9-R NEWS BRIEFS – February 12, 2010

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2010, at 5:00 p.m., in the 9-R Board Room in the Administration Building. There will be a budget hearing from 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., with the regular session following.
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Durango School District 9-R is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual Health Education Expo on Wednesday, February 24th from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at DHS in the Commons Area. The DHS Wellness Committee has designed the morning packed full of information and presented by local leaders. Topics include driving and texting, sun safety, Farm-to-School nutrition programs, and more. Please join us on February 24th for a morning full of information and education.
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Strategy 5 of the Durango School District 9-R Strategic Plan reads:
“In partnership with our families and community, we will identify and assess the character attributes that help individuals compete and contribute in society; we will mentor and model those attributes throughout our educational system.”
The initial phase of the Strategy 5 process was to form a team representing a well-rounded cross-section of the community. The group was formed and began meeting with the task of gathering research and literature surrounding character attributes. Extensive time and energy were spent researching, assessing, analyzing and integrating information on the character attributes that help individuals compete and contribute in society. After processing and refining the information, with the goal of representing our community and schools, ten character attributes emerged.
We now need your help in determining if our ten character attributes accurately reflect what our community thinks. As such, we have created a survey that will enable us to receive input from parents, teachers, community members, and students on this very important strategy. Once these character attributes are agreed upon, all 9-R staff members will mentor and model these attributes throughout our educational system and with our community partners.
We value your opinions and suggestions and ask that you take a couple of minutes to complete our quick survey by clicking on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/character_attribute_survey
Thank you in advance for providing us with your critical input. If you have any questions, please contact Victor Figueroa, Executive Director of Student Support Services and Strategy 5 Facilitator at (970) 247-5411, x1100.
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FROM THE CDE
The Office of Standards and Assessments has developed an updated CSAP Parent Brochure. This brochure is designed to give parents general information regarding the CSAP, assessment accommodations, the Colorado Growth Model, and the current assessment revision process. The brochure can be found on the CSAP website at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/parents_guide.html

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ANIMAS VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Huskies of the Week (for Creativity!!!)
· Kindergarten – Ryan Bell, Alisen Ballou, Jonath Largo, Maya Olivier, Braxton De Los Reyes, Ashton Jory
· First Grade – (Mrs. Hansen’s Target Reading Group: Andre DiGiacomo, Sean Myers, Hayes Linney, Bella Lopez, Adin Hall, Evan Gibbons, Ella Reynolds, Jade Lobmeyer)
· Second Grade – Ella Devaux
· Third Grade – Sage Frontella, Rachel Parker, Lindsey Welton, Seth Kane
· Fourth Grade – Michael Clements, McKenzie James, Veda Pokryfky
· Fifth Grade – Lenore Harley, Saundra Kane, Heath Morris
· Our counselor, Barb Frontella!!
Huskies of the Week (for Gratitude & Appreciation!!!)
· First Grade – Paul Watson
Huskies of the Week (for Kindness & Friendship!!!)
· First Grade – Gerardo Gonzalez, Rainey Scott
· Third Grade – J.W. Egger, Ryan Farrell, Maggie Bachman, Rachel Dubois
· Fourth Grade – Chance Guffey, Ruby Epstein

DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL
DHS Launches New Online Registration Materials
Students at Durango High School are working with advisors to pre-register for the 2010-11 school year. In an effort to make information more accessible and course requests more accurate, all registration resources are available on the DHS website at http://dhs.durangoschools.org/catalog. These resources include a brand new online database of course offerings that is searchable by department, course title or description, and grade level. Department course maps are designed to help students understand the options and sequences possible to meet or exceed graduation requirements. Students will also reference a personal interest survey as well as current graduation requirements to complete or update a four-year plan. Students and parents are encouraged to spend time in the online course catalog to be fully informed in the planning and registration process. Two DHS computer labs will be open to students during Demon Time to provide access for those without home Internet connections. DHS students interested in registering for Advanced Placement or CU credit courses, several specific elective courses, and/or accessing early college options must attend mandatory meetings this month. Dates, times, and locations are published on the website and posted around school.
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Durango @ Cortez Basketball on February 18, 2010
To attend the Durango vs. Cortez Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Games on Thursday, February 18th, you must purchase a ticket in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door the night of the game and no passes of any type will be accepted. There are only 200 tickets available @ $5.00 each for DHS Basketball Fans. You can purchase tickets at the following times.

Tickets for Parents of DHS Basketball Varsity Players (Activities Office)
There are two (2) tickets reserved for the parents of each of the varsity players that must be purchased no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th. After that time, they will be released for sale to the general public.

Ticket sales to DHS Students, DHS Staff and the Durango Public in the DHS Activities Office – Limit 5 per family
Tuesday, February 16 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 17 8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 18 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18th at Cortez High School.

ESCALANTE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Escalante Students of the Month
The following students were recognized by their teachers for demonstrating the character traits of respect and integrity in all they do at school. Sixth graders David Ortiz, Daniel Ortiz, and Elizabeth Earl; Seventh graders Isabel Fierro Olivas, Roberto Razo Garcia and Miranda Gallegos ; and Eighth graders Morgan Walts, Sierra Edd, Ally Betts and Rita May Hecker. Students were treated to lunch with the principal and gifts and prizes from community sponsors including Francisco’s, Baskin Robbins, Applebees, and McDonalds. For more information or to donate to the kids, please contact Sharee Erickson at 247-9490.

School Accountability
The Escalante School Accountability Committee will meet on Thursday, February 18th at 8:30 a.m. Any interested parents and community members are invited to attend. We are always looking for new members, please contact Amy Kendziorski 247-9490 for more information.

School Play
The Escalante Middle School Drama Club will present the “One Act Mash Up” production on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, February 16-18. The show will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria and last just over an hour. Please come see our fabulous students, no admission charge. For more information, please contact Mike Jordan at 247-9490.

NEEDHAM ELEMENTARY
The Needham Elementary annual Read-A-Thon begins Monday, February 22nd and runs through March 5th. The theme for this year’s Read-A-Thon is “Needham Winter Olympics – Swifter, Faster, Higher.” Each child will have individual reading goals. Award incentives will be given to students who meet the set goals and they will also be able to fill out a paper award die-cut to work/race toward the three finish lines along the snow course. This is Needham’s main fund-raiser and the money raised through the Needham PTO’s Read-A-Thon supports teacher mini-grants and grade level items or events. For more information about reading all the way down the snowing course to the finish line, contact the Needham Office at 247-4791.

PARK ELEMENTARY
PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS READ-A-THON ASSEMBLY is Friday, February 19th. K-2nd grade assembly will be at 8:30 a.m. and 3rd-5th grade will be at 9:30 a.m. in the Cafe. The assembly will be a celebration of the thousands of minutes all of the Park students have read from February 6th to February 15th. We will be recognizing students who are the top readers and top fundraisers in each class and also all of those students who met their reading goal and raised at least $50. Parents and family are welcome.

RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY
Riverview’s First Grade students will perform a set of fun-filled pieces, inspired by the jungle, on Thursday, February 18th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Riverview Elementary. Students will also get to listen to a storyteller and participate in PE activities in the gym. For more information, contact Shannon Fontenot at 247-3862.

OTHER NEWS

Music In The Mountains 5th grade Band Concert
Music In The Mountains is hosting a “Taste of Music” band concert for 9R District’s 5th grade students on Monday, February 22nd at 12:20 p.m. at Fort Lewis College. Music in the Mountains Goes to School Program is a curriculum partner with Durango School District 9-R. In conjunction with the Fort Lewis College Music Department we are inviting all 5th graders in Durango School District to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College for a “Band and Jazz Band Concert,” program that demonstrates different instruments and musical styles. This program offering is on Monday, February 22, 2009, and is for 5th graders only! Our purpose is to both inform students and to encourage them to become involved in the Durango School District 9-R music program as they enter middle school.
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Bleed Blue for the Fort
Fort Lewis College invites you to “9-R Night” next Saturday, February 20th when their two basketball teams play against rival Mesa State at Whalen Gym. The Women’s Basketball Team plays at 6:00 p.m. and the Men’s Basketball Team plays at 8:00 p.m. “9-R Night” allows 9-R students get into the games for FREE! For further information, please contact Ben Martinez at 970-247-7441 or [email protected].
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The International Dyslexia Association – Rocky Mountain Branch – Durango
The International Dyslexia Association – Rocky Mountain Branch – Durango invites you to attend the Family Education and Support Forum on Tuesday, February 23rd from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Durango Public Library. The forum features Randy Chapman from the Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People and author of The Everyday Rights Guide to Special Education Law and includes an understanding of evaluation under RtI and beyond, parental roles and right, and how to resolve disputes. $5.00 suggested donation. For additional information, please contact [email protected].