9-R NEWS BRIEFS – March 12, 2010

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
A Special Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2010, at 12:15 p.m., in the 9-R Board Room to interview board candidates for the vacancy in District A. All are welcome.

The next regular Board Meeting is scheduled for March 23, 2010, at 5:00 p.m., in the 9-R Board Room in the Administration Building. All are welcome.
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The March issue of THE 9-R COMMUNICATOR, 9-R’s quarterly district newsletter is here! As usual, The 9-R Communicator will have an extremely limited printing, but it is available to read on a 24/7 basis by going to 9-R’s Home Page (http://durangoschools.org) — the link is on the right-hand side of page, under Reports and Forms. Comments, suggestions, and submissions are welcome. Please contact Marty Kay Hutton at 970-247-5411, ext. 1400 or [email protected], for more information or to submit a story for our next publication in May.
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TEACHERS NEEDED FOR SUMMER ACADEMY PROGRAM
Professors, teachers and community members interested in teaching courses for this year’s Summer Academy Program are needed! The Summer Academy Program has been set for June 7-11 and/or June 14-18, 2010. Visit the 9-R website (http://durangoschools.org) to download a copy of a summary (and course proposal forms) with complete details. Please note that the deadline date to submit any course proposal(s) is Tuesday, March 16th. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Powell at x2252 or [email protected]. 

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DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL
Vanity Fair
On March 18th from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Durango High School will be hosting our annual Vanity Fair. This is an event that showcases local businesses and what they have to offer for prom needs. The event will be
held at Durango High School cafeteria and vendors participating include: Tangles Design Team, Gloss, Hair Fusion, Occasions, Costume Emporium, and, Aaah Massage & Aesthetics. For more information, please contact Jessica at 970-946-9545.
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SkillsUSA
The District 8 Colorado SkillsUSA competition was held Saturday February 27th at Bayfield High School. SkillsUSA (formally VICA, Vocational/Industrial Clubs of America) is a national organization of over 300,000 high school and college-aged members continually working hard to assure that America has strong leadership in the areas of technical, skilled, service, and health oriented careers. Three high schools in the South West corner of Colorado currently represent District 8. The schools and Advisors for each chapter are Bayfield High School (advised by teacher Curtis Gillespie), Durango High School (advised by teacher Shaun Smith), and Pagosa Springs High School (advised by teacher Becky Guilliams). The results of the competition are as follows:
SKILLS EVENTS:
· Architectural Design – 1st Cody Nordy (Durango); 2nd Katelyn Henderson (Durango);3rd Justin Shupe (Bayfield)
· Automotive Service Technology – 1st Cody Keane (Pagosa); 2nd Zeke Longwell (Durango)
· Cabinetmaking – 1st Seth Janus (Bayfield); 2nd Jacop Christner (Bayfield); 3rd Keni Duran (Bayfield)
· Carpentry – 1st David Best (Bayfield); 2nd Cody Butero (Bayfield); 3rd Joe Albert (Durango)
· CSI – 1st Jordan Neuleib, Robert Trujillo, Nathan Keyawa (Pagosa)
· Diesel Mechanics – 1st Travis McPeak (Pagosa)
· Electronics Tech. – 1st Jesse Ellison (Bayfield)
· Individual Welding – 1st Luke Baxstrom (Pagosa); 2nd E.J. Romero (Pagosa); 3rd Jeff Walsh (Pagosa)
· Motorcycle Mechanics – 1st Josh Dikes (Pagosa); 2nd Paul Goodman (Bayfield)
· Nurse Assisting -1st Jessica Dunegan (Durango)
· Related Technical Math – 1st Zeb Cyr (Bayfield)
· Welding Manufacturing – Team 1 Zach Dixon, Cheyann Dixon, Luke Baxstrom (Pagosa); Team 2 Hunter Williams, Dustin McKaughan, Travis McPeak (Pagosa)
LEADERSHIP EVENTS:
· Community Service – 1st Trent Maddux, Sara Smith, Mike Rivas (Pagosa)
· Customer Service – 1st Ashlee McNight (Bayfield)
· Prepared Speech – 1st Sarah Smith (Pagosa)
· Quiz Bowl -1st Team Bayfield David Best, Jesse Ellison, Adel Vaughn, Cody Butero, Zeb Cyr;
· 2nd Team Bayfield Justin Shupe, Ashlee McNight, Emmie Best, Paul Goodman, Keni Duran
· Job Interview – 1st Jacop Christner (Bayfield); 2nd Kevin Donahue (Bayfield); 3rd Joseph Hetrick (Bayfield)
· Extemporaneous Speaking – 1st Dae Hemphill (Bayfield)

FORT LEWIS MESA ELEMENTARY
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary PTO Meeting
On Thursday, March 18th at 6 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa’s PTO will meet. Topics of discussion: voting on nominees for 2010-2011 officers, recap of the Read A Thon, a teacher presentation, and Dr. Marchino will talk about the budget for next year. For more information, please call 588-3331.

MILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Space Campers from 9-R schools include: Dominic Albo, Kevin Brinkly, Josh Davoust, Bryan Dunlop, Taylor Dunlop, Brooke Ellis, Liam Foster, Joe Genualdi, Breann Hawman, Joe Paul Herrera, Joey Kloepfer, Dylan Kroes, Zach Mikelson, and Conner Whitesell. Several of the students have elected to go into the Aviation Challenge Program, which is a branch of what Space Camp offers in Huntsville, AL. A special shout out goes to 9-R teachers who have supported students through our Rocky Mountain Chocolate bar sales!! Thank you so much! If you have any good fund raising ideas we still need to raise a couple hundred dollars per participant.
Thanks for your support.

OTHER NEWS (Non-9-R, but education-related)

FROM THE CDE:
TEACHING STIPEND AWARDS TEACHERS WITH NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
The Colorado Department of Education today announced it will again issue up to $1,600 in teaching stipends to teachers who have earned certification through the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Eligible teachers may work in school districts, charter schools or through Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). The stipends were created through House Bill 08-1384 during the 2007 legislative session. The legislation stated that National Board Certified Teachers “advance the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.” A second additional stipend is being awarded for teachers in schools that received low or unsatisfactory ratings on the 2007 school accountability report. The deadline for teachers to apply to their school district is Wednesday, March 31. To qualify, eligible teachers must be employed to teach in a Colorado public school district in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. If a teacher is less than full-time, the stipend will be pro-rated. Individual districts will collect the applications, verify the information and submit the applications to CDE by Thursday, April 15. For educators in low or unsatisfactory schools, up to an additional $3,200 stipend will be added. The money will be transferred to the districts and BOCES in April and to teachers after Friday, May 1, 2010. To receive National Board Certification, teachers must demonstrate competency in national content and teaching ability. The certification process can take between one to three years to complete and includes both assessments and a portfolio submission. The certification application costs $2,500. Scholarships are available to cover a portion of the fee. Due to budget deficits, the stipends are being funded with of portion of Colorado’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Because Colorado had more successful new certified teachers than anticipated last year, each stipend will be slightly reduced to allow for all eligible candidates to receive a stipend. Stipend applications can be found at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/NBCT.htm. For more information about the stipends, contact Anne Marie Roberts in the Office of Professional Services at [email protected]
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STRUT YOUR STUFF, A MUSICAL SHOWCASE
Two of Durango’s premier music presenters team up to offer a showcase of regional youth talent with Strut Your Stuff, A Musical Showcase on Saturday, March 27, 7 p.m. at the Community Concert Hall @ Fort Lewis College. “Strut Your Stuff” was launched originally in 2008 in a smaller venue by Music in the Mountains, to help keep music alive with youth from the Four Corners. The group Stillwater, comprised of both teens and adults who perform original arrangements and songs from a wide variety of genres, including jazz, blues and rock, will be on hand as the official “Strut Your Stuff” House Band. New to “Strut Your Stuff” is a corresponding art exhibit, featuring aspiring fine artists. Students works will be displayed, all of which answer the question, “What does music mean to me?” at the Community Concert Hall the night of the show. Durango High School student Tessa Wickstrom’s work was singled out the winner of the artwork competition, and it will be featured in all of the event’s promotional pieces. For Tessa, music…”It means the world! The mountains symbolize not only where we live but also the organization of Music in the Mountains. Music has the power to unite us all, and that is why it is so important to me.” The Music in the Mountains Goes to School Program began in 1999 to enhance the unusually fine music program at Durango School District 9-R. More than 5,000 elementary, secondary and high school students from Durango as well as nearby Colorado communities including Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, Ignacio, Cortez, Delores, Silverton and Mancos take part in a range of music programs. Tickets for the Strut Your Stuff, A Musical Showcase are $10 and $8.50 for groups of three or more. Tickets are available at the Community Concert Hall Box Office on 7th & Main Avenue, the Festival Office at 1063 Main Avenue, on the websites www.durangoconcerts.com and www.musicinthemountains.com, or by phone at 970-385-6820.
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AN OFFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON
Through April 26, 2010, the University of Texas at Arlington is offering Durango School District 9-R Teachers $500 Tuition Grants towards earning an online masters degree. The masters degree programs offered from UT Arlington underscores our commitment to help participating educators successfully expand the quality of their teaching and leadership skills. Arlington continues to offer the online master’s degree program for $4,950 through September 27, 2010. Tuition rates increase to $6,450 on September 28, 2010. For more information on the $500 Tuition Grant or to take advantage of the $4,950 tuition rate, click here: http://www.stateu.com/uta/ac
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ONLINE SURVEY ASKS PARENTS: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SCHOOLS?
Education News Colorado is conducting a survey and is asking for help from Colorado parents. Colorado parents: What are your questions about K-12 education? How do you find out about choices for your child, looming school budgets cuts, teacher quality, healthy schools – and more? Education News Colorado – the only news service offering in-depth coverage of K-12 education – wants to hear from you as it prepares to launch a new Web site section for parents. In the next few days, please complete a short online survey to help us determine what you want to know about K-12 education. The survey takes only 5-10 minutes to complete. Click here to begin.