Universidad de prestigio como la universidad Harvard, por ejemplo. Recientemente recibió una propuesta de beca del Centre College en Danville, Kentucky e incluye pasajes para viajar y hacer una visita al campus de esta universidad.
Joel no es el único –El record de trabajo de muchos estudiantes de la Escuela Preparatoria Sheridan ha llamado la atención de instituciones de estudios superiores y aquellas que conceden becas.
Hay muchos estudiantes excelentes en la Clase del 2015. Estas son las últimas informaciones de cuatro de ellos:
Sarah Howell
Es una de las finalistas para recibir la beca del Programa Daniels. Ella asiste al Arapahoe Community College como estudiante a tiempo completo. “Siento como si estuviera por mi cuenta, haciendo mi propio trabajo”, dice sobre su
experiencia en el colegio. Muy pronto completará el equivalente de un año de créditos a nivel de colegio. Sarah solicitó entrada a la Universidad de Colorado en Boulder, la Universidad del Norte de Colorado, la Universidad Memphis como también a la Universidad Tecnológica de Tennessee.
Sarah desea ser un doctor, con trabajo en Cuidado Intensivo. Además, desea aprender el Lenguaje Americano de Señas. “Deseo ser un doctor que puede ofrecer ayuda a pacientes sordo-mudos”, dice ella.“Deseo
Sheridan School District Teach it. Learn it. Demonstrate it.
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Los Estudiantes del Grado 12, cont.ayudar a una persona en su momento de necesidad, además, siempre he tenido una fascinación peculiar por la anatomia del cuerpo humano”.
Ella aprecia su experiencia en la Escuela Preparatoria Sheridan. “Aquí se recibe atención más personal”, dice ella. “Realmente hace una gran diferencia que todos los maestros te conocen por nombre y nosotros los conocemos a ellos—y a todo el personal”.
Alina Munoz
Otra estudiante del Arapahoe Community College, Alina comenzó en nuestro Distrito en el Centro Preescolar. Sus clases en el colegio incluyen estadística, biología y una clase sobre relaciones interpersonales. Tiene su vista
fija en obtener un título universitario. Ahora se está preparando para recibir un Certificado de Asistente de Enfermera. También tiene el deseo de llegar a ser una maestra de kindergarten. Alina también fue una estudiante finalista para recibir la beca Daniels y solicitó ingreso a la Universidad Regis, la Universidad de Colorado en Denver, la Universidad Adams State en Alamosa y la Universidad Mesa en Grand Junction.
Su experiencia en el colegio le ha enseñado que “uno debe estar dispuesta a pedir ayuda”, dice ella. “No puedes esperar que las cosas vengan a ti”. A los maestros realmente no les importa si no pasas un examen”. Alina dice que se ha relacionado bien con sus compañeros del colegio y ha disfrutado cada minuto de sus estudios”.
Joselyn “Poco” Loya
Joselyn se enteró a principios de marzo que fue aceptada para ser estudiante embajadora de la Universidad Mesa en Grand Junction – lo que significa que recibirá una beca que cubre todo el costo de estudio a cambio de su trabajo de
atraer estudiantes a esta Universidad, organizar visitas para estudiantes de la preparatoria y hacer llamadas teléfonicas de tiempo en tiempo. También ha solicitado otra beca para cubrir el costo por cama y comida.
Joselyn está muy entusiasmada y desea estudiar Ciencias Políticas o Relaciones Internacionales. “Deseo aprender más sobre el mundo y prepararme para ayudar a la gente”, dice ella. “Deseo ayudar a la gente y hacer que sean felices”. Mencionó que en una de sus visitas a Grand Junction se enamoró con el panorama del lugar, incluyendo las oportunidades para aprender la escalada en hielo, a trepar montañas y “rafting”.
Declaró que la Escuela Preparatoria Sheridan hizo una gran diferencia en su vida. “Cada estudiante de esta escuela debe sentirse agradecido por estar aquí”, dijo Joselyn.
Joel Marquez
Joel vino de México y vive en Sheridan desde cuando estaba en el 3er grado. No hablaba nada de inglés. Hoy el habla el idioma inglés con tanta naturalidad como una persona nativa de este país. En mayo se graduará y recibirá un Título
Asociado y al mismo tiempo recibirá su diploma de la Escuela Preparatoria Sheridan. Ha estado tomando clases en Arapahoe Community College desde el grado 9no de la Escuela Preparatoria, cuando comenzó con una clase. Cuando llegó al grado 11, comenzó a estudiar en el colegio a tiempo complete. Tomó clases en Principios de Microeconomía, cálculo II, incluso Astronomía.
“Siento que estoy más a gusto con el estilo de enseñanza a nivel de colegio”, dijo Joel. “Aunque todavia me considero un estudiante de la escuela preparatoria”.
Joel ha solicitado ingreso a diferentes universidades en Colorado como también a las universidades Harvard, Yale y Cornell. El viene de una familia de limitados ingresos pero se siente muy orgulloso de todos sus logros hasta ahora. Joel da todo el crédito a su mamá y hermana, quien es 13 años mayor que él, por animarlo para tener éxito en sus estudios. Su primer viaje en avión fue parte del programa TRIO Talent Search. Fue un viaje para visitar colegios en el sur de California.
Joel se maravilla y se siento agradecido por las oportunidades que ha recibido en la escuela. El programa “Concurrent Enrollment” (es un programa mediante el cual los estudiantes pueden recibir crédito tanto para el colegio como para la preparatoria) “es una de las mejores oportunidades para un estudiante”, declaró.
Sheridan School District Teach it. Learn it. Demonstrate it.
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Brain Bowl
2015-2016 School Year Calendar Starts Wednesday, Aug. 5
The 2015 Fort Logan Northgate School Brain Bowl team established a new record high for number of points for the school—51 in all.
“That’s the most points in the three years that I’ve been taking teams,” said Brain Bowl coach Beth Joswick. But that total left them in the middle of the pack among 60 teams that competed.
Fort Logan Northgate principal Ian Wells was more upbeat. “These are very exciting results and our progress has been amazing,” he said. “To blow the old scores out of the water screams excellence.”
The team includes Ivan Gonzalez, Alex Parra (seventh-graders), Jayce Klein, Alex Archuleta and Jayden Gray
(eighth graders). During practices, Coach Joswick pulled in two fifth-grade girls to help them prepare for next year’s squad.
Eighth-grade math teacher—and Math Counts coach— Jessica Hulsey helped support the team on the day of the competition.
Win or lose, said Gonzalez, the team “felt like we had done some of the best work in the past few years.”
Added Parra: “It was mixed emotions—we did well but didn’t go as far as we wanted to.”
Gonzalez summed it up best: “Maybe next year.”
The 2015-2016 school year will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The calendar includes a one-week fall break (beginning Monday, Oct. 12), a two week winter break (the weeks beginning Dec. 21 and Dec. 28) and a two-week spring break (the weeks beginning March 21 and March 28).
The Board of Education approved the calendar in March. Superintendent Michael Clough noted that the district’s calendar committee successfully aligned Sheridan’s Spring Break with those of neighboring districts. That idea, said Superintendent Clough, was delivered to the committee through responses to an online survey.
High School graduation will be held Wednesday, May 18 and the 2015-2016 school year will close on Wednesday , May 25, 2016.
The Brain Bowl Team: Back row: Jayce Klein, Alex Parra, Ivan Rodriguez, Beth Joswick. Front row: Jayden Gray and Alex Archuleta.
Sheridan School District Teach it. Learn it. Demonstrate it.
6
Sheridan School District 2 Prepares Adoption of Social Studies Textbooks
Sheridan School District 2 is preparing to adopt new social studies materials for all grades (kindergarten through 12th grade) for the 2015-2016 school year.
A district committee narrowed down candidates for textbook adoption in February, using the comprehensive Bookman’s Review Tool. The committee agreed that the selected materials must align with Colorado state standards, offer a friendly teacher and student experience, promote higher level thinking skills and provide supplementary materials to support literacy.
The committee will determine a recommendation for the Sheridan Board of Education on Tuesday, April 14. Following that meeting, the materials will be available for public inspection during the balance of the month. The committee welcomes public input on the proposed selection before the board formally votes on adopting the curriculum and materials in May.
“We are working to create a very balanced education for all students—making sure that they are knowledgeable about the world and how they can be pro-active within the community,” said Dr. Lara Eddy, Director of Student Achievement and Turnaround.
The committee is considering books produced by two publishers—Pearson and Macmillan/McGraw- Hill.
Social studies is being tested in Colorado this spring in grades four and seven through the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS).
Committee members are Stacey Waechter and Raquel Aiken (Alice Terry Elementary School); Amy Greenwood, Dee Siqueiros, Jayson Ricks and Michael Del Brocco (Fort Logan Northgate); Laura Bakes-Gleissner and Jennifer Trujillo (Sheridan High School).
Sheridan School District Teach it. Learn it. Demonstrate it.
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Bond Refinance Saves Taxpayers Over $268,000
On Thursday, March 12, Sheridan Schools refinanced its series 2007 general obligation bonds at record-low interest rates and reduced the district’s general obligation bond payments by over $268,000.
On March 11, the Sheridan School Board of Education approved the resolution that allowed for the $5,015,000 refinancing of the district’s Series 2007 General Obligation Bonds.
The Series 2007 bond issue carried an average interest rate of 4.19 percent. The Series 2015 refinancing bonds were rated “State Enhanced Aa2” by Moody’s and sold with a true interest cost of 2.31 percent.
The refinancing results in a reduction of annual debt service payments of approximately $24,000 per year
until the bonds are retired in 2025.
RBC Capital Markets of Denver served as the underwriter for the bond issue and Kutak Rock LLP served as bond counsel, drafting the documentation necessary to complete the transaction (which will formally close later this month).
The Sheridan Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday, March 10. Left to right – Melissa Silvia, Sally Daigle, Bernadette Saleh, Ron Carter and Superintendent Michael Clough
The refinancing
results in a reduction of annual debt service
payments of approximately $24,000 per year until the
bonds are retired in 2025.
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PO Box 1198Englewood, CO 80150
SHERIDANSchool District
‘Fablehaven’ at FLN On Friday, March 20 Fort Logan Northgate School was thrilled to host Brandon Mull, the widely-celebrated author of the Fablehaven series. Students were excited as he talked about writing books and the imagination process.
